NPR News: 05-15-2026 12AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now: 05-15-2026 12AM EDT

Date: May 15, 2026
Host: Giles Snyder
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode covers the latest international and domestic developments as of midnight EDT on May 15, 2026. Highlights include President Trump’s concluding state visit to China, ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, the release of a detained family in Texas, the Supreme Court’s action on abortion medication, a major AI court case, and the discovery of a new dinosaur species in Thailand.

---

1. President Trump’s State Visit to China and Geopolitical Tensions

Timestamps: 00:29–01:22

• Summary: President Trump is wrapping up his state visit to China. He is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping privately at Xi's official residence. Talks have addressed key topics such as Iran, war, trade, technology, and Taiwan.
• Beijing Correspondent: Jennifer Pack
  • Both countries seek stability, but for differing reasons.
  • China faces internal economic challenges: a sluggish economy, high unemployment, and negative impacts from U.S. tariffs and the Iran war, particularly with disrupted supply chains.
• Notable Quote:
  • “On China's side, China just wants stability because internally there's a lot going on. So the economy is sluggish, unemployment is high, and then you have Trump's tariffs. Add on the Iran war that's disrupting all of the supply chains. It's not helping its exporters. That's problematic because exports are what's driving the Chinese economy at this point. So it just wants things to calm down.”
    — Jennifer Pack (00:51)

---

2. Strait of Hormuz Conflict and U.S. Military Readiness

Timestamps: 01:22–02:28

• Summary: Trump and Xi agree on the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, following a ship seizure and another vessel sinking near Oman amid the Iran war.
• U.S. Commander Admiral Brad Cooper disputes claims that Iran retains the majority of its missile stockpile.
• Senate Armed Services Committee presses for clarity on Iran’s military capacity.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “If I give you just a couple of examples, the defense industrial rates for their drones and their missiles and their navy were degraded by 90%. They have about 10% left.”
    — Admiral Brad Cooper (02:03)
  • “While a ceasefire remains in place, there's no sign of a breakthrough in peace talks, and the critical Strait of Hormuz remains closed.”
    — Greg Myre (02:12)

---

3. Release of Detained Family in Texas

Timestamps: 02:28–03:28

• Summary: Two elementary school children and their stepmother detained by immigration agents in San Antonio have been released after a federal judge’s order.
• Their detention stirred protests and criticism from local officials.
• The family, of Venezuelan origin, was reported as having entered the U.S. in 2021, but lawyers state the parents held valid legal status and had an upcoming asylum court date.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “The center has come under scrutiny in recent months for alleged poor living conditions. A federal judge ordered the family be released following a habeas corpus hearing.”
    — Marianne Navarro (02:45)
  • “San ANTONIO Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro wrote on social media that the family was returning home to San Antonio.”
    — Marianne Navarro (03:05)

---

4. Supreme Court Keeps Access to Abortion Pill

Timestamps: 03:28–03:53

• Summary: The Supreme Court maintains access to mifepristone, an abortion medication, while a legal challenge plays out. Women continue to have access to the drug via pharmacies or mail, without needing in-person doctor visits.

---

5. Landmark AI Trial: Musk vs. OpenAI

Timestamps: 03:53–04:24

• Summary: Jury deliberations are set to begin in the Oakland trial where Elon Musk sues OpenAI, alleging its leadership secretly shifted the organization’s status from nonprofit to for-profit.
• The outcome could significantly influence the future direction and governance of artificial intelligence research and commercialization.

---

6. Discovery of "Naga Titan" Dinosaur in Thailand

Timestamps: 04:24–05:10

• Summary: Researchers identify Naga Titan, the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia, measuring about 90 feet long and weighing 30 tons.
• Naga Titan is a sauropod, living between 100–120 million years ago, and sheds light on the evolutionary trend toward larger dinosaurs.
• Excitement grows among regional paleontologists about expanding the fossil record.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Naga Titan essentially represents that kind of on ramp towards that kind of super sizing.”
    — Researcher Titiwut Seta Paniksakul (04:54)
  • “It is the 14th named dinosaur discovered in Thailand and experts are excited about the expanding fossil record from the region.”
    — James Dubek (05:00)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “The economy is sluggish, unemployment is high, and then you have Trump's tariffs. Add on the Iran war that's disrupting all of the supply chains... So it just wants things to calm down.”
  — Jennifer Pack (00:51)

• “They have about 10% left.” — Admiral Brad Cooper on Iran’s remaining arsenal (02:03)

• “Naga Titan essentially represents that kind of on ramp towards that kind of super sizing.”
  — Researcher Titiwut Seta Paniksakul (04:54)

---

Noteworthy Timestamps

• 00:29 — President Trump wraps state visit to China
• 01:22 — Strait of Hormuz crisis and U.S. military assessment
• 02:28 — Release of detained family in Texas
• 03:28 — Supreme Court upholds access to abortion medication
• 03:53 — Closing arguments in Musk v. OpenAI AI-trial
• 04:24 — Discovery of Naga Titan dinosaur in Thailand

---

This episode delivers essential, concise updates on top U.S. and global stories, blending political developments, legal battles, humanitarian news, and scientific discoveries—true to NPR’s signature style of clear, trusted reporting.

