NPR News: 05-13-2026 11AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 05-13-2026, 11AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Date: May 13, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This concise news update delivers the latest national and international headlines. Key topics include President Trump’s state visit to China amid ongoing trade tensions, judicial upheaval in South Carolina’s high-profile Murdoch murder cases, a leadership shift at ICE, alarming inflation statistics, violence in the Philippine Senate tied to international war crimes charges, and a series of Sherpa deaths on Mount Everest.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s State Visit to China (00:15–01:09)

• Arrival and Welcome:
  Tamara Keith reports from Beijing as President Trump is greeted with "a red carpet rolled up to Air Force One and a military band."

  • Notably, Trump was welcomed by the Chinese vice president and "300 Chinese teens in matching outfits who waved small Chinese and US flags in sync while chanting a welcome to Trump."
  • A grander ceremony is planned with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

• Trade at the Forefront:
  Trump’s delegation included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, underscoring an emphasis on economic discussions, particularly relating to trade.

• Notable Quote:

  "Trade is on the agenda for the visit and to drive that home, Trump was joined on the flight over by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk."
  —Tamara Keith (00:52)

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2. Aftermath of the US-China Trade War (01:09–01:39)

• The backdrop to Trump's visit is last year's "significant trade war between the countries [which] hurt American farmers and businesses that import and export."

• Michigan Republican Congressman John Moliner expresses cautious optimism:

  • Hopes Trump will "improve on trust with China."
  • Warns against selling sensitive US technologies.

• Notable Quote:

  "My hope is that the president will have the opportunity to talk about opening up markets in China, but recognize we don't want to sell them our best technologies that could be used by their military against our men and women in the armed forces."
  —John Moliner (01:23)

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3. South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns Murdoch Convictions (01:39–02:26)

• The state’s highest court unanimously overturned the murder convictions and life sentences for former attorney Ellie Murdoch in the death of his wife and son.
• The court found that the local clerk of court "egregiously attacked Murdoch’s credibility and defense," outside the presence of the trial judge and attorneys, thus awarding a new trial.
• The case has drawn significant media attention, becoming the subject of multiple documentaries and books.

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4. ICE Leadership Transition: David Ventrella Nominated as Acting Director (02:26–03:09)

• President Trump is set to name David Ventrella, a veteran of previous administrations and recent private sector (Geo Group), as acting ICE director.
• This comes at a pivotal time, as ICE has expanded its workforce by 12,000 staff in the past year, reflecting a ramp-up in detention and deportation capacity.
• The agency’s budget was also significantly increased: "Congressional Republicans gave ICE $75 billion last summer, about half to spend on detention space."
• The new DHS leadership aims to move "away from controversial surges of enforcement and build up detention and deportation capacity."

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5. Economic Update: US Wholesale Inflation (03:09–03:25)

• The Producer Price Index reveals that wholesale inflation surged by 6% in April year-over-year, indicating rising costs for businesses ahead of consumer price impacts.

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6. Gunfire and ICC Arrest Warrant in the Philippine Senate (03:25–04:33)

• Chaos erupted as police attempted to arrest sitting Senator Ronald de la Rosa, a former Duterte-era police chief, in compliance with an ICC warrant for alleged crimes against humanity.
• Michael Sullivan reports that de la Rosa "was shielded by allies" and took refuge in his office following a brief chase.
• The backdrop: thousands killed in Duterte’s "war on drugs." De la Rosa now "sits in a cell in The Hague awaiting trial."
• Notable Quote:

  "The ICC has announced an arrest warrant for de la Rosa, who is a former national police chief under Duterte... Thousands, if not tens of thousands, according to some human rights groups, were killed during Duterte's war on drugs."
  —Michael Sullivan (03:57)

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7. Mount Everest Deaths: Sherpa Fatalities (04:33–04:53)

• Nepali officials report another Sherpa death on Everest, bringing the total to three fatalities among guides in two weeks, with two additional deaths at lower elevations recently.
• Highlights both the danger and ongoing challenges of Everest expeditions.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the Trump-China Visit:
  "Trade is on the agenda for the visit and to drive that home, Trump was joined on the flight over by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk."
  —Tamara Keith (00:52)

• US-China Trade Tensions:
  "My hope is that the president will have the opportunity to talk about opening up markets in China, but recognize we don't want to sell them our best technologies that could be used by their military against our men and women in the armed forces."
  —John Moliner (01:23)

