NPR News: 05-19-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of Episode from May 19, 2025

Released May 20, 2025
Host: Jack Spear

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Presidential Diplomacy and International Relations

President Trump's Diplomatic Efforts

At the start of the episode, Jack Spear reports on President Donald Trump's extensive engagement in telephone diplomacy. President Trump held separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, aiming to facilitate the winding down of Russia's war with Ukraine. Trump expressed optimism about the potential for negotiation, stating that holding talks at the Vatican "could give them extra significance and help things along" (00:18).

However, Trump acknowledged the necessity for all involved leaders to reach a mutual agreement to end the conflict. He referred to the situation as a "European situation" and hinted at the possibility of stepping back from his mediation efforts, although he did not specify the conditions that would prompt such a decision (00:52).

Controversial Remarks on Former President Biden

In a surprising turn, President Trump suggested without evidence that former President Joe Biden had delayed sharing his prostate cancer diagnosis. Trump remarked, "I thought it was very sad," before shifting focus to allege that Biden had been "less than forthcoming." This statement is factually inaccurate, as Biden has been battling stage four cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for men over age 70, emphasizing that the potential harms outweigh the benefits. Instead, men aged 55 to 69 are advised to discuss PSA screening with their doctors (00:52).

Expert Analysis on Presidential Diplomacy

A political analyst weighed in on Trump's diplomatic efforts, commenting, "Big egos involved, I tell you. Big egos involved. But I think something’s going to happen and if it doesn't, I just back away and they're going to have to keep going." (00:43) This underscores the analyst’s view on the complex interpersonal dynamics at play in high-stakes international negotiations.

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Economic Developments and Trade

Tariff Adjustments and Port Traffic

Jack Spear highlights recent economic developments, noting that port officials on the West Coast are anticipating an increase in cargo traffic from China following President Trump's temporary reduction of tariffs. Scott Horsley elaborates on this, explaining that earlier this month, shipments into the typically busy Port of Los Angeles had declined sharply due to triple-digit tariffs that nearly halted US-China trade (01:53). With the tariffs now partially reduced, importers are eager to clear cargo that had been stranded in China. However, Gene Sirocca, the port's executive director, does not expect an overwhelming surge in new cargo (01:53).

Impact on American Consumers

A political analyst provided insight into the broader economic implications, stating, "What probably comes out of this are lower inventory levels across the board, less selection for American consumers, and maybe higher prices." (02:16) This suggests that while the reduction in tariffs may alleviate some supply chain issues, consumers could face reduced product availability and potential price increases. Scott Horsley adds, "The tariffs that remain in place are still the highest in nearly a century," emphasizing the ongoing challenges in US-China trade relations (02:26).

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Media Industry Updates

Leadership Changes at CBS News

In media news, Jack Spear reports that Wendy McMahon, CEO of CBS News, has resigned amid an ongoing dispute between CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global. The conflict centers around settling a lawsuit with President Trump. During a 60 Minutes interview, McMahon stated, "It has become increasingly clear she and the company disagree," indicating her opposition to settling with Trump (02:32). Despite McMahon's departure, discussions between Trump and Paramount regarding settlement continue. The market responded positively to this news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing up 137 points and the NASDAQ gaining four points (02:32).

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Severe Weather and Natural Disasters

Recent and Ongoing Tornadoes

The episode also covers severe weather events impacting the United States. Just days after tornadoes resulted in the deaths of over two dozen individuals in Kentucky and Missouri, officials in Kansas and Texas are assessing damages from a new twister that touched down overnight in Reno County, Kansas (03:52). The National Weather Service warns of continued dangerous weather across the central US, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, and the potential for more tornadoes.

Impact on Communities

The powerful tornado in Reno County caused significant damage to homes, trees, and utility poles, exacerbating the challenges faced by already affected communities (03:52). Authorities are mobilizing resources to assist in recovery efforts and to mitigate the impact of future severe weather events.

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International Conflict: Sudan's Political Shift

Appointment of a New Prime Minister

Michael Koloki reports on the latest developments in Sudan's ongoing conflict. Sudan's army chief, Abdel Fattah Burhan, has appointed Kamil Idris, a former United Nations official, as the new prime minister of the country’s military-led government. This marks the first appointment of a prime minister in Sudan since a military coup four years ago that ousted civilian leadership (03:52).

Impact of Continued Fighting

Since the outbreak of fighting in 2023 between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict, facing deaths and displacement. Additionally, the United Nations reports that the ongoing fighting has disrupted regional trade, leading to significant economic hardships in neighboring countries (03:52).

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Upcoming Memorial Day Travel

Travel Predictions and Recommendations

Looking ahead to Memorial Day, Jack Spear shares predictions from the American Automobile Association (AAA). Approximately 45 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles or more during the holiday period from Thursday through Monday, with the majority opting to drive to avoid traffic congestion (04:32). AAA advises travelers to depart early Thursday morning to minimize delays, while airports are anticipated to experience peak traffic on Friday (04:32).

