NPR News: 05-12-2026 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 05-12-2026 10PM EDT
Date: May 13, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton

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Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers succinct reports on major national and international stories of the hour. Topics covered include President Trump’s diplomatic visit to China, a high-profile Senate hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel, a legal showdown between OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk, a global hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, a major education technology data breach, the ongoing nonprofit funding crisis, and changes being considered for the Triple Crown horse racing schedule.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Visit to Beijing ([00:11]–[01:09])

• Purpose: President Trump is traveling to Beijing to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
• Key Topics: Energy prices, US-China relations regarding Taiwan, the ongoing war with Iran, and delayed US arms sales to Taiwan. Trump also intends to address human rights cases, including those of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai and an imprisoned Christian pastor.
• Context: US legislation mandates defense support for Taiwan, including arms sales, which is a source of friction.

Notable Quote:

• “A lot of good things can happen now. We'll be talking about, I mean, he'll bring up Taiwan.” – President Trump ([00:48])

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2. Senate Hearing: FBI Director Kash Patel under Scrutiny ([01:09]–[01:41])

• Event: Patel faces allegations of on-the-job drinking, which he strongly denies during a Senate hearing led by Senator Chris Van Hollen.
• Exchange: Van Hollen challenges Patel to take a military-standard audit test for alcohol use. Patel agrees, leading to a heated back-and-forth.
• Background: Patel has filed a lawsuit regarding negative press in The Atlantic and pointedly accuses Van Hollen of excessive drinking during a previous visit to El Salvador.

Notable Exchange:

• Sen. Van Hollen: “Are you willing to take the test?” ([01:20])
• Patel: “I'll take any test you're willing to take.” ([01:31])
• Van Hollen: “I will take it. Doc. Director Patel? I'll take it. You ready to take it?” ([01:33])
• Patel: “Let's go.” ([01:37])

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3. Legal Battle: OpenAI’s Sam Altman vs. Elon Musk ([01:41]–[02:49])

• Context: Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) defends himself in court in Oakland, following a high-profile lawsuit from Elon Musk—a case with potential wide-ranging implications for AI industry governance.
• Highlights: Altman asserts no individual should have majority control of AGI (artificial general intelligence), countering Musk’s prior demand for control. Under cross-examination, Altman addresses questions about his reputation and the evolution of OpenAI from nonprofit to industry leader.
• Trial Status: Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday.

Notable Quotes:

• “No single person should control AGI, artificial intelligence, or AI that surpasses human intelligence.” – Sam Altman ([02:05])
• “I have heard people say that.” – Sam Altman, responding to allegations of being called a liar ([02:22])

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4. Hantavirus Outbreak Linked to Cruise Ship ([02:49]–[03:19])

• Situation: A French woman is critically ill with hantavirus, being treated with an artificial lung after exposure aboard a cruise ship.
• WHO Update: The World Health Organization reports 11 total global cases, with three cruise ship passengers having died.

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5. Cyber Attack on Online Learning Platform Canvas ([03:19]–[03:48])

• Incident: Instructure, the Canvas platform’s operator, has reached a deal with hackers (Shiny Hunters) to delete data stolen in a breach that affected millions.
• Impact: The attack created chaos, especially with students in the middle of finals. The hackers had threatened to leak data from thousands of schools.

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6. Nonprofits Facing Crisis from Federal Funding Cuts ([03:48]–[04:27])

• Survey: The Center for Effective Philanthropy finds that 75% of nonprofit CEOs report rising demand for services, even as staff and services are cut back.
• Services at Risk: Crucial support such as meals for seniors and domestic violence shelters are being shuttered.
• Government Stance: The Trump administration frames cuts as part of government reduction while broadly labeling some nonprofit activities as radical or illegal.

Notable Quotes:

• “The sector is really at an inflection point and in a crisis right now.” – Alicia Smith Arriaga, Center for Effective Philanthropy ([04:06])

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7. Proposed Schedule Shift for Preakness Horse Race ([04:27]–[04:54])

• Proposal: Maryland officials may move the Preakness Stakes to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby (currently two weeks), potentially increasing the likelihood of Triple Crown contenders competing.
• Current Context: This year’s Derby winner, Golden Tempo, will not compete in the Preakness, further fueling the debate.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• President Trump’s optimistic yet ambiguous comment on talking about Taiwan ([00:48]).
• The direct and dramatic test exchange between Sen. Van Hollen and FBI Director Patel ([01:20]–[01:41]).
• Sam Altman’s principled stance on AGI control ([02:05]).
• Alicia Smith Arriaga’s blunt assessment of the nonprofit sector’s crisis ([04:06]).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• China Visit & US–China–Taiwan Relations: 00:11–01:09
• FBI Director Hearing (Alcohol Allegations): 01:09–01:41
• OpenAI/Musk Trial: 01:41–02:49
• Hantavirus Outbreak: 02:49–03:19
• Canvas Data Breach: 03:19–03:48
• Nonprofit Funding Crisis: 03:48–04:27
• Preakness Horse Race Schedule Proposal: 04:27–04:54

