NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-14-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

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On this week's Wild Card podcast, Wanda Sykes says she can have a hard time understanding God. What is the plan, man? What is the lesson here? Yeah, it's like, oh boy, you are in a pickle right now, God. What you gonna do about this? I'm Rachel Martin. Wanda Sykes is on Wild Card, the show where cards control the conversation.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says he's taking steps to normalize ties with Syria and will ease U.S. sanctions against that nation. As NPR's Michelle Kaleman reports, it's welcome news to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. President Trump says he's ordering the cessation of sanctions to give Syria a, quote, chance for greatness. While details are murky, the ranking Democrat

on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jean Shaheen, says she and her Republican counterpart have been calling for this, to build on opportunities in Syria and in Lebanon. And it's important for us to provide the opportunity to keep those countries moving in a way that continues to keep out Iran and Russia. Iran and Russia backed Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted last year by Islamist insurgents

now running Syria. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are debating at this hour over the Republican budget plan and President Trump's proposed tax cuts. The proposal calls for slashing domestic spending to fund an extension of expiring tax cuts enacted in 2017 during Trump's first administration. Efforts to finalize a spending plan come as speaker Mike Johnson presses Republican lawmakers to resolve their differences over a Senate budget resolution by Memorial Day.

A large portion of the nation is having to contend with unusual springtime heat. As NPR's Giles Snyder reports, dozens of wildfires are burning in Minnesota, where officials are warning of an ongoing battle heading into summer. Adam Steele State officials in Minnesota say more than 80 fires have cropped up since Sunday, including the largest. The Camp House fire has destroyed dozens of structures. The early-season heat in Minnesota and also in the Dakotas has broken records. But while relief is expected later this week, forecasters say the same weather system will

make parts of the South sizzle for the next six to 10 days, especially parts of Texas and Florida. Danielle Pletka And here is Giles Snyder. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been elected mayor of his home city, Davao, from a prison cell thousands of miles away in the Hague. Michael Sullivan reports. Duterte served as mayor of Davao for more than two decades before becoming president, earning him the nicknames of The Punisher and Dirty Harry for his brutal anti-crime

campaigns while mayor. Human rights groups alleged the crackdown included hundreds of extrajudicial killings by what became known as the Davao Death Squad, killings that foreshadowed his war on drugs after becoming president. Despite his detention, Philippines law allows candidates facing criminal charges to run for office unless they've been convicted and exhausted all appeals. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai, Thailand. This is NPR. A federal judge in Pennsylvania has given the Trump administration the okay to use an 18th century wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of being gang members.

Judge Stephanie Haynes also ordered the government to give migrants facing deportation at least 21 days notice and the chance to have their case heard in court. at least 21 days notice and the chance to have their case heard in court. A federal grand jury has indicted a Wisconsin judge who's accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested last month on charges of obstruction and preventing an arrest. She scheduled for a court appearance on Thursday and faces up to six years in prison if convicted. A judge in Los Angeles has re-sentenced the Menendez brothers to life, to less time in

prison. From member's station, LAist Frank Stoltz reports that the move paves the way for their possible release. Frank Stoltz, LAist In re-sentencing Eric and Lyle Menendez, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Jessic said the two had done amazing work behind bars, rehabilitating themselves and helping others. The brothers were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the shotgun murders of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. The new sentence makes them immediately eligible for parole. Both brothers addressed

the court with the now 57-year-old Lyle Menendez alluding to the alleged sexual abuse the two suffered at the hands of their father, but saying there was no excuse for the killings. For NPR News, I'm Frank Stoltz in Los Angeles. U.S. futures are flat and after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. after hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News.