NPR News: 05-22-2026 5AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 22, 2026, 5AM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: A rapid update on the morning’s top news stories: Congress stalls on immigration funding, Colbert signs off, abortion pill expansion, Kyle Busch remembered, voter deadlines, and discounted World Cup tickets for New Yorkers.

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Congressional Recess Without Immigration Deal

[00:33–01:43]

• Congress left town for a week-long recess without passing President Trump’s immigration funding plan.

  • Republicans sought taxpayer money for Trump’s “ballroom project.”
  • The package also included a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate those the President claims were targeted by the government, including January 6th rioters.

• Senate reactions reveal deep divisions:

  • Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK):

    “I don’t like it.” – Lisa Murkowski [01:12]

  • Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune:

    “I think that there are and will be continue to be a lot of questions around that that the administration is going to have to answer.” – John Thune [01:16]

  • Republicans control both chambers narrowly; controversial policies complicate the math for vote passage.

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Stephen Colbert’s Emotional Farewell

[01:43–02:25]

• Stephen Colbert ended his tenure at the Late Show after more than a decade.

  • The finale featured surprise appearances, including Paul McCartney calling out from backstage.

• Memorable quotes from Colbert’s last show:

  • “Who’s gonna be my last guest now, hc? What about me?” – Paul McCartney (Late Show call) [02:01]

  • “Tonight is our final broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater where. No, no, we were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years. Yes. All right, that was can’t take this for granted.” – Stephen Colbert [02:11]

• CBS explained the cancellation as a financial decision, but Colbert and others questioned if politics played a role.

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Planned Parenthood Expands Access to Abortion Pills

[02:25–03:29]

• For the first time, a Planned Parenthood affiliate is prescribing abortion medication to patients who are not pregnant—offering advance access.

  • Service named “Just in Case Abortion Pills,” available to residents in Washington and Hawaii.

  • Can be accessed via telehealth or at one of 16 health centers.

  • Demand for advance abortion medication increases during spikes in abortion restriction news.

  • Rebecca Gibberon (Planned Parenthood CEO):

    “As evidence supporting this model of care has continued to grow and with supportive policy environments in Washington and in Hawaii, this really is the right time for us to step into this space.” [02:48]

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Remembrance: NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch

[03:29–03:43]

• NASCAR champion Kyle Busch has died at age 41.
  • He was a two-time cup series champion with more wins across NASCAR’s three national series than any other driver.
  • No cause of death was released; earlier in the week, family reported a severe illness.

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Voter Registration Deadlines Approaching

[03:43–04:45]

• Oklahoma voters face a deadline to register for June 16 primaries today.

  • Options: online, in person, or mail with a required postmark.
  • Hansi Lo Wang (NPR):

    “If you are registering by mail, the U.S. postal Service recommends that you go to a post office and ask for a free manual postmark at the counter.” [04:03]

• Washington, D.C. voters have until Tuesday for mail/online registration, with in-person options extended through early and Election Day voting.

  • Voters should check their registration status as people can be removed if they’ve moved, changed names, or haven’t voted in a while.

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Discounted World Cup Tickets for NYC Residents

[04:45–05:12]

• New York City to sell 1,000 discounted ($50) tickets for World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium (excluding the final).
  • Measures in place to ensure tickets are available to NYC residents and are not resold.

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Memorable Quotes

• Lisa Murkowski on Trump’s government compensation fund:

  “I don’t like it.” [01:12]

• John Thune on the fund’s controversy:

  “I think that there are and will be continue to be a lot of questions around that that the administration is going to have to answer.” [01:16]

• Stephen Colbert’s sign-off:

  “Tonight is our final broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater where. No, no, we were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years. Yes. All right, that was can’t take this for granted.” [02:11]

• Rebecca Gibberon on abortion pills by mail:

  “As evidence supporting this model of care has continued to grow and with supportive policy environments in Washington and in Hawaii, this really is the right time for us to step into this space.” [02:48]

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:33 – Congressional recess and immigration package
• 01:43 – Stephen Colbert’s farewell and CBS Late Show cancellation
• 02:25 – Planned Parenthood’s “Just in Case Abortion Pills” service
• 03:29 – NASCAR driver Kyle Busch dies
• 03:43 – Voter registration deadlines (Oklahoma, D.C.)
• 04:45 – NYC’s discounted World Cup tickets

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Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor (Windsor Johnston)]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Congress has left town for a week long recess without passing President Trump's immigration funding plan. Republicans have been pushing for taxpayer money for Trump's ballroom project. The package also includes a nearly $1.8 billion fund that could compensate people the president says were targeted the government, including January 6th rioters. NPR's Eric McDaniel has more.

