NPR News: 05-29-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Restores Trump's Tariff Powers

At 00:18, host Jack Speier introduces a significant legal development where a federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated former President Donald Trump's authority to impose extensive new tariffs. NPR's Franco Ordonez provides the details, explaining that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted the Trump administration's request to pause a ruling from the Court of International Trade in New York. This prior ruling had invalidated many of Trump's tariffs, and the temporary halt extends the decision's suspension until the following week, intensifying uncertainties surrounding Trump's trade policies.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt defended the administration's stance, emphasizing the need for judicial resolution. At 01:02, she stated, “Ultimately, the Supreme Court must put an end to this for the sake of our Constitution and our country.” Ordonez echoed the administration's frustration, remarking at 01:08, “The US cannot function if the president is hindered by, in her words, activist judges.” This legal tug-of-war highlights the ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary over trade authority.

Trump Administration's Changes to Vaccine Policy Spark Concerns

Following the tariff news, at 01:16, Jack Speier transitions to public health, reporting that the Trump administration, under the new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has introduced significant alterations to vaccine policies. These changes include imposing new requirements for COVID-19 vaccines, extending booster shot recommendations for pregnant women and young, healthy children, and canceling a $766 million contract aimed at developing an mRNA vaccine against bird flu.

NPR's Rob Stein voices the apprehensions surrounding these moves at 01:45: “These are just the latest steps that Kennedy has taken that affect vaccines, especially the mRNA vaccines. So many public health experts worry that this is part of an overall strategy to just undermine public confidence and the use of the vaccines.” Stein further points to the ongoing measles outbreak and increases in other childhood diseases like whooping cough as evidence of the policies' detrimental impact, underscoring the broader public health implications.

National Association of the Deaf Sues White House Over ASL Interpreter Cessation

At 02:07, Jack Speier brings attention to a lawsuit filed by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) against the White House. The organization alleges that American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters were abruptly discontinued during White House press briefings following President Trump's return to office. NPR’s Kristen White reports that the suit represents two deaf men who rely on ASL interpreters to understand televised press briefings, finding closed captioning unreliable.

Joy Bannister, a representative from NAD, emphasizes the community's plight at 02:49: “It's really at the detriment to our deaf community. So we want to make sure that they are able still to be a part of the community and have the accesses that they need.” White further notes that in 2020, NAD secured a federal settlement mandating ASL interpreters for coronavirus-related briefings, highlighting the ongoing struggle to maintain accessibility for the deaf community within governmental communications.

Launch of 'Doudna' Supercomputer and Microbial Research Innovations

Shifting to technology and science, at 03:10, Jack Speier reports on Wall Street's slight uptick with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 117 points. He then introduces the announcement of a new supercomputer named Doudna, honoring Nobel laureate biochemist Jenn Doudna, slated for activation next year at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. This advanced computing system is expected to drive breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and various scientific fields.

NPR's Ari Daniel elaborates on innovative microbial research associated with the supercomputer. Microbiologist Braden Tierney discusses his Two Frontiers Project, aiming to harness microbes' natural chemical processing abilities. At 03:44, Tierney describes microbes as “little alchemists that perform all manner of chemical reactions,” emphasizing their potential in areas like carbon capture, coral restoration, and agricultural improvement. The project is expanding its scope to include microbes from household environments, seeking contributions from homeowners across the nation to explore these microorganisms' unique survival mechanisms and applications.

Mental Competence Ruling in Jennifer Aniston Stalking Case

At 04:31, Jack Speier updates listeners on a legal case involving Jimmy Wayne Carwile, who pleaded not guilty to felony stalking and vandalism charges after crashing his car through actress Jennifer Aniston's front gate. A Los Angeles County judge declared Carwile mentally incompetent to stand trial, following a second medical evaluation that deemed him unfit to face the charges. This development pauses the legal proceedings as the court considers the appropriate next steps regarding his mental health status.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive overview of pressing legal, public health, and scientific developments, interspersed with notable expert and official commentary. From the reinstatement of tariffs impacting national trade policies to significant shifts in vaccine regulations and accessibility lawsuits advocating for the deaf community, the news highlights a nation grappling with complex and multifaceted issues. Additionally, advancements in technology and microbiological research signal ongoing efforts to drive progress amidst these challenges.

