NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-24-2025 8PM EDT

Episode Date: May 25, 2025

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When Malcolm Gladwell presented NPR's Throughline podcast with a Peabody Award, he praised it for its historical and moral clarity. On Throughline, we take you back in time to the origins of what's in the news, like presidential power, aging, and evangelicalism. Time travel with us every week on the Throughline podcast from NPR. Janine Herbst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. The Defense Department is implementing new restrictions on journalists covering the Pentagon. As NPR's Kristen Wright reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the changes in a memo, saying it's a matter of national security.

NPR News The restrictions ban reporters and other media from many areas of the Pentagon unless they're accompanied by an approved government escort. The newly restricted areas include the offices of Hegseth, his top aides, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other key locations of the complex, historically open to credentialed press during previous administrations. The Pentagon Press Association says it's a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing. The Pentagon Press Association says it's a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing.

The National Press Club is urging the Pentagon to reverse course. Hexess says additional security measures are coming. It's the latest step by the White House to limit access for journalists and prevent potential leaks. Kristin Wright, NPR News. A federal judge has blocked for now the Trump administration's attempts to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students. For Member Station GBH, Kirk Carripeza reports this has an effect beyond Cambridge.

The Department of Homeland Security said Harvard couldn't enroll foreign students because it didn't provide disciplinary records from campus protests. Harvard called the move unlawful and retaliatory, and a judge agreed, issuing a temporary restraining order letting the university sponsor 7,000 international students, most of whom pay full tuition. Geraldo Blanco directs the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. The top universities in the United States now they all are under this cloud of uncertainty that their ability to enroll international students could be revoked just by a signature. Blanco says these attacks on Harvard and

other selective schools could have lasting effects on U.S. higher ed. For NPR News, I'm Kurt Carripezza in Boston. Candlelight, crosses, and tears filled Uvalde, Texas today as the community marked three years since the Robb Elementary School shooting that left students and teachers dead. From Texas Public Radio, Salie Aranda has more. On May 24, 2022, a gunman stormed Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, killing 19 students and two teachers. Law enforcement waited more than an hour to confront the gunman.

There's people every day missing, milestones. Sofia Samaripa is one of the many residents who attended a vigil for the families of the victims and the survivors. I'm sorry that it never had to happen this way and that hate's always going to divide us, that our light has to continue to shine. Two former officers face child endangerment charges as victims' families continue to push for accountability. I'm Celia Aranda and Yuvaldi.

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's thriller It Was Just an Accident won the palm door at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. He received a standing ovation after the jury announced his movie won for the strong critique of oppression in his home country. Panahi was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned in Iran for speaking out against the regime. Meanwhile, southeastern France was hit by a major power outage today as the film festival was preparing to hand out its top prizes. The festival switched to an independent power supply and the show went on. Movie theaters will be setting records this weekend with a one-two punch that's becoming

a Hollywood habit. NPR's Bob Mondello has more. Two years ago, Barbenheimer showed that two films, Hi Barbie! Hi Ken! if they had different audiences, This is the most important thing to ever happen, could succeed on the same weekend.

Last year it was Glick-It with gladiator targeting guys, This is about to Bible! Wicked Going for women and girls, How popular! This weekend, it's Lilo and Stitch, I'm gonna give you to the count of three, Stitch. and Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning. Smart people on every side are close to panicking.

As with the others, the feminine side of the equation will make more money, but both films will do well. Not sure what to call the phenomenon. Stitch and Impaça Lilo, maybe? But together, by Monday, the two films are expected to take in close to a quarter of a billion dollars at American box offices. Bob Mandelo, NPR News. And I'm Janene Hurst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. With WISE, NPR News from Washington.