NPR News: 05-16-2026 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: 05-16-2026 9PM EDT

Date: May 17, 2026
Host: Jeanine Herbst

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Episode Overview

This 5-minute NPR News Now episode provides concise, up-to-the-minute world and national headlines. The main stories include U.S.-China trade updates, a significant operation against ISIS leadership in Nigeria, developments in Virginia’s redistricting battle, the extradition of a close Maduro ally from Venezuela, and highlights from the Eurovision Song Contest.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-China Trade Developments [00:00–01:05]

• Recent meetings: China's government confirms agreements to buy some U.S. planes following leader-level talks in Beijing.

• Aviation sector: While Trump announced a sale of 200 Boeing planes, China has not disclosed a specific figure. China is also set to purchase American engine parts after previous restrictions.

• Agricultural imports: China will increase imports of certain U.S. agricultural goods, including potential openings for more American poultry and beef.

• Ongoing negotiations: A new investment and trade council will be established to discuss reducing tariffs. China wants the U.S. to lift import barriers on Chinese dairy products and decorative plants like bonsai.

  Notable quote:
  "China's Commerce Ministry also says there will be a new investment and Trade council set up to discuss lowering tariffs and for potentially opening the China market up to more American poultry and beef."
  — Emily Fang, NPR Correspondent [00:45]

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2. U.S.-Nigerian Strike Kills ISIS Leader [01:05–02:03]

• Joint operation: Nigerian government confirms their forces participated in a U.S.-led operation that killed ISIS’s global second-in-command, Abu Bilah Al Minooki, in northeast Nigeria.

• Significance: Al Minooki was the highest ISIS commander in West Africa and had been labeled a "global terrorist" by the U.S. State Department in 2023.

• Aftermath: The operation follows previous U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria amidst concerns of attacks on Christians, and over 200 U.S. soldiers are currently assisting in training Nigerian forces.

  Notable quote:
  "Al Minuki was the most senior ISIS commander in West Africa and the Sahel, and the State Department branded him a specially designated global terrorist in 2023."
  — Joel Bright, NPR Correspondent [01:28]

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3. Virginia Redistricting Ruling [02:03–02:56]

• Supreme Court decision: The U.S. Supreme Court refused to let Virginia use a new congressional map that favored Democrats, ending state Democrats’ push to counteract President Trump’s redistricting efforts.

• Legal basis: The state's Supreme Court found Democrats failed to follow legal protocols when putting the new plan to voters.

• Political reactions: State Senate Republican leader Ryan McDougal sees this as a constitutional affirmation, while Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones views it as part of a partisan power shift.

  Notable quotes:

  • "It affirmed that the state constitution can't be violated." — Ryan McDougal, State Senate Republican Leader (paraphrased by Jad Khalil) [02:35]
  • "Part of an effort to, quote, tilt power away from the people for Trump's political gain." — Jay Jones, State Attorney General (as quoted by Jad Khalil) [02:43]

• Effect: Candidates for the proposed districts have suspended their campaigns.

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4. Venezuela Extradites Maduro Ally [02:56–03:49]

• Deportation details: Venezuela has deported Alex Saab, a close ally of President Nicolás Maduro, to face U.S. judicial proceedings.
• Background: Saab was previously pardoned by President Biden as part of a prisoner swap less than three years ago.
• Reason: U.S. prosecutors are investigating Saab's alleged involvement in a bribery conspiracy tied to Venezuelan government contracts for food imports.

