NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-18-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: May 18, 2025

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Is America sliding towards authoritarianism? Hundreds of academics say yes. It is certainly reversible, but we are no longer living in a liberal democracy. Where is American democracy heading? Listen now to the Sunday story on the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dua-Hli Saikau-Tau. The FBI says it believes it has identified a suspect involved in a car bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California yesterday. At a news briefing that ended a short time ago, the assistant director in charge of the Los Angeles FBI field office, Akil Davis, shared this.

Efforts to positively identify the deceased individual here has been found. We are fairly confident that that subject is Guy Edward Bartkis, 25-year-old, from again, Palm Springs, I'm sorry, from again, 29 Palms." Davis said the individual had nihilistic ideations and targeted the IVF facility. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says at least 18 people were killed when what's believed to be a tornado swept through the southern part of the state. John McGarry of Member Station WEKU reports 17 of the dead were in the city of London. Mamie Cottle says it was a close call for her and her young grandson. She lives in an area where many homes were destroyed by the severe weather.

She says her daughter called to say it's at the nearby London Corbin Airport and to get in the closet. The house started shaking and then the next thing I heard was like rumbling. Next thing was just like glass breaking everywhere, and wood breaking, and we couldn't hardly open the closet door to get out. Cottle says she and her grandson were uninjured, but she doesn't know whether her home of 10 years can be saved. Governor Andy Beshear says efforts are underway to secure emergency housing. For NPR News, I'm John McGarry in London, Kentucky. New ceasefire talks are now underway between

Israel and Hamas. Israel says it's preparing to resume food supplies to Gaza amid a dire shortage. As NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv, the new negotiations come as Israel intensifies its bombardment of Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. is involved in the talks, seeking a ceasefire and the release of more Israeli hostages. Meanwhile, Israeli military strikes in Gaza have intensified, with more than 500 dead in the past five days, according to Gaza health officials. They say one strike on a home killed 20 people, including five women and five children.

At a Gaza City morgue, a relative of the family cries out. Israel estimates civilians in Gaza only have about a week's supply of food left, and is planning to end its 11-week aid blockade this week, says a person briefed on the matter who did not have authorization to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv, with NPR's Anas Baba in Gaza City. In Rome, on the sidelines of the new American Pope's inauguration, Ukraine's president met with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

This is NPR. It's Super Sunday in Europe where presidential elections are taking place in Poland, Portugal and Romania. In Bucharest, the runoff contest there is being described by international observers as tense, pitting George Simeone, a populist who says he supports President Donald Trump and MAGA, and incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicosor Sordane, a centist who says he supports President Donald Trump and MAGA, and incumbent Bucurus Mayor Nicosor Sordan, a centrist who says he wants to collaborate with European partners and fight corruption. The FDA has, for the first time, cleared a blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer's.

As Americans live longer, Alzheimer's cases are growing fast, already affecting some 7 million people in the U.S. In Piers, Amy Held reports. The Fuji-Rabio Diagnostics Test is the first endorsed by federal officials to pick up on amyloid plaques in the blood. Those proteins, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, clump together and disrupt the brain's function. The test is one diagnostic tool among many to assess patients at least age 55, already showing signs of the disease. Roughly 10% of older Americans live with Alzheimer's,

the most common form of dementia. A devastating diagnosis, Alzheimer's progresses to destroy memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out everyday tasks. Early diagnosis is key, not least because new drugs can work to remove those plaques from the brain, but only if taken early. Amy Held and PR News. The annual Israel Day on Fifth Avenue is taking place at this hour.

I'm Dwali Sykoutel in New York City. Look, we get it. When it comes to new music, there is a lot of it, and it all comes really fast. Dwahle Psychoutel in New York City.