NPR News: 05-15-2026 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 15, 2026, 6PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers concise updates on major stories of the day, including US-China trade tensions affecting American farmers, humanitarian efforts for Cuba, new findings on hantavirus transmission, allegations of abuse by Israeli prison guards, and a looming commuter rail strike in New York. The episode captures a global and local snapshot of urgent news, blending first-hand perspectives and international developments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-China Trade & Impact on Farmers

(00:00–01:01)

• Presidential Announcement: President Trump states China has agreed to buy US agriculture products, though China has yet to confirm, leaving US soybean farmers uncertain.
• Farmer Perspective:
  • Caleb Ragland, a soybean farmer in Kentucky and Trump supporter, voices skepticism due to ongoing competition with Brazil.
    • Quote:

      "Once they make that investment and they leave, going to be hard for us to get them back as a farmer. That's concerning to me."
      —Caleb Ragland (00:28)

  • Farmers are hoping for tangible results, not just promises.
    • Quote:

      "We don't just need commitments that are made with lips and put down on paper. We need to see beans floating across the ocean and going to China."
      —Caleb Ragland (00:39)

• White House Claim: President Trump predicts farmers will be happy as China will buy “billions of dollars worth” of soybeans, without providing details.

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2. UN Aid for Cuba & US Response

(01:01–01:53)

• Humanitarian Crisis: UN seeks $94 million for Cuba, where a major energy crisis threatens health care and food production. Only 30% of funds raised so far.
• US Stance:
  • The US declines to provide funds to the UN, accusing its Cuba office of colluding with the Cuban government.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio offers $100 million in goods through the Catholic Church and independent organizations instead.

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3. Hantavirus Transmission Update

(01:53–02:47)

• WHO’s Revised Guidance: The World Health Organization states hantavirus may spread through casual contact, though overall risk remains low.
• New Evidence:
  • Dr. Maria Van Kerkhoff of WHO references a past outbreak in Argentina, noting infections occurred at a birthday party among people sitting near each other.
    • Quote:

      "There has been more casual contact where infection may have occurred. So we simply want to learn a bit more and in the meantime up our precautions."
      —Maria Van Kerkhoff (02:30)

  • Ten cases and three deaths are reported; all ship passengers are considered high risk.

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4. Israeli Government vs. New York Times: Abuse Allegations

(02:51–04:01)

• Allegations:
  • NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof details alleged patterns of sexual and physical abuse against Palestinian prisoners by Israeli personnel.
    • Quote:

      "...a pattern of widespread Israeli sexual violence against men, women and even children by soldiers, settlers, interrogators in the Shin Bet internal security agency, and above all, prison guards."
      —Nicholas Kristof, according to NPR's David Folkenflick (03:23)

  • Specifics include highly provocative and disputed claims, e.g., use of dogs.
• Israeli Response:
  • The Israeli government labels the allegations a “blood libel” and threatens defamation lawsuits. A similar threat last year was never acted on.
  • Israeli embassy did not respond for comment. The Times stands by its reporting.

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5. Imminent LIRR Commuter Rail Strike in NY

(04:01–04:39)

• Strike Looms:
  • Negotiations between the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and union workers are set to expire at midnight, risking disruption for 250,000 daily travelers.
  • A strike was recently averted last fall through Trump administration intervention; no agreement has yet been reached.
• Contingency Measures: Limited free shuttle bus service will be offered if a strike occurs.

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Notable Moments & Quotes

• Caleb Ragland on lost markets:

  "Once they make that investment and they leave, going to be hard for us to get them back as a farmer. That's concerning to me." (00:28)

• On real evidence of trade deals:

  "We don't just need commitments that are made with lips and put down on paper. We need to see beans floating across the ocean and going to China." (00:39)

• WHO on hantavirus transmission:

  "There has been more casual contact where infection may have occurred. So we simply want to learn a bit more and in the meantime up our precautions." — Maria Van Kerkhoff (02:30)

• NYT’s Nicholas Kristof on Israeli abuse allegations:

  "...a pattern of widespread Israeli sexual violence against men, women and even children..." (03:23)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – US-China trade, soybean farmer reaction
• 01:01 – UN aid for Cuba and US alternative offer
• 01:53 – Hantavirus new transmission findings
• 02:51 – Israel/NYT defamation threat, prisoner abuse allegations
• 04:01 – Looming LIRR strike in New York

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This summary provides a clear, engaging overview of the news without advertisements or non-content segments, focusing on the voices and insights that shape today’s headlines.

