NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-24-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: May 24, 2025

NPR News: 05-24-2025 12AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Support for NPR and the following message come from the Lemelson Foundation, working to harness the power of invention and innovation to accelerate climate action and improve lives around the world. Learn more at lemelson.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. President Trump is showing no signs of budging on his threat to raise tariffs on the European Union. I'm not looking for a deal. I mean, we've set the deal. It's at 50 percent. Trump speaking at the White House Friday on his demands to the EU.

NPR's Danielle Kurzleben has details. President Trump wrote that trade discussions with the EU were going nowhere. He added that therefore, quote, I am recommending a straight 50 percent tariff on the European Union starting on June 1st, 2025. As the president has previously imposed tariffs via executive actions, it is unclear what he meant when he said he was recommending new tariffs. In early April, Trump announced 20% tariffs on EU goods as part of a wave of higher tariffs on most countries.

He later pulled those back and the EU rate currently stands at 10%. President Trump has signed executive orders aimed at giving a boost to nuclear power, as NPR's Jeff Renfield reports. Some worry the orders could affect safety at American reactors. Some of the orders encourage the building of new test reactors and mining uranium,

but the most controversial calls for the reorganization of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC was set up as a powerful independent watchdog. Trump's executive order calls on it to speed approvals and reconsider radiation safety standards. Alison McFarland is a former NRC chair. She says having the White House interfere with nuclear regulations is a bad idea. I'm very concerned this will affect nuclear safety in the U.S. Very concerned.

But supporters of the order say it will help speed development of new reactors that could power things like data centers used for artificial intelligence. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News. Jewish organizations gathered virtually Friday to mourn the young couple shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington this week. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports they both worked at the Israeli embassy and expected to become engaged soon. The American Jewish Committee hosted the gathering, opening with Jewish prayers and the 23rd Psalm in Hebrew. Sam Dryman remembered Sarah Milgram's sense of mission. Who takes a job at the Israeli embassy, he said, when the country's in the middle of a conflict. It's someone who's curious, who's filled to the brim with optimism. Benji Rogers was at the museum event with Sarah

and Yaron Lashinsky. He said they were planning to move in together soon. It's important for me to let you all know that he was happy and his last moments were filled with joy. Another speaker expressed gratitude for an outpouring of sorrow and support. Jennifer Lutten, NPR News, Washington. President Trump is ordering deep cuts to the White House's National Security Council team. An NPR has learned that dozens of foreign and national security experts were let go Friday. One official said the headcount in one division went from 10 staffers to five. From Washington, this is NPR.

German authorities say multiple people have been injured after a stabbing attack, this at a busy Central Train station in the city of Hamburg. Some of those that are reported to be wounded are in a life-threatening condition. A Paris court has handed down guilty verdicts to several of the thieves who robbed reality TV star Kim Kardashian at gunpoint during Paris' Fashion Week in 2016, making off with millions of dollars in jewelry. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Their bungling led to their capture within months. Four were given sentences of up to

eight years, mostly suspended, and with time already served will not return to prison. Two were acquitted. The ringleader is now 69 years old, mute and deaf. Wiretaps had captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices and arranging to sell the diamonds. But Kardashian said she forgave him after he wrote her a letter of apology. The sentences handed out on Friday were much lower than prosecutors were seeking. The judge told the defendants he had given lenient sentences because, quote, I understand that you understand that you have caused harm. Eleanor Beersley in PR News, Paris. Stock slumped Friday on Wall Street. This after traders

took stock of President Trump's threatened tariffs against the European Union nations. The Dow Jones lost 261 points. That's a drop of six tenths of 1 percent. The NASDAQ dropped 188 points, a 1.0% decline. The S&P sustained a dip of 39 points, down less than 1 point. From Washington, this is NPR News. Support for A&P. 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 Wyse.com. T's and C's apply.