NPR News: 05-18-2026 12PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 05-18-2026 12PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: May 18, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire briefing on key U.S. and international news stories, covering political developments, international trade agreements, labor disputes, and sports highlights. The tone remains informative and urgent, consistent with NPR’s signature style.

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Key News Highlights

1. President Trump Drops Lawsuit Against IRS

[00:01]

• President Trump has withdrawn his multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service after a Florida judge questioned the validity of the case filing.
• The Department of Justice announced a $1.7 billion fund to settle and pay claims, designed to assist individuals who believe they were wrongfully investigated or prosecuted during the Biden administration.
  • The legal framework for this fund is based on the Obama-era Keepsigel case, which had established a $760 million fund to address historic claims of racism against the U.S. government.
• Memorable Quote:

  "ABC News first reported the fund would be used to assist people who believe they were wrongfully investigated and prosecute under the Biden administration." – Lakshmi Singh [00:01]

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2. U.S.–China Trade Talks: Agricultural Purchases & Aircraft

[01:02]

• The White House claims China has agreed to purchase at least $17 billion in American agricultural goods following President Trump’s recent visit to Beijing.
• According to NPR’s Jennifer Park, China only acknowledges a “preliminary agreement” and has not specified purchase amounts.
• Both nations agreed to address previously imposed tariffs and China is set to buy U.S. aircraft engines and parts, but rare earth minerals are not mentioned.
• Trade teams are still finalizing the terms.
  • Memorable Quote:

    "China says the U.S. guaranteed it could buy what it sorely needs, aircraft engines and related parts." – Jennifer Park [01:15]

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3. Trump’s Influence in Republican Primaries

[01:39]

• Republican Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump after the January 6th insurrection, loses influence as Congresswoman Julia Ludlow, backed by Trump, advances to a runoff.
• At least five of the seven anti-Trump Republican senators will be gone from the Senate next year, highlighting fewer GOP critics of the President.
  • Notable Statement:

    "Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans and it is about our Constitution." – Sen. Bill Cassidy [02:13]

• Trump’s grip on the party is further indicated by his influence over Indiana GOP state senators and anticipation over the upcoming Kentucky primary.

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4. Senate Parliamentarian Blocks Secret Service Funding

[02:40]

• A billion-dollar Secret Service provision is blocked from a Republican immigration bill by the Senate parliamentarian.
• Republicans also propose taxpayer funding for security upgrades at President Trump’s White House ballroom.

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5. South Korean Labor Negotiations at Samsung

[03:18]

• Up to 50,000 Samsung Electronics workers in South Korea are poised to strike if last-ditch negotiations fail.
• A court has allowed the strike with conditions: production safety must be ensured, and key facilities must not be occupied.
  • The union seeks fixed performance bonuses, equivalent to 15% of Samsung’s operating profits, which surged by over 700% in Q1 due to high memory chip prices.
  • Quote:

    "The union said they'll negotiate in good faith, but if talks fail, the court ruling won't keep them from striking." – Anthony Kuhn [03:35]

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6. PGA Championship: Aaron Rye Makes History

[04:00]

• England’s Aaron Rye wins the PGA Championship near Philadelphia, his first major victory and the first Englishman to triumph here since 1919.
  • His critical moment: a 68-foot birdie putt on the 17th green.
• Rye won by three strokes over Jon Rahm (Spain) and Alex Smalley (NC, USA).
  • Emotional Reaction:

    "To be a person that's the first one to have won it in such a long time from England is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of." – Aaron Rye (as read by Sam Greenglass) [04:17]

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• “Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans and it is about our Constitution.”
  — Sen. Bill Cassidy [02:13]

• “China says the U.S. guaranteed it could buy what it sorely needs, aircraft engines and related parts.”
  — Jennifer Park [01:15]

• “The union said they'll negotiate in good faith, but if talks fail, the court ruling won't keep them from striking.”
  — Anthony Kuhn [03:35]

