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

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

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.

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.

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]

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]

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]

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.

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.