Transcript

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This message comes from Amazon Business. Free your team from time consuming office tasks with smart business. Buying tools enable buyers to find and purchase items fast. Learn more about the technology, insights and Support [e-mail] Live from NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. A federal appeals court has temporarily restored President Trump's ability to impose Sweeping new tariffs. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. It puts on hold till next week, ruling that Trump was exceeding his authority.

[Franco Ordonez]

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has granted the Trump administration's request to temporarily pause the New York based Court of International Trade ruling that struck down many of Trump's tariffs. The court offered no reasoning for the decision, but paused the original ruling while the legal proceedings play out. This latest development is likely only to increase uncertainty about Trump's trade agenda, which White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt defended the administration.

[Caroline Levitt]

Ultimately, the Supreme Court must put an end to this for the sake of our Constitution and our country, she said.

[Franco Ordonez]

The US Cannot function if the president is hindered by, in her words, activist judges. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

[Jack Speier]

The Trump administration, through new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Has announced a number of big changes to vaccine policy in recent days. That includes imposing new requirements on Covid vaccines and longer recommending booster shots for pregnant women and young, healthy children. The department also canceled a $766 million contract. Develop an MRNA vaccine against the bird flu. NPR's Rob Stein says goodbye moves are generating concerns.

[Rob Stein]

These are just the latest steps that Kennedy has taken that affect vaccines, especially the MRNA vaccines. So many public health experts worry that this is part of an overall strategy to just undermine public confidence and the use of the vaccines. They point to the measles outbreak that's currently underway and upticks in other childhood diseases like, you know, whooping cough, as evidence of the impact we're already seeing.

[Jack Speier]

NPR's Rob Stein. National association of the Deaf is suing the White House. The organization says the use of American Sign Language interpreters abruptly stopped during press briefings when President Trump returned to office. Here's NPR's Kristen White.

[Kristen White]

The federal lawsuit is filed on behalf of two deaf men who watch televised White House press briefings and have trouble understanding closed captioning which can be unreliable. The suit says the men and others in the deaf community are missing a litany of vital information on the economy, Social Security and dei, among other issues affecting Americans. ASL is the primary language for many deaf people. Joy Bannister contracts ASL interpreters to the federal government.

[Joy Bannister]

It's really at the detriment to our deaf community. So we want to make sure that they are able still to be a part of the community and have the accesses that they that they need.

[Kristen White]

In 2020, NAD reached a federal settlement ordering the Trump White House to provide ASL interpreters for coronavirus related public briefings. Kristen Wright, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

On Wall street, the dow is up 117 points. This is NPR. A new supercomputer named for a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry won't apparently be switched on till next year. But the computing project at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab is being announced today. Supercomputer dubbed Doudna, named for Berkeley professor and biochemist Jenn Doudna, who worked on gene editing, will help power new AI and scientific discoveries. A team of researchers thinks the tiny microbes in our home may hold the key to solving some of our biggest problems. More from NPR's Ari Daniel.

[Braden Tierney]

Microbes are little alchemists that perform all manner of chemical reactions. Microbiologist Braden Tierney wondered whether he could harness those abilities somehow, so he co founded the Two Frontiers Project to do just that.

[Ari Daniel]

We travel to sites all around the world where there is microbes, microbial life, we think living that's going to be useful for things like carbon capture or helping corals or improving agriculture.

[Braden Tierney]

Now the team is turning their sights to the microbes in your shower heads, drip pans, hot water heaters, a set of extreme environments that may have pressured microorganisms into surviving in ways we could take advantage of. Tierney's team is reaching out to homeowners nationwide to contribute their snots and goos. Ari Daniel, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

The man charged with crashing his car through the front gate of the home of actor Jennifer Aniston has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial. Los Angeles county judge issued the ruling today after a second doctor determined 48 year old Jimmy Wayne Carwile was not mentally fit to face charges of felony stalking and vandalism. Carwile has pleaded not guilty in the case. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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