NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-17-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: May 17, 2025

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When the Star Wars prequels came out, they were polarizing. Many fans of the original trilogy hated the phantom menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. Though many younger fans loved them then and love them still. So we're re-watching them with fresh eyes 20 years later. From Jar Jar Binks to the climactic nooooo that broke the internet in half, listen on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.

Almost a million people are without power across a dozen states from Missouri to Maryland tonight as a major storm front moves through. In St. Louis, officials say five people died and more than 5,000 homes were damaged after a possible tornado hit during rush hour Friday. A curfew has been placed on damaged areas of the city. Mayor Kara Spencer says rescuers are still looking for survivors. We are focused on life, saving lives and keeping people safe and allowing our community to grieve on the loss of the folks that have suffered so far through this horrific, horrific

storm. Two other people were killed in Scott County, Missouri. The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of migrants in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act. The 18th century wartime power was invoked by Trump to quickly deport Venezuelans, it says, are members of a gang. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran reports. The Supreme Court says the Trump administration did not give the men at a detention center in northern Texas enough time to challenge their deportations under the Alien Enemies

Act. The unsigned order says the Tainis are entitled to more notice than the roughly 24 hours the government gave the Venezuelan men at the center of this case. Conservative justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. This ruling did not address the question of whether Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act was legal. The High Court did say that this order does not stop the government from removing people from the U.S. under other lawful authorities. Sergio Martinez Peltran, NPR News, Austin.

A closely watched survey of consumers' sentiment finds that the lowest rate of confidence in the economy in three years is underway right now, as Quinn Klinefelder of Member Station WDET reports. The results show increasing fears about the effect of President Trump's tariffs on inflation. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index dropped just a bit since last month, but the director of the survey, Joanne Shue, says after a brief bump following President Trump's election, consumers' confidence in the economy has steadily declined, especially as the U.S. has opened new fronts in its trade wars. People are concerned that inflation is going to come roaring back.

And inflation has been the number one thing on people's minds for several years now. And they're really worried and concerned about cost of living. Shue says a more complete picture should emerge at the end of the month when results will reflect consumer response to the U.S. scaling back tariffs on China. For NPR News, I'm Quen Klinefelter in Detroit. In New Orleans, the Orleans Parish Sheriff says there are indications that 10 prisoners who escaped jail on Friday had help from someone within the sheriff's department. 10 men broke out by passing through a hole in the wall that was hidden behind a toilet.

Three of the ten have been caught so far. Three employees have also been placed on suspension as an investigation into the escape gets underway. You're listening to NPR News. President Trump says Iran has an American proposal concerning Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Negotiators from both countries have been meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss a deal. A major sticking point in the talks remains Iran's enrichment of uranium, which Tehran insists it must be allowed to continue. The first week of the Sean Diddy-C Combs trial just wrapped up in New York City.

The hip-hop mogul is accused of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Several witnesses have testified as NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports. And a note, this report includes mention of sexual activity and physical violence. The star witness in the government's case against Sean Combs finished her testimony today. Cassie Ventura spent four days answering questions from the prosecution and Combs' defense about their relationship. Ventura testified that she loved Combs, but he was often violent and forced her to have sex with male escorts.

After Ventura's cross-examination, prosecutors called an agent from Homeland Security Investigations to the stand to lay some of the groundwork for the sex trafficking charges. At the end of the day, singer Dawn Rashard began her testimony. She said she saw Combs hit Ventura more than once. Rashard will continue testifying on Monday. Isabella Gomez-Ramiento, NPR News. The New York Knicks have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years with 119-81 score Friday.

That was their win over the Boston Celtics. Two players each scored 23 points in the win. The Knicks will now face the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals. Game one is Wednesday night in New York. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. NPR News.