NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-03-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: May 4, 2025

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Am I a propagandist? A truth teller? An influencer? There's probably no more contested profession in the world today than mine, journalism. I'm Brian Reed, and on my show, Question Everything, we dive head first into the conflicts we're all facing over truth and who gets to tell it. Listen now to Question Everything, part of the NPR Podcast Network. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst. A federal judge struck down President Trump's executive order targeting the prominent law firm of Perkins Coie. MPR's Ryan Lucas reports the ruling deals a blow to Trump's campaign to punish law firms

that he views as political enemies. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge B Barrel Howell says that no American president has ever issued an executive order like the one against Perkins Cooey. But Howell says in purpose and effect, it draws from a playbook that dates back to Shakespeare in his famous phrase of, quote, the first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers. Howell's ruling framed Trump's executive order as an attack on the independence of the legal profession and the broader judicial system and their foundational principles. She said punishing lawyers for representing clients or causes the president doesn't like

is unconstitutional. Three other firms have sued to challenge Trump's orders targeting them. Perkins' case is the first to be permanently blocked by a court. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. Texas has officially joined more than 30 states that have an education savings account plan. The Texas newsroom's Blaise Ganey reports the new law creates a program providing state tax dollars to parents educating their children outside of the public school system. With one billion in initial funding, Texas' program is the largest day one plan of its kind in the nation. When up and running, families will be able to open accounts they can use toward private school tuition, homeschooling

and other education related expenses. Here's Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the bill's signing. When I ran for re-election in 2022, I promised school choice for the families of Texas. Today we deliver on that promise. Children with disabilities and those from low-income families will be given the first opportunity to enroll in the program. Then it opens up to everyone with no income cap. That's something Democrats who oppose the bill criticized. I'm Blaise Ganey in Austin. Danielle Pletka The medical charity Doctors Without Borders is condemning a deadly attack on one of its hospitals in South Sudan. At least seven people died, around 20 were injured. Charity spokesman

Maman Mustafa says helicopter gunships carried out the bombing. It was horrific and a big surprise for us. We are quite outrageous and shocked that the hospital is bombed. Our pharmacy has been burned down to ashes. The civilian population also were attacked. We received about 20 wounded in the hospital. Danielle Pletka speaking there to the BBC, witnesses blame the South Sudanese military, but that hasn't been confirmed. Warren Buffett says he will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year. The 94-year-old made the announcement at the annual shareholders meeting in Omaha today, recommending longtime

executive Greg Abel take his spot. He also criticized tariffs and defended global trade, warning that President Trump's trade war will hurt the U.S. You're listening to NPR News. In Australia, Anthony Albanese has claimed victory as the first Prime Minister to win a second consecutive term in 21 years. And in doing so, he achieved a turnaround for his centre-left party that trailed in the polls for months behind the conservative opposition as the high cost of living weighed on voters. Our government will choose the Australian way because we are proud of who we are and

all that we have built together in this country. Albanese says his government won by not modeling itself on the Trump administration. After being closed for nearly five years for renovations, a major historic landmark in St. Louis reopened to the public today. Alex Hoyer of St. Louis Public Radio has more. Alex Hoyer Many years before the Gateway Arch dominated the St. Louis skyline, it was the old courthouse with its green dome reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol. Built in the mid-1800s, the old courthouse is known as the place where Dredd and Harriet

Scott sued for their freedom. Their case ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1857 upheld slavery and pushed the country closer to civil war. The courthouse now includes a permanent exhibit to the Scotts. Lynn Jackson is their great-great-granddaughter. For them to have their own gallery is just an incredible, huge honor and a great leap forward. The old courthouse is part of Gateway Arch National Park, and its reopening concludes a $380 million renovation that lasted more than a decade. For NPR News, I'm Alex Hoyer in St. Louis.

At the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs today, the sovereignty took the top spot. You're listening to NPR News. This message comes from NYU Langone. The NYU Langone Health app gives you access to your electronic health record. NPR News.