NPR News: 05-17-2026 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Podcast: NPR News Now
Date: May 17, 2026
Host: Windsor Johnston
Episode Title: NPR News: 05-17-2026 5AM EDT
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers concise updates on major news stories as of May 17, 2026. Key topics include political shifts in Louisiana, national rallies for voting rights, an international criminal deportation, sports updates from the PGA Championship, ongoing labor disputes on the Long Island Railroad, and a science segue about drugs in waterways. Each segment is covered by NPR correspondents with direct reporting from the field.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Louisiana Senate Race

Timestamps: 00:33 – 01:27

• Senator Bill Cassidy Loses Reelection Bid:
  • Republican Senator Cassidy finished third in the Republican primary, behind Julia Letlow (endorsed by Donald Trump) and John Fleming.
  • Cassidy's loss follows backlash from his party for voting to convict Trump in the second impeachment trial.
• Cassidy’s Concession Speech:
  • "[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, 01:09
• Next Steps:
  • Letlow and Fleming advance to a runoff next month.
  • Cassidy thanked Louisiana voters for "the privilege of serving."

2. Voting Rights Rallies in Alabama

Timestamps: 01:27 – 02:27

• Demonstrations Sparked by Supreme Court Decision:
  • Recent Supreme Court ruling weakened portions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  • National Day of Action began at historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma.
• Congresswoman Terri Sewell’s Statement:
  • Framed the movement as both political and moral:
  • “It was rooted in the belief that every child of God deserves dignity, equality and a voice in this democracy. And today, that moral witness is indeed needed again.” – Rep. Terri Sewell quoted by Elise Craig, 01:43
• Historical Context:
  • Ceremony and march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, site of the 1965 “Bloody Sunday.”

3. Venezuela Extradites Alex Saab

Timestamps: 02:27 – 03:28

• Who is Alex Saab?
  • Former official and close ally of ex-President Nicolas Maduro.
  • Accused of laundering up to $350 million via government contracts.
• US–Venezuela Dynamics:
  • US prosecutors allege Saab laundered money through housing and food programs while in government.
  • Previously held in US prison, pardoned by President Biden, exchanged in a prisoner swap in 2023.
  • Potential witness in Maduro’s upcoming US drug trafficking trial.
• Venezuelan Authority’s Comment:
  • Crimes described as "public, notorious and widely reported." – Venezuelan migration agency, 02:49

4. PGA Championship Update

Timestamps: 03:28 – 04:33

• Alex Smalley’s First Lead:
  • 29-year-old Alex Smalley leads by two shots into PGA Championship's final round.
  • Smalley uniquely shot under par for three rounds.
• Personal Anecdote:
  • "My parents and I have been joking that maybe this would be a tournament that I would win just because of that kind of fact." – Alex Smalley, recalling that he lived in Duke University’s ‘Wanamaker’ dorm, 04:06
• Rory McIlroy in Contention:
  • Current Masters champion only three shots behind.

5. Long Island Railroad Strike

Timestamps: 04:33 – 05:10

• Current Labor Dispute:
  • Ongoing strike has shut down the nation’s largest commuter rail system.
  • Limited shuttle bus service between Long Island and NYC subway stations.
  • Governor Kathy Hochul urges commuters to work from home.
  • Major disruptions anticipated for hundreds of thousands of riders as work week approaches.

6. Science Teaser – Drugs in Waterways

Timestamps: 05:10 – 05:29

• Drugs in Aquatic Ecosystems:
  • Increasing detection of illicit drugs like cocaine in rivers and streams.
  • “It’s definitely present in most ecosystems on Earth now, unfortunately. We’re only sort of really starting to scratch the surface into understanding the potential consequences of that.” – Science segment guest, 05:21
• Short Wave Podcast Plug:
  • “Forget cocaine bear, learn about cocaine salmon…” – Elise Craig, 05:29

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Bill Cassidy (Senator, R-LA):
  "But you don't pout, you don't whine. You don't claim the election was stolen." (01:09)

• Rep. Terri Sewell:
  "The fight for voting rights [is] not just a political movement, but a moral one... today, that moral witness is indeed needed again." (01:43)

• Science Segment Guest (on waterway pollution):
  "It's definitely present in most ecosystems on Earth now, unfortunately. We're only sort of really starting to scratch the surface…" (05:21)

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Noteworthy Segments and Timestamps

• 00:33 – Lead: Bill Cassidy loses Louisiana Senate primary
• 01:27 – Voting Rights rallies in Alabama
• 02:27 – Venezuela sends Alex Saab to US for trial
• 03:28 – Alex Smalley leads PGA Championship
• 04:33 – Long Island Railroad strike continues
• 05:10 – Drugs detected in waterways, science teaser

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Tone and Language

The reporting is concise, matter-of-fact, and journalistic. The few direct quotes preserve the distinct tone of the individuals featured, such as the frankness of Sen. Cassidy and the conviction in Rep. Sewell’s remarks.

