NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-28-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: May 28, 2025

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Hey, it's Sarah Gonzalez. The economy has been in the news a lot lately. It's kind of always in the news. And Planet Money is always here to explain it. Each episode we tell a sometimes quirky, sometimes surprising, always interesting story that helps you better understand the economy. So when you hear something about cryptocurrency or where exactly your taxes go, yes, I was. Listen to the Planet Money podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump in the Oval Office moments ago accuses Democrats of playing a political game and roundly opposing a massive legislation of tax and domestic spending cuts. We don't have one Democrat vote. if I were a Democrat I'd be voting for this bill and I'd get elected to any position I want as a Democrat.

They're crazy. They're voting for a 65% tax increase and they're only doing it for hatred. They're not doing it for any reason. Well critics dispute Trump's claim of a 65% tax increase. Some Republican fiscal hawks have raised concerns as well about the trillions Trump's tax policies are projected to add to the deficit. Meanwhile, a federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit alleging Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency are illegally wielding power over federal government operations can move forward.

NPR's Stephen Fowler has details. Several Democratic state attorneys generals say Elon Musk has been illegally given similar power to cabinet officials without being confirmed by the Senate. Judge Tanya Chutkin found the plaintiffs provided enough initial evidence to allow those claims to continue. The ruling highlights the often conflicting descriptions of the power Musk and the Doge entity have been given to implement President Trump's agenda and how efforts to downplay that power in court have been undermined by public statements and actions.

Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta. The Israeli military has killed a senior Hamas leader and military commander in Gaza. That according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu made the announcement while speaking to Parliament today. NPR's Hadil Al-Shalchi has more from Tel Aviv. Mohammed Sanwar became the de facto leader of Hamas in Gaza last year after the Israeli military killed his brother Yahya Sanwar, the leader of Hamas at the time. Earlier this month, the Israeli military carried out

a series of airstrikes around a hospital in Khan Yunis in the south of Gaza. Israeli media quoted defense officials saying that Mohammed Senwar was the target, but the military is yet to confirm. The Israeli military only said that there was a Hamas command and control center in the hospital. Hamas did not immediately confirm that the strike

had killed Mohammed Senwar, who has survived multiple assassination attempts over the past decades. Hadeel Al-Shalji, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The Trump administration is tightening vetting of international students. An official who spoke on condition of anonymity says the State Department's freezing new visa interviews for international students until it sets up a new process for screening applicants' social media activity. U.S. stocks are trading lower this hour. The Dow Jones Industrial Average now down 81 points at 42,261.

From Washington, this is NPR News. From Washington, this is NPR News. The judge in Sean Diddy Combs' sex trafficking case in New York is denying the defense's request for a mistrial. The hip-hop mogul's lawyers argue the prosecution unfairly implied Combs was responsible for the destruction of evidence connected to the alleged 2012 bombing of music artist Kid Cudi's vehicle. Cudi has testified about experiencing Holmes' anger over an on-again, off-again relationship he had with Cassie Ventura, Holmes' ex and one of his accusers. Holmes denies the charges.

The WNBA says it cannot substantiate claims of racist fan behavior during the Indiana Fever season opener against the Chicago Sky. The league says it has completed its investigation. NPR's Jahl Snyder has details. The WNBA issued a statement saying its investigation of fan behavior at the game included gathering information from fans as well as team and arena staff. The league also says it reviewed audio and video of the game but could not confirm the claims. The WNBA statement did not say what led to the investigation. It was launched the day

after the Indiana Fevers victory over the Chicago Sky earlier this month. It's been reported that the alleged commons were aimed at Sky star Angel Reese, who sought to confront the Fevers' Kaitlyn Clark after Clark fouled her during the game. Reese has not specifically confirmed the comments, and Clark has said there is no place for racism in the WNBA and that she trusted the league would do the right thing. Jyle Snyder, NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.