NPR News: 05-05-2026 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — May 5, 2026, 3PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh (NPR)
Episode Overview:
This succinct NPR News Now episode delivers top headlines from around the U.S. and the world, featuring the latest on U.S.-Iran tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a major shakeup in the State Department, political maneuvers in the Senate, new public health initiatives, critical election primaries, and a unique agricultural technology out of Wisconsin.

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Main News Highlights

1. U.S.-Iran Tensions and the Strait of Hormuz

• Defense Secretary Statement:
  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassures that U.S. forces are committed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open but remain adamant about avoiding escalation with Iran.

  • Quote (00:15):

    "American forces won't need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. It's not necessary. We're not looking for a fight. But Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway."
    — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

• Iran’s Position:
  Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Bagar Kalibaf, accuses the U.S. (specifically referencing the Trump administration) of destabilizing regional security (00:29).

• Economic Impact:
  Disruption in the Strait is driving a surge in global fuel prices—over 20% of the world's oil and LNG shipments pass through (00:37).

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2. State Department Layoffs and Diplomatic Fallout

• Mass Diplomatic Layoffs:
  The State Department has issued final separation notices to over 200 U.S. diplomats let go in a previous year’s reorganization (00:48).
  • Reporting by Michelle Kellerman (01:02):
    Laid-off officers were told their “reduction in force separation will be effective today.” Their union argues the process was flawed and the loss of experienced diplomats is detrimental, especially as new hires are underway.
    • Personal Testimony:
      Mariam Seifey, a dismissed officer, stated her and colleagues’ willingness to help during the start of the US-Iran war was declined by the department.

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3. Security Funding for Trump’s Ballroom Project

• Senate Republican Proposal:
  Senate Republicans propose $1 billion for security enhancements linked to President Trump's ballroom project, despite Trump claiming it wouldn’t cost taxpayers (01:43).
• Background:
  The project follows an attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
• Controversy:
  The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt construction, raising legal and financial concerns (02:11).

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4. New Initiatives to Reduce Antidepressant Use

• Public Health Announcement:
  Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announces nationwide efforts to reduce reliance on popular antidepressants (e.g., Zoloft, Prozac).

  • Details from NPR's Ritu Chatterjee (02:23):
    SAMHSA will offer national training for providers on tapering and deprescribing psychiatric medications (02:36).

    • Quote (02:36):

      "In June and July, SAMHSA will roll out national training modules on psychiatric medication risks, on tapering, and deprescribing."
      — NPR's Ritu Chatterjee

    The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services will expand access to alternative treatments such as talk therapy and family support for children.

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5. Election Primaries and Trump’s Influence

• Key Primaries in Indiana:
  Primaries test the strength of Trump’s endorsements against GOP state senate incumbents who resisted his redistricting agenda (02:56).
• Expert Commentary (Jessica Taylor, Cook Political Report):
  • Quote (03:27):

    "There's still a [segment] of his base that will remain with him no matter what. Getting them out to the polls and low turnout primaries has proved to be very difficult when Trump is not on the ballot."
    — Jessica Taylor

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6. Wisconsin Agritech: Seeing Through a Cow’s Eyes

• New Augmented Reality Tool:
  University of Wisconsin–River Falls uses AR technology to help livestock producers understand livestock perspectives, aiding animal welfare (03:43).
  • Quote, Ashlyn Kirk (Program Manager, 04:20):

    "You're trying to imagine how they would experience it, but you don't know unless you see it like they would."

  • The tool, developed by a German company, may influence food industry animal welfare standards.

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Notable Quotes

• Defense on Iran (00:15):

  "American forces won't need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. It's not necessary. We're not looking for a fight."
  — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

• Jessica Taylor on Trump’s Political Clout (03:27):

  "Getting them out to the polls and low turnout primaries has proved to be very difficult when Trump is not on the ballot."

