NPR News: 05-19-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

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

Release Date: May 19, 2025
Host: NPR
Duration: 5 minutes

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1. International Diplomacy Efforts to End the Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: 00:26 – 01:05

President Donald Trump is actively engaging in phone-based diplomacy aimed at resolving the protracted conflict in Eastern Europe, which is described as the largest land war in the region since World War II. In a significant move, Trump recently initiated a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite these efforts, Putin has been reluctant to engage in direct dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate a halt to Russia’s full-scale military operations.

White House Press Secretary, Caroline Levitt, provided insight into Trump's diplomatic frustrations:

“He has made it clear to both sides that he wants to see a peaceful resolution and a cease fire as soon as possible. But as for specifics on a timeline, I won't get ahead of the president.”
(00:55)

Additionally, President Trump is anticipated to hold discussions with President Zelenskyy. Amid these high-stakes negotiations, Pope Leo XIV has convened meetings with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. NPR’s Ruth Sherlock reports on the Vatican’s proactive stance:

“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.”
(01:23)
The Vatican has also extended an offer to host peace talks, signaling a collaborative international effort to broker an end to the war in Ukraine.

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2. Devastating Tornado Strikes Southern Kentucky

Timestamp: 02:03 – 02:53

The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF3 tornado swept through Southern Kentucky on Friday night, resulting in at least 19 fatalities. The town of London was among the hardest-hit areas, experiencing widespread destruction. In the aftermath, community resilience has been evident as neighbors come together to support one another.

Karen Zarr reports from the scene:

“It took hours for Sherri Shepherd to reach her home after the storms. She arrived to the sounds of people calling for help and first responders trying to reach them.”
(02:19)

Sherri Shepherd shared her harrowing experience:

“The pictures don't do it justice until you've seen it. They just kept removing people, our friends.”
(02:28)
Despite the devastation around her, Shepherd’s home remained largely intact. Responding to the crisis, she transformed her garage into a staging area stocked with essential supplies such as food, water, tarps, and cleaning materials.
“We feel blessed. We almost kind of feel guilty. We're just trying to help as much as we can.”
(02:48)

Volunteers from as far away as California have mobilized to assist, operating out of Shepherd’s Coffee Garage. Their collective efforts exemplify the community's determination to rebuild and support those affected by the tornado.

“Our neighbors, street after street homes were gone.”
(02:33)

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3. President Trump's Domestic Legislative Priorities

Timestamp: 03:00 – 04:11

President Trump's focus on domestic issues is now being directed toward the full House of Representatives for a critical vote. The legislation in question faces uncertainty, as Republican leaders strive to garner full GOP support amidst unwavering opposition from Democrats. The Republican leadership is attempting to introduce modifications to satisfy fiscal conservatives who demand more substantial spending cuts, including reductions in Medicaid funding, to finance proposed tax cuts.

In a related development, a U.S. official disclosed that a Boeing 747, previously utilized by the Qatari government and currently stationed at the San Antonio airport, has yet to undergo the necessary retrofitting. Contrary to speculation, Ellis Harris Technologies has not commenced work on the aircraft.

“The official was not authorized to speak publicly.”
(03:00)
Once the appropriate paperwork is completed, the Air Force is expected to take ownership of the plane, which will then be transferred to a defense contractor for a specialized overhaul, with plans to repurpose it as the new Air Force One.

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4. Corporate Retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives

Timestamp: 04:11 – 04:59

Telecommunications giant Verizon is among the latest major corporations scaling back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, responding to increasing pressure from the federal government. NPR’s Maria Aspen provides an in-depth analysis of this trend:

“Many big companies are backing away from what's known as DEI after once promising to create more equitable opportunities for all employees.”
(04:11)
Under the administration of President Trump, DEI programs have faced heightened scrutiny, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) playing a pivotal role in urging companies to discontinue these initiatives. Verizon, amidst its plans to acquire Frontier, a broadband provider, informed the FCC of its intention to cease DEI-related policies. This includes ending goals aimed at increasing minority hiring and removing references to DEI from its corporate websites.

The FCC has greenlit Verizon’s Frontier acquisition, explicitly highlighting Verizon’s commitment to terminating DEI practices as a condition of the approval.

