NPR News: 05-07-2026 12PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — May 7, 2026, 12PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of pressing global and domestic news: Vatican-U.S. relations, Congressional age debate, a Hantavirus outbreak at sea, Mississippi tornadoes, and changes to Medicare coverage for weight loss drugs.

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Vatican-U.S. Relations in Focus

[00:02–00:54]

• Pope Leo XIV (the first American pope) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the anniversary of his papacy.
• Context: Relations between the Vatican and U.S. are notably strained under President Trump.
• Key Issues Discussed: Middle East conflicts and broader global cooperation.
• Insight from Megan Williams (Reporter):
  • The meeting highlighted the wide gulf between White House and Vatican policy priorities.
  • Rubio’s diplomatic challenge:

    "He had to show respect for the pope while staying true to the president, who has repeatedly attacked the Pope." — Megan Williams [00:32]

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Age and Term Limits in Congress

[00:54–01:50]

• Poll Findings Reported by Elena Moore:
  • Most Americans feel many Congress members are “too old.”
  • Bipartisan Support:
    • 78% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans favor age caps.
    • Strong support for maximum age and term limits across generations, especially Gen X.
  • Public Perspective:

    "They just might be out of touch. You got 70, 80 year olds in Congress running the country. It's not representing people like me." — Michael Hatch (18, Kansas) [01:31]

  • Notably, Gen X (late 40s–early 60s) shows the most support, overturning assumptions that only youth back these changes.

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Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship

[01:50–02:57]

• Incident: Outbreak reported on the luxury liner MV Hondia.
• WHO Statement:
  • 8 confirmed cases, including 3 deaths.
  • Three suspected cases evacuated for care; further infections possible due to long incubation period.
• Reporter Michael Kaloki’s Key Details:
  • Passengers from at least 12 countries affected; included 6 Americans.
  • Ship previously docked off St. Helena and Cape Verde, where entry was denied for safety.
  • Risk Assessment:

    "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is closely monitoring the situation, adding the risk to the US Public is extremely low." — Michael Kaloki [02:32]

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Mississippi Tornadoes: Destruction & Recovery

[02:57–03:39]

• Event: Tornadoes injure over a dozen and damage 500 homes, especially in Lincoln County.
• Firsthand Account:

  "I just thought it was thunder. I went to my living room, I go back to my room, room's gone. Then we go to get a tub, that's gone too. So we went to the under the couch. Then when we got to the couch, everything started rolling. Old house." — Max Mahaffy (15, Mississippi) [03:19]

• Local authorities confirm at least three tornadoes impacted several counties.

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Medicare to Cover Weight Loss Drugs

[03:39–04:35]

• New Policy (Starting July 1):
  • Popular GLP-1 medications (e.g., Wegovy, Zepbound) will be available for $50/month to some Medicare enrollees.
• Eligibility:
  • Doctor’s note and medical necessity (clinically overweight with related health conditions).
• Limitations:
  • $50 copay does not count toward annual out-of-pocket maximum.
  • Pilot program set to end in December 2027; future coverage uncertain.

  • “The program will cap the monthly cost of the popular drugs at $50. Without insurance, these drugs currently cost hundreds of dollars.” — Jackie Fortier [04:00]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Diplomatic Tightrope:

  "He had to show respect for the pope while staying true to the president, who has repeatedly attacked the Pope." — Megan Williams [00:32]

• Youth Frustration with Congress:

  "You got 70, 80 year olds in Congress running the country. It's not representing people like me." — Michael Hatch [01:31]

• Tornado Aftermath:

  "Then we go to get a tub, that's gone too. So we went to the under the couch. Then when we got to the couch, everything started rolling…" — Max Mahaffy [03:19]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Vatican-U.S. Meeting: 00:02–00:54
• Congress Age Limits: 00:54–01:50
• Hantavirus Cruise Outbreak: 01:50–02:57
• Mississippi Tornadoes: 02:57–03:39
• Medicare Weight Loss Drug Program: 03:39–04:35

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This edition of NPR News Now delivers essential updates on world and national events, distilling breaking news and citizen perspectives into a brief, impactful segment.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. It has been nearly a year since Pope Leo XIV became the first American elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church. On the eve of that anniversary, he received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is Catholic. Their meeting comes at a low point in relations between the Vatican and the United States under President Trump. Reporter Megan Williams says Rubio and the pope discussed efforts to resolve conflicts in the Middle east, among other issues.

[Megan Williams]

Given how short the list is of shared commitments, it's also indicative of the gulf between the Vatican and the White House on so many issues. Now, to be fair to Rubio, he had to walk a tightrope. He had to show respect for the pope while staying true to the president who has repeatedly attacked the Pope.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Megan Williams speaking with NPR's Morning Edition. A new poll suggests Americans believe many members of Congress are too old. NPR's Elena Moore reports on the latest findings from NPR PBS News.

[Elena Moore]

And the poll looked at support for maximum age limits and term limits for members of Congress, and it found that the vast majority of Americans, 8 and 10, support both. It's also got bipartisan backing. 78% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans like the idea of age caps and similar amounts Support term limits. 18 year old Michael Hatch of Eudora, Kansas, feels that way about leaders in Washington.

[Michael Hatch]

They just might be out of touch. You got 70, 80 year olds in Congress running the country. It's not representing people like me.

[Elena Moore]

But support for age and term limits goes past young folks, the generation with the most support, Gen X folks in their late 40s to early 60s. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

An effort is underway to trace the whereabouts and contacts of several passengers on a luxury cruise liner dealing with a deadly outbreak of Hantavirus. The World Health Organization confirms eight cases have been reported, including three deaths and three suspected cases evacuated for medical care. As Michael Koloki reports, the WHO says there could be more infections in the pipeline due to the long incubation period of the virus.

[Michael Kaloki]

The operators of the MV Hondia's ship say passengers from at least 12 countries, among them six Americans, had previously disembarked on the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. Hunter virus is a rodent borne virus which can cause fatal respiratory illness. Before departing for the Canary Islands, the ship had been stationed for several days off the coast of Cape Verde, where authorities had refused to grant permission for the ship to dock, citing the move as a precautionary measure. The U.S. centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is closely monitoring the situation, adding the risk to the US Public is extremely low. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR News. Recovery is underway across Mississippi where tornadoes have left more than a dozen people injured and a trail of property destruction. 15 year old max Mahaffy lives with his grandmother in a mobile home park in hard hit Lincoln County. He says everything there is destroyed.

[Max Mahaffy]

I just thought it was thunder. I went to my living room, I go back to my room, room's gone. Then we go to get a tub, that's gone too. So we went to the under the couch. Then when we got to the couch, everything started rolling. Old house.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Local authorities say at least three tornadoes tore through several counties and damaged about 500 homes. The Trump administration is marking the National Day of Prayer. President Trump says it is a time to honor the country's tradition of faith in God. Millions of people with Medicare will soon be able to get popular weight loss drugs for $50 a month. Jackie Fortier with our partner KFF Health News has details.

[Jackie Fortier]

Starting July 1st, GLP1 medications like WeGovy and Zepbound will be available to some Medicare enrollees for weight loss for the first time. The program will cap the monthly cost of the popular drugs at $50. Without insurance, these drugs currently cost hundreds of dollars. To qualify, people need a doctor's note and medic. They also need to be clinically overweight, plus have a condition like heart disease or pre diabetes. But there are catches. The $50 copay won't count toward the annual out of pocket limit. The pilot also expires in December 2027, with no guarantee that the drugs will be covered under traditional Medicare after it ends.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's Jackie Fortier reporting. This is NPR News.

[Michael Hatch]

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