NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-07-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

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Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. The NPR Politics Podcast makes politics a breeze. Every episode will break down the day's headlines into totally normal language and make sure that you walk away understanding what the day's news might mean for you. Take a deep breath and give politics another chance with the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. Roman Catholic cardinals have held a final mass at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

They're starting their conclave to choose a new pope. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports the morning mass is the final public act before the cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel to cast their vote for a new pontiff. The cardinals in blood red robes processed up the aisle of the crowded St. Peter's Basilica, passing the bishops in their deep purple gowns and stopping briefly at the altar to pray. White smoke from the burning frankincense curled up towards the Golden Cupola, the air filled with the music from the choir as they led the congregation in prayerful song. We are here to invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, said Cardinal Baptista Ray in his homily, so that the Pope elected may be he whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult and complex turning point in history.

Ruth Sherlock and MPR News, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. India and Pakistan have escalated violence between them. India has fired missiles into Pakistan, saying this is in retaliation for a militant attack last month in Indian-controlled Kashmir province that killed 26 people. India claims Pakistan was responsible, a claim Pakistan rejects. Pakistan says India's attacks have killed about 30 people. Pakistan claims it has shot down some Indian warplanes, although that has not been confirmed. President Trump remarked on the fighting yesterday as it started to unfold.

Just heard about it. I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They've been fighting for a long time, you know. They've been fighting for many, many decades. Both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons. They have previously fought several wars. Separately, President Trump says the U.S. will stop airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen after weeks of attacks. The U.S. has tried to stop the Houthis from firing on shipping in the Red Sea.

The Houthis say they're supporting Hamas militants in Gaza. Two-thirds of Americans who do not own a home say they are priced out of the market. And Pierre's Jennifer Ludden reports on a new poll that finds few Americans plan to buy a home in the near future. A Gallup survey finds just over half of non-homeowners do say they plan to buy in the next five to ten years, but that's a major drop from a decade ago. Renters say the biggest reason by far is cost, including the down payment. Housing experts say spiking rents have made it harder to save up for that, plus mortgage rates and median home prices remain high.

Gallup does find fewer people expect home prices to rise in their area over the next year, but an overwhelming majority still say it's a bad time to buy a house. That negative shift happened in 2022, after decades when people in the United States were mostly positive about home buying. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington. You're listening to NPR News. Policymakers for the Federal Reserve are expected to keep interest rates where they are when they release their decision this afternoon, but Fed officials are closely tracking the effects of President Trump's worldwide tariffs.

They're concerned these could boost inflation in the U.S. Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant will discuss Trump's tariffs this weekend. He'll meet top Chinese economic officials in Switzerland. Besant says one goal will be to de-escalate as the U.S. and China have boosted tariffs on each other. A derelict roadside attraction in Phoenix, Arizona is one of the most endangered historic sites in the U.S. That's according to the annual list from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. And Biersnetta Ulubi reports.

The list shines light on interesting and important places suffering from damage or neglect. Phoenix's Mystery Castle is one, says National Trust President Carol Quillen. We're not preserving these places so that they can be roped off and frozen in amber. Instead, she says the goal is to keep them activated. Other places on the list this year include a historic lodge at the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve and the Pamunkey Indian Reservation in Virginia. Tribal members and their ancestors have lived there for more than 15,000 years, but rising sea levels may make the area inaccessible within this century.

Neda Ulupi, NPR News. The online fundraising site GoFundMe has turned 15 years old. The platform says during that time, the site has helped people raise $40 billion. Now, GoFundMe officials say they're creating a new method to help nonprofits raise money. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News. Starting in the 1950s, there was a push to get meat onto Americans' plates at every meal. So you would have breakfast with maybe perhaps sausage offered. You'd have lunch where it would be deli meat sandwiches. And you'd have dinner that would center over a large cut

of meat. The hidden forces behind our everyday decisions. That's on the TED Radio Hour from NPR.