Public Media Cuts, Waltz Out As National Security Advisor, Alien Enemies Act Ruling

Summary

Up First from NPR – May 2, 2025 Episode Summary

Hosts: Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin, A Martinez, Ayesha Rascoe, Scott Simon

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1. Executive Order Threatens Federal Funding for PBS and NPR

Overview: In a significant move against public media, President Trump issued an executive order aiming to terminate federal funding for PBS and NPR, accusing these organizations of political bias. This action marks the latest in a series of challenges faced by public broadcasters from the current administration and Republican leaders in Congress.

Key Discussions:

• Impact on Public Media:

  • Ryland Barton (NPR): Explained how the executive order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to cease funding NPR and PBS, arguing that federal funds should not support what the President deems as biased reporting. Currently, NPR receives approximately 1% of its funding from CPB, while PBS receives about 15%.

    "Trump is directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop sending money to NPR and PBS, saying that federal funding should not support what he calls biased and partisan news coverage." [02:39]

  • Effects on Local Stations:

    • Barton emphasized that local stations, especially in rural areas, heavily rely on CPB funds. For instance, stations like Louisville Public Media depend on 8-10% of their revenue from CPB, with smaller stations sometimes receiving over half their funding from these sources. The potential cut threatens the existence of news services in "news deserts," where public media often serves as the primary news source.

      "Stations like Louisville Public Media... get an average of 8% to 10% of their revenue from CPB... They get an average of..." [04:11]

• Political Backdrop:

  • The administration’s actions follow recent confrontations, including hearings led by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who accused NPR and PBS of bias. During one such hearing, Greene confronted NPR CEO Catherine Marr, highlighting the contentious relationship between public media and certain political factions.

    “Your federal funding is also paid for by the other half of the country, the 77 million Americans who voted for President Trump, someone you called a deranged racist sociopath.” [04:11]

Conclusion: The executive order represents a direct threat to the financial stability of national and local public media outlets. With CPB also contesting other administrative actions, the future of federal support for public broadcasting remains uncertain.

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2. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Resigns Amid Controversy

Overview: Mike Waltz, President Trump’s National Security Adviser, is departing the White House to accept a nomination as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. This transition comes in the aftermath of a blunder where Waltz inadvertently added a journalist to a confidential group chat discussing sensitive military plans.

Key Discussions:

• Circumstances of Waltz’s Departure:

  • Dia Hadid (NPR, West Palm Beach): Detailed the incident where Waltz mistakenly invited an Atlantic editor to a private Signal chat containing top Trump officials discussing potential military actions in Yemen. While the White House initially downplayed the error as a "glitch," increasing pressure led to Waltz’s resignation.

    “Waltz did take responsibility for accidentally inviting the editor of the Atlantic into a private signal chat...” [07:37]

  • Impact on White House Dynamics:

    • The move to appoint Marco Rubio as both interim National Security Adviser and continuing Secretary of State is unprecedented, raising questions about the effectiveness and sustainability of holding dual roles.

      “Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security advisor while continuing to do his current job as well. And it's very unusual, I'll say, for one person to hold both major roles.” [06:26]

• Waltz’s Role and Future:

  • Waltz has been viewed as a traditional Republican hawk, sometimes at odds with Trump loyalists who favor reducing foreign involvement. This misalignment may have contributed to his decreased prominence within the administration.

    “Waltz had kind of a diminished role in recent months... He was more of a traditional Republican hawk compared to some of the other advisors...” [08:28]

Conclusion: Mike Waltz's resignation signifies not only a personnel change but also highlights underlying tensions within the White House's national security apparatus. His pending confirmation as UN Ambassador remains uncertain, especially in light of the recent controversy.

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3. Federal Judge Blocks Use of Alien Enemies Act for Deportations

Overview: A groundbreaking ruling by U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. in Texas declared President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants as unlawful. This marks the first judicial pushback against the administration’s aggressive deportation strategies under this statute.

Key Discussions:

• Details of the Ruling:

  • Sergio Martinez Beltran (NPR, Immigration Correspondent): Outlined how Judge Rodriguez found that the Trump administration exceeded the scope of the Alien Enemies Act, which was originally intended for military incursions or hostile takeovers, not for targeting specific immigrant groups.

    “Judge Rodriguez wrote in his ruling that Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies act exceeds the scope of the statute.” [10:28]

  • Case Specifics:

    • The case involves Venezuelan men accused of being part of the Trende Aragua gang. Despite accusations, not all deported individuals have criminal records, raising significant legal and ethical concerns.

