NPR News: 05-17-2026 2AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 17, 2026, 2AM EDT

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update covers major national and international stories: a pivotal Senate primary in Louisiana, a major voting rights rally in Alabama, Cuba’s deepening energy crisis, shake-ups at the Food and Drug Administration, upcoming changes to California’s food assistance program, as well as notable sports and cultural headlines from the Preakness Stakes and Eurovision Song Contest.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Louisiana Senate Primary: Bill Cassidy Ousted

• Segment Start: 00:24

• Key Details:

  • Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican, lost his primary bid for a third term.
  • Cassidy finished third behind Julia Letlow (endorsed by Donald Trump) and John Fleming.
  • The runoff is set for next month between Letlow and Fleming.

• Context:

  • Cassidy faced backlash from state Republicans after voting to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial.

• Notable Quote:
  “And when you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. But you don’t pout, you don’t whine. You don’t claim the election was stolen.”
  — Bill Cassidy (as quoted by Dale Willman), [00:58]

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2. Voting Rights Rally in Alabama

• Segment Start: 01:16
• Key Details:
  • Thousands gathered in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday.
  • The rally aimed to mobilize support for voting rights as Republican-led redistricting efforts intensify.
  • Event response to the Supreme Court's recent decision weakening the Voting Rights Act.

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3. Cuba’s Energy Crisis Intensifies

• Segment Start: 01:44

• Key Details:

  • Cuba is experiencing rolling blackouts and energy shortages pushing the country toward collapse.
  • The U.S.-backed ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January disrupted Cuba’s primary oil supply.
  • The Cuban government announced no more fuel is available for cars, farming, or power generation.
  • Expatriates, like Senaida Peraza in Miami, are struggling to support families back home as food spoils.

• Notable Quote:
  “It’s a horrible situation. It includes my daughter and grandson. There’s no power, no water. We’re desperate here and don’t know what to do.”
  — Senaida Peraza (via Kevan Antonio Haidari), [01:44]

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4. FDA Leadership in Turmoil

• Segment Start: 02:30
• Key Details:
  • Tracy Beth Hogue, acting head of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, posted on X she was fired after six months.
  • She was previously a vocal critic of COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Her exit follows recent resignations: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and the head of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Vinay Prasad.
  • Leaves three top FDA roles vacant.
  • HHS did not comment.

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5. Changes to California’s Food Assistance Program (CalFresh)

• Segment Start: 03:19

• Key Details:

  • New work requirements (20 hours/week) for some CalFresh recipients could lead to loss of benefits.
  • Changes take effect June 1.
  • Counties, like San Mateo, are holding weekend events to inform and assist recipients.

• Notable Quote:
  “It sure is confusing. They need clarification to these rules. If they need to submit documents, if they need to update their contact information, we are here for them outside of normal business hours.”
  — Romel Silva, San Mateo County Human Services, [03:58]

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6. Sports and Culture Headlines

• Segment Start: 04:24

• Preakness Stakes:

  • Napoleon Solo wins the 151st running; it's trainer Chad Summers’s first Triple Crown victory.
  • Favorite Taj Mahal faded to tenth.

• Eurovision Song Contest:

  • Bulgarian singer Dara wins with “Bangaranga” in Vienna, marking Bulgaria’s first Eurovision victory.
  • Dara’s song was popular with both judges and the public.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Democracy & Defeat:
  “You don’t pout, you don’t whine. You don’t claim the election was stolen.”
  — Sen. Bill Cassidy ([00:58])

• Personal Struggles Amid Cuba’s Crisis:
  “It’s a horrible situation. It includes my daughter and grandson... We’re desperate here and don’t know what to do.”
  — Senaida Peraza ([01:44])

• Community Outreach in Policy Change:
  “We are here for them outside of normal business hours.”
  — Romel Silva ([03:58])

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Additional Notes

• FDA Turnover: Ongoing leadership instability at the FDA could impact federal drug regulation and public health oversight.
• Voting Rights Context: The Alabama rally underscores heightened concerns over the erosion of federal voting protections amid state-led redistricting.
• Global Tensions: Developments in Cuba highlight the far-reaching ripple effects of U.S. foreign policy interventions in the region.
• Upcoming Policy Deadlines: CalFresh recipients in California should be alert for the June 1st deadline.

