NPR News: 05-13-2026 4AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – 05-13-2026 4AM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder
Date: May 13, 2026
Episode Theme:
A concise, five-minute roundup of the latest national and international news, including updates on US-China relations, legislative developments in Congress, administrative changes in key government agencies, a government accountability report on coal miner benefits, and tributes following the deaths of notable sports figures.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump Heads to China Amid Iran War (00:01-00:27)

• Context: President Trump is en route to China for high-level talks, intending to discuss the ongoing war with Iran with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• Trump's Stance:
  • Trump expresses confidence in US capabilities regarding the Iran war.
    • Quote:
      “I don’t think we need any help with Iran, to be honest with you. They’re defeated militarily, and they’ll either do the right thing or we’ll finish the job.”
      — President Trump (00:17)
  • The significance of the Strait of Hormuz, still closed to tankers, is highlighted—China's role as a major buyer of Iranian oil remains an important geopolitical factor.
• Notable Detail: Chinese Foreign Minister visited Beijing last week, signaling continued diplomatic engagement with Iran.

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2. Bipartisan Bill to Ban Chinese Cars in the US (00:27-01:39)

• Legislation: Michigan lawmakers Debbie Dingell (D) and John Moliner (R) introduce the Connected Vehicle Securities Act, aiming to prohibit Chinese automobiles, software, and hardware in the US.
• Rationale and Security Concerns:
  • Quote:
    “We are not competing on a level playing field. When [China] subsidizes its manufacturers, it manipulates its currency, it uses slave labor. That’s not a level playing field.”
    — Rep. Debbie Dingell (01:09)
  • US government accuses China of using vehicle technology to gather sensitive data.
  • The bill puts previously issued executive orders by the Trump and Biden administrations into law.
• Segment Reporter: Kevin Merchant, WEMU

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3. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns (01:39-02:33)

• Administrative Shake-Up: Dr. Marty Makary resigns as FDA Commissioner after 13 months.
• Reasons for Departure:
  • Makary’s tenure saw discontent from differing political and health advocacy groups:
    • Frustration among Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) supporters for not pushing their agenda faster.
    • Disappointment from anti-abortion groups over an incomplete safety review of mifepristone.
    • Oversight groups criticize lack of predictability in FDA regulation.
  • Professional Background: Former Johns Hopkins surgeon and health policy researcher.
• Reporting: Sidney Lupkin, NPR

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4. David Venturella Appointed Acting ICE Director (02:33-03:13)

• Transition at ICE:
  • President Trump appoints David Venturella as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
  • Venturella, an ICE veteran from Obama and Bush administrations, most recently worked for a private prison company with immigration detention contracts.

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5. Barriers for Coal Miners Seeking Black Lung Benefits (03:13-03:53)

• Government Report:
  • The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds coal miners, especially from Indigenous communities like the Navajo Nation, endure long waits and significant administrative hurdles in getting federal disability payments for black lung disease.
  • Notable Quote:
    “The program needs to view these operators and continue to make sure that they stand up to their promise to the miner.”
    — Alex Oseff, former coal miner (03:33)
  • Additional challenges persist even after miners receive benefits, including difficulties accessing entitled medical care.
• Segment Reporter: Chris Clements, KNAU

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6. Obituaries: Remembering Jason Collins and Brandon Clark (03:53-04:40)

• Jason Collins:
  • First openly gay NBA player, dies at age 47 from aggressive brain cancer.
  • Played for six NBA teams over a 13-year career, coming out publicly in 2013.
• Brandon Clark:
  • Memphis Grizzlies forward, dies at age 29; no details released.

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7. Financial Market Update (04:40)

• Asian Markets:
  • Mixed trading results:
    • Stocks rise in Tokyo and Shanghai, surge in Seoul, drop in Sydney, little change in Hong Kong.

