NPR News: 05-12-2026 5PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 12, 2026, 5PM EDT

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now segment covers the latest national and international headlines, including President Trump’s state visit to China, the economic impact of the Iran war, a resignation at the FDA, disappointing World Cup effects for U.S. hotels, a new study on art and aging, and a potential change to the Preakness Stakes horse race schedule.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump Heads to China for State Visit

• Trade & Diplomacy on the Agenda
  • President Trump is en route to China with a focus on trade negotiations.
  • After last year’s trade war, the U.S. and China currently observe a trade truce.
  • The U.S. seeks major Chinese purchases and greater access to rare earth elements, along with progress on fentanyl.
• Expert Commentary

  • Melanie Hart comments on the expected outcomes:

    • Quote (00:37):
      “China’s going to deliver on the spectacle. China can do spectacle better than anybody. They will also deliver on the purchases.” — Melanie Hart

  • Expectations include:

    • “Bilateral meetings, a welcome ceremony and a banquet.” (Tamara Keith, 00:47)
• Negotiations on Iran
  • Trump is expected to urge President Xi to leverage influence over Iran to help end the war.
  • However, Trump indicated he does not require China’s help on Iran (00:55).

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2. Iran War Drives Up Inflation in the U.S.

• Key Economic Data
  • Inflation has hit its highest point in almost three years.
  • Current figures:
    • Consumer prices in April up 3.8% from a year ago.
    • 0.6% monthly jump, largely due to energy costs induced by the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
    • Gasoline prices have surged by $1.50 since the conflict began.
    • Notable increases in airfare (+20% year-over-year) and food due to higher transport costs.
  • Quote (01:20):
    “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.” — Scott Horsley

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3. FDA Leadership Change

• FDA Commissioner Resigns
  • Dr. Marty Makary is stepping down after 13 months, with a deputy set to take over temporarily.
  • His tenure sparked controversy:
    • Some “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) supporters saw Makary as too slow in advancing their agenda.
    • Approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines and delay in a mifepristone safety review drew criticism from opposing sides.
  • Background: Makary is a former Johns Hopkins surgeon and health policy researcher.
  • Quote (02:12):
    “Many MAHA supporters were upset when the agency approved updated COVID-19 vaccines last year.” — Sidney Lupkin

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4. U.S. Hotel Industry Disappointed by World Cup Economic Impact

• Underperforming Bookings
  • Nearly 80% of hotels in major World Cup host cities (Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle) report bookings lagging behind a typical summer.
• Implication: Anticipated economic boost from the event “hasn’t materialized yet” (02:55).

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5. New Research: Artistic Engagement Slows Aging

• Study Findings
  • Involvement in creative pursuits—like singing, dancing, and painting—or attending cultural events, is associated with a 4% slower biological aging rate.
• Mechanism:
  • Reductions in stress and inflammation may explain these benefits.
• Expert Commentary:
  • “Or being creative or enjoying the arts is a non pharmacological intervention, a strategy to stay healthy that doesn’t require a prescription.” — Dr. Douglas Vaughan, quoted by Scott Horsley (03:56)
  • Study published in Innovation in Aging.
• Quote (03:29):
  “They found arts engagement was related to a 4% slower aging rate, which held up for both people who create art as well as those who take it in by going to concerts, theater or museums.” — Melanie Hart

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6. Possible Schedule Change for Preakness Stakes

• Racing Calendar
  • Maryland officials are considering moving the Preakness to three weeks after the Kentucky Derby (currently two), to promote more Triple Crown contenders.
  • Recent trend: Only two of the past five Derby winners entered the Preakness.
• Context: Adjusting the timing may encourage Derby winners to pursue the Triple Crown (04:10).

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Melanie Hart on China’s readiness:
  “China’s going to deliver on the spectacle. China can do spectacle better than anybody. They will also deliver on the purchases.” (00:37)

• Scott Horsley on inflation’s impact:
  “Gasoline prices have jumped about a buck and a half since the war began, and diesel prices are even higher.” (01:20)

• Sidney Lupkin on MAHA’s reaction to FDA decisions:
  “Many MAHA supporters were upset when the agency approved updated COVID-19 vaccines last year.” (02:12)

• Melanie Hart on art and aging:
  “They found arts engagement was related to a 4% slower aging rate, which held up for both people who create art as well as those who take it in by going to concerts, theater or museums.” (03:29)

• Dr. Douglas Vaughan on creativity as health strategy:
  “Or being creative or enjoying the arts is a non pharmacological intervention, a strategy to stay healthy that doesn’t require a prescription.” (03:56)

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Segment Timestamps

• China trip & trade diplomacy: 00:00–00:55
• Impact of Iran war on inflation: 00:55–02:02
• FDA commissioner steps down: 02:02–02:55
• World Cup and hotel bookings: 02:55–03:29
• Arts and aging research: 03:29–04:10
• Preakness Stakes scheduling: 04:10–end

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This concise newscast delivers high-level updates on global policy, economic data, public health leadership, new research, and sports events, blending political tone with informative, data-driven reporting.

Transcript

[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump is on his way to China for a state visit. NPR's Tamara Keith reports. Trade is on the agenda.

[Tamara Keith]

The White House says President Trump intends to deliver more good deals on behalf of the country to rebalance trade with China. There is currently a trade truce between the US And China after an all out trade war last year. Melanie Hart is the senior director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council. The US Wants big purchase announcements, more access to China's rare earths, progress on

[Melanie Hart]

fentanyl and made for TV diplomatic spectacle. China's going to deliver on the spectacle. China can do spectacle better than anybody. They will also deliver on the purchases.

[Tamara Keith]

There will be bilateral meetings, a welcome ceremony and a banquet. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Trump is also expected to discuss the Iran war with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump has been pressing Xi to use China's considerable leverage to prod its ally to agree to US Terms to end the war. But on his way out of town this afternoon, he also said he doesn't need China's help on Iran. The war has pushed inflation to its highest level in almost three years. NPR's Scott Horsley tells us more about the latest cost of living report from the Labor Department.

[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 this trade 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.

[Ryland Barton]

The commissioner of the FDA is leaving the agency. Dr. Marty Makary asked President Trump to accept his resignation after 13 months on the job. NPR's Sidney Lupkin reports.

[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. 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 abortion 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.

[Ryland Barton]

And you're listening to NPR news from Washington. U.S. hotels say the promised economic boon from the World cup hasn't materialized yet for them. The American Hotel and Lodging association says in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle, nearly 80% of hotels report the pace is behind a typical summer. A new study finds creative pursuits like singing, dancing and painting may help slow down aging. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports the study's base on an analysis of genetic changes among thousands of people who participated in the arts.

[Melanie Hart]

Researchers at University College London analyzed data from epigenetic clocks, which can assess a person's rate of aging. They found arts engagement was related to a 4% slower aging rate, which held up for both people who create art as well as those who take it in by going to concerts, theater or museums. Dr. Douglas Vaughan of Northwestern University says creative activities can help reduce stress and fend off inflammation, which may help explain the slower rate of aging.

[Scott Horsley]

Or being creative or enjoying the arts is a non pharmacological intervention, a strategy

[Melanie Hart]

to stay healthy that doesn't require a prescription. The study was published in the journal Innovation in Aging. Alison Aubrey, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Maryland officials are considering 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 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 the third over the past five years not to race in the Preakness. This is NPR News from Washington. Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to NPR News now sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get [e-mail] that's plus.npr.org.