NPR News: 05-29-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of May 29, 2025, Episode

Host: Korva Coleman
Release Date: May 29, 2025
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

---

1. Federal Court Blocks President Trump's Tariffs

Timestamp: [00:14 - 00:29]

NPR's Korva Coleman opens the episode with breaking news from Washington, where a federal court has halted the implementation of President Donald Trump's extensive tariff measures. These tariffs targeted imports from nearly every country, marking a significant escalation in trade policies.

Key Points:

• Court Ruling: Scott Horsley reports that the U.S. Court of International Trade unanimously found that President Trump exceeded his authority by imposing these tariffs. The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to regulate trade and levy tariffs.

• Legal Basis: The court determined that the 1977 emergency law invoked by Trump does not permit the president to unilaterally tax imports from almost all countries.

• Implications: If upheld, this decision would nullify all tariffs imposed on April 2, alongside separate duties on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico. Notably, some of these tariffs had already been temporarily suspended.

• Challenges: A coalition of a dozen states and five businesses contested the tariffs.

• Judicial Composition: The ruling panel comprised judges appointed by Presidents Reagan, Obama, and Trump, highlighting a bipartisan judicial stance against the tariffs.

---

2. U.S. Vows to Revoke Visas from Chinese Students

Timestamp: [01:10 - 01:41]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States plans to "aggressively revoke visas from many Chinese students." This policy shift has drawn immediate criticism from the Chinese government, which accuses the U.S. of hypocrisy regarding its values of freedom and openness.

---

3. Nvidia Reports Robust Quarterly Earnings Amid Export Restrictions

Timestamp: [01:41 - 02:27]

In the technology sector, microchip manufacturer Nvidia has surpassed market expectations with a substantial earnings report. John Ruich details that the company's sales surged by 69% year-over-year, reaching over $44 billion in revenue for the first fiscal quarter. Net income also saw a significant increase of 26%, totaling $18.78 billion.

Key Insights:

• Market Dynamics: Despite the inability to sell its premier chips to China—a major purchaser—Nvidia's strong performance underscores the high demand and competitive nature of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

• Export Restrictions: The U.S. government's ban on exporting Nvidia's top-tier chips to China, citing national security concerns, has not hindered the company's financial growth.

• Leadership Perspective: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang criticized the export restrictions, stating, "shielding China's own chip makers from US competition only strengthens them abroad" ([02:10]).

• Market Reaction: Following the earnings announcement, Nvidia's stock experienced a nearly 5% increase in after-hours trading.

---

4. HHS Cancels Federal Contract for Bird Flu Vaccine Development

Timestamp: [02:27 - 03:10]

Rob Stein reports that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated the sole federal contract with Moderna aimed at developing an mRNA-based vaccine against potential pandemic-causing flu strains, including the H5N1 bird flu virus currently affecting dairy cows in the United States.

Details:

• Clinical Progress: Despite positive results from a study involving 300 healthy adults, Moderna's efforts are halted.

• Reason for Cancellation: An HHS spokesperson cited safety concerns related to mRNA vaccines as the primary reason for the contract termination.

---

5. Newark Liberty International Airport Reopens with Improved Security

Timestamp: [03:10 - 03:46]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that Newark Liberty International Airport is set to resume normal operations. This follows recent restrictions on air traffic due to brief but concerning equipment outages detected by air traffic controllers.

Additional Health Update:

• Global Health Issue: Jonathan Lambert highlights a pressing yet often overlooked health crisis—snake bites. Despite causing approximately 140,000 deaths annually, venomous snake bites rarely receive top priority on the global health agenda.

• Awareness Initiative: At the World Health Assembly in Geneva, experts introduced "Strike Out Snakebite," an initiative featuring human-sized, colorful snake statues dispersed throughout the city to draw attention to the issue.

• Expert Commentary: David Laloux, Vice Chancellor of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, remarked, "They were pretty spectacularly colored and colorful and pretty large. They certainly, I think, attract a lot of attention" ([04:03]).

• Future Goals: The initiative aims to secure increased funding for antivenom research and strengthen health systems to ensure timely treatment for snakebite victims.