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Conclusion

This episode delivers crisp, essential updates on geopolitics, tech industry conflict, public health emergencies, cybersecurity, the nonprofit sector, and sports, all packed into a rapid-fire five-minute format. The coverage balances headline urgency with direct quotes and clear stakes, keeping listeners informed on shifting global and national landscapes.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump is flying to Beijing today. There he'll meet with China's top Leader, Xi Jinping. NPR's Emily Fang reports. One of the issues front and center will be China's relationship with the island of Taiwan.

[C]

Calling China's Xi Jinping an amazing man, Trump says the meetings with Xi later this week will cover energy prices, the war with Iran and Taiwan, the democratic island China hopes to control one day. Asked about a delayed multibillion dollar US Weapons sale to Taiwan, Trump has said he would talk about it with China's Xi Jinping.

[D]

A lot of good things can happen now. We'll be talking about, I mean, he'll bring up Taiwan.

[C]

American legislation requires the US to provide for Taiwan's defense, and that includes selling Taiwan arms. Trump has also said he'll raise the case of imprisoned Hong Kong activist and publisher Jimmy Lai, as well as an imprisoned Christian pastor in China. Emily Feng, NPR News.

[B]

FBI Director Kash Patel has strongly denied allegations of excessive drinking on the job. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen confronted Patel during a Senate hearing today.

[E]

Are you willing to take the test? It's called the audit test that members of our active duty military and others take to determine whether they have a drinking problem.

[D]

I'll take any test you're willing to take.

[E]

I will take it. Doc. Director Patel? I'll take it. You ready to take it?

[D]

Let's go.

[E]

Yes or no?

[D]

Let's go side by side.

[E]

I'll take it.

[B]

Patel has sued over a recent article in the Atlantic magazine critical of his leadership. He also accused Van Hollen of slinging margaritas during a visit to El Salvador last year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the man Elon Musk says stole a charity, took the witness stand today in Oakland, California, to defend himself in a case that could reshape Silicon Valley. Rachel Myro has more from member station kqed.

[F]

Sam Altman said no single person should control AGI, artificial intelligence, or AI that surpasses human intelligence. So he told the court Elon Musk's insistence on majority control made him a poor fit for OpenAI. On cross examination, Musk's attorney asked whether Altman had repeatedly been called a liar by people with whom he'd done business. Altman replied, quote, I have heard people say that this case turns on how OpenAI, which began as a public interest nonprofit, has come to be a for profit industry leader. Closing arguments are Thursday. The judge told lawyers she's mindful an appeals court will consider not just the verdict, but how she ran the trial. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Mairo.

[B]

A doctor says a French woman infected with hantavirus on a cruise ship is critically ill and being treated with an artificial lung. The World Health Organization says the outbreak has now reached 11 total reported cases worldwide, nine of which have been confirmed. The overall tally includes three people from the cruise ship who died. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Instructure, the company behind the online learning system Canvas, says it has reached a deal with hackers to delete data stolen in a cyber attack. The terms were not disclosed. The breach caused chaos for students, many in the middle of finals. The hacking group Shiny Hunters had threatened to leak data from nearly 9,000 schools and 275 million individuals. Charitable nonprofits say they face an existential crisis from federal funding cuts and other moves by the Trump administration. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports on a new survey that warns some groups are struggling to survive.

[G]

The center for Effective Philanthropy surveyed hundreds of nonprofit CEOs. Three quarters say they face increasing demand for services. And even as many have had to cut staff and pull back, the center's Alicia Smith Arriaga says things like meals for seniors and help for domestic violence victims have had to shut down.

[H]

The sector is really at an inflection point and in a crisis right now.

[G]

The Trump administration has said such funding cuts are part of its mission to shrink government. It's also made broad allegations of fraud and called groups that promote social justice radical and illegal. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

[B]

Maryland officials are considering MO moving the Preakness horse race from two to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Adding a week would try to address concerns about the short turnaround time between the races, which has led to fewer Derby winners participating in the Preakness and ultimately seeking the Triple Crown to win that a horse needs to win the Derby, the Preakness and New York's Belmont Stakes. This year's Derby winner, Golden Tempo, is not participating in the Preakness. This is NPR News.

[I]

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