NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-22-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: May 22, 2025

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Support for NPR and the following message come from the Kauffman Foundation, providing access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity, regardless of race, gender, or geography. kauffman.org. Shea Stevens Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Authorities in Washington, D.C., are investigating a fatal shooting at the Capitol Jewish Museum. Two Israeli embassy employees were killed outside a social event sponsored by the American

Jewish Committee. The AJC says its members are devastated by the, quote, unspeakable act of violence. A suspect has been apprehended. President Trump's meeting with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday became heated at times. Details from NPR's Danielle Kurtz-Levin. While the Oval Office meeting began cordially, it grew hostile when Trump repeated false claims

of white genocide. At one point, Trump paused the meeting to show the room a four-and-a-half-minute video promoting the idea that white South African farmers are being targeted. 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. South African President Ramaphosa pushed back against Trump's claims, also stressing that

he wanted to quote, reset the relationship between the United States and South Africa. It wasn't the only topic that angered the president. Trump also repeatedly insulted a reporter from NBC when he asked the president about his administration's accepting a luxury airplane as a gift from Qatar. Danielle Kurtzlaven, NPR News. A federal judge says the Trump administration has violated his order on third country deportations. Details from NPR's Tovia Smith. Eight migrants were flown out of the U.S. 17 hours after they were told they were being

deported to South Sudan. Government lawyers argue that was enough time for them to raise concerns about their safety, but none did. In a stern rebuke, federal Judge Brian Murphy said officials unquestionably violated his order to ensure due process, and he wants DHS to hear any concerns from the men now, either back in the U.S. or where they are, which remains unclear. Tina Real-Muto, a lawyer for the migrants, is skeptical. We think that will be a legal and logistical nightmare when we have concerns. Government attorneys meantime raise concerns for the safety of the ICE agents holding what officials have described as criminals and barbaric monsters. Tovia Smith, NPR News, Boston.

The Dow Jones Industrial fell nearly 2% on Wednesday. And NPR's Maria Aspyn reports that investors are selling off U.S. government bonds. Bonds are supposed to be the safe and stable part of the financial system. But now we're seeing all these warnings that everything is not so safe and stable anymore. I mean, just today, the European Central Bank warned that President Trump's tariffs are putting the global financial system at risk. So obviously tariffs continue to hang over everything. But this week the main headline has really become the U.S. national deficit, which is running close to $2 trillion.

Maria Aspin reporting. This is NPR. The Archdiocese of New Orleans has agreed to pay a most $180 million to settle clergy sex abuse claims. The settlement is to be paid out after the diocese emerges from bankruptcy and is subject to approval by survivors, creditors, and the bankruptcy court. The agreement stands from a lawsuit filed in 2020 by a man claiming he was sexually abused by a priest when he was in eighth grade.

The retrial of former film producer Harvey Weinstein continued in Manhattan Wednesday with the day-long cross-examination of a woman who says Weinstein raped her. Reporter Ilya Meretz has the story. Ilya Meretz, Reporter, The New York Times, New York Times Jessica Mann was an aspiring actress in 2013 when she asserts Weinstein forced her to have sex with him in a hotel room. Defense attorney Arthur Idalla focused his questions for Mann on evidence suggesting a more complicated relationship that mixed sex, friendship, and the film business. He prompted Mann to read aloud one message, sent less than a month after the alleged rape,

in which he asked Weinstein's assistant for help getting an audition for a film. In other messages to Weinstein around that time, she wrote, I appreciate all you do for me and hope to see you sooner than later. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case next week. Then it's the defense's turn. Weinstein's team has not ruled out putting him on the stand. Weinstein's 2020 conviction was overturned on procedural grounds last year.

For NPR News, I'm Ilya Meretz in New York. Robotic cameras aboard the Mars rover Perseverance are still sending images back to Earth. The latest one captured a twirling dust storm. Perseverance has been collecting rock samples since its mission began in March 2020. This is NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. With WISE, you can send, spend, or receive money across borders, all at a fair exchange rate. No markups or hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit WISE.com.

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