NPR News: 05-12-2026 11PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — 05-12-2026 11PM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder (NPR)
Date: May 13, 2026
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of leading news stories, including President Trump's trip to China, public sentiment on tariffs, FDA leadership changes, the economic impact of the ongoing Iran war, political redistricting developments, and geopolitical tensions at Eurovision.

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Major News Stories

1. President Trump Heads to China: Tariffs and Trade in Focus

[00:13 - 01:22]

• President Trump en route to Beijing for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

• The central agenda: U.S.-China trade relations.

• Public Opinion on Tariffs:

  • A new NPR/Chicago Council/Ipsos poll finds most Americans view U.S. tariffs as harmful to both the U.S. and Chinese economies, driving up consumer costs.
  • Example:
    • Alisa Kajiwara, physical therapist, experienced an extra $20 tariff on a Chinese-made board game.

      "I think the tariffs are bad. Making a worse deal for a country's trade does not mean we'll get more stuff out of it." — Alisa Kajiwara (00:51)

    • David Morgan, former furniture company owner, supports tariffs due to cheap Chinese competition destroying his business:

      "Business dried up. We didn't have the orders. We filed chapter 11 and sold off a lot of our stuff." — David Morgan (01:07)

• Potential Solution:

  • Majority of Americans favor cutting tariffs if China agrees to buy more U.S. agricultural goods.

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2. FDA Commissioner Resigns Amid Controversy

[01:22 - 02:18]

• Dr. Marty Makary, FDA Commissioner, resigned after 13 months.
• Reasons for Tension:
  • Makary frustrated the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement by not pushing its policies fast enough.
  • Approved updated COVID vaccines, angering MAHA supporters.
  • Failed to complete a promised safety review of mifepristone, disappointing abortion opponents.
  • Criticized by industry and consumer advocates for inconsistency in FDA regulation.
• Professional Background:
  • Surgeon and health policy researcher, previously at Johns Hopkins.

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3. Iran War Drives Surge in U.S. Inflation

[02:18 - 03:12]

• April Inflation Data:
  • Consumer prices rose 3.8% year-over-year, the biggest jump since May 2023.
  • 0.6% price increase in April alone.
• Key Factors:
  • Higher energy prices due to closure of the Strait of Hormuz—about 40% of monthly increase attributed here.
  • Gasoline up by $1.50 since the war started; diesel prices even higher.
  • Airline ticket prices surged over 20% compared to last year, largely due to soaring jet fuel costs.
  • Higher shipping and trucking expenses contributed to a sharp rise in grocery prices.

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4. Political Redistricting: Mixed Outcomes for the Trump Administration

[03:12 - 04:13]

• South Carolina:
  • Redistricting efforts stalled amid concerns about political backfiring.
• Missouri:
  • State Supreme Court upheld a Trump-backed district map, despite a public initiative for a ballot measure. The map will take effect for the upcoming fall election.
• Alabama:
  • Governor Kay Ivey announced a special primary for four congressional districts, after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a previously blocked map to be used.

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5. Eurovision 2026: Geopolitics Overshadow the Contest

[04:13 - 04:54]

• Location: Vienna, Austria. Event's 70th year.
• Notable Entry:
  • Israel’s Noam Betan performs in English, Hebrew, and French, aiming for broad appeal.
• Controversy:
  • Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain withdrew in protest over Israel's participation amidst the Gaza conflict.
  • Previous contests saw protests for banning Israel and allegations of voting manipulation.
  • Organizers expect both anti- and pro-Israel demonstrations ahead of the finals.

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Notable Quotes

• On Tariffs:

  "I think the tariffs are bad. Making a worse deal for a country's trade does not mean we'll get more stuff out of it."
  — Alisa Kajiwara, Illinois resident [00:51]

  "Business dried up. We didn't have the orders. We filed chapter 11 and sold off a lot of our stuff."
  — David Morgan, North Carolina furniture business owner [01:07]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• President Trump heads to China; Tariffs poll: 00:13 - 01:22
• FDA Commissioner resigns: 01:22 - 02:18
• U.S. inflation rises due to Iran war: 02:18 - 03:12
• Redistricting updates: 03:12 - 04:13
• Eurovision Song Contest tensions: 04:13 - 04:54

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Tone:
Straightforward, factual news updates with brief illustrative stories and direct quotes from affected individuals and officials.

