NPR News: 05-13-2026 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 13, 2026 (12PM EDT)

Main Theme:
A rapid, five-minute news roundup highlighting President Trump's visit to Beijing, implications for US-China trade and American farmers, political redistricting in South Carolina, a legal twist in the Alex Murdaugh case, gunfire at the Philippine Senate over an ICC arrest warrant, and the geopolitics roiling this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

---

Key Stories and Insights

1. President Trump’s State Visit to China

[00:05–01:00]

• First US Presidential Visit to Beijing in Nearly a Decade
  • President Trump arrived in Beijing for a two-day meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
  • NPR’s Jennifer Paak underscores the historic nature of the visit:

    “It is the first time a U.S. president has visited in nearly a decade.”
    (Jennifer Paak, 00:12)

• Trade War Context
  • Following pomp and ceremony, Trump previously launched a trade war; more tariffs and sanctions were added last year.
  • Tensions led to retaliatory measures from China, with a fragile pause in late 2025.
  • State media in China signal that while relations can’t return to the past, optimism remains for a better future:

    “China US Relations cannot go back to what it was in the past, but there could be a better future.”
    (Jennifer Paak quoting People’s Daily, 00:32)

2. US-China Trade – Focus on Farmers

[01:00–01:37]

• American Farmers Watching Closely
  • The state visit carries “major implications for American farmers” hit by inflation and stagnant commodity prices.
  • Joe Vaclavik, agricultural analyst and podcast host, voices skepticism about a breakthrough:

    “Is China really going to buy 25 million metric tons of US soybeans next year despite the fact that Brazil’s got more than ever to export? Chinese demand maybe falling off a little bit? I don't know. It's a hot topic and a good question.”
    (Joe Vaclavik, 01:20)

• Hope for Concrete Trade Commitments:
  • Farmers, Vaclavik notes, “hope that any trade deal with China includes a firm commitment to buy a lot of soybeans.”

3. South Carolina Redistricting Showdown

[01:37–02:41]

• Break from National GOP Push
  • SC’s state Senate, with five Republicans joining Democrats, defeated a bill backed by President Trump to redraw congressional districts post-session.
  • This move, key as midterm elections approach, would have targeted Jim Clyburn’s (D) district.
• Reason for Rebuke
  • Majority Leader Shane Massie and others said a rushed map could backfire and create more competitive districts for Democrats.

    “The map, hastily crafted without public input or thorough vetting, could actually make several districts more competitive for Democrats.”
    (Gavin Jackson, 02:18)

4. Alec Murdaugh Granted New Trial

[02:41–03:04]

• Notable Legal Development
  • SC Supreme Court grants a new trial for Alec Murdaugh, convicted three years ago of killing his wife and son.
  • Reason: Alleged jury tampering by a court clerk.

    “Murdoch’s defense team argues that a court clerk tampered with the jury in the original murder trial.”
    (Lakshmi Singh, 02:53)

5. Gunshots and ICC Arrest Warrant at Philippine Senate

[03:04–03:33]

• Attempted Arrest of Senator Ronald de la Rosa
  • Authorities tried to apprehend de la Rosa, sought by the ICC for crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s presidency.
  • Tense standoff with unclear origins of gunfire; de la Rosa’s allies shelter him in the Senate.

    “It was unclear who fired first... [de la Rosa] had been sheltered by allies after fleeing officers inside the Senate and taking refuge in his office.”
    (Kirk Sigler, 03:04–03:28)

6. Geopolitics at Eurovision Song Contest

[03:33–04:33]

• Protests and Withdrawals Over Israel’s Participation
  • Israel’s entry, sung by Noam Betan in three languages, faces backlash.
  • Five countries withdrew after Israel was allowed to compete; recent pro-Palestinian protests demand Israel’s exclusion over the Gaza war and alleged voting manipulation.
  • Organizers brace for opposing protests ahead of Saturday’s finals.

    “Five countries—Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—pulled out after organizers decided to allow Israel to compete.”
    (Chloe Veltman, 03:57) “The organizers are expecting both anti and pro Israel demonstrations in the run up to the finals on Saturday.”
    (Chloe Veltman, 04:28)

  • The contest marks its 70th anniversary.

