NPR News: 05-19-2026 12PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 05-19-2026 12PM EDT
Host: Lakshmi Singh
Air Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Brief Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode covers several urgent national and international headlines. Topics include possible payouts for 2021 Capitol rioters, developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak, updates to President Trump’s prescription drug website, an end to the Long Island Railroad strike, and an ambitious renewable energy initiative in Utah.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Justice Department’s Fund for 2021 Capitol Rioters Lawsuits

• [00:15] The Justice Department is considering payouts to rioters who claim wrongful prosecution during the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

• The controversy surrounds a $1.7 billion fund established to resolve President Trump’s multibillion-dollar lawsuit against the IRS.

• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the fund’s similarity to an Obama-era program compensating Native American farmers for discrimination.

  "It is true that this is unusual. That is true. But it is not unprecedented. And it was done to address something that had never happened again either."
  — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche [00:59]

• Political Tensions:

  • Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen called the fund “pure theft of public funds.” [01:17]
  • The fund has raised bipartisan concern about government precedent and taxpayer money.

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2. Escalating Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

• [01:17] Death toll climbs to 131, over 500 suspected cases.

• Jonathan Lambert (NPR):

  • The outbreak involves the rare Bundabuyo species of the Ebola virus, which standard tests often miss, potentially enabling undetected spread.
  • At least one American doctor in the DRC has tested positive, but the risk to the U.S. is considered low due to Ebola's limited transmissibility compared to airborne viruses.

  "A rarer species of the Ebola virus called Bundabuyo is behind it...there are no approved treatments or vaccines for the virus that's spreading."
  — Jonathan Lambert [01:37]

• Global & Regional Impact:

  • High concern for Central Africa due to lack of tested treatments or vaccines.

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3. Expansion of TrumpRx Prescription Drug Platform

• [02:18] President Trump's TrumpRx website will now offer discounts on 602 generic drugs, in addition to brand names.

• Sidney Lupkin (NPR):

  • Describes expanded coverage, with discounts ranging from 10% to 93%.
  • Users can access coupons or be referred directly to additional discount providers (e.g., Amazon, Cost Plus Drugs).

  "The site offers what it calls presidential deals on brand name drugs...TrumpRx also includes generic drugs at what it calls stock standard prices."
  — Sidney Lupkin [02:29]

• President Trump reports over 10 million site visitors.

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4. End of the Long Island Railroad Strike

• [03:10] A tentative agreement ends the LIRR workers’ strike, which halted operations on the nation’s busiest commuter rail.

• Limited services are resuming and expected to be fully operational by evening.

  "It typically serves more than a quarter million people every day."
  — Lakshmi Singh [03:10]

• The dispute centered around salaries and health coverage.

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5. Utah Renewable Communities’ Clean Power Collaboration

• [03:50] A coalition called Utah Renewable Communities aims to supply clean power to nearly 300,000 homes/businesses via new solar and wind projects.

• The initiative, funded by a small customer fee and coordinated with regional utilities, could serve as a model for local climate action.

  "It shows us that at the local level, you can continue to move on climate strategies kind of regardless of the federal winds."
  — Emily Quinton, Sustainability Director, Summit County [04:37]

• Clean power from these projects is expected to come online by 2030.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche (on Justice Department fund):
  "It is true that this is unusual. That is true. But it is not unprecedented..." [00:59]
• Sen. Chris Van Hollen (on fund):
  The fund is “pure theft of public funds.” [01:17]
• Jonathan Lambert (on Ebola spread):
  "Standard field tests often miss this virus and it's likely that it's been spreading...under the radar." [01:37]
• Sidney Lupkin (on TrumpRx):
  "Users can print coupons to use at a pharmacy or follow links to drug company websites..." [02:29]
• Emily Quinton (on local climate action):
  "You can continue to move on climate strategies kind of regardless of the federal winds." [04:37]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Justice Department fund controversy: 00:15–01:17
• Ebola outbreak in Congo: 01:17–02:18
• TrumpRx expansion: 02:18–03:10
• Long Island Railroad strike ends: 03:10–03:50
• Utah renewable power collaboration: 03:50–04:52

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This episode provides a rapid but comprehensive roundup of major news stories, highlighting political controversy, urgent global health issues, consumer policy updates, labor disputes, and grassroots environmental initiatives.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

lie from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is not ruling out the possibility that rioters who believe they were wrongfully prosecuted over the 2021 insurrection at the U.S. capitol by might get paid from a more than $1.7 billion fund. The Justice Department sparked concerns among members of Congress that setting up a fund to resolve President Trump's multi billion dollar lawsuit against the IRS would amount to a taxpayer funded payout to Trump's friends. At a budget hearing today, Blanche told Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine the fund is structurally similar to an Obama era fund designed to compensate Native American farmers who allege they were victims of racial discrimination.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche]

It is true that this is unusual. That is true. But it is not unprecedented. And it was done to address something that had never happened again either. So there is an impressive nature of what we did yesterday in response to years and years of weaponization just to correct a few things.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says the fund is, quote, pure theft of public funds. The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 131, according to local health author NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports more than 500 people are suspected to be sick because of the outbreak.

[Jonathan Lambert]

On Tuesday, the head of the World Health Organization said he is deeply concerned about the scale and speed of this outbreak. A rarer species of the Ebola virus called Bundabuyo is behind it. Standard field tests often miss this virus and it's likely that it's been spreading in the region for weeks under the radar. At least one American, a doctor who is working in drc, tested positive and is experiencing symptoms. The risk to the U.S. however, is low as Ebola doesn't spread as easily as an airborne disease like Covid. But the risk to Central Africa is high because it's a rarer species. There are no approved treatments or vaccines for the virus that's spreading. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

President Trump's discount website for prescription drugs called Trump Rx is getting an update. The site will now include hundreds of generic drugs. Here's NPR's Sidney Lupk.

[Sidney Lupkin]

TrumpRx has added 602 generic drugs. That's in addition to the brand name drugs available to cash paying patients at a discount. The site offers what it calls presidential deals on brand name drugs that range from 10% off for GSK's antiviral inhaler Wallenza to up to 93% off for Novartis Multiple sclerosis pill Mazent users can print coupons to use at a pharmacy or follow links to drug company websites to purchase medication. Trumprx also includes generic drugs at what it calls stock standard prices. It directs users toward discount sites like Amazon and cost plus drugs. President Trump says more than 10 million people have visited TrumpRx.gov, sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR. Train service is starting to gradually resume on the Long Island Railroad now that a tentative deal is in place to end a train worker's strike that shut down the country's busiest commuter rail system days. Limited service on the LIRR was expected to begin this hour, then full speed by evening rush hour. The labor dispute over salaries and health coverage, among other items, affected rail service. It typically serves more than a quarter million people every day. In the New York City area, a group of big cities and small towns in conservative Utah is working to bring more renewable energy to the electric grid. The effort could be a model for other US Cities to take climate action even as the federal government pulls back on clean power. David Kondos of member station KUER reports.

[David Kondos]

The coalition called Utah Renewable Communities, has a big generate enough clean power to offset the electricity used in nearly 300,000 homes and businesses. To do this, the communities plan to build new energy projects like solar and wind. It's a unique collaboration with the projects funded by a small monthly fee on customers bills and the regional utility delivering the power to the grid. Emily Quinton is sustainability director with Summit county, one of the coalition's 19 members.

[Sidney Lupkin]

It shows us that at the local level, you can continue to move on climate strategies kind of regardless of the federal winds.

[David Kondos]

The group plans to begin adding new power to the grid by 2030. For NPR News, I'm David Khandos in Castle Valley, Utah.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's npr.

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