NPR News: 05-13-2026 2PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 13, 2026, 2PM EDT

Episode Summary

This five-minute NPR News Now update, hosted by Lakshmi Singh, offers an overview of the day's pressing national and international headlines as of early afternoon. The episode covers major stories including President Trump’s state visit to China with a focus on tariffs, the rising costs and controversy over the ongoing Iran war, a pivotal Supreme Court ruling affecting Alabama congressional elections, the ceremonial state opening of the British parliament and related political turbulence in the UK, a surprising new trial in the high-profile Alec Murdoch case, and a market update.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. President Trump’s Visit to China and U.S.-China Tariffs

(00:04–01:05)

• President Trump’s state visit to China is primarily focused on trade negotiations with President Xi Jinping.
• NPR/Chicago Council/Ipsos poll reveals most Americans view U.S. tariffs as harmful to both U.S. and Chinese economies, with raised consumer costs as a major complaint.
• Individual American perspectives:
  • Elisa Kajiwar (Physical Therapist, Greater Chicago):
    “I think the tariffs are bad. Making a worse deal for a country's trade does not mean we'll get more stuff out of it.” (00:35)
  • David Morgan (Former Furniture Company Owner, North Carolina):
    Supports tariffs due to personal business losses to low-wage competition from China.
    “Business dried up. We didn’t have the orders. We filed chapter 11 and sold off a lot of our stuff.” (00:50)
• The poll suggests Americans would support cutting tariffs in exchange for increased Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural goods.

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2. Ongoing Costs and Political Friction Over the Iran War

(01:06–02:04)

• The Pentagon reports the U.S. war with Iran has cost $29 billion to date, with more expenses anticipated.
• President Trump describes a current ceasefire as “on life support.”
• Lawmakers express bipartisan frustration, citing shifting administration plans and lack of transparency over unprecedented military spending.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describes the requested $1.5 trillion budget as:
  “This is admittedly a historic budget. It is a fiscally responsible budget and it is a war fighting budget.” (01:43)

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3. Alabama Special Primary & Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act Ruling

(02:05–02:52)

• The Supreme Court’s decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act has led to new GOP redistricting, allowing Alabama to use a Republican-favored map blocked by lower courts.
• Four out of Alabama’s seven congressional seats will now require a special primary, announced by Republican Governor Kay Ivey.
• This move may cause confusion, as it comes during ongoing absentee voting.
• The special primary is set for August 11, potentially impacting voter turnout and election clarity.

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4. UK State Opening of Parliament & Growing Pressure on PM Keir Starmer

(03:02–03:55)

• King Charles III, escorted by mounted soldiers, delivers the King's Speech outlining UK legislative priorities, notably continued commitment to NATO.
  • King Charles III:
    “My government will also uphold the United Kingdom's unbreakable commitment to NATO and our NATO allies, including through a sustained increase in defence spending.” (03:20)
• Relations with the Trump administration noted as a point of friction.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces reporters’ questions about his leadership amid mounting resignation calls after poor local election results.

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5. Alec Murdoch Granted New Trial

(03:56–04:22)

• Convicted South Carolina attorney Alec Murdoch is granted a new trial after allegations of jury tampering in his initial murder trial for the 2021 deaths of his wife and son.
• The South Carolina Supreme Court’s unanimous decision does not exonerate Murdoch, who remains imprisoned for state and federal financial crimes.

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6. U.S. Stock Market Update

(04:30–04:32)

• The Dow is down more than 100 points at time of reporting.

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Notable Quotes

• Elisa Kajiwar (on tariffs):
  “Making a worse deal for a country's trade does not mean we'll get more stuff out of it.” (00:35)
• David Morgan (on tariffs & business impact):
  “Business dried up. We didn’t have the orders. We filed chapter 11 and sold off a lot of our stuff.” (00:50)
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (on Pentagon budget):
  “This is admittedly a historic budget. It is a fiscally responsible budget and it is a war fighting budget.” (01:43)
• King Charles III (on NATO):
  “My government will also uphold the United Kingdom's unbreakable commitment to NATO and our NATO allies, including through a sustained increase in defence spending.” (03:20)

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Memorable Moments

• The poll-driven division of American opinion on tariffs with powerful personal stories (00:27–01:05).
• Stark U.S. military cost figures and rare bipartisan congressional frustration voiced on the Iran conflict (01:06–02:04).
• Sudden Alabama election changes with the potential to impact voter engagement (02:05–02:52).
• Journalists shouting at PM Keir Starmer, capturing the intensity of UK political pressures (03:38).
• The rare legal reversal in the high-profile Murdoch case (03:56–04:22).

