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

Episode Date: May 22, 2025

NPR News: 05-22-2025 12PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This is Fresh Air contributor Anne-Marie Baldonado. I talked with actor Cole Escola about their hit Broadway play, Oh Mary. Cole plays an unhinged alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln, who's an aspiring cabaret performer. If that makes no sense, that's part of the point. You can find my interview on the Fresh Air podcast. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump is celebrating a narrow legislative win. Early this morning, most House Republicans put aside their differences to approve Trump's mega tax cut and immigration bill. Democrats united against the package, warned the legislation will cut off millions of the country's most vulnerable Americans from Medicaid and SNAP.

And Piers, Claudia Grisales reports on the outcome a day after Trump met with holdouts. House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with President Trump's help, was able to flip GOP holdouts to get the plan passed by one Republican vote. This is a historic moment that we will be talking to our children and our grandchildren about and everyone will remember. America's back. The bill will extend a tax package passed under President Trump's first term, install new immigration and energy policy, and raise deductions for state and local taxes.

It also includes plans for new Medicaid work requirements, which could threaten coverage for millions of Americans. The bill now heads to the Senate, where there's plenty of talk to change the plan. Claudia Grisales, NPR News. Flags at Israeli missions are flying at half-staff after a deadly shooting at a Washington, D.C. event last night. The attack outside the capital Jewish Museum claimed the lives of two Israeli embassy staff members, Yaron Shinsky and Sarah Milgram. The New York Times quotes Milgram's father in reporting the couple was soon to be engaged. Police identify the gunman as Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old Chicago man.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith says the man was detained by event security and began chanting quote free free Palestine. The Senate's voted 51 to 44 to overturn a waiver allowing California to set its own air pollution standards for cars that are stricter than national regulations. The Senate has not yet voted on related resolutions to revoke two more waivers related to heavy-duty trucks. President Trump is hosting an exclusive dinner tonight at his Washington, D.C. area golf club. Attendees are top investors in Trump's meme coin.

NPR's Scott Newman reports the event is raising ethical concerns. Companies tied to President Trump own about 80% of his meme coins. But on the guest list for this dinner are the next 220 top investors. An elite group at the very top will also get a private tour of the White House conducted by the president himself. Norm Eisen was an ethics advisor to President Barack Obama. Foreigners and foreign governments are going to take advantage of that situation to put

money in expecting things in return. The White House says the president is working to secure good deals for all Americans, not for himself. Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR. The spring home buying season is off to a week start. NPR's Scott Horsley reports high prices and high mortgage rates are keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines. The National Association of Realtors says sales of existing homes were down again in April after an already disappointing March. Home prices continue to climb, however, with an average selling price last month of $414,000. There are more homes on the market for would-be

buyers to choose from. The number of homes for sale jumped 9% between March and April. Housing affordability is still a challenge, though, with interest rates hovering around 6.8%. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Many people in the United States apparently are consulting non-traditional spiritual practices. Catherine Post of Religion News Service has the findings of a new survey. Catherine Post According to a new survey from Pew Research Center, three in 10 American adults consult a fortune teller, tarot cards, or astrology at least once a year.

Those practices are especially popular among younger adults and women. And the survey finds nearly half of LGBTQ Americans consult astrology at least once a year. Chip Rotolo of Pew says this isn't surprising. These practices sometimes emphasize things like fluidity and openness. Still, just 6% of U.S. adults say they rely on these practices when making major life choices, according to Pew. For many, it's just for fun. For NPR News, I'm Katherine Post. LESLIE KENDRICK This story is from a collaboration between

NPR and Religion News Service. The Dow is up 83 points. It's NPR News.