NPR News: 05-18-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

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

NPR’s "News Now" podcast delivered a comprehensive update on May 18, 2025, covering a range of significant events from international incidents to local developments in the United States. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for clarity.

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1. Collision of Mexican Navy Ship with Brooklyn Bridge

[00:14]
Host Giles Snyder reported a maritime accident in New York City where a Mexican Navy sailing ship collided with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. The incident occurred last night, resulting in the shearing off of the top of the ship's three masts.

Key Details:

• Ship Involved: Quatimook, a Mexican sailing vessel.
• Casualties: Two crew members killed; 19 onboard required medical attention.
• Statistics: The ship's masts were 147 feet high, exceeding the bridge's clearance of 127 feet.
• Current Status: An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.

[00:37]
Reporter Bruce Konviser provided further insights, noting that the ship had over 275 crew members aboard at the time of the accident. Initial reports suggest a mechanical issue may have caused the ship to lose power, though officials have stated that the exact cause remains unclear.

2. Terrorist Attack in Palm Springs

[01:04]
Giles Snyder shifted focus to a tragic event in Palm Springs, California, where a car explosion near a fertility clinic was declared an intentional act of terrorism by the FBI.

Key Details:

• Casualties: The suspected perpetrator is believed to have died in the blast.
• Investigation: Authorities are not seeking any additional suspects at this time.

3. President Trump Criticizes Walmart Over Tariffs

[01:04] & [01:37]
The discussion transitioned to President Donald Trump's recent comments regarding Walmart's pricing strategies in the wake of increased costs due to tariffs.

Key Details:

• Trump’s Statement: In a post on Truth Social, he asserted, "Walmart made billions of dollars last year and should not charge valued customers anything."
• Walmart's Position: Executives have indicated that tariffs may lead to higher prices on shelves in the coming months.
• Economic Context: Despite Trump’s optimism about tariffs benefiting American manufacturing, stock markets remain volatile, and economic experts express concerns about a potential recession.

Quote:

[01:37] President Trump: "Walmart should not charge valued customers anything."

4. Installation of Pope Leo XIV

[02:17]
In Vatican news, Tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square to witness the formal installation of Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the Catholic Church.

Key Details:

• Ceremony: Included the inaugural Mass and the presentation of traditional symbols of the papacy, the Paulinum vestment and the fisherman's ring.
• Notable Attendees: Vice President J.D. Vance led the U.S. delegation and was among the last foreign officials to meet Pope Francis before his passing.

5. Escalation of Conflict in Gaza

[02:17]
The host addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation and the latest military developments.

Key Details:

• Casualties: At least 300 Palestinians have been killed recently.
• Israeli Military Action: Israel is intensifying its military offensive in Gaza.
• Diplomatic Efforts: Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas took place in Doha, with no breakthroughs reported.
• Hamas Proposal: The group is offering to release at least nine hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire.

6. Strikes Impacting New Jersey Commuters

[02:17] & [03:36]
Local transportation issues were also covered, focusing on the strike by New Jersey's commuter train engineers.

Key Details:

• Situation: Engineers walked out on Friday, disrupting services for hundreds of thousands of commuters.
• Negotiations: Talks are set to resume, aiming to secure fair wages for engineers without overburdening taxpayers.

Quote:

[03:36] New Jersey Transit President Chris Caluri: "All we're basically saying is let's work out a deal that gets to a solution that they want but that taxpayers can afford. This isn't rocket science."

Additional Information:

• Response Measures: NJ Transit is deploying additional buses to accommodate the surge in commuters, though capacity remains insufficient.

7. Preakness Stakes: Journalism Claims Victory

[03:47]
Shifting to the world of sports, the 150th Preakness Stakes saw an exciting finish with the horse Journalism winning the race.

Key Details:

• Race Dynamics: Nine horses started the race closely, with Journalism making a decisive move in the final stretch.
• Jockey: Umberto Rispoli, an Italian rider, secured his first Preakness win.

Quotes:

[04:22] Jockey Umberto Rispoli: "I can tell you I couldn't sleep for four nights after the Kentucky Derby. Even I know if I could ride a perfect race. But this takes some of the pain off and I'm glad that I have this opportunity. I have to wait 20 years, but it was worth it to wait."

