NPR News: 05-10-2026 9PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 10, 2026, 9PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers the latest headlines and developments on the US-Iran diplomatic standoff, Taiwan’s defense budget approval amid rising China tensions, the global response to a hantavirus outbreak on a passenger ship, updates on imprisoned Nobel laureate Nargis Mohamadi, and a unique Alaskan tradition offering insights into climate change.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. US Rejection of Iran's Proposal in Regional Conflict

[00:18 – 01:11]

• President Trump's Response: President Trump publicly rejected Iran’s reply to a US proposal to end the ongoing US-Israeli war, now in its third month.
  • Quote: “I didn’t like Iran’s response, calling it, quote, ‘totally unacceptable.’” — Chandelyse Duster [00:33]
• Negotiations Mediated: Iran’s response, relayed via Pakistani mediators, included requests such as:
  • End to the war
  • Lifting of US sanctions
  • Removal of the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz
• Trump accused Iran of “playing games with the US and the rest of the world.”

2. Taiwan's $25 Billion Defense Budget & Delays in US Arms Deal

[01:11 – 02:14]

• Defense Budget Passed:
  • Taiwan approved a $25 billion defense package, an increase, though short of the $40 billion originally aimed for.
  • Quote: “This budget approval was held up for months in Taiwan bipartisan fighting, but its approval comes just before President Trump will meet with China’s leader Xi Jinping.” — Emily Fang [01:26]
• US Arms Deal Delays: Two major US arms packages to Taiwan remain stalled, intensifying regional anxiety.
• China’s Reaction: China has criticized the budget increase as provocative.
• Diplomatic Implications: The delays could signal US concessions to China regarding Taiwan.

3. Hantavirus Outbreak on Passenger Ship

[02:14 – 02:52]

• Arrival & Repatriation: The ship docked in the Canary Islands; passengers began returning to home countries.
• Quarantine Guidance:
  • WHO’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus advised “42 days with active follow up, 42 days of quarantine” starting May 10. [02:39]
  • US CDC says Americans will not face quarantine upon return.
• Notable Incident: A French passenger developed symptoms during the airlift; French authorities placed all five of their nationals in strict isolation.

4. Update on Nobel Peace Laureate Nargis Mohamadi

[02:52 – 04:12]

• Hospitalization: Imprisoned Iranian activist and Nobel laureate Nargis Mohamadi was transferred to a Tehran hospital after collapsing in prison.
• Background:
  • Incarcerated since December in northeastern Iran.
  • Known for championing women’s rights and previous imprisonments.
  • Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while in custody.

5. Alaskan Nenana Ice Classic: Climate Data through Local Tradition

[04:12 – 04:48]

• Event Summary: The Nenana Ice Classic, a contest guessing when river ice breaks, concluded with the clock stopping as the tripod fell.
  • Quote: “It’s very seldom that you have a homogeneous continuous long term climate series. We can see a tendency to earlier.” — Martin Stouffer, Alaskan climatologist [04:29]
• Scientific Value: This tradition provides over a century of data, showing a trend toward earlier ice breakup, contributing to long-term climate studies.
• Humorous Note: Stouffer jokes scientists still can’t predict the exact minute of the breakup: “Otherwise he would have won at some point.”

6. Financial Markets Update

[04:48 – 04:56]

• Brief Update: US futures contracts are trading lower at this hour.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump: "Totally unacceptable." [00:33]
• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO): “Our advice is clear: starting from May 10, 42 days with active follow up, 42 days of quarantine.” [02:39]
• Martin Stouffer (Climatologist): "It’s very seldom that you have a homogeneous continuous long term climate series. We can see a tendency to earlier." [04:29]

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Timestamps to Key Segments

• US-Iran Negotiations & Trump's Comments: 00:18 – 01:11
• Taiwan Defense Budget, US Arm Sales: 01:11 – 02:14
• Hantavirus Outbreak Ship, Global Response: 02:14 – 02:52
• Nargis Mohamadi Health Update: 02:52 – 04:12
• Alaska Ice Classic / Climate Data: 04:12 – 04:48
• US Financial Markets: 04:48 – 04:56

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For the latest updates, listen to NPR News Now hourly or visit npr.org.

Transcript

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This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump has rejected Iran's response to the US Proposal to end the U. S Israeli war that's now in its third month. NPR's Chandelyse Duster has President Trump wrote

[Chandelyse Duster]

on social media on Sunday that he didn't like Iran's response, calling it, quote, totally unacceptable. The state run Islamic Republic News Agency says Iran delivered its response to Pakistani mediators on Sunday. The news agency also says the current phase of negotiations is focused on the cessation of hostilities in the region. Iranian media say the country's response included demands such as an end to the war and the lifting of U.S. sanctions and the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier on Sunday, Trump accused Iran of, quote, playing games with the US and the rest of the world. Chandelyse Duster, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Taiwan has passed a much delayed $25 billion defense budget. the same time, the State Department is warning that delays in a US Arms deal with Taiwan will be a concession to China. NPR's Emily Fang has more.

[Emily Fang]

Taiwan's defense budget is less than the $40 billion which Taiwan's President had hoped for, but it is an increase from years PR and one that China sharply criticized. This budget approval was held up for months in Taiwan bipartisan fighting, but its approval comes just before President Trump will meet with China's leader Xi Jinping. He's expected to talk about everything from trade to Taiwan, a democratic island that China hopes to control one day. NPR also earlier reported that two American weapons packages to Taiwan totaling about $14 billion worth of missiles, missile defense technology and other weapons had been held up. That delay is amping up anxiety that China may push the US to make concessions on its diplomatic stance on Taiwan. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The passenger ship hit by the hantavirus outbreak arrived in the Canary Islands early today and those on board began flying to their home countries. 17Americans are flying to Nebraska along with one British national who's a resident of the U.S. world Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanam Gabrelsas says countries can do what they want, but the WHO's guidance is clear.

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]

Our advice is clear starting from May 10, 42 days with active follow up, 42 days of quarantine.

[Jeanine Herbst]

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday that the Americans won't face quarantine in the United States. Meanwhile, one of the French passengers exhibited symptoms during the airlift from. France's prime minister says all five passengers will be in strict isolation. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Nobel Peace Prize winner Nargis Mohamadi has been transferred to a hospital in Tehran after collapsing in prison. Her foundation says this comes after days of pleading by her family and others. Mohamadi has been in prison since December. She lost consciousness twice and was transferred to a local hospital may first in and has been granted bail. The 53 year old rights activist and champion of women's rights was awarded the Nobel in 2023 while in prison, and she's been jailed repeatedly throughout her career. Her current prison term started when she was arrested in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad. In a world where you can gamble on almost anything, some like to bet on the time ice will break on an Alaskan river. Scientists are paying attention, too. As Shelby Herbert reports, the guessing game provides an important climate data point.

[Shelby Herbert]

The Nenana Ice Classic clock stopped on Monday night when a tripod balanced on the river ice tipped over. The game signals the arrival of summer and has gone on for over a century. Alaskan climatologist Martin Stouffer says that's why it's a valuable data point.

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]

It's very seldom that you have a homogeneous continuous long term climate series. We can see a tendency to earlier.

[Shelby Herbert]

Still, he says scientists can't use the data to predict river ice breakup down to the minute. Otherwise he would have won at some point. For NPR News, I'm Shelby Herbert in Fairbanks.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[NPR Sponsor/Advertiser]

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