NPR News: 05-19-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary for May 19, 2025, 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Release Date: May 19, 2025

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1. U.S. Diplomatic Efforts on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

President Trump's Ceasefire Initiative

NPR begins with a significant update on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. President Donald Trump announced that he has initiated immediate ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking from the White House, Trump stated:

“We just spent two and a half hours talking to Vladimir Putin and I think some progress has been made. It's a terrible situation going on over there.”
— Donald Trump [00:33]

Following his discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump also communicated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via social media. He highlighted the Vatican's interest in hosting these crucial talks, indicating a potential neutral ground for negotiations.

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2. U.S. Supreme Court Allows Administration to End Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans

Reversal of Biden Administration's TPS Extension

In immigration news, the U.S. Supreme Court has permitted the Trump administration to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans. This decision reverses the earlier move by the Biden administration, which had extended TPS protections in 2023. Lakshmi Singh reported:

“The U.S. Supreme Court is allowing the administration to end temporary legal status for 350,000 Venezuelans, reversing the Biden administration's decision to extend the short-term protections.”
— Lakshmi Singh [00:42]

Impact and Legal Proceedings

NPR's Ximena Bustilla provides deeper insight:

“A federal judge paused the White House's plans a week before protections were scheduled to expire. The Trump administration appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court in an emergency application. The court didn't weigh in on whether the Trump administration could end TPS for Venezuelans permanently. That continues to be litigated in lower courts.”
— Ximena Bustilla [01:10]

The potential end of TPS could lead to deportations, affecting hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants residing in the United States.

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3. Escalation of the Israeli Offensive in Gaza's Khan Younis

Military Orders and Civilian Evacuations

The Israeli military has intensified its operations against Hamas by ordering the evacuation of civilians from Khan Younis, Gaza's second-largest city. Lakshmi Singh introduces NPR's Daniel Estrin, who reports:

“Israel's military says the city of Khan Younis is now designated a dangerous combat zone.”
— Daniel Estrin [01:49]

On-the-Ground Insights

Paramedic Nassim Hassan shared his experiences:

“I'm starting to move items to an evacuation zone while I'm fielding emergency calls amid the Israeli offensive.”
— Nassim Hassan [01:49]

An Israeli airstrike has reportedly damaged the medical supplies warehouse at the main hospital in Khan Younis, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In response to international pressure, Israel has allowed limited food supplies into Gaza, including five trucks of baby food, with plans to dispatch dozens more trucks carrying flour, bakery supplies, community kitchen provisions, and medical essentials in the coming days.

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4. Regeneron Acquires Bankrupt 23andMe for $256 Million

Business Acquisition and Data Privacy Concerns

In corporate news, biotechnology firm Regeneron has announced its plan to acquire the bankrupt DNA testing company 23andMe for $256 million. This acquisition marks a significant decline from 23andMe's $6 billion valuation four years ago, primarily due to difficulties in retaining repeat customers who sought one-time DNA tests for ancestry and health risk information.

Regeneron's Commitment to Privacy

The sale emphasizes the importance of data privacy:

“Regeneron says 23andMe's Consumer Genome Services will continue and it would comply with the company's consumer privacy policies and related laws.”
— Unknown Speaker [02:40]

Experts have voiced concerns over federal laws' inadequacy in protecting genetic information provided to private entities. Despite these challenges, Regeneron assures continued adherence to existing privacy policies and legal requirements.

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5. Update on Brooklyn Bridge Collision Involving a Mexican Navy Vessel

Safety Assessment and Casualties

Federal investigators have provided an update on the maritime collision that occurred on Saturday involving a tall-masted Mexican Navy vessel and the Brooklyn Bridge. Lakshmi Singh reports:

“There is no significant structural damage to the load-bearing elements of the bridge. There is some damage on one of the travelers which they use to access and survey the bridge at this point, but nothing structural from the bridge is an issue at this plant.”
— Michael Graham, National Transportation Safety Board [03:36]

Tragically, the collision resulted in the deaths of two individuals. While the Brooklyn Bridge remains structurally sound, the incident underscores the dangers posed by such maritime accidents in bustling urban areas.

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6. Sesame Street's Transition to Netflix Amid Distribution Changes

Streaming Partnership and Production Challenges

In entertainment news, the beloved children's show "Sesame Street" is set to move its distribution to Netflix after being dropped by Max. NPR's Elizabeth Blair elaborates:

“Netflix says it will begin streaming the 56th season of Sesame Street later this year. Under its previous distribution deal, PBS had to wait months before airing new episodes after they first ran on Max. Now PBS stations and the PBS Kids platform will run new episodes on the same day and date as they stream on Netflix.”
— Elizabeth Blair [03:53]

Financial Strain and Workforce Reductions

The shift comes amidst financial pressures:

“As an educational show steeped in research, Sesame Street is expensive to produce. In March, Sesame Workshop announced it was laying off 20% of its staff amid the changing media and funding landscape.”
— Elizabeth Blair [04:13]

The move aims to streamline distribution but reflects broader challenges in maintaining high-quality educational programming in a rapidly evolving media environment.