• Prize: Journalism earned a $1.2 million payout from the race’s $2 million purse.
• Upcoming Event: The next leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is scheduled in three weeks.

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NPR News Now continues to provide timely and comprehensive coverage of events both locally and globally, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the latest developments.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. New York City Mayor Eric Adams says the Brooklyn Bridge did not suffer major damage when a Mexican Navy sailing ship struck it last night, shearing off the top of its three masts and killing two crew members. Adams As 19 people aboard the ship needed medical attention. Reporter Bruce Konviser is in New York.

[Bruce Konviser]

The Mexican sailing ship was attempting to pass under the Brooklyn Bridge when the tops of its three masts snapped one after another as the boat glided underneath the bridge. The vessel, the Quatimook, had more than 275 crew members on board when the accident occurred. The masts of the ship are listed as 147ft high. The clearance underneath the Brooklyn Bridge is listed as 127ft. An investigation will be forthcoming. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Konfeiser in New York.

[Giles Snyder]

Initial reports say the ship had lost power due to a mechanical issue, but officials say that's preliminary and the cause remains unclear. The FBI calling yesterday's explosion of a car near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, an intentional act of terrorism. Authorities have not released the name of the suspect thought to have been responsible, but believe the person died in the blast. Investigators say they are not looking for anyone else. President Trump says Walmart should, quote, eat the tariffs rather than raises prices because of increased costs. NPR's Michael Levin reports.

[Michael Levitt]

In a post to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said Walmart made billions of dollars last year and that the retailer should, quote, not charge valued customers anything. The post comes after Walmart execs said the retailer could see increasingly high prices on their shelves in the coming months. The result, they say, of the president's trade policies. The president's rebuke of Walmart comes as he continues to make the case that his tariffs will yield long term benefits for the including a revitalized American manufacturing sector. However, stock markets have stayed volatile despite the president's assurances, and economic experts remain worried of the possibility of a recession. Michael Levitt, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

The Vatican Tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square to see Pope Leo XIV formally installed as the leader of the Catholic Church. Member del corpo diplomatico Pope Leo, leading his inaugural Mass marking the official start of his Pap, received two signs of his pontificate, a vestment known as Apollyum and the fisherman's ring Vice President J.D. vance led the U.S. delegation. He was one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before he died. Health officials in Gaza say at least 300 Palestinians have been killed over the past few days. Israel pressing a new military offensive in Gaza as negotiators for Israel and Hamas held a fresh round of indirect talks in Doha yesterday. No breakthrough has been reported, but the BBC is reporting that Hamas is offering to release least nine hostages in exchange for a 60 day ceasefire deal. This is NPR. Talks aimed at getting New Jersey's commuter train engineers back on the job are expected to resume today. The engineers walked out Friday, leaving hundreds of thousands of commuters scrambling to find alternative transportation. New Jersey Transit President Chris Caluri says he wants to make sure the striking engineers get a fair wage, but he can't break the bank doing it.

[Chris Caluri]

All we're basically saying is let's work out a deal that gets to a solution that they want but that taxpayers can afford. This isn't rocket science.

[Giles Snyder]

Kolluri says his agency is surging buses to help commuters, but he says they can't handle the entire volume of the commuter rail system. The horse journalism has won the 150th running of horse racing's Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. Wamboy Kamau of member station WYPR reports.

[Wamboy Kamau]

Nine horses burst from the gate at Pimlico Racecourse after a bump in battle in the final stretch, Journalism surged ahead, galloping to victory. Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli is a first time Preakness winner.

[Umberto Rispoli]

I can tell you I couldn't sleep for four nights after the Kentucky Derby. Even I know if I could ride a perfect race. But this takes some of the pain off and I'm glad that I have this opportunity. I have to wait 20 years, but it was worth it to wait.

[Wamboy Kamau]

The first place comes with a $1.2 million payout of the race's 2 million purse. The next leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is in three weeks. For NPR News, I'm Wamboy Kamau in Baltimore.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Jahel Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.

[Capital One Representative]

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