NPR News: 05-19-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – Episode Summary (May 19, 2025)

Release Date: May 20, 2025
Host: Jack Spear

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1. International Diplomacy: President Trump's Efforts in Ukraine Conflict

President Donald Trump dedicated a significant portion of his day to telephone diplomacy, engaging in separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

• Attempting Peace Talks: Trump expressed optimism about winding down Russia's war with Ukraine, suggesting that holding discussions at the Vatican could add "extra significance" and potentially expedite peace efforts. He emphasized the necessity of mutual agreement among the leaders involved, stating, “they have to come to an agreement” (00:19).

• Challenges Highlighted: An unnamed analyst weighed in on the complexities of the negotiations, remarking, “Big egos involved, I tell you. Big egos involved. But I think something's going to happen, and if it doesn't, I just back away and they're going to have to keep going” (00:45). This underscores the personal dynamics that could influence the success of the diplomatic initiatives.

2. Domestic Security: Investigation into Palm Springs Car Bombing

A serious incident unfolded in Palm Springs, California, where a car bomb severely damaged the American Reproductive Center's fertility clinic, injuring four individuals.

• Incident Details: The explosion, which occurred late Saturday morning, caused extensive damage, sending debris flying and shattering windows in surrounding buildings. As authorities continue their investigation, they have begun easing restrictions on previously evacuated areas, allowing traffic to resume more freely around the blast site (01:19).

• Suspect Information: The primary suspect, identified as Guy Edward Bartkus, tragically died in the blast. Investigations revealed Bartkus's association with a residence in Twentynine Palms, which legal records suggest may belong to his mother. Law enforcement officials are now permitting residents to return to Twentynine Palms after over 48 hours of strict road closures (01:19).

3. Severe Weather: Central U.S. Braces for More Storms

The central United States continues to grapple with severe weather conditions, including tornadoes that have resulted in over two dozen fatalities, notably 19 in Kentucky alone.

• Current Aftermath: In the aftermath of the storms, communities are in recovery mode, with crews and survivors working tirelessly to rebuild homes and restore normalcy (02:16).

• Forecast and Preparedness: The National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky, has issued warnings for additional severe weather expected Tuesday afternoon into the night. Senior meteorologist Chuck Greif noted, “The tornado potential will be less than what we saw with the last system that went through there, but it is not zero and it probably will be a little higher than it normally is for these situations” (02:33). Authorities have assured sufficient staffing to handle the upcoming weather events (02:42).

4. Stock Market Update: Wall Street Closes Higher Amidst Economic Concerns

Despite facing a recent sovereign debt downgrade and uncertainties surrounding President Trump's tariffs affecting consumers, the stock market saw a positive close.

• Market Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 137 points, the Nasdaq rose by 4 points, and the S&P 500 gained 5 points. Investors remain cautious as they assess the implications of the debt downgrade and the potential impact of tariffs on the broader economy (02:50).

5. Cultural Shift: Trump Takes Helm of Kennedy Center Board

In a notable move within the cultural sector, President Trump is set to chair the board of trustees at the Kennedy Center.

• Board Restructuring: This appointment follows the dismissal of previous board members, indicating Trump's intention to reshape the Kennedy Center to align with his vision. The president’s involvement suggests a pivot towards a different focus for one of the nation's foremost cultural institutions (02:50).

6. Media and Legal Developments: CBS News Chief Resigns Amidst Trump Lawsuit

Wendy McMahon, Chief of CBS News, has resigned from her position due to disagreements with the company's leadership regarding its strategic direction.

• Resignation Details: McMahon cited her inability to support the corporate leadership's proposed path forward, particularly in the context of ongoing legal disputes with President Trump. She opposed any settlement that would include an apology to Trump (03:55).

• Trump Lawsuit: The lawsuit centers on a "60 Minutes" special that aired an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump alleges amounted to election fraud. Legal experts suggest Trump's case is weak due to First Amendment protections. CBS is currently negotiating a settlement, which may be influenced by the pending sale of the company requiring FCC approval, an agency now led by a Trump ally (03:55).

7. Environmental Concerns: Decline in Right Whale Population

The survival prospects of the right whale species are increasingly dire, with significant declines in birth rates exacerbating the crisis.

• Population Decline: Scientists report that the number of right whales has dwindled to approximately 370 individuals. The species is experiencing low reproduction rates, with authorities documenting only around 11 mother-calf pairs this year (04:33).

• Habitat and Breeding: Right whales typically give birth off the southeastern U.S. coast. The current decline raises alarms about the species' ability to recover and maintain its population levels (04:33).