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, including President Trump's diplomatic initiatives, economic developments related to US-China trade, leadership changes in the media industry, severe weather impacts, Sudan's political landscape amidst ongoing conflict, and essential travel information for Memorial Day. Notable quotes and expert analyses enrich the narrative, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the current news landscape.

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Timestamps Reference

• (00:18) - Introduction of President Trump's telephone diplomacy
• (00:43) - Political analyst's comments on Trump's efforts
• (00:52) - President Trump's remarks on the European situation and Biden's diagnosis
• (01:53) - Scott Horsley on port traffic and tariffs
• (02:16) - Political analyst on consumer impact
• (02:26) - Scott Horsley on remaining tariffs
• (02:32) - Wendy McMahon's resignation and market response
• (03:52) - Severe weather updates and Sudan's political appointment
• (04:32) - Memorial Day travel predictions

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump spent a big chunk of today engaging in telephone diplomacy, having separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump saying in terms of winding down Russia's war with Ukraine, holding talks at the Vatican could give them extra significance and help things along. But Trump also acknowledged the leaders involved have to come to an agreement.

[Political Analyst]

Big ego's involved, I tell you. Big egos involved. But I think something's going to happen and if it doesn't, I just back away and they're going to have to keep going.

[Jack Spear]

Trump at one point called it a European situation. The president declined to say what would prompt him to walk away from his efforts to broker an end to the war, though he has indicated his frustration with both sides in the past. President Trump suggested without evidence today former President Joe Biden had delayed sharing his diagnosis of prostate cancer. As for comment about the diagnosis, Trump said he thought it was very sad but immediately pivoted to suggestions Biden had been less than forthcoming. Biden has stage four cancer. However, the US Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend men over the age of seven to get routine prostate specific antigen, but PSA screening because the potential harms outweigh the benefits. The task force Recommends Men ages 55 to 69 discuss PSA screening with their doctors. Port officials here on the west coast say they expect to see an uptick in cargo traffic from China now that President Trump has temporarily lowered tariffs. But NPR Scott Horsley reports they're not expecting the kind of traffic jam that raised shipping prices during the pandemic.

[Scott Horsley]

Shipments into the usually busy Port of Los Angeles slumped earlier this month as triple digit tariffs brought trade between the US And China to a near stand. Now that those tariffs have been temporarily reduced, importers are hustling to bring in cargo that had been stranded in China. Even with that partial recovery, though, the port's executive director, Gene Sirocca, is not expecting a huge crush of new cargo.

[Political Analyst]

What probably comes out of this are lower inventory levels across the board, less selection for American consumers, and maybe higher prices.

[Scott Horsley]

The tariffs that remain in place are still the highest in nearly a century. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

First it was the head of its flagship news magazine. Now the CEO of CBS News is saying so long to the network CEO Wendy McMahon announcing she's quitting amid an ongoing dispute between CBS and parent company Paramount Global over settling a lawsuit with President Trump. Over a 60 Minutes interview, McMahon in an interview said it's quote, become increasingly clear she and the company disagree. McMahon has indicated she opposes settling with Trump. Trump remains in discussions or Trump remains in settlement discussions rather with cbs. Parent company Paramount. Stocks waver but managed to close higher. On Wall street today. The dow is up 137 points. The NASDAQ closed up 4 points. You're listening to NPR. Just days after tornadoes killed more than two dozen people in Kentucky and Missouri, officials in Kansas and Texas were evaluating damage from an overnight twister that touched down there. National Weather Service, meanwhile, says it's predicting of dangerous weather across the central US with heavy rain, thunderstorms and the prospect of more tornadoes. Officials in Reno County, Kansas, say a powerful tornado hit there late yesterday, damaging homes, trees and utility poles. As fighting continues between the warring parties in Sudan's conflict, the head of the country's army has appointed a new prime minister. Michael Koloki has more.

[Michael Koloki]

Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan has appointed Kamil Idris, a former United nations official, as prime minister of the country's military led government. This is the first time a prime minister has been appointed in Sudan since a coup four years ago, ousted civilian leadership in the country. In 2023, fighting broke out between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces, or rsf. Civilians caught up in the ongoing conflict are suffering the most being killed and uprooted from their homes. And according to the United nations, the fighting has also disrupted regional trade, leading to economic hardship in neighboring countries. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.

[Jack Spear]

Memorial Day is a week away, but already travel predictions are coming from people like auto club, AAA, AAA projects. About 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more over the Thursday through Monday holiday period, most by car drivers wanting to beat the rush. According to transportation data, firms should leave early Thursday morning. Airports expected to be busy Friday. You're listening to npr.

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