NPR News: 05-20-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 20, 2025 – Comprehensive Summary

Released on May 20, 2025, by NPR

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1. President Trump's Optimism on Russia-Ukraine Peace Agreement

Timestamp: [00:15]

In a statement from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump expressed strong confidence that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is imminent. Following a two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump declared the discussion as having "gone very well." The President's optimism is bolstered by Putin’s recent remarks in Sochi, where the Russian leader indicated his willingness to work on a memorandum outlining a potential peace agreement.

Quote:
"I remain confident a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine will soon be reached," said President Trump at [00:15].

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2. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Faces Senate Scrutiny

Timestamp: [00:56]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he is anticipated to encounter rigorous questioning from Democratic lawmakers. Unlike his January confirmation hearing, which concluded with unanimous approval, Rubio now faces criticism regarding his administration's approach to international development.

NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire criticized the Trump administration for what she describes as the "evisceration" of six decades of American foreign policy investments. Shaheen contends that these cuts have undermined the U.S.’s ability to compete with nations like China, which has been increasing its diplomatic budget and positioning itself as a more reliable global partner.

Quote:
"The Trump administration has eviscerated six decades of American foreign policy investments, undercutting the nation's ability to compete with countries like China," stated Senator Jeanne Shaheen during her prepared remarks at [00:56].

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3. Supreme Court’s Ruling on Venezuelan Legal Protections

Timestamp: [01:41]

The U.S. Supreme Court has granted the Trump administration's request to remove legal protections for approximately 350,000 Venezuelan nationals residing in the United States. This decision overturns a federal judge's temporary legal status order from San Francisco, potentially paving the way for deportations. The ruling halts the ongoing litigation in lower courts that sought to maintain these protections for the affected individuals.

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4. Resumption of New York’s Empire Wind 1 Offshore Project

Timestamp: [02:22]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul successfully lobbied the federal government to lift a stop work order on the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project, developed by Norwegian energy company Equinor. The Interior Department's decision comes after weeks of negotiations and reflects significant pressure from the state. Upon resumption, the project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 500,000 homes and create over 1,000 jobs.

Governor Hochul expressed gratitude towards President Trump for his role in advancing the project, emphasizing the preservation of union jobs at stake. This development aligns with New York State’s ambitious goal to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035. Notably, President Trump has historically been a critic of wind energy, citing concerns over the approval process's hastiness as the reason for the initial construction pause.

Quote:
"Thank you, President Trump, for getting the project back on track. More than a thousand union jobs were on the line," Governor Kathy Hochul remarked at [02:22].

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5. Severe Weather Alerts and Recent Tornado Activity

Timestamp: [03:09]

In the wake of devastating tornadoes that resulted in over two dozen fatalities across Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, tornado and flood watches have been issued for most of Kentucky. The National Weather Service forecasts additional rain and thunderstorms throughout the state. The recent severe weather includes tornado reports from Oklahoma and Nebraska, exacerbating the region's challenges with extreme weather events.

Additionally, the state of Indiana carried out the execution of Benjamin Ritchie, a 45-year-old death row inmate convicted 25 years ago of killing a police officer. This marked only the second execution in Indiana in the past fifteen years, following the state's resumption of such practices in December of the previous year.

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6. Rediscovery of Jim Morrison’s Bust in Paris

Timestamp: [04:11]

In a remarkable turn of events, French authorities have unearthed the long-lost bust of Jim Morrison, the iconic frontman of The Doors, from his gravesite in Paris. The sculpture, originally placed on Morrison’s headstone at Père Lachaise Cemetery in 1988, had vanished after being covered in graffiti and serving as a pilgrimage spot for fans. Discovered during a police investigation into a fraud case, the bust remains slightly weathered but still bears the affectionate graffiti that once adorned it.

BBC’s Patty Maguire provided detailed coverage of this discovery, highlighting its significance to fans and the preservation of Morrison’s legacy.

Quote:
"The bust has turned up in Paris, discovered by chance during a search by French police investigating a fraud case, slightly greyer but still covered in adoring graffiti," Patty Maguire reported at [04:11].

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now delivered a concise yet comprehensive roundup of significant national and international events, ranging from high-stakes political negotiations and judicial decisions to environmental projects and cultural rediscoveries. The discussions highlighted ongoing geopolitical tensions, domestic policy challenges, environmental initiatives, and notable cultural finds, providing listeners with a well-rounded snapshot of current affairs.

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For more updates and detailed coverage, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Trump says he remains confident a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine will soon be reached. Trump was speaking to reporters in the Oval Office yesterday following a two hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a conversation Trump described as having gone very well. Speaking in Sochi, Russia, Putin said he's willing to work on a memorandum on a possible peace agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears before the Senate Foreign Relations committee today. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, Rubio is expected to face tough questions from Democratic lawmakers.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The last time Rubio sat before his former committee was in January for his confirmation hearing and he was approved unanimously. But this time around, Democrats are expected to raise objections about the way he's dismantled the US Agency for International Development. In her prepared remarks, Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire says the Trump administration has, quote, eviscerated six decades of American foreign policy investments, undercutting the nation's ability to compete with countries like China. She says while Rubio cut but most US Foreign assistance, China has increased its diplomatic budget and is trying to present itself around the world as a more reliable partner than the U.S. michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.

[Dave Mattingly]

The U.S. supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to strip legal protections from 350,000 Venezuelans who are in the US while litigation surrounding them continues in lower courts. The high court is putting on hold the ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco that kept in place temporary legal status for the Venezuelans. The Supreme Court's ruling potentially exposes them to deportation. The Trump administration is allowing the restart of a major wind farm project off the coast of New York. As NPR's Eva Pukech reports, the Interior Department lifted the stop work order after pressure from New York's governor.

[Eva Pukiach]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she pressed the federal government for weeks to lift the stop work order on Empire Wind 1, developed by Norwegian energy company Equinor. When completed, the project is expected to deliver enough electricity to power 500,000 homes and create more than 1,000 jobs. In a statement, Hochul thanked President Trump for getting the project back on track, saying more than a thousand union jobs were on the line. Trump is a longtime critic of wind power. The administration had paused construction on the project, claiming the approval process had been rushed. New York State has a goal of developing 9,000 megawatts in offshore wind energy by 2035. Eva Pukiach, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

This is NPR News from Washington. Tornado and flood watches are in effect across most of Kentucky this morning, days after tornadoes killed more than two dozen people in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Most of those who died were in southeastern Laurel County, Kentucky. The National Weather Service says more rain and thunderstorms are likely today across the state. Tornadoes were reported late yesterday in areas of Oklahoma and Nebraska. For the second time in 15 years, the state of Indiana has executed a death row inmate. 45 year old Benjamin Ritchie was put to death by lethal injection early this morning. He was convicted of killing a police officer 25 years ago. Indiana resumed executions last December. French authorities say they've located the bust of the late Doors singer Jim Morrison. It was stolen from his grave site in Paris 37 years ago. The BBC's Patty Maguire has more.

[Patty Maguire]

Ten years after his sudden death in the French capital in 1971, a white marble sculpture of the Doors frontman was placed on Morrison's headstone at Pere Lachaise cemetery. It quickly became a focal point for the legions of nostalgic rock fans who flock there to tell the charismatic singer, hello, I love you. Quickly, it became covered in graffiti. And then in 1988, it disappeared. Nearly 40 years later, the bust has turned up in Paris, discovered by chance during a search by French police investigating a fraud case, slightly greyer but still covered in adoring graffiti.

[Dave Mattingly]

That's the BBC's Patty Maguire reporting.

Dave.

I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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