NPR News: 05-31-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of May 31, 2025, 1PM EDT Episode

Release Date: May 31, 2025

---

1. Immigration Status Amid Supreme Court Ruling

Reporter: Adrienne Florido
Segment Time: [00:26] - [01:14]

Immigrant advocates are expressing significant concerns following the Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold the Trump administration's authority to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from certain unstable countries. This ruling impacts the CHNV program, an acronym representing Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, which was instituted under the Biden administration to grant temporary legal status to those with a U.S. sponsor.

Notable Quote:

"This is a group of people who followed every single rule and came here with that status and now it is taken away from them."
— Guerleen Joseph, Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance [01:03]

Guerleen Joseph emphasized the plight of affected individuals, highlighting the sudden withdrawal of status for those who meticulously adhered to the program's requirements. The legal battle to defend CHNV status remains ongoing, with advocates determined to protect up to half a million people facing potential deportation.

---

2. U.S. Steel Tariffs and Legal Challenges

Reporter: Ron Elving
Segment Time: [01:19] - [01:55]

President Trump announced a significant increase in tariffs on imported steel, elevating them to 50% in an effort to bolster the U.S. steel industry. The administration is actively negotiating new trade deals with various countries, though agreements have yet to be finalized except with Britain.

Notable Quote:

"The ruling by the International Trade Court could cripple the whole anti-tariff campaign."
— Ron Elving, NPR News [01:38]

However, the tariff initiative faces substantial legal hurdles. Recent court decisions have limited Trump's authority to impose these tariffs without congressional approval. Although the International Trade Court's ruling poses a threat to the administration's anti-tariff efforts, the matter is currently on hold as a higher court reviews the decision.

---

3. Devastating Tornadoes Hit Kentucky

Reporter: Karen Zahr
Segment Time: [01:55] - [02:50]

Kentucky has been struck by a severe tornado, marking the seventh tornado in the state over a two-week period. The latest tornado tragically resulted in at least 20 fatalities and numerous injuries. Meteorologists are leveraging both advanced technology and traditional methods to assess and classify these tornadoes accurately.

Notable Quotes:

"It looks like the debris from this particular structure was thrown to the north of the path. And since the storm was moving east or northeast, that indicates to me that it was thrown almost counterclockwise after stopping."
— Brian Schopmer, Lead Forecaster [02:39]

Utilizing drones for aerial surveillance and smartphone applications to estimate wind speeds based on observed damage, the National Weather Service officials are enhancing their ability to respond to such natural disasters. At one affected site, a previously classified EF1 tornado was upgraded to an EF2 due to more extensive damage observed.

---

4. Middle East Ceasefire Proposal Accepted by Hamas, Agreed by Israel

Segment Time: [03:04]

In a significant development concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Hamas has announced its acceptance of a U.S.-proposed plan aimed at halting violence in the region. Israel has reciprocated by agreeing to the proposal, which encompasses a temporary ceasefire.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas commits to releasing 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased individuals in exchange for the liberation of various Palestinian prisoners. This exchange marks a critical diplomatic effort to de-escalate tensions and foster peace between the conflicting parties.

---

5. Moderna's FDA Approval of Next-Generation COVID Vaccine

Segment Time: [03:04] - [03:57]

Moderna has announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine. This new vaccine variant is authorized for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those between 12 to 64 years old who have at least one underlying health risk factor.

A notable improvement of this vaccine is its storage requirement; it can be kept in standard refrigerators rather than specialized freezers. This advancement not only extends the vaccine's shelf life but also simplifies its distribution logistics, making it more accessible to a broader population.

---

6. Breakthrough Research on Immune System's Circadian Clocks

Reporter: Burleigh McCoy
Segment Time: [03:57] - [04:42]

Scientific research has uncovered new insights into how the immune system's circadian clocks influence its response to infections. Previous studies established that immune cells operate on internal clocks, dictating their activity based on the time of day. However, the mechanisms communicating this temporal information were previously unclear.

In a recent study published in Science Immunology, researchers utilized transparent baby zebrafish with genetically modified immune cells that emit fluorescent light. By exposing these fish to fluorescent bacteria under different light conditions, the team observed that immune cells eradicated bacteria more efficiently during daylight hours. When specific circadian clock genes were disabled, the immune cells' enhanced response was lost.

Notable Quote:

"This knowledge could allow scientists to rally immune cells to respond to a bad infection."
— Burleigh McCoy, NPR News [04:21]

These findings open the door to potential therapies that can manipulate the immune system's timing mechanisms to improve responses to infections and possibly other immune-related conditions.

