NPR News Now: May 29, 2025, 7 PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

Supreme Court Limits Environmental Review Scope

Timestamp: [00:12] - [00:42]

In a significant unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has curtailed the breadth of information federal agencies must consider when evaluating the environmental impacts of large infrastructure projects. Justice Brett Kavanaugh delivered the majority opinion, stating that the ruling "makes it harder and more expensive to build things in the U.S." (00:12).

Detailed Analysis:

• Justice Sonia Sotomayor's Concurring Opinion: Sotomayor concurred, emphasizing that the Surface Transportation Board lacked the authority to halt the proposed railroad project based on speculative environmental impacts from the oil industry. She stated, "The Surface Transportation Board wouldn't have had authority to stop the rail project based on the potential environmental impacts of the oil industry" (00:42).

• Justice Brett Kavanaugh's Perspective: Kavanaugh highlighted the need for substantial deference to federal agencies when determining compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This deference suggests that agencies can limit their environmental analyses to impacts directly related to the project, rather than broader or indirect consequences (00:42).

Trump Administration's Tariff Policies Face Legal Scrutiny

Timestamp: [01:18] - [02:05]

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has temporarily allowed the Trump administration to continue collecting global tariffs amidst an ongoing appeal. This decision follows a previous ruling by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of International Trade, which deemed Trump's invocation of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose higher taxes on imported products as an overreach of his authority.

Key Points:

• Current Status: Tariffs remain unblocked as the administration appeals the recent judicial decision (01:18).
• Impact on Consumers: The imposed tariffs are expected to result in increased costs for consumers, as manufacturers pass these taxes onto the public (01:18).

Escalating Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Timestamp: [02:05] - [02:49]

The United Nations and Gaza's health ministry report that over 400 individuals have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes since May 22. The situation remains dire, with many still unaccounted for beneath the rubble.

Detailed Reports:

• Northern Gaza Tragedy: Feris Afena, head of ambulance services in northern Gaza, described a devastating attack where a three-story home was bombed overnight, trapping around 20 family members. He recounted, "We reached a critically wounded girl who lost both legs" (02:05).

• Central Gaza Casualties: An airstrike in central Gaza claimed at least 20 lives, while another in Gaza City resulted in six fatalities from a single family (02:05).

• Food Crisis: Amid ongoing blockades, Israel's attempts to control food distribution have led to extreme hunger. Three UN warehouses were overwhelmed by desperate crowds, tragically resulting in deaths as people struggled to access essential supplies like flour (02:05).

U.S. Employment Indicators and Economic Insights

Timestamp: [02:49] - [03:26]

The Labor Department reported a modest increase in first-time jobless claims for the week ending May 24, rising by 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted total of 240,000. Despite global economic uncertainties, U.S. employers continue to retain their workforce, indicating resilience in the labor market. Additionally, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a gain of 117 points, reflecting positive investor sentiment (02:49).

Economic Indicators:

• Job Market Stability: The slight uptick in unemployment claims serves as a proxy for broader economic health, suggesting that the labor market remains robust despite external economic pressures (02:49).

Breakthrough Study Reveals Pathways to Lasting Emotional Responses

Timestamp: [03:26] - [04:09]

New research published in the journal Science uncovers how brief experiences can lead to enduring emotional states in the brain. NPR's John Hamilton reports on a study where both humans and mice were subjected to mild irritants—specifically, puffs of air to the cornea—to observe the neural mechanisms underlying annoyance.

Study Highlights:

• Initial Neural Activity: Each air puff triggered a transient spike in brain activity within sensory processing circuits, followed by sustained activation in regions associated with emotion (03:26).

• Intervention and Results: Dr. Carl Deisseroth of Stanford University and his team administered a drug to inhibit the sustained neural activity. This intervention effectively nullified the emotional response to the air puffs, as participants no longer found them annoying and mice ceased protective behaviors like squinting (03:52).

• Implications: The findings suggest that prolonged neural signals are crucial for the development of lasting emotional responses, providing potential pathways for treating persistent negative emotions (04:09).

Widening CEO Pay Gap Highlights Economic Inequality

Timestamp: [04:09] - [04:56]

The disparity between CEO compensation and average worker wages continues to grow, with executive pay within S&P 500 companies increasing by nearly 10% in the past year. This surge is primarily driven by lucrative stock options and performance-based bonuses prevalent in Wall Street sectors. Notably, the CEO of Axon Enterprises received a staggering compensation package valued at approximately $164 million.

Key Insights:

• Economic Disparity: According to the Associated Press survey, it would take the average worker 192 years to match the annual CEO pay at surveyed firms, underscoring the widening income gap (04:09).

• Industry Influence: The concentration of high-paying stock options and bonuses in the financial sector significantly contributes to this growing divide (04:09).

Oil Market Update: In related economic news, oil prices saw a decrease of 90 cents, bringing the cost to $60.94 per barrel (04:56).

Conclusion

Today's episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of pivotal events shaping the political, economic, and social landscapes both domestically and internationally. From landmark Supreme Court decisions and economic policies under scrutiny to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and emerging scientific insights into human emotions, the episode encapsulated the multifaceted challenges and developments of our time.