NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-15-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: May 15, 2025

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When Malcolm Gladwell presented NPR's Throughline podcast with a Peabody Award, he praised it for its historical and moral clarity. On Throughline, we take you back in time to the origins of what's in the news, like presidential power, aging, and evangelicalism. Time travel with us every week on the Throughline podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The US Supreme Court is now weighing arguments related to lawsuits challenging President Trump's attempt to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, which allows birthright citizenship. But at the center of this case is a broader question

over whether a judge can universally block a president's policy And pierce jimenez bustillo has more 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 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 US 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 this case, it is necessary since citizenship benefits are universally applied. A decision in the case is expected later this summer. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

Danielle Pletka The Department of Homeland Security is asking for 20,000 National Guard members to help with immigration enforcement. That's according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. If the Defense Department approves this DHS request, it would be a first. And Piers, Tom Bowman explains. Tom Bowman There's no sense at this point what role the Guard troops would play. It might be providing transportation or security, or if they would be detaining migrants or actually maybe taking part in arrests. Back in February, Texas Governor Greg Abbott gave Texas Guard members the authority

to make immigration arrests. Now, this would be the first time Guard troops at the national level, a widespread effort, have been asked to assist in deportations. Danielle Pletka NPR's Tom Bowman, the story was first reported by the New York Times. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met with his Syrian counterpart as the Trump administration begins to wind down sanctions. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that the move is getting bipartisan support in Washington. Speaking to reporters on a trip to neighboring Turkey, Secretary Rubio says he's just getting to know Syria's new leaders who toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime last year. We think that a peaceful, stable Syria would be one of the most dramatic improvements in the region in a very long time. And we want to do everything we can to help achieve that. Rubio says Syrian authorities, who were former jihadi fighters, are promising to build a pluralistic society.

They've also asked for help, he says, in removing chemical weapons from the country. The secretary says the U.S. will help with that and will ease sanctions that were put in place during Bashar al-Assad's rule. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. The Dow is up 271 points. This is NPR News. Hip-hop mogul Sean Combs' attorneys have questioned his ex-girlfriend for the first time in his sex trafficking and racketeering

trial in New York. R&B singer Kazi Ventura has given graphic testimony this week detailing alleged physical and sexual assault. Today, the defense questioned Ventura about sexually explicit text exchanges she had with Combs and moments of jealousy. Combs' attorneys are seeking to undermine Ventura's previous testimony that she was controlled by and feared Combs. Scholars in Britain say a replica of the Magna Carta that Harvard bought nearly 80 years ago for less than $30 is actually the real thing and The 13th century Magna Carta laid out how the King of England was subject to law, and it's since become the foundation of many constitutions. In 1946, Harvard's Law Library bought what was assumed to be a Magna Carta replica for

$27.50. Then two years ago, a medieval history professor in London spotted the stained, faded document on Harvard's website. He and others analyzed it using ultraviolet light and spectral imaging and have now concluded it's one of six originals dating back to the year 1300. Others have sold at auction for more than $20 million, but Harvard says it has no plans to sell this one. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 271 points or more than half a percent.

The S&P was up 24 points. The NASDAQ closed down 34. It's NPR. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. points the NASDAQ closed down 34. It's NPR.