NPR News: 05-29-2025 1AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 29, 2025 – Detailed Summary

Released: May 29, 2025 | Host: NPR | Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. Federal Trade Court Blocks President Trump’s Tariff Imposition

Host: Shay Stevens
Reporter: Scott Horsley
Timestamp: [00:15] – [00:50]

In a significant legal setback for President Trump, a federal trade court has unanimously ruled against his administration's attempt to impose sweeping tariffs on global imports. The court determined that Trump exceeded his authority by invoking a 1977 emergency powers act to justify these tariffs. Judge Scott Horsley reported, “[The] Constitution gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate trade and impose tariffs,” emphasizing that the emergency law cited does not grant the president "unbounded power to tax imports from nearly every other country" ([00:32]).

This decision underscores the judiciary's role in maintaining the balance of power, asserting that the executive branch cannot unilaterally dictate trade policies without congressional approval. The ruling effectively halts the administration's tariff plans, signaling potential shifts in U.S. trade strategy moving forward.

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2. State Department Halts Visa Interviews Amid Social Media Reviews

Host: Shay Stevens
Timestamp: [00:50] – [01:32]

The U.S. State Department has temporarily suspended interviews for international students applying for visas to study in the United States. This pause is in response to ongoing reviews of applicants' social media activity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that this measure is temporary and will not impact those who already have scheduled interviews.

Additionally, Rubio stated that the Department of Homeland Security is revoking visas for over a quarter of a million Chinese students who studied in the U.S. last year. This significant action raises concerns about the accessibility and future of educational opportunities for Chinese nationals seeking to study in the United States.

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3. Family Faces Deportation Despite Critical Medical Needs

Reporter: Joshua Yeager (KVPR)
Timestamp: [01:32] – [02:20]

A family in Southern California is confronting deportation despite having entered the U.S. legally to secure medical care for their young daughter, Sophia (a pseudonym). Four-year-old Sophia suffers from short bowel syndrome, a condition that necessitates her wearing an adult-sized backpack administering intravenous nutrients for 14 hours each day. Sophia’s mother, Daisy Vargas, conveyed through an interpreter, “[The] life-saving treatment is only available in the US if we stay [here].” ([01:53])

Vargas entered the U.S. via humanitarian parole approved under the Biden administration but faced revocation in April without explanation, as informed by the CBP Home app. The family's attorneys argue this is part of a troubling pattern since President Trump's return to office. Doctor's warnings that Sophia could die within days of losing access to treatment have heightened the urgency of their case. This situation spotlights the intricate and often heartbreaking intersections between immigration policies and critical healthcare needs.

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4. President Trump Engages with Israel Over Iran Nuclear Talks

Host: Shay Stevens
Reporter: Franco Ordonez
Timestamp: [02:20] – [03:11]

President Trump has taken steps to ensure that Israel does not impede ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. Following the swearing-in of a new acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Trump confirmed to reporters that he “cautioned Israel’s Prime Minister, Netanyahu, against taking any action that could threaten the sensitive talks with Iran” ([02:29]).

In Trump’s own words: “[I] don't think it's appropriate right now, because if we can settle it with a very strong document very strong with inspections and no trust. I don't trust anybody.” ([02:42]) These statements come amid reports that Israel is preparing for potential strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities should the talks collapse. Despite these tensions, Trump asserts that his team is engaged in productive discussions with Iran, aiming for a resolution that includes robust inspections to ensure compliance.

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5. President Trump Issues Broad Pardons Amid Controversy

Host: Shay Stevens
Timestamp: [03:11] – [03:45]

In a move that continues his pattern of controversial pardons, President Trump has granted clemency to a diverse group including a rapper, a former New York congressman, and a reality TV couple. Additionally, he commuted the life sentence of a former Chicago gang leader convicted of murder.

These pardons have sparked discussions about the criteria and motivations behind such decisions, with critics questioning the implications for justice and accountability. The broad scope of recipients highlights Trump's use of the pardon power to address a wide array of cases, some of which have significant public interest and ethical considerations.

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6. Doctors Without Borders Treats Hundreds of Rape Victims in Sudan

Reporter: Kate Bartlett
Timestamp: [03:45] – [04:26]

In the war-torn region of South Darfur, Sudan, Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) is providing critical medical care to hundreds of rape victims, including children as young as five years old. From January 2024 to March 2025, the organization treated 659 victims of sexual violence amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

One harrowing account from a 17-year-old survivor stated, “I wanted to lose my memory,” highlighting the severe psychological trauma inflicted by such atrocities. This report underscores the devastating impact of prolonged civil war on vulnerable populations and the essential role of humanitarian organizations in mitigating human suffering.

