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.

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.