NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-06-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: May 6, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had a friendly first meeting in the Oval Office today, but Trump was clear tariffs on Canada would remain in place and he did not rule out wanting to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, despite the fact Canada's vehemently rejected that idea. NPR's Deepa Sivaram is more. Trump congratulated Carney on his recent election win as the two leaders sat in the Oval Office.

Carney ran a campaign that was largely anti-Trump as the U.S. placed tariffs on its northern neighbor and Trump started talking about annexing Canada. Carney called Trump a quote, transformational president. Multiple times he insisted that Canada isn't for sale, but Trump still didn't rule it out. Time will tell. It's only time. But I say, never say never. The two leaders also discussed U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports.

Trump said he didn't expect his meeting with Carney to change his mind about the issue. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News, The White House. Bipartisan proposals to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks have stalled for years. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports sponsors of bills this year believe support is building, though, for changing the law. Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley says current rules requiring lawmakers to disclose

their stock trades within 30 days aren't adequate. He says the perception that members of Congress could be profiting from their jobs is why he's pushing to ban all individual stock trades for lawmakers and their spouses. It is a distraction at best. It is a source of potential corruption at worst. Rhode Island Democrat Seth Magasiner says President Trump's support and the endorsement of the top House Democrat, Hakim Jeffries, are a big boost. I think we've gained more momentum in the last two weeks than had been achieved in the last two years.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he's not opposed to the proposal, but says there needs to be more consensus about the details. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, The Capital. After two rounds of voting, Germany's parliament-elected conservative politician Friedrich Merz as the country's newest chancellor, NPR's correspondent Rob Schmitz reports. It was the first time in Germany's history that a candidate for chancellor failed to win on the first ballot. But after two rounds of voting, Merz was confirmed as Germany's 10th chancellor, winning 325

out of 630 votes in parliament. Because the votes were secret ballots, it was not immediately clear and might never be known who had defected from Mertz's camp to vote against him. His coalition is led by his center-right Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU. They're joined by the center-left social democrats, led by outgoing chancellor Olaf Schultz, who lost the national election in February. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

Stocks moved lower today. The Dow fell 389 points. The Nasdaq was down 154 points. This is NPR. Cardinals say they've concluded their pre-conclave meetings in preparation for the full conclave where a new pope will be chosen. During their final pre-conclave meeting today, the late Pope Francis's fisherman's rank and official seal were both destroyed in one of the final rites of the transition from his pontificate to the next. The BBC broadcaster David Attenborough turns 99 years old this week

and to mark the occasion Attenborough turns 99 years old this week and to mark the occasion Attenborough is releasing a new nature documentary. NPR's Lauren Freyre reports from London, King Charles is among those attending the premiere tonight. Sir David Attenborough, he is a knight, says his latest documentary released as he enters his 100th year is the most important of his career. It's called Ocean. I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.

In a video clip, Attenborough says oceans are the planet's support system and humanity's greatest ally against climate catastrophe. Scientists and celebrities are attending the film's debut at London's Royal Festival Hall, where a special blue carpet rather than a red one is being rolled out. It opens in cinemas across the UK Thursday which is Attenborough's 99th birthday. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will apparently not be vying for horse racing's Triple Crown this year. Trainer Bill Mott telling officials the horse will not run in the Preakness Stakes, meaning for a seventh year running there's not a chance of a horse winning the Derby, the Preakness,

and the Belmont. Mott says he does currently plan to enter sovereignty in Belmont, justify one all three races in 2018. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.