NPR News: 05-14-2026 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — May 14, 2026, 6PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst (NPR)
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this tightly packed news briefing, NPR covers major stories from the Supreme Court’s decision on mifepristone access, high-level talks between President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping, Cuba’s deepening energy crisis, the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, financial strains facing U.S. research universities, and signs of slowing retail growth amid continued economic uncertainty.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Supreme Court Preserves Access to Abortion Pill

[00:16]

• The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that would have restricted access to the abortion pill mifepristone.
• The case originated from a Louisiana suit challenging the FDA’s relaxed rules allowing mail delivery and telemedicine prescriptions for mifepristone.
• Two drug makers requested emergency relief, which the Court granted pending ongoing litigation.
• Impact: Medication abortions account for nearly two-thirds of U.S. abortions as of 2023.

Notable Quote:

“The Supreme Court today has preserved access to the widely used abortion pill mifepristone, allowing it to be available by mail without an in person appointment.”
— Jeanine Herbst [00:16]

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2. Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing: Diplomacy, Trade, and Iran

[01:10]

• President Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, discussing the Iran war, global trade, and energy security.
• The summit included a banquet with top U.S. CEOs and symbolic gestures of friendship, but no significant policy breakthroughs.
• Trump formally invited Xi and Madame Peng to visit the White House in September.
• Anticipation of further talks, with additional photo ops and informal meetings scheduled before Trump's departure.

Notable Moments:

• Trump’s invitation to Xi Jinping:

“Tonight, it is my honor to extend an invitation to you and Madame Peng to visit us at the White House this September 24th.”
— President Trump [01:39]

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3. Cuba’s Energy Crisis Escalates

[02:03]

• Cuba endures new energy shortages and public protests.
• The Cuban government blames U.S. actions for blocking energy deliveries, but the State Department refutes the blockade claim, attributing the crisis to Cuba's leadership.
• Russian oil donations (allowed in March) are depleted; Venezuela and Mexico halted fuel shipments due to U.S. tariffs.
• The U.S. has offered $100 million in humanitarian aid (for distribution by independent organizations) and continues to urge reforms.

Notable Quote:

“The false narrative of a blockade against Cuba is just one of the many lies spread by the failing dictatorship on the island.”
— U.S. State Department, reported by Michelle Keleman [02:31]

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4. Russia’s Ongoing Assault on Ukraine

[03:03]

• Russia launched a third consecutive day of heavy drone and missile attacks, hitting residential buildings in Kyiv.
• The latest strike killed at least nine and injured dozens.

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5. U.S. Research Universities Face Funding and Enrollment Crunch

[03:23]

• Federal research funding cuts and a decline in student enrollment are hitting major institutions like MIT.
• MIT President Sally Kornbluth notes a 20% drop in federal funding and a corresponding 10% decrease in university-sponsored research.
• Graduate student enrollment is down nearly 20% this year, with further declines expected; private sector funds are insufficient to fill the gap.
• Broader concerns: Other universities cite similar struggles, especially those reliant on international students and federal grants.

Notable Quotes:

“Research funding from private sources is nowhere near enough to make up for the 20% drop in federal support that MIT is dealing with.”
— Sally Kornbluth (via Kirk Carapezza) [03:37]

“That is a striking loss for one of the most influential and productive research communities in the world.”
— Kirk Carapezza [03:53]

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6. U.S. Retail Sales Slow as Consumer Prices Climb

[04:22]

• Retail sales rose 0.5% in April, down sharply from March’s 1.6% growth.
• Contributors: High gas and grocery prices fueled by ongoing conflict in Iran.
• Gains: Clothing and furniture; concern over future declines in non-essential purchases as cost pressures mount.

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |-------|---------|-----------| | “The Supreme Court today has preserved access to the widely used abortion pill mifepristone, allowing it to be available by mail without an in person appointment.” | Jeanine Herbst | 00:16 | | “Tonight, it is my honor to extend an invitation to you and Madame Peng to visit us at the White House this September 24th.” | President Trump | 01:39 | | “The false narrative of a blockade against Cuba is just one of the many lies spread by the failing dictatorship on the island.” | U.S. State Department (via Michelle Keleman) | 02:31 | | “Research funding from private sources is nowhere near enough to make up for the 20% drop in federal support that MIT is dealing with.” | Sally Kornbluth (via Kirk Carapezza) | 03:37 | | “That is a striking loss for one of the most influential and productive research communities in the world.” | Kirk Carapezza | 03:53 |

