NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-25-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: May 25, 2025

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This is Ira Glass, the host of This American Life. So much is changing so rapidly right now with President Trump in office. It feels good to pause for a moment sometimes and look around at what's what. To try and do that, we've been finding these incredible stories about right now that are funny and have feeling and you get to see people everywhere making sense of this new America that we find ourselves in. This American Life, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from the NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump has signed an executive order calling on science agencies to adhere to a quote, gold standard. NPR's Jeff Brumfield

explains what that order means. The executive order claims that federal scientific agencies have in the past used scientific information in a quote, highly misleading manner. It cites COVID-19 restrictions and dire warnings over climate change as examples. Under the order, federal scientists must make their data and scientific models open to public scrutiny. They must also explain uncertainty in their models for things like climate change.

It also calls for scientists to do many things they already do, like conduct peer review. Since coming to office in January, the Trump administration has pushed out thousands of employees from agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's also seeking to slash funding for basic research in next year's budget. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News. An Israeli woman who was held hostage in Gaza has said that while in captivity, what had

scared her the most had been Israeli airstrikes. Nama Levi told crowds in Tel Aviv that every time there had been explosions, she was convinced she would die. What frightened me most were the bombings. First, you hear the whistling, praying it won't fall on us. Then the explosions. Sounds so intense, they paralyze your body, the earth shaking. Each time, I was certain it was my end.

In one bombing, part of the house collapsed. Fortunately, the hole I was leaning against did not crumple. That saved my life." Levi says she fears for the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages. Israel launched a new offensive in Gaza about two weeks ago. The start of hurricane season begins in just over a week. Gabrielle Dawkins reports the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration released the Atlantic hurricane season outlook last week.

Contributors to this year's above-average season is warm sea surface temperatures and limited wind shear. Ken Graham, the director of the national weather service says that NOAA is forecasting an above average season. For the range of storms, we're calling for 13 to 19 named storms of these six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes. And three to five is the number of major hurricanes as cat three and above with maximum sustained winds of 111 miles an

hour or greater. Graham says they are equipped with the best forecast models that they've ever had. He encourages everyone to stock up on needed supplies ahead of hurricane season. For NPR News, I'm Gabrielle Dawkins. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump delivered the commencement address for the US Military Academy at West Point on Saturday. During his speech, the president congratulated the cadets, calling them winners and asserting that they were entering the Golden Age of America. It was the first military commencement speech of Trump's second term.

Singer Billy Joel has canceled all of his scheduled concerts after he was recently diagnosed with a brain condition. NPR's Cindy Lupkin reports the condition is treatable, but often goes undiagnosed. Normal pressure hydrocephalus happens when there's a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid putting pressure on the brain. Symptoms include problems walking, cognitive issues, and urinary incontinence. But because it's often diagnosed in people over 60, those symptoms can be mistaken for normal signs of aging, sometimes for years. So advocating for testing is often key for getting a diagnosis. The condition is treatable, especially if it's caught early.

Surgery involves drilling a hole in the skull and inserting a tube that drains the fluid and redirects it to be absorbed elsewhere in the body, usually the abdomen. A less invasive surgery is being studied in clinical trials. Sydney Lupkin, NPR News. It's Memorial Day weekend and AAA estimates that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this year. That would break a record set back in 2005. GasBuddy says drivers will find fuel prices at their lowest levels in four years.

I'm Winzer Johnston, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.