NPR News: 05-17-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 17, 2025, 9 AM EDT – Detailed Summary

On the May 17, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, listeners were presented with a comprehensive roundup of the day's most pressing news stories. Hosted by NPR, the five-minute broadcast delved into severe weather events in Kentucky and Missouri, political developments in Washington, Iran's nuclear negotiations, espionage cases in the UK, and updates on the upcoming Los Angeles Summer Olympics. The summary below captures the key points, notable quotes, and essential insights from each segment.

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Severe Storms and Tornadoes in Kentucky and St. Louis

Timestamp: 00:18 – 02:46

The episode opened with a report on the devastating severe storms that struck Kentucky, leading to fatalities and widespread destruction. Jael Snyder introduced the segment, highlighting the intensity of the weather conditions.

Kentucky’s Struggle with Severe Weather:

• Karen Zarr, reporting from Lexington, described the recent severe storms that followed deadly flooding, bringing high winds, torrential rain, and golf ball-sized hail.
• Mayor Alan Keck of Somerset provided a firsthand account, stating, “Damage and it's a really scary time for our community” (00:51). He detailed the tornado's path, noting how it “touched down, lifted off the ground and briefly hit again, creating a swath of crumpled buildings, vehicles and trees” (00:54).
• The region continues to grapple with the aftermath, including the risk of flash flooding.

Impact on St. Louis:

• Giles Snyder transitioned the report to St. Louis, where search efforts are underway to find those affected by the storms.
• Dennis Jenkerson, St. Louis Fire Chief, shared that they have “mapped the path of the tornado” and gained a “very good idea of the path it took and the destruction that came after” (01:27).
• The tornado caused extensive damage, with over 5,000 homes affected and five confirmed fatalities.

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Political Developments in Washington

Timestamp: 02:46 – 04:14

The focus shifted to political news, highlighting President Trump's return from the Middle East and the ongoing budget negotiations in Congress.

President Trump's Budget Initiative:

• Tamara Keith reported on the Republican efforts to advance President Trump's budget package, known as the Big Beautiful Bill, despite previous setbacks in the budget committee.
• Press Secretary Caroline Levitt emphasized the administration's commitment, stating the White House will “continue to have conversations over the weekend to strongly urge House Republicans to support the bill” (02:04).
• The bill encompasses significant tax cuts and spending reductions, including cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs. President Trump previously called for party unity, declaring, “We don't need grandstanders in the Republican Party” (02:46).

Investigation of Former FBI Director James Comey:

• Tamara Keith also reported on the investigation into former FBI Director James Comey by the Secret Service.
• Comey was interviewed regarding a social media post alleged to incite violence against President Trump. He removed the post and maintained that “violence never occurred to him” (02:46).

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International Relations and Espionage Cases

Timestamp: 02:46 – 04:52

The news segment touched upon Iran's stance on nuclear negotiations and a significant espionage case in the United Kingdom.

Iran and Nuclear Talks:

• Iran's President Mohammad Pezhayan asserted that Iran would continue negotiations with the US over its nuclear program but would not succumb to threats. In a speech in Tehran, he stated, “Iran will not back down from its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes” (02:46).
• This comes after President Trump warned Iran to act swiftly or face unspecified consequences.

Espionage Charges in the UK:

• Three Iranian men appeared in a British courtroom charged with spying on behalf of Iran. They are part of a broader investigation that led to the arrest of eight individuals, predominantly Iranian nationals, by British counterterrorism police earlier in the month.

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Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics and the Future of Transportation

Timestamp: 04:14 – 04:52

The episode concluded with an intriguing look at the transportation plans for the upcoming Los Angeles Summer Olympics and the practicality of flying vehicles.

Flying Vehicles at the Olympics:

• Brandon R. Reynolds, reporting from Los Angeles, discussed plans to deploy a fleet of electric air taxis to shuttle VIPs and fans during the 2028 Olympics.
• Despite the futuristic vision, UCLA Urban Planning Professor Michael Manville expressed skepticism, noting that the initiative “would represent a real convenience and value for a small number of people” but would “be a drop in the bucket” towards achieving a car-free Olympic environment (04:28).
• Manville suggested more conventional solutions, such as encouraging remote work, could be more effective in alleviating traffic concerns (04:43).

