NPR News: 05-28-2025 2PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 28, 2025, 2 PM EDT

Live from Washington, NPR News brings you the latest updates across national and international headlines. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and developments from today's episode.

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1. U.S.-Israel Relations and Nuclear Talks with Iran

Lakshmi Singh opened the segment by addressing President Donald Trump's interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning the delicate nuclear negotiations with Iran.

• President Trump's Warning to Netanyahu:

  At 00:39, President Trump stated:

  "I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution now that could change at any moment, could change with a phone call. But right now I think they want to make a deal. And if we can make a deal, they save a lot of lives."

  This underscores the administration's position on maintaining a unified front to facilitate nuclear agreement negotiations, emphasizing the potential lives that could be saved through successful diplomacy.

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2. U.S.-Russia Relations and the War in Ukraine

Continuing the geopolitical discourse, Lakshmi Singh reported on President Trump's remarks regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

• Potential Shift in U.S. Response to Russia:

  At 00:54, President Trump conveyed to reporters:

  "Russia seems to want to do something, but until the document is signed, I can't tell you."

  He indicated a possible reevaluation of U.S. strategies in response to Putin's actions, contingent upon forthcoming developments in the peace process.

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3. Impact of CDC Staff Cuts on Women's Health Research

Katie Riddle highlighted concerns within the medical community following budgetary reductions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Loss of Contraception Research Team:

  At 01:36, Riddle reported:

  "Eight people were on the CDC team. Their job was to stay up to date on research around contraception and keep clinicians in America up to date on it as well."

  Andrea Braden, an obstetrician in Atlanta, Georgia, expressed the profound impact of these cuts:

  "It was such a great resource and they put so much time into it. And, and I don't know where the motivation is coming from. I don't know who decided that that was, you know, not necessary anymore, but it deeply affected all obgyns."

  The elimination of this team has left healthcare providers without essential guidance on birth control, potentially compromising patient care.

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4. Texas Home Insurance Companies Utilize AI and Aerial Photography

The episode shed light on controversial practices by home insurance companies in Texas, utilizing artificial intelligence and aerial imagery to make policy decisions.

• Insurance Non-Renewals Based on Aerial Photos:

  Audra McGlinchey reported at 02:29:

  "One resident, Elena Callahan, got a letter saying the insurance policy on her home near Houston would not be renewed unless she got a new roof. But Callahan says her roof is five years old and in good condition. Callahan worries her insurer was looking at the wrong house. She asked, but never got copies of the aerial images."

• Regulatory Scrutiny:

  At 02:52, Lakshmi Singh prompted for more information:

  "Where's the images?"

  Jeff London inquired:

  "What images are they using?"

  Audra McGlinchey explained:

  "The use of aerial photos is one tool that insurers are using as more companies are choosing not to renew policies amid worsening storms. Federal data show that between 2020 and 2023, the non-renewal rate in Texas nearly doubled."

  This practice has led to increasing frustration among homeowners, with at least a dozen complaints filed since 2023 regarding the fairness and accuracy of using aerial imagery for insurance decisions.

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5. Financial Markets Update

Lakshmi Singh provided a brief overview of the current state of the financial markets.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average Declines:

  At 03:12, it was reported:

  "The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 119 points at 42,224."

  This decrease reflects ongoing economic fluctuations affecting investor sentiment.

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6. Legal Proceedings Against the Tate Brothers

In international legal news, British authorities have taken significant action against prominent social media figures.

• Charges Against Andrew and Tristan Tate:

  Lakshmi Singh announced:

  "British prosecutors are confirming for the first time that they have charged the mega social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate with sex crimes. Local authorities say the brothers, who hold dual citizenship in the UK and the US, are accused of a raft of criminal offenses, including rape and human trafficking in connection with at least three women. The Tate brothers deny the allegations. They were arrested more than two years ago in Romania, where the courts have issued an order to extradite the pair to the UK once their court case in Romania concludes."

  This development marks a significant moment in high-profile criminal prosecutions involving international figures.

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7. Broadway Revival of "Chess" Announced

Shifting to the arts, exciting news emerged about the return of a classic musical to Broadway.

