NPR News Now – Episode: May 30, 2025, 11 PM EDT
Release Date: May 31, 2025
Host: Dale Willman
1. President Trump Announces Increased Steel and Aluminum Tariffs
At [00:19], Dale Willman reported that President Donald Trump unveiled plans to significantly raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to bolster the U.S. metal industries.
Trump declared at [00:26]:
"We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. We're going to bring it from 25% to 50% the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States."
Since the initial tariffs were implemented, steel product prices have surged by approximately 16%. The new tariffs, set to take effect on Wednesday, are anticipated to escalate costs for a wide range of goods, including automobiles and housing materials. Additionally, Trump announced that aluminum tariffs will also be doubled to 50%, further impacting related industries.
2. Legal Challenges to Federal Workforce Downsizing
Continuing at [00:47], Dale Willman discussed the ongoing legal battles surrounding the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce. An appeals court has refused to halt a California judge's order that restricts the administration from making unilateral cuts to federal employment.
Federal Judge Susan Ilston of San Francisco stated:
"The president must get the cooperation of Congress to remake the government workforce."
This legal stance questions the legality of the administration's actions, emphasizing the necessity of congressional involvement. Consequently, tens of thousands of federal employees have been dismissed, placed on leave, or have resigned through government-offered programs.
3. Supreme Court Grants Temporary Victory to Trump’s Humanitarian Program Termination
At [01:47], NPR's Nina Totenberg provided an update on a significant Supreme Court decision affecting a humanitarian program initiated by President Trump.
Totenberg reported:
"Trump announced that he was ending the program on his first day in office this year, but a federal district court blocked the administration from doing that."
The Supreme Court intervened by permitting the administration to prematurely terminate the program, which had granted two-year legal status to over half a million individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. This decision was met with dissent from liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor. The Court did not provide an explanation for its ruling, adhering to the norm for emergency orders.
4. Second Devastating Tornado Strikes Kentucky in Two Weeks
Dale Willman returned at [02:23] to report on severe weather events in Kentucky, marking the second destructive tornado in just two weeks.
John McGarry from WEKU detailed at [02:37]:
"The National Weather Service in Louisville says the twister had maximum winds of at least 115 miles per hour."
The latest tornado hit a rural and sparsely populated area in Washington County, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. President Trump commented at [02:51]:
"That's why there's no siren out there. And we had two homes that were just completely destroyed. I mean, blown away. And there's other buildings and houses that have damage but not severity of the two that were hit, I guess."
First responders from multiple counties have mobilized to assist the affected communities, following the tragic loss of 19 lives from a tornado two weeks prior in Laurel and Pulaski counties.
5. Study Links Removal of Fluoride in Drinking Water to Increase in Cavities Among Children
At [03:15], Dale Willman introduced a report on new research indicating significant public health implications related to water fluoridation.
Ping Huang reported:
"Fluoride has been added to most public water systems for many years to help prevent cavities. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Has urged states to stop the practice."
The study, published in the JAMA Health Forum, projects that eliminating community water fluoridation could lead to 25 million additional cavities in children over five years, resulting in at least $9.8 billion in dental care costs.
Dr. Lisa Simon of Harvard Medical School, a co-author of the paper, emphasized:
"What it doesn't factor in is the cost of having your very young child go under general anesthesia in an operating room, the work that families miss to take their child to the dentist or to the emergency room." [03:58]
The decision to fluoridate water remains under the jurisdiction of state and local governments, highlighting the potential widespread impact of policy changes.
6. Taylor Swift Reclaims Ownership of Her Music Catalog
At [04:17], Dale Willman shared significant news from the entertainment industry regarding pop icon Taylor Swift.
Willman reported:
"She posted a note to her website on Friday through that says all the music she's ever made now belongs to her."
Taylor Swift successfully purchased the rights to her earlier recordings from Shamrock Capital, a private equity firm. While Swift did not disclose the financial details of the acquisition, this move marks her complete control over her body of work, a significant development in artist rights and ownership.
7. Updates from the Muirfield Golf Tournament
Dale Willman concluded the episode with sports news from the Muirfield Golf Tournament taking place in Dublin, Ohio.
Willman stated:
"Nick Taylor has taken a share of the lead at the Muirfield Golf Tournament underway in Dublin, Ohio, this weekend. He was bogey free despite rainy weather and finished the day with a 68 and a tie with Ben Griffin. Griffin shot a 72. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, shot a 70, leaving him three strokes off the pace. Jordan Spieth is in fourth, four strokes back."
The tournament continues to draw attention as top golfers vie for the championship amid challenging weather conditions.
Note: This summary excludes sponsor messages, advertisements, and non-content segments to focus solely on the key news stories presented in the episode.