NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-22-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: May 22, 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. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Trump administration is dialing up the pressure on Harvard University to acquiesce to demands

the Ivy League schools challenging in court. Today, the Department of Homeland Security revoke Harvard Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. The school is unable to enroll international students, an important funding source, and it's devastating to students. The DHS is warning currently enrolled foreign students to transfer to other schools or they'll lose their legal status in the U.S.

In a statement, Harvard says the government's actions are illegal. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the suspected gunman in the shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The shooting took place last night outside Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. NPR's Ryan Lucas has the latest. Ryan Lucas Authorities arrested the suspected gunman identified as Elias Rodriguez at the Capitol Jewish Museum shortly arrested the suspected gunman identified as Elias Rodriguez at the capital Jewish Museum shortly after the shooting late Wednesday night.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Rodriguez chanted free Palestine after he was taken into custody. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the shooting and said federal authorities are working closely with DC police on the investigation. Everything we know now he acted alone. From everything we know now, this is an ongoing investigation. The victims have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgram, both of whom worked at the Israeli embassy in Washington. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

By one vote, the GOP-led House passed President Trump's tax cut and domestic spending bill. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says Trump wants to see the Senate follow suit. The Senate should pass this as quickly as possible and send it to President Trump's desk for a final signature. This morning's House vote was not entirely Republican-backed. Two voted with Democrats in opposition to a bill that also enables deep cuts in Medicaid and other federal programs. One Republican, Andy Harris of Maryland voted present. Shares of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac jumped to their highest level since 2008 after President Trump posted that he may take them public again.

NPR's Chris Arnold has more. Fannie and Freddie are the most powerful forces in the multi-trillion dollar US mortgage market. And they've been prisoners of the Treasury Department ever since their bad investments forced a government bailout during the 2008 crash. So President Trump is basically talking about letting Fannie and Freddie out of jail. But a former official tells NPR

that there's a way to do that where investors that hold the old Fannie and Freddie stock get wiped out, and another way to do it where those investors would make billions. The biggest holder of that old stock is reported to be Bill Ackman, a backer of President Trump. Taking Fannie and Freddie public would also be complicated and if done wrong, it could cause turmoil in the stock and bond markets. Chris Arnold, NPR News. It's NPR.

Pretty much updating where mortgage rates stand this week. It says the 30-year fixed rate mortgage has gone up again to 6.86%. Meanwhile, the rate on the 15-year loan often used for refinancing was just above 6% this week. for refinancing was just above 6% this week. Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks will appear off-Broadway next October in a new play that he co-authored. Jeff London reports from New York the play This World of Tomorrow is a time-traveling romance based on some of Hank's short stories. The Shed, an off-Broadway venue in Hudson Yards, the chic far westside neighborhood, has hosted some high-profile shows in recent years. Among them, Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of King Lear and Stephen Sondheim's final

musical Here We Are. Now, Tom Hanks will appear in the center's 550-seat theater in a show adapted from his stories about a scientist in the future who travels back to the 1939 New York World's Fair to find love. Hanks is collaborating with writer James Glossman on the adaptation to be directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York. US stocks are trading higher this hour.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average up nearly 200 points or roughly half a percent at 42,054. The S&P has climbed 31 points and the NASDAQ is up 187. It's NPR. World news is important, but. It's NPR.