NPR News: 05-31-2025 10AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 31, 2025

Hosted by Giles Snyder | Released on May 31, 2025

The latest episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of critical national and international developments. From significant changes in U.S. trade policies to pivotal moments in domestic politics, the episode delves into topics that shape today's world.

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1. President Trump Announces Tariff Increases on Steel and Aluminum

Timestamp: 00:16 – 00:51

In a strategic move to bolster the U.S. steel industry, President Donald Trump announced plans to double tariffs on foreign steel imports during a speech at a Pittsburgh steel plant. Franco Ordonez reports that Trump's address was highly political, targeting President Biden while emphasizing his strong support for tariffs.

Trump declared his intention to raise the steel tariff to 50% and extended this increase to aluminum imports via social media updates. The focus of his visit was to highlight an agreement between Japan's Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel, aimed at preserving American jobs. Notably, Nippon Steel has been attempting to acquire U.S. steel operations since 2023, reflecting ongoing international trade tensions.

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2. Senator Joni Ernst Faces Backlash Over 'Big Beautiful Bill'

Timestamp: 00:51 – 01:56

At a town hall meeting in Parkersburg, Iowa, Senator Joni Ernst encountered substantial opposition regarding her support for President Trump's proposed spending plan, colloquially known as the "big beautiful bill." James Kelly from Iowa Public Radio highlights that constituents were particularly concerned about proposed cuts to essential programs, including Medicaid.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would result in over $700 billion in Medicaid spending reductions. When pressed, Ernst defended the bill by stating it was designed to ensure that benefits are not extended to individuals without legal status. However, concerns among the audience were palpable. An attendee voiced strong opposition, stating, "We all are going to die," reflecting fears that the cuts could have dire consequences for vulnerable populations.

Ernst acknowledged that certain provisions of the House bill might not make it into the Senate's version but refrained from specifying which ones.

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3. U.S. Senators Push for Increased Sanctions on Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: 02:06 – 03:14

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains unresolved as the country has yet to confirm its participation in the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul. Senator Lindsey Graham (R) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) visited Kyiv to discuss imposing new sanctions on Russia, aiming to pressure President Vladimir Putin into serious negotiations. Hannah Palomarenko of NPR reports that President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards the U.S. lawmakers for co-sponsoring a bill that proposes 500% tariffs on goods from countries supporting Russian oil products. This legislation has garnered support from over 80 U.S. senators.

Senator Graham conveyed optimism by stating that these sanctions could "break Russia's military machine," while Senator Blumenthal emphasized the global stakes involved: "Russia is playing a game at the expense of the world, not just the United States. We're going to change that game for Russia. The game that Putin's been playing is about to change." The senators underscored that the implementation of these sanctions is contingent upon Russia's willingness to engage in meaningful peace talks.

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4. Defense Secretary Hegseth Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Indo-Pacific Allies

Timestamp: 03:14 – 03:53

Addressing concerns over China's military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a statement at the Shangri La Defense Summit in Singapore. He assured allied nations that the United States would not abandon them in the face of Chinese military and economic pressures, particularly concerning Taiwan. Hegseth highlighted that China is "actively training its military to take control of the self-governing island," signaling potential escalations in the region.

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5. CDC Revises Covid-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Children and Pregnant Women

Timestamp: 03:53 – 04:38

In a controversial shift, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has rescinded its routine recommendation for children to receive annual Covid-19 vaccines. Ping Huang reports that the updated vaccine schedule now advises that vaccinations for children should be determined through "shared clinical decision making" between doctors and patients, removing the blanket endorsement previously in place for individuals aged six months and older. Additionally, there is no longer a recommendation for pregnant women to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

This change directly contradicts the guidance from leading medical experts and professional organizations, which continue to advocate for Covid-19 vaccinations based on substantial scientific evidence supporting their safety and efficacy. Public health professionals have expressed alarm over the decision-making process, citing the closed-door approach as a departure from the transparent, consultative methods historically employed by the CDC.

