NPR News: 05-29-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 29, 2025

Hosted by Shea Stevens

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1. President Trump Considers Pardons for Whitmer Kidnap Convicts

[00:18] In a significant development, President Donald Trump announced his consideration of pardoning individuals convicted for their involvement in the conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Shea Stevens introduced the segment, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

NPR's Franco Ordonez reported that Trump described the case as a "railroad job," suggesting potential flaws in the legal process. At [00:36], Trump stated, “I’ll be honest with you. It looked to me like some people said some stupid things. You know, they were drinking and I think they said stupid things. But I’ll take a look at that,” indicating his willingness to review the convictions.

The two men in question, Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, received substantial prison sentences of nearly 20 years and 16 years, respectively. Their defense argued that they were entrapped by government informants, a claim that was ultimately dismissed when a federal appeals court upheld their convictions last month.

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2. Additional Pardons and HHS Cancels Bird Flu Vaccine Contract

[01:12] President Trump continued his pardoning spree on Wednesday, extending clemency to a diverse group including a rapper, a former New York congressman, and a couple from a reality TV show.

Concurrently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made a pivotal decision to cancel its sole federal contract with Moderna for the development of an mRNA-based vaccine aimed at combating bird flu strains, particularly the H5N1 virus currently affecting dairy cows in the U.S.

Rob Stein provided insights into this decision, noting, “Federal officials are canceling a contract with Moderna to develop an mRNA vaccine to protect people against flu strains that could cause pandemics. That includes the H5N1 bird flu virus that’s been spreading among dairy cows in the U.S.” An HHS spokesperson cited “concerns about the safety of mRNA vaccines” as the primary reason for the cancellation, despite positive study results from 300 healthy adults.

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3. Vice President J.D. Vance Champions Cryptocurrency as a Political Tool

At a Las Vegas conference, Vice President J.D. Vance unveiled the Trump administration’s supportive stance toward cryptocurrency investors. Danielle Kurtzleben reported on Vance’s remarks, emphasizing the administration’s intention to foster a more favorable regulatory environment compared to the current administration under President Joe Biden.

Vance articulated a broader vision for cryptocurrency, stating at [02:26], “It’s a hedge against the private sector that’s increasingly willing to discriminate against consumers on the basis of their basic beliefs, including their politics.” This perspective positions cryptocurrency not just as a financial asset but as a tool in the "populist political fight against elites."

Additionally, the Trump family's financial interests in the crypto space were highlighted, with Trump Media recently announcing a $2.5 billion investment in Bitcoin.

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4. Elon Musk Steps Down from White House Role on Government Spending Cuts

[03:00] In another notable political development, millionaire Trump aide Elon Musk announced his departure from his special role in the White House, where he was tasked with directing cuts to government agencies. Musk also revised his initial target for reducing government spending from $1-2 trillion to $150 billion, signaling a more conservative approach to fiscal reductions.

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5. Israel Reports Killing of Hamas Leader Mohammed Sinwar

Amid ongoing tensions, Israel’s Prime Minister declared that Mohammed Sinwar, the suspected leader of Hamas's armed wing, was killed in a recent airstrike on Gaza. Although the death has not been officially confirmed by Hamas, the announcement marks a significant moment in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Mohammed Sinwar is the brother of Yahya Sinwar, a key figure involved in the October 2023 attacks on Israel that ignited the current war in Gaza, who was previously killed by Israeli forces.

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6. French Court Sentences Retired Surgeon for Decades of Abuse

In a disturbing case highlighting systemic failures, a French court sentenced retired surgeon Joel Lesquarnac to 20 years in prison for the sexual abuse of 299 patients over more than two decades. Eleanor Beardsley reported that Lesquarnac, already serving a 15-year sentence for past sexual assaults on children, admitted to raping and sexually assaulting numerous patients, many under anesthesia during operations.

The two-month-long trial, which commenced in February, has shocked France and brought to light significant shortcomings within medical oversight systems that allowed such heinous crimes to persist unchecked.

