NPR News: 05-28-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 28, 2025

Hosted by NPR

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Harvard University Faces Federal Funding Cuts and Student Protests

Rally Against Funding Cuts

On Tuesday, students and faculty at Harvard University convened a rally to protest the Trump administration's decision to cut funding to the prestigious institution. The demonstration also aimed to support international students who fear deportation following their participation in recent protests.

Voices of Concern

Loxi Lam, a graduate student, expressed deep worry over the administration's actions, stating, "Our learning, or the freedom of learning, is under attack, essentially. And so it's worrying, really worrying." ([00:43])

Jacob Miller, former president of the Harvard Hillel organization, criticized the administration's rationale, asserting, "The administration's excuse for these policies, that they somehow address antisemitism, are so absurd. Let's be clear, this has nothing to do with combating anti-Semitism." ([00:57])

Administrative Actions

The Trump administration has frozen over $2 billion in contracts and grants to Harvard and revoked the university's ability to recruit foreign students, citing concerns over antisemitism on campus. These measures represent a significant financial and reputational blow to the Ivy League school.

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Washington, D.C. Implements Major Budget Cuts Amid Economic Downturn

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Financial Strategy

In response to a projected loss of 40,000 jobs over the next three years and a strained economy, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans to slash nearly $2 billion in city spending over the forthcoming four years. This includes reductions to critical programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and paid family leave, as well as scaling back on new initiatives supported by lawmakers.

Economic Impact and Future Plans

Giles Snyder reports Mayor Bowser highlighted the significant impact of these cuts, stating, "Bowser says the impact of that change is $1.1 billion. I also firmly believe that the decisions that we make together can change that trajectory." ([01:53])

Despite the austerity measures, Bowser is advocating for substantial new projects to stimulate economic growth. A notable proposal is the construction of a new football stadium for the Washington Commanders, aiming to bolster the local economy and create jobs. The proposed budget is now under review by the D.C. Council, which has a two-month window to suggest modifications. ([02:05])

Alex Koma from WAMU provides further details on these initiatives and the broader financial strategy. ([01:37])

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Waterbury, Connecticut Mall Shooting: Suspect Detained

Incident Overview

A tragic shooting occurred at the Brass Mill Center Mall in Waterbury, Connecticut, resulting in several injuries but no fatalities. Washington, D.C. police have detained a person of interest in connection with the incident.

Details from Authorities

Fernando Spagnolo, Waterbury Police Chief, indicated that the gunman likely knew the victims and that the attack was not random but stemmed from an escalated dispute. He noted, "Waterbury police say there is no ongoing threat to the public and that the five adults who were wounded have non-life-threatening injuries." ([02:58])

Giles Snyder adds that the suspect was armed with a semiautomatic pistol, underscoring the seriousness of the incident. The mall was promptly evacuated, and a substantial police presence was established to ensure public safety. ([02:35], [02:51])

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Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Intervention on Migrant Deportations

Legal Maneuvers

The Trump administration is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to expedite the deportation of migrants to countries that are not their countries of origin. This move aims to overturn a lower court order that has been blocking such deportations, arguing that migrants have not been given sufficient notice or time to present their cases in court.

Impact on Migrant Rights

This legal battle highlights the administration's aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, potentially affecting thousands of migrants awaiting deportation proceedings. The outcome could set significant precedents for future immigration policies and the rights of deportees.

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NPR and Colorado Public Radio Sue Trump Over Funding Ban

Legal Action Against Executive Order

NPR, alongside three Colorado public radio stations—Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUt—has filed a lawsuit against President Trump. They contest his executive order issued on May 1, which directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease funding NPR and PBS and instructs local stations to stop using federal funds for NPR’s programming.

Allegations and Reactions

David Folkenflick reports that the public broadcasters argue this order constitutes "clear cut unlawful retaliation against protected speech." The White House has criticized the networks for alleged liberal bias, but CPB has so far ignored the directive, maintaining its role as a private corporation that distributes approximately half a billion dollars in federal funds annually to public broadcasters.

PBS is currently evaluating its options in response to the order, while the White House defends the president's actions as within his lawful authority. Folkenflick elaborates, "The three radio stations joining NPR in the lawsuit reflect the disparate audiences served... They are Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUt, which serves Native American tribes in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest." ([03:56])

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CDC Revises COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations

New Guidelines Issued

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its guidelines, no longer recommending routine COVID-19 vaccinations for children and healthy pregnant women. This shift comes as the administration accumulates data to assess the continued benefits of COVID-19 vaccines for these populations.

