NPR News: 05-13-2026 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 13, 2026, 2AM EDT

Host: Jael Snyder (NPR News Anchor)
Episode Overview:
This five-minute NPR News Now episode covers urgent international and US political developments: President Trump’s upcoming state visit to China and the broader context of the US-Iran conflict, the execution of a political prisoner in Iran, a high-profile court clash in Silicon Valley between Sam Altman and Elon Musk, consequential redistricting moves across states, and the noteworthy cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late night show.

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Main Headlines & Key Segments

1. President Trump’s State Visit to China

[00:11–01:21]

• Main Points:

  • President Trump departs for a state visit to China, focusing on trade and Iran's influence on global oil shipping via the Strait of Hormuz.
  • China remains a key buyer of Iranian oil and maintains diplomatic ties with Iran.
  • Trump clarifies he doesn’t need China’s help to end the Iran war.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces bipartisan questioning on Capitol Hill about the escalating costs ($29B) and consequences of the conflict with Iran, especially on US weapons stockpiles and alliances.
  • Iranian authorities execute a political prisoner accused of spying.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "A lot of good things are going to happen." – President Trump [00:24]
  • "The Pentagon says the cost of the war has risen to $29 billion." – Jael Snyder [01:06]
  • "Iran says it has executed another political prisoner. The 29 year old man had been accused of spying for the US and Israel." – Jael Snyder [01:13]

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2. Human Rights in Iran – Execution of Political Prisoners

[01:21–02:05]

• Reporter: Jerry Buscarin (Istanbul Correspondent)

• Main Points:

  • Details the execution of Irfan Shakarzadeh, a decorated graduate student specializing in satellite technology.
  • Shakarzadeh was held in solitary confinement since early 2025 and executed in Karaj.
  • Human rights groups document an escalation in executions, with over 600 reported in early 2026 alone.
  • Recent deaths include protesters from January demonstrations.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "According to human rights groups, he was arrested in February of last year and held in solitary confinement." – Jerry Buscarin [01:31]
  • "Reported executions of political prisoners in Iran have escalated in recent weeks..." – Jerry Buscarin [01:42]

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3. Sam Altman–Elon Musk Legal Battle over OpenAI

[02:05–03:11]

• Reporter: Rachel Myro (KQED, Oakland)

• Main Points:

  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies in a landmark trial, addressing Elon Musk’s accusations about Altman's role and OpenAI’s mission drift from nonprofit to for-profit.
  • Altman emphasizes that no single person should control artificial general intelligence (AGI), referencing Musk’s desire for "majority control" as contrary to OpenAI’s mission.
  • Cross-examination highlights Altman's reputation, with references to him being called "a liar" by some former colleagues.
  • The trial's outcome is expected to have significant impact on Silicon Valley’s future and nonprofit tech governance.
  • Judge signals the trial will be closely scrutinized on appeal.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "Sam Altman said no single person should control AGI, artificial intelligence, or AI that surpasses human intelligence." – Rachel Myro [02:26]
  • "This case turns on how OpenAI, which began as a public interest nonprofit, has come to be a for profit industry leader." – Rachel Myro quoting Altman [02:43]

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4. Redistricting Updates & Political Landscape Shifts

[03:11–04:04]

• Main Points:

  • President Trump’s efforts to reshape Congressional districts yield mixed outcomes.
    • South Carolina: Redistricting stalls amid fears of political backlash.
    • Missouri: State Supreme Court upholds a Trump-favored district map.
    • Alabama: Special primary elections follow a Supreme Court decision clearing the use of a previously blocked map.

• Notable Quotes:

  • "Redistricting efforts appear to have stalled out in South Carolina, where state senators expressed concern that it could backfire." – Jael Snyder [03:15]
  • "The state Supreme Court Tuesday upheld a new map backed by Trump..." – Jael Snyder [03:20]

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5. Late Night Television—Colbert’s Show Cancelled & Strike Force 5 Reunion

[04:04–04:52]

• Reporter: Mandalit Del Barco

• Main Points:

  • Stephen Colbert, joined by John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon (the "Strike Force 5"), discuss the financial reasons given for the show’s cancellation amid speculation of political motivations (Colbert's critiques of Trump).
  • The hosts reminisce about their joint podcast during the writers’ strike and announce a special reunion episode.

