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Episode Date: May 4, 2025

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Starting in the 1950s, there was a push to get meat onto Americans' plates at every meal. So you would have breakfast with maybe perhaps sausage offered. You'd have lunch where it would be deli meat sandwiches. And you'd have dinner that would center over a large cut of meat. The hidden forces behind our everyday decisions. That's on the TED Radio Hour from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump released a budget outline this week that offers $163 billion in cuts

to domestic spending. His plan would slash the budget for the Centers for Disease Control by more than half and gut an initiative that allows low-income Americans to pay their energy bills. NPR's Ron Elving says there's already some grumbling on Capitol Hill over the proposal. In the House, you hear similar objections to the ones we're hearing from the Senate, from Republicans in swing districts. But you're also hearing from the hardcore budget hawks, who want Trump to go further. They want deep, long-term cuts, and now, while the political climate still feels like last

fall, and they are afraid another budget cycle will go by and they'll have missed the chance for that fundamental change in what the government does. P.S. Ron Elving, Texas has officially joined more than 30 other states that have an education savings account plan. The Texas newsroom's Blaise Ganey reports. 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 is 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. Top officials in the Trump administration are criticizing a German government agency that's charged with protecting the government's constitution. The agency has designated the Alternative for Germany party a right-wing extremist entity which paves the way for monitoring of the party. In Pierce, Rob Schmitz reports. Vice President J.D. Vance called the decision by Germany's Federal Office for the Protection

of the Constitution akin to rebuilding the Berlin Wall. Trump adviser Elon Musk warned Germany's government about the possibility of banning the alternative for Germany party, known as AFD in Germany, and labeled the party centrist, despite prominent AFD members routinely using Nazi-era slogans and speeches. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision is, quote, not democracy, it's tyranny in disguise. That post spurred Germany's foreign ministry to reply, quote, we have learned from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped, adding, this is democracy.

Rob Schmitz in Pierre News, Berlin. Counterterrorism police in Britain have arrested eight men. That includes seven Iranian nationals. The arrest came on Sunday and raids across the country. Five men are being held on suspicion of terrorism offenses over a plot to target a site that's not been publicly identified. Officials say that the investigation remains in its early stages. You're listening to NPR News. Warren Buffett announced on Saturday that he plans on retiring by the end of the year. The news came as a surprise to those attending the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett has often said he will never retire. The 94-year-old investor endorsed Greg Abell as the next CEO for the company.

Abell has already been running the company's non-insurance businesses. Supporters of Australia's governing Labour Party are celebrating a resounding victory in that country's general election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will return to office with an increased majority. Speaking on Saturday, said Australians had voted for optimism and fairness. The BBC's Katie Watson has more from the Labour Party victory celebration in Sydney. from the Labour Party victory celebration in Sydney. It was celebration, relief and some disbelief too among Labour supporters that this win was called so quickly. This is quite the turnaround for Anthony Albanese.

Going into these elections it was a tight race, but Donald Trump changed that. Voters opted for an incumbent, a familiar face in an uncertain world. Attempts by the leader of the opposition coalition, Peter Dutton, to take from the Trump playbook, such as forcing public servants to stop working from home, didn't work out. That's the BBC's Katie Watson with our report. Golfer Jim Dent died this weekend, just one week before his 86th birthday. Golfer Jim Dent died this weekend, just one week before his 86th birthday. Dent was one of the top black golfers of his generation. He won 12 times on the PGA Tour of Champions, but he never won a regular tour event.

He started out as a caddy at the municipal course in Augusta, Georgia, known as the Patch, before he joined the PGA Tour. His son is now the head pro at that course. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. that course. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.