NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-15-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: May 15, 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. Live from Nmi Singh Live from NPR News, I'm Lakhshmi Singh. At the U.S. Supreme Court today, the justices heard a case that challenges the constitutional provision guaranteeing automatic citizenship to all babies born in the United States. But the arguments focused on a separate question. Can federal district court judges rule against the administration on a nationwide basis?

The justices seem to wrestle with the issue. President Trump has long maintained that the Constitution does not guarantee birthright citizenship. So on day one of his second presidential term, he issued an executive order barring automatic citizenship for any baby born in the U.S. whose parents enter the country illegally or who were here legally, but on a temporary visa. Today, Justice Brett Kavanaugh questions Solicitor General John Sauer. On the day after it goes into effect, it's just a very practical question how it's going to work. What do hospitals do with a newborn? What do states do with a newborn?

I don't think they do anything different. What the executive order says in section two is that federal officials do not accept documents that have the wrong designation of citizenship from people who are subject to the executive order. How are they going to know that? Meanwhile, a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities pleaded not guilty today in federal court. NPR's Joel Rose reports a case is part of an escalating clash between the Trump administration

and Democrats over the president's crackdown on illegal immigration. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan pleaded not guilty during a brief arraignment in federal court. Dugan is charged with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The judge is accused of directing a defendant without legal status out the back door of her courtroom as US immigration and customs enforcement agents tried to arrest him. The man, who was in court on domestic abuse charges, was apprehended a short time later. A federal grand jury indicted Dugan earlier this week.

She and her attorneys left the hearing without speaking to reporters. The trial is set for July. Joel Rose, NPR News. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky says he's sending a delegation to Istanbul to meet with Kremlin technocrats. More from NPR's Joanna Kokissis. Russian president Volodymyr Putin decided not to attend the talks, talks that he had proposed earlier this week. Zelensky, who did fly to Turkey, says this shows Putin is not serious about peace. In the Turkish capital Ankara, Zelensky met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

who is trying to serve as a mediator. The Ukrainian president later spoke with reporters. He's saying, so here we are in Ankara, we're sending a group to Istanbul, but Putin is not here or in Istanbul and we cannot run around looking for this person. Speaking from Qatar, President Trump said that nothing can happen on peace negotiations until he speaks with Putin himself. Joanna Kekissis, NPR News, Kyiv. From Washington, this is NPR News.

Public radio officials are fanning out in the corridors of Capitol Hill today to make the case for sustained federal funding. As NPR's David Fokinflick reports, the Trump administration is seeking to gut government support for public broadcasting. Nearly 200 public radio executives have met this week in Washington at NPR's headquarters. They are telling lawmakers that public radio offers a vital service, providing coverage in areas parched for news, programs focusing on regional music and culture, and reliable information in times of emergency.

The White House says NPR and PBS offer radical propaganda, and it's urging Congress to eliminate all future funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. That's the nonprofit through which federal funds flow to public broadcasting, a bit more than a half billion dollars a year. Most of that money goes to local stations. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Republican, has come out in favor of continued funds for public media, saying it is invaluable for her constituents. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

Danielle Pletka Floride is formally banned from Florida's drinking water. Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation that bars local municipalities from adding fluoride to their public water systems. It's the second state to do so after Utah. Critics say fluoride is important for good dental health and is safe. However, DeSantis said during a Dade City event today that it is, quote, basically forced medication.

U.S. stocks are mostly higher this hour. The Dow up 251 points, more than half a percent. At 42,302, the S&P is up 21 points. The Nasdaq is down 41. It's NPR News.