NPR News: 05-18-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of May 18, 2025 Episode

Release Date: May 18, 2025
Host: Dale Willman
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. Terrorist-Linked Explosion in Palm Springs, California

Timestamp: [00:19]
Reporter: Madison Almond (KVCR, San Bernardino)

An explosion outside the American Reproductive Center in downtown Palm Springs on Saturday has been classified as a potential act of terrorism by the FBI. The incident resulted in one fatality and four injuries.

• FBI Involvement:
  Akil Davis, Director of the Los Angeles FBI Field Office, stated, “We believe the clinic was targeted” ([00:36]). The FBI is actively working to identify the deceased and determine the exact origin of the explosion.

• Local Authorities' Response:
  Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills emphasized the severity of the blast, mentioning, “There are blocks of debris, and it'll take a meticulous effort to make sure that we get every piece of evidence so we understand very thoroughly what happened” ([00:58]).

• Impact on the Clinic:
  Dr. Maher Abdallah, director of the reproductive center, reassured the public via Facebook, stating, “None of the staff was hurt, and all eggs, embryos, and other reproductive material are safe and intact” ([01:07]).

This incident is currently being treated as an isolated event, with ongoing investigations to uncover further details.

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2. Maritime Accident: Mexican Navy Vessel Strikes Brooklyn Bridge

Timestamp: [01:25]
Reporter: Bridget Bergen (WNYC, New York)

A tragic accident occurred when a Mexican Navy vessel, part of a training cruise, struck the Brooklyn Bridge, leading to two deaths and 19 injuries.

• Details of the Incident:
  The collision happened shortly before 8:30 PM, causing the ship's masts to impact the bridge and subsequently topple over ([01:39]). Videos circulating on social media depicted the dramatic collision and the ship nearly crashing into the waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

• Response from Authorities:
  All lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge were temporarily closed to traffic. The Coast Guard suspended commercial activities in the vicinity to manage the situation. Fortunately, all 277 crew members aboard the Mexican Navy vessel were accounted for after the incident.

Efforts are underway to assess the damage and ensure the safety of the surrounding areas.

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3. Supreme Court Ruling on Immigration Policies and Trump's Response

Timestamp: [02:19]
Reporter: Jimena Bustillo (NPR)

The Supreme Court delivered a pivotal ruling against the Trump administration, challenging its use of the 1798 wartime law to expedite immigrant deportations without adequate due process.

• Court's Decision:
  The ruling emphasized that the U.S. Constitution requires due process for all immigrants, even those facing deportation ([02:19]).

• President Trump's Reaction:
  In a vehement social media post, Trump criticized the decision, stating, “The Supreme Court will not allow us to get criminals out of our country” ([02:45]). He further accused the court of forcing his administration into a “long, protracted and expensive legal process” to deport migrants, labeling the decision as a significant rebuke to his policies.

This development marks a significant judicial check on the executive branch's immigration enforcement strategies.

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4. Severe Storms Devastate the Midwest and South

Timestamp: [03:13]
Reporter: Dale Willman (NPR)

A series of powerful storms swept through the Midwest and Southern United States over the weekend, resulting in at least 18 fatalities in Kentucky, with 10 individuals in critical condition. Additional losses include seven deaths in Missouri and two in southern Virginia.

• Local Impact:
  The Mayor of St. Louis described the aftermath as “truly heartbreaking,” highlighting the extensive damage caused by the storms.

Efforts for rescue and recovery are ongoing, with communities grappling with the devastation left behind.

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5. Leadership Transition in the Anglican Communion

Timestamp: [03:46]
Reporter: Vicki Barker (London, NPR)

The Anglican Communion, including American Episcopalians, faces a leadership void following the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby in January. The church is in the process of selecting a new spiritual leader, with the prospect of making history by appointing the first woman to the position.

• Potential Leader:
  The Right Reverend Guli Francis de Cani, Bishop of Chelmsford and a refugee from Iran, is currently the favorite among British bookmakers. At 58 years old, her selection would make her the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first female to hold the role in its 1,400-year history ([03:46]).

Church leaders are reportedly engaged in a prayerful and carefully structured process to finalize the nomination, with the name to be submitted to the king for approval later this year.

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6. Preakness Stakes Results and Upcoming Belmont Stakes

Timestamp: [04:32]
Reporter: Dale Willman (NPR)

In the latest developments from the horse racing world:

• Preakness Stakes Outcome:
  The horse Journalism claimed victory in the Preakness Stakes held in Baltimore, finishing ahead of Gosker in second place and Sandman in third ([04:32]).