“Verizon will no longer set goals to hire more minorities, and it will remove references to DEI from its websites.”
(04:11)

This move by Verizon reflects a broader shift among large corporations responding to regulatory changes and political pressures regarding workplace diversity initiatives.

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5. Market Update

Timestamp: 04:59 – 05:00

In today's financial news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has experienced an uptick, rising by nearly 150 points. This positive movement reflects investor confidence amid the current economic and political climate.

“The Dow is up nearly 150 points.”
(04:59)

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant global diplomatic efforts, domestic legislative challenges, natural disaster impacts, corporate policy shifts, and market movements, offering listeners a well-rounded update on pressing issues as of May 19, 2025.

Transcript

[Peter Sagal]

Imagine if you will, a show from NPR that's not like npr, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants, incompetent criminals and ridiculous science studies. And call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's engaging in phone based diplomacy today in his quest to end the largest land war in Eastern Europe since World War II. This morning, Trump got on a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has so far resisted direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt Russia's full scale operation against its neighbor. White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt says Trump is frustrated.

[Caroline Levitt]

He has made it clear to both sides that he wants to see a peaceful resolution and a cease fire as soon as possible. But as for specifics on a timeline, I won't get ahead of the president.

[Lakshmi Singh]

President Trump was also expected to speak with Zelenskyy. Pope Leo XIV has met with Vice President J.D. vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports. A conversation comes ahead of U. S led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

[Ruth Sherlock]

Vance, a Catholic convert, was among the last political leaders to meet with Pope Francis before he pass. Pope Francis and the Trump administration had starkly different views, particularly on the topic of migration. Pope Leo has already spoken out in support of migrants. And in a readout of the meeting with Vance, the Vatican described, quote, 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. The Vatican has offered to host peace talks to try to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The National Weather Service confirmed an EF3 tornado cut across part of Southern Kentucky Friday night, killing at least 19 people. In London, one of the hardest areas hit. Neighbors are helping neighbors in the aftermath.

[Karen Zarr]

It took hours for Sherri shepherd to reach her home after the storms. She arrived to the sounds of people calling for help and first responders trying to reach them.

[Sherri Shepherd]

The pictures don't do it justice until you've seen it. They just kept removing people, our friends.

[Karen Zarr]

Our neighbors, street after street homes were gone. Miraculously, Shepherd's was barely touched, so she turned her garage into a staging area for supplies. It's filled with things like food, water, tarps and cleaning supplies.

[Sherri Shepherd]

We feel blessed. We almost kind of feel guilty. We're just trying to help as much as we can.

[Karen Zarr]

Volunteers from as far as California have been working out of Shepherd's Coffee Garage. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in London.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Kentucky President Trump's domestic priorities now head to the full House for a vote, but its fate is still far from certain. The Republican leadership is attempting to secure full GOP backing for a measure the Democrats are already united against. Republican House leaders have pledged modifications to appease fiscal hawks who've been demanding deeper spending cuts, including the Medicaid, to pay for the bill's tax cuts. It's NPR. A U.S. official confirms with NPR that a Boeing 747 formerly used by the Qatari government, now parked at the San Antonio airport, has not yet undergone retrofitting. There was speculation that the defense contractor Ellis Harris Technologies, had begun work on the plane, but the official said that was not the case. The official was not authorized to speak publicly. The Air Force is expected to take ownership of the plane once the proper paperwork is done, and and then it will go to a defense contractor for a specialized overhaul with plans for it to be used as Air Force One. Telecommunications company Verizon is the latest big company to scale back on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts under pressure from the federal government. NPR's Maria Aspen has more.

[Maria Aspen]

Many big companies are backing away from what's known as DEI after once promising to create more equitable opportunities for all employees. But now President Trump has declared such programs illegal, and the Federal Communications Commission has taken a big role in trying to pressure companies to do away with them. For example, Verizon has been seeking approval to buy Frontier, a broadband provider. So it told the FCC that it would end many of its policies relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. Verizon will no longer set goals to hire more minorities, and it will remove references to DEI from its websites. Now the FCC has approved Verizon's deal, and it specifically cited Verizon's promise to end DEI related practices. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow is up nearly 150 points. This is NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor]

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