NPR News: 05-13-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – May 13, 2025

Release Date: May 13, 2025
Host: NPR
Duration: 5 Minutes
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. U.S. Foreign Policy: Lifting Sanctions on Syria

Timestamp: [00:25]
NPR Anchor Jack Spear reported that President Donald Trump announced the termination of sanctions against Syria as part of his efforts to normalize relations with the country's new leadership.

Timestamp: [00:38]
Domenico Montanaro, NPR correspondent, provided context on the development:
"Trump says in terms of Syria he wants to give the country, quote, a chance at peace."
The announcement follows an overture from Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharah, a former insurgent leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing Bashar al-Assad last year. The move was reportedly encouraged by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkey's President, indicating a strategic shift in regional dynamics.

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2. Domestic Politics: Challenges Ahead for President Trump

Timestamp: [01:12]
Montanaro analyzed the domestic and international challenges facing President Trump:
"President Trump took bold action in his first few months in office. He signed 147 executive orders, tried to reshape the federal government and attempted to win peace deals overseas. But this is a pivotal juncture in Trump's presidency."
Domestically, Trump's goal to pass a tax cut bill is hindered by a narrow Republican majority with divergent views on government spending. Internationally, his administration has yet to secure desired peace deals in Ukraine and the Middle East and seeks to mitigate the adverse effects of ongoing trade wars that have impacted his approval ratings.

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3. International Trade: U.S.-China Tariff Pause Impacts Businesses

Timestamp: [01:50]
Jack Spear introduced the economic segment, highlighting the 90-day suspension of U.S.-China tariffs, a temporary measure affecting billions of dollars in trade.

Timestamp: [01:58]
Montanaro relayed Windsor Johnson's reporting on the business community's reaction:
"Goods and importers are scrambling to lock in prices before the duties possibly return."
Companies are hastening to finalize shipments and contracts within the limited timeframe.

Timestamp: [02:22]
Mark Wu, an international trade expert at Harvard University, commented:
"One area where there will be cheaper goods is in the online e-commerce space. So as part of the agreement, the tariffs on the online direct shipments from China are going to decline and those would have taken effect soon."

The temporary tariff suspension has led to uncertainty, with businesses striving to anticipate future developments in U.S.-China trade relations.

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4. Sports News: MLB Revises Ineligibility List for Hall of Fame Induction

Timestamp: [02:50]
Spear reported that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has removed Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and 15 other deceased players from the sport's permanent ineligibility list.

Timestamp: [03:05]
Montanaro explained the rationale:
"The move clears the way for Rose, Jackson and others to potentially be voted into the hall of Fame."
This decision follows an application by the Rose family to change the policy after Pete Rose's death last year. Rose had been excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame due to his lifetime ban for betting on games.

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5. Corporate News: Microsoft Announces Workforce Reduction

Timestamp: [03:16]
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 269 points.

Timestamp: [03:25]
Spear detailed Microsoft’s announcement:
"Software maker Microsoft says it will lay off roughly 3% of its workforce."
While the exact number of affected positions wasn't disclosed, this translates to approximately 6,000 jobs based on the company's June employment figures of about 228,000 full-time workers. The layoffs will span all departments and locations, with a particular focus on reducing management levels.

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6. Philanthropy: Filling the Gap in U.S. Foreign Aid

Timestamp: [03:53]
Following the Trump administration's reduction of U.S. foreign aid earlier in the year, foundations have sought ways to bridge the significant funding gap.

Timestamp: [04:06]
Ari Daniel, NPR reporter, highlighted the efforts of Project Resource Optimization:
"They sifted through the $35 billion of foreign aid commitments once funded by the United States Agency for International Development. They then painstakingly calculated which were the most cost-effective and life-saving, whittling the list down to 54 so far."
Economist Caitlin Tullock, a key initiator of the project, stated:
"This is not about getting everything we want, making things whole again, but it's something."
The initiative has successfully matched 13 programs with private donors and foundations, aiming to secure funding for as many prioritized programs as possible.

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7. Energy Markets: Rise in Crude Oil Prices

Timestamp: [04:46]
Spear reported an increase in crude oil futures, with prices climbing nearly 3% to $63.67 a barrel amid optimism over easing tariff tensions between the U.S. and China.

