NPR News Now: May 19, 2025, 8AM EDT

Presented by NPR

1. Israel’s Ground Offensive and Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

[00:15 – 00:36]

Korva Coleman, NPR’s Washington correspondent, reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized limited humanitarian aid into Gaza. This decision follows pressure from international allies to mitigate the severe humanitarian crisis emerging from the ongoing conflict.

2. Intensified Military Actions in Gaza

[00:36 – 01:22]

In an extensive report, Carrie Khan detailed Israel’s renewed ground offensive aimed at compelling Hamas to surrender and secure the release of Israeli hostages. Netanyahu announced that Israel would permit a "basic quantity of food into Gaza," maintaining strict control over aid distribution. He further stated Israel’s intention to retain territories captured by ground forces as part of a broader strategy to "take control of all of Gaza."

The offensive has led to intense shelling and airstrikes in northern Gaza, forcing civilians to flee. Wael Al Kilani, a 50-year-old resident, recounted walking for hours with his family to escape the bombings: "The bombing was intense with planes striking artillery fire and tanks." Current indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Doha reflect a tense standoff, with Israel demanding an unconditional disarmament of Hamas, while Hamas seeks international guarantees for a negotiated ceasefire.

3. U.S. Political Developments: Spending Package and Trade Tensions

[01:22 – 03:08]

Korva Coleman shifted focus to U.S. domestic politics, highlighting the House Republicans’ advancement of a multi-trillion-dollar spending package through a key committee to the full House for a vote. Democrats have opposed the bill, arguing that it would result in significant cuts to essential social programs.

Amidst this, Walmart’s CEO has raised concerns regarding the Trump administration’s tariffs, warning that they may lead to price increases for consumers. Over the weekend, President Trump directed Walmart to absorb these tariffs and avoid passing the costs onto customers. NPR’s Luke Garrett reported that the White House is actively communicating with Walmart’s leadership.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant confirmed he is in direct talks with Walmart’s CEO. At [01:56], Bessant stated to CNN, "Consumers could see price hikes, will be absorbing some of the tariffs. Some may get passed on to consumers." He defended the administration’s approach, describing the fluctuating tariffs as "strategic uncertainty" and warned that the administration might reinstate high reciprocal tariffs if trading partners do not engage in good faith negotiations. Luke Garrett added, "President Trump has put them on notice that if you do not negotiate in good faith, you will ratchet back up to your April 2nd tariffs." Bessant emphasized that this stance applies to "18 important trading partners," though specifics were not disclosed.

4. Resolution of New Jersey Transit Strike

[02:41 – 02:59]

Korva Coleman reported that New Jersey Transit train engineers have reached a tentative contract agreement, effectively ending the strike that began last Friday morning. Governor Phil Murphy announced that rail services would resume on Tuesday, May 20th, restoring commutes for over 100,000 daily riders. Luke Garrett emphasized the impact: "NJ Transit will once again provide rail service to the more than 100,000 riders who depend on it every single day." The engineers' union highlighted that the agreement includes much-needed pay raises, addressing the fact that members had not received increases in six years.

5. Health Update: Former President Joe Biden’s Cancer Treatment

[03:08 – 03:49]

In a significant personal health update, Korva Coleman reported that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Biden’s office released a statement confirming that the cancer has metastasized to the bones. However, reports indicate that the cancer remains sensitive to hormones, suggesting that effective management and treatment options are available.

6. European Elections: Poland’s Presidential Race and Broader Outcomes

[03:49 – 04:28]

Rob Schmitz provided insights into recent elections across Europe, focusing on Poland’s inaugural round of presidential elections. Exit polls indicate a close race between Rafa Czkovsky, the liberal mayor of Warsaw, and Karl Novrotsky, a member of the right-wing Law and Justice party. Czkovsky leads by approximately 2 percentage points, setting the stage for a tightly contested runoff on June 1st.

Czkovsky, a center-left candidate aligned with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, is known for his pro-European Union stance and multilingual abilities. In contrast, Novrotsky, endorsed by President Donald Trump, champions conservative values and national sovereignty, and has incorporated anti-Ukrainian rhetoric into his campaign.

Additionally, Schmitz highlighted other European electoral outcomes:

• In Romania, the centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nikosar Dan, defeated a right-wing rival in the presidential runoff, pledging continued support for Ukraine.
• In Portugal, far-right candidates made significant gains in the country’s snap parliamentary elections held over the weekend.

7. European Elections Highlight

[04:28 – 04:55]

Korva Coleman concluded the European elections segment by summarizing key results:

• Romania elected Nikosar Dan, a centrist mayor committed to supporting Ukraine.
• Portugal saw a surge in votes for far-right candidates during its snap parliamentary elections.

These outcomes reflect the shifting political landscapes within Europe, with significant implications for regional stability and international relations.

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