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Episode Date: May 21, 2025

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Hey, it's Sarah Gonzalez. The economy has been in the news a lot lately. It's kind of always in the news. And Planet Money is always here to explain it. Each episode we tell a sometimes quirky, sometimes surprising, always interesting story that helps you better understand the economy. So when you hear something about cryptocurrency or where exactly your taxes go, yes, I was. Listen to the Planet Money podcast from NPR. ago, yes I was. Listen to the Planet Money Podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Palestinian health officials say the latest Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed dozens of people. The Associated Press says at least 85 were killed in yesterday's attacks as part of Israel's new military offensive. At the same time, Israeli officials say they allowed dozens of trucks carrying humanitarian supplies into Gaza. President Trump says the U.S. will soon begin construction of a new missile defense shield known as the Golden Dome.

NPR's Jeff Brumfield says some believe the system could end up costing hundreds of billions of dollars. From the Oval Office, President Trump laid out his plans for a golden dome missile shield that would be capable of stopping an attack from anywhere. Once fully constructed, the golden dome will be capable of intercepting missiles, even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space. Trump says the shield can be built in just three years and will cost around $175 billion. Experts say that timeline is extremely ambitious and the price tag could end up being a lot higher.

One recent estimate from the Congressional Budget Office suggests even a basic defense could cost half a trillion dollars. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News. A federal judge in Massachusetts is ordering the Department of Homeland Security to keep in its custody any migrants scheduled to be deported from the U.S. to South Sudan. Judge Brian Murphy says he wants to ensure they receive sufficient due process before their removals. The order stems from an emergency court hearing held yesterday. Last month, the judge issued a preliminary injunction that barred deportations to countries

where migrants aren't originally from without receiving notice in their native language and sufficient time to contest their deportations. The U.S. Supreme Court is temporarily restoring the legislative voting rights of a Republican state lawmaker in Maine. As NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, the state representative was censured over a social media post about a transgender athlete. Representative Laura Libby was stripped of her committee assignments and barred from voting in the state house after posting criticism of a transgender student competing in girls

sports. The post, which went viral, included a picture of the student and a name in quote marks. Libby challenged the punishment, arguing that it violated her First Amendment rights. In an emergency order, the Supreme Court sided with Libby, granting her request to resume voting while the case moves ahead. The State House Legisl legislature in Maine had argued the censure fell within its authority, but the high court's order suggests that limiting a lawmaker's core duties, such as casting votes, could raise constitutional concerns. Windsor-Johnston NPR News.

House Republicans are still working on their massive budget bill that includes an extension of tax cuts. This is NPR News. Authorities in Louisiana say a maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office is facing multiple charges in connection with last week's escape of 10 inmates from the local jail there. The sheriff says 33-year-old Sterling Williams admitted turning off the water in a cell before the prisoners escaped through a hole behind a toilet. Williams told authorities an inmate threatened to stab him if he didn't do it.

Five of the ten escapees have since been recaptured. Sheriff Susan Hudson says she takes full accountability for the jailbreak and is suspending her re-election campaign. Actor George Wendt has died. He was best known for playing the character Norm Peterson on the long-running NBC TV sitcom Cheers. NPR's Mandelite Del Barco says Wendt was 76 years old. TV's barfly Norm was always welcome at the Boston pub Cheers. George Wendt played the lovable beardchugging Norm on every episode of Cheers, which ran on NBC from 1982 until 1993. The Chicago-born actor got his start in the 1970s at the famous improv comedy troupe The Second City.

For years he played bit parts on TV shows and movies. He even showed up in a Michael Jackson music video yelling at McCauley Culkin's character. Wynn had his own short-lived sitcom in 1995, but he's most remembered as Norm, for which he earned six Emmy nominations. He reprised the character for Cheers spinoffs The Tortellis and Frasier. Mandelid Del Barco, NPR News. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington. Politics is a lot these days. NPR News.