NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-19-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: May 19, 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, I'm Dale Willman. Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed

with prostate cancer. NPR's Tamara Keith has more. According to a statement from Biden's personal office, the cancer has metastasized to bone and is a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. But it appears to be hormone sensitive, which means there are options for effective management. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in elderly men. For Biden,

the diagnosis came after experiencing urinary symptoms. The statement goes on to say that the former president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians. This comes as media attention has been focused on Biden's decline while in office as documented in a forthcoming book. Tamara Keith, NPR News. President Trump will be working the phones Monday as he hopes to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, which is now in its fourth year. Trump is scheduled to speak with leaders from Russia, Ukraine and NATO. NPR's Charles Maines reports. The phone calls come in the wake of peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday,

their first direct negotiations since the early days of the war. That led to an agreement for a mass prisoner swap but fell short of Western demands Russia joined Ukraine in signing on to an immediate 30-day ceasefire. Instead, Russia has kept up the military pressure, launching mass drone attacks over the weekend. Russian President Vladimir Putin is also signaling that may not change. In an interview on state television, he insisted Russia maintain the means to meet its military objectives and see the war through to what he called its logical conclusion.

Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow. In Palm Springs, California, authorities say they're investigating a deadly vehicle bombing near a fertility clinic yesterday as a terrorist attack, and they have named a suspect. Steve Futterman has our reports. Officials identify the man they believe is responsible for the attack as 25-year-old Guy Edward Barkas, and law enforcement believes he is the person who was killed, although more forensic tests are being done. Assistant Director in Charge for the FBI's Los Angeles office, Akil Davis, says the suspect had views suggesting that life has no value. AKIL DAVIS, FBI Assistant Director, Los Angeles Office of Defense, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI,

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FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI, FBI the IDF facility. Davis acknowledged that authorities have what could be audio statements from the suspect. We are looking through that. We are tracking a possible manifesto out there and it's part of our ongoing investigation. The FBI refused to release any details about what either could contain. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. A tentative deal has been reached with train engineers who have been striking against New Jersey transit. A three-day strike had stopped service for more than 100,000 daily riders. The union says full service will be restored on Tuesday. The main issue is wages. The engineers say they've not had a raise in six years. It was the state's first transit strike in more than 40 years.

You're listening to NPR News. years. You're listening to NPR News. Pope Leo XIV said Sunday he would work for unity in a polarized Catholic Church and the world. He also offered a message of healing during an inaugural mass Sunday in St. Peter's Square. The audience included an estimated 200,000 pilgrims, presidents, patriarchs, and princes. For the first time, the FDA has approved a blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease. As Americans live longer, the number of cases of Alzheimer's are quickly growing. It's already affecting some 7 million people in the U.S. NPR's Amy Held has a report.

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. Final destination, Bloodlines is the king of the box office this weekend. The movie from Warner Brothers brought in $51 million in North American ticket sales.

Disney's Thunderbolts placed second with $16.5 million in sales. Sinners continues its run coming in third with $15.5 million while the Minecraft movie came in fourth. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. This message comes from Wwise, the app for doing things and other currencies. came in fourth. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.