• Memorable Moments & Quotes:

  • "Late night is in a bit of a weird spot right now." – Stephen Colbert [04:16]
  • "Spoiler alert, CBS Paramount canceled Colbert's show citing financial reasons, though many fans say it was retribution for Colbert skewering President Trump." – Mandalit Del Barco [04:18]
  • "Kimmel said fans should be outraged by the ending of the late show." – Mandalit Del Barco [04:26]
  • "Strike Force 5 will reunite on Wednesday for an emergency podcast." – Mandalit Del Barco [04:43]

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "A lot of good things are going to happen." – President Trump [00:24]
• "The Pentagon says the cost of the war has risen to $29 billion." – Jael Snyder [01:06]
• "Reported executions of political prisoners in Iran have escalated in recent weeks..." – Jerry Buscarin [01:42]
• "Sam Altman said no single person should control AGI, artificial intelligence, or AI that surpasses human intelligence." – Rachel Myro [02:26]
• "Late night is in a bit of a weird spot right now." – Stephen Colbert [04:16]

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:11–01:21 – Trump’s trip to China, US-Iran tensions, execution in Iran
• 01:21–02:05 – Human rights abuses and executions in Iran (Jerry Buscarin)
• 02:05–03:11 – Altman vs. Musk court battle over OpenAI (Rachel Myro)
• 03:11–04:04 – US redistricting news across several states
• 04:04–04:52 – Colbert, Strike Force 5, and late night TV upheavals (Mandalit Del Barco)

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Conclusion

In under five minutes, NPR News Now offers compact but impactful coverage of world affairs (US, China, Iran), a Silicon Valley legal showdown, shifting political boundaries within the US, and the cultural tremors of late-night TV. Major global themes include diplomatic friction, human rights crises, and evolving power struggles in technology and politics, all grounded by the voices of NPR correspondents and the perspectives of headline-makers themselves.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Jael Snyder. President Trump says he's looking forward to meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

[Commercial Announcer]

This is going to be a very exciting trip.

[NPR News Anchor]

A lot of good things are going to happen. President Trump speaking to reporters as he was leaving the White House Tuesday for his state visit to China. Trump said that trade will be the main focus, but Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz will also be on the agenda. China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and maintains ties with Iran, whose foreign minister was in Beijing last week. But Trump said he does not think the US Needs China's help to bring an end to the war. Trump is to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on Capitol Hill Tuesday, where he faced tough questions from Republicans and Democrats about the Iran war, its rising costs and its impact on US Weapons, weapons stockpiles. Agseth also faced pushback on the Trump administration's relations with longtime allies. The Pentagon says the cost of the war has risen to $29 billion. Iran says it has executed another political prisoner. The 29 year old man had been accused of spying for the US And Israel.

[Jerry Buscarin]

As Duri Biskaran reports, Irfan Shakarzadeh was a top student at the elite Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran and a master's candidate sports specializing in satellite technologies. According to human rights groups. He was arrested in February of last year and held in solitary confinement. He was hanged in Ghazal Hasar prison in the city of Karaj. Reported executions of political prisoners in Iran have escalated in recent weeks, including of people who participated in mass demonstrations against the government in January. According to the US Based Abdurrahman Burama center for Human Rights in Iran, more than 600 people were executed in the first four months of the year. For NPR News, I'm Jerry Buscarin in Istanbul.

[NPR News Anchor]

Now to Oakland, California, where OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the man Elon Musk says stole a charity, took the witness stand Tuesday to defend himself in a case that could reshape Silicon Valley. Rachel Myro has more from member station kqed.

[Rachel Myro]

Sam Altman said no single person should control AGI, artificial intelligence, or AI that surpasses human intelligence. So he told the court Elon Musk's insistence on majority control made him a poor fit for OpenAI on cross examination, Musk's attorney asked whether Altman had repeatedly been called a liar by people with whom he'd done business. Altman replied, quote, I have heard people say that this case turns on how OpenAI, which began as a public interest nonprofit, has come to be a for profit industry leader. Closing arguments her Thursday, the judge told lawyers she's mindful an appeals court will consider not just the verdict, but how she ran the trial. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Myro, and

[NPR News Anchor]

you're listening to NPR News. President Trump's push to reshape House districts had mixed results Tuesday. Redistricting efforts appear to have stalled out in South Carolina, where state senators expressed concern that it could backfire. But in Missouri, the state Supreme Court Tuesday upheld a new map backed by Trump, ruling that a public initiative putting the decision putting the question rather on the ballot would not stop the new map from taking effect this fall. In Alabama, Republican Governor Kay Ivey has announced a special primary election for four congressional districts after the U.S. supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to use a map that had been blocked by the courts. Stephen Colbert invited four fellow late night television hosts to one of his final shows before it goes off the air next week. NPR's Mandalito Barco reports the cancellation was a topic of conversation and jokes.

[Mandalit Dalbarco]

Joining Stephen Colbert were John Oliver, Seth Meyers and the two Jimmies, Kimmel and Fallon. They call themselves Strike Force 5, also the name of the podcast they hosted during the Hollywood writers strike. Here's Colbert.

[NPR News Anchor]

Late night is in a bit of a weird spot right now.

[Mandalit Dalbarco]

Spoiler alert, CBS Paramount canceled Colbert's show citing financial reasons, though many fans say it was retribution for Colbert skewering President Trump. Kimmel said fans should be outraged by the ending of the late show.

[Commercial Announcer]

When I got knocked off the Air Force for a few days, people canceled Disney plus. Why isn't why aren't you people canceling Paramount plus because you didn't have it in the first place.

[Mandalit Dalbarco]

Colbert announced that Strike Force 5 will reunite on Wednesday for an emergency podcast. Mandalit Dalbarco, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

This is NPR News.

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