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6. Major Honeybee Loss in Washington State

Timestamp: 04:38 – 04:55

In an environmental setback, a commercial truck carrying an estimated 250 million honeybees overturned near the Canadian border in Washington state. Beekeepers are now tirelessly working to rescue as many bees as possible, emphasizing the crucial role bees play in pollination and ecosystem health. Jael Snyder reports on the efforts to mitigate this significant loss and prevent further decline in bee populations.

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Stay informed with NPR News Now for the latest updates delivered succinctly every five minutes.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says he's hiking the tariff on foreign steel. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports on the announcement Trump made during an appearance at a steel plant near Pittsburgh.

[Franco Ordonez]

He walked onto the stage to his campaign music and he delivered a very political speech. I mean, he tacked Biden, he touted how much he loves tariffs. And it was actually when he was talking about his tariff agenda when he stopped to say that he had another big announcement to deliver and he told the crowd that he's doubling tariffs on foreign steel imports.

[Giles Snyder]

Trump said he plans to push the steel tariff to 50% and he later posted on social media that the increased tariff would also apply to aluminum imports. Trump was in Pennsylvania to talk up an agreement, Japan's Nippon Steel and US Steel that he said would help keep jobs in the U.S. nippon has been seeking to acquire U.S. steel since 2023. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst faced loud opposition to her support of President Trump's so called big beautiful bill at a town hall Friday. From Iowa Public Radio, James Kelly reports that constituents took issue with proposed cuts to a number of programs, including Medicaid.

[James Kelly]

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the spending plan would result in more than $700 billion in spending cuts to Medicaid over the next. Ernst said the bill is meant in part to make sure benefits aren't going to those in the US without legal status. A person in the audience shouted back that people could die because of the cuts.

[Audience Member]

They are not eligible, so they will be coming off. So we people are not well. We all are going to die.

[James Kelly]

Ernst said a number of provisions in the House bill will not be included in the Senate's version, but did not say which once. For NPR News, I'm James Kelly in Parkersburg, Iowa.

[Giles Snyder]

Ukraine has yet to confirm confirm if it will attend another round of peace talks in Istanbul. The talks are set for Monday, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine first needs to see Russian proposals on ending the war. During a visit to Kyiv, Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, discussed imposing new sanctions on Russia, as NPR's Hannah Palomarenko reports.

[Senator Lindsey Graham]

Thank you for coming.

[Senator Richard Blumenthal]

Thank you for having us.

[Hanna Polomarenko]

President Zelensky thanked the US lawmakers for co sponsoring a bill that would impose 500% tariffs on goods from countries that pur Russian oil products. It has already received the support of more than 80 U.S. senators. Senator Lindsey Graham said in Kyiv these sanctions could break Russia's military machine.

[Senator Richard Blumenthal]

Russia is playing a game at the expense of the world, not just the United States. We're going to change that game for Russia. The game that Putin's been playing is about to change.

[Hanna Polomarenko]

The senators emphasized that if Putin does not agree to serious peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, these sanctions could come into effect. Hanna Polomarenko, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Giles Snyder]

This is npr. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is seeking to reassure Indo Pacific allies when it comes to China. Speaking today at the annual Shangri La Defense Summit in Singapore, Hegseth said the US Will not leave them alone to face Chinese military and economic pressure on Taiwan. Hegseth said China is, in his words, actively training its military to take control of the self governing island. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has remove the routine recommendation for kids to get Covid vaccines. The change contradicts advice from medical experts. As NPR's Ping Huang reports, the CDC.

[Ping Huang]

Vaccine schedule now reflects a directive announced Tuesday by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Previously, the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months and older get annual Covid vaccines. Now the vaccine schedule recommends Covid vaccines for kids through shared clinical decision making. That's if a doctor and patient decide together that it makes sense. And there's no recommendation for pregnant women to get Covid vaccines. The changes contradict the advice of professional medical groups who continue to recommend Covid vaccines to children and pregnant women based on scientific evidence that shows they are safe and effective. Public health experts are alarmed by how the changes were made. The closed door process upends the public discussions and votes that have been a staple of the process for decades. Ping Huang, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Beekeepers in Washington state have been working to save as many bees as they can after a commercial truck overturned near the Canadian border yesterday. The truck was carrying an estimated 250 million honeybees. I'm Jael Snyder. This is NPR News.

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