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:16 – Supreme Court decision on abortion pill
• 01:10 – Trump-Xi talks in Beijing
• 02:03 – Cuba energy crisis and U.S. aid
• 03:03 – Russian attack on Ukraine
• 03:23 – U.S. university funding and enrollment decline
• 04:22 – Retail sales, economic update

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Summary

This NPR News Now update provides a snapshot of major U.S. and global developments as of May 14, 2026. With courts weighing in on reproductive rights, world leaders conducting tense but cordial diplomacy, humanitarian and economic crises deepening in Cuba and Ukraine, and domestic warning signs around education funding and consumer spending, the episode delivers the latest facts with concision and clarity, keeping listeners plugged into the headlines shaping the hour.

Transcript

[A]

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 in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The Supreme Court today has preserved access to the widely used abortion pill mifepristone, allowing it to be available by mail without an in person appointment. The case stems from a suit Louisiana filed to roll back the FDA's rules on how the drug can be prescribed. A ruling by a three judge panel of the 5th U.S. circuit Court of Appeals on May 1 threatened access to the pill through telemedicine visits and mail delivery. But tonight, the high court granted emergency requests by two drug makers of the pill to block the lower court ruling for now while a lawsuit plays out. Medication abortions account for nearly two thirds of all abortions in the US as of 2023, the last year. Statistics are available. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing today discussing the war in Iran, global trade and energy security. But as NPR's Tamara Keith reports, it doesn't appear that the talks between the two yielded any significant progress.

[B]

On Thursday, Trump and Xi held a bilateral meeting that for a time included CEOs from top US corporations. Then, in the evening at a formal banquet, the two leaders toasted each other and the relationship between their nations. Trump made clear he wants this visit to be the start of a longer dialogue.

[A]

Tonight, it is my honor to extend an invitation to you and Madame Peng to visit us at the White House this September 24th.

[B]

Before Trump heads to the airport, the leaders are set to take a friendship photo and share a bilateral tea and lunch. No deals have been announced yet, but there's still time. Tamara Keith, NPR News, Beijing.

[A]

Cuba is facing a new energy crisis and rising protests. While the Cubans blame the US for blocking energy deliveries, the State Department says it's their communist rulers who are responsible for the humanitarian crisis on the island. NPR's Michelle Keleman has more.

[C]

Cuba's energy minister says that the oil donated from Russia, which the US Allowed in in late March, has now run out. Venezuela and Mexico stopped sending fuel earlier this year because of U.S. tariffs. The state Department doesn't call this a blockade, however, writing in a statement to NPR that the false narrative of a blockade against Cuba is just one of the many lies spread by the failing dictatorship on the island. The US has offered Cuba $100 million in aid to be distributed by the Catholic Church or other aid groups as it pushes for what it calls meaningful reforms to Cuba's communist system. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News. The State Department.

[A]

For the third day in a row, Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, demolishing an apartment building in Kyiv, killing at least nine and wounding dozens of others. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Colleges are sounding the alarm over two related challenges facing the federal funding cuts and a diminished talent pipeline. From member station GBH in Boston, Kirk Carapeza reports. MIT President President Sally Kornbluth says federal research dollars aren't flowing the way they typically do.

[D]

In a video message, Kornbluth says research funding from private sources is nowhere near enough to make up for the 20% drop in federal support that MIT is dealing with. As a result, she says university sponsored research is down 10% compared to this time last year.

[B]

That is a striking loss for one of the most influential and productive research communities in the world.

[D]

Kornbluth says MIT saw a nearly 20% drop in new graduate student enrollment this year and expects the decline to continue next year. Other research universities have expressed similar concern over mounting funding pressures and immigration and visa policies affecting international students. For NPR News, I'm Kirk Carapezza in Boston.

[A]

High gas prices and rising prices at the grocery store, fueled by the ongoing war in Iran, left shoppers slowing their spending in April, but that doesn't mean no shopping. The Commerce Department says retail sales rose 0.5% last month, a sharp slowdown from the 1.6% growth in March. The biggest category gainers in April, aside from essentials, clothing and furniture, though economists worry that spending on non essentials will drop as the prices rise. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[D]

Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to NPR News now. Sponsor free through Amazon Music, or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get [e-mail] that's plus.npr.org.