NPR News: 05-01-2026 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — May 1, 2026, 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: The episode covers key global and domestic headlines including U.S.-EU tariff tensions, developments in the Iran war, soaring oil profits, U.S. stock market performance, May Day rallies, and the appointment of the first Salvadoran bishop in the U.S.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

---

1. U.S. Raises Tariffs on EU Cars and Trucks

• [00:01–00:21]
  • Announcement: President Trump declares a hike in tariffs on European Union cars and trucks from 15% to 25%, set to start next week.
  • Reasoning:
    • Donald Trump (00:15): “Tariffs because they were not as usual. They were not adhering to the agreement that we have.”
  • Context: Lack of specifics from Trump on how the EU allegedly failed the agreement. Occurs amid ongoing tensions over military commitments to the Iran war.
  • Military Tensions:
    • Trump criticizes European leaders for insufficient military support, particularly regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
    • He considers reducing U.S. troop presence in Germany after Germany’s chancellor comments on the Iran situation.

---

2. Diplomatic Moves in the Iran War

• [00:21–01:43]
  • Stalled Negotiations:
    • Iran presents a new proposal via Pakistan to end the ongoing war with the U.S. and Israel, replacing an earlier offer that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. naval blockade.
    • Previous talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement; the U.S. rejected Iran’s last offer, preferring not to postpone discussion of Iran's nuclear program.
  • Diplomatic Posture:
    • Iran signals willingness for diplomacy if the U.S. ends its “maximalist approach.”
    • Aba Trawi (01:28): “Iran’s president, however, was quoted by Ernest saying Iran's ready for diplomacy if the US ends its maximalist approach.”

---

3. Exxon’s Profits Surge Amid High Oil Prices

• [01:43–02:46]
  • Financial Report: Exxon’s first quarter earnings are over $4 billion, but the company claims adjusted profits are actually double due to timing quirks in accounting.
  • Market Impact: High oil prices boost profits but create reporting anomalies—losses from paper trades show up before actual profits from physical sales.
  • Outlook:
    • Darren Woods, Exxon CEO (02:24): “I think it’s obvious to most that if you look at the unprecedented disruption in and the world’s supply of oil and natural gas, the market hasn’t seen the full impact of that yet.”
  • Domestic Impact: Gasoline prices in the U.S. rise further, exacerbated by a Midwest refinery outage.

---

4. U.S. Stock Market Update

• [02:46–03:48]
  • Summary: Markets end mixed.
    • Dow closes down 152 points at 49,499.
    • NASDAQ rises over 200 points.

---

5. Political & Social Developments

• Early Voting & Supreme Court Decision
  • [02:46–03:48] Early voting begins in Louisiana races except for U.S. House primaries due to a Supreme Court ruling overturning new congressional maps intended to create a second Black-majority district.
• May Day Rallies Worldwide
  • Large crowds rally globally for labor rights and immigrant protections in Turkey, France, Cuba, Mexico, the U.S., and more.

---

6. Landmark Catholic Appointment: First Salvadoran Bishop in the U.S.

• [03:48–04:37]
  • Profile: Pope Leo appoints Bishop Avelio Menhivar Ayala to West Virginia, the first Salvadoran in this role in the U.S.; immigrated as an asylum seeker in 1990.
  • Personal Journey:
    • Bishop Avelio Menhivar Ayala (04:06): “And he says that helped me to understand labor, hard labor, to learn to work hard.”
    • His background includes work as a janitor, in construction, and painting.
  • Advocacy:
    • Menhivar has openly criticized Trump-era immigration policies, fighting against mass deportations and emphasizing dignity for immigrants.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Tariffs (00:15)
  “Tariffs because they were not as usual. They were not adhering to the agreement that we have.”
• Aba Trawi, NPR, on Iran’s Position (01:28)
  “Iran’s president, however, was quoted by Ernest saying Iran's ready for diplomacy if the US ends its maximalist approach.”
• Darren Woods, Exxon CEO, on Oil Supply (02:24)
  “I think it’s obvious to most that if you look at the unprecedented disruption in and the world’s supply of oil and natural gas, the market hasn’t seen the full impact of that yet.”
• Bishop Avelio Menhivar Ayala on His Work Ethic (04:06)
  “And he says that helped me to understand labor, hard labor, to learn to work hard.”

