NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-05-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: May 5, 2025

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Hey, it's Aisha Harris from Pop Culture Happy Hour. If you love NPR podcasts, you'll want the new NPR Plus podcast bundle. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat selection of NPR Plus podcasts with sponsor-free listening and bonus episodes. Plus, you'll be supporting public radio. Check it out at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Matiglay. Cardinals from more than 70 countries are expected to begin efforts to select a new pope this week. The conclave is slated

to get started on Wednesday. There are 135 cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote. Two of them have indicated they cannot travel to the Vatican for health reasons and will not be part of the process. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a pope to succeed Francis. Pope Francis died of heart failure last month at the age of 88 following a stroke. Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to gradually expand the country's military offensive

against Hamas in Gaza. That plan is expected to be implemented after President Trump's visit to the region later this month. The BBC's Hugo Bacchega has more. The Israeli military is calling up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for the expansion. Israel says its aim is to put pressure on Hamas to guarantee the release of hostages. Critics say this is a failed strategy, as no captive has been freed since Israel renewed its offensive against the group in March.

Reports say the Cabinet has also approved a plan to resume the delivery of basic supplies to Gaza through international organizations and private companies. It's not clear when that will be implemented. Aid agencies say the proposal is a breach of basic humanitarian principles and that they will not cooperate. That's the BBC's Hugo Bacchega reporting. The Pentagon is moving a Patriot air defense missile system from Israel to Ukraine. That's according to a US official speaking to NPR. President Trump says he's directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reopen and expand

Alcatraz, a former prison in California on an island off San Francisco. Rachel Vasquez with member station KQED has more. In a social media post, Trump celebrated the island's history as a maximum security penitentiary, saying in the past the U.S. didn't hesitate to, quote, lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. He said he wants the island to once again house the nation's most violent offenders. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons says they comply with all presidential orders and will share more information when they have it.

Alcatraz hasn't been a working prison in more than 60 years, but remains a popular tourist destination. A spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom called the proposal a distraction. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Vasquez. Warren Buffett says he plans to retire as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year. Buffett made the end of the year. Buffett made the announcement over the weekend while speaking to shareholders. Buffett is 94 years old.

He's long said he would not retire. He's recommending the company's board replace him with Greg Abel. This is NPR News from Washington. President Trump says he will use tariffs to try to help the Hollywood film industry as well as other American movie productions. In a post on social media last night, the president said he wants to see a 100 percent tariff placed on any movie shown in the U.S. that's produced overseas. Trump says he's directing the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department to take such action. According to one industry tracking firm, movie production in the U.S. was down 26% last year,

as compared to 2021. The New York Theatre Awards season is in full swing. Last night, the Lucille Lortel Awards were handed out, honoring off-Broadway shows. As Jeff London reports, two of the big winners told very different stories about the Holocaust. With four awards, the revival of the Play Our Class was the big winner of the night.

Set in 1941 Poland, it follows Jewish and Catholic classmates and the tragedy that befalls them. In addition to winning outstanding revival, it picked up awards for direction, scenic design, and ensemble. Here There Be Blueberries about the Lives of Nazis at Auschwitz was named Outstanding New Play and won for Projection Design. Andrew Scott's Vanya, a one-man adaptation of the Chekhov play was Outstanding Solo Show, and Three Houses was named Outstanding Musical. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

Wall Street is coming off a positive close to the trading week. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington. And the next through line from NPR. For the presidency, I'm indebted to Almighty God. I'm in charge of the country and I need to serve all the American people and not just the political machine. The origins of the modern civil service. Listen to Thru Line wherever you get your podcasts.