NPR News: 05-20-2026 10AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – 10AM EDT, May 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This brisk five-minute NPR News Now update delivered by Korva Coleman features the latest headlines from around the globe as of 10AM EDT. The episode highlights a major Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, developments on Wall Street, the aftermath of a deadly mosque shooting in San Diego, significant US-Cuban diplomatic remarks, an update from a China-Russia summit, and closely watched US primary election results.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa

• Scale and Severity

  • Over 600 likely sickened in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda (00:29).
  • More than 130 suspected deaths (00:29).
  • “This Ebola outbreak is already the third largest on record, despite only being declared last Friday.” – Jonathan Lambert (00:48)

• Virus Particulars and Response

  • Rare Ebola strain, often missed by current field tests (01:15).
  • No approved treatments or vaccines exist; vaccine candidates are still months away from trials.
  • Quote:
    • “WHO assesses the risk of the epidemic as high at the national and regional levels and low at the global level.” – WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (01:06)

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2. Market Update & President Trump’s Stock Trades

• Stock Market Movements

  • Mixed opening: the Dow Jones down about five points in early trading (01:32).

• Corporate and Economic Trends

  • Target reports increased sales and raises outlook, driven by “increased demand in all categories, including groceries, beauty products and general merchandise.” – Scott Horsley (01:44)
  • Bond yields pull back from multi-year highs; crude oil prices soften but retail gasoline prices climb—average up by over 2 cents/gallon overnight.

• Presidential Financial Activity

  • “New financial disclosure forms show President Trump made thousands of stock trades during the first few months of the year, including companies affected by his policies.” – Scott Horsley (01:44)
  • Trump Organization claims trades are managed by third parties, with no input from Trump.

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3. CAIR Calls for Increased Mosque Security after San Diego Shooting

• Incident and Response

  • Following a deadly shooting at the Islamic center of San Diego (three killed, two suspects died by suicide), CAIR urges law enforcement to bolster security at mosques (02:23).

• Root Causes and Demands

  • CAIR attributes the attack to “years of anti-Muslim rhetoric.” (02:43)
  • Calls for:
    • Increased patrols and coordination with community leaders
    • An end to politicians “demonizing Islamic beliefs”—including criticism of the anti-Sharia law caucus in the US House.
  • “According to CAIR's most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias are on the rise nationwide.” – Jason DeRose (03:21)

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4. Secretary of State Rubio’s Cuban Outreach

• Diplomatic Address
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio releases a Spanish-language video to the Cuban people (03:21).
  • Expresses the US offers “to build a new relationship with Cuba” and blames economic woes on Cuba’s government.
  • Video comes amid reports the US may criminally charge ex-leader Raul Castro.

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5. China–Russia Strategic Partnership Extension

• Diplomatic and Global Context

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Chairman Xi Jinping in Beijing; a strategic partnership agreement is extended (04:04).

• Symbols and Statements

  • Welcoming ceremony with military band, cannon salute, and children waving flags—mirroring President Trump’s recent visit to Beijing.
  • Xi Jinping: “The global situation is fluid and turbulent,” with resurgence in “unilateralism and hegemonism” (04:04).
  • "As permanent members of the UN Security Council, Xi said China and Russia should work together to make the global governance system more just and reasonable.” – Jennifer Pak (04:47)

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6. US Primary Election Results

• Key Race in Kentucky
  • Incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie loses to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gilrein (04:47).
  • Massie’s record: pushed for release of the Epstein files, opposed Trump administration military operations.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ebola Outbreak (01:06):

  • “WHO assesses the risk of the epidemic as high at the national and regional levels and low at the global level.” – WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

• On Anti-Muslim Violence (02:43):

  • “CAIR says the attack in Southern California is the consequence of years of anti-Muslim rhetoric.” – Jason DeRose

• On US-China-Russia Relations (04:04):

