NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-08-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: May 8, 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 Kori Voekelmann. Stocks opened higher this morning ahead of President Trump announcing a new trade pact with the United Kingdom. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 200 points in early trading.

The UK is the first country to strike a trade deal with the Trump administration since the president announced his worldwide tariffs just over a month ago, the two countries have a relatively balanced trading relationship. U.S. exports to the UK, such as crude oil, slightly outweigh imports, including Scotch and gin. The Bank of England cut its benchmark interest rate today by a quarter percentage point. The move comes a day after the U.S. central bank voted to hold interest rates steady. Central bankers in both countries pointed to the economic risk raised by President Trump's trade war. Trump fired back on social media calling Federal

Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell a fool for not moving more quickly to lower borrowing costs. Scott Horsley in Pierre News, Washington. Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting Chinese leader Xi Jinping for talks at the Kremlin today. They're attending events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. NPR's Charles Maines reports from Moscow, the two are highlighting a no-limits partnership between their countries. In a lavish ceremony at the Kremlin, Putin and Xi stole their close relations in the face of what the Chinese leader said was external bullying, an apparent reference

to the United States. In turn, Putin paid tribute to the sacrifice of Soviet and Chinese people in World War Two and said the two were again united in the fight against neo-nazism, how Putin falsely portrays his current war in Ukraine. While formally neutral on the Ukraine issue, China has provided Russia with diplomatic and economic cover. The presence of Chinese troops in a military parade on Red Square this Friday will only reinforce a view among critics that Beijing chose sides in the conflict long ago. Charles Maines, NPR News, Moscow.

Roman Catholic cardinals are meeting again in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope. They've twice sent up black smoke in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope. They've twice sent up black smoke from the chapel's chimney. That indicates they haven't chosen one yet. NPR's Sarah Ventry reports crowds are filling St. Peter's Square in anticipation. Thousands of people are milling around St. Peter's Square right now. You can hear people speaking in all different languages. There are tour groups. There are clergy, pilgrims, curious onlookers, just people from all over

the world who are really excited to see what's going to happen and to find out who the next pope is going to be. And Pierre-Sara Ventry at the Vatican. One of the onlookers in St. Peter's Square is Isabelle Lammers. She's from Chicago. She has hope for the Cardinals' choice. We're just so divided as a world, so it would be nice to just have someone with a lot of love. The Roman Catholic Cardinals have more opportunities today to select the next pontiff. On Wall Street, the Dow is now up 226 points. This

is NPR. U.S. District Judge Paul Zinnes has continued to demand that the U.S. Justice Department keep her informed about its efforts to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia. The immigrant was illegally deported to El Salvador in March. Now, the Trump administration has invoked the state secrets privilege in response to Zinnes' demand. The judge has ordered the Trump administration that it has until next Monday to present its case for protecting sensitive national security information. President Trump has changed his pick for U.S. Surgeon General, and NPR's Will Stone reports he now wants a physician and author in that post.

Trump had previously picked Fox News contributor Dr. Jeanette Neswatt, but has now pivoted after questions emerged about her medical credentials. His new pick, Dr. Casey Means, gained popularity after publishing a bestseller on metabolic health. The co-author of her book is her brother, Callie Means, who's an advisor to Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Casey Means attended Stanford Medical School and went on to train as a surgeon,

but ultimately dropped out of her residency program before finishing it because of what she described as her frustrations with mainstream medicine. She went on to co-found the biotech and wellness company Levels, which offers continuous glucose monitoring devices to consumers. Will Stone, NPR News.

Philanthropist Bill Gates has announced he will donate almost all his wealth to the Gates Foundation. He's targeting global health and education, but it will be over a certain amount of time. He says the Gates Foundation will close its doors in 2045. A note, the Gates Foundation is a financial supporter of NPR. This is NPR.