NPR News: 05-17-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now Summary

Episode: NPR News: 05-17-2025 8PM EDT
Release Date: May 18, 2025
Host: Jeanine Herbst
Source: NPR

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Violent Incident in Palm Springs, California

Timestamp: [00:16]

Jeanine Herbst opens the broadcast with a report on a tragic car explosion near a Palm Springs fertility clinic, which resulted in the death of one individual. Steve Futterman provides detailed coverage:

“The explosion damaged the clinic along with several other nearby buildings. The Palm Springs fire chief says the blast appears to be an intentional act of violence” (00:31).

Authorities remain uncertain about the victim's connection to the blast. The FBI has mobilized bomb technicians and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to investigate the incident. The targeted clinic is noted as the area's first and only full-service fertility center, offering services like in vitro fertilization and egg freezing. Steve Futterman concludes:

“For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles” (02:08).

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Severe Storms and Tornadoes Devastate Kentucky and Missouri

Timestamps: [01:19] – [03:08]

Extreme weather conditions struck Kentucky and Missouri, claiming at least 25 lives. Stan Ingold reports from Richmond, Kentucky:

“Governor Andy Beshear says he has spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and officials with FEMA and that they have vowed to help” (01:32).

Governor Beshear has requested a federal disaster declaration to facilitate aid. He emphasizes cooperation over politics in disaster response:

“For the two events that we've already had this year, we've seen a White House and a FEMA organization that has performed well, and it's done what we've asked” (01:50).

FEMA officials are actively assisting with ongoing flooding and disaster relief. This event marks the third major natural disaster in Kentucky this year. Additionally, at least seven fatalities have been reported in Missouri due to the same severe storms.

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President Trump's Planned Discussions with Putin and Zelensky

Timestamps: [02:08] – [03:08]

Amidst the backdrop of severe weather disasters, President Trump announces his intention to engage in high-stakes diplomatic talks:

“I will talk to Putin by phone at 10am Monday, then talk to Zelensky and quote, various members of NATO” (02:27).

This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped recent peace talks with Ukraine and Turkey concerning the ongoing conflict sparked by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Despite previous claims by Trump about brokering a peace deal swiftly after taking office, the conflict persists. Trump reiterates his desire for peace, especially after Russia's recent military actions:

“Vladimir stop” (03:08).

Daniel Kurtzleben of NPR provides further context on the strained peace efforts and Trump's role in them.

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Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and Desegregation Concerns

Timestamps: [03:08] – [04:21]

Marking the 71st anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, civil rights leaders express deep concerns over the current trajectory of desegregation in American schools. Sandhya Dirks reports:

“The Justice Department has already dismissed a desegregation order in a school district in Louisiana. Civil rights leaders worry more could follow” (03:33).

Janay Nelson, head of the Legal Defense Fund, warns:

“Our public school system has never been fully desegregated, which means that we've never fully tapped into the promise of Brown” (03:49).

Studies indicate that public schools are more segregated today than in the 1980s, exacerbated by recent administrative actions. The Trump administration and Louisiana Republicans argue that desegregation orders are obsolete and impose unnecessary burdens on school districts. Nelson counters that ending enforcement would render the Brown decision toothless, undermining decades of civil rights advancements.

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Preakness Stakes concludes without a Triple Crown Winner

Timestamp: [04:21] – [04:56]

In sports news, Journalism won the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, securing the second leg of the Triple Crown with odds of 6 to 5. The race saw Gosger finish second and Sandman in third place. Notably, there is no Triple Crown winner this year as the Kentucky Derby victor, Sovereignty, did not participate in the Preakness.

Jeanine Herbst also notes that this edition marks the final Preakness at Pimlico before renovations commence, expected to last about two years. During this period, the Preakness will temporarily move to nearby Laurel Park in Maryland.

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Other Highlights

• Entertainment: JJ from Austria clinched victory at Eurovision 2025.
• Historical Note: Recognition of the Brown v. Board of Education decision's anniversary underscores ongoing civil rights challenges.

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This summary provides an overview of the key discussions and reports from the NPR News Now episode released on May 18, 2025. For complete details, listening to the full episode is recommended.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In California, federal and local officials are investigating a car explosion near a Palm Springs fertility clinic that's killed one person. Steve Futterman has more.

[Steve Futterman]

The explosion damaged the clinic along with several other nearby buildings. The Palm Springs fire chief says the blast appears to be an intentional act of violence, according to the mayor. It's unclear if the person killed was connected to the blast. The U.S. attorney who represents the Palm Springs area says the FBI is on the scene and investigating whether the explosion was deliberate. The FBI has deployed bomb technicians to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is also sending agents to Palm Springs. On its website, the clinic describes itself as the area's first and only full service fertility center. Its services include in vitro fertilization and egg freezing. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los angeles.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At least 18 people are dead in Kentucky after severe storms and tornadoes last night. As Stan Ingold with member station WEKU reports, officials that number to continue to climb.

[Stan Ingold]

Governor Andy Beshear says he has spoken with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and officials with FEMA and that they have vowed to help. He's also made an official request for a federal disaster declaration. Bashir, a Democrat who has often butted heads with the Trump administration, says politics have no place in natural disasters like this one.

[Governor Andy Beshear]

For the two events that we've already had this year, we've seen a White House and a FEMA organization that has performed well, and it's done what we've asked.

[Stan Ingold]

FEMA officials are already on the ground helping with flooding disasters. This is the third major natural disaster to hit Kentucky this year. For NPR News, I'm Stan Ingold in Richmond, Kentucky.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And at least seven people are dead in Missouri from those storms. President Trump says he'll talk with Russian President Putin Monday morning, to be followed by a call with Ukrainian President Zelensky this days after Putin skipped peace talks with Ukraine and Turkey. NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben and has more.

[Daniel Kurtzleben]

In a social media post, Trump said that he will talk to Putin by phone at 10am Monday, then talk to Zelensky and quote, various members of NATO. This past week, Ukrainian and Russian officials met in Turkey for their first direct peace talk since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Zelenskyy had called for Putin to attend, but the Russian president did not go on the campaign trail last year, Trump repeatedly said he would broker a peace deal between the two countries within 24 hours of taking office. Fighting has continued instead, and Trump has talked about wanting peace. After Russia sent missiles and drones to Ukraine in April, Trump posted on social media Vladimir stop. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And JJ of Austria won Eurovision 2025 this year. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. It's the 71st anniversary of Brown v. The Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that required the desegregation of public schools. But civil rights leaders warn that the country is on the verge of ending desegregation enforcement. And peer Sandhya Dierks has more.

[Sandhya Dirks]

The Justice Department has already dismissed a desegregation order in a school district in Louisiana. Civil rights leaders worry more could follow. Janay Nelson, head of the Legal Defense Fund, says ending enforcement of Brown would render the ruling toothless.

[Janay Nelson]

Our public school system has never been.

[Sandhya Dirks]

Fully desegregated, which means that we've never.

[Janay Nelson]

Fully tapped into the promise of Brown.

[Sandhya Dirks]

Studies show that overall, public schools are more segregated today than they were in the 1980s, and Nelson fears that the administration's actions will make it far worse. But the Trump administration and Louisiana Republicans say the orders are no longer needed and that they bogged down districts in paperwork and legal fees. Sandhya Dirks, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Journalism won the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, the second leg of the Triple Crown. The horse entered with 6 to 5 odds to take the $1.2 million prize. Gosger finished second and Sandman finished third. There is no Triple Crown winner this year because Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty didn't race today. This is the final Preakness at that race course before renovations started the track and are expected to take about two years. In the meantime, the Preakness will be held at nearby Laurel park in Mary. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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