      “Trump has used the act to remove more than 130 Venezuelan men from the US and send them to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.” [11:10]

• Implications and Next Steps:

  • Ryland Barton (NPR): Emphasized that the ruling protects all detainees in the Southern District of Texas from removal under the Alien Enemies Act.

    “This decision protects everyone who's detained in the Southern District of Texas. It means that they cannot be removed anywhere under the Alien Enemies act, much less to a brutal Salvadoran prison.” [12:48]

  • Potential Appeals:

    • The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, known for its conservative leanings, which could set significant precedents for future immigration policy.

      “It's almost guaranteed that the Trump administration will appeal this decision.” [12:56]

Conclusion: Judge Rodriguez’s ruling challenges the Trump administration’s interpretation of the Alien Enemies Act, potentially halting unlawful deportations of Venezuelan immigrants and sparking broader debates on immigration law and executive power.

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Additional Highlight: Planned Military Parade

Overview: Reports surfaced about the U.S. Army planning a large-scale military parade to commemorate both the Army’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 79th birthday. This event, which awaits White House approval, marks a notable use of military celebration in conjunction with a presidential birthday.

Key Discussion:

• Details of the Parade:
  • Dia Hadid (NPR, West Palm Beach): Provided insights into the proposed parade, noting its dual significance and the unusual combination of a military event with a presidential birthday celebration.

    “It's a big military parade to mark the Army's 250th anniversary, as well as Trump's 79th birthday... The plan is awaiting White House approval.” [09:25]

Conclusion: The planned parade represents a blend of military tradition and political celebration, highlighting the ongoing relationship between the U.S. armed forces and presidential milestones.

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Final Notes: The May 2, 2025 episode of Up First delved into critical issues affecting public media funding, high-level changes within the White House’s national security team, and landmark legal decisions impacting immigration policies. These stories underscore the dynamic interplay between government actions, judicial oversight, and the vital role of public media in informing the populace.

For a more in-depth exploration of these topics, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR’s detailed reporting and analysis.

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This summary was compiled based on the episode transcript and provided podcast information.

Transcript

[Layla Faulded]

A new executive order is trying to stop federal funding to PBS and npr.

[Michelle Martin]

It's the latest attack on public media. What happens to local stations in news deserts if the money dries up?

[Layla Faulded]

I'm Layla Faulded. That's Michelle Martin. And this is up first from NPR News.

[Michelle Martin]

National security Adviser Mike Waltz is leaving the White House. He's nominated for a new job as UN Ambassador. Is it a promotion or a punishment for signal gate?

[Layla Faulded]

And a federal judge in Texas dealt a major blow to the president's efforts to deport non citizens.

[Ryland Barton]

This decision protects everyone who's detained in the Southern District of Texas. It means that they cannot be removed anywhere under the Alien Enemies act, much less to a brutal Salvadoran prison.

[Layla Faulded]

Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

[Franco Ordonez]

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[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

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[Layla Faulded]

Late last night, President Trump issued an executive order that attempts to end federal funding for NPR and pbs, accusing the organizations of political bias.

[Michelle Martin]

It's the latest in a string of attacks on public media by the administration and Republican leaders in Congress. The move bans direct federal funding for the public broadcasters. It also bans local public radio and television stations from using taxpayer dollars to support them under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself. No NPR executive reviewed the before it airs.

[Layla Faulded]

With us to talk about all of this is NPR's Ryland Barton. Hi, Ryland.

[Ryland Barton]

Hi, Leila.

[Layla Faulded]

So tell us exactly how Trump is trying to defund NPR and PBS through this executive order.

[Ryland Barton]

Well, Trump is directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or cpb, to stop sending money to NPR and pbs, saying that federal funding should not support what he calls biased and partisan news coverage. We Reached out to NPR and PBS and didn't hear back overnight. But NPR and PBS have repeatedly said they are fair in their coverage. CPB is this independent nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 to partially fund public broadcasters. And currently NPR receives about 1% of its funding directly from CPB, and PBS gets about 15%. But the other part of this executive order tries to get at the indirect ways that the news organizations get federal dollars, and that's through local stations. They are banned from using CPB funds to pay for NPR or PBS content under the order. Now, I should say CPB is also fighting a different move by the president earlier this week to fire board members. So it's unclear how they will respond to this order. They sued over that move, saying they're not a federal agency and that board members don't serve at the pleasure of the president. CPB didn't respond to an overnight request for comment on this, though.

[Layla Faulded]

Okay. This appears to be the most direct attack on public media, but we all know this has been building for a while.

[Ryland Barton]

Yeah. Layla. Listeners might remember that back in late March, the heads of NPR and PBS testified at this House hearing called Anti American Airways holding the heads of NPR and PBS Accountable. It was headed up by Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. Here she is speaking to NPR CEO Catherine Marr.

