NPR News: 05-31-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: June 1, 2025, 11 PM EDT

Host: Dale Willman

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1. White House Withdraws NASA Administrator Nomination

In a surprising move, the White House has retracted its nomination of Jared Isaacman for the position of NASA Administrator just days before the Senate was scheduled to vote on his appointment. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports:

“It's essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump's America first agenda.” (00:34)

Isaacman, known for piloting his own fighter jet and his close ties with billionaire Elon Musk—who recently stepped down as a senior advisor to President Trump—was a prominent candidate. Although the White House did not provide specific reasons for polling his nomination, spokesperson Liz Husden indicated that a replacement would be announced shortly. The incoming administrator is expected to spearhead initiatives aimed at advancing human space exploration, including President Trump's ambitious plan to "plant the American flag on the planet Mars." (00:34)

2. State Department Cracks Down on Chinese Student Visas

The U.S. State Department has announced plans to intensify the revocation of visas for Chinese students associated with the Chinese Communist Party or those pursuing studies in critical fields, as highlighted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. NPR’s Emily Fang delves into the potential impact on the nearly 270,000 Chinese students currently enrolled in U.S. institutions.

Tomu Rothschild, who operates a consulting firm assisting Chinese students with U.S. university applications, expressed deep concern over the announcement:

“Many families are beside themselves.” (01:56)

An unnamed Chinese student echoed this anxiety:

“Many of them are losing their mind.” (01:58)

China stands as the second-largest source of international students in the United States, with a significant majority enrolled in science and technology disciplines. Data from the U.S. National Science Foundation reveals that over 80% of these students remain in the U.S. workforce after graduation, underscoring the potential long-term implications of the visa crackdown. (01:43)

3. National Hurricane Center Urges Preparation for Active Season

As the hurricane season commences this Sunday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is urging residents in vulnerable areas to prepare accordingly. Julia Cooper of WLRN reports on the latest forecasts and safety recommendations.

Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, provided insights into the expected activity:

“We've been in a very active period, more or less, for about the last 30 years in the Atlantic.” (02:34)

An unnamed NOAA official emphasized the perennial risks associated with hurricanes:

“It doesn't really matter what the seasonal forecast says. There are risks of impacts every year.” (02:44)

Brennan further stressed the importance of residents being aware of their evacuation zones and relying on credible sources such as local meteorologists and emergency management officials for updates and instructions. (02:57)

4. PSG Achieves Historic Victory in Champions League

Celebrations erupted in Paris as the city's soccer team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), clinched their first-ever UEFA Champions League title by defeating Inter Milan with a commanding score of 5-0. Eleanor Beardsley of NPR News provides an overview of the jubilant scenes:

“Parisians chanted and shot off fireworks late into the night, with tens of thousands celebrating on the Avenue Champs Elysees.” (03:34)

The spotlight shone brightly on 19-year-old sensation Désirée Douay, who not only scored two goals but also assisted another, playing a pivotal role in the historic 5-0 victory. This achievement marks PSG as only the second French club to win Europe's premier football tournament since Marseille in 1993. The triumph has galvanized the city's soccer fervor, reinforcing PSG's status in European football. (03:34)

5. Additional Sports Highlights

• Golf: Scotty Scheffler maintains a one-stroke lead at the Muirfield Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, after shooting a 68 on Saturday. This performance has propelled him ahead of Ben Griffin, who shot a 72. Scheffler is aiming for his third win in the past four starts, following his recent victory at Colonial last week. (04:22)

• College Baseball: LSU Shreveport has made history as the first college baseball team to complete an entire season unbeaten. The Pilots concluded their season with a flawless 59-0 record after winning the NAIA championship in Lewiston, Idaho. This remarkable achievement comes after years of consistent participation in the national tournament, having appeared annually since 2005 and reaching the tournament World Series three times. (04:22)

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For more detailed coverage and updates, visit NPR News Now.

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Transcript

[Charles Schwab]

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. The White House says it's pulling its nomination for NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. As NPR's Franco Ordonez tells us, the move comes just days before the Senate was to vote on his nomination.

[Franco Ordonez]

The White House did not explain why Isaacman's nomination was polled, but spokesperson Liz Husden said in a statement that, quote, it's essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump's America first agenda. Isaac Min, a pilot who flies his own fighter jet, has a close relationship with the billionaire Elon Musk, who this week left his post as a senior advisor to the president. The Senate was set to vote on Isaac Min's nomination next week. Huston said the president will name a replacement soon. She said the new administrator will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump's bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

The State Department says it's going to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students who have connections to the Chinese Communist Party or if they study in what Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling critical fields. NPR's Emily Fang has more on just how that might affect the approximately 270,000 Chinese students now studying in the U.S.

[Tomu Rothschild]

The announcement sent more waves of anxiety through China, where Tomu Rothschild, who runs a consulting company that helps Chinese students apply for American universities, says many families are beside themselves.

[Unnamed Chinese Student]

Many of them are losing their mind.

[Tomu Rothschild]

There is intense competition and veneration for an American American education in China. China is the second biggest source of foreign students to the U.S. most study in science and technology fields when they get to the US and data from the US National Science foundation finds more than 80% of these students then stay and work in the US after graduation. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Officials from the National Hurricane center are reminding people to stay prepared ahead of this year's hurricane season that starts on Sunday. Julia Cooper of member station WLRN has more on our story from Miami.

[Michael Brennan]

The national oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a 60% chance of above normal activity this season. National Hurricane center director Michael Brennan says that's been a trend over time.

[Unnamed NOAA Official]

We've been in a very active period, more or less, for about the last 30 years in the Atlantic. But it's really important to remind everybody in hurricane prone areas that it doesn't really matter what the seasonal forecast says. There are risks of impacts every year.

[Michael Brennan]

Officials stress the importance of knowing if you live in an evacuation zone in coastal and flood prone areas. They also say it's important to know where to find trusted sources of information like local meteorologists and emergency management officials. For NPR News, I'm Julia Cooper in Miami.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Paris is going wild after its soccer team has won its first ever Champions League Cup. That's the top soccer tournament in Europe. As NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, PSG beat Inter Milan by a score of 5 nil.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Paris exploded in joy as its team, PSG Paris Saint Germain, won the European Championship for the first time, beating Inter Milan at the final match played in Munich. Parisians chanted and shot off fireworks late into the night, with tens of thousands celebrating on the Avenue Champs Elysees. Many had the name Desiree Douay on their lips. Douet is the 19 year old new star of Paris Saint Germain, who scored two goals and assisted another. The 50 victory was record breaking. The Qatari owned PSG is only the second French club to win European football's top trophy since Marseille won in 1993. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Dale Willman]

Scotty Scheffler is a one stroke lead at the Muirfield Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, this weekend. He shot a 68 on Saturday to move past Ben Griffin, who shot a 72. Scheffler is hoping for his third win in the past four starts he won at Colonial last week. LSU Shreveport has become the first college baseball team on record to go an entire season unbeaten. The pilots finished 59 and oh after they won the NAIA championship in Lewiston, Idaho. The the Pilots have appeared in the national tournament every year since 2005 and have been in the tournament World Series three times. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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