NPR News: 05-25-2026 2PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 25, 2026, 2PM EDT

Host: Amy Held
Date: May 25, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers the latest top U.S. and international news as of 2PM EDT on May 25, 2026. Key stories include updates on U.S.-Iran negotiations and Middle East diplomacy, a major National Guard deployment in Washington D.C., new U.S. immigration policies, the first encyclical from the first American pope calling for AI regulation, expanded Pell Grants for career training, and China’s growing activity in space.

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Key Discussion Points

1. U.S.-Iran Negotiations & President Trump’s Memorial Day Remarks

Timestamps: 00:01–01:15

• Memorial Day Speech: President Trump marks the holiday at Arlington National Cemetery, commemorating U.S. soldiers who died during "Operation Epic Fury".

  • Quote (President Trump, 00:16):
    “We lost 13 wonderful souls, wonderful special people. These incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world’s number one state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon. Oh, and they won’t.”

• Iran Deal Update:

  • Trump mentions a deal with Iran is “largely negotiated” but cautions against expecting the war’s end soon.
  • Daniel Shapiro (former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Obama administration) comments on the negotiations’ implications:
    • Deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and alleviate Iran’s economic crisis.
    • Iran’s nuclear program remains unresolved, with new limits and verification on uranium enrichment being negotiated.
    • Shapiro warns negotiations could extend beyond the outlined 30–60 days.
  • Quote (Daniel Shapiro, 00:53):
    “There would be a period of negotiations, it’s outlined for 30 to 60 days… But Iran is very skilled and adept at dragging out those negotiations. It will probably last much longer than 60 days.”

• Middle East Diplomacy:

  • Trump calls for more Middle East countries to normalize relations with Israel as part of any Iran agreement.

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2. National Guard Troop Surge in Washington D.C.

Timestamps: 01:15–02:21

• Troop Levels to Double:

  • National Guard presence in D.C. to rise from over 2,500 to 5,000 this summer in preparation for America’s 250th birthday.
  • No specified timeline for the start/end of the deployment.
  • This continues a gradual increase since August of the previous year.
  • The deployment, initially part of anti-crime and anti-immigration initiatives, involves neighborhood, park, and Metro station patrols.
  • Budget impact: $1.5 million/day, set to double alongside troop numbers.

• Quote (Kat Lansdorf, 01:32):
  “National Guard members in D.C. have been supporting law enforcement through highly visible patrols in neighborhoods, parks and Metro stations.”

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3. New U.S. Green Card Rules

Timestamps: 02:21–02:52

• Policy Shift:
  • New Trump administration rules require foreigners seeking green cards to leave the U.S. and apply from their home countries.
  • This overturns decades of precedent and significantly impacts legal immigration strategy.
  • Over half a million in-country applicants affected annually.
  • Immigration attorney Ann Rowley expresses uncertainty and anticipates major disruption.
  • Quote (Ann Rowley [via Kat Lansdorf], 02:36):
    “Our understanding on this memo is still up in the air because of its recency, but I definitely think that it is going to change how immigration practitioners manage legal strategy for the lion’s share of applicants.”

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4. Pope Leo’s First Encyclical Urges Regulation of AI

Timestamps: 02:52–03:36

• Historic Enclyclical:
  • First encyclical delivered by the first American pope (Pope Leo), targets Big Tech.
  • Calls for governmental regulation of artificial intelligence, highlighting AI’s role in misinformation and its links to war.
  • Utilizes the metaphor of "disarming" AI akin to nuclear disarmament.
  • Quote (Pope Leo, 03:24):
    “Nuclear disarmament remains a service to peace and the dignity of the human family. In a similar sense, artificial intelligence now demands to be disarmed.”

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5. Expanded Pell Grants for Career & Technical Education

Timestamps: 03:36–04:18

• Policy Expansion:
  • U.S. Department of Education allows Pell Grants for students in short-term career/technical programs, not just traditional college paths.
  • Aims to help low-income students and address labor shortages in sectors like healthcare.
  • Quote (Sequoia Carrillo, 03:49):
    “The inclusion of career and technical education is aimed to address labor shortages in healthcare and other high demand industries.”

