NPR News: 05-14-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 14, 2025, 9 PM EDT

Hosted by NPR, this episode of "NPR News Now" delivers the latest news in five minutes, updated hourly. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key topics discussed, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.

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1. Russia's Delegation to Turkey for Ukraine War Talks

[00:18 - 00:34]

Host Jack Speier opens the episode with news from Washington, highlighting Russia's announcement of its delegation to talks in Turkey aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Notably, Vladimir Putin is absent from the delegation.

Michelle Kellerman, reporting for NPR, elaborates that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently in Turkey for a NATO meeting in Antalya and plans to travel to Istanbul later in the week. The intended high-level meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders has been upended as Putin opts to send a low-level delegation instead. The delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister.

Quote:

"President Putin is avoiding a face-to-face meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, sending instead a low level delegation headed by a former culture minister named Vladimir Medinsky."
— Michelle Kellerman, [00:34]

2. Federal Judge Blocks DOJ's Cancellation of ABA Grants

[01:15 - 01:30]

Jack Speier reports on a significant legal development where a federal judge has temporarily halted the Justice Department's (DOJ) cancellation of certain grants to the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA contends that the DOJ's actions are retaliatory, responding to the ABA's public criticism of the administration.

Ryan Lucas provides further details, mentioning that the DOJ had terminated grants that funded services for victims of domestic and sexual violence following the ABA's criticisms. The ABA has filed a lawsuit alleging that this constitutes unlawful retaliation and an infringement of their First Amendment rights.

Quote:

"The ABA alleges that DOJ's canceling of the grants amounts to unlawful retaliation against it for exercising its First Amendment rights."
— Ryan Lucas, [01:30]

3. Pushback Against Trump's Plan to Replace Air Force One

[02:06 - 02:30]

Jack Speier shifts focus to President Trump's controversial plan to replace Air Force One with a luxury Boeing 747 jet purchased from Qatar. This initiative has met with resistance from Republican lawmakers.

Elena Moore reports that Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri criticizes the plan, questioning Qatar's intentions and the appropriateness of gifting such a high-value aircraft to the U.S. He emphasizes a preference for planes that are "built in the United States, made in America, bought in America."

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky echoes these concerns, suggesting that accepting the jet might compromise the U.S.'s ability to objectively assess Qatar's human rights record.

Quote:

"I prefer a big, beautiful plane built in the United States, made in America, bought in America."
— Senator Josh Hawley, [02:25]

4. EPA Rolls Back Limits on 'Forever Chemicals' in Drinking Water

[02:54 - 03:29]

Jack Speier reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is rolling back some of its restrictions on various "forever chemicals" in drinking water. While limits for the most common varieties, PFAs and PFOs, will remain, environmental groups have criticized the administration for seemingly abandoning essential water safety regulations.

5. FDA Reviews Nutritional Content of Infant Formula

[03:29 - 04:09]

For the first time in over thirty years, federal health officials are re-evaluating the nutritional content of infant formula. Maria Godoy details that the FDA, alongside other agencies, is seeking public input to determine if existing nutrient requirements should be updated based on the latest scientific research.

Key points include:

• Over half of all babies receive formula within their first three months.
• Studies have found high levels of added sugars in some formulas.
• Investigations by Consumer Reports have uncovered concerning amounts of arsenic and lead in certain brands.

The FDA plans to enhance testing for contaminants as part of an initiative named Operation Stork Speed.

Quote:

"The FDA is seeking public input to help determine whether existing nutrient requirements for infant formula should be revised or expanded based on the latest scientific data."
— Maria Godoy, [03:29]

6. Release of Georgetown Researcher from Immigration Detention

[04:09 - End]

Jack Speier concludes with a report on Badar Khan Suri, a research fellow at Georgetown University who was released from immigration detention in Texas. After being held for eight weeks following his March arrest in Virginia, a federal judge has allowed Suri to return to Virginia while his legal challenge continues.

The Department of Homeland Security had accused Suri of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media, leading to the revocation of his visa. Suri denies these allegations and awaits the outcome of his case.

