NPR News: 05-28-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of May 28, 2025 Episode

Release Date: May 29, 2025
Host: Shea Stevens
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes
Source: NPR

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1. Federal Court Blocks President Trump's Sweeping Tariffs

Timestamp: [00:18] - [00:36]

In a significant legal development, a federal court has halted President Donald Trump's broad imposition of tariffs on imports from nearly every country. Shea Stevens introduces the topic, highlighting the ruling's impact.

Scott Horsley reports that the U.S. Court of International Trade unanimously decided that President Trump exceeded his authority by taxing these imports without congressional approval. The court emphasized that the Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power to regulate trade and impose tariffs.

"The Constitution gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate trade and impose tariffs."
— Scott Horsley [00:36]

The ruling specifically targets the tariffs ordered on April 2 and other separate taxes on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, some of which had been temporarily suspended. The legal challenge was brought forth by a dozen states and five businesses. Notably, the three-judge panel consisted of appointees from Presidents Reagan, Obama, and Trump himself, underscoring the bipartisan nature of the decision.

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2. Trump Administration Seeks to Dismantle Climate Change Research

Timestamp: [01:17] - [02:09]

The Trump administration has initiated efforts to reduce federal spending on climate change research, posing challenges for accurate weather prediction and environmental studies. Shea Stevens introduces the issue, emphasizing the administration's cost-cutting measures.

Michael Copley delves deeper, explaining that scientists are responding by directly engaging the public through a 100-hour livestream event aimed at discussing their work and its significance.

"Climate scientists and meteorologists have kicked off a 100 hour livestream to talk about their work and why it's important."
— Michael Copley [01:32]

Andrew Williams, a climate scientist at Princeton University and co-host of the livestream, praises the advancements made in climate and weather forecasting, attributing them to taxpayer support.

"Thanks to taxpayers, the US has achieved a miracle when it comes to climate and weather forecasting."
— Andrew Williams [01:57]

However, funding cuts threaten these achievements. Michael Copley notes the livestream's purpose as a non-partisan effort to sustain public awareness and support for climate research amid administrative challenges.

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3. Transportation Sector: Improvements and Ongoing Challenges at Newark Liberty International Airport

Timestamp: [02:09] - [03:03]

Shea Stevens transitions to transportation news, focusing on Newark Liberty International Airport. Joel Rose reports that while operational issues have seen some improvement, significant infrastructure upgrades are still urgently needed.

The U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, acknowledges recent progress but underscores the critical necessity for federal funding to modernize the nation's air traffic control systems.

"I'm concerned that we could have more Newarks."
— Sean Duffy [02:47]

Joel Rose elaborates on the challenges faced, including equipment outages, runway construction, and staffing shortages, which have led to numerous delays, cancellations, and diversions. Despite current improvements following the FAA's cap on flights, Duffy emphasizes that the proposed investment—estimated in the tens of billions of dollars—is paramount for preventing future disruptions and is deemed the most critical infrastructure project in the country.

"He called it the most critical infrastructure project in the country."
— Joel Rose [02:51]

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4. Market Movements and International Affairs

Timestamp: [03:03] - [04:50]

Shea Stevens provides a brief overview of the financial markets, noting a downturn:

"On Wall street, stocks closed lower today with the Dow Jones Industrials losing 244 points. The Nasdaq lost 98 points and the S&P 500 dipped 32. U.S. futures are higher."
— Shea Stevens [03:03]

a. Israel-Hamas Conflict Update

Israel's Prime Minister announced the killing of Mohammed Sinwar, the suspected leader of Hamas's armed wing, in a recent airstrike on Gaza. There has been no official confirmation from Hamas regarding this claim. Mohammed Sinwar is identified as the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, a former Hamas leader killed by Israeli forces in October. Hamas continues to control parts of Gaza and holds dozens of hostages, maintaining a tense standoff in the region.

b. Germany's Support to Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz has pledged assistance to Ukraine in developing its own long-range missiles. He emphasized that these weapons would be free from the restrictions that Western nations have previously imposed on arms supplied to Ukraine, aiming to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities against Russian aggression.

c. Smokey Robinson Countersues Accusers

Motown legend Smokey Robinson is involved in a legal battle against four former employees who accused him of sexual assault. As reported by Nita Ulabi, Robinson and his wife Frances have filed a countersuit in California Superior Court, alleging that the accusers are attempting to extort them for $100 million before initiating legal action. The Robinsons are seeking damages amounting to $500 million and contend that the anonymous nature of the plaintiffs' claims (filing as "Jane Does") lacks legal standing. This countersuit follows the women's civil lawsuit accusing Robinson of multiple instances of rape during their time as housekeepers for the couple. Additionally, a criminal investigation into these claims remains ongoing.

"Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances say the four women are extorting them."
— Nita Ulabi [04:06]

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5. After-Hours Market Activity

Timestamp: [04:50] - [04:56]

To conclude the episode, Shea Stevens notes that U.S. futures showed an upward trend in after-hours trading, providing a brief snapshot of ongoing market dynamics.

"Again, U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall Street."
— Shea Stevens [04:50]

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Note: Advertisements from Mint Mobile at [00:00] and [04:56] were excluded from this summary as per instructions to focus solely on content-rich sections.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a concise yet comprehensive overview of major national and international events, including judicial rulings affecting trade policy, challenges in climate research funding, infrastructure concerns in the transportation sector, financial market fluctuations, and developments in ongoing international conflicts and high-profile legal cases.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. A federal court has blocked President Trump's sweeping tariffs. NPR Scott Horsley reports that the U.S. court of International Trade says Trump overstepped his authority by taxing imports from nearly every other country.

[Scott Horsley]

In a unanimous ruling, the three judge panel said the Constitution gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate trade and impose tariffs. The court says the 1977 emergency law trump relied on in ordering tariffs does not give the president unbounded power to tax imports from nearly every other country. If that ruling stands, it would strike down all the tariffs that Trump ordered on April 2, as well as separate taxes on imports from China, Canada and Mexico, some of which have been temporarily suspended. The tariffs were challenged by a dozen states and five businesses. The three judges who ruled against the president were appointed by Presidents Reagan, Obama and Trump himself. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

The Trump administration has moved to dismantle climate change research as federal cost cutting makes it harder to predict the weather. NPR's Michael Copley reports that scientists are now pushing back by making appeals directly to the public.

[Michael Copley]

Climate scientists and meteorologists have kicked off a 100 hour livestream to talk about their work and why it's important. It comes weeks after the White House dismissed scientists working on a flagship climate report and as the National Weather Service grapples with a critical staffing shortage. Andrew Williams is a climate scientist at Princeton University who's co hosting the livestream. He says that thanks to taxpayers, the US has achieved a miracle when it comes to climate and weather forecasting.

[Unknown]

But as we heard in recent weeks.

Funding cuts have put this miracle at risk.

[Michael Copley]

The weather and climate livestream is billed as a series of non partisan talks runs through Sunday. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says there have been some improvements at Newark Liberty International airport. But as NPR's Joel Rose reports, Duffy is still seeking billions of dollars to upgrade the nation's air traffic control system.

[Joel Rose]

Air traffic operations at Newark Liberty International Airport are running better since the Federal Aviation Administration capped the number of flights last week. Secretary Duffy said the airport, which serves New York City, had experienced hundreds of delays, cancellations and diversions in recent weeks because of equipment outages, Runway construction and staffing shortages. Still, Duffy reiterated his call for Congress to fund a new air traffic control system.

[Sean Duffy]

I'm concerned that we could have more Newarks.

[Joel Rose]

Duffy wouldn't say exactly how much money the administration is seeking, but he put the price tag in the tens of billions of dollars, and he called it the most critical infrastructure project in the country. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

On Wall street, stocks closed lower today with the Dow Jones Industrials losing 244 points. The Nasdaq lost 98 points and the S&P 500 dipped 32. U.S. futures are higher. This is NPR. Israel's prime minister says the suspected leader of Hamas's armed wing, Mohammed Sinwar, was killed in a recent airstrike on Gaza. There's been no confirmation from Hamas. Senwar is the younger brother of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October. Hamas has retained control over parts of Gaza and still holds dozens of hostages. German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz promises to help Ukraine develop its own long range missiles. He says the missiles would be free of the limitations, limitations that Western nations have imposed on the weapons that they've supplied for Ukraine's defense against Russia. Motown legend Smokey Robinson is countersuing four ex employees accusing him of sexual assault. As NPR's Nita Ulugi reports, Robinson is accusing his accusers of defamation.

[Nita Ulabi]

In the suit filed in California Superior Court, Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances say the four women are extorting them. Robinson became known for a string of Motown hits in the 1960s. The women worked as housekeepers for the couple. They accused Robinson of multiple instances of rape in a civil lawsuit. The Robinsons countersuit claims the accusers demanded $100 million before taking legal action and seeks damages of $500 million. The Robinsons lawyers also argue in a separate filing that the women, who filed anonymously as Jane does, lacked a legal standing to hide their identities. A criminal investigation into the women's claims is ongoing. Neta Ulabi, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Again, U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News.

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