• “To be a person that's the first one to have won it in such a long time from England is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of.”
  — Aaron Rye (via Sam Greenglass) [04:17]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:01] — Trump drops IRS lawsuit; DOJ announces settlement fund
• [01:02] — U.S.–China trade agreement progress
• [01:39] — Trump’s influence on Republican primaries: Louisiana, Indiana, Kentucky
• [02:40] — Senate parliamentarian blocks Secret Service funding
• [03:18] — South Korean Samsung labor dispute
• [04:00] — Aaron Rye wins PGA Championship

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This episode provides an efficient yet in-depth look at top stories shaping U.S. politics, global economics, labor, and sports—delivered in NPR’s clear, concise news-report format.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump has dropped his multi billion dollar lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, according to court filings today. The development comes after a judge in Florida raised questions about whether the case was properly filed. In a statement, the department said the $1.7 billion fund will allow the DOJ to settle and pay cases. ABC News first reported the fund would be used to assist people who believe they were wrongfully investigated and prosecute under the Biden administration. The department said the legal precedent of the fund came from the Obama era Keepsigel case, which created a $760 million fund to redress various decades old claims of racism against the federal government. The White House says China has agreed to purchase at least $17 billion of American agricultural goods that follows President Trump's visit to Beijing last week. The Chinese side has given far fewer details. We have more from NPR's Jennifer Park.

[Jennifer Park]

China says it reached a preliminary agreement with the US on agricultural trade and aircrafts, though it did not specify a purchase amount. The Chinese Commerce Ministry says both sides agreed on tariffs imposed on each other's exports, which reached sky high levels last year before a truce was called. Same time China says the US Guaranteed it could buy what it sorely needs, aircraft engines and related parts. China's statement also did not mention rare earth minerals to the U.S. it says economic and trade teams from the U.S. and China are still finalizing the details. Jennifer Pack, NPR News, Shanghai.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is the latest casualty in President Trump's campaign to target Republicans he sees as disloyal. Cassidy's Trump backed opponent, Congresswoman Julia Ludlow, advances to a runoff against State Treasurer John Fleming. Here's NPR's Sam Greenglass.

[Sam Greenglass]

Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump after the January 6th insurrection. Next year, at least five of them will be gone from the Senate, leaving few Republicans in Congress willing to criticize the president. Cassidy has indicated he will not finish his term quietly.

[Greg Eklund]

Our country is not about one individual. It is about the welfare of all Americans and it is about our Constitution.

[Sam Greenglass]

The Louisiana primary was the latest test of Trump's grip on the party. He also helped defeat many of the Indiana GOP state senators who blocked mid cycle redistricting last year. A House primary in Kentucky this week will be another test. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Senate parliamentarians blocking a billion dollar Secret Service provision from being included in a Republican backed immigration enforcement bill as is Senate Republicans have proposed taxpayer funding for security upgrades to President Trump's White House ballroom from Washington, this is NPR News. Labor unions in South Korea are in last ditch negotiations with corporations Samsung Electronics. About 50,000 workers could go on strike Thursday if no agreement is reached. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Solus. Strike could aggravate a global shortage of memory chips.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Samsung filed for a court injunction to stop the strike. The court said workers could go on strike, but they must ensure production safety and may not occupy key facilities. The union said they'll negotiate in good faith, but if talks fail, the court ruling won't keep them from striking. The unions want fixed performance bonuses equal to 15% of Samsung's operating profits, which grew by more than 700% in the first quarter of this year due to high prices for memory chips.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Anthony Kuhn reporting. At the PGA Championship Sunday, England's Aaron Rice separated himself from a bunch field and emerged as the unexpected winner. Championship is the second of golf's four majors this year. Greg Eklund has more from Outside Philadelphia,

[Greg Eklund]

Aaron Rye's signature moment was a 68 foot birdie putt on the 17th green. The 31 year old Rye became the first from England to win a PGA Championship since 1919, an achievement he doesn't take lightly.

[Sam Greenglass]

To be a person that's the first one to have won it in such a long time from England is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of.

[Greg Eklund]

Before the weekend, Rye had won just once on the PGA Tour and three times on the European Tour. He won by three shots over Jon Rahm of Spain and Alex Smalley of Greensboro, North Carolina.

[Lakshmi Singh]

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