• Recent Derby Performance:
  Journalism had previously secured second place at the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier, where Sovereignty took first place.

• Future Events:
  Sovereignty opted out of participating in the Preakness Stakes to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, scheduled for June 7th in Saratoga Springs, New York.

These races continue to captivate racing enthusiasts, setting the stage for anticipated competitions in the coming weeks.

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NPR News Now provides concise updates on the most pressing news stories, ensuring listeners stay informed with accurate and timely information.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

LIVE from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. An explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, on Saturday is being investigated as an act of terrorism by the FBI, which is one person was killed and four others were injured. From member station KVCR in San Bernardino, Madison Almond reports.

[Madison Almond]

Akil Davis, who's the director of the Los Angeles FBI field office, says the bomb exploded outside the American Reproductive center in downtown Palm Springs. Davis says they believe the clinic was targeted. He says they're still working to identify the person who was killed and where the explosion originated. Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills says the blast reached several blocks in all directions.

[Andy Mills]

There are blocks of debris, and it'll take a meticulous effort to make sure that we get every piece of evidence so we understand very thoroughly what happened.

[Madison Almond]

Mills says this was an isolated incident. Dr. Maher Abdallah, who runs the reproductive center, said in a post on Facebook that none of the staff was hurt, and he says all eggs, embryos and other reproductive material are safe and intact. For NPR News, I'm Madison Ammon. In Palm Springs.

[Dale Willman]

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to launch an investigation after a tall masted ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge on 19 people were injured, including two people who were killed and two others who remain in serious condition. WNYC's Bridget Bergen has more.

[Bridget Bergen]

The boat hit the bridge shortly before 8:30pm According to police. All lanes on the bridge were briefly closed to traffic, and the Coast Guard says commercial activity in the area has been suspended. Videos posted on social media show the boats masts striking the bridge and toppling over. The ship then nearly careens into the waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Officials say the ship, which had 277 crew members, is a Mexican Navy vessel that arrived in New York last week, is part of a training cruise. The Coast Guard said all personnel had been accounted for. For NPR News, I'm Bridget Bergen in New York.

[Dale Willman]

The Supreme Court Friday ruled against the Trump administration when it ordered lower courts to decide how much time immigrants must be given to challenge their removal from the country. President Trump has been a 1798 wartime law as justification for rapid deportations, but the court said the Constitution requires due process, even for immigrants. NPR's Jimena Bustillo says Trump responded to the ruling by blasting the courts in.

[Jimena Bustillo]

A post to his social media site, Trump said, quote, the Supreme Court will not allow us to get criminals out of our country, end quote. And one of the biggest, strongest rebukes of the Supreme Court. Specifically, Trump explicitly said that he believes that the court is not allowing him to do what he was elected to do. On immigration, he complained that the court is forcing his administration to go through what he called a long, protracted and expensive legal process to deport migrants in the country.

[Dale Willman]

That's NPR's Hermann Bustillo. And you're listening to NPR News. A series of storms hit the Midwest and South this weekend in Kentucky. At least 18 people were killed by storms and another 10 are listed in critical condition. Seven people, meanwhile, were killed in Missouri and two others died because of storms in southern Virginia. The mayor of St. Louis called the devastation there truly heartbreaking. The worldwide Anglican Communion, including American Episcopalians, have been without a spiritual leader since January. As Vicki Barker reports from London, the perceived frontrunner could make history if chosen.

[Vicki Barker]

The last archbishop, Justin Welby, stepped down over his handling of the case of a pedophile priest as part of what the Church of England website calls a prayerful and carefully structured process. Church leaders have begun considering just whose name will later this year be passed passed on to the king for his approval as titular head of the church. British bookies already have a favorite, the Right Reverend Guli Francis de Cani, the bishop of Chelmsford who came to the UK as a refugee from Iran. If chosen, the 58 year old would become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman in the job's 1400 year history. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

[Dale Willman]

Heavy favorite Journalism won the Preakness Stakes Saturday in Baltimore. Gosker finished in second while Sandman captured third place. Journalism finished in second at the Kentucky Derby just two weeks ago where Sovereignty won the Roses. Sovereignty skipped the Preakness to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, which will be held on June 7th in Saratoga Springs, New York. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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