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Summary:
This episode provides a succinct yet comprehensive update on major U.S. and international news: U.S.-China trade concerns and public attitudes toward tariffs, a major personnel shift at the FDA amid politicized health debates, the economic impact of Middle East conflict, ongoing political maneuvering over congressional districts, and the intersection of art and politics at Eurovision.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump is on his way to China. He is to arrive in Beijing Wednesday evening for a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump told reporters that trade will be the main focus. A new NPR Chicago Council Ipsos poll finds Most Americans think U.S. tariffs have been bad for both economies and driven up consumer costs. NPR's Frank Langford reports.

[NPR Reporter Frank Langford]

Alisa Kajiwara is a physical therapist in Greater Chicago. When she bought a Chinese made board game, she noticed tariffs added up to $20 to the price.

[Alisa Kajiwara]

I think the tariffs are bad. Making a worse deal for a country's trade does not mean we'll get more stuff out of it.

[NPR Reporter Frank Langford]

David Morgan lives in North Carolina and supports tariffs. Low wage competition from China sank his furniture company.

[David Morgan]

Business dried up. We didn't have the orders. We filed chapter 11 and sold off a lot of our stuff.

[NPR Reporter Frank Langford]

The poll shows most Americans see a potential solution cut tariffs on China in exchange for China buying more US Agricultural goods. Frank Langford, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration is leaving after 13 months. Months on the job. Dr. Marty Makary asked President Trump to accept his resignation Tuesday, as NPR's Sidney Lupkin reports.

[NPR Reporter Sidney Lupkin]

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, President Trump said McCary would be leaving and that a deputy would take over FDA temporarily During his tenure at the agency, McCary at times angered the Make America Healthy Again movement for not advancing its agenda quickly enough. Many MAHA supporters were upset when the agency approved updated COVID 19 vaccines last year. McCary also disappointed people who oppose abort by not completing a promised safety review of mifepristone. Meanwhile, he faced criticism from those looking for a more predictable approach to FDA regulation. Before joining the Trump administration, Makary was a surgeon and health policy researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The Iran war has pushed inflation to its highest level in almost three years. NPR Scott Horsley reports on the latest cost of living report from the Labor Department.

[NPR Reporter Scott Horsley]

Consumer prices in April were up 3.8% from a year ago. That's the biggest annual increase since May of 2023. Prices jumped 0.6% in the last month alone. Higher energy prices triggered by the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, accounted for about 40% of that overall monthly increase. Gasoline prices have jumped about a buck and a half since the war began, and diesel prices are even higher. That's also starting to show up in the price of other goods and services. The price the price of plane tickets, for example, is up more than 20% from a year ago as airlines struggle with soaring jet fuel prices. Higher trucking costs may have also contributed to a sharp monthly jump in grocery prices. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

And you're listening to NPR News. President Trump's push to reshape House districts had mixed results Tuesday. Redistricting efforts appear to have stalled out in South Carolina, where state senators expressed concern that it could backfire. But in Missouri, the the state Supreme Court Tuesday upheld a new map backed by Trump, ruling that a public initiative putting the question on the ballot would not stop the new map from taking effect this fall. In Alabama, Republican Governor Kay Ivey has announced a special primary election for four congressional districts after the U.S. supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to use a map that had been blocked by the courts. The Eurovision Song Contest launched today in Vienna, Austria. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports on the geopolitical rifts that are casting a shadow over this annual extravaganza, now in its 70th year.

[NPR Reporter Chloe Veltman]

The 2026 Eurovision entry from Israel, performed by Noam Betan, is sung in three languages, English, Hebrew and French, to both reflect the artist's multilingual background and potentially increase the song's international appeal. But five countries Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain pulled out after organizers decided to allow Israel to compete pro Palestinian protests at the last two contests called for Israel to be disbarred over the war in Gaza, as well as allegations it attempted to manipulate voting to favor its entry. The organizers are expecting both anti and pro Israel demonstrations in the run up to the finals on Saturday. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

This is NPR News.

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