---

6. Manitoba Declares State of Emergency Due to Wildfires

Timestamp: [04:26 - 04:54]

Officials in Manitoba, Canada, have declared a state of emergency in response to a series of wildfires that have displaced approximately 17,000 residents across multiple communities. This marks the largest evacuation in the province's history. The Canadian military has been deployed to assist in managing the crisis. Manitoba, located north of Minnesota and North Dakota, is grappling with the escalating impacts of these devastating wildfires.

---

This episode of NPR News Now delivered a concise yet comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, ranging from judicial decisions affecting trade policies to global health initiatives and environmental emergencies. Listeners were informed about pivotal developments in government policy, economic sectors, public health, and disaster response, providing a well-rounded snapshot of current affairs as of May 29, 2025.

Transcript

[Capital One Representative]

This message comes from Capital One. Access comprehensive solutions from a top commercial bank that prioritizes your needs today and goals for tomorrow. Learn [e-mail] Commercial Member FDIC.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A federal court has blocked President Trump's sweeping tariffs. NPR Scott Horsley reports. The U.S. court of International Trade says Trump overstepped his authority by taxing imports from nearly every other country import.

[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. If that ruling stands, it would strike down all the tariffs that Trump ordered on April 2, as well as separate taxes on imports from China, Canada and Mexico, some of which have been temporarily suspended. The tariffs were challenged by a dozen states and five businesses. The three judges who ruled against the president were appointed by Presidents Reagan, Obama and Trump himself. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US Will aggressively revoke visas from many Chinese students. The Chinese government says today this exposes hypocrisy behind America's proclaimed values of freedom and openness. Microchip maker Nvidia is reporting better than expected earnings in its latest quarter. Company sales jumped 69% from the prior year. NPR's John Ruich reports. That surge in sales comes as big purchaser China effectively could not buy Nvidia's best chips.

[John Ruich]

Nvidia makes some of the world's leading microchips for the development of artificial intelligence, and its sales highlight strong demand driven by intense global competition in the space. And that's without China as a market. The US Government has effectively banned the export to China of Nvidia's best chips, citing national security concerns. Still, the company made more than 44 billion in revenue in the first fiscal quarter and its net income was $18.78 billion, an increase of 26%. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been a sharp critic of the policy that shuts out China on an earnings call. He said shielding China's own chip makers from US competition only strengthens them abroad. Nvidia's shares rose nearly 5% in after hours trading following the earnings news. John Ruich, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The Department of Health and Human Services has canceled the only federal contract to develop a vaccine to protect against the bird flu virus. NPR's Rob Stein has more.

[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 canceled because of concerns about the safety of MRNA vaccines. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News. From Washington, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says travel delays and security concerns should be easing at Newark Liberty International Airport. Airline executives and federal officials recently limited the air traffic using the New Jersey airport. That was after air traffic controllers saw brief but alarming equipment outages. Roughly 140,000 people die every year from snake bites. Experts gathered at the World Health assembly in Geneva have discussed a problem that's often hidden. NPR's Jonathan Lambert has warned.

[Jonathan Lambert]

Venomous snake bites aren't often at the top of the global health agenda. But each year millions of people get bitten, often far away from antivenom treatment. To raise awareness, a new initiative called Strike Out Snakebite scattered human sized snake statues throughout Geneva.

[David Laloux]

They were pretty spectacularly colored and colorful and pretty large. They certainly, I think, attract a lot of attention.

[Jonathan Lambert]

That's David Laloux, vice chancellor of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Going forward, he says the initiative aims to boost funding for antivenom research and help bolster health systems so they can get bitten people to treatment before it's too late. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Officials in the central Canadian province of Manitoba have declared a state of emergency. A series of wildfires has forced some 17,000 people to flee several communities. Manitoba lies north of Minnesota and North Dakota. The provincial premier says this is the largest evacuation in Manitoba's history, and the Canadian military has been called in to help. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

[Capital One Representative]

This message comes from Carvana. Carvana makes financing your next car easy. Buy 100% online with customizable terms good for 30 days. Buy your car the convenient way with Carvana, terms may apply.