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7. Salesforce Acquires Informatica for $8 Billion

[04:37] In the business sector, Salesforce announced its acquisition of the AI-powered cloud data management firm Informatica for approximately $8 billion. This strategic move is set to enhance Salesforce’s data management capabilities, providing the company with advanced tools to better serve its extensive client base. Both companies' boards have approved the deal, with the acquisition expected to finalize by early 2027.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and developments from the NPR News Now episode released on May 29, 2025. From high-profile political maneuvers and significant judicial rulings to major corporate acquisitions and international conflicts, the episode delivered a breadth of information crucial for understanding the current news landscape.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says he is considering pardons for the men convicted of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump said the case against the two men appears to be somewhat of a, quote, railroad job.

[Donald Trump]

I'll be honest with you. It looked to me like some people said some stupid things. You know, they were drinking and I think they said stupid things. But I'll take a look at that.

[Franco Ordonez]

Barry Croft Jr. Was sentenced to nearly 20 years, while Adam Fox was sentenced to 16 years after being convicted of leading a violent scheme to kidnap Governor Whitmer during the final stretch of the 2020 presidential election. Defense lawyers have claimed the men were victims of entrapment and that government informants egged them on. But last month, a federal appeals court upheld their convictions. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

[Shea Stevens]

President Trump issued more pardons Wednesday to include a rapper, a former New York congressman and a rally at Reality TV couple. The Department of Homeland of Health and Human Services has canceled the only federal contract to develop a vaccine designed to protect people against the bird flu virus. As NPR's Rob Stein reports, some experts fear a possible bird flu pandemic.

[Rob Stein]

Federal officials are canceling a contract with Moderna to develop an MRNA vaccine to protect people against flu strains that could cause pandemics. That includes the H5N1 bird flu virus that's been spreading among dairy cows in the U.S. the cancellation comes even though the company says A study involving 300 healthy adults has produced positive results. An HHS spokesman says the contract was cancelled because of concerns about the safety of MRNA vaccines. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Vice President J.D. vance has told a conference in Las Vegas that the Trump administration is friendly to cryptocurrency investors. Details from NPR's DanielleBen.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Cryptocurrency is often expensive and risky, but Vance talked about it not only as an investment or store of value, but as a part of a populist political fight against elites.

[J.D. Vance]

It's a hedge against the private sector that's increasingly willing to discriminate against consumers on the basis of their basic beliefs, including their politics.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

The Trump administration has embraced cryptocurrency, and Vance promised a friendlier regulatory environment than that under President Joe Biden. He also encouraged the crowd to get further involved in politics in the coming years. The Trump family has financial interests in cryptocurrency. And Trump Media this week announced it was raising $2.5 billion to invest in Bitcoin. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Millionaire Trump aide Elon Musk as he's stepping away from his special White House role of directing cuts to government agencies. Musk has also lowered his target for cutting spending to $150 billion, down from 1 to 2 trillion that he promised. This is NPR. Israel's prime minister says the suspected leader of Hamas's armed wing, Mohammed Sinwar, was killed in a recent airstrike on Gaza. The death has not been confirmed by Hamas. Sinwar is the younger brother of a slain Hama leader, Yahya Senwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October. The elder Sinwar was considered one of the Masterminds of the October 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza. A French court has sentenced a retired surgeon to 20 years in prison for his admitted abuse of hundreds of patients over more than two decades. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports that the two month long trial has shocked France.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Joel Lesquarnac is already in prison after being sentenced in 2020 to 15 years for raping and sex, sexually assaulting four children. In the current trial, which began In February, the 74 year old admitted to sexually assaulting or raping 299 patients. Most of them were under the age of 15. Many were abused while they were under anesthesia after operations. Victims and child rights advocates say the case highlights systemic shortcomings that allowed the highly respected surgeon to repeatedly commit sexual crimes. Les Square Neck documented his crimes, noting his victims names, ages, addresses and the nature of the abuse. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Shea Stevens]

Salesforce is acquiring AI powered cloud data management firm Informatica for roughly $8 billion. The purchase will give Salesforce access to the company's data management capabilities. The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close in early 2027. This is NPR News.

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