NPR News Now: May 30, 2025, 6AM EDT
Hosted by Korva Coleman
Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Restores President Trump’s Global Tariffs
In the early segment of the episode, Korva Coleman reports on a significant legal development affecting President Trump's trade policies. A federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated the president's authority to impose broad global tariffs, overturning a previous ruling by the Court of International Trade based in New York that had blocked many of Trump's tariff measures.
Franco Ordonez elaborates on the situation, stating, "The U.S. 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" (00:29). This action leaves the trade agenda in a state of uncertainty as the case progresses through the legal system.
Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary, defended the administration's position, asserting, "Ultimately, the Supreme Court must put an end to this for the sake of our Constitution and our country" (00:56). She emphasized the need for higher judicial intervention, claiming that without such measures, "the US cannot function if the president is hindered by, in her words, activist judges" (01:02). This statement underscores the administration's frustration with the judiciary's role in shaping trade policy.
President Trump to Hold Press Conference with Elon Musk
Korva Coleman updates listeners on President Trump's scheduled press conference featuring Elon Musk, a prominent billionaire and entrepreneur. This event marks Musk's final day serving as a special federal government employee, a position through which he oversaw Trump's cost-cutting initiatives. As Musk departs to return to his private ventures, Tesla, one of his key companies, reported a sharp decline in sales, dropping by 71% year-over-year in the most recent quarter (01:11).
Commutation of Larry Hoover’s Federal Life Sentence Sparks Debate
The episode covers President Trump's controversial decision to commute the federal life sentences of Larry Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, a notorious Chicago-based gang. Anna Savchenko from WBEZ provides a detailed account of Hoover's legal history and the ramifications of his commutation.
Hoover was originally sentenced in the 1990s to six life terms on charges including conspiracy, extortion, and drug-related crimes. Former federal prosecutor Ron Safer, who led the prosecution against the Gangster Disciples, criticized the commutation, labeling it "an injustice" (01:47).
Caroline Levitt expressed skepticism about the decision, stating, "I do not understand why Hoover, among all of the people in federal custody, is worthy of this result" (02:04). However, Savchenko highlights that Hoover remains incarcerated, facing an additional 200-year sentence in Illinois for murder, and it remains uncertain whether the Illinois governor will follow suit with a commutation (02:17).
President Trump’s Efforts to Broker Peace in Ukraine
In international news, Korva Coleman discusses President Trump's ongoing efforts to negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia amid escalating tensions. Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, announced that Ukraine has agreed to a new peace deal, though it notably does not include Ukraine joining NATO (02:30).
Caroline Levitt clarified the administration's stance, explaining, "To us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table and we're not the only country that says that... it takes all 32 countries in NATO to allow a new member to join" (02:49). This position aligns with several NATO members who are uncertain about Ukraine's potential membership.
President Trump remains committed to diplomatic efforts, expressing his willingness to "sit down with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to try to reach a peace deal" (03:04). This initiative reflects the administration's broader strategy to stabilize the region without expanding NATO's membership.
Breakthrough Study Reveals How Brief Events Can Trigger Lasting Emotional Responses
Shifting to scientific advancements, Korva Coleman introduces a fascinating study featured in the journal Science, conducted by Dr. Carl Deisseroth of Stanford University. The research explores how brief sensory events can lead to enduring emotional responses in the brain.
In the study, participants and mice were subjected to repetitive, annoying stimuli—puffs of air to the cornea. Each puff caused a fleeting spike in brain activity within circuits responsible for processing sensory input. Dr. Deisseroth explains, "That spike was followed by sustained activity in other circuits, including those involved in emotion" (03:23). The research team hypothesized that the sustained neural activity was responsible for the emotional response.
To test this, they administered a drug to inhibit the prolonged neural activity. As a result, participants no longer found the puffs annoying, and mice ceased their protective squinting behavior. Dr. Deisseroth concluded, "That suggests it takes a lingering signal in the brain to cause an emotional response" (03:49). This discovery offers deeper insights into the neural mechanisms underpinning emotions and has potential implications for treating affective disorders.
Faison Zaki Triumphs at the Scripps National Spelling Bee
Concluding the episode on a lighter note, Korva Coleman celebrates the victory of 13-year-old Faison Zaki from Dallas, Texas, who won the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Faison secured his championship by correctly spelling the word "A Claire C," as recounted by Caroline Levitt: "Your word is A Claire C. Small, A Claire C. Small E C L A I R C.I.S.S.E.M.E.N.T.A.C. Small" (04:17).
Faison, who was the runner-up in the previous year, clinched the title alongside a $50,000 prize, a medal, and a trophy (04:32). His achievement highlights the dedication and skill required to excel in such a competitive academic event.
Stay informed with NPR News Now for concise and comprehensive updates every five minutes.
Timestamp Reference:
- 00:29 - Franco Ordonez on tariffs
- 00:56 - Caroline Levitt on Supreme Court
- 01:02 - Ordonez on activist judges
- 01:11 - Press conference with Elon Musk
- 01:47 - Larry Hoover's commutation
- 02:04 - Levitt questions commutation
- 02:17 - Hoover's pending sentence
- 02:30 - Peace efforts in Ukraine
- 02:49 - NATO membership discussion
- 03:04 - Trump’s diplomatic efforts
- 03:23 - Dr. Deisseroth on emotional response study
- 03:49 - Study findings
- 04:17 - Scripps Spelling Bee word
- 04:32 - Faison Zaki's victory