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This episode provides brief, authoritative updates on significant national and international events for listeners needing timely news in a five-minute format.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

In Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has lost his bid for a third term in the U.S. senate. The Republican had faced ongoing backlash from his party after voting to convict President Trump during his second impeachment trial. Drew Hawkins from the Gulf States Newsroom

[Drew Hawkins]

reports 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

[Greg Eklund]

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.

[Windsor Johnston]

Voters from across the country are gathering in Alabama this weekend for rallies supporting voting rights protections. Elise Craig of the Gulf States Newsroom reports. The demonstrations come after a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened parts of the Voting Rights act of 1965.

[Elise Craig]

The National Day of Action for Voting Rights began with prayer and worship at the historical Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma. From the pulpit, Congresswoman Terry Sowell, representing Alabama's 7th District, called the fight for voting rights not just a political movement, but a moral one. It was rooted in the belief that every child of God deserves dignity, equality and a voice in this democracy. And today, that moral witness is indeed needed again. The service was followed by a march across the Edmund Pettus bridge, where in 1965 peaceful voting rights marchers were violently attacked by police and state troopers. For NPR News, I'm Elise Gregg in Selma, Alabama.

[Windsor Johnston]

Venezuela says it's sending a former government official and close ally of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro to the United States to stand trial. The US Is accusing wealthy businessman Alex Saab of laundering hundreds of millions of dollars through government contracts and through his close ties with the former president. NPR's Carrie Khan reports.

[Carrie Khan]

Venezuela's migration agency said Saab's deportation was in response to his crimes that are, quote, public, notorious and widely reported. Saab is Colombian but held top posts in Nicolas Maduro's government, including minister of Industry, where US prosecutors say he laundered up to $350 million through Housing and food programs. He was recently held in a US Prison until pardoned by former President Biden and sent back to Venezuela in a prisoner swap in 2023. It's believed Saab could be a witness in Maduro's pending U.S. drug trafficking trial. Carrie Conn, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR. For the first time in his PGA Tour career, 29 year old Alex Smalley holds sole possession of the lead going into the final round. Today, Smalley is leading by two shots over a group of five second place golfers at the PGA Championship. Greg Eklund reports from suburban Philadelphia.

[Greg Eklund]

Alex smalley shot a 2 under par 68, capped by this birdie putt. The winner of the PGA Championship will be awarded the Wanamaker Trophy. Smalley recalled his college days at Duke University when he lived in the Wanamaker dorm.

[Drew Hawkins]

My parents and I have been joking that maybe this would be a tournament that I would win just because of that kind of fact.

[Greg Eklund]

Smalley, seeking his first professional win, is the only golfer in the field to shoot under par rounds in each the first three days. Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is only three shots off the lead. For NPR News, I'm Greg Ackland in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

[Windsor Johnston]

The strike is continuing on the Long Island Railroad after contract talks between transit officials and union leaders failed to produce a deal. The nation's largest commuter rail system shut down early Saturday after thousands of workers walked off the job. The MTA says limited shuttle bus service is running between Long island and New York City subway stations. Governor Kathy Hochul is urging commuters to work from home if possible, while negotiations. Transit officials warn the disruption could impact hundreds of thousands of riders heading into the work week. This is NPR News.

[Elise Craig]

We flush a lot of things down the toilet, you know, the obvious ones, but drugs like cocaine are also going down the drain and into our waterways. That's changing the animals that live in it.

[Kachava Advertiser]

It's definitely present in most ecosystems on Earth. Now, unfortunately, we're only sort of really starting to scratch the surface into understanding the potential consequences of that.

[Elise Craig]

Forget cocaine bear, learn about cocaine salmon on short wave in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.