NPR News: 05-31-2026 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – 7PM EDT, May 31, 2026

Episode Theme:
A concise update on major national and international news stories, with a focus on the ongoing Iran war, domestic unrest at detention facilities, a deadly industrial accident in Washington, political developments in Maine and Colombia, new pregnancy health research, and financial market trends.

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Key Stories and Discussion Points

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1. Ongoing War with Iran

[00:16 – 01:00]

• Status: The conflict has entered its fourth month with no clear path to resolution.
• White House Actions: President Trump recently held a significant Situation Room meeting about a potential deal.
  • Still, the nature and direction of that decision remain undisclosed.
  • There’s ongoing rhetoric from President Trump about possibly neglecting a deal if certain Gulf Arab states don't sign normalization agreements with Israel.
• Notable Quote:
  • "On Friday, President Trump announced he was heading into the Situation Room for a high level meeting about the potential deal, quote, to make a final determination. He was there for two hours and we still don't know what he decided."
    — NPR Political Reporter [00:29]

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2. Clashes at Delaney Hall Detention Center (Newark, NJ)

[01:00 – 01:41]

• Curfew Imposed: An overnight curfew is now in place following continued protests over alleged poor conditions for immigrants.
• Governor’s Response: Governor Mikey Sherrill deployed state police to prevent ICE agents from confronting protesters, emphasizing support for peaceful protest and concern over conditions.
• Family Visits Restored: Federal authorities are now allowing family visits at the facility again.
• Notable Quote:
  • "We will continue to look for ways to allow people to continue to protest because, make no mistake, I am very concerned about what's going on in Delaney Hall. And this is all taking away from the protesters who have been very, I think, effective at bringing attention to that."
    — Gov. Mikey Sherrill [01:22]
• Related Legal Action in Texas: Civil rights groups have filed a lawsuit on behalf of detainees at the largest U.S. immigration facility in El Paso, citing "horrific and inhumane conditions."

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3. Paper Mill Disaster in Longview, Washington

[02:10 – 02:49]

• Final Victim Recovered: Authorities identified all 11 victims after a chemical tank rupture.
• Community Response: Families called for improved safety protocols.
• Notable Quote:
  • "This is not right. We don't want to be a victim. You need to do something here, you know, prevent this from happening ever again."
    — Cindy Bickford, Victim's Sister [02:27]
• Investigation: With recovery efforts complete, the inquiry into the cause of the disaster will intensify.

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4. Political Developments

A. Maine Senate Race

[02:49 – 03:10]

• Scandal: Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate hopeful, faces scrutiny over reports of sexually explicit texts.
• Response: His wife, Amy Gertner, appeared in a video dismissing the topic as "gossip" and commenting on the difficulties of marriage.

B. Colombia Presidential Election

[03:10 – 03:55]

• First Round Results: Polls have closed, with Abelardo de la Espriela (pro-Trump) and Senator Ivan Zepeda (leftist) advancing to a runoff.
• Context: The elections come a decade after the peace pact with FARC; renewed violence is "dividing the country."

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5. New Research: Pregnancy and Sedentary Behavior

[03:55 – 04:45]

• Health Concern: One-in-five pregnancies now results in adverse outcomes (e.g., diabetes, preterm birth).
• Study Results: More than 10 hours of sitting daily doubles the risk of complications compared to seven hours.
• Expert Insight:
  • "It really was that prolonged sitting, so sitting more than an hour at a time that was more strongly associated with having these complications."
    — Bethany Barone Gibbs, West Virginia University [04:27]
• Actionable Advice: Regular movement, even standing briefly, lowers risk.

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6. Financial Market Updates

[04:45 – 04:55]

• U.S. futures contracts are described as "trading slightly higher at this hour."

