NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-15-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: May 15, 2025

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You've probably seen clips from the Jennifer Hudson show Spirit Tunnel on TikTok or Instagram, the ones where celebrities dance down the hallway to a clever song. These videos can reveal a lot. Do they have rhythm? And how famous are they, really? We're breaking down the inescapable internet trend. Listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump's plans to replace Air Force One

with the luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar has drawn pushback from Republicans in Congress. Details from NPR's Elena Moore. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said the move shows Qatar wants to build a closer relationship to the US, but gifting Trump a jumbo jet. I prefer a big, beautiful plane

built in the United States, made in America, bought in America, he says. If Qatar wants to help the US, they could reevaluate their ties to multiple groups in the region that the US is critical of. Notably, the country has a long relationship with Hamas. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul also cast doubt on the plan,

telling Fox News on Monday that he wonders whether the U.S.'s ability to judge Qatar's human rights record would be, quote, clouded by this gift. Elena Moore, NPR News, The Capitol. The Trump administration's effort to end birthright citizenship will be argued before the Supreme Court on Thursday. A new NPR Ipsos poll shows nearly half of Americans surveyed support Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

But NPR's Joel Rose reports that opponents see the effort as further erosion of individual rights. Trump's crackdown has gone in some ways well beyond what any previous administration has tried. For example, his push to quickly deport alleged gang members without giving them a chance to contest those allegations in court under a seldom used wartime law from the 18th century called the Alien Enemies Act. Almost half of respondents in our poll say they are in favor of that.

But some of Trump's other proposals have less support. For example, birthright citizenship, the longstanding practice of granting citizenship to any child born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' legal status. Most legal scholars say that is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Trump though is pushing to end it, and our polling shows that 53% of respondents oppose that. NPR's Joel Rose reporting. A first of its kind effort to leverage federal tax dollars to help families pay for private school tuition is a step closer to becoming a reality.

NPR's Corey Turner explains how the plan would work. Corey Turner, NPR The federal school voucher plan has been included in Republicans' reconciliation bill. And if it becomes law, it would work like this. A private citizen could make a charitable donation to a nonprofit third party known as an SGO, Scholarship Granting Organization. The SGO would then distribute the money to families in the form of scholarships to pay for private school tuition or homeschooling expenses.

The person who donates the cash would also get a generous tax credit. Every dollar they donate would cut their federal tax bill by a dollar. Families would be able to use the money even in states where voters have fought back vouchers. The measure will soon move with the rest of the reconciliation bill to the full house. Corey Turner, NPR News. U.S. futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall Street. On Asia Pacific market, shares are down. This is NPR. Russian President Vladimir Putin is not on the Kremlin's list of government officials

attending Thursday's ceasefire talks in Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Putin must be involved in negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine. A U.S. delegation includes White House Enoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. The Gaza Health Ministry says roughly 70 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on parts of northern and southern Gaza. The Israeli military has not commented on the report coming days after Hamas released an Israeli-American hostage.

It's been waging a massive campaign to force Hamas to release all remaining hostages and to surrender. The man charged with attempting to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump in Florida last year is asking a judge to dismiss the weapons charges against him. Details from NPR's Greg Allen. At a hearing in Fort Pierce, Florida, Ryan Ruth's defense lawyers argued that two of the charges against him should be dismissed because they violate his Second Amendment rights. Ruth is accused of illegally owning a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm

with an obliterated serial number. Public defender Sonia Farazi told U.S. District Judge Eileen Cannon that recent court decisions show, quote, the Second Amendment doesn't just apply to law-abiding citizens. Justice Department prosecutor John Shipley said the statute that prohibits felons from possessing firearms is still law. And he said a firearm with an obliterated serial number has no lawful purpose. Ruth's trial is set for September. Greg Allen, NPR News, Fort Pierce, Florida. When Asia Pacific markets shares are lower down 1% in Tokyo. This is NPR News.

Sean Diddy Combs could go to prison for the rest of his life if he's found guilty of charges down 1% in Tokyo. This is NPR News.