NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-08-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

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Am I a propagandist? A truth teller? An influencer? There's probably no more contested profession in the world today than mine, journalism. I'm Brian Reed, and on my show, Question Everything, we dive head first into the conflicts we're all facing over truth and who gets to tell it. Listen now to Question Everything, part of the NPR Podcast Network. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The first American pope was elected today by secret ballot inside the Sistine Chapel. NPR's Sarah Venturi reports from the Vatican the crowd was shocked when Cardinal Robert

Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. Sarah Venturi The packed crowd of tens of thousands was audibly stunned when the identity of the new pope was revealed. Max Gleason is a 21-year-old Catholic American college student studying in Italy who came with two of his friends to find out who the new pope would be. I didn't know a whole lot about who was going to be the next pope. I didn't have a ton of guesses but my one thought beforehand was like it's just not going to be the next pope. I didn't have a ton of guesses, but my one thought beforehand was like, it's just not going to be the American. But super excited.

The new pontiff appeared emotional during his first public appearance in his new position as the head of a church that serves 1.4 billion people worldwide. Sarah Ventry, NPR News at The Vatican. Despite some signs of easing, it appears tensions between India and Pakistan remain extremely high after India's attack earlier this week that claimed the lives of at least 31 people who Pakistani officials say were civilians. India says its attack was in retaliation for an incident where a gunman killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir last month.

Pakistani officials said today Indian drones killed two civilians and wounded four soldiers. Islamabad has said it shot down several drones. Ukraine's parliament has approved a critical minerals and natural resources deal with the US that both sides are calling a win. MP Yoshua Anikakis reports from Kiev lawmakers there still want more clarity, though, on security guarantees for Ukraine. The deal will allow the U.S. to develop and profit from Ukraine's critical minerals and natural resources while also investing in the country's reconstruction. Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko, who is also a colonel in Ukraine's armed forces,

said he remains concerned that the deal does not have explicit security guarantees. So this is an open question, he told NPR. Maybe these security guarantees are addressed elsewhere in separate technical agreements that we have not seen. Lawmakers added a paragraph saying that the deal would cover all Ukrainian territory, including Russian occupied areas. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Cave. It was unveiled this morning in grandiose terms by the Trump administration, billing it as the first major trade deal but with a limited amount of actual detail. The agreement announced by the US and UK would open up the British market to American beef,

ethanol and other agricultural products. In turn it would give British-made cars and steel better access to U.S. markets. President Trump, speaking in the Oval Office this morning, said additional details are still being worked out. Stocks gained ground today after the U.S. and UK announced some details of the deal. They now have 254 points. This is NPR. In Washington, groups representing disabled and older people and their paid caregivers rallied to tell lawmakers, don't cut Medicaid, House Republicans next week are expected to consider Medicaid cuts, nor did help pay for President Trump's domestic agenda.

Here's NPR'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. Authorities say a Mississippi man who harassed Jennifer Aniston for two years then crashed his vehicle through the front gate of her home has now been charged with felony stalking and felony vandalism. The LA District Attorney announcing the charges today against 40-year-old Jimmy Wayne Carwile. Carwile was to be arraigned today on the charges.

Prosecutors allege he also harassed the Friends actor through voicemail, email and social media. Critical futures closed higher today. Oil up around 3% on summer new hopes of a breakthrough on U.S.-China trade talks. Oil gained $1.84 a barrel to settle at $59.91 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. PR News in Washington.