NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-24-2025 1AM EDT

Episode Date: May 24, 2025

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Fall in love with new music every Friday at All Songs Considered, that's NPR's music recommendation podcast. Fridays are where we spend our whole show sharing all the greatest new releases of the week. Make the hunt for new music a part of your life again. Tap into New Music Friday from All Songs Considered, available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's attempt to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll international students from member station GBH in Boston Kirk Carapazzo reports Harvard filed a complaint after the Department of Homeland Security told

the university it can't enroll foreign students because it failed to provide disciplinary records. Harvard called the move unlawful and retaliatory. The judge's temporary restraining order means the university can keep sponsoring international students for now. Carl Tobias teaches law at the University of Richmond. He says Harvard has a strong case. This eviscerates the international aspect of what Harvard does so well, bringing in the best people from the world. Despite the injunction, experts warn the administration's attacks on selective schools like Harvard could hurt U.S. higher ed for decades.

For NPR News, I'm Kirk Carrapezza in Boston. The Trump administration has held a fifth round of talks with Iran to block Iran's pathway to a nuclear bomb. Oman, which is mediating, reported some progress but nothing conclusive. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports the diplomacy comes against the backdrop of Israeli threats to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran's foreign minister wrote on social media that a path to a deal is not, quote, rocket science.

In his words, zero nuclear weapons equals we do have a deal. Zero enrichment equals we do not have a deal. The State Department says the U.S. position is that Iran should not be able to enrich uranium and the White House has been warning Iran that this could end in two ways, a positive diplomatic solution or a quote, very negative situation for Iran. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department. Top investors in the cryptocurrency named after President Trump dined at his DC area golf course Thursday night.

NPR's Stephen Fowler has more. Attendees of the Trump Coin Gala were greeted by protesters outside the Trump National Golf Club Thursday night. Inside, the president spoke positively about crypto, according to videos that some people shared from the dinner. The president and the White House say there's no conflict of interest with his crypto businesses and assets. A recent analysis from crypto research firm Chainalysis

estimates businesses tied to the Trump Organization have earned hundreds of millions of dollars in fees from people buying and selling the coin. Stephen Vowler, NPR News. Federal officials investigating Thursday's deadly private plane crash near San Diego said Friday, they've discovered two separate issues they will investigate

to see if they contributed to the crash. The crash took place in foggy conditions. It's been learned that an automated surface observation system, which provides weather data, was not operating. From Washington, you're listening to NPR News. NPR has learned that President Trump is ordering deep cuts to the White House National Security Council and dozens of foreign affairs and national security experts were dismissed Friday. One unit that follows the Middle East was cut in half from 10 to now five staffers.

An official told NPR that after the reductions, the NSC will be the same size as it was at the end of President Trump's first term in January of 2021. Musician Billy Joel is canceling all of his scheduled concerts because of a medical diagnosis. NPR's Jennifer Vasco reports. A statement on Billy Joel's website says that he has a brain condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus. Excess fluid collects in the brain, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance. Joel is undergoing physical therapy, and his doctor has advised him to stop performing

while he recovers, the statement said. He had been scheduled to perform concerts across the country with other artists including Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks and Sting. Joel has been performing steadily since the 1970s, however until recently he hadn't released new pop music in decades. That drought ended early last year with his new single called Turn the Lights Back On, which he performed live at the Grammy Awards. Jennifer Vanasco, NPR News, New York.

On Wall Street, all three stock market indexes were down to close the week. The Dow, the S&P, and the NASDAQ were down. The Dow dropped 256. The NASDAQ, 188. The S&P, 39. This is NPR News from Washington. Support for NP. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies.

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