NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-11-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: May 11, 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 Nora Rahm. The Federal Aviation Administration

says a runway equipment issue is causing delays at the Atlanta airport. Plane arrivals are slowed while technicians work to address the problem. In a separate announcement, the FAA says operations have returned to normal at the Newark airport. It slowed air traffic there today because of what it called a telecommunications issue. The Trump administration warns such problems could happen elsewhere. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy tells NBC's Meet the Press it is safe to fly out of Newark, but flight volume needs to be scaled back.

I want you to get to where you're traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we flight volume needs to be scaled back. I want you to get to where you're traveling. And if that means slowing down flights into Newark, we slow them down to make sure we can do it safely. Duffy says the outdated air traffic control systems are to blame, and it's an issue that other airports face across the country. I'm concerned about the whole airspace, right? The equipment that we use, much of it,

we can't buy parts for new. We have to go on eBay and buy parts if one part goes down Duffy says the Trump administration's plan to overhaul the nation's air traffic control system will take three to four years in the meantime He says planes remain the safest way to travel Luke Garrett NPR news Washington after six weeks in a Louisiana immigration detention facility Tufts University doctoral student Rumeza Ozturk is free and back in Boston. She spoke to reporters at Logan Airport last night for the first time in person since plainclothes ice agents arrested her and moved her across state lines.

Heysos Marais Suarez of member station WBUR has more. Ozturk, dressed in green, approached the podium, flanked by her lawyers and members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation. She seemed hopeful and relieved as she spoke about the future of her case. America is the greatest democracy in the world, and I believe in those values that we share. I have faith in the American system of justice. A federal judge in Vermont ordered her released on bail saying there was no evidence she'd

broken any rules or laws. She's due to appear in federal court again in two weeks to argue that case. The federal government still aims to deport her. For NPR News, I'm Jesus Marrero Suarez in Boston. Talks between U.S. and Chinese officials are in their second day in the Swiss city of Geneva. Those directly involved have not commented, but a top Trump economic adviser says China is eager to cooperate. Vila Marks reports. Neither Hetli Feng, China's vice-premier for economic affairs, nor Treasury Secretary Scott Vesson have commented on their discussions besides Lake Geneva this weekend. But President

Trump said late Saturday that, quote, great progress had been made while the director of his Council of Economic Advisers, Hassett told Fox News China was quote very very eager to play ball. Villamarks reporting. Representatives of the US and Iran have wrapped up a fourth round of talks in Oman to discuss Iran's nuclear program. Oman says plans are underway for another round. This is NPR News.

Several dozen white South Africans are expected to arrive in the U.S. this week. President Trump offered them refugee status, citing what he called unjust racial discrimination by the black-led government. White South Africans are mainly the descendants of Dutch settlers. The South African government says the U.S. is violating that country's sovereignty. The final steps of jury selection for the Sean Combs trial have been pushed to tomorrow. There are fears that selected jurors may back out of serving on the highly publicized case. NPR's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento reports.

On Monday, the prosecution and defense in the Sean Combs trial will select the 12 jurors who will serve on the trial plus six alternates. Opening statements are expected to begin that same day. After a judge finished questioning jurors, the final steps of the process were delayed twice to avoid having jurors drop out in the days leading up to the trial. Prosecutors protested the delay, saying they're working against the clock. Combs lead defense attorney Mark Agnifilo told the judge that finalizing jury selection should not take long on Monday. He said the trial timeline should ultimately stay on track. The hip hop mogul faces charges that include sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

Isabella Gomez-Armiento, NPR News. A survey by the National Retail Federation finds some 84% of American adults observe Mother's Day, and they're spending more, an estimated $34 billion. That works out to about $260 per person, up $5 from last year. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington. Look, we get it. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.