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "China US Relations cannot go back to what it was in the past, but there could be a better future."
  (Jennifer Paak quoting People’s Daily, 00:32)
• "Is China really going to buy 25 million metric tons of US soybeans next year?"
  (Joe Vaclavik, 01:20)
• “The map, hastily crafted without public input or thorough vetting, could actually make several districts more competitive for Democrats.”
  (Gavin Jackson, 02:18)
• "It was unclear who fired first... de la Rosa had been sheltered by allies after fleeing officers inside the Senate and taking refuge in his office."
  (Kirk Sigler, 03:04–03:28)
• "Five countries—Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—pulled out after organizers decided to allow Israel to compete."
  (Chloe Veltman, 03:57)

---

Notable Timestamps

• 00:05 – President Trump's arrival in Beijing
• 01:20 – Doubts over US-China soybean deal
• 01:50 – SC Republicans block redistricting bill
• 02:53 – Alec Murdaugh new trial granted
• 03:04 – Gunfire at Philippine Senate; ICC warrant
• 03:52 – Eurovision controversy, countries withdraw
• 04:33 – Eurovision hits 70th year

---

Tone and Style

The episode maintains NPR's crisp, measured delivery, blending rapid reporting with global scope and concise expert analysis. The stories reflect current international tensions, domestic policy divides, and cultural controversies—all in a tightly edited five-minute format.

---

For listeners: This episode provides a swift yet comprehensive briefing on the latest international and US political developments—a must-listen for anyone needing to stay informed, fast.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[Kirk Sigler]

President Trump has arrived in Beijing for

[Lakshmi Singh]

a two day bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

[Kirk Sigler]

NPR's Jennifer Paak reports. It is the first time a U.S. president has visited in nearly a decade.

[Jennifer Paak]

Trump was the last US president to visit since 2017. And after all of the ceremonial pomp, Trump still launched a trade war with China. He imposed even more tariffs and sanctions last year when he returned to office. Chinese officials retaliated and the two sides reached a sort of pause last fall. But it's fragile. The two leaders are keen to stabilize the relationship. Chinese media showed roads leading out of the Beijing capital airport were lined with US And Chinese flags side by side to greet Trump's arrival. An editorial in the state owned People's Daily said China US Relations cannot go back to what it was in the past, but there could be a better future. Jennifer Pack, NPR News, Beijing.

[Kirk Sigler]

NPR's Kirk Sigler reports. The state visit has major implications for American farmers who've been severely affected by

[Lakshmi Singh]

inflation and flat commodity prices.

[Joe Vaclavik]

Joe Vaclavik is a former Chicago Trade Board analyst who hosts the closely followed podcast Standard Grain. He's been skeptical that a solid deal will come out of this summit.

Is China really going to buy 25 million metric tons of US soybeans next year despite the fact that Brazil's got more than ever to export? Chinese demand maybe falling off a little bit? I don't know. It's a hot topic and a good question.

Hope that any trade deal with China includes a firm commitment to buy a lot of soybeans.

[Kirk Sigler]

That's NPR's Kirk Sigler reporting. As redistricting battles lean more heavily in favor of Republicans vying to win seats in this year's midterms and keep control

[Lakshmi Singh]

of Congress, South Carolina's gone the other way.

[Kirk Sigler]

Kentucky Gavin Jackson with South Carolina Public Radio says a handful of Republicans in the state Senate joined their Democratic colleagues to push back on President Trump's nationwide call to Republicans to redraw legislative maps.

[Gavin Jackson]

The Senate defeated a last minute redistricting push in the state as the legislative session nears its end. Five South Carolina Republican senators joined Democrats in killing a bill that would allow lawmakers to take up congressional redistricting after session ends. The five Republicans included Majority Leader Shane Massie, who fielded several calls from President Trump to consider drafting a new map to eliminate Congressman Jim Clinton Clyburn seat the lone Democratic district of the state's seven. Massie said the map, hastily crafted without public input or thorough vetting, could actually make several districts more competitive for Democrats. Even if the House passes a new map, it is considering time is not on its side in the Senate. For NPR News, I'm Gavin Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina.

[Kirk Sigler]

The South Carolina Supreme Court has granted a new trial for Alec Murdoch, the disgraced former attorney who was convicted three years ago of murdering his wife and son. Murdoch's defense team argues that a court

[Lakshmi Singh]

clerk tampered with the jury in the original murder trial. This is NPR News. Gunshots were heard Wednesday at the Philippine

[Kirk Sigler]

Senate, where authorities had been trying to arrest a sitting senator wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. It was unclear who fired first. The sweet judicial police in the Philippines had been trying to detain Senator Ronald de la Rosa, who'd been sheltered by allies after fleeing officers inside the Senate

[Lakshmi Singh]

and taking refuge in his office. The ICC issued a warrant for his arrest.

[Kirk Sigler]

De la Rosa is a former national

[Lakshmi Singh]

police chief under Duterte. The Eurovision Song Contest launched today in Vienna, Austria. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports on the geopolitical rifts that are casting a shadow over the annual extravaganza.

[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 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.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Eurovision Song Contest is Now in its 70th year. This is NPR News.

[NPR Announcer]

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.