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Conclusion

The May 17, 2025, episode of NPR News Now provided a succinct yet comprehensive overview of significant events affecting various regions and sectors. From the immediate impacts of severe weather in Kentucky and St. Louis to the intricate dynamics of political maneuvering in Washington, international diplomacy with Iran, espionage in the UK, and innovative yet practical considerations for the Los Angeles Olympics, the broadcast ensured listeners were well-informed on the critical issues of the day.

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For more detailed reports and ongoing coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into subsequent broadcasts or visit NPR's official platforms.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

In Washington, I'm Jael Snyder. Severe storms overnight spun off reported tornadoes leading to fatalities and widespread damage in Kentucky. Karen Zarr reports from member station WUKY in Lexington.

[Karen Zarr]

Just weeks ago, Kentucky was hit with deadly flooding. Today, the state is reeling from more destructive weather, high winds, torrential rain and golf ball sized hail. In Somerset, Mayor Alan Keck surveyed the destruction in the dark of night.

[NPR Sponsor]

A lot of structures took on significant.

[Alan Keck]

Damage and it's a really scary time for our community.

[Karen Zarr]

Keck said it looked as if a tornado touched down, lifted off the ground and briefly hit again, creating a swath of crumpled buildings, vehicles and trees. The storms have since passed, but areas of Kentucky dealt with the risk of flash flooding in their wake. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Lexington.

[Giles Snyder]

In St. Louis, searchers have been going building to building looking for people who may have been trapped or hurt following those severe storms that included at least one tornado yesterday. Dennis Jenkerson is the fire chief in St. Louis.

[Dennis Jenkerson]

We have at this time mapped the path of the tornado. We've got a very good idea of the path it took and the destruction that came after.

[Giles Snyder]

St. Louis officials say more than 5,000 homes were damaged by a powerful tornado that ripped through the city during the afternoon rush hour yesterday. They confirmed five people were killed. President Trump back at the White House from his trip to the Middle East. He returned last night as Republicans on the House Budget Committee plan to try again tomorrow night to advance his budget package called the Big Beautiful Bill. That bill hit a rope block in the budget committee yesterday. NPR's Tamara Keith has reaction from the White House.

[Tamara Keith]

Fiscal conservatives on this key committee are balking at the bill, but this isn't the end of the story. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said the White House will continue to have conversations over the weekend to strongly urge House Republicans to support the bill, describing it as a generational opportunity. Levitt added that the White House expects all Republicans to vote for this bill. This bill is the main legislative vehicle for President Trump's agenda, including big tax cuts and cuts to spending on programs, including Medicaid and food assistance for the poor. In an earlier social media post, Trump demanded unity and said, quote, we don't need grandstanders in the Republican Party.

[Giles Snyder]

Tamara Keith, NPR News, former FBI Director James Comey is being investigated by the Secret Service. The Homeland Security Department says Comey has been interviewed about a social media post that Republicans say was meant to incite violence against President Trump. Comey took the post down, and he says violence never occurred to him. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. Iran's president says his country will continue talks with the US over the country's nuclear program. But in a speech in Tehran today, President Mosud Pezechian says Iran will not respond to President Trump's threats. Trump said yesterday that Iran needed to move quickly or something bad will happen. Pazechian says Iran will not back down from what he called Iran's right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Three Iranian men appeared in a British courtroom today charged with spying on behalf of Iran. They're among the eight people arrested in two separate investigations by British counterterrorism police earlier this month. Seven are Iranian nationals. When the Summer Olympics return to Los Angeles in 2028, futuristic vehicles will be flying around. A fleet of helicopter will shuttle VIPs and fans around the city. But reporter Brandon R. Reynolds, a member of station kcrw, reports that a future of flying cars is not quite here yet.

[NPR Sponsor]

When the LA Olympics Committee announced a partnership with Archer Aviation to deploy electric air taxis in 2028, it might have seemed like part of the city's goal for a car free Olympics. But UCLA urban planning professor Michael Manville says it's not exactly a wide scale.

[Michael Manville]

Solution, and it would represent a real convenience and value for a small number of people who wanted to move around quickly during the Olympics. I mean, it would be probably an exaggeration to even call it a drop in the bucket in terms of this goal of having a car free Olympics.

[NPR Sponsor]

Manville says one solution to the traffic is less futuristic for the city to just encourage people to work from home. For NPR News, I'm Brandon R. Reynolds in Los Angeles.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

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