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Notable Quotes

• “He could. I mean, it might be. I don’t think we need any help with Iran, to be honest with you. They’re defeated militarily, and they’ll either do the right thing or we’ll finish the job.”
  — President Trump (00:17)

• “We are not competing on a level playing field. When [China] subsidizes its manufacturers, it manipulates its currency, it uses slave labor. That’s not a level playing field.”
  — Rep. Debbie Dingell (01:09)

• “The program needs to view these operators and continue to make sure that they stand up to their promise to the miner.”
  — Alex Oseff, former coal miner (03:33)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01 – President Trump heads to China to discuss Iran conflict.
• 00:27 – US bill to ban Chinese vehicles introduced.
• 01:39 – FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigns.
• 02:33 – David Venturella named acting ICE director.
• 03:13 – GAO report on barriers for coal miners seeking black lung benefits.
• 03:53 – Obituaries: Jason Collins (NBA), Brandon Clark (Grizzlies).
• 04:40 – Asian financial market brief.

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This provides a succinct yet detailed overview of the episode, capturing the essence of each major news story with key quotes and crucial timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Before leaving for China Tuesday, President Trump said he expects to have a long talk with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the Iran war. But he said he does not think he needs Xi's help to bring the war to an end.

[President Trump]

He could. I mean, it might be. I don't think we need any help with Iran, to be honest with you. They're defeated militarily, and they'll either do the right thing or we'll finish the job.

[Giles Snyder]

Trump is set to land in Beijing later today. With the Strait of Hormuz still affected, closed to oil and natural gas tankers, China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and maintains ties with Iran, whose foreign minister was in Beijing last week? Michigan congressional Democrat Debbie Dingell and Republican John Moliner have introduced a bill to ban Chinese cars in the United States. From member station wemu, Kevin Merchant reports.

[Kevin Merchant]

Called the Connected Vehicle securities act, the legislation would prohibit the importation of, manufacture and sale of vehicles, software and hardware linked to China. Dingell says the timing is important with this week's upcoming China US Summit.

[Debbie Dingell]

We are not competing on a level playing field. When Chinese subsidizes its manufacturers, it manipulates its currency, it uses slave labor. That's not a level playing field.

[Kevin Merchant]

China has been accused by the US Government of using technology to collect and transmit sensitive information from vehicles it produces. The legislation expands on orders from the first Trump and the Biden administrations by putting the protections into law. For NPR News, I'm Kevin Mershart in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

[Giles Snyder]

The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration is leaving after 13 months on the job. Dr. Marty Makary asked President Trump to accept his resignation, as NPR's Sidney Lupkin reports.

[Sidney Lupkin]

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, President Trump said McCary would be leaving and that a deputy would take over FDA temporarily during his tenure at the agency. McCary at times angered Make America Healthy Again movement for not advancing its agenda quickly enough. Many MAHA supporters were upset when the agency approved updated COVID 19 vaccines last year. McCary also disappointed people who oppose abortion by not completing a promised safety review of mifepristone. Meanwhile, he faced criticism from those looking for a more predictable approach to FDA regulation. Before joining the Trump administration, Makary was a surgeon and health policy researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

President Trump has tapped David Venturella to be the next acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A spokesman confirmed the appointment to npr. He is expected to take over from Todd Lyons, who is leaving the post at the end of the month. Venturella previously worked for ICE during the Obama and George W. Bush administrations. He left to work for a private prison company that contracts with the federal government for immigration detention. This is npr. A congressional watchdog finds coal miners looking to get federal disability payments for black lung disease face a host of barriers. Chris Clements, member station KNAU, has more.

[Chris Clements]

The US Government Accountability Office found coal miners can wait for years while seeking benefits. That's true for Alex Oseff, who is Navajo, Hopi and Pima, and a former coal miner who worked on the Navajo Nation. He says the coal companies that are on the hook for paying miners benefits can slow the process down by not providing employment histories.

[President Trump]

The program needs to view these operators and continue to make sure that they stand up to their promise to the miner.

[Chris Clements]

The report also found that even when they get benefits, many coal miners face obstacles accessing the medical coverage they're entitled to. For NPR News, I'm Chris Clements in Flagstaff.

[Giles Snyder]

The NBA's first openly gay player has died. Jason Collins was 47. His family says he died from an aggressive form of brain cancer. Collins played for six different NBA teams over 13 years. He announced that he was gay in 2013, toward the end of his playing career. Also, Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clark has died. The Grizzlies announced his death on Tuesday. No other details were given. Clark was 29. President Trump on his way to China. Asian shares mixed in Wednesday trading stocks rose in Tokyo and Shanghai. They surged more than two and a half percent in Seoul, but shares declined in Sydney and were little changed in Hong Kong. Song I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

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