NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-25-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: May 25, 2025

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These days, there's a lot of news. It can be hard to keep up with what it means for you, your family, and your community. Consider This from NPR is a podcast that helps you make sense of the news. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a story and provide the context, backstory, and analysis you need to understand our rapidly changing world. Listen to the Consider This Podcast from NPR. Norah Ramsey Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Norah Ram. When the Senate returns from the Memorial Day recess is to take up a huge tax cut and spending bill passed last week by the House.

Some Republican senators have already expressed reservations about the legislation in its current form. House Speaker Mike Johnson hopes they don't change it too much. I met with the Senate Republicans, all my colleagues over there, last week on Tuesday at their weekly luncheon, and I encouraged them to do their work, of course, as we all anticipate, but to make as few modifications to this package as possible because remembering that we've got to pass it one more time to ratify their changes in the House. And I have a very delicate balance here, a very delicate equilibrium that we've got to pass it one more time to ratify their changes in the House. And I have a very delicate balance here, a very delicate equilibrium that we've reached

over a long period of time, and it's best not to meddle with it too much. Johnson was interviewed on CNN. The bill calls for increasing military spending and reducing spending on programs that benefit lower-income Americans. The bill would also cut taxes mostly to benefit wealthier Americans. President Trump's slashing of the federal workforce is on pause at more than 20 agencies. A federal judge has ruled that Trump must have the cooperation of Congress before undertaking a sweeping overhaul of government.

NPR's Andrea Hsu reports. U.S. District Judge Susan Ilston has ordered the Trump administration to stop issuing new reorganization plans and new layoff notices for now. She wrote that with the kinds of dramatic staff reductions that were afoot, agencies would not be able to do what Congress had directed them to do. She said while the president may set policy priorities for the executive branch, he cannot initiate any large-scale reorganization without partnering with Congress.

And agencies may not make changes that intentionally or negligently flout the tasks Congress has assigned them. The Trump administration has appealed her decision and has also asked the Supreme Court to intervene. Andrea Hsu and PR News. Republican lawmakers in Texas are on the verge of passing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. It's expected to be challenged in court. Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports.

The bill would require Texas public school classrooms to display the King James Bible version of the Ten Commandments. During debate over the measure, Democratic Representative John Bryant argued the bill discriminates against the nearly one-third of Texans who are neither Christian nor Jewish. It's not fair and it's not American and this bill is not fair and it's not American and it's not Christian and it's not Jewish. The bill is scheduled for a final vote Sunday. It's expected to pass and be signed by Governor Greg Abbott. A similar law passed by Louisiana last year is on hold pending a review by the U.S. Fifth

Circuit Court of Appeals. For NPR News, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston. This is NPR News in Washington. June is traditionally celebrated around the world as LGBTQ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred in New York City in 1969. One event will be held at a British aquarium. Vicki Barker has more from London. This June, as part of Pride Month, thearium in the University City of Bristol is opening its doors to, quote,

celebrate love, life, and the beauty of being yourself. Visitors over 18 will be able to tour its premises with cocktails in hand, and learn about fish that can change sex, as well as species that defy the binary. And, in its words, learn how the underwater world reflects the rich spectrum of identities within the LGBTQ plus community. The evening event will take place June 28th on International Pride Day. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London. Male politicians in New Zealand have started describing their outfits on social media. The BBC's Celia Hatten explains.

New Zealand's Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiled a national budget on Thursday. However, some in New Zealand chose to focus on what Ms. Willis was wearing as she delivered her budget speech in a tongue-in-cheek response. The minister's male colleague said they've never been asked about their outfits and have started supplying lengthy descriptions of the origins of their clothing from their ties to their socks. The BBC's Celia Hatten reporting. And I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington. NPR News in Washington.