NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-06-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

NPR News: 05-06-2025 11PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. The Indian military has struck several targets in Pakistan and parts of the disputed Kashmir region. As Villamarks reports, India's armed forces say their strikes were retaliation for an

attack that killed dozens of Indians in Kashmir last month. The Indian military said its operation focused on locations used to plan and direct what it called terrorist attacks against India, but its strikes had not targeted Pakistani military facilities and were, quote, focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. The two nuclear armed neighbours have long contested control of the Kashmir region, trading fire over territory that has been disputed since India's post-colonial partition in 1947. India perceived an attack last month by gunmen on a tourist-friendly destination in Kashmir to be at the direction of Pakistani authorities and is calling these latest

missile strikes justice. Pakistani forces have fired back, the Prime Minister saying quote, a forceful response is being given. For NPR News, I'm Villam Marks. A second federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's use of the saying quote a forceful response is being given. For NPR News, I'm Villam Marx. A second federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport certain non-citizens. The latest ruling comes from US District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein in the Southern District of New York. More from NPR's Jasmine Garst. Back in March, President Trump proclaimed the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from

1798, to quickly remove Venezuelan migrants accused of being gang members. Judge Hellerstein, a Clinton appointee, said the administration failed to demonstrate the existence of a war or invasion, so invoking the Alien Enemies Act is not valid. Last week, a Trump appointee, Judge Fernando Rodriguez, blocked officials from using the Act in southern Texas. Last month, the Supreme Court allowed removals under the Act but said migrants are entitled to the opportunity to challenge accusations made against them. In response, challenges have been filed in districts across the country.

Jasmine Garst, NPR News, New York. A federal appeals court will soon decide whether it was legal to fire roughly 24,000 probationary federal employees without notifying the states. Scott Masione from Member Station, WYPR, has more. A panel of three judges listen to arguments from 19 states about how they believe they were harmed by the White House's mass layoffs. The states are seeking the reinstatement of the employees. They say without proper notification, they had to rush to provide benefits like unemployment insurance.

The White House says it did not initiate an official reduction in force and therefore did not need to notify the states beforehand. The U.S. District Court of Maryland already issued an injunction on the White House's actions. However, that was lifted after the Trump administration appealed the decision and it was taken up by the Fourth Circuit. For NPR News, I'm Scott Massione. Weight Watchers is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to get rid of more than a billion dollars in debt. The 60-year-old company is also trying to transition into telehealth services.

This is NPR. The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military while the issue plays out in court. The ruling reverses a lower court's temporary injunction against the ban. A group of service members challenging the policy say it is unconstitutional and motivated by hate. New York Mayor of Oro candidate Andrew Cuomo says that his name will appear on a new third-party ballot in November.

As Elizabeth Kim from Member Station WNYC reports, Cuomo says he'll be reaching out to disillusioned Democrats, as well as independents and Republicans. The move allows New York's former Democratic governor to run for mayor, even if he loses the June primary. It could also help him appeal to people who aren't Democrats in what could be a competitive general election. Multiple polls show Cuomo as a front-runner in the primary, but the race in November could feature multiple challengers.

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams has been tarnished by corruption scandals and is skipping the Democratic primary. Instead, he's also planning to run as an independent. And the Working Families Party, a progressive third party, is preparing to run its own candidate in case its preferred Democrats lose in June. For NPR News, I'm Elizabeth Kim in New York. The U.S. Senate has confirmed tech businessman Frank Bisignano to be the next head of the Social Security Administration.

Bisignano told lawmakers that his experience in business will help him lead Social Security and his roughly 55,000 workers. This is NPR News. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. 55,000 workers. This is NPR News.