NPR News: 05-22-2026 3PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 05-22-2026 3PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: May 22, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers succinct and impactful coverage of the latest global headlines, including high-profile resignations within the U.S. administration, congressional scrutiny over a controversial IRS settlement, shifting U.S. military presence in Europe, an escalating Ebola outbreak in Congo, a viral social media protest in India, and a lighthearted update from the Cannes Film Festival’s canine awards.

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Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Major Resignations in the Trump Administration (00:01–00:41)

• Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, has resigned, citing her husband's illness with a rare bone cancer. The move is notable given Gabbard’s history as a “longtime critic of foreign intervention” and her apparent break with President Trump over the administration's war in Iran.
• Other recent resignations include Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez D Reamer.
• Quote:

  “Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, has resigned, saying she's leaving at the end of June because her husband has a rare bone cancer.”
  — Jeanine Herbst (00:03)

2. Congressional Inquiry into IRS Settlement (00:41–01:24)

• Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden are demanding clarity from the Treasury Department regarding a nearly $2 billion taxpayer fund from the settlement over the leak of President Trump’s tax returns.
• The fund could potentially compensate January 6 rioters and other Trump allies.
• Senators question if the settlement amounts to “an outrageously corrupt deal,” calling for the IRS inspector general to investigate possible illegal political interference.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche maintains that Trump and his family “will not receive any direct financial benefit,” though the settlement shields Trump from legal issues over his tax returns.
• Quote:

  “[It] creates a nearly $2 billion taxpayer fund that could compensate January 6 rioters and other Trump allies.”
  — Kerry Johnson (00:51)

3. U.S. Military Shifts in Europe (01:24–02:13)

• President Trump announces deployment of an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, reversing his earlier reduction of U.S. forces in Europe.
• The decision appears linked to the recent election of Poland’s nationalist President Karl Novrotsky, who aligns closely with the Trump administration.
• Announcement follows an abrupt cancelation (later “delayed”) of a military training exercise in Poland and echoes recent plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
• Quote:

  “President Trump made the announcement in a social media post suggesting the troop deployment is connected to the election last year of nationalist President Karl Novrotsky.”
  — Rob Schmitz (01:37)

4. Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (02:13–02:46)

• WHO Director-General Tedros Adnam Ghebreyesus reports the Congo Ebola outbreak is “spreading quickly,” with 82 cases and at least 7 deaths.
• Two Americans have been impacted: one confirmed case moved to Germany for care; another, a high-risk contact, transferred to the Czech Republic.
• This Ebola variant has no known vaccine or treatment; the UN seeks $60 million for response.
• Quote:

  “An American national who was working in DRC has also been confirmed positive and transferred to Germany for care.”
  — Omkar Khandikar (02:28)

5. Social Media Protest: ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ Goes Viral in India (03:15–04:01)

• The Cockroach Janta Party, a parody by U.S.-based Abhijit Dipke, explodes on Indian social media, amassing over a million followers in a week.
• The party’s mascot is a cockroach, parodying a Supreme Court judge’s derogatory remarks about unemployed youth.
• Its popularity reflects significant Gen Z frustration with India’s ruling party.
• Indian authorities blocked the party’s X (formerly Twitter) account, but the party quickly re-emerged, quipping “cockroaches don’t die.”
• Quote:

  “Anyone could join his party as long as they were unemployed, chronically online, and had the ability to rant professionally.”
  — Omkar Khandikar (03:31)

• Quote:

  “Within hours, the party respawned on X, announcing that cockroaches don’t die.”
  — Omkar Khandikar (03:55)

6. Cannes Film Festival: Palm Dog Award (04:01–End)

• Yuri, the dog from Chilean film La Pera, won the prestigious Palm Dog, though could not attend the ceremony. The director humorously sent a lookalike.
• Lola, a border terrier mix from I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning (UK), took the grand jury prize.
• The Palm Dog, created in 2001, honors outstanding canine actors at Cannes.
• Quote:

  “The prize was given today, a day before the famous festival's official awards ceremony... the movie's director took a stand-in lookalike to receive the prize, which was a dog collar.”
  — Jeanine Herbst (04:09)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tulsi Gabbard’s Resignation:
  “Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, has resigned, saying she's leaving at the end of June because her husband has a rare bone cancer.” (Jeanine Herbst, 00:03)

• IRS Settlement Scrutiny:
  “An outrageously corrupt deal that creates a nearly $2 billion taxpayer fund that could compensate January 6 rioters and other Trump allies.” (Kerry Johnson, 00:51)