Transcript

[Kachava Advertiser]

This message comes from Kachava. It can be tough to stick to your wellness routine, especially when you're on the go. Cachava's new travel packs make it easier. Just one packet provides nutrition ready for wherever life takes you with protein, fiber, greens, probiotics, electrolytes and more. Take your daily ritual with you. Go to cachava.com and use code NPR new customers get 15% off their first order. That's K A C H-A V A.com

[Giles Snyder]

KACH code NPR live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump wraps up his state visit to China Friday. He and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are to meet privately at Xi's official residence. The two have held a series of meetings discussing issues such as Iran, war, trade, technology and Taiwan. Imperialist Jennifer Pack is in Beijing.

[Jennifer Pack]

Analysts I spoke to say both sides really do want stability, but for very different reasons. On China's side, Chinese China just wants stability because internally there's a lot going on. So the economy is sluggish, unemployment is high, and then you have Trump's tariffs. Add on the Iran war that's disrupting all of the supply chains. It's not helping its exporters. That's problematic because exports are what's driving the Chinese economy at this point. So it just wants things to calm down.

[Giles Snyder]

The White House says Trump and Xi have agreed on the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where a ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates was seized and taken toward Iran Thursday and another was attacked and sank near the coast of Oman. US Commander in charge of military operations against Iran disputes a report that Iran still has most of its missile stockpile intact. Admiral Brad Cooper also says he has the weapons he needs if the current ceasefire breaks down. Here's NPR's Greg Myy.

[Greg Myre]

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee pressed Admiral Cooper about a recent Washington Post story saying Iran still had 70% of its missiles remaining. Cooper said he disagreed with that figure and then went on to say, if

[Admiral Brad Cooper]

I give you just a couple of examples, the defense industrial rates for their drones and their missiles and their navy were degraded by 90%. They have about 10% left.

[Greg Myre]

Cooper also said he has plenty of weapons on hand if the fighting with Iran resumes while a ceasefire remains in place, there's no sign of a breakthrough in peace talks, and the critical Strait of Hormuz remains closed ground. Craig Myre, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

To Texas now, two elementary school children and their stepmother who were detained by federal immigration agents at a San Antonio area school bus stop last month have been released. Their detention sparked protests and condemnation from Texas politicians. Texas Public Radio's Marianne Navarro reports.

[Marianne Navarro]

The woman and two children, a fifth grade boy and a second grade girl, were being held at the Dilley Immigration processing center, about 70 miles southwest of San Antonio. The center has come under scrutiny in recent months for alleged poor living conditions. A federal judge ordered the family be released following a habeas corpus hearing. San ANTONIO Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro wrote on social media that the family was returning home to San Antonio. The Department of Homeland Security alleges the family was detained after entering the US illegally in 2021. Lawyers for the Venezuelan family say the parents had valid legal status and had an asylum court date scheduled for 2027. I'm Marian Navarro in San Antonio.

[Giles Snyder]

This is NPR News. The Supreme Court has kept the status quo when it comes to the abortion medication mifepristone. The court Thursday put a temporary hold on a lower court's restrictions while a lawsuit plays out. The Supreme Court's order allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining mifepristone at pharmacies or through the mail without an in person visit to a doctor. Jury deliberations expected begin Monday in the landmark trial that could shape the future of artificial intelligence. In Oakland, California. Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI made their closing arguments Thursday. Musk's lawsuit, filed in 2024, accuses OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his top deputy of shifting from a nonprofit status into a money making boat behind his back. Researchers have discovered a new dinosaur species in Thailand, the largest dinosaur ever found in Southeast Asia. NPR's James Dubek has more.

[James Dubek]

The dinosaur would have been about 90ft long and weighed about 30 tons. It was a sauropod, a type of dinosaur that eats plants and has a long neck and tail. The researchers called it Naga Titan, named after a mythical serpent creature that's worshiped in Southeast Asia. Naga titan lived between 100 to 120 million years ago. It gives clues about how dinosaurs got even bigger later on. Here's researcher Titiwut Seta Paniksakul.

[Admiral Brad Cooper]

Naga Titan essentially represents that kind of on ramp towards that kind of super sizing.

[James Dubek]

It is the 14th named dinosaur discovered in Thailand and experts are excited about the expanding fossil record from the region. James Dubeck, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

This is npr.

[Integrative Therapeutics Advertiser]

This message comes from Integrative Therapeutics, makers of Cortisol Manager named best overall Ashwagandha supplement by Vogue. Use code STRESS2026 for 20% off of Cortisol Manager on Amazon.com.