NPR News: 05-30-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 30, 2025

Hosted by Korva Coleman

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1. Federal Appeals Court Restores Trump's Tariff Powers

Korva Coleman reports from Washington, D.C., that a federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated former President Donald Trump's authority to impose global tariffs. This decision comes after a lower court previously halted Trump's tariff initiatives, ruling that he had exceeded his presidential authority. The higher court's intervention ensures that the tariffs remain in place as the legal proceedings continue.

Peter Navarro, Trump's White House trade advisor, commented on the ruling:

“The tariffs remain in place. The court told us they didn’t all but tell us. They told us go do it another way. So you can assume that even if we lose, we will do it another way.” (00:44)

Navarro emphasized that the administration remains committed to advancing Trump's economic agenda despite the ongoing legal challenges.

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2. Escalating Trade Tensions with China

In a separate development, Trump took to social media to announce that he had reached a “fast deal” with China, although he accused the Chinese government of violating this agreement. This assertion comes amidst conflicting statements from the administration and Chinese counterparts.

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant acknowledged on Fox News that trade talks with China "have, quote, stalled a bit.” The Trump administration is responding by threatening to “aggressively revoke visas for some Chinese students,” a move seen by Trump supporters as a critical national security measure.

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, outlined the criteria for the visa revocations:

“The focus will be on students tied to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. Right now, more than 270,000 Chinese students are enrolled in U.S. colleges.” (01:30)

Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a longtime foreign service officer, expressed support for increased scrutiny of visas:

“In my career over 23 years, I saw us go from one sheet of paper front and back to multiple forms online. And I think the more information we have about people that we let into the country, the better.” (01:52)

However, Rubio also noted the opposition from international education advocates who argue that these restrictions are counterproductive:

“International education advocates here in Massachusetts, though, call these restrictions self-defeating.” (02:03)

The administration’s stance highlights the ongoing tension between national security concerns and the benefits of international education.

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3. Virginia Enacts New Screen Time Restrictions for Minors

Korva Coleman turns to education and child welfare, highlighting Virginia’s latest legislation aimed at reducing screen time for children. This move is part of a broader trend as states seek to limit digital platform usage among young people to address mental health concerns.

Sassi Naga, CEO of Parent Genie, an app designed to help parents monitor their children's screen time, explains the specifics of the new law:

“Virginia's new law takes effect next year. It aims to limit social media use for minors under 16 to 1 hour per day unless parents provide verifiable consent to adjust that limit.” (02:27)

The legislation is supported by evidence linking excessive screen time to various issues, including increased anxiety, disrupted sleep, reduced physical activity, and lower academic engagement.

Other states, such as Illinois, have implemented similar measures. For example, Illinois has enacted social media curfews that restrict minors from accessing sites between 10 PM and 6 AM. Despite these efforts, some education advocates argue that such restrictions may be counterproductive, potentially limiting beneficial educational interactions and technological proficiency.

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4. Idaho’s Initiative to Prepare Students for Emerging Jobs

In Idaho, Lauren Patterson reports on a significant investment aimed at equipping students with skills for future job markets, particularly in industries facing labor shortages due to an aging workforce.

The state has allocated $65 million to the Idaho Career Ready Students Grant program. This funding supports field trips, shop upgrades, and classes focused on natural resources, including fisheries, wildlife, and forestry.

At a local high school, student Aiden Olive shares his experience:

“I wasn't really certain about going into forestry at first, but after getting this mill and running it and seeing how it works, I really actually think that could be some possibility of going into forestry.” (04:12)

The program includes practical training, such as the operation of a brand-new sawmill, providing students like Aiden with hands-on experience. The state plans to monitor the career paths of participants to assess the program’s impact on workforce readiness.

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5. Passing of Former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik

Korva Coleman reports the passing of Bernard Kerik, former New York City Police Commissioner, at the age of 69. The FBI confirmed his death, citing an unspecified illness. Kerik was a prominent figure in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, playing a key role in leading New York City through the crisis. However, his career later faced controversy when he was convicted and subsequently pardoned by President Trump for federal tax crimes.

