NPR News: 05-19-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

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

Presented by NPR

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the substantive news coverage.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Israel's prime minister is allowing some aid into Gaza after he said allies pressured him to avoid images of hunger coming from the territory. Israel launched an extensive ground offensive in Gaza yesterday in an effort to force Hamas to surrender and release Israeli hostages still held there. NPR's Carrie Khan reports.

[Carrie Khan]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will allow a, quote, basic quantity of food into Gaza and control all aid distribution there. He also said Israel will hold onto territory seized by ground forces in what he says will be a plan to, quote, taking control of all of Gaza. Intense shelling and airstrikes in northern Gaza has forced Palestinians to flee like 50 year old Wael Al Kilani, who walked for hours with his wife and seven children. He says the bombing was intense with planes striking artillery fire and tanks. Hamas and Israel are currently holding indirect talks in Doha. Israel demands Hamas lay down its arms. Hamas wants international guarantees for a negotiated end to the war. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Korva Coleman]

House Republicans have voted to advance a multi trillion dollar spending package out of a key committee and to the full House for a vote. Democrats opposed the bill then they say it will deeply cut social programs that Americans need. The CEO of Walmart has warned that the Trump administration's tariffs will soon force price increases at the nation's largest retailer. Over the weekend, President Trump told Walmart to eat the tariffs and to avoid passing on price increases to customers. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. The White House is in contact with Walmart's CEO.

[Scott Bessant]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant is in direct talks with the Walmart CEO. He tells CNN consumers could see price.

[Luke Garrett]

Hike, will be absorbing some of the tariffs. Some may get passed on to consumers.

[Scott Bessant]

The treasury secretary also defended the whiplash of the on again and off again reciprocal tariffs. Bessen called it strategic uncertainty. He also threatened that the Trump administration will bring back high reciprocal tariffs if certain countries don't come to the table.

[Luke Garrett]

President Trump has put them on notice that if you do not negotiate in good faith that you will ratchet back up to your April 2nd.

[Scott Bessant]

Bessen said this goes for 18 important trading partners, but he did not say which ones or how quickly these tariffs would return. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Train engineers for New Jersey Transit have reached a tentative contract agreement to end their strike that started last Friday morning, disrupting commutes for many. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says rail transit service is going to resume starting Tuesday, May 20th.

[Luke Garrett]

NJ Transit will once again provide rail service to the more than 100,000 riders who depend on it every single day.

[Korva Coleman]

The engineers union says they had not had pay increases in six years. The deal includes raises. It's npr. Former President Joe Biden has an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to his office. In a statement, Biden's office says the cancer has spread to the bone, but the report says it is sensitive to hormones that indicates there are options for effective disease management. Exit polls are in from yesterday's first round of presidential elections in Poland. These say the frontrunners are the liberal mayor of the capital Warsaw, and a conservative historian. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports they're on track to face off in two weeks for a second round of voting.

[Rob Schmitz]

Exit polls show Warsaw Mayor Rafa Czkovsky barely edging out Karl Novrotsky, a member of the right wing Law and Justice party, by around 2 percentage points points, suggesting a June 1 runoff could be closely contested. Czaskovsky is a center left politician aligned with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who speaks foreign languages and holds pro European Union views. Novrotsky, who has positioned himself as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty, was welcomed by President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month in what was seen as an endorsement. Novrotsky has also embraced anti Ukrainian rhetoric in his campaign. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

[Korva Coleman]

There were other elections in Europe this weekend. In Romania, the centrist mayor of the capital, Bucharest, defeated a right wing rival in that country's presidential runoff election. Romanian President elect Nikosar Dan is promising continued support for Ukraine. In Portugal, far right candidates gained more votes in that country's snap parliamentary election held this weekend. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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