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7. U.S. Stock Market Closes Higher

Market Performance Overview

Concluding the updates, Lakshmi Singh provides a snapshot of the U.S. stock market's performance:

“U.S. stocks end the day higher, with the Dow closing up 137 points to settle at 42,792. The S&P closed up five. The Nasdaq was up four points.”
— Lakshmi Singh [04:48]

The positive closing indicates a stable trading day amid ongoing economic and geopolitical developments.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductions, and non-essential segments to focus solely on the core news content presented in the NPR News Now episode for May 19, 2025.

Transcript

[Eric]

Eric, we there? That's Muzzo.

[Unknown]

You've probably seen clips from the Jennifer Hudson show spirit tunnel on TikTok or Instagram, the ones where celebrities dance down the hallway to a clever song. These videos can reveal a lot. Do they have rhythm? And how famous are they really? We're breaking down the inescapable Internet trend. Listen to the Pop culture Happy Hour podcast from npr.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump says Russia and Ukraine will immediately be ceasefire talks.

[Donald Trump]

We just spent two and a half hours talking to Vladimir Putin and I think some progress has been made. It's a terrible situation going on over there.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Trump today at the White House, The US Leader says he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky right after his call with Putin on social media. The president noted that the Vatican was interested in hosting the talks. The U.S. supreme Court is allowing the administration to end temporary legal status for 350,000 Venezuelans, reversing the Biden administration's decision to extend the short term protections. NPR's Ximena Bustilla reports the decision could lead to deportations.

[Ximena Bustilla]

The Trump administration sought to reverse temporary protected status for Venezuelans after former President Biden extended it in 2023. A federal judge paused the White House's plans a week before protections were scheduled to expire. The Trump administration appealed that decision to the U.S. supreme Court in an emergency application. The court didn't weigh in on whether the Trump administration could end TPS for Venezuelans permanently. That continues to be litig in lower courts. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Israeli military is ordering civilians to evacuate Gaza's second biggest city, part of its expanded offensive against hamas. More from NPR's Daniel Estrin.

[Daniel Estrin]

Israel's military says the city of Khan Younis is now designated a dangerous combat zone. Nassim Hassan, a paramedic in the city, spoke to npr. He says he's starting to move items to an evacuation zone while he's fielding emergency calls amid the Israeli offensive. Health officials report an Israeli strike has damaged the medical supplies warehouse of the city's main hospital. Israel says it's allowing food back into Gaza due to international pressure. It says it has now sent only five trucks of baby food into Gaza. And in the coming days, dozens of trucks will bring flour to bakeries, supplies to community kitchens and medical supplies. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Regeneron says it plans to buy the bankrupt DNA testing company 23andMe. More on this from NPR.

[Unknown]

Regeneron says it won a bankruptcy auction and will acquire 23andMe for $256 million. It's a far cry from the 6 billion dollar valuation of 23andMe after it went public just four years ago. But the company struggled to attract repeat customers. Its one time DNA tests provide information about ancestry and health risks. When it announced its bankruptcy in March, it said the data privacy of its customers would be an important consideration in any sale. Experts say federal law does little to secure genetic information given over to a private. Regeneron says 23andMe's Consumer Genome Services will continue and it would comply with the company's consumer privacy policies and related laws.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's NPR News. Federal investigators of Saturday's ship collision in New York City just gave an update. Michael Graham, member of the National Transportation Safety Board, says the Brooklyn Bridge is structurally safe.

[Michael Graham]

There is no significant structural damage to the load bearing elements of the bridge. There is some damage on one of the travelers which they use to access and survey the bridge at this point, but nothing structural from the bridge is an issue at this plant.

[Lakshmi Singh]

However, two people died when the tall masted Mexican navy vessel lost power and collided with the bridge. Sesame street is heading to Netflix. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports. The iconic kids show was without a distributor after it was dropped by Max.

[Elizabeth Blair]

Netflix says it will begin streaming the 56th season of Sesame street later this year. Under its previous distribution deal, PBS had to wait months before airing new episodes after they first ran on max. Now PBS stations and the PBS Kids platform will run new episodes on the same day and date as they stream on Netflix. As an educational show steeped in research, Sesame street is expensive to produce. In March, Sesame Workshop announced it was laying off 20% of its staff amid the changing media and funding landscape. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks end the day higher, with the dow closing up 137 points to settle at 42,792. The S&P closed up five. The Nasdaq was up four points. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

[Eric]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News now at npr.org. that's +npr.org.