NPR News: 05-19-2025 2PM EDT

Summary

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

Release Date: May 19, 2025
Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. International Affairs

a. President Trump's Diplomatic Engagement with Russia and Ukraine

President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will commence ceasefire talks "immediately." This statement follows a two-hour phone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, the discussion was conducted in an "excellent tone and spirit" (00:14).

Trump highlighted Russia's interest in establishing "large-scale trade with the United States after the war ends." He also mentioned subsequent communications with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, emphasizing a coordinated approach to peace talks. Additionally, Trump disclosed that the Vatican expressed willingness to host these negotiations.

b. US Supreme Court Upholds Revocation of Venezuelans' Temporary Protected Status

In a significant legal development, the US Supreme Court permitted the Trump administration to remove legal protections from approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially leading to their deportation. This decision reverses the Biden administration's extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans, a move that Trump had contested. Lakshmi Singh contextualizes this as part of Trump's broader domestic agenda (01:51).

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2. Legal News

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Takeover of the US Institute of Peace

Federal Judge Beryl Howell delivered a landmark ruling in favor of the US Institute of Peace (USIP), effectively blocking the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle the organization. The administration had initiated actions in March to seize control of USIP by removing board members and curtailing its global operations.

In a comprehensive 102-page decision, Judge Howell asserted that USIP was established by Congress as an independent nonprofit think tank, distinct from the executive branch. Consequently, the President lacked the authority to unilaterally remove its leadership. The ruling mandates the reinstatement of the ousted board members and the USIP president. Furthermore, all measures taken to disband the institute, including the transfer of its headquarters' ownership, were declared "null and void" (01:08).

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3. Domestic Politics and Economics

a. GOP Struggles with Passing Spending and Tax Cut Legislation

The White House is actively urging congressional Republicans to consolidate their efforts to pass an extensive spending and tax cut package. This legislation successfully advanced out of the House Budget Committee the previous night. However, GOP leadership faces challenges in securing unanimous support among fiscal conservatives, who are advocating for more substantial spending cuts to balance the proposed tax reductions. Notably, South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman commended the bill but withheld full support, reflecting the internal divisions within the party (01:51).

b. Moody's Downgrades US Credit Rating Amid Elevated Treasury Yields

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the United States' credit rating for the third consecutive time. Despite this downgrade, U.S. Treasury yields remain high. The financial markets responded with mixed stock performances: the NASDAQ declined by 21 points to 19,189, the S&P experienced a slight decrease, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged by over 100 points (01:51, 02:39-02:47).

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4. International Relations

Britain and European Union Hold First Official Post-Brexit Summit

Britain and the European Union convened their first official summit since the UK's departure from the EU five years prior. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the meeting as a "reset," signaling the commencement of a new era in UK-EU relations. Starmer emphasized that Britain is poised to re-establish itself on the global stage by forging deals aimed at economic growth (03:24).

Despite these efforts, significant restrictions remain, including the inability of EU citizens to live and work freely in Britain and vice versa. Exceptions are made for students and young adults engaged in short-term employment. Opponents of Starmer's administration accuse him of conceding too much to the EU, specifically regarding agreements that grant European fishing boats access to British waters. This criticism underscores ongoing tensions within the UK regarding post-Brexit policy direction (03:33, 03:39).

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5. Science and Health

Plant-Based Protein Equivalence in Muscle Building Confirmed by New Study

Emerging research reveals that plant-based proteins are as effective as animal-derived proteins from sources like meat and dairy in promoting muscle growth. The study, involving 40 young adults over three weightlifting sessions, randomly assigned participants to either a vegan or omnivore diet. Nicholas Bird, the lead researcher, stated that "both groups had comparable results when they measured how the muscle was growing from muscle building potential" (04:11, 04:27).

The findings challenge previous studies that favored meat-based proteins, which often limited analysis to single meals or specific protein sources. Bird emphasized the importance of consuming well-balanced plant-based meals with multiple protein sources to achieve optimal muscle growth, highlighting a shift in nutritional science towards more comprehensive, long-term studies (04:29).

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Notable Quotes

• Lakshmi Singh: "Russia wants large scale trade with the United States after the war ends." (00:14)
• Judge Beryl Howell: "USIP was created by Congress as an independent nonprofit think tank," asserting its separation from the executive branch. (01:08)
• Nicholas Bird: "Both groups had comparable results when they measured how the muscle was growing from muscle building potential." (04:27)
• South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman: Praised the spending and tax cut bill but "refused to offer full support." (01:51)

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This summary encapsulates the key developments covered in the May 19, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and those unable to tune in.

