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NPR News Now

NPR News: 05-20-2026 2PM EDT

20 May 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.807 - 16.482 Windsor Johnston

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Justice Department has formally indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch made the announcement at Miami's Freedom Tower just a short time ago.

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16.522 - 30.696 Unknown

Today, we are announcing an indictment charging Raul Castro and several others with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals.

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Chapter 2: What are the details of the indictment against Raul Castro?

31.975 - 41.036 Windsor Johnston

NPR's Ada Peralta reports the charges stem from Castro's alleged involvement in the downing of two American planes in 1996.

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41.337 - 60.932 Michael Bustamante

The two planes belonged to a group called Brothers to the Rescue, which used to fly over the streets of Florida, alerting the Coast Guard of Cuban migrants in trouble. On several occasions, the planes flew into Cuban airspace, dropping anti-government leaflets. In February of 1996, the Cuban Air Force shot down two Cessnas. The U.S. claims then-Defense Minister Raul Castro ordered the shooting.

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61.292 - 72.309 Michael Bustamante

Michael Bustamante studies Cuba at the University of Miami, and he says this is bigger than historical justice. The indictment is part of a broader U.S. move to pressure the Cuban government to change.

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72.529 - 80.867 Unknown

It also sets the table ostensibly for the thing that the administration lacked. If they ever did want to escalate to military action, which was a pretext to do so.

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80.968 - 88.611 Michael Bustamante

In January, the U.S. used the indictment of Nicolas Maduro to remove him from office in Venezuela. Eder Peralta, NPR News, Miami.

88.793 - 113.147 Windsor Johnston

A former Trump administration official has filed the first known claim under the Justice Department's new $1.7 billion anti-weaponization fund. Michael Caputo says he was targeted for political retaliation and is seeking $2.7 million in restitution and reimbursement. The fund was created to compensate individuals who claimed they were unfairly targeted by the federal government.

113.127 - 128.537 Windsor Johnston

The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda has likely sickened at least 600 people. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports more than 130 people have died from the virus.

128.669 - 153.664 Unknown

This Ebola outbreak is already the third largest on record, despite only being declared last Friday. At a press conference on Wednesday, WHO officials said that given the scale, the outbreak likely started a couple months ago and was spreading undetected. Here's WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. WHO assists the risk of the epidemic as the high at the national and regional levels,

153.897 - 172.903 Unknown

and low at the global level. The kind of Ebola that's spreading is rare and existing field tests often miss it. There are also no approved treatments or vaccines. WHO officials said that while there are a couple vaccine candidates that might be tested, they won't be ready for that testing for months. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

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