NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-08-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

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These days, there's a lot of news. It can be hard to keep up with what it means for you, your family, and your community. Consider this from NPR as a podcast that helps you make sense of the news. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a story and provide the context, backstory, and analysis you need to understand our rapidly changing world. Listen to the Consider This podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. For the first time in history, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church is an American. Cardinal Robert Prevost from Chicago will succeed Pope Francis and lead the church's

1.4 billion members. Prevost has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. NPR's Ruth Sherlock was in St. Peter's Square, where people from around the world gathered for the announcement of a new pope. Just incredible variety. It's amazing walking through the crowd because you hear languages from all over the world. It's such an international scene. And then you had people who had brought their small children, tiny babies. I've met somebody who's had a baby who's just days

old, you know, coming hoping that they would be blessed by the new pope. Also, a French woman in a shimmering gold sequin floor-length ball gown had come to celebrate this moment. NPR's Ruth Sherlock in Rome. While the Catholic Church's new pope is an American, he's also a naturalized Peruvian citizen. Pope Leo XIV spent decades in Peru, where those who knew him say he is now a faithful and accessible religious servant. More from NPR's Carrie Kahn. Robert Francis Preveaux spent two decades in Peru, first as a missionary and ultimately as Archbishop of Chiclayo, the South American country's fourth largest city. In 2015, he became a naturalized Peruvian citizen. 28-year-old Jimena Valdivia is part of Chiclayo's

youth ministry and says she can't stop smiling. I screamed when I heard his name, she says. God is great to have given us such a humble man as Pope. Peruvians are posting multiple memes claiming Pope Leo theirs, including pictures of the new head of the Catholic Church wearing the national soccer team's jersey, eating Peru's national dish ceviche, and drinking an Inca cola. Carrie Kahn, NPR News. Weeks before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, the acting head of FEMA has been fired

after appearing to disagree with the Trump administration's calls to eliminate the agency. More from NPR's Jeff Brady. FEMA has been criticized for its disaster response in recent years. Now, the agency confirms that acting administrator Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in that capacity. No details were offered on why he's gone, but earlier this week, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said this on Capitol Hill. The president has indicated he wants to eliminate FEMA as it exists today and to have states

have more control over their emergency management response. Then on Wednesday, Hamilton said this during a different congressional hearing. I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Immersive Management Agency. Afema spokesperson says Homeland Security Assistant Secretary David Richardson is now serving as acting administrator. Jeff Brady, NPR News. When Wall Street stocks closed higher today with the Dow gaining 254 points, the Nasdaq

Composite Index rose 189. This is NPR. President Trump has announced a trade deal with Britain. Trump says the U.S. will lower tariffs on vehicles, steel and aluminum from Britain in exchange for increased beef and other farm exports to the U.K. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the deal will protect U.K. businesses and jobs. The tails of the trade deal are still being finalized. Advocates for the disabled and their paid caregivers held a pro-Medicaid rally today in Washington. The demonstration was held as House Republicans consider Medicaid cuts

to pay for President Trump's domestic agenda. More from MPR's Joseph Shapiro. At the base of the U.S. Capitol, the protesters staged the 24-hour vigil. They told their personal stories about how Medicaid pays for long-term care for their older parents and disabled children. Elena Hung runs a group called Little Lobbyists. She defended the insurance program for 72 million poor and disabled adults and children. It is the reason why children like mine, children with complex medical needs and disabilities, are able to live at home instead of an institution or a hospital or facility or whatever you want to

call it that's not home. Some Republican lawmakers are balking at the prospect of slashing Medicaid to pay for the president's tax and spending cuts. Joseph Shapiro, NPR News. Fox News host Janine Pirro has been tapped to serve as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. The president's first pick for the job was pulled due to lack of support in the Senate. Pirro is a former judge who also served two decades as a prosecutor for New York's West Chester County. This is NPR News.