---

Important Timestamps

• [00:01] — U.S. raises tariffs on EU cars/trucks
• [00:21] — Tensions over Iran; military and diplomatic updates
• [01:43] — Exxon Q1 profits and the effect of oil prices
• [02:46] — U.S. stock market update; early voting & SCOTUS decision
• [03:48] — First Salvadoran bishop in U.S.; immigration advocacy

---

For further detail on each story, refer to NPR’s continued hourly updates.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump says he is raising tariffs on European Union cars and trucks from 15% to 25% starting next week. The president earlier today we raised the

[Donald Trump]

tariffs because they were not as usual. They were not adhering to the agreement that we have.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Trump didn't specify in what way the EU Was failing to hold up its end of the bargain. The tariff announcement comes at a time of persistent tensions between the allies. Trump has admonished European leaders for not committing more military resources to the Iran war, including the reopening of the Strait OF HORMUZ After Germany's chancellor said Iran has humiliated the U.S. trump said he was looking at reducing American troops in Germany. Iran is presenting another proposal for ending the war, this after President Trump was quoted on Axios rejecting Iran's last offer to open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to the U.S. s naval blockade. Here's NPR's Aba Trawi.

[Aba Trawi]

The previous Iranian proposal would have seen trapped oil and gas tankers moving again through the vital Strait of Hormuz, but it would have pushed talks on Iran's nuclear program to a later stage. Trump, according to comments he made to Axios, rejected that offer after meeting with his national security team on Monday. Iran's state news agency irna says Iran has now delivered a new text for negotiation to mediator Pakistan with the aim of ending the war that the US And Israel launched two months ago. Iran's president, however, was quoted by Ernest saying Iran's ready for diplomacy if the US Ends its maximalist approach. The US And Iran have only met once since the ceasefire came into effect. Those talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement. Aya Bultrai, NPR News, Dubai.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Exxon's earnings for the first quarter were more than $4 billion, but the company says if you adjust for an accounting fluke, they're actually twice that. NPR's Camilla Domonosky reports. Soaring oil prices these last few months have boosted oil companies profits in the real world but can mess with how they look on paper.

[Camilla Domonosky]

Big oil buy and sell promises for future oil as well as physical barrels of oil. When prices suddenly spike. Exxon logs losses on paper trades and gets profits on physical sales. But the losses show up before the profits, so they're doing even better than the numbers make it seem. Exxon CEO Darren woods says he expects oil prices to rise further.

[Darren Woods]

I think it's obvious to most that if you look at the unprecedented disruption in and the world's supply of oil and natural gas, the market hasn't seen the full impact of that yet.

[Camilla Domonosky]

High oil prices have pushed up gasoline prices in the US Made worse in recent days by a refinery outage in the Midwest. Camila DOMONOSKY, NPR NEWS.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks have ended the day mixed with the dow closing down 152 points at 49,499. The NASDAQ could gain more than 200 points. You're listening to NPR News. Early voting begins tomorrow in most races in Louisiana, except the US House primaries in that state. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court struck down the state's redrawn map that created a second black majority congressional district. Annual May Day celebrations around the globe. Massive crowds in Turkey, France, Cuba, Mexico, the US and other countries heard here through the Associated Press, staging rallies in support of stronger labor rights, immigrant protections and other causes. Pope Leo has appointed a new bishop of West Virginia. He is the first Salvadoran bishop in the country and migrated to the United States in 1990 without legal status. NPR Sara Ventri has more.

[Sara Ventri]

Now an American citizen, Bishop Avelio Menhivar Ayala came to the US as an asylum seeker, and his resum is unlike many others. In addition to his master's in theology and his work as the auxiliary bishop of Washington, he also did janitorial work, construction and painting.

[Bishop Avelio Menhivar Ayala]

And he says that helped me to understand labor, hard labor, to learn to work hard.

[Sara Ventri]

Menhivar has openly criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies and demonstrated against mass deportations, emphasizing the need to uphold human dignity. Last fall, the U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement opposing the administration's immigration tactics, including what they called the vilification of immigrants. Sarah Ventri, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is npr.

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop [e-mail] Switch taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.