NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-20-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

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Politics is a lot these days. I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding. That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around. Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from MPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. President Trump held separate phone calls with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine on Monday and White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says he found both conversations to be constructive.

Levitt says Trump is seeking a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine. He's grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict. The president and his team have put an enormous amount of effort in solving this very complicated war that again began because of the last administration's weakness. In a post on social media, President Trump said Putin and Zelensky will hold direct talks, but the details are unclear. Russian President Vladimir Putin is insisting

on concessions from Ukrainian President Zelensky, who wants Western allies to set up pressure on Moscow. Federal authorities say the suspect in the weekend bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs was killed in that attack. The FBI has confirmed that remains found at the scene of the bombing match those of a suspect they say targeted the clinic in an act of terrorism. From member station KVC-R, Madison Allment has the story. The FBI said in a post on social media that DNA tests of the remains are a positive match

with Guy Edward Bartkiss. The 25-year-old man lived in 29 Palms, about an hour away. Investigators converged on the home where he'd been living on Saturday afternoon. Local bar owner Andy Hussein says he kept his doors open for people who were evacuated from the neighborhood, even though he was nervous and wanted to close. Everybody were hanging out here and then really people wanted food and stuff so we stayed open and we stayed inside. Monday afternoon, authorities told everyone they could go home. An FBI spokeswoman said investigators were wrapping up at Barkis' house.

For NPR News, I'm Madison Aument. The Department of Homeland Security says nearly 70 migrants have been flown to Honduras and Colombia after agreeing to self-deport. The migrants were given a $1,000 stipend plus an offer to apply for legal entry into the United States in the future. The leader of Sudan's army has appointed a new prime minister as that nation's civil war rages on. Michael Kolokye has the latest. Michael Kolokye, U.S. Secretary of State for the United Nations, Sudan's army chief, Abdel Fattah Burhan has appointed Kamil Idris, a former United Nations official,

as Prime Minister of the country's military-led government. This is the first time a Prime Minister has been appointed in Sudan since a coup four years ago ousted civilian leadership in the country. In 2023, fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces or RSF. Civilians caught up in the ongoing conflict are suffering the most, being killed and uprooted from their homes. According to the United Nations, the fighting has also disrupted regional trade, leading

to economic hardship in neighboring countries. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi. You're listening to NPR. A federal judge is blocking the Trump administration's takeover of the nonprofit U.S. Institute of Peace. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell says the White House's DOJ unit exceeded its authority by storming the institute's headquarters, firing its leaders, and closing the building. USIP's website is now blocked.

Judge Howell disagreed with the Trump administration's argument that USIP is under the authority of the executive branch. The so-called push-push is on the agenda in Minneapolis where NFL owners begin a two-day meeting later today. And PRS Giles Snyder has a preview. NFL owners are expected to vote on a few rule changes when they get together at the headquarters of the Minnesota Vikings, including that proposed ban on the play known as the tush push. It's a variation on the quarterback sneak in which players line up behind the quarterback

in order to help muscle him forward in short yardage situations. The play is also known as the brotherly shove after the Philadelphia Eagles began using it successfully in recent years and helped them win this year's Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers submitted the proposal to ban the play citing in part player safety. NFL owners tabled the proposal last month banning the play would require 24 of the league's 32 teams to vote in favor of the change. Shail Snyder, NPR News. US futures are flat in after hours trading on Wall Street.

On Asia Pacific markets, shares are mostly higher, up 1 percent at the sour in Hong Kong. This is NPR News. Tariffs, recessions, how Colombian drug cartels gave us blueberries all year long. That's the kind of thing the Planet Money podcast explains. I'm Sarah Gonzalez and on Planet Money, we help you understand the economy and how things all around you came to be the way they are. Para que sepas. So you know. Listen to the Planet Money podcast from NPR.