NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-08-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: May 8, 2025

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Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever You Get Your Podcast. Lai, from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Celebrations today in St. Peter's Square as the world learned that the College of Cardinals had selected a new pope from the United States.

NPR's Sarah Ventry was there when everyone learned of Cardinal Robert Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. People all around St. Peter's Square are stopping and talking to one another. They are clapping, they are cheering, some are really emotional. I saw one woman sitting on the steps on the on the edge of St. Peter's Square just crying and everyone is really surprised. This is the first American pope, Leo XIV, who came out just not so long ago on the Loja and delivered a message in multiple languages, not just to the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, but to the entire world. NPR's Sarah Ventry reporting.

Father Timothy Kosicki, former president of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, notes that the last pope, Leo XIII, was one of the longest reigning popes. He spoke with NPR's Here and Now about what Prevo's decision to take Pope Leo XIV suggests about his priorities. Leo XIII also wrote an encyclical letter called Rerum Novarum, which is really the quintessential start of Catholic social teaching. So, I think connecting to the author of Rerum Novarum and someone who really has given his life to faith and justice is a very powerful testament to what his papacy will reveal. Danielle Pletka On Truth Social,

President Trump congratulates the current 69-year-old pope who succeeds the late Pope Francis who died Easter Monday at the age of 88. President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a trade deal between their two nations. NPR's Tamara Keith reports, it is the first deal announced since Trump launched a global trade war, but the deal is not actually done. Trump was in the Oval Office with the UK's starmer on speakerphone. Both hailed the deal, but Trump let slip that it isn't actually finalized. The final details are being written up in the coming weeks. We'll have it all very conclusive, but the actual deal is a very conclusive one.

We think just about everything's been approved. So good for both countries. The agreement will open up markets for American agricultural goods like beef and ethanol, while the U.S. would lower tariffs on vehicles from the U.K. Think Rolls-Royce. But Trump is leaving in place a 10 percent tariff on all imports to the U.S. Tamara Keith, NPR News. There were fresh attacks today between Pakistan

and India. Pakistan's army spokesman saying his country shot down a dozen Indian military drones that had killed a civilian and injured four Pakistani soldiers. This coming after India's most significant missile attacks on Pakistan in more than 50 years. From Washington, this is NPR News. There's growing concern about the effect of microplastics on human health. The research is still evolving, but it's prompting some home cooks to stop or limit their use of plastics around food. NPR's Joe Hernandez reports these chefs say at first it might not be easy, but it is possible. If you want to reduce plastics in the kitchen there are a few things you

can do. Anne Marie Bonneau wrote the book The Zero Waste Chef. You can use a wooden cutting board, store food in glass or metal, save all your jars. Another common recommendation is not to heat your food in plastic. Chef Edward Lee ditched plastics at his restaurant Sh Shia, including squeeze bottles. Sauces are now stored elsewhere and vinaigrettes are made as needed. All our vinaigrettes are fresher because we have to make them to order. Beno says if you do ditch plastic, don't worry about every last item. These days, it's pretty hard to avoid.

Joe Hernandez, NPR News. Microsoft founder Bill Gates says that he plans to donate 99% of his remaining fortune, estimated at more than $100 billion, to the Gates Foundation. Over the next 20 years, the foundation says it plans to continue supporting its partners and grantees, including those working to improve global health, before it closes. U.S. stocks have ended the day higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, closing up 254 points or more than half a percent to end the day at 41,368. The Nasdaq was up more than 1 percent. The S&P climbed roughly half a percent. This is NPR News.