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6. China’s Space Milestone

Timestamps: 04:18–04:39

• Chinese Space Mission:
  • Three astronauts arrive at the Chinese space station, with one set for a year-long stay—among the longest space missions yet.
  • Part of preparations for China's planned crewed Moon landing by 2030.
  • U.S. (NASA) targets lunar landing in 2028.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Operation Epic Fury casualties:
  “We lost 13 wonderful souls… these incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world’s number one state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon.” (00:16)

• Daniel Shapiro on Iran negotiations:
  “Iran is very skilled and adept at dragging out those negotiations. It will probably last much longer than 60 days.” (00:53)

• Ann Rowley on green card changes:
  “…it is going to change how immigration practitioners manage legal strategy for the lion’s share of applicants.” (02:36)

• Pope Leo on AI regulation:
  “Artificial intelligence now demands to be disarmed.” (03:24)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01: President Trump’s Memorial Day remarks and Iran deal update
• 00:53: Daniel Shapiro’s analysis of Iran negotiations
• 01:32: D.C. National Guard deployment details
• 02:21: New green card policy, Ann Rowley comments
• 02:52: Pope Leo’s encyclical on AI regulation
• 03:49: Pell Grants expanded for workforce training (Sequoia Carrillo)
• 04:18: Chinese space mission milestone

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This concise yet comprehensive briefing covers key political, policy, religious, and science topics, offering listeners critical updates for the day.

Transcript

[Amy Held]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. President Trump says a deal with Iran has been largely negotiated, but he's tempering expectations of any imminent end to the war. He delivered remarks at Arlington National Cemetery on this Memorial Day, a time to

[President Trump]

honor the war dead in Operation Epic Fury. We lost 13 wonderful souls, wonderful special people. These incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world's number one state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon. Oh, and they won't.

[Amy Held]

Daniel Shapiro served as U.S. ambassador to Israel during the Obama administration and was part of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He tells NPR that the deal being negotiated today would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and relieve the economic crisis. But Iran's nuclear program would remain an open question.

[Daniel Shapiro]

There would be a period of negotiations, it's outlined for 30 to 60 days to determine limits on Iran's nuclear or Enric enriched uranium stockpile and further enrichment of uranium and the verification of that. But Iran is very skilled and adept at dragging out those negotiations. It will probably last much longer than 60 days.

[Amy Held]

Trump, meantime, is calling for more countries in the Middle east to normalize relations with Israel as part of any Iran agreement. The number of National Guard troops deployed to D.C. is set to essentially double this summer, ahead of celebrations for America's 250th birthday. NPR's Kat Lansdorf reports.

[Kat Lansdorf]

There are currently a little over 2,500 National Guard troops deployed in D.C. from dozens of states. This summer, there will be 5,000. Officials did not specify when that surge will begin or notably when it will end. The number of troops in D.C. started at 800 last August as part of an initiative by President Trump to crack down on crime and also immigration. More troops have slowly been added over time. National guard members in D.C. have been supporting law enforcement through highly visible patrols in neighborhoods, parks and Metro stations. The D.C. deployment costs about $1.5 million a day, according to an estimate by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. This new surge would essentially double that cost. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Washington.

[Amy Held]

Under new Trump administration rules, foreigners in the US who want a green card will need to leave and apply in their home country, upending decades of practice. Ann Rowley, an immigration attorney, says the new policy will be disrupt.

[Kat Lansdorf]

Our understanding on this memo is still up in the air because of its recency, but I definitely think that it is going to change how immigration practitioners manage legal strategy for the lion's share of applicants.

[Amy Held]

More than a half million people already in the US Apply each year for a green card. This is NPR News. The first encyclical was released today by the first American pope. That's the document that clarifies church doctrine, and it's aimed squarely at big Tech. Pope Leo's urging governments to regulate artificial intelligence as humanity grows increasingly reliant on it. The pope is warning that AI is linked to misinformation and to war.

[President Trump]

Nuclear disarmament remains a service to peace and the dignity of the human family. In a similar sense, artificial intelligence now demands to be disarmed.

[Amy Held]

He spoke from the Vatican. The Department of Education says starting this summer, students enrolled in short term career and technical programs in the US can apply for federal grants. NPR Sequoyah Carrillo reports.

[Sequoia Carrillo]

Pell Grants are typically awarded to qualifying students who are pursuing undergraduate degrees or certificates. But under the new rule, that money will now also be available for students pursuing workforce training programs. The grants are designed to help the country's lowest income students access schooling beyond high school with the help of federal aid. The inclusion of career and technical education is aimed to address labor shortages in healthcare and other high demand industries. Sequoia Carrillo, NPR News.

[Amy Held]

Three Chinese astronauts have arrived at their space station. One is set to stay for an entire year, among the longest space missions. China is conducting experiments as it prepares to put people on the moon by 2030. The Shenzhou 23 vessel arrived yesterday. NASA is aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2028. It's NPR.

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