NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-04-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: May 4, 2025

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Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. The NPR Politics podcast makes politics a breeze. Every episode will break down the day's headlines into totally normal language and make sure that you walk away understanding what the day's news might mean for you. Take a deep breath and give politics another chance with the NPR Politics podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. In Gaza, a group believed to have ties to Hamas police says it's executed at least nine looters it says were working in organized crime gangs. This amid an Israeli blockade of food and basic supplies. N here's Anas Baba has more. In Gaza City, chaos erupts as hundreds of Palestinians break into this UN warehouse.

In recent days, crowds have broken into several aid facilities throughout Gaza. Furniture, solar panels, and other equipment, anything that can be repurposed or sold or hauled away. There is no food for the looters to steal. These warehouses have run out of food stocks due to the Israeli blockade. Gaza's interior ministry told a local news agency that it has formed a new 5,000th member police force to deal with looting and armed gangs. Local police, however, say Israeli drones firing at police officers prevent them from

effectively patrolling. With Israel allowing no food entry for over two months, this looting comes amid widespread hunger and lawlessness. Anas Baba and PUR News, Gaza City. A day after winning a landslide election victory over the conservative opposition, Australia's Labour Party says dealing with the economic fallout of U.S.-China trade tensions will be a priority for its second term. Christina Kukula has more. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the morning after the vote, Labor Treasurer

Jim Chalmers said US tariffs will have a relatively modest impact on Australia's economy, but stress the government will address the uncertainty caused by the import taxes. There is a huge downside risk in the global economy. I think what's happening, particularly between the US and China, does cast a dark shadow. Cost of living issues dominated the election, but polling shows the contest was overshadowed by voter concerns about the impact of US trade policy. For NPR News, I'm Christina Kukwila in Melbourne. Federal aid to help people afford rent would take a big hit in President Trump's new budget

proposal. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports it comes as housing prices and homelessness are at record highs. The White House would slash rental aid by 40 percent and limit it to two years for able-bodied adults. Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition calls that devastating. We would see homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented and unheard of. Kevin Corinth of the Conservative American Enterprise Institute does not think Congress

will go for such deep cuts on housing, but he sees a case for scaling back. It makes sense to get people aid when they need it, but we don't necessarily want them to stay on it forever. Trump's budget would also shift homelessness spending away from permanent housing to more emergency shelter. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News in Washington. Colorado river experts are providing a roadmap for solving the region's water crisis.

Alex Hager of Member Station KUNC reports they're nudging policymakers who are at an impasse about sharing the river's water. California, Arizona, and Nevada have proposed relatively modest cutbacks to their water use. Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming say they don't want to give up any water. Anne Castle, a co-author of the new recommendations, says all of the states need to engage in some shared pain. There's lots of wonderful legal arguments about why it shouldn't be me

that needs to use less water. But in order to have a viable and politically viable agreement, everybody has to do a share. The memo, written by academics and retired policymakers, also calls for better protections for tribes and the environment. They've long been left out of talks about sharing the river. For NPR News, I'm Alex Hager in Tucson. In Brazil, authorities say they foiled a planned bombing at a free Lady Gaga concert, and the two people are in custody. Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security says the plot was allegedly organized by a larger extremist network that operates online to radicalize young people and provoke hate crimes. Lady Gaga's team says they were unaware of

the situation until after the concert. The concert went off without a hitch as Gaga played to some 2 million people, the biggest attendance for a female artist. She beat Madonna's draw of 1.6 million people at her free concert at Copacabana Beach last year. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News in Washington.