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

Episode Date: May 14, 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. Lyle from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump received a special escort to Qatar when several fighter jets appeared to the side of Air Force One as the president flew toward Doha. NPR's Frank Ordonez reports on the second leg of Trump's trip to the Middle East.

For a second day in a row, President Trump received a lavish welcome, this time from the Qatari Emir, including Arabian horses, camels, and a red carpet arrival ceremony. Trump touted their friendship and thanked the Emir for helping the U.S. as it works to resolve the conflict in Gaza, as well as the war in Ukraine, and teased some upcoming news about the conflict. I think we're having some pretty good news coming out of there today and maybe tomorrow and maybe Friday, frankly. But we'll see about that.

Like in Saudi Arabia, the Qatar stop is expected to be defined by business deals, but it also comes with some scrutiny over his idea to accept a luxury jet from Qatar that could serve as a temporary Air Force One. Franco Ordonez, NPR News. In its first in the nation ruling, a federal judge in Pennsylvania greenlit President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act. The rarely used wartime power has been used by Trump to quickly remove Venezuelan migrants,

but until yesterday it had been blocked by other judges. We have more from NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltrán. Federal Judge Stephanie Haynes said Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act can proceed. She said there's enough evidence to support that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is committing a predatory incursion in the U.S. But Haynes, a Pennsylvania judge who was appointed by Trump, also ruled the government must give the accused who are subject to removal under the Alien Enemies Act 21 days notice and an opportunity to be heard. Trump has used the act to remove more than 200 Venezuelan men to El Salvador. Many of them do not have a criminal record in the U.S. or elsewhere.

Federal judges in Texas, New York, and Colorado have blocked Trump's use of the act. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Washington. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s testifying on Capitol Hill for the first time since he became the nation's Health and Human Services Secretary. Kennedy sought to explain his role in sweeping layoffs and funding cuts across several major health agencies he oversees under the watch of one of President Trump's closest advisors. Elon Musk gave us help in figuring out where there was waste, fraud and abuse in the department. But it was up to me to make the decision. And there are many instances where I pushed back and said, we don't want to, you know, that would hurt us to eliminate that group. Lawmakers have raised concerns about HHS's ability to contain a growing measles outbreak

with cuts to vaccination initiatives. Kennedy's is appearing today before committees in the House and the U.S. Senate. The Dow is up 16, S&P's climbed 11. You're listening to NPR News. Hip-hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs' ex-girlfriend is again taking the stand today in the rapper's sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York. R&B singer Kazzie Ventura has provided graphic testimony alleging Combs had emotionally, physically, and sexually assaulted her for years, blackmailed her, and derailed her music career. The defense argues that while Combs could be violent,

he did not run a criminal enterprise. Combs is pleaded not guilty to five counseling to Ventura and three other women. If convicted, Combs could face 15 years to life in prison. The cable sports network ESPN says its streaming service will go by the same name and Piers Eric Deggans says the service will provide access to 47,000 events each year. ESPN's new streaming service comes after years of development and negotiations, balancing the sports channel's need for a response to cord cutting with cable and satellite TV systems that still depend on their programming. The service will offer an ultimate plan featuring access to all ESPN channels including ESPN Plus and ESPN on ABC for about $30 a month or $300 annually. Access to the more limited programming available just on ESPN Plus costs about $12 a month or $120 annually. The channel

will also upgrade its ESPN app for users who have subscribed directly or through a pay TV package. ESPN did not reveal a start date for the streaming service, which is expected to debut this fall. Eric Deggans, NPR News. The Nasdaq is up 135 points. It's NPR.