• Troop Redeployment Context:
  “President Trump made the announcement in a social media post suggesting the troop deployment is connected to the election last year of nationalist President Karl Novrotsky.” (Rob Schmitz, 01:37)

• Cockroach Party’s Satirical Message:
  “Anyone could join his party as long as they were unemployed, chronically online, and had the ability to rant professionally.” (Omkar Khandikar, 03:31)
  “Cockroaches don’t die.” (Omkar Khandikar, 03:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – U.S. administration resignations (Tulsi Gabbard, others)
• 00:41 – Congressional inquiry into IRS/Trump tax settlement
• 01:24 – Trump’s troop surge announcement to Poland
• 02:13 – Ebola outbreak update: WHO, U.S. citizens affected
• 03:15 – Cockroach Janta Party viral protest in India
• 04:01 – Cannes Palm Dog award winners

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This concise but information-rich newscast spotlights significant political, diplomatic, and cultural stories making headlines around the world, providing listeners with vital context, direct coverage, and memorable moments from NPR’s global correspondents.

Transcript

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, has resigned, saying she's leaving at the end of June because her husband has a rare bone cancer. Gabbard, a vet and former Democratic congresswoman, is a longtime critic of foreign intervention and seems to have broken with President Trump over his war in Iran. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez D Reamer have have also left. Two Democratic senators are demanding answers from the Treasury Department about the decision to settle a case over the leak of President Trump's tax returns. NPR's Kerry Johnson has more.

[Kerry Johnson]

Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon are writing officials at the Treasury Department to get more detail about what they call an outrageously corrupt deal that creates a nearly $2 billion taxpayer fund that could compensate January 6 rioters and other Trump allies. The senators want the inspector general for Tax Administration to probe whether any laws have been broken that bar political interference in the audit work of the irs. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is defending the settlement, asserting Trump and his family will not receive any direct financial benefit. But the deal also seems to shield Trump from any legal problems over his past tax returns. Kerry Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump says the US military will deploy an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, an apparent reversal of his moves to reduce the number of American forces in Europe. NPR's Rob Schmitz has more.

[Rob Schmitz]

President Trump made the announcement in a social media post suggesting the troop deployment is connected to the election last year of nationalist President Karl Novrotsky. His announcement came shortly after his administration abruptly canceled a military training exercise in Poland, later saying it had only been delayed. And it comes weeks after his administration administration said it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. Polish President Noski, who was elected in June of 2025 with the support of the populist Law and Justice Party, has aligned with the Trump administration since taking office. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The head of the World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in Congo is spreading quickly. Tedros Adanam Gabriela says there are 82 cases and at least seven deaths in the country. One American has Ebola, another is suspected of having the viru.

[Omkar Khandikar]

An American national who was working in DRC has also been confirmed positive and transferred to Germany for care. We are also aware of reports today about another American national with a high risk contact who has been transferred to the Czech Republic.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This variant of the virus has no known treatment or vaccine. The U.N. says it really $60 million to help. On Wall street, the Dow is up 405 points, Nasdaq up 212. This is NPR News. A parody political party is taking the Indian social media by storm. With a cockroach as its mascot, India has blocked its X account after the party got more than a million followers in a week. NPR's Omkar Khandikar has more.

[Omkar Khandikar]

The U.S. based Abhijit Dipke created the Cockroach Janta party after India's top Supreme Court judge compared unemployed youth criticizing the system to parasites. On its website, the 30 year old founder said that anyone could join his party as long as they were unemployed chronically online and had the ability to rant professionally. Analysts say its popularity reflects the Gen Z's frustration with the ruling Hindu nationalist party. The Indian Express newspaper reports that Indian officials blocked its X account, citing threats to national security. But within hours, the party respawned on X, announcing that cockroaches don't die. Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, New Delhi.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the Cannes Film Festival, Yuri the dog from the Chilean film La Pera won the coveted Palm Dog award. The prize was given today, a day before the famous festival's official awards ceremony. But the film's dog, Yuri, couldn't attend today's ceremony, so the movie's director took a stand in lookalike to receive the prize, which was a dog collar. Meanwhile, Lola, a border terror carrier mix who appears in the British movie I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, took the grand jury prize. This award was created in 2001 to give the same celebration to canine actors as their human co stars get. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News. This message comes from ixl. IXL is an award winning online learning platform. IXL makes it simple for kids to stay sharp during summer break. Receive an exclusive 20% off IXL membership at ixl.com, nPR.