Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – May 19, 2026, 8AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Length: 5 minutes

Overview

This episode delivers concise updates on major news stories in the U.S., touching on political primaries, a mass shooting in San Diego, dramatic health insurance changes, new developments at the Justice Department, an update on last year’s UPS cargo plane crash, and a luxury watch uproar in Europe and the U.S.

Key Stories and Highlights

1. Political Primaries in Six States

[00:00–00:50]

Kentucky Senate Race:
- Kentucky is among six states holding primary elections.
- On the Republican side, incumbent Congressman Andy Barr runs for Senate, having secured President Trump’s endorsement late in the race.
- His main challenger: Daniel Cameron, former Kentucky Attorney General and 2023 gubernatorial candidate, backed by some libertarian-leaning politicians but trailing in polls.
- On the Democratic side, notable candidates reappearing are Charles Booker and Amy McGrath (both previous unsuccessful Senate candidates).
- Race Outlook: The Cook Political Report rates the Senate seat in Kentucky as a “solid red,” strongly favoring Republicans.
Quote:

“Congressman Andy Barr is leaving his House district to run for the seat, securing President Trump's endorsement late in the race.”
– Sylvia Goodman [00:13]

2. Mass Shooting at San Diego Islamic Center

[00:50–01:46]

Incident:
- Five people were found dead, including the two alleged shooters (who died by suicide).
- Occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the area’s largest mosque.
- Authorities are investigating the event as a hate crime, citing “generalized hate rhetoric and speech.”
Quote:

“The religious intolerance and the hate, unfortunately, that exist, exist in our nation is unprecedented.”
– Taha Hassan, Imam and Director [01:26]

3. Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollment Plummets

[01:46–02:52]

Drop-Off:
- Enrollment in healthcare.gov and similar marketplaces expected to fall by 5 million this year—down from 22 million in 2025 to about 17 million.
- Reason: Expiration of federal premium subsidies after Congress failed to reach a deal.
- Impact: Many enrollees dropped coverage due to skyrocketing costs; those remaining are paying higher premiums or deductibles.
Quote:

“After that, costs went up significantly and a lot of people dropped their plans. Um, those who stay are paying more, either in the form of higher premiums or higher deductibles or both.”
– Unnamed Health Expert [02:22]

4. Congress and the Justice Department Fund

[02:52–03:37]

Political Funding Controversy:
- Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche to testify before the Senate regarding a $1.8 billion fund, established to compensate individuals allegedly targeted by the Biden administration.
- Move originated from President Trump, sparking claims the fund is a “deeply corrupt move” that could be used to reward allies through Justice Department payouts.

5. Louisville UPS Cargo Plane Crash Investigation

[03:37–04:18]

NTSB Hearing:
- Focus: Last year’s deadly UPS Flight 2976 crash in Louisville.
- The MD-11 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in 15 fatalities (including all 3 pilots).
- FAA grounded all MD-11 cargo planes following the accident; some have since returned to service post-repair, but UPS plans to retire its MD-11 fleet early.
Quote:

“Dramatic photos of the crash show the left engine flying up and over the wing as the plane rolled down the runway moments before exploding in a massive fireball.”
– Joel Rose [03:48]

6. Swatch Luxury Pocket Watch Frenzy

[04:18–04:40]

Consumer Scuffles:
- Swatch reports ample stock of new luxury pocket watches.
- However, high demand led to temporary store closures after altercations among customers in the U.S. and Europe.

Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes

“The religious intolerance and the hate, unfortunately, that exist, exist in our nation is unprecedented.”
– Taha Hassan, Islamic Center of San Diego [01:26]
“After that, costs went up significantly and a lot of people dropped their plans…”
– Unnamed Health Expert [02:22]
“Dramatic photos of the crash show the left engine flying up and over the wing…”
– Joel Rose [03:48]

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment | |--------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Political primaries in six states | | 00:50 | San Diego mosque shooting – hate crime probe | | 01:46 | Health insurance enrollment drops | | 02:52 | Justice Dept. $1.8 billion fund controversy | | 03:37 | UPS cargo plane crash investigation update | | 04:18 | Swatch pocket watch demand incidents |

This episode encapsulates pressing political, social, and economic stories, weaving in direct voices from affected communities and investigators, thus providing listeners with a robust snapshot of major news developments as of May 19, 2026.

