NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-05-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: May 5, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. This is the day the U.S. Department of Education says it will begin collections on defaulted federal student loans. We have more on this from NPR's Corey Turner. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said late last month that today the Education Department would resume what's known as the Treasury Offset Program. That means the roughly 5 million borrowers who are now in default on their federal student loans and haven't made a payment in at least 270

days could soon see the federal government seize a portion of their tax refunds or social security benefits. The department says this summer it will also begin garnishing the wages of borrowers in default. These measures are not unprecedented. They've just been paused for five years since the pandemic began. Borrowers can learn more about how to get out of default at studentaid.gov. Corey Turner, NPR News. President Trump's again leaving people wondering about what he really meant in his interview with NBC's Meet the Press moderator,

Kristen Welker, which aired last night. Trump said, I don't know, when he was asked if everyone on US soil, whatever their status is entitled to do process. He also said, I don't know and deferred to lawyers when Welker asked him if he thinks as president he has to uphold the constitution. And Piers Asmohalda looks at Trump's continued use as well of tariffs. Piers Asmohalda Tariffs are key to the president's economic vision. In fact, just last night on social media he announced plans for yet another tariff, this time a hundred percent tariff rate on movies produced outside of the United States. One last thing to note is that this week Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney is coming to Washington. It is a high stakes meeting

to watch given Trump's threats of tariffs and of course annexation toward the United States northern neighbor. NPR's Aswahallid reporting. Officials in Yemen say at least 15 people were injured in a series of airstrikes in and around the capital Sanat. Yemen accuses the US of strikes. The US has not commented. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels say they will continue their campaign to stop air travel in and out of Israel here's NPR's Kerry Kahn. The rebels say they're working to impose quote a comprehensive blockade of Israeli airspace. Sunday the Iranian back group fired a missile that landed near Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. The projectile set

off air raid sirens in most of central Israel and caused light injuries after penetrating air defense systems. The airport closed temporarily and many airlines canceled flights. Iran's foreign ministry posted on social media it was not involved in the attack. Israel's foreign minister vowed to retaliate quote sevenfold to the Houthis strike. The Houthis have targeted U.S. forces in the Red Sea and have routinely shot missiles into Israel in protest of the Gaza War. The U.S. and U.K. have retaliated. Kary Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. From Washington, this is NPR News.

The rich, famous, and well-dressed will gather in New York City tonight for the annual Met Gala. NPR's Andrew Limbong reports this year's theme is, quote, tailored for you. Tailored as in suiting, so think jackets, trousers, suits, and hats. The theme is inspired by a book titled Slaves to Fashion, Black Dandyism, and the Styling of Black Dysporic Identity, written by Monica L. Miller. In 2012, Miller told NPR that black dandyism goes back to a time when rich slave owners would dress up enslaved people to show off their wealth.

As soon as white masters put their black slaves into this fancy dress, the black slaves realized, huh, clothing means something. The gala is a fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute. The exclusive guest list is invite only and the tickets are pricey, reportedly $75,000 each. For the rest of us, Vogue will be live streaming the event starting at 6 p.m. Eastern tonight. Andrew Limbong and Peer News. Warren Buffett won't be retiring anytime soon. Apparently yesterday, the board of the multinational conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway held a vote

that backed the billionaire investor's decision to stay on as chairman but turn over his CEO responsibilities to Greg Abel starting next year. On Friday, Berkshire shares rose 1.8% to close at a record high of 539.80. This hour, Berkshire shares are down more than 4%. The Nasdaq is down 63 points. S&Ps fall in 15. The Dow is up 92. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.