[Layla Faulded]

Let me inform you and that so that your. That your federal funding is also paid for by the other half of the country, the 77 million Americans who voted for President Trump, someone you called a deranged racist sociopath.

[Ryland Barton]

Greene was referring to a social media post Marr made before she became NPR CEO. Marr said she regretted the post and wouldn't have made it today. And Maher and her PBS counterpart rejected accusations that their coverage is biased.

[Layla Faulded]

Okay, tell us about how this would affect local stations.

[Ryland Barton]

Yeah. So stations like Louisville Public Media, where I happen to be based and I'm sitting right now, they get an average of 8% to 10% of their revenue from CPB. That number is much, much higher for smaller rural stations, sometimes over of their funding. Stations have been sounding the alarm on this in recent months. You can hear it in their fund drives, saying it's an existential threat to their operations and their communities. And it's unclear what this executive order means for them. But a lot of content on stations is national. NPR and PBS programing. NPR relies on these number stations to cover breaking news and provide context that national reporters just can't always do. And they're sometimes the only news option for people in remote places, providing life saving emergency alerts about things like severe weather.

[Layla Faulded]

Right. Operating in a lot of news deserts, too. Now, there's another attempt to defund public broadcasting that could be in the works. Tell us about that.

[Ryland Barton]

Right. A couple weeks ago, we reported that Trump was planning to ask Congress to claw back two years worth of funding for CPB. That's $1.1 billion. We still haven't seen that materialize, though.

[Layla Faulded]

NPR's Ryland Barton. Thank you, Ryland.

[Ryland Barton]

Thank.

[Layla Faulded]

President Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz is leaving the White House.

[Michelle Martin]

The announcement comes after he took the blame for accidentally adding a journalist to a group chat of top Trump officials, a chat where they discussed plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen. It's the first big shakeup in White House staff since Trump started his second term.

[Layla Faulded]

NPR's Franco Ordonez is traveling with the president, and he joins us now from West Palm Beach. Hi, Franco.

[Dia Hadid]

Hey, Leila.

[Layla Faulded]

Okay, so tell us more about how this went down and what it all means.

[Dia Hadid]

Well, I'll say the White House is trying to put a good spin on it. President Trump says he's nominating Mike Waltz to serve as the US Ambassador to the United nations and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security advisor while continuing to do his current job as well. And it's very unusual, I'll say, for one person to hold both major roles. And it's not clearly how it's going to work. And we really don't know who's going to replace Waltz either. This is all happening just a couple weeks before Trump's first major foreign trip to the Middle East. Now, there has been or there was a lot of turnover in Trump's first term, especially at the head of the NSC. But this is the first big shakeup of Trump 2.0 for Waltz. His new job will depend on confirmation by the U.S. senate. So that means actually that the issue of how Waltz handled that group chat is likely to be front and center again. And that could really make the confirmation process tricky.

[Layla Faulded]

We spent a lot of time over the past month talking about the signal incident. How did that controversy factor into Trump's decision here?

[Dia Hadid]

I mean, it was embarrassing for the White House. Waltz did take responsibility for accidentally inviting the editor of the Atlantic into a private signal chat, which was made up of top officials. They were discussing sensitive plans for US Strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. Trump initially defended Waltz and downplayed the incident as a, quote, glitch. I was actually with Trump yesterday, and he didn't talk about moving Waltz, but. But Vice President J.D. vance did, and he insisted that the signal chat was not the reason for this change during an interview on Fox News.

[Ryland Barton]

I like Mike. I think he's a great guy. He's got the trust of both me and the president. But we also thought that he'd make a better UN Ambassador as we get beyond this stage of the reforms that we've made to the National Security Council.

[Dia Hadid]

By reforms, Vance means staffing the NSC with people who are more loyal to Trump and support his policies.

[Layla Faulded]

Trump has a lot of people around him on national security issues. How did Waltz fit in there?

[Dia Hadid]

You know, Waltz had kind of a diminished role in recent months. He was more of a traditional Republican hawk compared to some of the other advisors who want to get America out from foreign involvement. And Trump loyalists never really trusted him. And we've seen Trump lean more heavily on other aides when it comes to big conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and even in talks with Iran. Those included Rubio, as well as the Middle east envoy Steve Witkoff, and even Treasury Secretary Scott Bassent. Waltz just never seemed to fully align with Trump's approach to Moscow and other adversaries. But I will note that Vance also said in that Fox interview that that's not what this is all about.

[Layla Faulded]

And finally, Franco, before we go, we hear that the army is planning a parade to mark the president's birthday. Sounds unusual. What can you say about it?

