NPR News: 05-13-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 13, 2025, 6 PM EDT

Host: Jack Spear
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Duration Covered: 00:25 – 05:04

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1. U.S.-Saudi Business Deals

Timestamp: 00:25 – 01:00

President Trump announced a significant series of business deals between the United States and Saudi Arabia, totaling an impressive $600 billion investment in the U.S. economy. During a meeting in Riyadh, Trump emphasized the job creation potential and the superiority of U.S. military equipment.

Notable Quote:

"Be creating tremendous numbers of jobs in the United States. And we have the best product, we have the best military equipment in the world by far." – Jack Spear [00:52]

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2. Details of the Agreements

Timestamp: 01:00 – 01:30

Franco Ordonez provided specifics on the agreements, including a $142 billion arms deal involving over a dozen U.S. firms. Additionally, there are $80 billion in technology investments from tech giants like Google, Oracle, Salesforce, and Uber, along with Saudi partners. A $20 billion agreement focuses on AI data centers. Both leaders also signed accords to collaborate on energy, defense, and mineral sectors, though detailed specifics remain pending.

Notable Quote:

"Here are some specific $142 billion arms deal involving more than a dozen US firms..." – Franco Ordonez [01:00]

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3. Universal Flu Vaccine Project Under Scrutiny

Timestamp: 01:30 – 02:20

Vaccine experts are expressing concerns over the Trump administration’s new initiative, "Generation Gold Standard," which allocates $500 million to develop a universal flu vaccine. The project utilizes an older technology that involves injecting inactivated whole viruses to trigger an immune response. Critics argue that more modern technologies offer greater promise and fewer side effects.

Notable Quote:

"Vaccine experts say newer technologies are more promising and produce fewer side effects." – Rob Stein [01:40]

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4. Early Heatwave Hits Texas and Beyond

Timestamp: 02:20 – 02:39

An unusual early heatwave has struck Texas and surrounding regions, typically reserved for summer months. The National Weather Service attributes the spike in temperatures to a high-pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in hotter than usual weather conditions.

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5. Stock Market Rebounds Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Timestamp: 02:39 – 03:22

The stock market has experienced a significant resurgence after a turbulent period marked by President Trump’s announcement of widespread tariffs. Investors are showing optimism as many tariffs have been paused amidst ongoing negotiations with countries like China. Additionally, inflation data released earlier indicated a slight decrease to 2.3% in April, easing some investor concerns. However, economists caution that the full impact of the tariffs is yet to be realized. Notably, while the Nasdaq saw gains, the Dow Jones dipped slightly due to a decline in healthcare shares following a CEO resignation.

Notable Quote:

"Economists do caution that we're still not seeing the full effects of the tariffs, but stock investors for now see the glass as half full." – Rafael Nam [02:39]

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6. High-Profile Testimony in Sean Combs Trial

Timestamp: 03:22 – 04:29

Cassie Ventura, the ex-girlfriend of hip-hop mogul Sean Combs, took the stand in a federal courtroom in Manhattan as a pivotal witness against him. Ventura accused Combs of subjecting her to prolonged physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, diverting her career ambitions towards organizing multi-day sessions of sex and drug use. These allegations form the crux of the racketeering and sex trafficking charges against Combs. His legal team counters by disputing the classification of his actions under these specific crimes.

Notable Quote:

"There was no space to do anything else but to recover and try to feel normal again." – Cassie Ventura [03:43]

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7. Menendez Brothers Seek Sentence Reduction

Timestamp: 04:29 – 05:04

In a notable legal development, brothers Eric and Lyle Menendez, convicted over three decades ago for the brutal murder of their parents in Beverly Hills, are seeking reduced sentences. Their defense argues for their rehabilitation and the support they've garnered from their extended family during their imprisonment. Conversely, prosecutors resist the motion, highlighting that the brothers never retracted the allegations of deceit from their original trial.