Expert Commentary

Dr. Vinay Prasad, who oversees the FDA's vaccine program, indicated that while routine vaccination is not currently recommended for these groups, COVID-19 vaccines will remain available for those who choose to receive them. This approach allows for flexibility as new data becomes available, ensuring that vaccination strategies can be adapted to evolving public health needs. ([04:38])

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Market Brief

U.S. Futures Trading

U.S. futures remain flat in after-hours trading, reflecting a period of market uncertainty amid the ongoing political and economic developments. ([03:12])

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the latest news covered in the NPR News Now podcast episode released on May 28, 2025. For more detailed updates, listeners are encouraged to tune in to NPR.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Students and faculty at Harvard University held a rally Tuesday to denounce the Trump administration's decision to cut funding to the school. The gathering was also meant to show support for international students facing possible deportation after participating in protests. Loxi Lam is a graduate student who's alarmed by the government's actions.

[Loxi Lam]

Our learning, or the freedom of learning, is under attack, essentially. And so it's worrying, really worrying.

[Shea Stevens]

Jacob Miller is a former president of the Harvard Hillel organization that represents Jewish students.

[Jacob Miller]

The administration's excuse for these policies, that they somehow address antisemitism, are so absurd. Let's be clear, this has nothing to do with combating anti Semitism.

[Shea Stevens]

The Trump administration has frozen over $2 billion in contracts and grants to Harvard and revoked the university's ability to recruit foreign students, citing its response to antisemitism on campus. Washington, DC's Mayor Muriel Bowser says she plans to make sweeping budget cuts in response to a wave of federal layoffs crunching the city's economy. From member station WAMU, Alex Koma has details.

[Alex Koma]

Bowser plans to slash nearly $2 billion in spending over the next four years. That includes cuts to the city's Medicaid food stamp and paid family leave programs, as well as some new initiatives backed by lawmakers. These rollbacks are meant to account for the projected loss of 40,000 jobs in the city over the next three years.

[Giles Snyder]

Bowser says the impact of that change is $1.1 billion. I also firmly believe that the decisions that we make together can change that trajectory.

[Alex Koma]

Nevertheless, Bowser is still pitching some big new projects in a bid to grow the city's economy, most notably a new football stadium for the Washington commanders. The budget now heads to the D.C. council, which will have two months to make changes to Bowser's proposal. For NPR News, I'm Alex Koma in.

[Shea Stevens]

Washington, D.C. police say they have detained a person of interest in connection with the shooting at a mall in Waterbury, Connecticut. There were no fatalities, but several people were injured in the attack. As NPR's Giles Snyder reports, Waterbury police.

[Fernando Spagnolo]

Have not released any other details about the person in custody. But earlier police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said authorities believe the gunman knows the victims and that the shooting at the Brass Mill Center Mall was not a random act of violence that it stemmed from a dispute that escalated.

[Giles Snyder]

We do know that there was one gunman at this time. We've identified that gunman was armed with a semiautomatic pistol.

[Fernando Spagnolo]

Waterbury police say there is no ongoing threat to the public and that the five adults who were wounded have non life threatening injuries. The the gunfire prompted an evacuation of the mall and a huge police response trial. Snyder, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading. This is NPR. The Trump administration is asking the U.S. supreme Court to allow it to quickly deport migrants to countries not their own. The administration wants the justices to overturn a lower court order that's blocking deportations without sufficient notice or time for deportees to argue their case in court. NPR and three Colorado public radio stations are suing President Trump over his executive order to ban federal funding to NPR and PPS. As NPR's David Folkenflick reports, the public broadcasters allege Trump's action constitutes clear cut unlawful retaliation against protected speech.

[David Folkenflick]

Trump's May 1 executive order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS and directs local stations not to use federal funds to pay for the network's programming. The White House has blasted the public broadcasters for what it alleges is liberal bias. CPB has ignored the order. It is a private corporation which distributes a half billion dollars in federal funds each year to public broadcasters, mostly local stations. The three radio stations joining NPR in the lawsuit reflect the disparate audiences served. They are Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and ksut, which serves Native American tribes in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. PBS says it's weighing its options. A White House spokesperson says the president is exercising his lawful authority. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is no longer recommending routine COVID vaccinations for children and healthy pregnant women. Dr. Vinay Prasad, who oversees the FDA's vaccine program, says Covid vaccines will be available as the administration gathers data on whether they still benefit healthier people. This is NPR News.

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