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End of Summary

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy has lost his bid for a third term in the U.S. senate as the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hack Hawkins reports. Cassidy had faced backlash from many Republicans in the state after voting to convict President Donald Trump during Trump's second impeachment trial.

[Drew Hawkins]

Cassidy finished third in Saturday's Republican primary behind Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who was endorsed by President Trump, and State Treasurer John Fleming. They now advance to a runoff next month. In his concession speech, Cassidy referenced Trump's repeated false claims about the 2020 election

[Dale Willman]

and when you participate in democracy, sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you want it to. But you don't pout, you don't whine. You don't claim the election was stolen.

[Drew Hawkins]

Cassidy thanked voters for what he called the privilege of serving Louisiana. For NPR News, I'm Drew Hawkins in New Orleans.

[Dale Willman]

Thousands of people gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday to mobilize support for voting rights as concerns increase over Republican redistricting efforts. The rally was in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights act and led to a new push for redistricting in Republican led states. In Cuba, continued blackouts are pushing the country toward an energy collapse. As K. Van Antonio Hidari reports, Cubans both on the island and in Florida are becoming desperate.

[Kevan Antonio Haidari]

Cuba's energy situation has become extreme. The ouster of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro by the US In January disrupted Cuba's main supply of oil from Miami. Senaida Peraza sends food to her family in Havana. With the blackouts, communication is spotty and the food she sends them is rotting. It's a horrible situation. It includes my daughter and grandson. There's no power, no water. We're desperate here and don't know what to do. Cuba's energy minister recently announced the island had no more fuel for cars, farming or power generation. The last shipment was a Russian tanker that arrived in March. For NPR News, I'm Kevan Antonio Haidari in Miami.

[Dale Willman]

The head of the Food and Drug Administration center that deals with drug approvals and regulation has posted on Social media that she's been fired. NPR's Sydney Lupkin has our reports.

[Sydney Lupkin]

Tracy. Beth Hogue says she's no longer the acting head of the FDA's center for Drug Evaluation and Research. In a post on X, she said she was fired after six months on the job. Hogue had been vocally critical of COVID 19 vaccines prior to joining the agency. Her exit comes just days after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned from his job. The head of the agency's center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Vinay Prasad, also resigned earlier this year. That leaves three top roles at the FDA without permanent leaders. The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to NPR's request for comment. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. In California, local county officials are working overtime to get the word out about upcoming changes to California's food assistance program. Billy Cruz from member station KQED explains

[Billy Cruz]

new changes include new work requirements of at least 20 hours a week for some CalFresh recipients. That could kick some people off the program. The changes are set to go into effect on June 1st. Romel Silva is a human services supervisor with San Mateo County. The county has been hosting events on Saturdays to inform recipients about the changes.

[Kevan Antonio Haidari]

It sure is confusing. They need clarification to these rules. If they need to submit documents, if they need to update their contact information, we are here for them outside of normal business hours.

[Billy Cruz]

Over five and a half million are estimated to be enrolled in CalFresh in California, according to the California association of Food Banks. For NPR News, I'm Billy Cruz and Sam Mateo.

[Dale Willman]

Napoleon Solo held off Iron Honor in the stretch to win the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes Saturday. It was his first win of the year and follows a pair of fifth place finishes. The win gave trainer Chad Summers his first triple crown victory. 92 favorite and local horse Taj Mahal set the pace for much of the race but faded to finish 10th. Bulgarian singer Dara's infectious party anthem Bangaranga won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest Saturday. Dara beat 24 other competitors during the grand final in Vienna. The song was a hit with both judges and viewers, and it gave Bulgaria its first ever Eurovision victory. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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