NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-16-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

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We've all been there running around a city looking for a bathroom, but unable to find one. Hello, do you have a restroom we could use? A very simple free market solution is that we could just pay to use a bathroom, but we can't. On the Planet Money podcast, the story of how we once had thousands of pay toilets and why they got banned from Planet Money on NPR, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Cora Vakulman. President Trump is returning home after spending much of this week in the Mideast.

He met with Gulf leaders and signed several multibillion-dollar agreements. Many of them call for billions of dollars of investment in U.S. companies such as aircraft maker Boeing. But there appear to be few conversations about political issues, including the war in Gaza. Israel has stepped up its attacks on Gaza. It says it's pressuring Hamas to release the hostages. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in just the past three days. President Trump did mention that something needs to be done.

A lot of good things are going to happen over the next month, and we're going to see. We have to help also out the Palestinians. You know a lot of people are starving on Gaza, so we have to look at both sides. But we'll, we're going to do a good job. President Trump also said he was not surprised that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not go to talks with Ukrainian representatives in Turkey. These talks concluded quickly in Turkey today. Trump had hinted he might go to these talks himself.

He said Putin would not go if he didn't, so Trump was not surprised at the outcome. He says nothing will happen to end the Ukrainian war until he and Putin meet. Floride will soon be banned in Florida's public water systems under a bill signed into law yesterday. Remember station WUSF Douglas Soll has more. 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 Soll in Tallahassee. Stocks opened higher this morning as the Commerce Department reported a drop in homebuilding activity last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 10 points in

early trading. Builders broke round on fewer single-family homes in April than they did the month before. Permits for future home building activity were also down. A survey by the National Association of Home Builders shows builders are feeling less confident as high tariffs drive up the cost of building materials and high mortgage rates discourage would-be buyers. Mortgage giant Freddie Maxx has the average cost of a 30-year home loan inched up this week to 6.8 percent.

Two of the nation's biggest cable companies are tying the knot. Charter Communications says it will buy Cox Communications in a deal worth more than $34 billion. Cable companies are under pressure as viewers cut the cord and turn to streaming services. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. On Wall Street, the Dow is now up 20 points. This is NPR. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday about whether President Trump can overturn the constitutional right to citizenship with

an executive order. The justices also reviewed whether lower court judges may universally block this or any executive order. Amy Howe of SCOTUSBlock says the issue crosses party lines. This is something that has been, as Solicitor General John Sauer said yesterday at the oral argument, sort of a bipartisan bane. The Department of Justice, the Biden administration, before that the Obama administration, both Trump administrations feel like they have been stymied

in their ability to implement some of their major policy initiatives by these universal injunctions. She spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. For the first time, doctors have treated a baby born with a rare but devastating genetic disorder with a gene-editing therapy tailored to his specific needs. NPR's Rob Stein reports. The baby was born at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in August with a genetic disorder that causes toxic ammonia to build up in his

body. That can cause brain damage and even death. So doctors raced to tailor make a gene editing treatment to correct his genetic defect. And after receiving three infusions beginning in February, the child appears to have improved. Doctors say the baby will have to be followed for much longer to know how well the treatment ultimately works, but they hope this is the beginning of using bespoke gene editing treatments to help children born with very rare genetic disorders. NPR's Rob Stein reporting. This is NPR.

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.