NPR News: 05-31-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Stay informed with NPR for comprehensive coverage of the latest national and international news.

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Note: Timestamps correspond to the podcast transcript segments for reference.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says his plan to double tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum will take effect next week. Trump announced a hike to 50% during a visit to Pittsburgh yesterday to promote a deal between U.S. steel and Japan's Nippon Steel. Details are unclear of that deal, as NPR's Franco Ordonez reports.

[Franco Ordonez]

I mean, the details are still quite murky and there are real questions about if it is different. I mean, Trump, though, insisted that the company would remain under U.S. control. But when you talk to industry analysts about these things, those who are following all the different moves, I mean, they say this may not be that different than what was originally proposed, you know, the selling of U.S. steel. But they say Trump is is calling it a partnership to avoid sounding like he switched his position.

[Giles Snyder]

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. Nippon Steel has been seeking to buy U.S. steel since 2023. The acquisition has been opposed by union leadership. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst faced loud opposition to her support at President Trump's so called big beautiful bill at a town hall Friday. From Iowa Public Radio, James Kelly reports that constituents 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 decade. 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 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]

PBS and Lakeland pbs, which serves rural Minnesota, have sued President Trump over his executive order seeking to bar federal funds from going to PBS and npr. The lawsuit contends Trump's order would upend and pose an existential threat to public television. As NPR's David Folkenflick reports, Trump alleges.

[David Folkenflick]

PBS and NPR failed to provide, quote, fair, accurate, unbiased and nonpartisan news. The two networks deny that in their lawsuit Friday. The public television outlets argue, quote, our constitution and laws forbid the president from serving as the arbiter of content. A White House spokesperson says Trump is, quote, exercising his lawful authority to bar the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and local public media stations from sending federal funds to the two networks. CPB is privately incorporated and is ignoring Trump's demand. It's separately suing the president in a fight over control of its board. David Folkenflick, NPR News, NPR and three.

[Giles Snyder]

Public radio stations have filed a similar suit. 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. Hagseth said China is, in his words, actively training its military to take control of the self governing Ireland. The man hunt for a convicted killer who escaped from a prison in northern Arkansas is now in its sixth day. Grant Hardin is the former police chief of the small town of Gateway on the Arkansas Missouri border. He is known as the Devil in the Ozarks. Authorities are also searching through for the remaining two inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail more than two weeks ago. They were among 10 men who escaped. Stocks gained ground this week to amid ongoing tariff uncertainty. NPR Scott Horsley reports that all of the major indexes finished the week in positive territory.

[Scott Horsley]

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. Forecasters have been warning that tariffs could put more upward pressure on prices. But a pair of court rulings this week found the president does not have the authority to order sweeping worldwide tariffs. The administration's promised to appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. For the week, The Dow rose 1.6%, the S&P 500 index climbed 1.9% and the Nasdaq jumped 2%. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Jael Snyder. This is npr.

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