NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-22-2025 8PM EDT

Episode Date: May 23, 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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision today has granted the Trump administration's emergency request to let him fire the heads of two independent agencies,

the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. As NPR's Nnedi Totenberg explains, it flies in the face of a 1935 court decision limiting presidential powers. Nadia Totenberg, NPR's Nadia Totenberg, MP, NPR, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, NPR, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP,

NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, NPR, NPR, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, MP, NPR, agency leaders just because they disagree with those agency leaders' views and because these are agencies created by Congress to be bipartisan and independent. NPR's Nina Tonberg, the court on another matter in the split decision, effectively ruled against allowing the use of government money to create the nation's first religious charter school. It's the Republican-led Senate's turn now

to take the next step toward a massive tax and spending package. MPR's Claudia Grisales reports Senate Republicans face an uphill battle taking up a plan that passed the House chamber by just one Republican vote. Senate Republicans are already sharing plenty of skepticism about the House approved plan key to President Trump's domestic agenda. The package would extend tax cuts passed under Trump's first term, reshape immigration policy and could eliminate Medicaid coverage for millions. Fiscal hawks blanch at adding $3 trillion in deficit spending,

while moderate Republicans say cuts to Medicaid are a red line. Senate Majority Leader John Thune will have to juggle those demands, plus Trump, who has been eager to unleash ire on any Republicans who buck the effort. The GOP hopes to get a final bill to Trump's desk this summer, a plan that includes a provision to lift the debt limit ahead of a critical deadline. Claudia Grisales, NPR News. A panel of independent food and drug administration advisors has recommended the next formula for the COVID-19 vaccines.

NPR's Rob Stein is more. After a day-long meeting, the FDA advisors unanimously recommended next fall's COVID-19 boosters target a version of the J and 1 variant. The recommendation was based on data that shows that vaccines that target J&1 would protect people against the latest strains of the virus. The recommendation comes after the FDA announced a new approach for the COVID vaccines. The new strategy would likely limit the availability of the vaccines to those at highest risk, people aged 65 and older, and those with other health problems that

make them vulnerable to serious COVID complications. Rob Stein, NPR News. Stocks ended the trading session on a mixed note. The Dow was down a point. The Nasdaq closed up 53 points. The S&P 500 was down two points today. You're listening to NPR. Israel has opened a single land crossing into Gaza saying it is allowed in nearly 200 aid trucks. The UN says it has only

been able to collect about half the amount so far for distribution. Comes after 11 weeks of total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas which sparked concerns of impending famine. If there's honest Baba, more from Gaza City. The aid that has trickled into Gaza falls far short of what's needed to feed a population of 2 million people. UN experts warn that many are facing starvation

and infants have been treated for malnourishment. The aid trucks carry flour and baby food. The World Food Program says a handful of bakeries are now operational in southern and central Gaza only. But it says far more are needed to push back hunger. Israel says it's allowing only a basic quantity of food because of the international pressure to prevent hunger.

It comes as Israel has intensified its military offensive in Gaza. Some of Israel's closest allies in Europe are now calling for an end to the war and the full lifting of the blockade. Anas Baba, NPR News, Gaza City. The cost of that old saying, a penny for your thoughts, will be going up. The U.S. men announcing today made its final order of penny blanks. The plans will stop producing the coins once they run out. In February, President Trump announced he'd ordered production end of the one-cent coin. While there are an estimated 1.14 billion pennies in circulation, many are sitting in desk

drawers or coffee cans. The holding production of the pennies is expected to save about $56 million. Critical futures prices fell 37 cents a barrel to 61.20 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. 20 Barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News.