NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-20-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

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Know that fizzy feeling you get when you read something really good, watch the movie everyone's been talking about, or catch the show that the internet can't get over? At the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, we chase that feeling four times a week. We'll serve you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, and more. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, catch the Pop Culture happy hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's emerged from his meeting with House Republicans after more than an hour today saying his party is united behind what he's called his big, beautiful bill.

I think it was a really great, that was a meeting of love. Let me tell you, that was love in that room. There was no shouting. I think it was a meeting of love. Let me tell you, that was love in that room. There was no shouting. I think it was a meeting of love. There were a couple of things that we talked about specifically where some people felt a little bit one way or the other, not a big deal. Danielle Pletka It's still unclear if Trump has persuaded Republican holdouts to support the massive bill of spending and tax cuts. The GOP cannot afford to lose more than three Republican votes in the House where the GOP has a narrow majority. This week four

fiscal hardliners help advance the bill without supporting it on grounds the spending cuts don't go far enough. Democrats are united against the measure that they say undermines the most vulnerable Americans. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is facing tough questions from Democrats about the way he dismantled the U.S. agency for international development and how he's prioritizing white South Africans for refugee status while stopping all other refugees from coming in. And Piers, Michelle Kellerman reports on one confrontational exchange at a budget hearing.

Senator, Chris Van Hollen says people in Sudan are dying because of U.S. aid cuts. And around the world, he says, Rubio seems to have backed off from his previous convictions about defending democracy and human rights. And I have to tell you directly and personally that I regret voting for you for Secretary of State. The committee's Republican Chairman, Jim Risch,

gave Rubio time to fire back. The secretary criticized Van Hollen's recent trip to El Salvador to meet a man the administration mistakenly deported there. And that guy is a gangbanger and the evidence is going to be clear in the days to come. Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, he can't make unsubstantiated statements. Van Hollen says Rubio should make that case in court. Michelle Kelliman NPR News the State Department. The Food and Drug Administration has announced plans that could limit access

to COVID-19 vaccines and Piers Robstein is more. The FDA says that it plans to impose new requirements on COVID vaccines to focus on immunizing people at highest risk for serious complications from COVID. That would include people who are age 65 and older and younger people with other health problems. For children and younger healthy adults, the FDA wants vaccine companies to conduct additional research to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. The FDA says the moves are necessary to restore trust in the vaccines. Critics say the moves are unnecessary because the vaccines are very safe and effective and

they would limit the ability of younger, healthy people to get vaccinated. Rob Stein, NPR News. From Washington, this is NPR. The U.S. Supreme Court has restored the legislative voting rights of a Maine lawmaker who was censured for her social media protests of transgender student athletes competing in girl sports. Republican State Representative Laura Libby has been censored since February in an emergency appeal. She asked the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that she's been blocked from voting and speaking on the House floor. At issue was Libby's social media post that identified a transgender athlete who

competed and won in a state track and field competition. The NBA's conference finals tip off tonight. There are four teams remaining in the playoffs. None has won a championship in decades, if ever. NPR's Becky Sullivan has this preview. Becky Sullivan The last time the Oklahoma City Thunder won an NBA title, the team was still in Seattle. That was back in 1979. The Thunder moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and have only appeared in the finals once since then. They'll face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have never won a title or even reached the finals since they entered the league in 1989. In the Eastern Conference, it's a classic matchup between the New York Knicks and the

Indiana Pacers. Both franchises have been successful over the years, yet the Pacers have never won an NBA title, and the Knicks haven't won one in more than 50 years. It's a remarkable show of parity for the NBA. For decades, the league was dominated by dynasties and repeat winners. Now, no matter which team wins, this will be the seventh straight season with a new champion. Becky Sullivan, NPR News.

US stocks have ended the day lower. The Dow closed down 114 points to settle at 42,677. It's NPR.