NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-05-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: May 6, 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 headfirst 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 Jack Spear. The Israeli military has carried out multiple strikes directed at a key port in Yemen. As NPR's Greg Myrie reports, the Israeli attack comes a day after Yemen's Houthi fighters fired a missile into central Israel. The Israeli military posted a

statement saying its jet fighters targeted the seaport of Hodeidah on Yemen's western coast as well as a nearby concrete factory. The Israelis say both facilities are central to Houthi military operations. A day earlier, a long-range missile from Yemen crashed close to Israel's main airport outside Tel Aviv, causing several injuries. This marked an extremely rare instance of a Houthi missile penetrating Israeli air defenses and hitting near a sensitive site. The U.S., meanwhile, has been bombing Yemen almost daily for seven weeks. The U.S. is demanding a halt to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

Greg Myrie, NPR News. The Trump administration is pausing a rule that would require new and remodeled federal buildings to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. MPR's Jeff Brady reports the rule is required under a 2007 law. The Department of Energy was supposed to craft regulations within a year of the 2007 law's enactment. That didn't happen until last year during the Biden administration. Now Energy Secretary Chris Wright says he's pausing the fossil fuel ban

as the department reviews regulations to ensure they're aligned with Trump administration energy policies. Alex Bomstein with the Clean Air Council calls it a favor to the fossil fuel industry. This is taking a law that's been on the books for nearly two decades at this point and saying, mm, you know, we're not actually going to move forward with it.

And this is a matter of defying Congress. The Clean Air Council says it's reviewing the change before deciding how to respond. Jeff Brady, NPR News. The Department of Education says it will cut additional federal research funding to Harvard University. US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon will issue a letter to Harvard's President Alan Garber. Federal government has already frozen $2.2 billion in federal

grants to the university. Trump supporters in a Maryland town are pondering their votes after the administration canceled classes at the National Fire Academy. MPR's Frank Langford reports from Emmitsburg. The town voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Many liked his vow to cut waste and government spending. But Emmitsburg was jolted when the administration canceled classes at the Academy here, which trains thousands of firefighters who visit each year. Mayor Frank Davis says the move hurts the town's economy and is bad for public safety. They need to get back up and get the students back here.

There are plenty of rocks to look under, but the National Fire Academy is not one of them. The administration suggested it canceled in-person training because it's not, quote, mission critical. Congresswoman April McLean Delaney, a Democrat, said, quote, I have no idea why they're doing this. Frank Langford, NPR News, Emmitsburg, Maryland. You're listening to NPR News. Today is Square Root Day.

Here's NPR's Ari Daniel to explain what it all means. Ron Gordon started Square Root Day in 1981. It happens any time the number of the month times the day equals the year. Like today, 5 times 5 is 25. It only happens 9 times each century. So Gordon says each one is worth celebrating. It's a good day to get things squared away, to try to fit a square peg into a round hole, go score dancing, root for the underdog, or watch the pigs root around.

Square Root Day is a reminder that math is all around us, says Terence Blackman, who chairs the math department at Medgar Evers College. It allows us to, you know, in a way wonder about the world in which we live and the patterns that inform our lives. Today is extra special because the year is a perfect square. That is 45 times 45 is 2025. R.A. Daniel, NPR News. This year's Pulitzer Prizes are out.

The New York Times picking up four while the New Yorker garnered three for its journalism. Prizes are awarded today for reporting, photography, and commentary that hit on issues including the war in Gaza, the Fentanyl crisis, and last summer's assassination attempt on President Trump. ProPublica won the prestigious public service medal for a second straight year. Also honored was Washington Post editorial cartoonist and towness who quit her job because the paper would not run a cartoon criticizing tech leaders that included her paper's owner. Crude oil futures prices moved lower, falling by more than a dollar a barrel today on concerns

about OPEC output hikes, oiled down $1.16 a barrel to $57.13 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. NPR News in Washington.