Kerik's legacy is marked by both his contributions to law enforcement during a critical time and his later legal troubles, reflecting a complex public persona.

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6. Additional Updates

• Wall Street: Dow futures are trading lower in premarket activity.
• Elon Musk: Today marks Musk’s last day as a special federal employee overseeing the Doge cost-cutting entity.
• White House: President Trump is scheduled to meet with a few reporters alongside Elon Musk.

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NPR News Now provides the latest news every five minutes, keeping you informed with timely and comprehensive updates.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A federal appeals court has temporarily restored President Trump's ability to impose his global tariffs. The president's power had been halted earlier this week by a lower court that had ruled Trump exceeded his presidential authority. But the rather decision has been blocked by the higher court while the case moves through the legal system. Trump's White House trade advisor, Peter Navarro says yesterday's decision means Trump's economic agenda will go forward.

[Peter Navarro]

The tariffs remain in place. The court told us they didn't all but tell us. They told us go do it another way. So you can assume that even if we lose, we will do it another way.

[Korva Coleman]

So separately, Trump is writing online this morning about trade with China. He claims that he made a, quote, fast deal with China, but he also claims the Chinese government has broken that deal. Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said on Fox News that trade talks with China have, quote, stalled a bit. The Trump administration says it will aggressively revoke visas for some Chinese students. From member station GBH in Boston, Kirk Carapeza reports. Trump supporters see this as a national security issue.

[Marco Rubio]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the focus will be on students tied to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. Right now, more than 270,000 Chinese students are enrolled in U.S. colleges. Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow at the Heritage foundation and longtime foreign service officer, supports more visa scrutiny.

[Peter Navarro]

In my career over 23 years, I saw us go from one sheet of paper front and back to multiple forms online. And I think the more information we have about people that we let into the country, the better.

[Marco Rubio]

International education advocates here in Massachusetts, though, call these restrictions self defeating. For NPR News, I'm Kurt Carapezza in Boston.

[Korva Coleman]

Virginia is one of the latest states to crack down on the amount of screen time for children. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports. It's part of a growing trend as states move to limit how and when children young people engage with digital platforms.

[Sassi Naga]

Virginia's new law takes effect next year. It aims to limit social media use for minors under 16 to 1 hour per day unless parents provide verifiable consent to adjust that limit. Sassi Naga is the CEO of Parent Genie, an app that's designed to help parents better monitor their kids screen time. He says mental health concerns driving these efforts are real.

[Sponsor Voice]

High levels of screen time are associated with increased anxiety, disrupted sleep, reduced physical activity and lower academic engagement.

[Sassi Naga]

Other states, like Illinois, have social media curfew laws that restrict minors from accessing sites between the hours of 10pm and 6am Windsor Johnston, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in premarket trading, Dow futures are lower. This is npr. President Trump will meet with a few reporters at the White House today along with billionaire Elon Musk. It's Musk's last day as a special federal employee. He's been overseeing the Doge cost cutting entity. Idaho wants its school districts to create new programs to prepare students for jobs that will open up as aging workers retire. For Northwest Public Broadcasting, Lauren Patterson visited a high school where grant money is giving students a new way into one of the state's oldest and biggest industries.

[Lauren Patterson]

The shop's brand new sawmill is firing up. Student Aiden Olive is helping with the day long event the school is putting on to show off its new trade programs.

[Marco Rubio]

I wasn't really certain about going into forestry at first, but after getting this mill and running it and seeing how it works, I really actually think that could be some possibility of going into forestry.

[Lauren Patterson]

The state put $65 million into the Idaho Career Ready Students Grant program. It's paid for field trips and shop upgrades at schools and natural resource classes in fisheries, wildlife and forestry. Now the state will be keeping track of students like Ayden to see what careers they choose. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Patterson in Orofino, Idaho.

[Korva Coleman]

Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik has died at the age of 69, according to the FBI, which cited an unspecified illness. Kerik gained attention for helping lead New York City in the aftermath of the 911 attacks, but he was later convicted, jailed and then pardoned by President Trump of federal tax crimes. This is npr.

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