NPR News: 05-15-2026 4PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – 05-15-2026, 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: May 15, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise update on major national and international stories shaping the late afternoon headlines, including President Trump’s return from China, developments in Ukraine, the latest on Harvey Weinstein’s trial, leadership change at the Federal Reserve, the threat of a major rail strike in New York, and news about the National Garden of American Heroes.

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Key News Stories and Insights

1. President Trump Returns from China

• [00:04] President Trump is arriving back in the U.S. after a state visit to China.
• Uncertainties Remain: No clear agreements announced regarding:
  • Trade relations
  • The war in Iran
  • Taiwan (which China claims, but the U.S. supports)
    • “It’s not clear if he secured any firm agreements on matters of trade, the war in Iran or Taiwan, a self-governed island China claims as its own but is closely allied with the United States.” (Lakshmi Singh, 00:09)
• Potential Arms Deal: Trump is considering an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan.
• Political Commentary:
  • “I think the last thing we need now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away.” (Political Analyst, 00:30)

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2. Ukraine and Russia Prisoner Exchange

• [00:36] First phase of a significant Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange takes place.
• Details from Kyiv:
  • 205 Ukrainians released, most captured in 2022.
  • Emotional returns highlighted by family reunions.
  • “1,494 days in captivity and tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. I’m incredibly happy, says one of them.” (Ukrainian detainee account via Ukrainian Ombudsman, 00:50)
  • Thank-yous extend to the U.S. and UAE for mediating.
  • This is just the first stage in a planned exchange of 1,000 prisoners on each side.
• Reporting: Hanna Palamarenko, NPR News, Kyiv.

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3. Harvey Weinstein Trial Ends in a Hung Jury

• [01:39] Second mistrial in a year; jury unable to reach a verdict on rape allegations from 2013 involving Jessica Mann.
• Background:
  • Original conviction in 2020 overturned.
  • Another mistrial last year.
  • Weinstein, 74, remains in jail; awaiting sentencing on other charges.
  • Also appealing a conviction in California.
• Soundbite:
  • “Jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous decision.” (Chloe Weiner, 01:57)
  • Coverage by Chloe Weiner, NPR News, New York.

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4. Leadership Change at the Federal Reserve

• [02:35] Jerome Powell ends his 8-year tenure as Fed chair.
• Succession: Kevin Warsh takes over, Senate confirmed.
• Powell’s role: Will remain on the Fed’s board to “help safeguard the central bank’s independence.”
  • “Today caps an end of an era at the Federal Reserve.” (Lakshmi Singh, 02:35)

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5. Looming Long Island Railroad Strike

• [03:01] Commuters in the New York City area face possible disruptions as a major rail strike looms.
• Details:
  • Hundreds of thousands depend on this busiest commuter railroad.
  • Unions representing a range of workers face a contract deadline of 12:18 a.m. Saturday.
  • “If not, unionized workers could strike or be locked out.” (Lakshmi Singh, 03:21)

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6. National Garden of American Heroes Returns

• [03:34] President Trump revives the planned sculpture garden along the Potomac, after earlier plans had been scrapped during President Biden’s term.
• Details:
  • Would feature statues from George Washington to Whitney Houston and Kobe Bryant.
    • “A vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the greatest Americans to ever live.” (Political Analyst, 03:52)
  • Trump intends completion by July 4th for the country’s 250th birthday.
  • Congress has committed $40 million, but critics suggest higher costs.
  • Location: West Potomac Park, between the Potomac River and National Mall.
  • Mandalit del Barco reporting.

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7. Financial Update

• [04:34] Dow closes down 537 points.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On international conflict:

  • “I think the last thing we need now is a war that’s 9,500 miles away.”
    (Political Analyst, 00:30)

• On reunion after captivity:

  • “1,494 days in captivity and tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. I’m incredibly happy, says one of them.”
    (Ukrainian detainee account, 00:50)

• On the sculpture garden:

  • “A vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the greatest Americans to ever live.”
    (Political Analyst, 03:52)

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Timestamps Summary

• 00:04 – President Trump’s return and China state visit
• 00:36 – Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange
• 01:39 – Weinstein trial ends in a hung jury
• 02:35 – Powell exits, Warsh becomes Fed chair
• 03:01 – Potential Long Island Railroad strike
• 03:34 – National Garden of American Heroes revived
• 04:34 – Dow Jones financial update

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This NPR News Now episode delivered essential updates for the day with a factual, measured tone, providing quick yet meaningful context on each topic.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[NPR News Reporter]

President Trump arrives back in the US in the coming hours from a state visit to China.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's not clear if he secured any firm agreements on matters of trade, the war in Iran or Taiwan, a self governed island China claims as its own but is closely allied with the United States.