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Timestamps Reference

• 00:00 – Synchrony Bank Advertisement
• 00:14 – Opening News by Lakshmi Singh
• 01:08 – Ryan Lucas on US Institute of Peace Ruling
• 01:51 – Lakshmi Singh on Supreme Court Ruling and Domestic Agenda
• 02:39 – Market Reactions
• 03:24 – Lauren Frayer on Britain-EU Summit
• 03:33 – Ryan Lucas on Post-Brexit Deals
• 03:39 – EU Citizens' Rights in Britain
• 03:59 – Transition to Science Segment
• 04:11 – Will Stone on Plant Protein Study
• 04:27 – Details of the Study
• 04:50 – Final Advertisements and Outro

Note: Advertisements, intros, and outros have been omitted from the summary as per instructions.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump says that Russia and Ukraine will immediately start ceasefire talks. Today, Trump held a two hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The president says the tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. He added that Russia wants large scale trade with the United States after the war ends. Trump said he spoke to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and a group of European leaders immediately after his call with Putin. Trump also says the Vatican had said it would be interested in hosting the talks. Trump provided the update on social media. A federal judge is blocking the Trump administration's takeover of the US Institute of Peace. The court says the federal government's actions against the institute, including the removal of its board, were unlawful. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas.

[Ryan Lucas]

The Trump administration moved to take over the US Institute of Peace in March, removing members of the board and dismantling its global operations. Board members sued, alleging they were unlawfully fired. Now U.S. district Judge Beryl Howell agrees. In her 102 page ruling, Howell says that USIP was created by Congress as an independent nonprofit think tank. She determined it is not part of the executive branch, meaning the president does not have the authority to remove the institute's leadership as he did. The judge ordered the fired board members and the USIP president reinstated. The actions to dismantle the institute, the judge said, including the transfer of ownership of its headquarters, are null and void. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In a legal win for Trump, the US Supreme Court is allowing the administration to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans and potentially expose them to deportation. The Biden administration had extended temporary protected status for Venezuelans. However, President Trump reversed that decision. President Trump's domestic agenda is also on the line. The White House is pushing congressional Republicans to unite and pass the massive spending and tax cut package. The measure made it out of the House Budget Committee last night. But the GOP leadership faces the challenge of winning over fiscal hardliners who are demanding deeper cuts in spending to pay for tax cuts. One of them, South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman, who praised the bill but refused to offer full support.

[Ryan Lucas]

We've been downgraded three times. We have problems with the money in.

[Will Stone]

This country, the debt.

[Lakshmi Singh]

On Friday, Moody's downgraded the U.S. credit rating. However, U.S. treasury yields remain elevated. This hour, U.S. stocks are mixed. The NASDAQ is down 21 points at 19,189. The S& P is off slightly. The Dow is up more than 100 points. From Washington, this is NPR News. Britain and the European Union have held their first official summit since Brexit. It's been five years since Britain left the EU. Here's NPR's Lauren Freyr in London.

[NPR Sponsor]

Polls show a majority of Britain's regret Brexit, which hurt the British economy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls this a reset signaling a new era.

[Ryan Lucas]

Britain is back on the world stage doing deals that will grow our economy.

[NPR Sponsor]

EU citizens still won't be able to live and work freely in Britain or vice versa, but students and 20 somethings will be able to work short term jobs. Starmer's opponents accuse him of selling out to the EU with deals that include access to British waters for European fishing boats. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

[Lakshmi Singh]

New research finds that plant protein is just as effective for building muscle as consuming protein from animals like meat and dairy. The new study reflects a growing body of evidence in the field of exercise and nutrition.

[Will Stone]

Here's NPR's the study followed 40 young adults over three weightlifting sessions. They were randomly assigned a vegan or omnivore diet. Nicholas Bird, who ran the trial, says both groups had comparable results when they measured how the muscle was growing from muscle building potential.

[Ryan Lucas]

Vegan diets are just as good, he.

[Will Stone]

Says, with the caveat that people are eating well balanced plant based meals, meaning they have multiple sources of plant protein. Historically, studies have found meat based protein was superior, but those tended to focus on just one meal and one source of protein. And Byrd says views have evolved with longer term studies that included full meals. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

You're listening to and NPR Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music.

[Will Stone]

With a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.