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Transcript14 lines

[00:01]
Korva Coleman
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. There are primaries in six states today. That includes Kentucky. As Kentucky Public Radio's Sylvia Goodman tells
[00:10]
Sylvia Goodman
us, Kentucky Republicans have a big list of candidates to choose from, but a few have risen to the top. Congressman Andy Barr is leaving his House district to run for the seat, securing President Trump's endorsement late in the race. His main competition will be former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who lost his 2023 bid for governor to Democrat Andy Beshear. Cameron has seen some support from libertarian leaning politicians, but has fallen significantly in available polling. A few familiar faces have dominated the Democratic side of the race with former unsuccessful Senate candidates Charles Booker and Amy McGrath. The Cook Political Report still rates the Senate seat as a solid red one. For NPR News, I'm Sylvia Goodman in Louisville, Kentucky.
[00:50]
Korva Coleman
San Diego police say five people are dead, including two suspects, following yesterday's mass shooting at the city's Islamic Center. Police say the suspects died by suicide. From member station kpbs, Corey Suzuki reports. Local authorities are investigating this as a hate crime.
[01:09]
Corey Suzuki
The Islamic center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County. Police say they found three people dead in front of the building. They found the two they think were the shooters in a car several blocks away. They were also dead. Taha Hassan is the imam and director of the Islamic center of San Diego. He said his community was in mourning.
[01:26]
Taha Hassan
The religious intolerance and the hate, unfortunately, that exist, exist in our nation is unprecedented.
[01:33]
Corey Suzuki
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wall said they are investigating the shooting as a hate crime. He declined to provide specific details, but said there was generalized hate rhetoric and speech involved. For NPR News, I'm Corey Suzuki in San Diego.
[01:47]
Korva Coleman
Enrollment in healthcare.gov and the other marketplaces is projected to plunge by 5 million people this year. As NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports, the the dramatic drop came after Congress failed to make a deal on premium subsidies.
[02:03]
Cynthia Cox
Lawmakers came close to a deal, but in the end it fell apart. Extra federal money that helped keep premium costs down expired at the end of December. Cynthia Cox of the nonpartisan Health Research Organization is a co author of a new report on what happened with healthcare.gov and the state marketplaces.
[02:22]
Unnamed Health Expert
After that, costs went up significantly and a lot of people dropped their plants. Um, those who stay are paying more, either in the form of higher premiums or higher deductibles or both.
[02:32]
Cynthia Cox
The report projects enrollment in these marketplaces will plunge this year from 22 million in 2025 to about 17 million. That's a difference of 5 million people who may have found coverage elsewhere, but Cox says probably became uninsured. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
[02:52]
Korva Coleman
On Wall street in pre market trading, Dow futures are lower. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Acting U.S. attorney General Todd Blanche will testify before a Senate appropriations panel today. This comes a day after President Trump moved to help the Justice Department set up a $1.8 billion fund. It's intended to compensate people allegedly targeted by the Biden administration. Critics say this is a deeply corrupt move and will allow the Justice Department to give cash to the president's allies. The nation's top safety investigators will open a two day hearing this morning. They're looking into last year's deadly crash of a UPS cargo plane in Louisville. NPR's Joel Rose has more.
[03:38]
Joel Rose
The National Transportation Safety Board is looking to gather more information about UPS Flight 2976. The McDonnell Douglas MD11 cargo plane got only 30ft off the ground before crashing shortly after takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky, last November. Dramatic photos of the crash show the left engine flying up and over the wing as the plane rolled down the Runway moments before explod in a massive fireball. Fifteen people were killed, including all three pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all MD11 cargo planes until recently. FedEx says a few of its MD11s have returned to service after repairs and inspection, but UPS says all of its remaining MD11 jets will be retired early. Joel Rose, NPR News.
[04:19]
Korva Coleman
Swiss watchmaker Swatch says there are plenty of its new luxury pocket watches available for sale, but Swatch was forced to briefly close some stores starting over the weekend. This was after scuffles broke out among buyers in the US And Europe. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.
[04:40]
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