NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-29-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: May 29, 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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Israel is accusing the United Nations oppressing aid groups not to take part in an aid distribution program in Gaza, one backed by Israel and the U.S.

As NPR's Michelle Kellman reports, the UN says the program doesn't meet basic humanitarian principles. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danone says the UN is acting like the mafia, telling non-governmental groups not to take part in the Gaza humanitarian foundation. It's a shakedown by UN mobsters. How can they do that? UN envoy Sigrid Kog says she's worried about the quote privatization and weaponization of aid in Gaza. And she said much more is needed as Palestinians are on the brink of famine. Instead of saying goodbye, see you tomorrow, Palestinians now say see you in heaven.

The U.S. argues the war would end if Hamas would agree to a ceasefire and release all hostages. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department. President Trump says he's asked Israel's prime minister to hold off on any military action against Iran to give the U.S. more time to negotiate a nuclear deal with Tehran. Trump told reporters at the White House yesterday talks are very close to a solution. A federal court says President Trump cannot use an emergency powers law to enact sweeping tariffs on US imports. The ruling from the Court of International Trade in New York was in response to more than a

dozen lawsuits that argued the president was exceeding his authority. The three-judge panel agreed. The White House argues the U.S. trade deficit amounts to a national emergency. The State Department is suspending new visa interviews for foreign students seeking to study in the U.S. It's part of the Trump administration's effort to expand screening of their activity on social media.

As NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, the suspension is said to be temporary, but it's raising concerns at many colleges and universities across the country. Universities could take a financial hit, especially if the suspension drags on. Miriam Feldblum is the CEO of the President's Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

She says at many institutions, international tuition helps subsidize financial aid, fund research, and keep academic programs afloat. The tuition revenues of international students support programs and funding streams that serve all students on campuses, and that without international students, programs, courses, scholarships that American students benefit from may no longer be available. Education leaders warned this approach could push students to look elsewhere and that America's global standing in higher education may be at risk.

Windsor-Johnston, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News from Washington. In Southern California, Motown legend Smokey Robinson is suing four former housekeepers for defamation. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court is in response to the four suing the 85 year old singer and songwriter alleging abuse and sexual assault when they worked for him at his home. Robinson has denied the allegations. His wife, Frances Robinson, is also named in the women's lawsuit. Their attorneys say she was aware of the alleged abuse. It

appears Broadway has recovered from low attendance triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. As Jeff London reports from New York, the latest season was record-breaking with nearly 1.9 billion dollars taken in at the box office. Five years ago Broadway theaters were shuttered and after an 18-month pause from COVID-19, box office and attendance began to tentatively come back. But this past season Broadway posted its highest box office numbers to date, even if attendance was slightly behind the last season before the pandemic. Part of this trend is the box office bonanza of a few high-profile productions of plays

featuring big Hollywood stars, among them Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal, George Clooney, and Kieran Culkin. Those plays brought in more money in most weeks than big musicals like Wicked, Hamilton, and The Lion King. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York. The Tony Awards will be handed out on June 8th. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington. A lot of short daily news podcasts focus on just one story. Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington.