NPR News: 05-18-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now Summary

Episode: NPR News: 05-18-2025 9PM EDT
Release Date: May 19, 2025
Host: Jeanine Herbst
Source: NPR

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1. Former President Joe Biden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

Timestamp: [00:17]

Jeanine Herbst reported that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. According to NPR's Luke Garrett, a small nodule discovered on Biden's prostate led to the diagnosis of an aggressive form of the disease, which has metastasized to his bones. The former president's personal office described the cancer as hormone-sensitive, potentially allowing for effective management. Biden and his family are currently evaluating treatment options.

Luke Garrett emphasized the significance of this diagnosis, noting, "Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer, according to the CDC, and is treatable" ([00:32]). The timing of this announcement is critical, arriving days before the release of a forthcoming exposé book on Biden and amidst ongoing debates regarding his mental fitness during his presidency's final years.

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2. Bombing at Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Identified as Terrorism

Timestamp: [01:13]

In a shocking development, law enforcement officials have identified a suspect in the bombing of the American Reproductive Center's clinic in Palm Springs, California. Akil Davis, Assistant Director of the FBI's Los Angeles office, stated, "The subject had nihilistic ideations and this was a targeted attack against the IVF facility" ([01:36]). The FBI is treating the incident as an intentional act of terrorism.

The explosion caused extensive damage, blowing out windows in neighboring buildings and scattering debris across the surrounding area. Davis added, "The blast was powerful. It blew out windows in neighboring buildings" ([01:48]). Investigators are actively searching the vicinity for additional evidence related to the case.

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3. Devastating Tornado Strikes Kentucky, Claiming 19 Lives

Timestamp: [02:08]

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported a tragic tornado event that resulted in at least 19 fatalities, primarily in the city of London. Speaking at [02:08], Beshear confirmed, "At least 19 people were killed when what's believed to have been a tornado swept through the southern part of the state," with 17 of the deceased in London ([02:15]).

Survivor Mamie Cottle shared her harrowing experience, recounting, "The house started shaking and then the next thing I heard was like rumbling. Next thing was just like glass breaking everywhere and wood breaking" ([02:38]). Despite the destruction, Cottle and her grandson were unharmed. Governor Beshear mentioned ongoing efforts to secure emergency housing for those affected ([02:52]).

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4. Combatting Air Pollution in Bangladesh’s Brick Industry

Timestamp: [03:13]

Jeanine Herbst highlighted severe air pollution issues in Bangladesh, attributing a significant portion to the brick-making industry. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reported on research indicating that modifications in brick kiln operations could substantially reduce pollution. Samir Mathil, an energy systems engineer, explained, "Bangladesh produces nearly 30 billion bricks a year. Most of these are made in coal-fired brick kilns, which spew thick clouds of black smoke" ([03:27]).

A study published in the journal Science revealed that "tweaking this process can make the kilns much more efficient," with measures such as increasing the space between bricks cutting pollution by about 20% ([03:55]).

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5. Coinbase to Join the S&P 500 Index

Timestamp: [04:13]

In financial news, Coinbase is set to become the latest addition to the S&P 500, replacing Discover Financial Services due to Discover's acquisition by Capital One. Andy Beshear announced, "The S&P 500 is getting a new company in its mix, Coinbase, where people trade all kinds of cryptocurrency like Bitcoin" ([04:17]). This move marks a significant moment for the cryptocurrency industry, signaling increased mainstream acceptance and integration into traditional financial indices.

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6. Weekend Box Office Highlights

Timestamp: [04:31]

The latest weekend box office figures reveal strong performances:

• Final Destination: Bloodlines secured the top spot with an estimated $51 million in ticket sales domestically and $102 million globally on its debut ([04:31]).
• Thunderbolt followed in second place, earning $16 million.
• Sinners rounded out the top three with $15 million, bringing its global total to $316 million ([04:36]).

Jeanine Herbst concluded the segment by summarizing these achievements, underscoring the varied interests of moviegoers this weekend ([04:31]-[04:42]).

