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Episode Date: May 4, 2025

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The scary new movie Sinners from the director of Black Panther finds Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers. It's got vampires, it's got great music, and it's a fun one to see with a big crowd. This is the most excited I've been about a movie in a very long time. We'll tell you why you should see Sinners on the biggest screen you can. Listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Israel is vowing retribution after a missile fire by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen landed near Israel's main airport today. Flights were disrupted and Israeli

officials say four people were lightly injured. NPR's Kerry Kahn reports on this latest Houthi attack. Sirens went off in many cities in central Israel including Tel Aviv early Sunday morning, sending Israelis into bomb shelters and halting flights at the international airport. The missile or debris from it fell in a field near Ben Gurion Airport. Most missiles from Yemen are intercepted, but some have penetrated Israeli airspace and caused damage. A Yemeni official posted on social media that the attack is a warning to international airlines

to not fly into Israel's main airport. Since the start of the Gaza war in solidarity with Palestinians, the Houthis have sent missiles into Israel. Israel's defense minister says forces will no longer use restraint against Yemen, adding, quote, whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold. Kari Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The attack came as the Israeli security cabinet prepares to vote today on whether to expand military operations in Gaza.

A day after winning a landslide election victory over the conservative opposition, Australia's Labor Party says dealing with the economic fallout of U.S.-China trade tensions will be a priority for its second term, Christina Kukulja reports. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the morning after the vote, Labour Treasurer Jim Chalmers said US tariffs will have a relatively modest impact on Australia's economy, but stressed 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 Kukwala in Melbourne. Investors in Wall Street gearing up for the next meeting of the Federal Reserve policy makers. I'm Christina Kukhalla in Melbourne. There is good news for the Fed. Inflation continues to ease slowly and the labor market has been sturdy. The problem is that tariffs are sparking a lot of concerns about

the economy. So policymakers are unlikely to make any big moves on monetary policy, even if President Trump has been trying to pressure the Fed to lower rates. But investors will be paying close attention to what the Fed has to say about tariffs. And after two weeks of regaining lost ground in the markets, stock investors will continue to follow company earnings, including from Ford and AB in Vev, which owns beer brands like Budweiser. The big focus for investors, you guessed it, is tariffs, of course. Rafael Nuhm, NPR News. This is NPR. Texas has officially joined more than 30 other states that have an education savings account

plan. The Texas newsroom's Blaise Ganey reports on the new law that creates a program to provide state tax dollars to parents who are 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 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. Today is the unofficial May the 4th holiday, otherwise known as Star Wars Day. Ann Newman is president and CEO of the as Star Wars Day. And Newman is president

and CEO of the nonprofit Star Wars Museum Rancho Obi-Wan in Petaluma, California, certified by Guinness World Records as housing the world's largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia. Newman says today is more about simply celebrating the Star Wars movies. I would say it's about community and the things that bind you to friends, to family, to other people you don't know. Strangers you meet in line watching Star Wars. I think that's the force. And may the fourth be with you.

I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News from Washington. Look, we get it. When it comes to new music, there is a lot of it, and it all comes really fast. But on All Songs Considered, NPR's music recommendation podcast, we'll handpick what we think is the greatest music happening right now and give you your next great listen. So kick back, settle in, get those eardrums wide open, and get your dose of new music from All Songs Considered, only from NPR.