Additionally, crude oil futures saw a slight decrease following unexpected government data indicating a rise in inventories.

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Support and Advertisements: The episode includes brief advertisements from Mint Mobile and Paintcare, promoting their respective services. These segments were excluded from the summary to focus solely on the news content.

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This summary provides a detailed overview of the key discussions and developments presented in the May 14, 2025, episode of "NPR News Now." For the full experience and all nuances, listeners are encouraged to tune into the episode directly.

Transcript

[Mint Mobile Ad]

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[Jack Speier]

News in Washington, I'm Jack Spier. Russia has announced its delegation to talks in Turkey on ending the war in Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin is not on the list. NPR's Michelle Kellman reports. The Trump Admin. Been hoping to facilitate high level talks.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is already in Turkey for a NATO meeting in Antalya and is planning to travel Thursday to Istanbul, where there had been hopes for a high level meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. But President Putin is avoiding a face to face meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, sending instead a low level delegation headed by a former culture minister named Vladimir Medinsky. The ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had predicted Putin would be a no show and says it's time for the US to put more pressure on him to end Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

A federal judge is temporarily blocking the Justice Department's cancellation of certain grants to the American Bar Association. The ABA has argued the department's action amounted to unlawful retaliation for criticizing the administration. More from NPR's Ryan Lucas.

[Mint Mobile Ad]

The American Bar association filed the lawsuit in April after the Justice Department canceled a series of grants with the ABA that funded services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. The grant termination came after the ABA publicly criticized the Trump administration over various actions in its lawsuit. The aba alleges that DOJ's canceling of the grants amounts to unlawful retaliation against it for exercising its First Amendment rights. Now U.S. district Judge Christopher Cooper has granted the ABA's request for a preliminary injunction to stop the government from canceling the grants as the lawsuit moves forward. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

President Trump's plans to replace Air Force One with a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar is drawing pushback from Republican lawmakers on Capitol hill. More from NPR's Elena Moore.

[Elena Moore]

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said the move shows Qatar wants to build a closer relationship to the US but gifting Trump a jumbo jet?

[Jack Speier]

I prefer a big, beautiful plane built in the United States, made in America, bought in America.

[Elena Moore]

He says if Qatar wants to help the US they could reevaluate their ties to multiple groups in the region that the US Is critical of. Notably, the country has a long relationship with Hamas. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul also cast doubt on the plan, telling FOX News on Monday that he wonders whether the U.S. s ability to judge Qatar's human rights record would be, quote, clouded by this gift. Elena Moore, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Jack Speier]

The EPA says it's rolling back some of its limits on several types of water, dubbed forever chemicals in drinking water wherever, the agency says for two of them, most common varieties, PFAs and PFOs, limits will remain in place. Environmental groups accused the administration of abandoning common sense water rules. The dow was down 89 points today. This is NPR. For the first time in more than three decades, federal health officials are reviewing the nutritional content of infant formula. NPR's Maria Godoy reports. The FDA and other agencies say they want to ensure the safety of baby formulas.

[Maria Godoy]

The FDA is seeking public input to help determine whether existing nutrient requirements for infant formula should be revised or expanded based on the latest scientific data. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all babies receive formula at some point in their first three months of life. A recent study found many formulas contained high amounts of added sugar. And an investigation from Consumer Reports found some formulas contain concerning levels of arsenic and lead. The FDA says it will also increase testing for contaminants in formula as part of Operation Stork Speed. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Federal judge in Virginia has released Georgetown researcher Badar Khan Suri from immigration detention in Texas, allowing the Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University to return to Virginia while his challenge to his detention continues. Suri was held in Texas for eight weeks following his arrest in Virginia in March. The Department of Homeland Security accused Surrey of actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media, revoked his visa. Though he's not been charged. Surrey has denied the allegations against him. Crude oil futures prices eased a bit today after new government numbers showing inventories rising at unexpected rate. Last week, oil fell 52 cents a barrel to settle at $63.15 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Speier, NPR News in Washington. Support for the following message comes from Paintcare, making it easy to recycle leftover paint with convenient locations like your local paint store. Find a paint drop off site near [e-mail].