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For listeners seeking a concise yet comprehensive newscast, this NPR News Now episode covers the intersection of U.S. foreign and domestic policy, electoral developments, transatlantic alliances, and notable legal updates—all in five minutes.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[B]

President Trump is on a long anticipated state visit to China. He told reporters earlier that trade would be the main focus of his talks with leader Xi Jinping.

[A]

A new NPR Chicago Council Ipsos poll finds Most Americans believe U.S. tariffs have been bad for both economies and driven up consumer costs.

[B]

Here.

[A]

More from NPR's Frank Langfit.

[C]

Elisa Kajiwar is a physical therapist in Greater Chicago. When she bought a Chinese made board game, she noticed tariffs added up to $20 to the price.

[D]

I think the tariffs are bad. Making a worse deal for a country's trade does not mean we'll get more stuff out of it.

[C]

David Morgan lives in North Carolina and supports tariffs. Low wage competition from China sank his furniture company.

[E]

Business dried up. We didn't have the orders. We filed chapter 11 and sold off a lot of our stuff.

[C]

The poll shows most Americans see a potential cut tariffs on China in exchange for China buying more US Agricultural goods. Frank Langford, NPR News, Washington.

[A]

The Pentagon says the cost of the war with Iran continues to rise by billions of dollars with a ceasefire that President Trump describes as being on life support. Lawmakers in Congress are expressing frustration. Here's NPR's Claudia.

[F]

Pentagon officials estimate the Iran war has cost $29 billion so far. That does not include repairs to U.S. facilities attacked by Iran. That could add billions more to that price tag. The Pentagon plans to ask for supplemental funding on top of a $1.5 trillion budget proposal for the next fiscal year that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argues will remake the military.

[G]

This is admittedly a historic budget. It is a fiscally responsible budget and it is a war fighting budget.

[F]

But amid an unpopular war, many lawmakers are expressing bipartisan frustration over the administration shifting plans concerning Iran and a lack of information tied to their historic spending plans. Clara Rizalis, NPR News.

[B]

The state of Alabama says it'll hold a special primary election for four of

[A]

the state's seven congressional seats. The U.S. supreme Court had cleared the way for the Republican led state to use a congressional map that had been previously blocked by the courts. NPR's Ashley Lopez.

[H]

After the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights act two weeks ago, there's been a flurry of GOP redistricting efforts in the South. And now Alabama can use a map that has one more seat that favors Republicans compared to the now defunct map that the lower court ordered. This ruling, however, came a week before the state's primary. Republican Governor K. Ivey announced the state will hold a special primary for the four seats affected by the change. This is expected to cause some confusion for voters, particularly because this change was announced when absentee mail voting was already underway. The new special primary election will be held on August 11th.

[B]

Ashley Lopez, NPR, from Washington.

[A]

This is NPR News.

[B]

In London, mounted soldiers escort the British monarch to deliver the king's speech for

[A]

the ceremonial state opening of Parliament today.

[B]

Weeks after visiting the U.S. to date, King Charles a third laid out the United Kingdom's priorities, including on foreign policy.

[A]

There's been a source of friction with the Trump administration.

[E]

My government will also uphold the United Kingdom's unbreakable commitment to NATO and our NATO allies, including through a sustained increase in defence spending.

[B]

Ahead of the speech, Prime Minister Keir

[A]

Starmer exited 10 Downing street and encountered

[B]

reporters shouting questions about his political future.

[I]

Prime minister, is your time off? Have you lost the country? Prime Minister? It's your time over.

[B]

Starmer is under growing pressure to resign

[A]

following dismal performances in local elections last week.

[B]

Alec Murdoch, the South Carolina former attorney sent to prison for life for the 2021 murders of his wife and son, is getting a new trial today. The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously accepted the defense's argument that a court clerk tampered with the jury in Murdoch's initial murder trial. A new trial does not mean Murdoch walks free.

[A]

The 57 year old is also serving lengthy prison sentences for state and Federal Financial Crimes.

[B]

U.S. stocks are mixed this hour.

[A]

The Dow is down more than 100 points. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

[J]

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