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7. Market Update

Timestamp: [03:06]

Andy Beshear provided a brief overview of the financial markets, noting that U.S. futures contracts are trading lower. Dow futures are down just over half a percent, while Nasdaq futures have dipped by nearly 1% ([03:06]).

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the major stories covered in the NPR News Now episode released on May 19, 2025, providing listeners with detailed insights into political developments, public safety incidents, environmental issues, financial updates, and entertainment news.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In a statement, his personal office called the cancer a more aggressive form of the disease. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Luke Garrett]

Last week, former President Biden was evaluated after a small nodule was found on his prostate. The 82 year old was then diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday. The cancer has metastasized to Biden's bone and is a more aggressive case, according to a statement from the personal office of the former president. The statement says the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, allowing for effective management, and that Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options. Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer, according to the cdc, and is treatable. The diagnosis comes days before the publishing of an expose book on Biden and a growing debate over the former president's mental fitness during the latter portion of his presidency. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Law enforcement officials have named a suspect in the bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, yesterday. NPR's Jason DeRose reports.

[Akil Davis]

The FBI says its fairly confident 25 year old guy Edward Bartkus is behind the explosion that badly damaged American Reproductive Center's clinic. Akil Davis is assistant director of the FBI's Los Angeles office.

[FBI Official]

The subject had nihilistic ideations and this was a targeted attack against the IVF facility. Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism.

[Akil Davis]

The blast was powerful. It blew out windows in neighboring buildings. Debris is strewn across the five lane street where the IVF clinic is located, as well as for blocks around. Investigators are combing streets, yards and parking lots nearby looking for additional evidence. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Palm Springs, California.

[Andy Beshear]

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says at least 19 people were killed when what's believed to have been a tornado swept through.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The southern part of the state.

[Andy Beshear]

John McGarry of member station WEKU reports.

[Jeanine Herbst]

17 of the dead were in the city of London.

[Mamie Cottle]

Mamie Cottle says it was a close call for her and her young grandson. She lives in an area where many homes were destroyed by the severe weather. She says her daughter called to say it's at the nearby London Corbin Airport and to get in the closet.

[Connell]

The house started shaking and then the next thing I heard was like rumbling. Next thing was just like glass breaking everywhere and wood breaking and we couldn't hardly open the closet door to get out.

[Mamie Cottle]

Connell says she and her grandson were uninjured, but she doesn't know whether her home of 10 years can be saved. Governor Andy Beshear says efforts are underway to secure emergency housing. For NPR news, I'm John McGarry in London, Kentucky.

[Andy Beshear]

U.S. futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. Dow futures are down just over a half percent, Nasdaq futures down nearly 1%.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is NPR News. Bangladesh has among the worst air pollution.

[Andy Beshear]

In the world, and the brick making business is partly to blame. But as NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, new.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Research shows that simple changes to how.

[Andy Beshear]

Bricks are fired could make a big difference.

[Samir Mathil]

Bangladesh produces nearly 30 billion bricks a year. Most of these are made in coal fired brick kilns, which spew thick clouds of black smoke, says energy systems engineer Samir Mathil.

[Jonathan Lambert]

It is essentially a lot of black smoke impacting the workers and the nearby villagers and also impacting overall air quality of the region.

[Samir Mathil]

But a new study in the journal Science shows that tweaking this process can make the kilns much more efficient. A few changes, like leaving more space between bricks, cut pollution from the kilns by about 20%. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Andy Beshear]

The S&P 500 is getting a new company in its mix, Coinbase, where people.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Trade all kinds of cryptocurrency like bitcoin.

[Andy Beshear]

It joins the exchange tomorrow, a big.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Moment for the crypto industry.

[Andy Beshear]

Coinbase will replace Discover Financial Services, which is being acquired by Capital One.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office, Final Destination.

[Andy Beshear]

Bloodlines took the top spot with an.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Estimated $51 million in ticket sales. Globally, it made $102 million in its debut.

[Andy Beshear]

In second place, Thunderbolt with $16 million, and in third place, Sinners with $15 million, bringing its global total to $316 million.

[Jeanine Herbst]

I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[Mint Mobile Ad]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less and all plans include high speed data, unlimited talk and text and nationwide coverage. See for [e-mail] Switch.