NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-19-2025 1AM 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. The announcement comes four months after the 82-year-old left office. NPR's Luke Garrett has this update. Last week, former President Biden went to the doctors and was evaluated for a small nodule found in his prostate. The 82-year-old had also been quote, experiencing increasing urinary symptoms, end quote, according to a statement.

It goes on to say that Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday and that the cancer received a Gleeson score of nine. This means it's a more aggressive case. The statement ends by saying that the cancer quote, appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management end quote, and that the Bidens are reviewing treatment options. NPR's Luke Garrett.

People in Kentucky are now beginning the process of cleaning up damage following what's believed to be a tornado that hit the southern part of that state overnight on Friday. At least 19 people were killed. As 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. 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. Police say the 25-year-old man they believe is responsible for Saturday's bombing at a California fertility clinic left behind anti-pro-life writings. The FBI identified the suspect as Guy Edward Bartkus, and they believe he was killed in the explosion. They're now trying to identify the motive for the bombing. Wall Street is bracing for a bumpy start to the week after the credit ratings agency Moody's downgraded the U.S. As NPR's Maria Aspin reports, Dow futures are now trading down.

Moody's says that the United States government is taking on too much debt and facing rising interest costs. The ratings agency blames both past and current U.S. administrations and Congress for not doing enough to reverse this trend. And it's not optimistic that any of lawmakers current budget proposals will help. Moody's was the last of the three major ratings agencies to downgrade the United States. Its warning comes at a time when Wall Street and much of the country are already worried about the United States standing in the global economy. President Trump's sweeping tariffs have sent jitters through

the markets, driven up prices for consumers, and raised concerns about increased risk of a recession. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. And you're listening to NPR News. Romanians have chosen the mayor of Bucharest to be their new president. Terry Schultz reports it was a tough race which had to be run twice because of allegations of Russian interference. A centrist former mathematics professor has beat out a far-right supporter of President Donald Trump in the race to become Romania's president. Nicoserdan won the second round Sunday over his opponent,

Gheorghe Simeon, who said he would cut off Romania and aid to Ukraine if elected and move the country further from the European Union. The first attempt to elect a new president last November was thrown out after an investigation showed the surprise winner, Colin Gheorghescu, had been promoted by Russia-linked online accounts and bots. Simeon, who won the first round earlier this month, suggested he may contest the results. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz. Israel says it will allow a limited amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel has enforced a total blockade on the enclave for more than two months, and health experts have been warning for weeks of a humanitarian crisis in the region. Gaza holds more than two million people and access to food and medical supplies has been severely restricted by Israel. Officials have not yet said when aid will begin or how much will be offered. Scottie Scheffler won his third major title this weekend. Golf's number one player was mistake-free on the back nine and finished the PGA championship in North Carolina with a five stroke lead.

He won the Wanamaker trophy and is now halfway to a career Grand Slam. Bryson DeChambeau, meanwhile, was one of three players who were tied for second place. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. World news is important, but it can feel far away. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.