NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-28-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: May 28, 2025

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World news is important, but it can feel far away. Not on the State of the World podcast. With journalists around the world, you'll hear firsthand the effects of U.S. trade actions in Canada and China, and meet a Mexican street sweeper who became a pop star. We don't go around the world. We're already there. Listen to the State of the World podcast from NPR every weekday. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Kuhlmann. Several hundred people turned out yesterday at Harvard University. They protested the Trump administration's order.

The university's international students leave Harvard or face expulsion from the U.S. President Trump is also seeking to strip all federal funding from the university. The administration claims Harvard fosters anti-Semitism, a claim university officials reject. Jacob Miller is a former president of the student Jewish group Harvard Hillel. He told rallygoers the Trump administration directives are intended to drive people apart.

The administration's excuse for these policies that they somehow address anti-Semitism, are so absurd. Let's be clear, this has nothing to do with combating anti-Semitism. The Trump administration is also planning to start screening the social media history of all international students who apply to study in the United States. Opponents claim this is intended to make sure none of the students disagree with the Trump administration. A new ruling by Missouri's state supreme court has effectively banned most abortions in that state. St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippman reports that's despite a new state constitutional amendment protecting abortion

in Missouri. Missouri voters in November narrowly enshrined the right to abortion in the state's constitution. A judge then struck down the restrictions still on the books, allowing the procedure to resume ahead of a trial next year. State Attorney General Andrew Bailey argued the judge had thrown out important safety regulations. The high court agreed the judge had not used the proper legal standard in issuing her injunctions. The ruling effectively

reinstates for now a near total ban on abortion. Bailey called the decision a win for common sense. Officials with Planned Parenthood called it devastating. The judge could reissue the injunctions using different legal reasoning. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Lipman in St. Louis. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's effort to end a New York City program. It requires motorists to pay tolls in the most congested areas of Manhattan. As NPR's Brian Mann reports, the temporary restraining order keeps that program alive, at least through June 9th. State officials in New York say the congestion pricing program launched earlier this year

incentivizes mass transit, reduces gridlock and improves air quality. The Trump administration began trying to kill the program in February, threatening to withhold federal transportation dollars for New York State. Federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has called the program a cash grab. But this latest court order pauses the federal attack on the program. In a statement, New York Governor Kathy Hochul calls the temporary restraining order a massive victory for New York commuters. State officials are hoping to extend the order while the fight over congestion pricing

plays out in federal court. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York. On Wall Street in pre-market trading, Dow futures are slightly lower. This is NPR. After school programs aren't just essential in low income areas for free child care. They also help students meet academic and non-academic goals. But as NPR's Janaki Mehta reports, some advocates worry such programs could be cut by the Trump administration. In one rural school district in central Maine, students participate in Cooking Club after school as a way to learn all kinds of new skills. You are going to be making parfait cups. We're making it like the

French flag, so red for strawberry, white for yogurt, and blue for blueberry. They're learning about multicultural cuisine and learning math and science as a measure and mix ingredients. Plus, after-school programs are known to help kids attend school during the day. This program is funded by a federal grant for after-school programs in low-income areas. After President Trump released his initial budget proposal earlier this month, advocates for these programs began to worry that grant might go away. Janaki Mehta and Peer News. Guitarist and singer-songwriter Rick Derringer

has died at the age of 77, according to a friend and caretaker. Derringer and his band, the McCoys, rocketed to fame in 1965 with this hit. ["Hang On, Snoopy, Snoopy Hang On"] Derringer also had a hit with Hoochie Koo and he earned a Grammy Award for producing Weird Al Yankovic's debut album. He also worked with other artists including Steeley Dan and Cyndi Lauper, as well as Barbara

Streisand and Peter Frampton. No funeral details for Rick Derringer have yet been announced. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News. You're listening to the NPR Network. Live from NPR News. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.