NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-15-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

NPR News: 05-15-2025 11PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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 Shea Stevens. The US Supreme Court is weighing arguments

over President Trump's attempt to reinterpret the 14th Amendment guarantee of birthright citizenship. As NPR's Ximena Bustillo reports, the broader issue is whether a judge can universally block a president's policy. The administration argued before the justices that individual judges should not be able to universally block the president's ability to revoke birthright citizenship.

President Trump has long maintained that the Constitution does not guarantee birthright citizenship. So on day one of his presidential term, he issued an executive order barring automatic citizenship for any baby born in the U whose parents entered the country illegally or who are here legally but on temporary visas. But lawyers representing 22 states and immigrants argued that even if in some instances, universal injunctions are cumbersome, in this case, it is necessary since citizenship benefits are universally applied.

A decision in the case is expected later this summer. Ximena Bustiyo, NPR News, Washington. Scaled down peace talks between Russia and Ukraine now appear to be on hold until Friday, at the earliest. As NPR's Charles Mains reports from Moscow, hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough are waning. If they occur, the negotiations would mark the first between Moscow and Kiev since the early months of the Russian invasion more than three years ago. The planned meeting was derailed by new Russian President Vladimir Putin would skip the event,

instead dispatching mid-level technocrats to negotiate. The move clearly angered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had traveled to Turkey and challenged Putin to do the same. Instead, Zelensky said a lower-level Ukrainian delegation would engage with the Russian team. Meanwhile, President Trump, who had indicated he might attend if it brought the two sides closer, now says diplomatic progress to end the war remains unlikely until he and Putin meet face-to-face. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow. Fluoride will soon be banned in Florida public water systems under a bill that Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law today.

Details from WUSF's Douglas Soll. Governor DeSantis says the restriction allows Floridians to choose whether they use fluoride. Yes, use fluoride for your teeth, that's fine, but forcing it into the water supply is basically forced medication. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has concerns that ingesting fluoride can cause health problems. But dental groups are adamant that low levels of the mineral only have health positives, preventing cavities, especially for those without regular access to care.

Florida's ban begins on July 1st. A similar law in Utah, the first state to target fluoride, took effect earlier this month. For NPR News, I'm Douglas Sol in Tallahassee. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says that hackers were able to bribe company employees into handing over personal data on customers. Armstrong says the hackers are demanding $20 million ransom, which he says the cryptocurrency giant has no intention to pay. This is NPR.

Military commanders have been ordered to identify troops in their units who may be transgender or have gender dysphoria. The commanders are supposed to send those troops to a doctor for medical checks to force them out of service. Transgender troops are banned from U.S. military service under an executive order signed by President Trump. Tony Award-winning Broadway songwriter Charles Strauss has died. from the U.S. military service under an executive order signed by President Trump. Tony Award-winning Broadway songwriter Charles Strauss has died.

The composer of the hit musicals Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, and Annie was 96 years old. From New York, Jeff London has this remembrance. The classically trained composer first hit Broadway with the rock and roll parody Bye Bye Birdie in 1960. It became an enormous hit, winning the Tony Award. Since then, it's been one of the most performed shows in community theaters and high schools. It's a wonderful feeling, and I am modest, though not humble or anything, but I'm a very lucky man. And Strauss became a very rich man.

While he penned his share of flops, he also had two more smash hits, Applause, based on the film All About Eve, and Annie, based on the comic book character. The sun will come out tomorrow, so you've got to hang on till tomorrow. Come with me. Strauss kept working into his 80 hang on till tomorrow. Come with me. Strauss kept working into his 80s on new projects. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

On Wall Street Stocks Clues Mix today, with the Dow gaining 271 points, the NASDAQ lost 34 points, and the S&P 500 added 24. This is NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. 500 added 24. This is NPR News.