Transcript

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says China has agreed to buy US agriculture products, but Beijing hasn't confirmed that, and that leaves some U.S. soybean farmers disappointed at the lack of details. NPR's Windsor Johnston has more.

[Windsor Johnston]

Caleb Ragland is a soybean farmer in Kentucky who voted for Trump. He says growers are struggling to compete while China increasingly turns to countries like Brazil for soybeans.

[Caleb Ragland]

Once they make that investment and they leave, going to be hard for us to get them back as a farmer. That's concerning to me.

[Windsor Johnston]

Ragland says farmers want more than promises from trade talks. They want action.

[Caleb Ragland]

We don't just need commitments that are made with lips and put down on paper. We need to see beans floating across the ocean and going to China.

[Windsor Johnston]

Trump says farmers will be happy with his trade deals and predicts China will buy billions of dollars worth of soybeans, though he didn't provide details about any new purchases. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The UN is trying to raise more money for aid to Cuba, where a major energy crisis threatens health care and food production on the island. But NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports the US says it won't donate to the UN's efforts.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The UN's office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs says it has raised only 30% of the $94 million it needs for Cuba. Fuel shortages have created what one top official called a multifaceted emergency. The State Department tells NPR that the US give any money to the UN in Cuba, stating the UN in Cuba has long colluded with the regime. The statement goes on to explain that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered $100 million in goods to be delivered by the Catholic Church or other independent and respected organizations. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The World Health Organization says hantavirus may be able to spread through casual contact, but that the risk to the general public is low. NPR's Gabriela Emmanuelle has more.

[Gabriela Emmanuelle]

Initially, when this outbreak attracted headlines, the WHO said it spread human to human in close prolonged contact within households between intimate partners and when a patient was being cared for by a medical professional. The WHO's Maria Van Kerkhoff now says, looking at a past outbreak in Argentina, there was spread at a birthday party where guests were seated near each other but not at the same table.

[Maria Van Kerkhoff]

There has been more casual contact where infection may have occurred. So we simply want to learn a bit more and in the meantime up our precautions.

[Gabriela Emmanuelle]

She says this is why everyone on the ship is being monitored and treated as high risk. There are 10 cases and three deaths,

[Windsor Johnston]

according to the WHO.

[Gabriela Emmanuelle]

Gabriela Emanuel, NPR News, Wall street, lower

[Jeanine Herbst]

by the closing bell. The Dow down 537 points. You're listening to NPR News from from Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening to sue the New York Times for defamation over allegations of sexual and physical abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli guards. As NPR's David Folkenflick reports, the Israeli government is calling the allegations a blood libel. A note, this material may be disturbing for some listeners.

[David Folkenflick]

Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote of, quote, a pattern of widespread Israeli sexual violence against men, women and even children by soldiers, settlers, interrogators in the Shin Bet internal security agency, and above all, prison guards. The Israeli government has denied and condemned the peace. The Israeli embassy in D.C. did not respond to a request for comment. But critics have taken issue with the peace's sources and its specifics, including a claim that dogs had been trained to sexually assault prisoners. The Times has defended Christoph Netanyahu, also threatened a defamation suit against the Times last year, but didn't file one. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In New York, the biggest commuter rail system in the country, lirr, could be hit with a strike tomorrow as the window for contract negotiations with union workers is set to expire at midnight. A strike almost happened last fall, but intervention from the Trump administration got the two sides to agree to six months of talks to try to come to an agreement on a new contract. So far, though, they haven't. The LIRR is the busiest commuter rail in North America, with around 250,000 travelers daily. Officials say limited free shuttle bus service will be provided. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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