NPR News: 05-15-2026 1AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — 05-15-2026 1AM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder (NPR News Anchor)
Episode Date: May 15, 2026

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise, five-minute roundup of the day's major headlines, focusing on U.S.-China relations regarding Iran, a Supreme Court ruling on the abortion pill mifepristone, a tense nationalist march in Jerusalem, the consequences of USAID shutdowns in Africa, and U.S. policy shifts favoring the coal industry. The episode also includes brief updates on Asian financial markets.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-China Talks on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz (00:11 - 00:49)

• President Trump reports on his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping:
  • Xi purportedly pledged not to provide military equipment to Iran.
    • Trump: “He said he's not going to give military equipment. That's a big statement. He said that today. That's a big statement. He said that strongly.” (00:24)
  • Xi also expressed China’s ongoing interest in purchasing Iranian oil and concern over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which had been disrupted.
    • Trump: “He'd like to see Hormuz straight opened. I said, well, we didn't stop it. They did it. Then we stopped them.” (00:34)
• Context and Analysis:
  • China denies providing weapons to Iran, but NYT reports Chinese firms considered using indirect routes via the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Trump and Xi reportedly agree on the need to reopen the strategic strait.
  • Trump concludes his state visit to China on Friday.
  • NPR Anchor: “China has repeatedly said it is not providing Iran with weapons, but the New York Times is reporting that Chinese companies have considered sending weapons through other countries on the Strait of Hormuz.” (00:49)

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2. Supreme Court Decision: Abortion Pill Mifepristone (00:49 - 02:06)

• Ruling Maintains Nationwide Access (For Now):
  • The Supreme Court froze a lower court's restriction, keeping mifepristone available by mail until further litigation is concluded.
    • Nina Totenberg: “In a one paragraph order, the high court froze a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that had made it illegal to send the abortion pill, known formally as mifepristone, through the mail.” (01:24)
  • Two justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented.
    • Totenberg: “Thomas took particular aim at the manufacturers of mifepressone, contending that since abortion is illegal in Louisiana, drugmakers are not entitled to block a court order, quote, based on lost profits from their criminal enterprise.” (01:38)
  • The issue remains in legal limbo, pending Supreme Court review.

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3. Israeli Nationalist March in Jerusalem (02:06 - 03:09)

• Annual March Marked by Tensions and Racist Chants:
  • Tens of thousands march through Jerusalem’s Old City, with many engaging in anti-Palestinian rhetoric.
    • Daniel Estrin reports live:
      • "Chanting anti Arab slurs like mayor village burn... symbols inspired by Israel’s wars..." (02:24)
      • Stickers with “Gaza is ours forever”; necklaces depicting “Greater Israel.”
      • Calls for construction of a Jewish temple on the site of Islam’s Al Aqsa mosque.
      • Violence reported as young Israelis attack Palestinians; human rights monitors intervene.

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4. USAID Shutdown Spurs Violence in Africa (03:09 - 04:13)

• Study Links US Aid Cuts to Increased Conflict:
  • After the Trump administration shut down USAID/foreign aid last year, researchers observed rising violence in former recipient areas.
    • Ari Daniel: “Places that had received more assistance tended to experience more conflict once that aid abruptly vanished. Austin Wright is a data scientist at the University of Chicago.” (03:29)
    • NPR Anchor: “The rapid collapse had enormous consequences on the ground, undermining livelihoods and therefore leading to a surge in violence.” (03:55)
    • Wright, via Ari Daniel: “He worries increased conflict may well be the legacy of the decision to terminate usaid so sudden.” (04:03)

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5. U.S. Deregulates Coal Industry Wastewater (04:13 - 04:53)

• EPA Rolls Back Power Plant Wastewater Rules:
  • The Trump administration proposes looser restrictions on toxic wastewater from coal-fired plants, arguing it will reduce power generation costs.
    • "Coal and power industry groups are cheering the Trump administration's latest step to pull back regulations on coal mining and coal fired power generation." (04:13)
  • Environmental groups decry it as a public health risk and a concession to industry.
    • “Environmental groups say it’s a public health danger and a giveaway to the coal industry.” (04:35)

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6. Quick Financial Update: Asian Markets and Oil (04:53 - 04:57)

• Asian Markets:
  • South Korean shares: down over 4%
  • Japan's Nikkei: down 1.6%
• Oil:
  • Brent crude above $107/barrel