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5. Bulgaria Wins Eurovision 2026 [03:49–04:35]

• Historic win: Dara, Bulgaria’s artist, secures the country’s first Eurovision victory in Vienna with the song "Bangaranga."
• Critical acclaim: NPR critic Glen Weldon described the winning song as “an insanely catchy bop” with “deep, profound, abiding grooviness.” [04:04]
• Controversy: Five countries (Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain) boycotted the contest over Israel’s participation in the aftermath of the Gaza conflict. Israel, after leading most of the competition, ultimately finished second.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S.-China trade & aviation deals: 00:00–01:05
• ISIS leader killed in Nigeria: 01:05–02:03
• Virginia redistricting decision: 02:03–02:56
• Venezuela extradites Alex Saab: 02:56–03:49
• Eurovision 2026 results: 03:49–04:35

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This NPR News Now episode efficiently captures pivotal global updates, ranging from international deals and counterterrorism efforts to domestic legal battles and cultural milestones, all in signature NPR clarity and tone.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. China has confirmed it will buy some US Planes, this after the country's two leaders met in Beijing earlier this week. And as NPR's Emily Fang reports, Beijing also says the two countries will increase some agricultural imports, too.

[B]

Beijing lavishly hosted Trump last Thursday and Friday, but so far the two countries have not announced any major trade or diplomatic agreements. Trump said China was going to buy 200 Boeing planes, but China has not confirmed the number. China also will get to buy American plane engine parts. Last year, the US had briefly banned those sales to China's state owned aerospace company comac, which has struggled to design their own engines. China's Commerce Ministry also says there will be a new investment and Trade council set up to discuss lowering tariffs and for potentially opening the China market up to more American poultry and beef. China said it wanted the US to lift trade barriers for their dairy products and plants like potted bonsai. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[A]

The Nigerian government says its armed forces took part in a U S led operation that killed the second in command of ISIS. NPR's Joel Bright reports the Islamist militant was hiding in Africa.

[C]

A spokesperson for the Nigerian military say ISIS global second in command Abu Bilah Al Minooki and several of his commanders were killed in a joint US Nigerian airstrike on his compound in northeast Nigeria. Al Minuki was the most senior ISIS commander in West Africa and the Sahel, and the State Department branded him a specially designated global terrorist in 2023. The operation comes several months after US forces carried out airstrikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria following claims by the Trump administration of targeted attacks on Christians. Since then, more than 200 US soldiers have been deployed to Nigeria to help train the local military in the fight against insurgents. Drew Bright, NPR News, Lagos.

[A]

Efforts by Virginia Democrats to counter President Trump's redistricting push appear to be over after the U.S. supreme Court refused to let the state use a new congressional map that favored Democrats. BPM News Jad Khalil has more.

[D]

Virginia's Supreme Court had ruled earlier this month that Democrats in the state didn't properly put a redistricting proposal before voters in an April special election violating the state's constitution. Democrats asked the U.S. supreme Court to pause that ruling while they put together an appeal, but the court denied that request. The top Republican in the State Senate, Ryan McDougal, said it affirmed that the state constitution can't be violated. State Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat, called the ruling part of an effort to, quote, tilt power away from the people for Trump's political gain. Candidates running in the proposed district also suspended their campaigns. For NPR News, I'm Jad Khalil in Richmond, Virginia.

[A]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Venezuela says it's deported a close ally of Nicolas Maduro to face judicial proceedings in the US this less than three years after the business owner, Alex Saab was pardoned by President Biden as part of a prisoner swap. In a statement, the Venezuelan government says its decision was based on ongoing criminal investigations in the US and the AP reports federal prosecutors have been investigating Saab' role in an alleged bribery conspiracy involving Venezuelan government contracts to import food. Bulgaria is the winner of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. NPR's Chloe Veldman reports. Artist Dara won the annual international singing extravaganza hosted this year in Vienna, Austria, amid major geopolitical rifts.

[E]

This is the first time Bulgaria has won Eurovision. Dara's banging Anthem Bangaranga bested 24 other nations for the glitzy, microphone shaped trophy at the finals in Vienna. In his appraisal of his 10 favorite Eurovision 2026 songs, NPR critic Glen Weldon called Bangaranga an insanely catchy bop and praised its deep, profound, abiding grooviness. Israel came in second after leading until the very last moment. Five countries Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain pulled out of this year's event in protest over the decision to allow Israel to participate following its conduct during the war in Gaza. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[A]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.