NPR News: 05-10-2026 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Date: May 10, 2026 | Time: 6PM EDT
Host: Jeanine Herbst | Duration: 5 minutes
Episode Theme: Fast-moving global and domestic developments, with updates on US-China relations, the Iran conflict, a hantavirus outbreak, redistricting after a Supreme Court ruling, a deadly volcano eruption, and record Mother’s Day retail spending.

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Main Highlights

This concise news episode provides rapid updates on several major stories dominating international and US headlines:

• President Trump’s visit to China amidst the prolonged Iran war and economic pressures.
• Hantavirus outbreak response and passenger quarantining in Nebraska.
• US congressional redistricting efforts following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
• Deadly volcano eruption in Indonesia impacting hikers.
• Record-breaking consumer spending for Mother’s Day.
• Brief note on current US futures trading.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

US-China Relations & the Iran War

[00:14-01:16]

• President Trump’s Beijing Trip: Trump finally heads to China after a two-month delay caused by the ongoing war with Iran.
• Objectives: The US seeks Chinese intervention to persuade Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure has spiked global oil prices and impacted Trump’s political standing domestically.
• US-China Tensions: Last year’s high tariffs and frosty relations cast a shadow over prospects for major breakthroughs, including on AI and trade.
• Expectations: “Expectations for major takeaways from this upcoming meeting remain low.” – Deepa Shivaram (01:10)

Hantavirus Outbreak & US Response

[01:16-02:14]

• Cruise Ship Outbreak: Seventeen US cruise passengers return and are quarantined in Nebraska after exposure to a lethal hantavirus strain—so far, 8 cases and 3 deaths linked.
• The Nebraska Facility:
  • “You are coming to the premier facility in the United States, if not the world, to take care of you.” – Dr. Ali Khan (01:44)
  • The virus is dangerous but not highly contagious. None of the returning passengers currently show symptoms; all will be monitored.
• Quarantine Measures: US federal and state agencies coordinate to ensure public safety.

Redistricting After Supreme Court Ruling

[02:14-03:04]

• Background: The Supreme Court recently limited the role of race in drawing congressional maps.
• Political Impact: Republican-controlled states, including South Carolina, are redrawing districts to favor GOP candidates.
• Jim Clyburn’s Response:
  • “I'm going to run irrespective of what the makeup of the district might be, because I believe that I have a record that is very acceptable to the South Carolina voter and I have a good understanding of America's promise. And we'll run on that.” – Rep. Jim Clyburn (02:41)
• Broader Implication: Part of President Trump’s strategy to maintain GOP control in the House.

Indonesia Volcano Eruption

[03:04-03:34]

• Incident: Mt. Ducano erupted, trapping and sadly killing three hikers who defied safety warnings.
• Rescue Challenges: Ongoing risk due to seismic activity, heavy rain, and volcanic ash—search efforts continue.

Mother’s Day Spending Hits Record

[03:34-04:44]

• Consumer Behavior:
  • Per-person planned spending soars to $284; total US spending projected at $38 billion for Mother’s Day.
  • “Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants. Beyond brunch, there are cards and jewelry, but the top gift—three-quarters of shoppers say they're getting flowers.” – Amy Held (03:58)
• Flower Industry:
  • Cost pressures from tariffs and fuel prices.
  • Creative adaptation by florists: “We’re just trying to keep things affordable for our customers because we want to keep people buying flowers.” – Eric Luoma, florist (04:30)
  • Sellers promote smaller arrangements to maintain sales.

US Futures Trading

[04:44-04:53]

• Brief Update: US futures contracts are trading lower at the episode’s close.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the scope of the Iran conflict:
  “Trump may seek help from Xi in wrapping up the conflict by asking China to influence Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.” – Deepa Shivaram (00:38)

• On passenger care in Nebraska:
  “You are coming to the premier facility in the United States, if not the world, to take care of you.” – Dr. Ali Khan (01:44)

• On redistricting and persistence:
  “I'm going to run irrespective of what the makeup of the district might be, because I believe that I have a record that is very acceptable to the South Carolina voter...” – Rep. Jim Clyburn (02:41)