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Notable Quotes:

• Unnamed Analyst on Diplomatic Challenges: “Big egos involved, I tell you. Big egos involved. But I think something's going to happen, and if it doesn't, I just back away and they're going to have to keep going.” (00:45)

• Chuck Greif on Weather Forecast: “The tornado potential will be less than what we saw with the last system that went through there, but it is not zero and it probably will be a little higher than it normally is for these situations.” (02:33)

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of pressing international and domestic issues, economic updates, cultural shifts, media developments, and environmental concerns, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the latest events shaping our world.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Charles Schwab with its original podcast on Investing. Each week, you'll get thoughtful, in depth analysis of both the stock and the bond markets. Listen today and [e-mail] oninvesting or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jack Spier. President Trump spent a chunk of today engaging in telephone diplomacy, having separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump saying in terms of winding down Russia's war with Ukraine, holding talks at the Vatican could give them extra significance and help things along. But Trump also acknowledged the leaders involved have to come to an agreement.

[Unnamed Analyst]

Big egos involved, I tell you. Big egos involved. But I think something's going to happen, and if it doesn't, I just back away and they're going to have to keep going.

[Jack Spear]

Trump at one point called it a European situation. President declined to say what would prompt him to walk away from his efforts to broker an end to the war, but has indicated his frustration with bulk both sides in the past. Authorities in Southern California continue their investigation into the car bomb that badly damaged a fertility clinic in Palm Springs over the weekend, injuring four people. NPR's Jason DeRose reports. Police are now easing restrictions on evacuated.

[Jason DeRose]

Areas after more than 48 hours of strict road closures in a large area around the blast site. Police in Palm Springs are allowing traffic to move more freely. A car bomb late Saturday morning nearly destroyed the American Reproductive Center's clinic here. The explosion sent debris flying and blew out windows in buildings for blocks around. Meanwhile, about an hour northeast of Palm Springs in the town of Twentynine Palms, law enforcement is beginning to allow residents evacuated there to return home. The primary suspect in the bombing, Guy Edward Bartkus, died in the blast. He's associated with a home in Twentynine Palms that legal records show may belong to his mother. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Palm Springs, California.

[Jack Spear]

Severe storms and tornadoes have killed more than two dozen people in the central U.S. at least 19 people in Kentucky alone. As survivors work to clean up the debris, more severe weather is in the forecast. Remember station weku, Stan Ingold reports.

[Stan Ingold]

The days following the storm have been calm, allowing crews and survivors to continue working on picking up the pieces of their homes and communities. That's about to change as the National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky, is predicting more severe weather Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night. Chuck Greif is a senior meteorologist at the Jackson office.

[Chuck Greif]

The tornado potential will be less than what we saw with the last system that went through there, but it is not zero and it probably will be a little higher than it normally is for these situations.

[Stan Ingold]

Greif says they have enough staffing to cover events like this. For NPR News, I'm Stan Engold in Richmond, Kentucky.

[Jack Spear]

National Weather Service is warning of more dangerous weather conditions in the days ahead with the risk of tornadoes from Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Stocks closed mostly higher on Wall street today as investors mull over the latest sovereign debt downgrade and continue at how consumers could be affected by the Trump administration's tariffs. The dow was up 137 points today. The Nasdaq rose 4 points. The S&P 500 was up 5 points. You're listening to NPR. President Trump hosts the board of the Kennedy center at the White House tonight, indication of how much time Trump is apparently devoting to remaking one of the nation's premier cultural institutions. Tonight's meeting of the center's board of trustees follows the firing of the board's previous members and the announcement Trump will serve as chairman. The president has sought to mold the Kennedy center in his own image with a different focus. CBS News chief Wendy McMahon is resigning, saying she does not agree with corporate leadership on, quote, the path forward. As NPR's David Folkenflick reports, the company is in talks to settle President Trump's lawsuit over a 60 minute special.

[David Folkenflick]

Trump sued the network last fall as a private citizen after it aired an interview with his rival, then Vice President Kamala Harris. CBS broadcast two versions of an answer she gave about the war in Gaza. The a shorter one on Face the Nation and a Longer1 on 60 Minutes. Trump claimed that amounted to election fraud. Legal experts tell NPR that Trump has a weak case thanks to the First Amendment's free speech protections. McMahon has opposed any settlement involving an apology, but CBS's owner is trying to complete a sale, one that requires the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, which is led by a Trump ally. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

A vanishing species of whale appears to be giving birth to fewer babies, heightening concerns about the survivability of the animals. Scientists said the right whale continues to see its numbers fall. Colonists believe there are only about 370 of the whales left. Right whales give birth off the southeastern U.S. coast. Authorities say they found this year only around 11 mother calf pairs. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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