NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-24-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: May 24, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. European Union's top trade chief says the EU stands ready to defend its interests, saying in a social media post that the EU is committed to securing a deal with the US based on mutual respect and not threats. President Trump is threatening to hike tariffs on all EU imports. Here's NPR's Scott Horsley. It's become kind of a familiar pattern now. The president took to social media to rattle his tariff saber. He complained

that trade talks with the EU have been quote going nowhere and he threatened to impose a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union unless that changes by June 1st. President Trump is also warning of a 25 percent tariff increase on Apple, unless the company starts manufacturing its iPhones in the U.S. The Supreme Court is temporarily blocking a watchdog group from accessing records from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. NPR's Bobby Allen reports the ruling stems from a lawsuit seeking to shed light on the Doge team's activities. The nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is suing the Trump

administration to uncover details about Doge's dealings in the U.S. government. The lawsuit argues Doge is exceeding its legal authority and asks that internal communications, financial disclosures, and other documents be released to the public. A federal district judge found Doge is likely subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. But after an appeal, Chief Justice John Roberts is pausing that ruling, meaning Doge records do not have to be turned over as the appeals process continues. It's a win for the Trump administration, which has stated Doge is operating transparently despite most of its activities being shrouded in secrecy.

Those activities have resulted in tens of thousands of federal workers being fired and the unwinding of entire government agencies. Bobby Allen, NPR News. Bobby Allen, NPR News. Palestinian hospital and health officials say Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed more than 70 people, and authorities say dozens are trapped beneath the rubble. Israel's prime minister has ready tens of thousands of ground troops to move into Gaza, but they've yet to be fully deployed.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the north and in Gaza's second largest city remain under evacuation orders. As MPR's Carrie Kahn reports. While the ground troops have remained largely on hold, airstrikes continue bombarding several areas in Gaza, especially in the north where residents have been ordered to clear several days ago. Fatima al-Ghuf was walking from her home in Jabalia in the north. She says she has nowhere to go. The 19-year-old says she'll just stop on the side of the road wherever she can. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the goal of the threatened ground offensive is to gain total control over Gaza. Under growing

international criticism, Israel has allowed minimal aid into Gaza, which UN officials call quote, wholly inadequate. Keri Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Nat. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. Today marks the second day of a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. Hundreds of prisoners were exchanged as part of a deal reached last week in Istanbul, where the two sides failed to reach a ceasefire agreement. Each side swapped 307 prisoners today. Hours after Kiev came under a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack. Local officials say at least 15 people were injured.

At the Cannes Film Festival, organizers say all scheduled events, including tonight's closing ceremony, will proceed as planned. A major power outage has hit southeastern France. Police say they are investigating a possible arson attack at a substation near Cannes. The first few months of President Trump's second term has seen a record number of Americans applying for British citizenship. Here's Vicki Barker reporting from London. Figures released by Britain's Home Office show more than 1,900 U.S. citizens applied

for U.K. nationality in the first three months of 2025. That's the highest number since records began. British immigration law firms say many applicants are from LGBTQ or marginalized communities galvanized by the multiple executive orders President Trump has signed impacting their lives. Others are Americans who fled during Trump's first term and have now lived in the UK long enough to apply as legal residents. The number of young Americans applying for student visas is up sharply also. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

President Trump will be taking the stage at West Point shortly. He is to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class this hour. This is NPR News.