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump (on Xi and Iran):
  • “He said he's not going to give military equipment. That's a big statement.” (00:24)
  • “He'd like to see Hormuz straight opened. I said, well, we didn’t stop it. They did it. Then we stopped them.” (00:34)
• Nina Totenberg (on Supreme Court order):
  • “The justices, however, reverse that ruling until the case is fully litigated up through the Supreme Court if necessary.” (01:30)
• Daniel Estrin (on Jerusalem march):
  • “They're also chanting anti Arab slurs like mayor village burn... Many here are waving flags calling for the building of the Jewish temple at the site of the biblical temples, which is where Islam's Al Aqsa mosque stands today.” (02:24)
• Ari Daniel (via Austin Wright, U Chicago):
  • “The rapid collapse had enormous consequences on the ground, undermining livelihoods and therefore leading to a surge in violence.” (03:55)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:11: Introduction; U.S.-China discussions on Iran/Strait of Hormuz
• 00:49: Supreme Court decision on mifepristone abortion pill
• 02:06: Ultra-nationalist march in Jerusalem and its aftermath
• 03:09: Africa: Higher violence after USAID funding cut
• 04:13: EPA rollback on coal plant wastewater rules
• 04:53: Brief Asian markets and oil price update

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This episode presents a rapid yet comprehensive overview of complex global developments, combining firsthand statements, policy analysis, and on-the-ground reporting while maintaining NPR’s informative and balanced tone.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says Chinese leader Xi Jinping has committed to withholding military equipment from Iran.

[President Donald Trump]

He said he's not going to give military equipment. That's a big statement. He said that today. That's a big statement. He said that strongly. But at the same time, he said, you know, they buy a lot of their oil there and they'd like to keep doing that. He'd like to see Hormuz straight opened. I said, well, we didn't stop it. They did it. Then we stopped them. You know, sort of interesting, he joked. He said, you know, sort of if they stopped it, then you stopped them, but they'd like to see it open.

[NPR News Anchor]

President Trump speaking to FOX News. China has repeatedly said it is not providing Iran with weapons, but the New York Times is reporting that Chinese companies have considered sending weapons through other countries on the Strait of Hormuz. The White House says Trump and Xi have agreed on the need for it to be reopened. Trump is wrapping up his state visit to China Friday. The Supreme Court allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to remain available by mail nationwide, overruling for now a lower court decision that had blocked it from being sent through the mail across the country. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

[Nina Totenberg]

In a one paragraph order, the high court froze a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that had made it illegal to send the abortion pill, known formally as mifepristone, through the mail. The justices, however, reverse that ruling until the case is fully litigated up through the Supreme Court if necessary. Two justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito filed dissenting opinions. Thomas took particular aim at the manufacturers of mifepressone, contending that since abortion is illegal in Louisiana, drugmakers are not entitled to block a court order, quote, based on lost profits from their criminal enterprise. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

Tens of thousands of Israelis have streamed through Jerusalem in an annual ultra nationalist march marked by racist and anti Palestinian chants. The event marks Israel's capture of east Jerusalem nearly 60 years ago. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports.

[Daniel Estrin]

Orthodox Jewish boys and young men are streaming through the Muslim corridor of the Old City. They are chanting religious chants. They're also chanting anti Arab slurs like mayor village burn and you can see here, symbols inspired by Israel, Israel's wars and Israel occupying lands throughout the region. Many people are wearing stickers that say Gaza is ours forever. Some are wearing necklaces with the map of what's called Greater Israel, including lands in today's Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Many here are waving flags calling for the building of the Jewish temple at the site of the biblical temples, which is where Islam's Al Aqsa mosque stands. Today, several hundred Israeli human rights activists have been in the city trying to protect Palestinians in the streets as young Israelis attack them. Daniel Estrin and NPR News, Jerusalem.

[NPR News Anchor]

And you're listening to NPR News. Last year, the Trump administration shut down usaid, cutting funding for low income countries around the world. That decision appears to have led to an uptick in violence across Africa. Reporter Ari Daniel has more.

[Ari Daniel]

A team of researchers considered the relationship between two data sets spanning all of Africa. The first was a map of average USAID funds dispersed. The second was a map of the violent activity before and after the contraction of the aid agency. Places that had received more assistance tended to experience more conflict once that aid abruptly vanished. Austin Wright is a data scientist at the University of Chicago.

[NPR News Anchor]

The rapid collapse had enormous consequences on the ground, undermining livelihoods and therefore leading

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to a surge in violence.

[Ari Daniel]

Wright says he worries increased conflict may well be the legacy of the decision to terminate usaid so sudden. For NPR News, I'm Ari Daniel.

[NPR News Anchor]

Coal and power industry groups are cheering the Trump administration's latest step to pull back regulations on coal mining and coal fired power generation. The U.S. environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it aims to roll back limits on toxic wastewater from coal fired power plants, saying its proposed new rule will cost will lower the cost of power generation. Environmental groups say it's a public health danger and a giveaway to the coal industry. Financial markets in Asia losing ground. South Kore shares down more than 4% and Japan's benchmark Nikkei is down 1.6%. Brent crude, the international standard, above $107 a barrel. This is NPR.

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