NPR News: 05-19-2026 10AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – 05-19-2026 10AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Date: May 19, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now update covers breaking national and international headlines, including developments in U.S. legal and political spheres, the aftermath of a mass shooting in San Diego, financial news impacting U.S. consumers, ongoing Middle Eastern tensions, and a declared Ebola public health emergency in Central Africa.

---

Key News Segments and Highlights

1. Justice Department Hearing & IRS Settlement Fund

[00:23 – 01:18]

• Main Point: Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche appears before a Senate appropriations panel to discuss the Justice Department’s budget, with lawmakers expected to raise questions about a new $1.8 billion fund created after a lawsuit settlement against the IRS.
• Details: NPR’s Kerry Johnson explains that the fund, established with taxpayer money, aims to compensate individuals allegedly targeted by the Biden administration.
• Concerns: Watchdogs fear Capitol rioters from January 6, 2021, could be eligible for compensation.
• Notable Quote:
  • Kerry Johnson: “It’s not clear the government will have to disclose who receives that money. And watchdogs say they’re really worried that people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, are now going to be in line for compensation.” (01:07)

---

2. Primary Elections & Trump’s Influence

[01:18 – 01:40]

• Main Point: Six states are holding primary elections. President Trump is taking an active role in the campaigns, particularly targeting Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a notable critic.
• Context: Trump has “repeatedly insulted” Massie, shaping the political dynamic in these races.

---

3. San Diego Mosque Mass Shooting

[01:40 – 02:19]

• Incident: Three people killed at the Islamic Center of San Diego in a mass shooting.
• Details: Police discovered the bodies of the two teenage shooters, who died of self-inflicted wounds in a nearby car. The attack, San Diego’s largest mosque, is being investigated as a hate crime.
• Impact on Community:
  • Tazeen Nizam (Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Diego):
    • “The community is shaken. The community is scared. The community is mourning. The community is devastated.” (02:08)
• Additional Note: Over 130 children and two dozen teachers and staff were present during the attack.

---

4. Market Update & Gas Prices

[02:19 – 03:20]

• Stocks: Markets opened lower; Home Depot’s better-than-expected results partially offset by continued impacts from a slow housing market.
  • Dow is down 160 points.
  • Home Depot’s profits dropped but not as much as forecasted.
• Consumers: Investors are closely watching retailers for signs about economic conditions.
• Gasoline: AAA reports average price for regular gas hits $4.53 per gallon as summer travel season nears.
• Global Markets: Mixed performance in Asian markets (Hong Kong and Shanghai up, Tokyo and Seoul down).
• Notable Quote:
  • Scott Horsley: “Gasoline prices are inching up again as we approach Memorial Day weekend, which traditionally marks the beginning of the summer driving season.” (02:57)

---

5. U.S.–Iran Tensions & Middle East Ceasefires

[03:20 – 03:59]

• President Trump: Announces postponement of renewed U.S. military strikes on Iran at the behest of Mideast allies, citing a possible peace agreement.
• Middle East Updates: Ceasefires remain between U.S. and Iran; between Lebanon and Israel. Lebanese officials state over 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since March 2.

---

6. Ebola Public Health Emergency in Congo and Uganda

[03:59 – 04:59]

• WHO Declaration: Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is now a public health emergency.
• U.S. Response:
  • Dr. Satish Pillai (CDC) is leading the U.S. response. One American with Ebola is en route to Germany for treatment, along with six high-risk contacts.
  • Reason for Germany: Experienced doctors and shorter flight time.
• Outbreak Stats: Began in late April, “has already sickened at least 300 people and killed more than 100.”
• Notable Quote:
  • Ping Huang: “Ebola disease is rare but deadly. Health officials believe this outbreak started in late April.” (04:44)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Kerry Johnson (on the DOJ fund):
  “It’s not clear the government will have to disclose who receives that money. And watchdogs say they’re really worried that people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, are now going to be in line for compensation.” (01:07)

• Tazeen Nizam (San Diego mosque attack):
  “The community is shaken. The community is scared. The community is mourning. The community is devastated.” (02:08)

• Scott Horsley (on U.S. consumer trends):
  “Investors are watching this week as they try to take the temperature of the US Consumer.” (02:51)