• Philippines ICC Arrest:
  "The ICC has announced an arrest warrant for de la Rosa, who is a former national police chief under Duterte... Thousands, if not tens of thousands, according to some human rights groups, were killed during Duterte's war on drugs."
  —Michael Sullivan (03:57)

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Important Timestamps

• Trump Arrives in Beijing – 00:15–01:09
• Congressman Moliner on Trade with China – 01:09–01:39
• Murdoch Murder Conviction Overturned – 01:39–02:26
• ICE Leadership Change – 02:26–03:09
• Wholesale Inflation Update – 03:09–03:25
• Philippine Senate Gunfire & ICC Warrant – 03:25–04:33
• Mount Everest Sherpa Deaths – 04:33–04:53

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Tone & Style

The broadcast is rapid, factual, and concise, delivering complex news items in a matter-of-fact tone without editorializing—remaining true to NPR’s trusted journalistic style.

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Summary compiled for reference and context. For more, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump has arrived in Beijing for a state visit. As NPR's Tamara Keith reports, the welcome he got at the airport is only the beginning.

[Tamara Keith]

There was a red carpet rolled up to Air Force One and a military band started playing as Trump appeared at the top of the stairs. Trump was greeted by the vice president of China and 300 Chinese teens in matching outfits who waved small Chinese and US Flags in sync while chanting a welcome to Trump. A much larger ceremony is planned for when Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes Trump at the Great hall of the People. Trade is on the agenda for the visit and to drive that home. Trump was joined on the flight over, but by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Tamara Keith, NPR News, Beijing.

[Korva Coleman]

Trump's visit comes after a significant trade war between the countries last year. It hurt American farmers and businesses that import and export. Michigan Republican Congressman John Moliner says he's hoping Trump will be able to improve on trust with China.

[Commercial Announcer]

My hope is that the president will have the opportunity to talk about opening up markets in China, but recognize we don't want to sell them our best technologies that could be used by their military against our men and women in the armed forces.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned the murder convictions and the life sentences of former attorney Ellie Murdoch in the deaths of his wife and son. The court ruled unanimously that the local clerk of court egregiously attacked Murdoch's credibility and defense. Their opinion said this was done outside the presence of the, quote, outstanding trial judge and attorneys on both sides of the case. The Supreme Court granted him a new trial. The Murdoch murders have drawn international attention, documentaries and books. President Trump is expected to name David Ventrella as the next acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, or ICE Age. And Pierce Ximena Bustillo has more.

[Ximena Bustillo]

Ventrello most recently worked for the department, overseeing contracts between ICE and various detention facilities. He previously worked for ICE during the Obama and George W. Bush administrations. He left the agency to work for Geo Group, a private prison company that contracts with the federal government for immigration detention. The selection comes as leadership at dhs, led by new Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen, are looking to shift away from controversial surges of enforcement and build up detention and deportation capacity. Ventrello will inherit a much larger workforce force. About 12,000 new employees were added in the last year and a bigger budget. Congressional Republicans gave ICE $75 billion last summer, about half to spend on the tension space. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The federal government says wholesale inflation jumped 6% in April compared to the same time period a year ago. The Producer Price Index measures how much businesses pay before these costs reach the consumer. Gunfire has erupted in the Philippine Senate. Authorities are trying to arrest a sitting senator wanted by the International Criminal Court for his role in alleged crimes against humanity. This was during the administration of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. Michael Sullivan has more Judicial police have

[Michael Sullivan]

been trying to detain Senator Ronald de la Rosa, who's been shielded by allies since literally running from judicial police on their arrival at the Senate on Monday, where he sought and found refuge in his office after a brief chase. The ICC has announced an arrest warrant for de la Rosa, who is a former national police chief under Duterte. He was also chief in Davao City when Duterte was mayor there. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, according to some human rights groups, were killed during Duterte's war on drugs, both as mayor of Davao and later as president. He sits in a cell in the Hague awaiting trial. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

[Korva Coleman]

Officials in Nepal say that another Nepali Sherpa guide has died while climbing Mount Everest. Three Sherpas have died in the past two weeks while climbing the iconic mountain. Separately, two other Sherpas died at lower elevations in recent weeks. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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