NPR News Now: May 31, 2025, 7AM EDT
NPR's latest five-minute news update covers significant developments in U.S. trade policies, political opposition to federal spending cuts, legal battles affecting public broadcasting, defense strategies against China, ongoing law enforcement efforts, and positive movements in the stock market.
1. President Trump's Tariff Plans on Steel and Aluminum
Giles Snyder reports from Washington that President Donald Trump has announced a plan to double tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, set to take effect the following week. During his visit to Pittsburgh, Trump declared a 50% tariff increase aimed at bolstering a deal between U.S. Steel and Japan's Nippon Steel. However, the specific details of this agreement remain unclear.
In further analysis, Franco Ordonez provides insight into the situation:
"The details are still quite murky and there are real questions about if it is different. Trump, though, insisted that the company would remain under U.S. control" (00:40).
Ordonez highlights skepticism among industry analysts who believe Trump’s portrayal of the deal as a partnership may not significantly differ from previous proposals to sell U.S. Steel, suggesting it might merely be a strategic rebranding to avoid the appearance of policy inconsistency.
Giles Snyder adds:
"On stage in Pittsburgh, Trump said U.S. Steel would remain an American company after previously promising to block a merger. He later said he has yet to approve the agreement" (01:07).
The acquisition by Nippon Steel has faced opposition from union leaders, reflecting concerns over foreign control of domestic industries.
2. Senator Joni Ernst Faces Backlash Over Federal Spending Cuts
In Iowa, Senator Joni Ernst encountered significant opposition during a town hall meeting regarding her support for President Trump's "big beautiful bill." Reported by James Kelly from Iowa Public Radio:
"The Congressional Budget Office estimates the spending plan would result in more than $700 billion in spending cuts to Medicaid over the next decade" (01:40).
Senator Ernst defended the bill by stating it aims to ensure that benefits are not extended to individuals without legal status. However, constituents voiced serious concerns. An audience member notably responded:
"They are not eligible, so they will be coming off. So people are not well, we all are going to die" (01:58).
Ernst acknowledged that certain provisions of the House bill would be excluded from the Senate's version but did not specify which elements would be omitted (02:09).
3. PBS and NPR Take Legal Action Against President Trump
Giles Snyder informs listeners that PBS and Lakeland PBS, a service for rural Minnesota, have initiated a lawsuit against President Trump. The lawsuit challenges Trump's executive order aimed at preventing federal funds from supporting PBS and NPR, arguing that the order poses an existential threat to public television.
David Folkenflick elaborates:
"Trump alleges PBS and NPR failed to provide, quote, fair, accurate, unbiased and nonpartisan news. The two networks deny that in their lawsuit Friday" (02:37).
The public television entities counter by asserting:
"Our constitution and laws forbid the president from serving as the arbiter of content" (02:37).
A White House spokesperson responded that Trump is "exercising his lawful authority to bar the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and local public media stations from sending federal funds to the two networks," but CPB maintains its independence by refusing to comply and is pursuing legal action regarding control over its board (02:37).
Additionally, public radio stations have filed similar lawsuits, reinforcing the media's resistance against the administration's attempts to influence public broadcasting.
4. Defense Secretary Reaffirms U.S. Commitment Against Chinese Pressure
Giles Snyder reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the United States' commitment to supporting Indo-Pacific allies in the face of Chinese military and economic pressure on Taiwan. Speaking at the annual Shangri La Defense Summit in Singapore, Hegseth asserted:
"The US will not leave them alone to face Chinese military and economic pressure on Taiwan" (03:14).
He further warned that China is actively training its military to take control of the self-governing region, underscoring the strategic tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
5. Manhunt Continues for Escaped Inmates in Arkansas and Louisiana
Law enforcement officials are intensifying efforts to locate Grant Hardin, the former police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, who escaped from a northern Arkansas prison. Known locally as the "Devil in the Ozarks," Hardin’s escape marks the sixth day of a widespread manhunt. Authorities are also searching for two additional inmates who fled from a New Orleans jail over two weeks ago, both of whom were part of a group of ten escapees.
6. Stock Markets End the Week on a Positive Note Amid Tariff Uncertainty
Despite ongoing uncertainties surrounding tariffs, the stock market saw gains this week. Scott Horsley reports that all major indexes closed in positive territory:
- Dow Jones: +1.6%
- S&P 500: +1.9%
- Nasdaq: +2%
Horsley attributes the market's resilience to:
"Investors seemed well-rested this week after the long Memorial Day weekend. They got some encouraging news on inflation as the Fed's preferred cost of living gauge showed prices in April rose just 2.1% from a year ago. Core inflation was 2.5% for the 12 months ending in April. That's the smallest annual increase in more than four years" (04:13).
He notes that although tariffs were expected to exert upward pressure on prices, recent court rulings have constrained the President's authority to implement sweeping global tariffs. The administration has pledged to appeal these decisions to the Supreme Court, reflecting ongoing legal battles over trade policies.
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Note: Timestamps correspond to the podcast transcript segments for reference.