[Dia Hadid]

Yeah, it's a big military parade to mark the Army's 250th anniversary, as well as Trump's 79th birthday, which falls on June 14. That's according to a source familiar with the planning who wasn't permitted to talk publicly, who told my colleague Tom Bowman. The source said the plan is awaiting White House approval.

[Layla Faulded]

Sampier's Franco Ordonez. Thank you, Franco.

[Dia Hadid]

Thank you.

[Layla Faulded]

A federal judge says that President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies act to deport Venezuelan immigrants is unlawful.

[Michelle Martin]

It's the first ruling of its kind. The decision. This decision comes from U.S. district Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. In South Texas. I'll note he was appointed by President Trump, and this ruling is a blow to the president's efforts to remove migrants from the country.

[Layla Faulded]

NPR's immigration correspondent Sergio Martinez Beltran has been following the case and joins me now. Hi, Sergio.

[Lee Gelert]

Good morning.

[Layla Faulded]

Good morning. So can you tell us more about this case and the ruling from Judge Rodriguez?

[Lee Gelert]

Yes. So the men in this Texas case have been threatened with imminent removal under the Alien Enemies Act. It's never been used in the way the Trump administration has. The men are accused of being members of Trende Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, and they're currently in detention at El Valle Detention center in Raymondville, Texas. Now, US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr wrote in his ruling that Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies act exceeds the scope of the statute. The government, he ruled, does not possess the lawful authority under the Alien Enemies act to detain Venezuelan immigrants or remove them from the country.

[Layla Faulded]

Okay, so if the government doesn't have the authority to do it. Well, they've already done it. They've used the act to remove people.

[Lee Gelert]

Right, Right. I mean, Trump has used the act to remove more than 130 Venezuelan men from the US and send them to a maximum security prison in El Salvador. The administration has accused all of them of being Trendaragua, but government officials have conceded not all of the Venezuelans have criminal records. Other courts have sought to block the Trump administration from deporting individuals under the act, but this is the first time a judge has ruled that Trump's use Act is unlawful. And it all comes down to language and also evidence.

[Layla Faulded]

How does that work?

[Lee Gelert]

Well, Leila, President Trump issued a proclamation in March accusing the Trendaragua gang of, quote, perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States. Judge Rodriguez did an extensive analysis of the historical record, and he concluded the ordinary meaning of invasion or predatory inclusion when the Alien Enemies act was enacted in 1798 required a military incursion or a hostile takeover. Over. He found that the criminal activities of Trendaragua members described in Trump's proclamation, while harmful, did not amount to an invasion or predatory incursion as understood under the act. De Choudriguez wrote that Trump's proclamation does not suggest an armed group is trying to take over the US So what.

[Layla Faulded]

Does this mean for the men named in this lawsuit?

[Lee Gelert]

Yeah, so the lawsuit names three Venezuelan men, but they're also representatives of a bigger class action. Here's the lead counsel for the men, the ACLU's Lee Gelert.

[Ryland Barton]

This decision protects everyone who's detained in the Southern District of Texas. It means that they cannot be removed anywhere under the Alien Enemies act, much less to a brutal Salvadoran prison.

[Lee Gelert]

And that's an important point here, Leila. This decision only applies to the Southern District of Texas, which includes Brownsville, McAllen, and Houston.

[Layla Faulded]

So what's next in this case?

[Lee Gelert]

Well, the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment, but it's almost guaranteed that the Trump administration will appeal this decision. The ACLU is certainly expecting that. If they do so, the appeal would go to the 5th U.S. circuit Court of Appeals, which is considered one of the country's most conservative courts.

[Layla Faulded]

That's npr. Serio Martinez Beltran, thank you.

[Lee Gelert]

You're welcome.

[Layla Faulded]

In Syria, women were often detained along with their children during the Assad regime. Sometimes security forces took the kids away.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

But some women wouldn't let go.

[Ryland Barton]

So the guards came in and took.

[Dia Hadid]

Their children by force.

[Layla Faulded]

This Sunday on Up first, what happened to the missing children of Syria? NPR's Dia Hadid investigates. Listen to the Sunday story right here on NPR's Up first podcast. And that's Up first for Friday, May 2nd. I'm Layla Falden.

[Michelle Martin]

And I'm Michelle Martin. You can listen to this podcast sponsor free while financially supporting Public media with Up First Plus. Learn more at plus.NPR.org that's P L.

[Layla Faulded]

U S.NPR.org Today's episode of Up first was edited by Jerry Holmes, Roberta Rampton, Eric Westervelt, Janaya Williams and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Carly Strange. Our executive producer is Jay Shaylor. Have a great weekend.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

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[Franco Ordonez]

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