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

Episode Date: May 24, 2025

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This is Fresh Air contributor Anne-Marie Baldonado. I talked with actor Cole Escola about their hit Broadway play, Oh Mary. Cole plays an unhinged alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln, who's an aspiring cabaret performer. If that makes no sense, that's part of the point. You can find my interview on the Fresh Air podcast. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump delivered the first military commencement address of his second term today at West Point.

He told us that the cadets will soon become the graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history. I just want to say hello, cadets, and on behalf of our entire nation, let me begin by saying congratulations to the West Point class of 2025. You are winners, every single one of you. Thank you. Wearing a red Make America Great cap, Trump took credit for U.S. military might. He said he's clearing the military of transgender ideas, critical race theory, and trainings

he called divisive and political. Trump accused previous leaders of subjecting the military to social projects and political causes. The Trump administration has abruptly dismissed dozens of staffers on the National Security Council in another shakeup of the president's foreign policy team. As NPR's Greg Myrie reports, the move comes just three weeks after Marco Rubio took over as Trump's national security advisor. The staffers were told they were losing their positions at 4.30 on Friday afternoon and

given a half hour to leave the White House. This is according to sources who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity. The National Security Council works closely with the President on foreign policy and usually has about 200 to 300 staffers, depending on the administration. Trump named Marco Rubio as his National Security Advisor at the beginning of this month, and in that role, he oversees the NSC. The move is seen as an effort to streamline the foreign policy process, though the White House has not commented on the decision. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington.

Palestinian hospital and health officials say Israeli airstrikes yesterday killed more than 70 people. Authorities say dozens are trapped beneath the rubble. Israel's prime minister has readied tens of thousands of ground troops to move into Gaza, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the north and in Gaza's second largest city are under evacuation orders. NPR'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. Carrie Cahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Ukraine and Russia are exchanging prisoners of war for a second day. President Zelensky said on his Telegram channel that another swap is scheduled for tomorrow.

This comes after at least 15 people were injured overnight in a Russian attack on Kiev. Monsoon rains arrived in India today eight days earlier than usual. They hit the southeastern eastern state of Kerala, providing relief from a recent heatwave. The India Meteorological Department says this was the earliest onset of the monsoon season in 16 years. The monsoons provide nearly 70 percent of the rain needed to grow crops and replenish aquifers and reservoirs. Millions of Americans are on the move this long holiday weekend. NPR's Joel Rose reports weekend travel numbers could

break a record that has stood for two decades. A-A is forecasting that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday weekend. That's expected to break the record set back in 2005. That's mostly because a record number of Americans will be driving this weekend, according to AAA. Drivers will find gas prices at their lowest levels on Memorial Day since 2021, according to GasBuddy. Air travel is not quite expected to break the all-time record, but AAA says air travel

is still forecast to be up 2% over last year and up 12% compared to levels before the COVID pandemic. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. Vigils are being held in Uvalde, Texas today to remember the mass shooting at an elementary school event three years ago. 19 students and two teachers were killed before police shot and killed the gunman. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News. We've all been there, running around the city, looking for a bathroom, but unable to find one. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.