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Note: This summary excludes introductory segments, advertisements, and non-content-related sections to focus solely on the substantive news coverage delivered in this episode of NPR News Now.

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Transcript

[Peter Sagal]

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 Trump announced A series of U.S. business deals with Saudi Arabia. As NPR's Franco Ordonez explains. The White House says the deals add up to a $600 billion investment in the U.S. president Trump sat down with.

[Franco Ordonez]

The crown prince Mohammed bin Salman to sign multiple business deals, including economic partnerships and arms programs, because you're going to.

[Jack Spear]

Be creating tremendous numbers of jobs in the United States. And we have the best product, we have the best military equipment in the world by far.

[Franco Ordonez]

Here are some specific $142 billion arms deal involving more than a dozen US firms $80 billion in technology investments from Google, Oracle, Salesforce, Uber and Saudi companies and a $20 billion agreement in AI data centers. And Trump and the crown prince also signed agreements to work together on energy, defense and minerals. Specific details about each were not yet available. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, Riyadh.

[Jack Spear]

Vaccine experts are questioning a new project the Trump administration has launched to try to create what is known as a universal flu vaccine. Here's NPR's Rob Stein.

[Rob Stein]

The Department of Health and Human services will spend $500 million to try to create a flu vaccine that doesn't have to be updated every long been an elusive goal for vaccine researchers. But many vaccine scientists are puzzled by the new project, known as generation gold standard. That's because the project is using an old technology that involves injecting people with whole viruses that have been inactivated to make them harmless but still capable of stimulating an immune response. Vaccine experts say newer technologies are more promising and produce fewer side effects. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

The heat is coming early to Texas and other areas where temperatures commonly seen during the summer months are making an early entrance. Forecasters at the National Weather Service say a high pressure system over the Gulf is being blamed for much of the hotter than usual weather, the broadest measure of the stock market staging a remarkable comeback. NPR's Rafael Nam has more.

[Rafael Nam]

Just last month, stocks tanked after President Trump unveiled widespread tariffs, but he then paused many of those tariffs as the White House negotiates with countries, including its biggest trading partner, China. Investors were also relieved after data earlier in the day showed inflation at 2.3% in April from a year ago, slightly lower than in March. Economists do caution that we're still not seeing the full effects of the tariffs, but stock investors for now see the glass as half full. The Nasdaq also rose, although the Dow Jones fell in part after healthcare shares tumbled after the company's CEO stepped down. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

This is npr. Cassie Ventura, the ex girlfriend of hip hop tycoon Sean Combs, testified against him today in a federal courtroom in Manhattan. She is one of the prosecution's star witnesses. Appears Anastasius Lucas is following the trial. And a note, this story includes mentions of physical and sexual assault.

[Anastasia Tsiolkas]

Cassie Ventura was a model and singer who signed a 10 album deal with Combs record label when she was 19 years old. She claims that rather than releasing her music and furthering her career, Combs instead subjected her to years of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. On the stand, she said her main job was organizing and participating in multi day marathons of sex and drug use directed by Combs. She added, quote, there was no space to do anything else but to recover and try to feel normal again. Combs is accused of racketeering and sex trafficking. His lawyers say domestic violence while crime is not sex trafficking or racketeering. Anastasia Tsiolkas, NPR News, New York.

[Jack Spear]

A Los Angeles judge is hearing arguments this week over whether brothers Eric and Lyle Menendez should receive reduced sentences. The pair have spent more than 30 years in prison for the killing of their parents at their Beverly hills home in 1984. Lawyers for the brothers are expected to argue that over their decades behind bars, they've been rehabilitated and they have the support of their extended family. Prosecutors, however, say they oppose re sentencing on the grounds they say Eric and Lyle Menendez have never admitted to lies told him during their original trial. Oil prices closed up nearly 3% today. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

[Anastasia Tsiolkas]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news now at +npr.org. that's +npr.org.