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.