NPR News: 05-15-2026 9PM EDT

This episode of NPR News Now reports on developments spanning U.S. agricultural markets, state-level election cases, U.S. diplomatic pressure in the Caribbean, a new Ebola outbreak in central Africa, and a Texas court ruling on legislative walkouts.

Trade Worries for Soybean Producers

U.S. farmers are entering the planting season with uncertainty after expectations for expanded Chinese purchases failed to materialize at a recent summit. The White House had described a verbal commitment for China to buy twenty-five million metric tons of soybeans each year, yet no written agreement emerged and no additional volume was secured. Prices fell twenty-four cents in response. Analyst Brian Split noted that China has historically been the largest buyer, leaving producers exposed when commitments remain informal. The absence of concrete terms means planting decisions rest on shaky assurances rather than binding contracts.