NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-14-2025 8PM EDT

Episode Date: May 15, 2025

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This is Ira Glass, the host of This American Life. So much is changing so rapidly right now with President Trump in office. It feels good to pause for a moment sometimes and look around at what's what. To try and do that, we've been finding these incredible stories about right now that are funny and have feeling and you get to see people everywhere making sense of this new America that we find ourselves in. This American Life, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump continues his Middle East tour today

and says he wants to make a deal with Iran for the country to wind down its disputed nuclear program. Whatever Trump went on to say in order for there to be any such agreement, Tehran needs to agree to end its support of proxy groups throughout the Mideast. I want to make a deal with Iran. I want to do something if it's possible. But for that to happen, it must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars,

and permanently and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. Trump is in Qatar and today discussed Iran's nuclear program with Qatar's Amir. Trump is in the midst of a three-country visit to the region. The FAA says a hotline between the Pentagon and the air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has not worked since 2022. And Buresh Jovrananez reports the revelation came after a mid-air collision near the airport killed 67 people. It came to light today during a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee.

An FAA official confirmed that the hotline between the Pentagon and the airport doesn't work but that the FAA wasn't aware of that before the January collision. The official said the FAA was insisting it be brought back online before the military resumed flights out of the Pentagon, which were paused after another Blackhawk helicopter got too close to two commercial planes. The FAA says a direct access line was out due to the construction of a new tower at the Pentagon, but that the two facilities coordinate by phone.

The Army did not reply to a request for comment. Joe Hernandez, NPR News. A federal judge in Washington has issued a second decision pausing President Trump's executive order ending collective bargaining rights for most federal employees. As NPR's Andrea Hsu explains, the case was brought by a union representing State Department employees. The American Foreign Service Association had sued President Trump, charging he did not have the authority to end collective bargaining rights for foreign service members of the

State Department and USCID. The union argued that Trump's executive order was a retaliatory move aimed at unions that have resisted his administration's actions. The White House has said that Trump does have the authority, citing the country's national security interests. The same federal judge issued a nearly identical ruling in a similar case brought by a different union. The government has appealed that decision and is expected to appeal this one too.

Andrea Hsu, NPR News. California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state is facing an estimated $12 billion budget shortfall. Newsom laying out the new number today as he provided details of his proposed nearly $322 billion spending blueprint. Newsome blamed part of the problem on broad economic uncertainties due to Trump administration policies that affected the stock market. California relies heavily on revenue from tax on capital gains.

A mixed close on Wall Street today, the Dow was down 89 points. You're listening to NPR. So major orders for airplane builder Boeing have been one off-strewed of President Trump's Mideast visit this week. A day after news of an order from a company in Saudi Arabia for 20 of the company's 737-8 jets with options for more, Qatar has placed a big buy of its own. The Qatari deal valued at $96 billion is for Boeing's 787 and 777 widebody jets, being described as the biggest order of its kind in Boeing's history. China this week also lifted a ban on its airlines taking delivery of Boeing planes.

Cassidy Ventura, a centerpiece of the federal case against Sean Combs, finished her second day of testimony today. Ventura described at the courthouse she finally ended her relationship with a rapper. And just to note, this report mentions physical and sexual assault. Here's in Pierce, Isabella Gomez-Sarmiano. Cassie Ventura spent hours testifying about the violence, blackmail, and isolation she experienced during her more than 10 years dating Combs.

Prosecutors showed multiple photos of Ventura's bruises and injuries from what she said were beating years dating Combs. Prosecutors showed multiple photos of Ventura's bruises and injuries from what she said were beatings by Combs. Ventura also testified that Combs raped her in 2018 after she ended the relationship. In tears, she told the court she decided to speak out about the abuse years after the breakup because she was tired of carrying the shame.

The defense concedes that Combs was violent and abusive, but says that doesn't make him guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering. Isabella Gomez-Armiento, NPR News. Critical futures prices eased a bit today, oiled down 52 cents a barrel to 63.15 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. Am I a propagandist? A truth teller? An influencer? I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.