NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-18-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: May 18, 2025

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Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever You Get Your Podcast. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. An explosion outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California on Saturday is being

investigated as an act of terrorism by the FBI. One person was killed and four others were injured. From Member Station KVCR in San Bernardino, Madison Aumont reports. Akil Davis, who's the director of the Los Angeles FBI field office, says the bomb exploded outside the American Reproductive Center in downtown Palm Springs. Davis says they believe the clinic was targeted. He says they're still working to identify the person who was killed and where the explosion originated.

Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills says the blast reached several blocks in all directions. There are blocks of debris and it will take a meticulous effort to make sure that we get every piece of evidence so we understand very thoroughly what happened. Mills says this was an isolated incident. Dr. Mahar Abdallah, who runs the reproductive center, said in a post on Facebook that none of the staff was hurt. And he says all eggs, embryos, and other reproductive material are safe and intact.

For NPR News, I'm Madison Aumann in Palm Springs. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to launch an investigation after a tall masted ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday. 19 people were injured, including two people who were killed and two others who remain in serious condition. WNYC's Bridget Bergen has more.

The boat hit the bridge shortly before 8 30 p.m. according to police. All lanes on the bridge were briefly closed to traffic and the Coast Guard says commercial activity in the area has been suspended. Videos posted on social media show the boats masts striking the bridge and toppling over. The ship then nearly careens into the waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The officials say the ship, which had 277 crew members, is a Mexican Navy vessel that arrived in New York last week as part of a training cruise. The Coast Guard said all personnel had been accounted for. For NPR News, I'm Brigid Bergen in New York. The Supreme Court Friday ruled against the Trump administration when it ordered lower

courts to decide how much time immigrants must be given to challenge their removal from the country. President Trump has been using a 1798 wartime law as justification for rapid deportations, but the court said the Constitution requires due process, even for immigrants. And Piers Jiménez-Bustillo says Trump responded to the ruling by blasting the court. And in a post to his social media site, Trump said, quote, the Supreme Court will not allow us to get criminals out of our country, end quote. And one of the biggest, strongest rebukes of the Supreme Court specifically, Trump explicitly said

that he believes that the court is not allowing him to do what he was elected to do on immigration. He complained that the court is forcing his administration to go through what he called a long protracted and expensive legal process to deport migrants in the country. That's NPR's Jermina Bustillo and you're listening to NPR News. A series of storms have hit the Midwest and South this weekend. In Kentucky, at least 18 people were killed by storms and another 10 are listed in critical condition.

Seven people, meanwhile, were killed in Missouri and two others died because of storms in southern Virginia. The Mayor of St. Louis called the devastation there truly heartbreaking. The worldwide Anglican Communion, including American Episcopalians, have been without a spiritual leader since January. As Vicki Barker reports from London, the perceived front-runner could make history if chosen. The last Archbishop, Justin Welby, stepped down over his handling of the case of a pedophile priest. As part of what the Church of England website calls a prayerful and carefully structured process,

church leaders have begun considering just whose name will, later this year, be passed on to the King for his approval as titular head of the church. British bookies already have a favorite, the right Reverend Guli Francis de Kani, the Bishop of Chownsford, who came to the UK as a refugee from Iran. If chosen, the 58-year-old would become the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first

woman in the job's 1,400-year history. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London. Heavy favorite journalism won the Preakness Stakes Saturday in Baltimore. Gosker finished in second while Sandman captured third place. Journalism won the Preakness stake Saturday in Baltimore. Gosker finished in second, while Sandman captured third place. Journalism finished in second at the Kentucky Derby just two weeks ago, where sovereignty won the roses. Sovereignty skipped the Preakness to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, which will be held on June 7 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.