Former President Joe Biden, 82, faces an aggressive, possibly life-threatening cancer diagnosis, leading to an outpouring of support from across the political spectrum. Also, President Donald Trump will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone in his latest effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, May 19, 2025.
Biden’s ‘aggressive’ cancer diagnosis receives widespread support
Support has surged from all political sides following the disclosure that former President Joe Biden is battling an aggressive type of prostate cancer. In a statement issued Sunday, Biden’s team revealed that the cancer has metastasized to his bones; however, it seems to be hormone-sensitive, enabling effective management.
His office reported the cancer diagnosis on Friday, May 16. Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options.
Reaction and an outpouring of support for the former president came quickly, including from the incumbent President Donald Trump.
Trump posted to his social media platform, Truth Social:
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 18, 2025
Former president Barack Obama also posted a message on X, saying, “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family. Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also posted on X, saying she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, are keeping Biden and his family in their prayers.
Doug and I are saddened to learn of President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time. Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and… pic.twitter.com/gG5nB0GMPp
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 18, 2025
Biden’s cancer diagnosis follows the discovery of a small nodule in his prostate. Doctors reported that it has a Gleason score of 9, indicating that it has metastasized to the bone.
The diagnosis has intensified scrutiny regarding Biden’s health.
A forthcoming book, set to be released Tuesday, May 20, about Biden accuses officials and aides of covering up the health problems of the onetime commander in chief. The authors, both reporters with mainstream media outlets, claim Democratic partisans did everything they could to prevent the public from knowing how serious Biden’s health issues were during the 2024 presidential election.
The book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” alleges that top aides worked behind the scenes to hide what the authors call the president’s mental and physical decline from public view. Several news outlets have obtained early excerpts ahead of the book’s release on May 20.
The former president has maintained a low profile since leaving office in January. However, he appeared on ABC’s “The View” alongside his wife, Jill, earlier this month.
Trump to speak with Putin, Zelenskyy in hopes of securing end to war
This morning, President Donald Trump is scheduled to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, hoping to influence an end to the war in Ukraine. Their conversation occurs as the war enters a deadly new stage. Trump plans to urge Putin to stop what he calls the bloodbath in Ukraine, following Russia’s largest drone strike of the war over the weekend.
Putin, for his part, heads into the call with confidence, as Russian forces gain ground and show no signs of backing down. The Trump-Putin meeting is scheduled to take place around 10 a.m. ET on Monday, May 19, and will be followed by a separate call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
It follows Zelenskyy’s discussions with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday, May 18. The Ukrainian leader emphasized the need for diplomacy in securing a “full and unconditional ceasefire” after the meetings.
This marks the first in-person meeting between Vance and Zelenskyy since their strained interaction at the White House in February, which took place in front of the press.
Zelenskyy also met with the newly elected pontiff for the first time. Pope Leo XIV called for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine at Sunday’s installation mass.
The diplomatic talks come after a Russian attack on a busy railway station in Ukraine killed multiple people and injured several others over the weekend. Zelenskyy said all the victims were civilians, including four members of one family.
GOP advances Trump bill in rare weekend vote
House Republicans have taken a step toward advancing Trump’s “big, beautiful” budget bill, but not without some last-minute drama.
The House Budget Committee passed a sweeping tax and spending bill late Sunday, May 18, by a single vote after four conservative holdouts dropped their opposition and voted present. They said they secured behind-the-scenes commitments, including moving up work requirements for Medicaid and making deeper cuts to clean energy tax credits.
The bill would make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, boost military and immigration spending and offset some of the costs with deep cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and education.
However, the bill continues to evolve and may encounter additional challenges in the rules committee this week. Some Republicans have also cautioned that the final version might struggle to gain support on the House floor.
Investigation into deadly Brooklyn Bridge ship crash underway
Federal and New York state authorities have launched an investigation into what caused a Mexican ship to crash into the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people and injuring more than a dozen others over the weekend. The National Transportation Safety Board announced it will also send a team to investigate the crash, scheduling a press conference for Monday, May 19.
“I was crossing the street and I saw the boat going toward the Brooklyn Bridge. Not stopping and then all the top crashed,” one witness described what they saw as the ship hit the bridge.
Officials reported that nearly 300 people were aboard the ship when the masts snapped off, causing sailors to dangle from the vessel. The Coast Guard called the incident a “devastating tragedy.” It also halted all commercial traffic in the area as crews worked to move the ship off to the side and onto a nearby pier.
Earlier tonight, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.
At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries. pic.twitter.com/mlaCX0X8Mh
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 18, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the ship lost power during a ceremonial departure, causing it to drift backward and hit the top of the bridge.
The Mexican Navy said the vessel was set to depart the South Street Seaport for Iceland. Officials said the Brooklyn Bridge was not structurally damaged.
New Jersey transit strike ends
Approximately 100,000 commuters in Newark, New Jersey, and the New York area will have their transit service restored on Tuesday, May 20, following the end of the train engineers’ strike. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen walked off the job on Friday, May 16, in a dispute over wages.
This situation compelled daily commuters using New Jersey Transit to seek alternative routes into the city from Jersey, utilizing buses, cars, taxis and boats to cross the Hudson River, as train services were unavailable. Additionally, the strike impacted travel to Newark Airport.
NJ TRANSIT & the BLET have announced a tentative agreement.
NJ TRANSIT train service will resume on Tuesday, May 20, as it takes approximately 24 hours to inspect and prepare the infrastructure before returning to full scheduled service.
Details at https://t.co/MwGEE56qhU pic.twitter.com/t93WgYiVHH
— NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) May 18, 2025
On Sunday, May 18, engineers and management reached a preliminary agreement regarding the strike. There will be an additional day of disruption, as New Jersey Transit announced that trains will not return to their regular schedule until early Tuesday morning due to inspections taking place Monday.
The terms of the new labor agreement are being communicated to the 450 members. According to the union chief, hourly wages will increase, though he did not specify the amount. However, he assured that the raise will not exceed budget limits or lead to higher train fares.
British climber ascends Mt. Everest for 19th time
A British climber set a new record Sunday, May 18, by scaling Mount Everest for the 19th time. Kenton Cool, 51, reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain. Fellow climbers dubbed his achievement “legendary.”
Cool first reached the peak of Everest in 2004 and has managed to do so nearly every year since. The world record for the most Everest ascents is 30. Cool has just 11 more ascents to go.
contributed to this report.
