NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-13-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

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This is Ira Glass, the host of This American Life. So much is changing so rapidly right now, with President Trump in office. It feels good to pause for a moment sometimes and look around at what's what. To try and do that, we've been finding these incredible stories about right now that are funny and have feeling and you get to see people everywhere making sense of this new America that we find ourselves in. This American Life, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Donald Trump is in Saudi Arabia,

the first leg of his three-nation visit to the Middle East this week, along with the deal-making and a lavish welcome. Trump also called on Iran to take a new and better path as he continues to push for a nuclear deal with Tehran. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. This is an offer that will not last forever. The time is right now for them to choose. Right now we don't have a lot of time to wait. Trump announced meanwhile he'll ease sanctions against Syria and say he'll meet Wednesday in Saudi Arabia

with new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharah. Trump said he hopes the new Syrian government, which ousted longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, succeeds. Lyle and Eric Menendez are moving a step closer to freedom after 35 years in prison for murdering their parents. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has ruled the brothers' sentences of life in prison without parole are being reduced to 50 years to life. That makes them eligible for parole under California's Useful Offender Law because they committed the murders before they were 26.

They remain jailed while a parole board reviews the new sentences. Menendez brothers were found guilty of murdering their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in 1989 and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The brothers claimed they'd been sexually abused by their father and feared for their lives. The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to remove fluoride tablets for kids from the market. Their prescription fluoride supplements taken by children prevent tooth decay in some circumstances.

More from MPR's Ping Wong. Under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Food and Drug Administration is starting the process of taking prescription-only fluoride supplements off the market. Dr. Paul Casamassimo with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says these are recommended for kids who don't get fluoridated water to prevent cavities. This removes the choice. It really removes one of the tools that we as clinicians can use to stem tooth decay. The announcement claims ingested fluoride can change the

microbiome in concerning ways even as it links to scientific papers that suggest low doses of fluoride may positively affect the microbiome. It contradicts recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force and professional medical groups. Ping Huang, NPR News. Shipmaker NVIDIA says it will partner with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund owned by the AI startup Humane as part of the plan to ship 18,000 chips to the Middle Eastern nation to power a new data center project there. The partnership was revealed today as part of a White House trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, andq rose 301 points. This is NPR. United Health Group says its CEO Andrew Witte is stepping down for what the company is calling

personal health care. The Dow is now in the top 10 in the world. The Dow is now in the top 10 in the world. The Dow is now in the top 10 in the world. The Dow is now in the top 10 in the world. rose 301 points. This is NPR. United Health Group says its CEO Andrew Witte is stepping down for what the company is calling personal reasons. Witte took over last year after the murder of former CEO Brian Thompson. The company also announced today it's suspending its full year forecast due to higher than expected medical costs. United Health announced today that effective immediately. Stephen Helmsley will return as CEO of the company.

Helmsley served as CEO from 2006 to 2017. Last month the company announced quarterly earnings that came in below expectations. Its stock plunged 17% today. The 78th Cannes Film Festival kicked off today in the south of France. NPR's Mendeleet Delbarco reports actor Robert De Niro, a top honorary award and festival goers will have to abide by a new dress code. To thunderous applause, actor Leonardo DiCaprio presented his hero, Robert De Niro, with a prestigious Palme d'Or. The two-time Academy Award winner was honored

for his iconic roles in such films as The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull. Merci infiniment to the Festival d'Iquane for creating a community, a home if you will, for those of us who love the art of telling stories on screen. During his acceptance speech, De Niro slammed President Trump, who he called an enemy of the arts. This year's festival goers faced an updated dress code, no nudity on the red carpet in other events, and no voluminous outfits such as gowns with large trains that

hinder traffic and complicate seating. Mandelit Del Barco, NPR News. Crude oil futures prices moved higher today, oil up nearly 3% to $63.67 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. With WISE, Seven a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News.