NPR News: 05-19-2026 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 19, 2026, 9AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Length: ~5 minutes
Episode Focus: The latest headlines in U.S. elections, labor, global poverty, mental health research, and space news.

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Episode Overview

This short NPR News Now update delivers concise national and international headlines for the morning of May 19, 2026. Major stories include primary election developments with insight into voter sentiment, resolution of a New York commuter rail strike, a UN warning about rising global poverty, a breakthrough in depression treatment for suicidality, and news of a near-Earth asteroid flyby.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Primary Elections and Republican Sentiment

[00:18–01:15]

• Six U.S. states are holding primaries today, stretching from Georgia to Oregon.

• President Trump has actively campaigned for many candidates, who are seeing primary victories.

• Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, notes a nuanced Republican voter base:

  • Strong support for Trump persists.
  • However, there’s disappointment regarding economic issues, specifically high gas and grocery prices.
  • Voters feel Trump has not delivered on promises to lower prices, and is instead focusing on issues they consider less important.

  "They are disappointed that Trump, who said he was going to come into office and immediately lower prices, hasn't been able to do so and in fact, seems to be focusing on things that are much less important to them, like his ballroom, like his arch and other pet projects..."
  — Sarah Longwell (00:47)

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2. Long Island Rail Strike Resolved

[01:15–02:16]

• Commuter rail service in New York is expected to return to normal by the afternoon’s rush hour.

• A deal was reached late yesterday, ending a three-day strike affecting roughly 250,000 riders.

• Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized a deal without further fare or tax increases:

  "It stood firm for a deal that would not require any additional fare increases or tax increases."
  — Governor Kathy Hochul (01:45)

• The strike was the first since 1994; details of the agreement will not be released until union members ratify it.

• Service is ramping up ahead of a major basketball event at Madison Square Garden.

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3. UN Warns Millions Face Poverty Due to War and Costs

[02:16–03:13]

• The United Nations warns that more than 32 million people worldwide are at risk of being pushed into poverty.

• Fatma Tanis explains this is due to high energy costs and economic disruption from “the Iran war,” impacting lower-income countries.

• Small island nations (e.g., in the Caribbean) that rely heavily on imports are especially vulnerable.

• The crisis threatens UN 2030 goals to eradicate extreme poverty.

  "More than 32 million people around the world are at risk of being pushed into poverty. Women, children and youth will be affected the most."
  — Fatma Tanis (02:29)

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4. New Depression Treatment Reduces Suicidal Thoughts

[03:13–04:24]

• A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry shows a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts among people with major depression or bipolar disorder using a two-drug protocol.

• Ritu Chatterjee details the clinical trial:

  • All participants received ketamine.
  • Half then received buprenorphine; the other half, a placebo.
  • After a month, 78% who got buprenorphine reported markedly fewer suicidal thoughts (vs. 48% for placebo).

  "A month later, 78% of the group that received buprenorphine showed a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts, compared to only 48% of the placebo group."
  — Ritu Chatterjee (03:38)

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5. Asteroid Makes Close Pass by Earth

[04:24–04:56]

• Scientists confirm a small asteroid passed just 57,000 miles from Earth yesterday—less than half the distance to the moon.
• Discovered at Mount Lemmon Observatory, its next close approach is expected to be near Jupiter.
• Such small asteroid flybys are frequent, astronomers say.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On voter disappointment:

  "...every single Republican voter that we listen to thinks things are not going well in the country."
  —Sarah Longwell (00:47)

• On the rail strike deal:

  "It stood firm for a deal that would not require any additional fare increases or tax increases."
  —Governor Kathy Hochul (01:45)

• On global poverty threat:

  "Women, children and youth will be affected the most."
  —Fatma Tanis (02:29)

• On depression treatment results:

  "78% of the group that received buprenorphine showed a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts..."
  —Ritu Chatterjee (03:38)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:18] — Primary elections update; Sarah Longwell on Republican voters
• [01:15] — Long Island Railroad strike resolved; comments from Governor Hochul
• [02:16] — UN warning on global poverty
• [03:13] — New study on depression treatment reducing suicidality
• [04:24] — Asteroid flyby news

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Conclusion

This tightly-packed news update covers major U.S. political developments, urgent economic issues on both domestic and global scales, scientific advances, and space news, providing listeners with a concise yet informative start to the day's headlines.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. There are primary elections in six states today, from Georgia to Oregon. President Trump has weighed in heavily on some primary races. He has seen many of his preferred candidates win in primary elections. Political consultant Sarah Longwell is the publisher of the conservative leaning media outlet the Bulwark. She says many Republican primary voters are deeply supportive of President Trump but are showing some reservations.

[Sarah Longwell]

They make excuses for him, but also every single Republican voter that we listen to thinks things are not going well in the country. They think gas prices are too high. They think grocery prices are too high. They are disappointed that Trump, who said he was going to come into office and immediately lower prices, hasn't been able to do so and in fact, seems to be focusing on things that are much less important to them, like his ballroom, like his arch and other pet projects with the president.

[Korva Coleman]

She spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. Commuter rail service in New York is expected to be back to normal by this afternoon's rush hour. That comes after negotiators struck a deal late yesterday ending a three day strike. NPR's Brian Mann reports. This complicated commutes for a quarter million riders.

[Brian Mann]

This strike started Saturday with workers demanding their first pay hike since 2022. Speaking last night, Governor Kathy Hochul said this deal means wages will go up, but not as much as union leaders wanted.

[Kathy Hochul]

It stood firm for a deal that would not require any additional fare increases or tax increases.

[Brian Mann]

This was the first strike on the Long island Railroad since 1994. Details of the deal won't be released until union members ratify it. Services expected to ramp up through the day today. Hokul and Long Island Railroad officials say trains will be operating normally for the afternoon commute and for crowds traveling to tonight's Eastern Conference finals basketball game with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers playing at Madison Square Garden. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

The United nations is warning that millions of people around the world are on the brink of poverty. That's due to high energy costs and low economic. NPR's Fatma Tanis reports.

[Fatma Tanis]

The rising fuel prices and shipping disruptions from the Iran war are hitting low income countries hard, leading to high transportation and food costs and disrupting trade. The UN's Economic and Social Council says more than 32 million people around the world are at risk of being pushed into poverty. Women, children and youth will be affected the most. So will populations in small islands and countries that heavily depend on imports, for example, islands in the Caribbean that import 80% of their food. The UN warns it could also lead to setbacks to its goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030, which was agreed upon by all UN member states more than a decade ago. Fatima Tanis, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to npr. A new two drug protocol significantly reduces suicidal thoughts among people with major depression and bipolar disorder. That is according to a new study published in the American journal of psychiatry. NPR's Ritu Chatterjee reports. Suicide continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the United states.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

Researchers recruited 50 people who had either major depression or bipolar disorder, which is characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania. These individuals were also struggling with suicidal thoughts and attempts. They gave everyone a single infusion of ketamine, which is known to reduce symptoms of depression. Then they randomly assigned half of the participants to receive a placebo or a very low dose course of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder and chronic pain. A month later, 78% of the group that received buprenorphine showed a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts, compared to only 48% of the placebo group. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Scientists say a teeny asteroid zipped by Earth yesterday. The rock was about 57,000 miles away, but that's less than half the distance to the moon. Astronomers at Mount Lemmon Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, first spotted the asteroid about 10 days ago. Scientists say many asteroids smaller than this fly by Earth frequently. They also say the asteroid's next destination is expected to be a flyby of Jupiter. This is npr.

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