• Ashlyn Kirk on AR Tool (04:20):

  "You're trying to imagine how they would experience it, but you don't know unless you see it like they would."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Strait of Hormuz & U.S.-Iran Tensions: 00:05 – 00:37
• State Department Layoffs: 00:48 – 01:43
• Ballroom Security Funding Dispute: 01:43 – 02:11
• Antidepressant Deprescribing Initiative: 02:11 – 02:56
• Primary Elections & Trump’s Influence: 02:56 – 03:43
• Wisconsin Agritech/Animal Welfare: 03:43 – 04:37

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Conclusion

This fast-paced episode covers high-stakes foreign policy, sweeping changes in U.S. diplomacy, partisan battles over spending, major public health shifts, critical political primaries, and advances in agricultural technology—all reflecting timely issues and the shifting American landscape as of May 2026.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News.

[B]

In Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[A]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is defending US Attempts to force open the Strait of Hormuz while also insisting that the U s. Iran ceasefire is holding.

[C]

American forces won't need to enter Iranian waters or airspace. It's not necessary. We're not looking for a fight. But Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway.

[B]

Mohammed Bagar Kalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the US Accuses the Trump

[A]

administration of undermining regional security.

[B]

More than 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption to supplies have sent fuel prices worldwide surging.

[A]

The State Department has issued final separation notices to more than 200 US diplomats

[B]

who lost their jobs in a reorganization last year. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Their union and some in Congress have been fighting the administration's action.

[D]

Your reduction in force separation will be effective today, says an unsigned email that went out to diplomats who had been in limbo for the past year. The American Foreign Service association opposed the move, saying the department did not follow its own rules for a reduction in force and is now losing officers with rare language skills and decades of institutional knowledge, even as it brings in new Foreign Service officers. One officer who received the notice, Mariam Seifey, writes that for the past year she and her colleagues were still on the payroll and offered to help evacuate Americans at the start of the US War against Iran. The department declined that offer. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[A]

Senate Republicans are proposing a billion dollars

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to fund security upgrades for President Trump's ballroom project, even though Trump has been quoted saying the ballroom would cost taxpayers nothing. Trump and allies have been pushing the project since the recent attack at the White House correspond dinner in Washington. Authorities charged the suspect with attempting to assassinate the president. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to stop the ballroom construction.

[A]

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Has

[B]

launched new initiatives to wean people in

[A]

the U.S. off a popular class of antidepressant medications.

[B]

Here's NPR's Ritu Chatterjee.

[E]

Health Secretary Kennedy said that the new initiatives will include trainings by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or samhsa, for providers to help patients taper off of antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac.

[F]

In June and July, SAMHSA will roll out national training modules on psychiatric medication risks on tapering and deprescribing.

[E]

He also said that the center for Medicaid and Medicare services will expand access to alternative forms of treatment like talk therapy and family support services for children. Read the Chatterjee, NPR News.

[B]

You're listening to NPR News. Races are being decided in a handful of US States. They include Indiana, where today's primaries will test the power of President Trump's retribution. He has endorsed challengers to seven Republican incumbent state senators who opposed his redistricting attempts. Jessica Taylor, the Senate and governor's editor for the Cook Political Report, describes what it would say about Trump's influence if the incumbents hold onto their seats while

[G]

there's still a of his base that will remain with him no matter what. Getting them out to the polls and low turnout primaries has proved to be very difficult when Trump is not on the ballot.

[B]

Taylor on NPR's Morning Edition.

[A]

Instructors at a university in Wisconsin are using a new augmented reality tool to

[B]

help livestock producers see the world through a cow's eyes. Harvest Public Media's Hope Kerwin reports.

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Cows have a much wider field of vision than humans, and it takes longer for their eyes to adjust to change, like going from a dark trailer to a bright barnyard. Farmers and staff at meat plants can see these differences firsthand through the new augmented reality tool. At the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, program manager Ashlyn Kirk says understanding a cow's perspective is essential to creating a low stress environment.

[I]

You're trying to imagine how they would experience it, but you don't know unless you see it like they would.

[H]

The tool was created by a German software company, and it could help major food companies respond to growing consumer attention on animal welfare. For NPR News, I'm Hope Kerwin in River Falls, Wisconsin.

[B]

This is npr.

[J]

This message comes from Amazon Business. You can't rely on guesswork to run your business. With smart business, buying innovative AI tools optimize your purchasing experience paired with delivery options, empower your team today. [e-mail].