NPR News Now: May 26, 2025, 11 PM EDT

In today's episode of NPR News Now, several significant events were covered, ranging from a tragic incident in England to advancements in geological research in the United States. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

1. Tragic Incident at Liverpool's Premier League Victory Parade

Timestamp: [00:20] - [00:38]

The episode opens with unsettling news from Northwest England, where a joyous celebration turned tragic. During the Premier League championship victory parade in Liverpool, a minivan plowed into a crowd of soccer fans.

Key Details:

• Location: Liverpool, England
• Event: Victory parade for Liverpool Football Club's Premier League championship
• Incident: A minivan crashed into pedestrians
• Casualties: Over two dozen individuals injured and taken to hospitals
• Perpetrator: A 53-year-old British man arrested on suspicion of assaulting pedestrians

Notable Quote: Fatima Al Kassab reports, “Local police say it started out as a joyous day...but as the parade came to an end, they received reports of a car hitting pedestrians in the city.” [00:38]

The police have indicated that they believe this to be an isolated incident and are not seeking additional suspects at this time.

2. Recapture of Escaped Inmates in Louisiana

Timestamp: [01:09] - [01:35]

Authorities in Louisiana announced progress in recapturing inmates who had escaped from a New Orleans jail earlier in the month.

Key Details:

• Number of Escapes: 10 inmates
• Recaptured: 3 inmates successfully detained
• Locations of Arrests: Baton Rouge and Walker County, Texas
• Status: Two inmates remain unaccounted for after three consecutive nights of large-scale missile and drone attacks by Russia on Ukraine

3. U.S.-Russia Relations: President Trump's Criticism of Vladimir Putin

Timestamp: [01:28] - [02:07]

The episode delves into the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine.

Key Points:

• President Trump's Statement: He declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin has "gone absolutely crazy."
• Threat of Sanctions: Trump has threatened new sanctions against Moscow if Russia does not cease its attacks on Ukraine. However, these threats were not followed through when Putin dismissed a ceasefire proposal.
• Kremlin's Response: Russian officials suggested that Trump’s remarks indicate he and others might be experiencing "emotional overload."

Notable Quote: Charles Mainz reports, “Maybe the way to look at this is Russia's latest attempt of trying to not antagonize Trump, even praise him as Russia feigns progress towards a peace that just isn't there.” [01:41]

Additionally, Trump expressed strong criticism towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, although specific remarks were not detailed in the transcript.

4. Addressing Homelessness Among Veterans in Los Angeles

Timestamp: [02:07] - [03:14]

The session highlights significant developments in efforts to combat veteran homelessness in Los Angeles.

Key Details:

• Problem: Los Angeles has the highest number of homeless veterans in the United States.
• Infrastructure: The city houses a nearly 400-acre Veterans Affairs (VA) campus in West LA.
• Executive Action: President Trump signed an executive order aimed at transforming the VA campus to accommodate and care for 6,000 homeless veterans by 2028.
• Advocacy Efforts: For decades, advocates have pushed to repurpose the VA campus for veteran housing, facing opposition from some VA officials concerned about concentrating troubled veterans in one area.

Notable Quotes: Rob Reynolds, an Iraq veteran, expressed his gratitude: “I'm very thankful that President Trump took this position that with this executive order that this is a soldier's home and it was donated for that reason, and that we need to get our veterans off the street.” [02:54]

Quil Lawrence adds, “In the past, VA officials opposed putting so many troubled veterans in one place, but advocates in LA are taking Trump's executive order as a win.” [03:03]

This initiative is viewed as a significant step towards providing stable housing and support for veterans facing homelessness in the region.

5. FBI Launches Investigations into Unsolved High-Profile Cases

Timestamp: [03:17] - [04:05]

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced the initiation of new investigations into several unresolved cases that have garnered public attention.

Key Investigations:

• Cocaine Discovery at the White House: In 2023, cocaine was found at the White House during President Joe Biden's administration.
• Supreme Court's Draft Opinion Leak: The 2022 leak that led to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade is also under scrutiny.
• Pipe Bombs at Political Parties: The FBI is allocating more resources to investigate the pipe bombs discovered at both the Democratic and Republican National Committees in 2021.

Notable Quote: Dan Bongino stated, “The FBI will look into the discovery of cocaine at the White House in 2023 during former President Joe Biden's term and the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court's draft opinion overturning Roe vs. Wade.” [03:27]

These investigations reflect the FBI's commitment to addressing unresolved issues that have significant political and social implications.

6. Geological Insights: Hell's Canyon Determined to Be 2.1 Million Years Old

Timestamp: [03:42] - [04:55]

The episode concludes with fascinating news from the field of geology regarding Hell's Canyon.

Key Details:

• Location: Hell's Canyon, located on the border between Oregon and Idaho
• Significance: It is the deepest river canyon in the United States, plunging nearly 8,000 feet at its deepest point
• Research Findings: Scientists from the Utah Geological Survey, including Matthew Morris, have determined that Hell's Canyon was carved approximately 2.1 million years ago.
• Comparison: This makes Hell's Canyon relatively young, especially when compared to Arizona's Grand Canyon.

Notable Quote: Matthew Morris explains, “You're looking for pieces of evidence of where the river used to be.” [04:23]

The research involved analyzing ancient river sediments found within caves in the canyon walls, providing concrete evidence of the canyon's age. This discovery offers new insights into the geological history and formation processes of some of the United States' most renowned natural landmarks.

This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a diverse array of news stories, capturing both domestic and international events, significant political developments, and groundbreaking scientific research. Each segment offered in-depth reporting and expert insights, ensuring that even those who missed the live broadcast are well-informed on the day's important issues.