[NPR News Reporter]

On Air Force One, Trump said he would think about whether to advance an

[Lakshmi Singh]

$11 billion military arms package now for Taiwan.

[Political Analyst]

I think the last thing we need now is a war that's 9,500 miles away.

[NPR News Reporter]

Ukraine and Russia carried out a prisoner of war exchange as the first phase

[Lakshmi Singh]

of an agreement on a larger exchange.

[NPR News Reporter]

NPR's Hanna Palamarenko reports from Kyiv that

[Lakshmi Singh]

205 Ukrainians have returned home.

[Ukrainian Ombudsman]

Ukrainian ombudsmanets emphasized that this exchange is unique in that 95% of those returned today were captured in 2022. He posted a video showing the defenders wiping away tears and calling their families. 1,494 days in captivity and tomorrow is my mom's birthday. I'm incredibly happy, says one of them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian ombudsman expressed their gratitude to the United States and the United Arab Emirates for their mediation and assistance. Zelensky said in a statement that this is the first stage of a much larger exchange involving 1,000 Ukrainians and 1,000 Russians. Anna Plomarenko, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Harvey Weinstein's latest sex crimes trial ended this afternoon with a hung jury. It was the second time in a year a New York jury was unable to reach a verdict on the same charge. The mistrial came on the third day of deliberations. NPR's Chloe Weiner has details.

[Chloe Weiner]

For a third time, a New York jury was asked to decide whether the former Hollywood mogul raped former aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. Weinstein was first convicted of raping Mann in 2020, but that verdict was later overturned. Then a second trial last year ended in a mistrial. This retrial began in April, but on the third day of deliberations, jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous decision. Weinstein, now 74, has been in jail or prison since 2020. He awaits sentencing for a separate charge in New York and was also convicted of rape and sexual assault in California in 2022. He's appealing that conviction. Chloe Weiner, NPR News, New York.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Today caps an end of an era at the Federal Reserve. This was Jerome Powell's last day as Fed chair after eight years in the post. He succeeded by Kevin Warsh, who was confirmed this week by the Senate. Powell says he will continue serving on the governing board to help safeguard the central bank's independence. From Washington, this is NPR News.

[NPR News Reporter]

Hundreds of thousands of New York City

[Lakshmi Singh]

area commuters may face weekday scrambles to find alternative modes of transportation if there's a strike on the Long Island Railroad that is the busiest commuter railroad in the country. Local media report negotiators are still talking.

[NPR News Reporter]

Union officials representing locomotive engineers, signalmen and

[Lakshmi Singh]

other train workers face a 12o18 Saturday deadline to reach a labor contract agreement with transit officials. If not, unionized workers could strike or be locked out.

[NPR News Reporter]

President Trump has announced his planned massive sculpture garden will be located along the

[Lakshmi Singh]

Potomac river in Washington, D.C. nPR's Mandalit Albarco reports. A waterfront area still needs approval in 2020.

[Mandalit Albarco]

During his first term in office, Trump signed an executive order to create what he called the National Garden of American

[Political Analyst]

Heroes, a vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the greatest Americans to ever live.

[Mandalit Albarco]

That includes life size statues ranging from George Washington to Whitney Houston to Kobe Bryant. Trump had hoped to complete the garden by this July 4th to mark the country's 250th birthday. President Biden later scrapped the plans, but Trump reinstated them when he returned to office last summer. Congress committed $40 million to it, though critics say it will cost much more than that. The president has now posted on social media that the garden be located in West Potomac Park, a national park between the river and the National Mall. Mandalit del Barco, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow's closed down 537 points. It's NPR News.

[NPR Announcer]

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