• "Chess" Revival Details:

  Jeff London shared at 04:15:

  "The Cold War story about American and Soviet chess grandmasters who fall in love with the same woman will star Tony winner Aaron Tveit, Emmy nominee Lea Michele, and Broadway vet Nicholas Christopher. While the original production was a hit in London, it flopped on Broadway in 1988. Still, the 1984 concept album with songs by Bjorn El Veyes, Benny Anderson, and Tim Rice is filled with popular hits. The Broadway revival will be directed by Michael Mayer, who previously worked with Lea Michele on 'Spring Awakening' and 'Funny Girl.' No theater or dates were announced."

  This revival aims to bring renewed energy to the beloved musical, featuring a star-studded cast and direction by renowned theater professionals.

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This summary encapsulates the pivotal moments and discussions from the NPR News Now episode aired on May 28, 2025. For more detailed information, tuning into the full episode is recommended.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker 1]

We've all been there running around a city looking for a bathroom but unable to find one.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Hello, do you have a restroom we could use?

[Unknown Speaker 1]

A very simple free market solution is that we could just pay to use a bathroom, but we can't. On the Planet Money podcast, the story of how we once had thousands of pay toilets and why they got banned from Planet Money on npr, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump says he has warned his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against taking actions that would undermine U.S. nuclear talks with Iran.

[Donald Trump]

I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution now that could change at any moment, could change with a phone call. But right now I think they want to make a deal. And if we can make a deal, they save a lot of lives.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Taking reporters questions today, President Trump also said he will know soon if Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the war with Ukraine. Trump warned he may change his response to the Russian leader unless there's progress. Speaking at a ceremonial swearing in for the Acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jean Pirro, Trump said Russia, quote, seems to want to do something, but until the document is signed, I can't tell you, end quote. Many doctors across the US who specialize in women's health say they're really feeling the absence of a team of researchers that put out guidelines on birth control. NPR's Katie Riddle reports. The group was among the hundreds of staff let go from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[Katie Riddle]

Eight people were on the CDC team. Their job was to stay up to date on research around contraception and keep clinicians in America up to date on it as well. Doctors say without this team, they're at a disadvantage. Andrea Braden is an obstetrician in Atlanta, Georgia.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

It was such a great resource and they put so much time into it. And, and I don't know where the motivation is coming from. I don't know who decided that that was, you know, not necessary anymore, but it deeply affected all obgyns.

[Katie Riddle]

NPR reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for an explanation about the cuts and did not receive a response. Katie Ariddle, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Home insurance companies in Texas are using aerial photos and artificial intelligence to decide if they want to keep insuring. That's vexing more and more homeowners. Remember station KUT? Audrey McGlinchey has that story.

[Audra McGlinchey]

Since 2023, the state of Texas has investigated at least a dozen complaints over the use of aerial photos. One resident, Elena Callahan, got a letter saying the insurance policy on her home near Houston would not be renewed unless she got a new roof. But Callahan says her roof is five years old and in good condition. Callahan worries her insurer was looking at the wrong house. She asked, but never got copies of the aerial images.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Where's the images?

[Jeff London]

What images are they using?

[Audra McGlinchey]

The use of aerial photos is one tool that insurers are using as more companies are choosing not to renew policies amid worsening storms. Federal data show that between 2020 and 2023, the non renewal rate in Texas nearly doubled. For NPR news, I'm Audra McGlinchey in Austin.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 119 points at 42,224. From Washington, this is NPR News. British prosecutors are confirming for the first time that they have charged the mega social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate with sex crimes. Local authorities say the brothers, who hold dual citizenship in the UK and the US Are accused of a raft of criminal offenses, including rape and human trafficking in connection with at least three women. The Tate brothers deny the allegations. They were arrested more than two years ago in Romania, where the courts have issued an order to extradite the pair to the UK Once their court case in Romania concludes, The first Broadway revival of the musical Chess will open in the fall. That, according to producers today reporter Jeff Lennon says a show with a score by ABBA's songwriters and Tim Rice will feature some well known stars.

[Jeff London]

The Cold War story about American and Soviet chess grandmasters who fall in love with the same woman will star Tony winner Aaron Tveit, Emmy nominee Lea Michele and Broadway vet Nicholas Christopher. While the original production was a hit in London, it flopped on Broadway in 1988. Still, the 1984 concept album with songs by Bjorn El Veyes, Benny Anderson and Tim Rice is filled with popular hits. The Broadway revival will be directed by Michael Mayer, who previously worked with Lea Michele on Spring Awakening and Funny Girl. No theater or dates were announced. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or.