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7. Andrew and Tristan Tate Face Criminal Charges in Britain

Host: Shay Stevens
Timestamp: [04:26] – [05:09]

Sibling influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate are under criminal scrutiny in Britain, facing charges that include rape. These charges were authorized last year and are now being formally confirmed. Previously, the Tates were arrested on similar charges in Romania in 2022 and again in Bucharest two years later. Despite their denials of all allegations, the brothers arrived in Florida earlier this year after a travel ban was lifted, allowing them to relocate amidst the ongoing legal challenges.

The Tate brothers' high-profile legal battles reflect broader societal issues regarding accountability and the influence of public figures. Their case continues to attract significant media attention and public discourse.

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Note: Advertisements and non-essential segments have been omitted from this summary to focus on the core news stories.

Transcript

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[Shay Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. A federal trade court is blocking President Trump sweeping tariffs on Global Imports. As NPR's Scott Horsley reports, the court says Trump overstepped his authority when he used an Emergency Powers act to justify.

[Scott Horsley]

In a unanimous ruling, the three judge panel said the Constitution gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate trade and impose tariffs. The court says the 1977 emergency law trump relied on in ordering tariffs does not give the president unbounded power to tax imports from nearly every other country.

[Shay Stevens]

NPR's got Horsley reporting. The State Department has stopped interviewing international students seeking visas to study in the US Pending reviews of their social media postings. The department says the move is temporary and does not affect applicants who already have interviews scheduled. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Department of Homeland Security is revoking visas for Chinese students, more than a quarter of a million who studied in the US Last year. A family in Southern California is facing deportation despite entering the US Legally to obtain medical care for their young daughter. From member station kvpr, Joshua Yeager reports that doctors say that the child could die within days of leaving the country.

[Joshua Yeager]

Four year old Sophia, a pseudonym given by the family's attorneys to protect her identity, suffers from short bowel syndrome. The disease requires her to wear an adult sized backpack that delivers nutrients intravenously 14 hours a day. Through an interpreter, Sophia's mother, Daisy Vargas, says the life saving treatment is only available in the US if we return.

[Scott Horsley]

Back to our country, she would be at the hospital day and night.

[Joshua Yeager]

Vargas crossed the Mexican border on humanitarian parole approved under the Biden administration. But attorneys for the family say immigration authorities revoked the parole in April without giving a reason and that Vargas was informed by the CBP Home app, which they say is a familiar pattern since President Trump's return to office. For NPR News, I'm Joshua Yeager in Bakersfield, California.

[Shay Stevens]

President Trump says he's cautioned Israel's prime Minister against disrupting U.S. nuclear talks with Iran. More from NPR's Franco Ordonez.

[Franco Ordonez]

After swearing in the new acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, President Trump confirmed to reporters that he had a conversation with Netanyahu about not taking any action that could threaten the sensitive talks with Iran.

[Donald Trump]

I said I don't think it's appropriate right now, because if we can settle it with a very strong document very strong with inspections and no trust. I don't trust anybody.

[Franco Ordonez]

The comments follow reports that Israel has been preparing for potential strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities if the talks fail. Trump said his team is having good discussions with Iran. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

[Shay Stevens]

You're listening to npr. President Trump has issued more pardons to include a rapper, a former New York congressman and a reality TV couple. Trump has also commuted the sentence of a former Chicago gang leader who was serving a life sentence for murder. This next story comes with a warning because of descriptions of sexual assault, the charity Doctors Without Borders says it is providing care for hundreds of rape victims in war torn Sudan, some of them as young as five. That story from Kate Bartlett.

[Kate Bartlett]

Doctors Without Borders says its staff treated 659 victims of sexual violence in South Darfur between January 2024 and March 2025. Of those, many were adolescents and a small number were younger than 10 years old. The group has released a report detailing some of the harrowing testimony they heard from survivors. One 17 year old who shared being gang raped by seven members of a paramilitary group said afterwards, I wanted to lose my memory. Sudan is more than two years into a brutal civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

[Shay Stevens]

Sibling influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate are facing criminal charges in Britain, including rape. Prosecutors say the charges were authorized last year and are now being confirmed. In 2022, the Tate's were arrested on similar charges in Romania and again in Bucharest two years later. They denied the allegations against them and arrived in Florida earlier this year after prosecutors lifted a travel ban. This is NPR News.

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