NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-21-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: May 21, 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. Lyle, from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. In an extraordinary scene in the Oval Office today, President Trump sprang a video on his White House guest, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in front of the media. The video was a five-minute montage of archival

footage that Trump claims proves that there was genocide against white South Africans. I must tell you, Mr. President, we have had a tremendous number of people, especially since they've seen this, generally they're white farmers and they're fleeing South Africa and it's a very sad thing to see. President Ramaphosa responded calmly but forcefully to Trump. There is criminality in our country. People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity are not only white people. The majority of them are black people. Last week, the U.S. welcomed a group of white South Africans who were granted refugee status. A Defense Department spokesman says the Pentagon has officially accepted a luxury jet plane

from Qatar to use as the new Air Force One for President Trump. Critics have raised security and ethics concerns about the jet. The Justice Department is backing away from civil rights cases against police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky. The decision coming just days ahead of the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas. The head of the Justice Department Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, announced the moves and said the timing has nothing to do with the anniversary of Floyd's death but rather with looming court deadlines. The department is moving to dismiss lawsuits

against Louisville and Minneapolis that accuse them of unconstitutional police practices and would impose consent decrees to help ensure accountability. Dylan says such consent decrees are too expensive, last too long, and have been badly used. The department is also closing investigations into police departments in six other jurisdictions including Phoenix, Arizona, Trenton, New Jersey, Memphis, Tennessee, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma., Arizona, Trenton, New Jersey, Memphis, Tennessee, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

Pakistan is accusing India of bombing a school bus that killed four children and two adults, a claim that India says is baseless. The two countries only recently agreed to stop fighting after days of clashes. More from NPR's Diya Hadid in Mumbai. The chief minister of the West and Pakistani province of Balochistan said an IED struck the bus, wounding several other children. There was no claim of responsibility, but the province is home to an increasingly violent separatist movement.

Even so, targeting children is rare. Pakistan accused India of being behind the attack. It accuses its rival of supporting separatist groups as a way of destabilizing the country. An Indian spokesman said Pakistan was trying to shift attention away from its own role in terrorism. Dear Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai. All major market indices are down 1% to 1.5%. It's NPR. Actor Kevin Spacey, who is facing new sexual assault allegations, was honored at a gala in France yesterday. NPR's Mandeleid El Barco reports the event

was held concurrent to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Kevin Spacey received a lifetime achievement award at the Better World Fund's annual gala. The 65-year-old Oscar winner was also there to help sell The Awakening, an independent film he's in, to potential buyers at the Cannes Film Festival. This was his latest accolade since his acting career was derailed. Since 2017, more than 30 men have accused Spacey of sexual assault or inappropriate behavior, and he was fired from his role on the Netflix series House of Cards. A New York jury found him not liable in a civil lawsuit in 2022, and the following year, he was acquitted in London of multiple counts of sexual assault

dating back to the period between 2001 and 2013. Spacey is now facing new charges in the UK. Mandelit Del Barco, NPR News. The Philadelphia Eagles are declaring push-on, heralding on exit their signature play. The Tush push survived an attempted ban that was put to a vote at an owner's meeting in Minneapolis today. NPR's Charles Snyder has more on the play. It's a variation on the quarterback sneak in which players line up behind the quarterback in order to help muscle him forward in short- yardage situations. The play is also known as the brotherly shove after the Philadelphia Eagles began using it successfully in recent years and helped them win this year's Super Bowl.

The Green Bay Packers submitted the proposal to ban the play, citing in part player safety. NPR's Giles Snyder reporting. This is NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast Reporting, this is NPR News.