NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-12-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: May 12, 2025

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Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. The NPR politics podcast makes politics a breeze. Every episode will break down the day's headlines into totally normal language and make sure that you walk away understanding what the day's news might mean for you. Take a deep breath and give politics another chance with the NPR politics podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Cheering in Edan Alexander's hometown in New Jersey after news of the last living American hostage held in Gaza has been freed. According to a statement by Hamas and an Israeli official who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity. Hamas militants

released the 21-year-old Israeli soldier to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Russia launched dozens of drone attacks across Ukraine overnight, killing at least one person and injuring nearly two dozen others. The attacks effectively mark Russia's rejection of calls by Kiev and its European allies for an immediate ceasefire ahead of possible peace talks later this week. From Moscow, NPR's Charles Maines has more. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched more than 100 drones across multiple regions of Ukraine beginning late Sunday.

Russia's defense ministry confirmed the attacks but said its forces struck a range of military targets including Ukrainian army air bases and arms depots. Ukraine, with backing from the US and Europe, had been demanding Monday mark the start of a month-long ceasefire, threatening massive new sanctions should Russia refuse. Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for direct talks with Ukraine and Istanbul Turkey later this week in an apparent attempt to seize the diplomatic initiative. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has since agreed to the talks but challenged Putin to meet in person.

Charles Mainz in PR News, Moscow. Pope Leo XIV is offering his appreciation to journalists for their service to the truth. NPR's Jason DeRose says the pope met with members of the media today at the Vatican. Pope Leo began his remarks on a lighter note in English following a round of applause from guests. They say when they clap at the beginning, it doesn't matter much. If you're still awake at the end and you still want to applaud, thank you very much.

But then he turned serious and switched to Italian. Leo called on journalists to strive for communication that, quote, does not seek consensus at all costs and never separates the search for truth from the love with which the truth is sought. And he reiterated the Catholic Church's solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned for seeking and reporting the truth, especially in war-torn regions. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Rome. JS How's Republicans are promoting a plan that critics warn will leave millions of poor people without Medicaid and forces millions more to pay for care or pay more for care. The proposal,

unveiled yesterday, calls for at least $880 billion in cuts largely to Medicaid to help pay for President Trump's sweeping agenda that includes $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and more military spending. Proponents argue that new eligibility and work requirements under the plan will generate big savings. From Washington, this is NPR News. Sean Diddy Combs is on trial in New York on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Prosecutors argue that over a period of many years, the rapper and hip-hop mogul coerced women to take part in drug-fueled sex parties and often abused them.

The defense argues Combs' relationships, all of his sexual relationships, were consensual. He has pleaded not guilty to five counts. If convicted though, Combs could face 15 years to life in prison. Campaigning kicked off today ahead of presidential elections in South Korea. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul that voters will head to the polls June 3rd to choose a replacement for impeached former president, Yoon Sung-yeol. Candidates started the day in the Capitol, then fanned out to campaign across the country. Opposition party leader Lee Jae-myeong is the front-runner. He's in favor of engagement with North Korea.

One recent poll gives him a lead of roughly 20 percentage points over conservative ruling party candidate and former labor minister Kim Min-soo. South Korea has yet to emerge from the political crisis triggered by ex-president Yoon Song-yol's declaration of martial law last December. Economic growth has largely stalled, and the Trump administration's America First policy and preoccupation with confronting China have fueled South Koreans' fears of being abandoned by their chief ally, the U.S. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. The Dow is now up more than a thousand points, two and a half percent. The Nasdaq has risen

four percent, SMP is up three percent. It's NPR News. Know that fizzy feeling you get when you read something really good, watch the movie everyone's SMPs up 3%. It's NPR News.