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8. Market Overview

Timestamp: [04:59]
Domenico Montanaro concluded the news segment from New York, summarizing the day's key highlights.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of significant developments in U.S. foreign policy, domestic politics, international trade, sports, corporate affairs, philanthropy, and energy markets, offering listeners a concise yet detailed briefing on current events.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like npr, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants, incompetent criminals and ridiculous science studies. And call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Donald Trump today announced he will end sanctions against Syria as he seeks to try and normalize relations with its new government.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Development coming before a plan being with Syrian President Ahmad Al Sharah in Saudi Arabia. Al Sharah, a one time insurgent, led the overthrow last year of Syria's longtime leader Bashar al Assad. Trump says the overture came at the urging of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkey's President Trump said in terms of of Syria he wants to give the country, quote, a chance at peace.

[Jack Spear]

President Trump has done a lot with.

[Domenico Montanaro]

His first few months in office, but much of what he's promised to accomplish quickly remains incomplete. NPR's Domenico Montanaro looks at the challenges ahead and where Trump stands politically at this point.

President Trump took bold action in his first few months in office. He signed 147 executive orders, tried to reshape the federal government and attempted to win peace deals overseas. But this is a pivotal juncture in Trump's presidency. Domestically, in order to forge a lasting legacy he needs, Trump is trying to get a tax cut bill passed, but he's working with a very narrow Republican majority that has some conflicting views on how to spend and what not to spend on. Internationally, Trump has not been able to get the peace deals in Ukraine or the Middle east that he's wanted, and he's looking for off ramps from trade wars that have dragged down his approval ratings. Domenico Montanaro, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

U.S. businesses could begin taking advantage of the 90 day pause in tariffs announced by the U.S. and China this week.

[Domenico Montanaro]

NPR's Windsor Johnson reports.

[Jack Spear]

The temporary suspension affects billions of dollars.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Goods and importers are scrambling to lock.

[Jack Spear]

In prices before the duties possibly return.

[Windsor Johnston]

Some companies are moving to expedite shipments and lock in contracts before the narrow window closes. Mark Wu, an international trade expert at Harvard University, says the short term reprieve may temporarily stabilize or even lower prices.

[Expert]

One area where there will be cheaper goods is in the online e commerce space. So as part of the agreement, the tariffs on the online direct shipments from China are going to decline and those would have taken effect soon.

[Windsor Johnston]

Experts say the pause in tariffs is also creating a frenzy of uncertainty as businesses try to predict what happens next. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

The commissioner of Major League Baseball has removed Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson and.

[Domenico Montanaro]

15 other deceased players from the sport's permanent ineligibility list. The move clears the way for Rose, Jackson and others to potentially be voted.

[Jack Spear]

Into the hall of Fame.

[Domenico Montanaro]

MLB Commissioner Rob Manford made the decision after the Rose family filed an application to change the policy following Rose's death last year at age 83. Rose was never inducted into the Baseball hall of Fame because of his lifetime.

[Jack Spear]

Ban for betting on the game. On Wall street, the dow was down 269 points.

[Domenico Montanaro]

This is NPR.

[Jack Spear]

Software maker Microsoft says it will lay off roughly 3% of its workforce.

[Domenico Montanaro]

The company did not disclose the exact.

[Jack Spear]

Number of positions that will be affected.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Though based on current employment number, it would be about 6,000 jobs as of last June. The last time the company reported employment numbers, it had about 228,000 full time workers. Microsoft says the layoffs will be across all areas and locations of the company, though the focus will be on reducing management levels.

[Jack Spear]

After the Trump administration cut most U.S. foreign aid earlier this year, some foundations wanted to help fill the enormous gap in funding, but we're not sure how to do it.

[Domenico Montanaro]

A small team is helping them figure that out. More from NPR's Ari Daniel.

[Ari Daniel]

The group calls itself Project Resource Optimization. They sifted through the $35 billion of foreign aid commitments once funded by the United States Agency for International Development. They then painstakingly calculated which were the most cost effective and life saving, whittling the list down to 54 so far. Caitlin Tullock is an economist. She helped start this initiative.

[Caitlin Tullock]

This is not about getting everything we want, making things whole again, but it's something.

[Ari Daniel]

The team has already matched 13 programs with private donors and foundations. Their goal is to get as many programs on their list funded as possible. Ari Daniel, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Crude oil futures prices moved higher today. Oil gained ground amid continued optimism over lessening tariff tensions between the US and China. Oil was up nearly 3% to 63,67 a barrel.

[Domenico Montanaro]

In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Sponsor Voice]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. Plus@plus npr.org that's +npr.org.