NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-14-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

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Shaun Diddy Combs could go to prison for the rest of his life if he's found guilty of charges including racketeering and sex trafficking. Keep up with the trial by following Here and Now Anytime, a daily podcast from NPR and WBUR. We're covering Diddy's trial, the rest of the news, and a lot more. Every afternoon on Here and Now Anytime. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Sh and now, anytime. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. President Trump says he'll lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, calling the restrictions brutal

and crippling, but says they served an important function. Trump says that purpose is no longer needed. There is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace. That's what we want to see in Syria. They've had their share of travesty, war, killing, many years. Trump was speaking in Saudi Arabia where he plans to meet with Syria's new leader briefly on Wednesday.

It is the first stop of Trump's four-day trip to the Gulf region and the first overseas trip of his second term in office. House Republicans are trying to finalize a massive spending bill, which they hope to send to the Senate by Memorial Day. As NPR's Elena Moore reports, GOP leaders are trying to solve ongoing party divisions. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Monday that he's building consensus with party holdouts. There's a lot in this piece of legislation and so it takes a lot of calculation and discussion and negotiation and as you know 220 colleagues there's a lot of different ideas on what the best outcome is and it takes a while to get there and sometimes you go right up to the edge

that's how this process works. One of the divides is over the state and local tax deduction or SALT. Some members representing districts with high local property taxes say their support is tied to a higher cap on SALT. But Johnson says they're getting closer to an agreement. That may be crucial since Republicans will need virtually full party support to get this bill passed. Alaina Moore, NPR News. The Fodan Drug Administration is taking steps to ban fluoride supplements for children.

The agency claims that ingested fluoride alters microorganisms in the human body. FDA Commissioner Marty McCary says good dental hygiene and avoiding too much sugar are the best ways to prevent cavities in children. The broadest measure of the stock market is staging a remarkable comeback. As NPR's Rafael Nunn reports, investors are hoping tariffs may not do as much damage to the economy as feared. Just last month, stocks tanked after President Trump unveiled widespread tariffs. But he then paused many of those tariffs as the White House negotiates with countries, including its biggest trading partner China.

Investors were also relieved after data earlier in the day showed inflation at 2.3% in April from a year ago, slightly lower than in March. Economists do caution that we're still not seeing the full effects of the tariffs, but stock investors for now see the glass as half full. The NASDAQ also rose, although the Dow Jones fell in part after United Healthcare shares tumbled after the company's CEO stepped down. Raffaellena, NPR News.

U.S. Futures are flat in after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR. Lower rental and food costs help rein in inflation for the third month in a row. The Labor Department says consumer prices rose at an annual rate of 2.3 percent in April, down from 2.4 percent increase in March. The Federal Reserve has an inflation target of 2 percent. French actor Gerard Depardieu has been convicted of assaulting two women on a movie set.

He's received an 18-month-long suspended prison sentence and must pay each accuser roughly $32,000 in fines. The 78th Cannes Film Festival is underway in the south of France. Actor Robert De Niro received a top honorary award, as NPR's Mandelite Del Barco reports. To thunderous applause, actor Leonardo DiCaprio presented his hero, Robert De Niro, with a prestigious Palme d'Or.

The two-time Academy Award winner was honored for his iconic roles in such films as The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Merci infiniment to the Festival du Cannes for creating a community, a home if you will, for those of us who love the art of telling stories on screen. During his acceptance speech, De Niro slammed President Trump, who he called an enemy of the arts. This year's festival goers faced an updated dress code, no nudity on the red carpet in other events, and no voluminous outfits such as gowns with large trains that hinder traffic and complicate seating.

Mandelita Albarco, NPR News. On Asia Pacific, market shares are mixed at this hour, down a fraction in Tokyo, up 1 percent in Hong Kong. This is NPR News. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. in Hong Kong. This is NPR News.