[NPR Correspondent (Eric McDaniel)]

Asked about President Trump's fund that he says will pay reparations to folks unjustly persecuted by the government, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, had this to say.

[NPR News Anchor (Windsor Johnston)]

I don't like it.

[NPR Correspondent (Eric McDaniel)]

Here's Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune on the same issue.

[Stephen Colbert / Late Show Segment]

I think that there are and will be continue to be a lot of questions around that that the administration is going to have to answer.

[NPR Correspondent (Eric McDaniel)]

Thune said the fund concerns are linked to why these votes are delayed. Republicans were all set to pass three years of funding for immigration enforcement. They control both chambers of Congress, albeit with narrow margins. But when those slim majorities come up against controversial policies, the math stops working. Eric McDaniel and Peer News Washington.

[NPR News Anchor (Windsor Johnston)]

Stephen Colbert signed off from the Late show last night with an emotional farewell after more than a decade behind the desk. The final show featured surprise appearances from fellow late night hosts, actors and musicians, including including Paul McCartney who called out from backstage during the show.

[Stephen Colbert / Late Show Segment]

Who's gonna be my last guest now, hc? What about me?

[NPR News Anchor (Windsor Johnston)]

During his closing monologue, the late night host thanked his viewers.

[Stephen Colbert / Late Show Segment]

Tonight is our final broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater where. No, no, we were lucky enough to be here for the last 11 years. Yes. All right, that was can't take this for granted.

[NPR News Anchor (Windsor Johnston)]

CBS says the decision to cancel the show was financial, though Colbert and others have publicly questioned whether politics also played a role. For the first time, a Planned Parenthood organization is prescribing abortion medication for patients who are not pregnant. NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports. The service allows patients to have the medications at home.

[Rebecca Gibberon (Planned Parenthood CEO)]

The new service is called Just in case abortion Pills, and it's being offered by Planned Parenthood. Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky. Rebecca Gibberon is the CEO. As evidence supporting this model of care has continued to grow and with supportive policy environments in Washington and in Hawaii, this really is the right time for us to step into this space. The service is available to residents of Washington and Hawaii. They can get it via telehealth or in person at 16 health centers. Demand for getting abortion medication to have on hand spikes when abortion restrictions are in the news. Some Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor (Windsor Johnston)]

This is npr. NASCAR driver Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41. He was a two time cup series champion and won more races than any driver across NASCAR's three national series. No cause of death was released earlier this week. Busch's family said he had been hospitalized with what they described as a severe illness. The window is closing for registering to vote in this year's primary elections in some parts of the country. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports.

[Hansi Lo Wang (NPR Reporter)]

Today is Oklahoma's voter registration deadline for the state's June 16 primary. Eligible voters in Oklahoma have only hours left to sign up online or in person or get their mail in application postmarked. If you are registering by mail, the U.S. postal Service recommends that you go to a post office and ask for a free manual postmark at the counter. In Washington, D.C. eligible voters have until Tuesday to get in their mail in application or to register online. But D.C. voters still have time to register in person during early voting and on the day of D.C. s primary on June 16th. If you've already registered to vote, you may want to go to your election official's website and check your status. Eligible voters can sometimes be removed from lists, especially if they move, change their name or haven't voted in a while. Han Zi Le Wang, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor (Windsor Johnston)]

Some New York City residents will soon have a shot at discounted tickets to the summer's World Cup. The city is Planning to offer 1,000 tickets priced at $50 each for matches being played at Metl Life Stadium in New Jersey, excluding the final. City officials say safeguards will be put into place to make sure the tickets go to New York City residents and are not resold on the secondary market. This is NPR News.

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