NPR News Now: Episode Summary – May 29, 2025

Release Date: May 30, 2025

NPR's "News Now" delivers the latest headlines and in-depth reporting in a concise format. In the May 29, 2025, episode hosted by Shea Stevens, several pivotal stories were covered, ranging from higher education and international student policies to trade disputes, disability rights, global conflicts, financial markets, and the passing of a notable literary figure. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed.

1. Harvard Wins Federal Court Battles Over International Student Enrollment

[00:18] Host Shea Stevens opened the episode by reporting on Harvard University's recent legal victories that have significant implications for international student enrollment in the United States.

Windsor Johnston, NPR Reporter: “International students make up a significant portion of programs in computer science and engineering at US Universities.” [00:41]

Key Points:

• Federal Court Decisions: Two federal judges have blocked efforts to restrict Harvard from enrolling international students. One judge halted a move to prevent the university from admitting any international students, while another stopped the administration from capping their numbers.

• Economic and Innovation Impact: Miriam Feldblom, a scholar in global education and immigration, emphasized the importance of international students in generating substantial revenue for universities and contributing to research and innovation sectors. [01:08]

Feldblom: “Without international students, both enrollment and research output could suffer.” [01:18]

• Broader Implications: Joy Ban highlighted that international students enrich the educational environment, helping American students prepare for a globalized world. [01:08]

2. Legal Challenges to President Trump's Tariffs

[01:25] The episode continued with an update on trade disputes, highlighting a federal appeals court's temporary pause of a US Trade Court ruling that deemed most of President Trump's tariffs illegal.

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant's Statement: “This administration is committed to fair trade and we are striking the best deals for the American people. And anything that the courts do to get in the way both harms the American people in terms of trade and in terms of tariff revenue.” [01:39]

Key Points:

• Current Status: The temporary pause maintains the status quo while legal proceedings continue.

• Trade Negotiations: Besant mentioned optimism about upcoming trade deals with several countries, though negotiations with China remain challenging. [01:56]

3. National Association of the Deaf Sues the White House

[01:56] Attention shifted to disability rights, where the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) filed a lawsuit against the White House over the removal of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters from press briefings.

Kristen Wright, NPR Reporter: “The suit says the men and others in the deaf community are missing a litany of vital information.” [02:17]

Joy Ban, NAD Representative: “It's really at the detriment to our deaf community. So we want to make sure that they're able still to be a part of the community and have the accesses that they that they need.” [02:39]

Key Points:

• Legal Action: The lawsuit is filed on behalf of two deaf individuals who find closed captioning unreliable during White House press briefings.

• Historical Context: In 2020, NAD secured a federal settlement requiring ASL interpreters for COVID-19 related briefings. The current lawsuit seeks to extend similar accommodations to all press briefings. [02:50]

4. Wall Street Updates

[03:01] The financial markets saw positive movement as major indices closed higher.

Market Performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Increased by 117 points.
• NASDAQ Composite Index: Rose by 74 points.
• S&P 500: Added 23 points.

After-Hours Trading: Despite the regular trading hours' gains, U.S. futures experienced a dip in after-hours trading. [04:49]

5. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Proposal and Gaza Situation

[03:01] International conflict news highlighted a new ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas amid ongoing tensions in Gaza.

Key Points:

• Proposal Status: Israel has accepted a proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. However, Hamas leaders responded cautiously, stating they need time to study the terms.

• Hostage Negotiations: Hamas demands the release of more Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for the release of the remaining 58 hostages.

• Humanitarian Crisis: Thousands of Palestinians are gathering at food distribution sites managed by a new U.S. and Israeli-backed foundation, reflecting the dire humanitarian situation. [03:24]

6. Passing of Kenyan Author Gugi Wa Thiong'o

[03:01] In cultural news, the episode reported the death of Kenyan author Gugi Wa Thiong'o, a prominent figure in African literature and a vocal critic of colonial and post-colonial policies.

Andrew Limbong, NPR Reporter: “Gugi Wa Thiong'o has dozens of books under his belt, novels, criticism, poetry, memoir and more.” [04:07]

Key Points:

• Literary Contributions: Wa Thiong'o authored numerous works, including novels, poetry, and critical essays, significantly impacting African literature.

• Advocacy and Activism: His play, co-written in his mother tongue, criticized the Kenyan government and led to his imprisonment in 1977. [04:24]

• Legacy: Recognized globally, Wa Thiong'o was a perennial Nobel Prize contender, celebrated for his dedication to preserving African languages and cultures. [04:34]

Gugi Wa Thiong'o: “I realized the oppressor always the first thing they do is take away the language of the oppressed.” [04:34]

7. Stock Market and Economic Indicators

[03:01] Following the earlier trading session, the episode concluded with updates on stock market futures.

Market Movement:

• U.S. Futures: Indicated a decline in after-hours trading, contrasting with the day's gains. [04:49]

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with comprehensive coverage of significant developments in higher education policies affecting international students, ongoing trade disputes under the Trump administration, critical disability rights litigation, financial market trends, renewed conflicts in the Middle East, and the loss of a celebrated literary figure. Through expert reporting and impactful quotes, the episode offered valuable insights into each topic, ensuring listeners remained well-informed on the latest national and international issues.