NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-15-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: May 15, 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 in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens.

President Trump is urging Qatar to use its influence to convince Iran to seek a nuclear agreement with the United States. The Gulf nation has been an intermediary between the U.S., Iran, and Iran's proxies. Trump made the appeal in Doha, the second stop of his three-nation trip to the Middle East. I want to make a deal with Iran. I want to do something if it's possible. But for that to happen, it must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars,

and permanently and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They cannot have a nuclear weapon. Trump is also urging other nations to join the U.S. in ordering new sanctions aimed at third parties, helping Iran find the materials needed for its ballistic missiles program. President Trump takes his fight against birthright citizenship to the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday.

An executive order signed on Trump's first day of the second term essentially nullifies the 14th amendment's guarantee of citizenship to every baby born in the U.S. NPR's Nina Totenberg has more. Trump's contention that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional is widely considered a fringe view because the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary 127 years ago and that decision has never been disturbed. Moreover, his executive order, changing the terms of the 14th Amendment citizenship guarantee, has been struck down by every judge to have reviewed it.

That said, Trump's Justice Department is not asking the Supreme Court to rule on the merits of the case. Rather, it's asking the court to resolve a technical legal question that could make the process for challenging Trump's policies much more difficult and lengthy. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington. As the FDA pushes food and beverage companies to stop using artificial dyes, regulators have approved three natural alternatives. Details from NPR's Yuki Noguchi. Natural food dyes tend to be less bright and harder to source than chemical synthetic ones.

But in an effort to promote that transition, the FDA approved two forms of natural blue extract from an algae called Galdaria sulfuraria and Butterfly pea flowers. It also approved calcium phosphate for use in making foods like cooked chicken and candy coating look white. The administration cites studies showing some petroleum-based food dyes are linked to behavioral problems like hyperactivity in children. Officials also say synthetic dyes are often used to make unhealthy, highly processed foods look more appetizing to young people. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News. Missouri Republicans have approved a referendum on repealing an abortion rights amendment

passed by voters. The state Senate voted to put a new amendment on a statewide ballot to ban most abortions with exceptions for rape and incest. This is NPR. Talks on ending Russia's war in Ukraine are set to begin at this hour in Ankara, Turkey. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived there Wednesday saying he would await

the arrival of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But a Kremlin list of the Russian delegation to the talks does not have Putin's name on it. Lev Zelensky says Western nations should follow through on threats to punish Russia if Putin fails to show up. He says Putin must be involved in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Gaza health officials say Israeli airstrikes have claimed 64 lives in recent days, including 22 children.

As NPR's Kerry Kahn reports, the attacks come as Israel's prime minister vows to expand his military campaign unless Hamas releases all remaining hostages and disarms. The hallway of the Indonesian hospital in the northern Gaza city of Jabalia was lined with dozens of bodies wrapped in white sheets. NPR's producer, Anas Baba, filmed many relatives sitting on the floor crying by the dead. He then followed families to a nearby cemetery, many salvaged bricks along the way from debris of destroyed buildings, to break through the hard dirt and dig one grave for 17 members of the Mighbul family.

They can use anything they do have in order to bury their own beloved. family. Israel has vowed to expand the war unless Hamas lays down its arms. With Anas Baba in Jabalia, Gaza, Keri Khan, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News. On this week's Wild Card podcast, Wanda Sykes says she can have a hard time understanding God. What is the plan, man? You know? What is the lesson here?

Yeah, yeah, it's like, it's like, ooh, boy, you are in a pickle right now, God. What you gonna do about this? I'm Rachel Martin. Wanda Sykes is on Wild Card, the show where cards control the conversation.