NPR News: 05-28-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 28, 2025, 9 AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman

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Israel’s New Food Aid Plan in Gaza Sparks Chaos

[00:19]
Korva Coleman reports on Israel's recent initiative to resume limited food distributions in Gaza after nearly three months of blockade that restricted aid from the UN and other relief organizations. The announcement has led to significant unrest among Palestinians eagerly awaiting assistance.

[00:52]
Eya Batrawy elaborates on the chaotic implementation of the new aid system:

"Unlike how the UN distributes food or used to distribute food in centers across Gaza with IDs and lists of families in need, the system had none of that. There were no screenings or lists and no clarity on who decides who gets the aid and who doesn’t."
(00:52)

This lack of structure resulted in disorder during aid distribution events, culminating in three reported deaths and multiple injuries. Israeli forces stated that a helicopter fired warning shots to disperse overcrowded crowds, highlighting the tense environment surrounding the aid effort.

[01:04]
Coleman further details that aid intended for northern Gaza was also obstructed, with several trucks stopped en route to Gaza City. In response, desperate individuals seized food boxes directly from the trucks, exacerbating the situation.

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U.S. Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms

[01:04]
Switching focus to U.S. politics, Korva Coleman reports on a significant judicial ruling impacting former President Donald Trump's use of executive power against major law firms.

[01:32]
Ryan Lucas explains the court's decision:

"The cornerstone of the American justice system is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases. For some 250 years, he says no executive order had been issued challenging these fundamental rights until now with President Trump's executive orders targeting several big law firms."
(01:32)

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon invalidated the executive order targeting Wilmer Hale as unconstitutional, marking the third instance in which Trump's orders against prominent law firms have been overturned by the judiciary. This series of rulings underscores the judiciary's role in maintaining checks and balances on executive actions.

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Senate Advances Tax and Spending Bill Amid Child Care Concerns

[02:14]
Korva Coleman shifts to domestic policy, highlighting the Senate's progress on a substantial tax cut and spending bill previously passed by the House. While the legislation maintains funding for essential programs like Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, it faces criticism for insufficiently addressing the acute child care shortage in the United States.

[02:30]
Windsor Johnston provides insights into the bill's limitations:

"The measure preserves funding for key programs like Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, but offers no new spending despite warnings that the system is under enormous strain."
(02:30)

[02:47]
Julie Cashin, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, emphasizes the need for enhanced support for early educators:

"Picture convenient options. No commute, no wait list. Imagine we have early educators with the resources they need to stay in the profession they love."
(02:47)

The Century Foundation warns that the expiration of pandemic-era funding could lead to the closure of over 70 child care programs nationwide, potentially leaving up to 3 million children without necessary care.

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Memorial Day Shooting in Philadelphia Remains Unresolved

[03:13]
Korva Coleman reports on a tragic incident in Philadelphia where a Memorial Day shooting resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries. As of now, no arrests have been made.

City officials believe multiple shooters were involved, with the police commissioner indicating the use of modified semiautomatic firearms, potentially enhanced with switches to enable automatic fire. The ongoing investigation aims to identify and apprehend those responsible for this violent act.

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Nepalese Sherpa Kami Rita Sets New Mountaineering Record

[03:13]
In a remarkable sports achievement, Bill Chappell covers the story of Kami Rita Sherpa, who has scaled Mount Everest for the 31st time, setting an impressive personal and national milestone.

[03:52]
Bill Chappell highlights Kami Rita's enduring legacy:

"Kami Rita first reached the peak of Mount Everest in 1994. He's now 55 years old and still leading teams of mountaineers to the top of the world's highest mountains."
(03:52)

This latest ascent sees Kami Rita breaking his own record by achieving two Everest climbs in a single season. Additionally, a younger Nepali Sherpa recently set a different record by completing four Everest climbs within just 15 days, showcasing the extraordinary capabilities within the Sherpa community.

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President Trump Pardons Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley

[04:24]
Korva Coleman covers controversial use of presidential pardon power by Donald Trump, who has pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, known for their reality TV show "Chrisley Knows Best."