• On the flower industry’s resilience:
  “We’re just trying to keep things affordable for our customers because we want to keep people buying flowers.” – Eric Luoma, florist (04:30)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• US-China-Iran War & Beijing Trip – 00:14–01:16
• Hantavirus Outbreak & US Quarantine – 01:16–02:14
• Supreme Court Ruling & Redistricting – 02:14–03:04
• Indonesia Volcano Eruption – 03:04–03:34
• Mother’s Day Spending Trends – 03:34–04:44
• US Markets Update – 04:44–04:53

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Summary Tone: The episode is brisk and factual, using direct updates and multiple NPR correspondents to cover global events, policy implications, and consumer trends with clarity and urgency.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The war in Iran, trade and AI are likely to come up this week when President Trump meets with Chinese leader Xi jinping in Beijing. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump's trip to China was delayed by nearly two months because of Trump's decision to go to war with Iran. Now, 10 weeks into the war that was supposed to end weeks ago, Trump may seek help from Xi in wrapping up the conflict by asking China to influence Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of the strait has led to higher oil prices around the world, and it's impacting Trump's political standing at home in the U.S. but whether there's actual progress made on that or points of conversation like economic agreements and AI is unclear. US China relations have been frosty for the last year. Tensions were high when Trump and Xi met in South Korea last year over escalating tariffs. And while that conflict has cooled, expectations for major takeaways from this upcoming meeting remain low. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Seventeen U.S. cruise passengers are returning stateside after weeks on board a ship at the center of the hantavirus outbreak. So far, there are eight related cases, including three deaths. NPR's Ping Huang reports. The Americans first stop in Nebraska.

[Ping Huang]

The U.S. passengers are taking a flight chartered by the U.S. government to an Air Force base in Nebraska. They're headed for the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Ali Khan is dean of its College of Public Health.

[Dr. Ali Khan]

For the passengers getting off the ship, I'd say welcome to Nebraska. You are coming to the premier facility in the United States, if not the world, to take care of you.

[Ping Huang]

Health officials say this strain of hantavirus can be deadly but isn't very contagious. You'd have to spend a lot of time in close contact with someone with symptoms to to catch it from another person. According to Nebraska Medicine, none of the returning passengers show any symptoms, but they'll be monitored in case they develop them over the coming weeks. Ping Huang, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

After the Supreme Court ruling last month that limited how race can be used in congressional districts, several Republican led states are moving to change their maps, hoping to give GOP candidates the edge in the midterms next fall. It's part of a push by President Trump to try to hold on to the House in those elections. And that includes South Carolina, where lawmakers are considering a new map that would give all seven seats to Republicans, including the one now held by Democrat Jim Clyburn.

[Congressman Jim Clyburn]

I'm going to run irrespective of what the makeup of the district might be, because I believe that I have a record that is very acceptable to the South Carolina voter and I have a good understanding of America's promise. And we'll run on that.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Congressman Clyburn Rather speaking there to CNN's State of the Union. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Indonesia, search and rescue crews found the bodies of two hikers missing after a volcano erupted Friday and the body of the third, who was found yesterday. They had set out to climb Mount Ducano despite warnings and safety restrictions, and they became stranded once the volcano erupt. Research effort continues for others, but they have been hampered by thick volcanic ash, heavy rain and continued seismic activity. Prices are up, but people are still spending for mom, $25 more than they did last year. The National Retail Federation projects total spending to reach a record $38 billion on this Mother's Day. NPR's Amy Held has more per person.

[Amy Held]

Planned spending is $284 on average. Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants. Beyond brunch, there are cards and jewelry, but the top gift 3/4 of shoppers say they're getting flowers. The thorn price up more than 7% in recent weeks. Hit by tariffs and fuel costs, many flowers are flown in, then moved in refrigerated trucks to adapt. Eric Luoma, a florist in Scottsdale, Arizona, says he's getting creative with happy hour sales and partnering with local grow we're

[Capital One Announcer]

just trying to keep things affordable for our customers because we want to keep people buying flowers.

[Amy Held]

Sellers say they're looking to flourish in other ways, offering grab and go bouquets and smaller arrangements. Amy held, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. I'm Jeanine Hurst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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