  • “Xi said the global situation is fluid and turbulent… a resurgence of what he calls unilateralism and hegemonism.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ebola outbreak in Central Africa: 00:29–01:32
• Market update and Trump stock trades: 01:32–02:23
• San Diego mosque shooting and CAIR's response: 02:23–03:21
• Secretary Rubio’s address to Cubans: 03:21–04:04
• Putin-China summit: 04:04–04:47
• Kentucky primary election results: 04:47–05:08

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This episode provides a succinct, high-impact snapshot of unfolding global and domestic news, with a focus on public health, security, geopolitics, and political process—NPR’s signature tone: measured, informative, and urgent.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has likely sickened more than 600 people. That's according to the World Health Organization. As NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, the suspected death toll is now over 130 people.

[Jonathan Lambert]

This Ebola outbreak is already the third largest on record, despite only being declared last Friday. At a press conference on Wednesday, WHO officials said that given the scale, the outbreak likely started a couple months ago and was spreading undetected. Here's WHO Director General Tedros Adanam Ghebreyesus,

[WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]

WHO assesses the risk of the epidemic as the high at the national and regional levels and low at the global level.

[Jonathan Lambert]

The kind of Ebola that's spreading is rare, and existing field tests often miss it. There are also no approved treatments or vaccines. WHO officials said that while there are a couple vaccine candidates that might be tested, they won't be ready for that testing for months. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Stocks opened mix this morning following a positive earnings report from Target. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped about five points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

Target reported a jump in sales during the most recent quarter and raised its outlook for the rest of the year. The discount retailer says it saw increased demand in all categories, including groceries, beauty products and general merchandise. Bond yields have pulled back a bit after hitting multi year highs on Tuesday. Crude oil prices have also softened, but retail gasoline prices continue to climb. AAA says the average price of regular gas rose a little more than 2 cents a gallon overnight. New financial disclosure forms show President Trump made thousands of stock trades during the first few months of the year, including companies affected by his policies. The Trump Organization says those trades are managed by third parties, with no input from Trump himself. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

The On American Islamic Relations, known as cair, is calling on law enforcement to boost their presence around mosques. This comes after Monday's deadly shooting at the Islamic center of San Diego. Three people were killed. Two suspects died by suicide. NPR's Jason DeRose has more.

[Jason DeRose]

CAIR says the attack in Southern California is the consequence of years of anti Muslim rhetoric. The group says that as mosques and other Islamic institutions face heightened threats, law enforcement must do more. CAIR wants increased increased patrols and increased coordination with community leaders to protect worshipers. The civil rights organization is also calling for an end to politicians demonizing Islamic beliefs. It points to, among other things, the creation of an anti Sharia law caucus in the U.S. house. According to CAIR's most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti Muslim bias are on the rise nationwide. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the Dow is now down about three points. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has released a video addressing the Cuban people, speaking exclusively in Spanish. Today, Rubio says the US Is offering to build a new relationship with Cuba and blames economic conditions on the island on those who control the Cuban government. His video comes ahead of news reports the US Will criminally charge former Cuban leader Raul Castro. Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Beijing, where he's met Chinese President Xi Jinping. NPR's Jennifer Paak reports from Shanghai. The two leaders have extended a strategic partnership agreement.

[Jennifer Pak]

President Putin had a welcoming ceremony that included a military marching band, a cannon salute, smiling children waving Chinese and Russian flags, the same pageantry President Trump received just days ago at the Great hall of the People. During Putin's meeting with the Chinese leader, Xi said the global situation is fluid and turbulent. According to state run Xinhua News Agency. Xi said there is a resurgence of what he calls unilateralism and hegemonism, things that China has frequently accused the US of in the past. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, Xi said China and Russia should work together to make the global governance system more just and reasonable. Jennifer Pak, NPR News, Shanghai.

[Korva Coleman]

Primary elections were held in several states yesterday. The most closely watched race was for the seat held by Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. He lost to Ed Gilrein, a challenger backed by President Trump. Massie worked to get the Epstein files released and opposed military operations of the Trump administration. It's npr.

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