NPR News: 05-29-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Attempt to Bar Harvard from Enrolling International Students

Timestamp [00:25]:
Lakshmi Singh reported that a federal court has halted the Trump administration's efforts to prevent Harvard University from admitting international students. The legal battle in Boston marks the latest instance of Harvard resisting President Trump's directives, which have also resulted in significant funding cuts to Harvard and other U.S. research institutions.

Elon Musk Departs from White House After Leading Department of Government Efficiency

Timestamp [01:04]:
Elon Musk is exiting his role in the White House after overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency. NPR's Bobby Allen detailed Musk's departure, highlighting that Musk expressed gratitude to President Trump:

"Musk thanked President Trump on X for allowing him to reduce wasteful spending as part of the Department of Government Efficiency that he led." [01:04]

Musk framed his exit as the natural conclusion of his 130-day term as a special government employee, a period he completed on Friday. However, his tenure was marked by significant clashes with cabinet members and advisors over various policies, including tariffs and spending cuts. Allen added:

"Musk's time in government led to thousands of layoffs, agencies being gutted and about 20 lawsuits challenging Musk's authority." [01:30]

Musk now intends to refocus on his ventures, SpaceX and Tesla.

U.S. Proposes Temporary Ceasefire in Gaza

Timestamp [01:47]:
Lakshmi Singh introduced a segment by Daniel Estrin regarding the U.S.'s new ceasefire proposal in Gaza. President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, presented the plan, which includes a 60-day ceasefire accompanied by the release of 10 Israeli hostages and 18 deceased individuals held in captivity. Estrin reported:

"Hamas has said it's willing to release 10 hostages, but wants international mediators to guarantee there would be talks on ending the war." [02:11]

Israel has yet to publicly respond to the proposal, while Hamas is currently evaluating the terms provided by the U.S.

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against President Trump’s Tariff Strategy

Timestamp [02:30]:
Lakshmi Singh relayed news about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision preventing President Trump from using emergency powers to implement broad tariffs on U.S. imports. Willem Marks reported from London:

"Britain says the U.S. trade Court's rulings on tariffs were matters for the United States to determine domestically." [02:42]

Marks further explained that this ruling undermines Trump's trade negotiation strategy, which relied heavily on the threat of sweeping tariffs affecting multiple countries. The UK has responded by securing a provisional agreement with the U.S. to reduce these tariffs, with British leaders emphasizing the significance of this progress for their businesses.

U.S. Stocks Rise; Supreme Court Allows Utah Oil Railroad Expansion

Timestamp [03:17]:
Lakshmi Singh provided a financial update, noting that U.S. stocks are trading higher, with the Nasdaq up by 120 points. In legal news, the Supreme Court has permitted an oil railroad expansion in Utah. Environmental groups and a Colorado county had contended that regulators needed to assess a broader range of potential impacts for the project. However, the Court ruled 8-0 in favor of regulators who focused on direct impacts. Notably, Justice Neil Gorsuch abstained due to his connections with a former client benefiting from the project.

Tony Awards to Feature 'Hamilton' 10th Anniversary Reunion

Timestamp [04:21]:
Jeff London announced that the Tony Awards, in collaboration with CBS, will feature a special 10th-anniversary performance of the original cast of Hamilton. London emphasized the musical's monumental success:

"Hamilton was a juggernaut when it originally opened with a record-breaking season, 16 nominations and 11 wins." [04:21]

Lin-Manuel Miranda echoed this enthusiasm during the announcement:

"I am not throwing away my shot. I am not throwing away my shot." [04:25]

The reunion will include performances by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., and the entire original cast. Hamilton continues to be a top-grossing show on Broadway, celebrating its decade-long run with a once-in-a-generation success story. The special performance is slated to air on June 8th.

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This episode of NPR News Now, released on May 29, 2025, provided listeners with a concise yet comprehensive overview of significant national and international developments, ranging from legal challenges in education and trade to high-profile political figures and cultural milestones.

Transcript

[Pop Culture Happy Hour Host]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. A federal court is blocking the Trump administration's bid to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students. Lawyers for both sides went to court today in Boston. The dispute over foreign student enrollment was the latest in Harvard's defiance of President Trump's directives that have also led to sweeping funding cuts to Harvard and other research institutions across the US Elon Musk is leaving the White House after overseeing the president's Department of government efficiency. And NPR's Bobby Allen says Musk departs after Doge dismantled government agencies and laid off tens of thousands of federal workers.

[Bobby Allen]

Musk thanked President Trump on X for allowing him to reduce wasteful spending as part of the Department of Government Efficiency that he led. The billionaire framed his exit as a natural end of his time as a special government employee, which are allowed to serve for 130 days, a number Musk hits on Friday. But there is more to the story. Musk has spent weeks clashing with cabinet members and advisors in the White House over tariff policy, high profile appointments and Republicans big beautiful bill which Musk says undermines Doge's spending cuts. Musk's time in government led to thousands of layoffs, agencies being gutted and about 20 lawsuits challenging Musk's authority. Now Musk says he will put his focus back on SpaceX and Tesla. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The U.S. is offering a new proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. Here's NPR's Daniel Estrin.

[Daniel Estrin]

President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the U.S. is presenting a new proposal. An Israeli source briefed on it but not authorized to speak publicly, tells NPR the U.S. is suggesting a 60 day ceasefire with the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies of those who died or were killed in captivity. Israel did not immediately comment on the proposal. Hamas says it received Witkoff's proposal and is studying it. Hamas has said it's willing to release 10 hostages, but wants international mediators to guarantee there would be talks on ending the war. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Lakshmi Singh]

A federal court says President Trump cannot use an emergency powers law to enact sweeping tariffs on US Imports. The British government's reacting cautiously to the ruling from the Court of International Trade in New York. Here's Willem.

[Willem Marks]

Britain says the U.S. trade Court's rulings on tariffs were matters for the United States to determine domestically. The statement went on to note that, quote, this is only the first stage of legal proceedings. The court decision, although already under appeal, severely undercuts the president's trade negotiating strategy that relies on the threat of sweeping tariffs on goods from dozens of countries. Britain struck the first provisional agreement with the US to reduce those tariffs and its leaders have talked up this negotiating success. The government statement said the UK Was working to ensure that businesses can benefit from that deal as quickly as possible. For NPR News, I'm Willem Marks in London.

[Lakshmi Singh]

US Stocks are trading higher this hour. The Nasdaq is up 120 points. It's NPR News. The U.S. supreme Court is allowing an oil railroad expansion in Utah. Environmental groups and a Colorado county had argued regulators must consider a wide range of potential effects when it comes to new development. But in an 8, 0 ruling, the nation's top court sided with regulators decision to consider direct rather than broader indirect impacts of the multi billion dollar oil railroad expansion. Justice Neil Gorsuch did not vote over his ties to a former client who stands to benefit from the project. The Tony Awards and CBS have announced that the original company of Hamilton will reunite for a special 10th anniversary performance on the broadcast this year. Jeff London says Hamilton was a juggernaut when it originally opened with a record breaking season, 16 nominations and 11 wins.

[Jeff London]

The producers of the Tony Awards are not throwing away their shot.

[Lin-Manuel Miranda]

I am not throwing away my shot. I am not throwing away my shot.

[Jeff London]

They're bringing back Lin Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. And the original cast of Hamilton to perform a number on this year's program. The musical will celebrate its 10th year on Broadway this August and it still remains a top grossing show every week. A once in a generation success. No sub subsequent musical to open on Broadway has come close to replicating Hamilton's popularity. The Tonys will be broadcast on Sunday, June 8th.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's Jeff London. This is NPR News.

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