NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-30-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: May 30, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Laksmi Singh. This is Elon Musk's last day as a special government employee. The billionaire joined President Trump in the Oval Office a short time ago to take reporters' questions about his transition away from oversight of DOGE, the entity of government-wide funding cuts and layoffs. But Trump's keeping the door open for Musk's continuing consulting role. We're totally committed to making the DOJ cuts permanent and stopping much more of the waste in the months to come. We want to get our great big beautiful bill finished and

done. Musk's tenure had been overshadowed by criticism, including conflict of interest, concerns, and concerns about the extent of his influence over President Trump's decisions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says his staff must do additional vetting for any visa applicant applying to go to Harvard. That means not just students, but also faculty, guest speakers, and tourists. And Pierre's Michelle Kelleyman has details. Secretary Rubio has been revoking student visas and expanding the social media vetting of applicants

in response to anti-Semitism on college campuses. In the case of Harvard, he's now extending that to anyone planning to visit the university. In a cable seen by NPR, he directs consular officers to maintain extra vigilance and to comprehensively review all applicants planning to go to Harvard for any reason. The State Department wouldn't comment on the leaked cable or say why he's singling out Harvard, which is suing the Trump administration over a decision to bar international students from the university. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. Israel's military has issued a new displacement order.

It encompasses all of northern Gaza and large parts of Gaza City. The order directs Palestinians to move into a sliver of territory along the Mediterranean coast. And Pierre Zayabachottrawi reports it also includes a key hospital. Even before this latest evacuation order, the UN noted that more than 80% of the Gaza Strip was either inaccessible or under evacuation orders by Israel.

This new order impacts one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Gaza City and the Al Ahly Baptist Hospital. It's one of the few in Gaza City that offers emergency care. Meanwhile, aid groups say people are facing extreme hunger across Gaza following nearly three months of Israeli blockade. A limited amount of aid was distributed by American contractors this week under a new plan by Israel to control food supplies. The rollout has been chaotic, with Palestinian health officials saying Israeli gunfire killed eight and wounded more than 60 people on their way before reaching the food parcels. Israel has only acknowledged firing warning shots. Aya Batraoui, NPR News, Dubai. US stocks are mixed this hour. The Dow is now up 56 points at 42,272.

From Washington, this is NPR News. In Kentucky's Washington County, the Sheriff's Office has been advising residents to stay home if they can and allow emergency workers to deal with damage from a deadly storm. This morning, the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings. Governor Andy Beshear noted reports of at least one twister, a confirmed EF-2. A seventh grader has been crowned the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion. The bee, celebrating its 100th year, by the way. NPR's Amy Held reports the winner is a contestant who got another chance to compete for the championship. A Claire Cismont. E-C-L-A-I-R-C-I-S-S-E-M-E-N-T.

Bézane Zaki fell down as confetti rained down, overwhelmed with his win. Somebody peel him off the floor. The 13-year-old can spell words but struggled to find words. I don't know what to say. I'm just really happy. A clair-ci-small means a clearing up. And in his fourth competition, the seventh grader from the Dallas area cleared up any doubts, moving from 370th place in 2019 to runner-up last year.

This year, he prevailed over three days, 21 rounds, and nearly 250 contestants. Scripps is marking a century of spelling since 1925, inspiring word nerds from around the world. Amy Held, NPR News. After a years long battle for control over her own music, the superstar Taylor Swift has announced today she is finally in charge of the mass recordings of her first six albums. It's NPR News.