NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-17-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: May 17, 2025

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Look, we get it. When it comes to new music, there is a lot of it, and it all comes really fast. But on All Songs Considered, NPR's music recommendation podcast, we'll handpick what we think is the greatest music happening right now and give you your next great listen. So kick back, settle in, get those eardrums wide open, and get your dose of new music from All Songs Considered, only from NPR. dose of new music from all songs considered, only from NPR. Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahlea Saikow-Tow. Powerful storms overnight spun off reported tornadoes leading to fatalities and widespread damage in Kentucky.

Karen Zarr reports from member station WKY in Lexington. Just weeks ago, Kentucky was hit with deadly flooding. Today, the state is reeling from more destructive weather, high winds, torrential rain, and golf ball-sized hail. In Somerset, Mayor Alan Keck surveyed the destruction in the dark of night. A lot of structures took on significant damage, and it's a really scary time for our community. Keck said it looked as if a tornado touched down, lifted off the ground and briefly hit again, creating a swath of crumpled buildings, vehicles and trees.

The storms have since passed, but areas of Kentucky dealt with the risk of flash flooding in their wake. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Lexington. In Missouri, St. Louis Mayor Kara Spencer said five people died, 38 were injured, more than 5,000 homes were affected in her city, and about 90,000 homes are still without power. I would describe this as one of the worst storms, absolutely. The devastation is truly heartbreaking. And let's not forget, people have lost their lives. We are continuing to make sure that we are identifying all those that are injured in addition to the massive amount of property damage.

Weather Service radar indicated a likely tornado touched down yesterday afternoon near the St. Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World's Fair and 1904 Olympic Games. The Supreme Court has kept in place a temporary block preventing the Trump administration from using the 18th Century Wartime Alien Enemies Act to deport a group of migrants in Texas accused of being gang members, accused of being in a Venezuelan gang. The court is faulting the White House for seeking to remove them without adequate due process, just as Sanmuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. NPR has learned that the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOJ,

has attempted to assign a team to the Congressional Watchdog, the Government Accountability Office. NPR's Chris Arnold reports. Since its inception, DOJ has been strong-arming its way into government agencies, gaining access to sensitive data, and, directly or indirectly, firing workers. NPR has learned, and a GAO spokesman confirms, that Doge is trying to assign a team to the watchdog agency, citing an executive order from President Trump. But the GAO is an independent agency that's part of the legislative branch, in other words Congress, not the White House.

So GAO says it is not subject to executive orders and is therefore— This is NPR News. Ukraine has unveiled a first of its kind sea drone used to shoot down Russian fighter jets earlier this month. NPR's Joannica Kisses has more from Kyiv. In a nondescript conference room, Ukraine's military intelligence turned up an industrial metal song and unveiled two large sea drones. The Magura 5-7 drones resemble small speedboats, but they're equipped with missiles and machine guns.

They're piloted by an elite unit called Group 13. Members wore balaclavas and sunglasses to hide their identities for security reasons, and they had their voices mechanically distorted while they spoke at a press conference. The unit's commander, whose military call sign is 13th, said Ukraine must keep adapting drones to stay ahead of the Russians. Joanna Kekisis, NPR News, Kyiv. Israel's army has intensified attacks in the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 150 people in the last 24 hours, according to Palestinian health authorities. The defense minister of Israel says it launched Operation Gideon Chariots to pressure Hamas

into releasing remaining hostages. Meanwhile, in Baghdad, Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Iraq's capital demanded an immediate end to the war in Gaza and asked Israel to allow international aid to enter the region. They also called on the global community to help fund a Gaza reconstruction plan. I'm Dua-Halisa Icautel, NPR News in New York.