• Ping Huang (on Ebola):
  “Ebola disease is rare but deadly. Health officials believe this outbreak started in late April.” (04:44)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:23 – DOJ and IRS settlement fund controversy
• 01:18 – Primary elections and Trump’s influence
• 01:40 – San Diego Islamic Center mass shooting
• 02:19 – Stock market, Home Depot update, and gas prices
• 03:20 – Trump’s Iran announcement and Middle East ceasefires
• 03:59 – Ebola outbreak declared public health emergency

---

This five-minute news update delivers concise, direct coverage of major issues in U.S. politics, safety, the economy, international affairs, and health, reflecting NPR’s straightforward and factual reporting style.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from DataIQ. AI is everywhere, but companies struggle to prove results. For that, they need people, orchestration and governance working as1.Data IQ is the platform for AI success built to bring it all together. Visit D A T a I k u.com NPR Live from NPR News in

[Korva Coleman]

Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Acting U.S. attorney General Todd Blanche appears before a Senate appropriations panel this hour. He'll be questioned. The Justice Department's budget lawmakers may also want to know about a new fund that President Trump just helped create by settling a lawsuit against the IRS. The fund is worth nearly $1.8 billion. NPR's Kerry Johnson says the money will go to people allegedly targeted by the Biden administration.

[Kerry Johnson]

The acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, will appoint members of a board to oversee this fund and Trump will be able to fire them without cause. Blanche, of course, is a former personal lawyer to Trump. This fund is going to be create created from a pool of taxpayer money. It's not clear the government will have to disclose who receives that money. And watchdogs say they're really worried that people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, are now going to be in line for compensation.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Kerry Johnson reporting. There are primary elections in six states today. President Trump is weighing in heavily on some campaigns. That includes the campaign of Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has sharply disagreed with Trump. The president has repeatedly insulted Massie. Police say three people were killed yesterday in a mass shooting attack on the Islamic center of San Diego. Authorities say they later found the bodies of two males in a nearby car who are believed to be the shooters. The 18 year old and the 17 year old males had died of self inflicted gunshot wounds. Police say they're investigating the attack on the city's largest mosque as a hate crime. Tazeen Nizam is the executive director of the San Diego office of the Council on American

[Tazeen Nizam]

the community is shaken. The community is scared. The community is mourning. The community is devastated.

[Korva Coleman]

She says more than 130 children were inside the center when it was attacked, along with more than two dozen teachers and staff. Stocks opened lower this morning as Home Depot reported somewhat better than expected financial results. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow is down 160 points.

[Scott Horsley]

Home Depot sales were up in the most recent quarter and while profits were down, they fell less than forecasters had expected. The sluggish housing market has been a drag on home improvement centers. Home Depot is one of several major retailers. Investors are watching this week as they try to take the temperature of the US Consumer. Gasoline prices are inching up again as we approach the Memorial Day weekend, which traditionally marks the beginning of the summer driving season. AAA says the average price of regular is $4.53 a gallon. Crude oil prices have fallen slightly but are still above $100 a barrel. Asian stocks were mixed overnight up in Hong Kong and Shanghai, but down in Tokyo and Seoul. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr. President Trump says he is holding off for now on a renewed US Military attack on Iran. He says he is pausing this at the request of Mideast allies, and he says they believe a peace agreement with Iran is close. No details of any potential peace agreement have been released. A ceasefire remains in place. This comes as the death toll in Lebanon continues to grow in that country. There is supposed to be a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. Lebanese officials say more than 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since March 2. The World Health Organization has declared a new outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to be an international public health emergency. As NPR's Ping Huang reports, U.S. health officials are working to evacuate exposed Americans.

[Ping Huang]

Dr. Satish Pillai is managing the Ebola response for the U.S. centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[Tazeen Nizam]

There's one case of Ebola in an American who was exposed as part of their work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday.

[Ping Huang]

Pillai says they're being moved to Germany along with six other Americans that are considered high risk contacts for treatment and observation. Germany because their doctors have experience with Ebola patients and it's quicker to fly there. Ebola disease is rare but deadly. Health officials believe this outbreak started in late April. It has already sickened at least 300 people and killed more than 100. Ping Huang, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR.

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from IXL. IXL is an award winning online learning platform. IXL makes it simple for kids to stay sharp during summer break, receive an exclusive 20% off IXL [e-mail] NPR.