NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-01-2025 1AM EDT

Episode Date: May 1, 2025

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President Trump is trying to distance himself from bad economic reports as he marks 100 days in office. At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump blamed the economy on his predecessor, former President Biden. More from NPR's Deepa Sivaram. In the months since Trump took office, consumer confidence in the economy has tumbled. The stock market has taken a roller coaster ride downhill and the U.S. GDP has contracted. Trump started the meeting by saying it wasn't his fault.

We saw some numbers today and I have to start off by saying that's Biden. That's not Trump because we came in on January. This is quarterly numbers. Trump also downplayed the looming effects of his trade war with China on the cost and availability of goods, saying that things like Children's dolls might cost a couple dollars more. Trump's cabinet meeting went on for roughly two hours, which largely consisted of cabinet members complimenting the president on his work in the first 100 days of the administration. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, The White House. In her first public remarks since leaving office, former Vice President Kamala Harris

is urging Americans to organize. Harris told a crowd in San Francisco that the country is witnessing the realization of an agenda that's been decades in the making. She says that includes ending public education, slashing government spending, and giving tax breaks to the rich while leaving everyone else to fend for themselves. You are not alone and we are all in this together. And straight talk, things are probably going to get worse before they get better. Harris says the nation's system of checks and balances is crumbling and that the Trump

administration is hoping that fear will prevail. House Republicans have unveiled a plan for sweeping changes to the federal student loan system. NPR's Cory Turner has details. Republicans on the House Education Committee want to eliminate the PLUS loan program for grad students and cap what parents can borrow to help their kids pay for college. For low-income students, Pell grants could be used to pay for short-term workforce training, but it would be harder to qualify for the full Pell Award.

On student loans, they want to simplify the system, down to two repayment plans for new borrowers, a standard plan with fixed monthly payments, and an income-based plan with a repayment window up to 30 years. Republicans are also proposing what they're calling skin-in-the-game accountability for colleges, with schools having to reimburse the government for a share of the debt when their students don't repay their loans. Kori Turner, NPR News. Senate Republicans have defeated a Democratic resolution that would have blocked President

Trump's global tariffs. Texas Republican John Cornyn says the vote shows that the Senate is willing to give Trump more time for his policies to work. Two senators were absent from the vote and three GOP lawmakers sided with Democrats, prompting a tie-breaking vote by Vice President J.D. Vance. You're listening to NPR News. More than 100 people are facing eviction from homeless camps on public land in central Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service is expected to close an encampment in Deschutes National Forest near Bend on Thursday to make way for wildlife mitigation treatment. A federal judge refused a request from residents and advocates for a restraining order to stop the plan, which includes fines, jail time, or both for individuals who refuse to leave,

many of those facing eviction from the encampment lost their jobs and homes during the coronavirus pandemic. A remote Colorado tourist attraction that's dedicated to UFOs is making a big anniversary and renewed interest. From Colorado Public Radio, Dan Boyce has the story. Judy Messaline started her UFO watchtower as a joke 25 years ago after her ranching operation fell on hard times.

But in the same token, we have had 304 sightings from just here. It's not much, basically just a steel viewing platform 10 feet off the ground and a gift shop. Still, she says people have been taking her joke a lot more seriously, this in the wake of declassified fighter pilot footage appearing to show UFOs. She expects about 10,000 people to visit the watchtower this summer, starting with a 25th anniversary party on Memorial Day. Could be a fine time for first contact.

For NPR News, I'm Dan Boyce in Colorado's San Luis Valley. U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. With WISE, on Wall Street. This is NPR News.