The couple was convicted in 2022 for conspiring to defraud banks in Atlanta, involving over $30 million. Their offenses included hiding earnings and flaunting their wealth through luxury purchases highlighted on their show. This pardon follows Trump's pattern of saving high-profile supporters from legal consequences.

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This summary encapsulates the key developments from the NPR News Now episode released on May 28, 2025, providing a comprehensive overview for those who missed the broadcast.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Israel has started a plan to allow some limited food distribution in Gaza. For nearly three months, it has cut off the UN and other relief groups from distributing aid in the Palestinian enclave. This week, thousands of Palestinians gathered to try to get some of the new food aid, but the process was mired in chaos. Three deaths were reported. Witnesses say people were shot by Israeli forces and others wounded. Israel says one of its helicopters fired warning shots to break up large crowds. NPR's Eya Batrawy says the new aid process is chaotic.

[Eya Batrawy]

So again, unlike how the UN distributes food or used to distribute food in centers across Gaza with IDs and lists of families in need, the system had none of that. There were no screenings or lists and no clarity on who decides who gets the aid and who doesn't.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Aya Batrawi reporting. No aid is reaching northern Gaza. Several trucks intended for Gaza City yesterday were stopped. Hungry crowds took food boxes directly off the aid trucks. In the US A federal judge has struck down President Trump's executive order targeting the law firm Wilmer Hale. This marks the third time a court has permanently blocked one of Trump's executive orders punishing a big law firm. NPR's Ryan Lucas has more.

[Ryan Lucas]

In his 73 page ruling, U.S. district Judge Richard Leon says that the cornerstone of the American justice system is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases. For some 250 years, he says no executive order had been issued challenging these fundamental rights until now with President Trump's executive orders targeting several big law firms. That includes the executive order in this case targeting the firm of Wilmer Hale. Now Judge Leon has found that the order against Wilmer Hale is unconstitutional and has struck it down in its entirety. The order follows two similar rulings earlier this month from two other federal judges striking down Trump's orders targeting two other prominent law firms. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

The Senate is moving ahead with the massive tax cut and spending bill that was passed last week by the House of Representatives. Some critics of the bill say it does not do enough to address problems with finding child care in the U.S. nPR's Windsor Johnston has more.

[Windsor Johnston]

The measure preserves funding for key programs like Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block grant, but offers no new spending despite warnings that the system is under enormous strain. Julie Cashin is a senior fellow at the Century Foundation.

[Julie Cashin]

Picture convenient options. No commute, no wait list. Imagine we have early educators with the resources they need to stay in the profession they love.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Century foundation estimates more than 70 child care programs could close nationwide as pandemic era funding boosts expire that could leave up to 3 million children without care. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News. Police in Philadelphia have not arrested anyone in the Memorial Day shooting that left two people dead and nine others wounded. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker says there are believed to be three shooters who were involved. The the city's police commissioner said earlier. Philadelphia authorities think one of the semiautomatic guns used in the shooting may have been modified with a switch that would allow it to fire like an automatic firearm. A Sherpa from Nepal has set an imposing record. NPR's Bill Chappell reports. He has climbed Mount Everest for the 31st time.

[Bill Chappell]

KAMI Rita Sherpa first reached the peak of Mount Everest in 1994. He's now 55 years old and still leading teams of mountaineers to the top of the world's highest mountains. Kami Rita got to the top of Everest in the early morning hours, breaking his own record by standing at the peak for the 31st time in some years. Kami Rita has completed two Everest climbs in a single season. But a new and different record was set last week when a younger Nepali Sherpa completed four climbs of Everest in just 15 days. Bill Chappell, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump says he's pardoning a couple who aren't reality TV stars. Todd and Julie Chrisley starred in their show Chrisley Knows Best, a show about their lifestyle. They were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area of more than $30 million. They were also convicted of hiding earnings while using their TV show to highlight their purchases of luxury cars, clothing and high end travel. President Trump has used the pardon power to pardon high profile supporters. This is npr.

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