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Memorable Quotes and Moments

• "He was there for two hours and we still don't know what he decided."
  NPR Political Reporter [00:29]
• "We don't want to be a victim. You need to do something here, you know, prevent this from happening ever again."
  Cindy Bickford [02:27]
• "It really was that prolonged sitting... more strongly associated with having these complications."
  Bethany Barone Gibbs [04:27]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:16 — War with Iran update
• 01:00 — NJ Detention center protests and curfew
• 02:10 — Longview, WA paper mill disaster aftermath
• 02:49 — Maine Senate race controversy
• 03:10 — Colombia presidential election
• 03:55 — JAMA study on pregnancy & sedentary behavior
• 04:45 — Market update: U.S. futures

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Overall Tone:
Objective and urgent, with direct reporting on difficult news. Occasional emotional moments from interviewees (notably, families in Longview) and measured policy statements (from Governor Sherrill). The episode maintains NPR’s impartial, informative style.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The war with Iran is now in its fourth month with no clear indication it will be resolved anytime soon. NPR's Tamara Keith has more.

[NPR Correspondent (Political Reporter)]

On Friday, President Trump announced he was heading into the Situation Room for a high level meeting about the potential deal, quote, to make a final determination. He was there for two hours and we still don't know what he decided. Over the past two months, there have been many threats from President Trump and claims of a deal being near. Then last week, he said he might not even sign the deal unless Gulf Arab states like Qatar signed the Abraham Accord, normalizing relations with Israel and veers.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Tamara Keith, an overnight curfew is now in place around Delaney hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. This after another night of clashes between police and people protesting conditions in the facility. Governor Mikey Sherrill says she called in the state police to keep ICE agents away from the protesters, which she says have been largely peaceful.

[Governor Mikey Sherrill]

We will continue to look for ways to allow people to continue to protest because, make no mistake, I am very concerned about what's going on in Delaney Hall. And this is all taking away from the protesters who have been very, I think, effective at bringing attention to that.

[Jeanine Herbst]

She also says the federal government is again allowing family visits at Delaney hall as of today. But in Texas, civil rights groups are suing the government on behalf of detainees at a facility in El Paso, the biggest in the United States, alleging horrific and inhumane conditions. Officials have recovered the 11th and final victim of a major tank rupture at a paper mill in Longview, Washington. Joanie Adenland from Oregon Public Broadcasting has more.

[Joanie Adenland]

The Cowlitz county coroner read aloud the names of all 11 victims as the huge paper mill loomed in the background. Family members of the latest identified victim, Norman Barlow, watched from behind a fence. His sister, Cindy Bickford, said she wants more safety protocols put in place.

[Cindy Bickford]

This is not right. We don't want to be a victim. You need to do something here, you know, prevent this from happening ever again.

[Joanie Adenland]

The disaster occurred when a large tank full of dangerous chemicals suddenly collapsed. Officials say they can now intensify their investigation into the cause now that all victims have been recovered. For NPR News, I'm Joni Odenland in

[Jeanine Herbst]

Longview, Washington, Maine, Democratic Senate nominee hopeful Graham Platner's wife, Amy Gertner addressed reports that he exchanged sexually explicit texts with other women in a video of her posted by him. She avoided speaking directly about the reported texts, calling it gossip and saying that marriage is hard. Blattner is seeking the Democratic nomination in one of the most closely watched Senate races. You're listening to NPR News. Polls have closed in Colombia in the first round of presidential elections, and pro Trump Abelardo de la Espriela and leftist Senator Ivan Zepeda will face off in a runoff next month. This comes 10 years after the country signed a historic peace pact with guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or farc, a deal that offered the hope of ending a half century of armed conflict. But the the violence is back, dividing the country. But one in five pregnancies now results in adverse outcomes like diabetes and preterm births. NPR's Maria Godoy reports on new research in the journal JAMA suggesting the risks can be reduced by moving more and sitting less.

[Maria Godoy]

As society has become more sedentary, researchers wanted to know how all that sitting affects pregnancy outcomes. So they recruited 5, 500 women to wear activity trackers throughout their pregnancies. They found that people who spent more than 10 hours a day sitting had twice the risk of pregnancy complications compared to those who sat about seven hours a day. Here's lead study author Bethany Barone Gibbs of West Virginia University.

[Bethany Barone Gibbs]

It really was that prolonged sitting, so sitting more than an hour at a time that was more strongly associated with having these complications.

[Maria Godoy]

She says even just standing or moving around a bit regularly helped cut the risks. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading slightly higher at this hour. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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[Joanie Adenland]

Com.