NPR News: 05-16-2026 12AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 16, 2026, 12AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Theme:
A concise update on top U.S. and international news stories, offering key headlines and context on politics, international relations, crime, finance, public health, and culture as of May 16, 2026.

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1. Redistricting Challenges and Voting Rights (00:01–00:52)

• Main Points:

  • The redistricting efforts initiated by President Trump are reaching their conclusion.
  • In response to a Supreme Court decision that weakened the Voting Rights Act, several states, such as Louisiana, have altered electoral district maps, reducing representation for Black Democratic lawmakers.
  • Mississippi and Georgia are planning further redistricting after the upcoming midterms, potentially targeting Democratic districts ahead of 2028.
  • There is concern among experts that this ongoing political maneuvering deepens public cynicism and could harm voter turnout, especially in midterms that already see reduced participation versus presidential elections.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Karen Brinson Bell (former NC elections overseer):

    "Voters are just—are they going to show up? Are they just sickened by the whole situation?" (00:45)

  • Commentary on turnout:

    "She also noted midterms already lag presidential years in terms of turnout." (00:52)

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2. U.S.–Cuba Relations & CIA Visit (00:59–01:48)

• Main Points:

  • CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Cuba, carrying a direct warning from President Trump to the country's communist leadership.
  • The U.S. blockade on oil deliveries has resulted in major blackouts in Cuba, intensifying pressure on Havana.
  • Ratcliffe met with the head of Cuba’s intelligence services, delivering a stern message: the U.S. is open to serious dialogue on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba enacts "fundamental changes."

• Notable Quotes:

  • CIA official (anonymity granted):

    "The United States is prepared to seriously gauge on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes." (01:43)

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3. Harvey Weinstein Trial Mistrial (01:48–02:44)

• Main Points:

  • Harvey Weinstein’s latest sex crimes trial ended in a hung jury, marking the second time in a year the same charge could not be resolved.
  • The jury was determining whether Weinstein raped Jessica Mann in 2013; previous convictions were overturned or resulted in mistrials.
  • Weinstein remains incarcerated, awaiting sentencing for a separate New York charge and appealing his 2022 California conviction for rape and sexual assault.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Chloe Weiner (summarizing the saga):

    "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." (02:06)

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4. U.S. Stock Market Update (02:44–03:10)

• Main Points:
  • A significant downturn in the U.S. stock markets was reported:
    • Dow Jones down 537 points
    • Nasdaq down 4,400 points
    • S&P 500 down 92 points

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5. Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (03:10–03:37)

• Main Points:
  • Health officials warn of a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths. One death occurred in Uganda due to cross-border transmission.
  • Emphasis on Ebola’s high contagion and fatality rates, with transmission possible via bodily fluids.

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6. Rise in Multigenerational Households for Affordability (03:37–04:17)

• Main Points:

  • Economic pressures are leading to more multigenerational households in the U.S., especially in high-cost states like California.
  • Sharing homes supports childcare and makes mortgages more manageable.
  • 2024 data shows about 4 million owner-occupied homes include at least three generations under one roof.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Andrea Wolverton (lives with parents and child):

    "My parents, for all intents and purposes, like, kind of acted as his second parents." (03:46)

  • Hannah Jones (realtor.com):

    "Home prices continue to be out of reach for many households, so people are looking for more creative ways to afford buying a home." (03:58)

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7. Preakness Stakes Preview (04:17–end)

• Main Points:
  • The 151st Preakness Stakes (horse race) will be held Saturday at Laurel Park, Maryland, due to reconstruction at the traditional venue, Pimlico Racecourse.
  • No clear favorite; six horses share similar odds (8:1 or shorter).
  • The post time is 7:01pm Eastern.

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The segment on redistricting and voting rights strikes a somber, reflective tone about American democracy (“Are voters just sickened by the whole situation?” – 00:45).
• The Cuba coverage is urgent but measured, reflecting high-stakes diplomacy and tense U.S.–Cuba relations.
• Crime and justice updates (Weinstein trial) are delivered with NPR's hallmark objectivity and sobriety.
• Economic and social topics (stock market, housing, public health) are concise, pragmatic, and rooted in current data.
• The episode closes on a note of tradition and continuity with the Preakness Stakes update.

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For reference: All times in MM:SS. For brevity, non-news segments including ads, show intros, and outros are omitted.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. The redistricting efforts President Trump kicked off last year seem to be finally coming to a close. But as NPR's Miles Parks reports, states are already making plans for what happens after this year's midterms.

[B]

This week, numerous state houses responded to a recent Supreme Court decision that weakened protections in the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana Republicans passed a new map that eliminated one of two districts currently held by black Democratic lawmakers in Mississippi and Georgia. However, lawmakers there said they don't plan to redistrict before the midterms, but they may try to eliminate Democratic held districts ahead of 2028. In the bigger picture, experts worry that all this political maneuvering is fueling a cynicism in the American public. Karen Brinson Bell used to oversee elections in North Carolina.

[A]

Voters are just are they going to show up? Are they just sickened by the whole situation?

[B]

She also noted midterms already lag presidential years in terms of turnout. Miles Parks, NPR News, Washington.

[A]

CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Cuba this week. While there, he offered a strong warning from President Trump to Cuba's communist leaders. Trump has been increasing economic pressure on the island nation for months, and because of US a blockade on oil deliveries, that country's been suffering major blackouts. NPR's Greg Mari has more on that visit.

[C]

Ratcliffe's trip wasn't announced in advance, but the CIA said afterwards that he flew to Havana on Thursday and it even released photos of the meeting. Now a CIA official speaking on condition of anonymity, said Ratcliffe met the head of Cuba's intelligence services and delivered a stern message from President Trump. And that message was, quote, the United States is prepared to seriously gauge on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes.

[A]

That's NPR's Greg Myhray with our report. Harvey Weinstein's latest sex crimes trial ended Friday with a hung jury in. It was the second time in a year that a New York jury was unable to reach a verdict on the same charge. The mistrial came on the third day of deliberations. As NPR's Chloe Weiner reports.

[D]

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.

[A]

On Wall Street Friday, stocks closed down across the board. The Dow was down 537 points. The Nasdaq closed down 4, 400 points, while the S&P 500 closed down 92 points. You're listening to NPR News. Health officials in Africa say there's another Ebola outbreak in the central African nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They say that there have been 246 suspicious cases and 65 deaths have been recorded so far, including one person who died in Uganda after contracting the virus in Congo. Ebola is highly contagious and can be contracted through bodily fluids. The disease is rare, but often fatal. More Americans are living in households with at least three generations. As NPR's Stephen Bassaha reports, living with more family members is helping homeowners with affordability.

[E]

One of the biggest benefits of sharing a home is sharing childcare. Andrea Wolverton and her then 3 year old son moved in with her parents in 2023.

[A]

My parents, for all intents and purposes, like, kind of acted as his second parents.

[E]

Another benefit is sharing the mortgage. Hannah Jones is with realtor.com Home prices

[B]

continue to be out of reach for

[A]

many households, so people are looking for more creative ways to afford buying a home.

[E]

About 4 million owner occupied homes had at least a parent, a kid and a grandparent under one roof in 2024. These multi generational households are most common in states with the highest housing costs like California. Steven Basaha, NPR News.

[A]

The 151st edition of the Preakness Stakes takes place Saturday with a post time of 7:01pm Eastern Time. The race is being held at Laurel Park, Maryland, because Pimlico Racecourse, which is its usual home, is undergoing reconstruction. There are no clear favorites for the race. Six horses have opened with odds of 8 to 1 or shorter. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.