---

7. Dragon Boat Races in Southern Hong Kong

Segment Time: [04:42] - [05:04]

Thousands have gathered in southern Hong Kong to participate in the traditional dragon boat races, a vibrant and culturally significant event. Participants in ornately decorated boats race in unison, synchronized with rhythmic drumbeats, striving to be the first to cross the finish line.

The dragon boat festival is steeped in various legends and is celebrated not only in Hong Kong but also across mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. This event not only serves as a competitive sport but also as a celebration of heritage and community spirit.

---

For more updates and detailed news, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR News Now or access the podcast through their preferred platforms.

Transcript

[Unknown Host]

Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like npr, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants, incompetent criminals and ridiculous science studies. And call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nora Rahm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ram. Immigrant advocates are dismayed by the Supreme Court's ruling allowing the Trump administration to revoke temporary legal status for people who fled unstable countries. NPR's Adrienne Florida reports as many as half a million people now face deportation even though the court's decision is still being litigated.

[Adrienne Florido]

It's known as CHNV because under the Biden administration, people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela were given temporary status if they had a US Sponsor. Guerleen Joseph directs the Haitian Bridge alliance, an advocacy group.

[Guerleen Joseph]

This is a group of people who followed every single rule and came here with that status and now it is taken away from them.

[Adrienne Florido]

She says the legal fight to protect CHNV will continue. Adrienne Florido, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

President Trump announced yesterday he's doubling the tariffs on imported steel to 50% to boost the US steel industry. The Trump administration has said it's in negotiations with several countries on new trade deals. Except for Britain, agreements have not been announced. NPR's Ron Elving has more.

[Ron Elving]

And all this has been complicated further by court decisions this week saying Trump does not have the authority to impose all these tariffs without Congress. That ruling by the International Trade Court could cripple the whole anti tariff campaign. But that too is is on pause just now while a higher court reviews that ruling.

[Nora Rahm]

NPR's Ron Elving. A tornado hit Kentucky yesterday, the latest in a deadly two week stretch when seven tornadoes struck the state killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more. Karen Zahr with member station WUKY reports meteorologists are using new technology plus old fashioned observation to confirm and classify tornadoes.

[Karen Zahr]

Officials with the National Weather Service use high tech equipment like drones grabbing aerial views and phone apps that estimate wind speed based on damage. Lead forecaster Brian Schopmer and his team also surveyed damage on the ground. At their first stop, Shotmer said an EF1 tornado touched down.

[Brian Schopmer]

It looks like the debris from this particular structure was thrown to the north of the path. And since the storm was moving east or northeast, that indicates to me that it was thrown almost counterclockwise after stopping.

[Karen Zahr]

At another site where a home had been ripped off its foundation. They upgraded the tornado to an an EF2 with wind speeds reaching 125 mph. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Springfield, Kentucky.

[Nora Rahm]

Hamas said today it's accepting part of a U.S. proposal to end the violence in Gaza. Israel has agreed to the plan, which includes a temporary ceasefire. Hamas says it will release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners. You're listening to NPR News. The drug company Moderna said today the Food and Drug Administration has approved its next generation COVID vaccine. It said it's been approved for everyone aged 65 and older and for those 12 to 64 who have at least one underlying risk factor. The new vaccine can be stored in refrigerators rather than freezers, which provides a longer shelf life and easier distribution. When people get a scratch or an infection, the body responds better if it happens during the day. NPR's Burleigh McCoy reports.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Scientists have known that many cells in the immune system have built in circadian clocks, genes that tell them to respond differently depending on the time. But scientists weren't quite sure how the immune system was telling time. To figure it out, researchers used baby zebrafish, which are transparent with modified immune cells that give off fluorescent light. The team exposed the fish to fluore bacteria and watched how the immune cells responded when it was light or dark during the day, the immune cells killed bacteria faster. But when researchers cut out certain circadian clocked genes from the immune cells, they lost that ability. This knowledge could allow scientists to rally immune cells to respond to a bad infection. They published their findings in the journal Science Immunology, Burleigh McCoy and PR News.

[Nora Rahm]

Thousands of people are in southern Hong Kong today for the dragon boat races. Rowers in decorated boats race to be the first to cross the in sync with drumbeats. The origin of the festival is linked to various legends. It's celebrated in mainland China and Taiwan, as well as Singapore and Malaysia. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

[Brian Schopmer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or.