NPR News Now: May 19, 2025, 10 AM EDT – Detailed Summary

Host: Korva Coleman

1. President Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis

Timestamp: [00:17]

NPR’s Korva Coleman reported that President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. However, his office has indicated that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, presenting viable treatment options.

Expert Insight: Dr. Ben Davies, Professor of Urology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, outlined Biden’s potential treatment pathways:

• Hormonal Injections: “It could include hormonal injections, which should kind of calm it down and take away some of the testosterone levels in his body so the disease stops growing quite as fast and can kind of almost melt away from the bones.” [00:40]
• Chemotherapy: Dr. Davies mentioned recent studies suggesting chemotherapy could extend Biden’s life if he qualifies.
• Radiation Therapy: Also remains a viable option for managing the disease.

President Biden’s Statement: In a message shared online, Biden expressed, “Cancer touches us all. He thanked well wishers for their love and support.” [01:02]

2. President Trump's Diplomatic Efforts Amid Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: [01:02]

President Donald Trump announced plans to engage in diplomatic discussions to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. He is scheduled to speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin this hour and will later converse with Ukraine's President and leaders of NATO.

Pope Leo XIV’s Involvement: Pope Leo XIV has met with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a significant diplomatic engagement. According to NPR’s Ruth Sherlock:

• The Vatican has proposed to host peace talks aimed at negotiating a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
• The meeting emphasized an “exchange of views and calls for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved.” [01:39]

This initiative comes as the U.S. leads efforts to broker peace in the region, with the Vatican playing a mediating role.

3. Moody’s Downgrades U.S. Credit Rating

Timestamp: [02:19]

Moody’s has downgraded the U.S. federal government’s credit rating from AAA, marking a significant shift in the nation’s financial standing. This decision has led to a decline in the stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping approximately 40 points during early trading [02:19].

Scott Horsley explained:

• Moody’s became the last of the major credit rating agencies to lower the U.S. government's creditworthiness.
• The downgrade stems from concerns that “US Policymakers have failed to address a rising tide of government debt.”
• Congressional Republicans are contemplating extending the 2017 tax cuts, which could result in “trillions of dollars in additional red ink over the next decade,” partially offset by GOP spending cuts.
• Additionally, Walmart’s stock opened lower following President Trump’s criticism on social media, where he stated the retailer should “eat the cost of his new tariffs” instead of raising prices. Walmart had previously indicated that some price hikes were inevitable due to the magnitude of import taxes imposed by the president. [02:31]

As of the latest update, the Dow is down 28 points. [03:12]

4. National Transportation Safety Board to Address Brooklyn Bridge Ship Crash

Timestamp: [03:12]

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to hold a press conference regarding the recent crash of a Mexican naval ship into New York's Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend. The incident resulted in two fatalities and injured more than a dozen individuals.

Incident Details:

• New York City officials reported that the ship lost power and mechanical functioning, causing it to be driven by the river’s current into the bridge.

The NTSB’s forthcoming briefing aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the crash’s causes and safety implications.

5. Rising Food Prices Impacting Americans’ Diet Choices

Timestamp: [03:49]

NPR’s Amy Held reported on a concerning trend where increasing food prices are making healthy eating more challenging for many Americans. A recent Pew survey highlighted that:

• 70% of respondents believe that higher prices have made it harder to maintain a healthy diet. [03:49]

Consumer Insights: Peyton Shafer, a consumer from Washington, D.C., shared her struggles:

• “Some items are definitely getting worse. Expensive.” [03:59]
• She elaborated on her shopping habits, stating, “There’s days where I'll go and I'm like, maybe I should skip those, like more specialty items.” [04:08]

Market Trends:

• While inflation in food prices is showing signs of cooling, with egg prices decreasing by about a dollar per dozen from the March peak of $6.23, they remain historically high.
• Overall, food prices have surged nearly 30% since the pre-pandemic period, creating significant financial strain for consumers. [04:14]

6. Scotty Scheffler’s Triumph at the PGA Championship

Timestamp: [04:30]

In sports news, Pro golfer Scotty Scheffler clinched the PGA Championship yesterday, marking his third major title. He successfully outperformed John Rahm in the final round, securing victory by five strokes.

This win represents a notable comeback for Scheffler, especially after last year's PGA Championship was marred by his arrest ahead of the second round on charges that were later dismissed due to non-compliance with police instructions.

Korva Coleman highlighted the significance of Scheffler’s performance and its positive impact on his career trajectory. [04:30]

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