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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Trump is on his way to Beijing for a state visit with China's President Xi Jinping. Trade and tariffs are expected to be among the main issues discussed. Writing on Truth Social, trump said opening up China to American businesses will be his first request of the Chinese leader. Before leaving the White House yesterday, Trump downplayed the importance of discussing the war with Iran in his talks with Xi.
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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.
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China is Iran's largest buyer of crude oil. A number of corporate CEOs are traveling with the president to China. They include the head of tech giant Nvidia. King Charles speaks to the British Parliament today amid questions about the political future of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. NPR's Lauren Freyer has more from London.
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Starmer's center left Labour Party was trounced in last week's local elections. In an indication of what could happen in the next national elections expected in three years. The prime minister's own approval rating is one of the lowest in history. His ruling party is divided over whether to keep him as leader and thus as prime minister. Some of his cabinet ministers have resigned, but there's no clear successor, no official challenge to his leadership. Starmer's trying to win over what he calls his doubters by having the king announce proposals to fix public services, alleviate a cost of living crisis and tighten immigration rules. It's unclear whether that'll be enough, though. Starmer could still be forced to resign or set a timetable for that. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London.
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Days after Tennessee's Republican led legislature approved a new congressional map, lawmakers in South Carolina have voted not to consider doing the same. Gavin Jackson with South Carolina Public Radio says GOP legislators push back on President Trump's call for redistricting.
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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 Clyburn's 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.
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Longtime journalist and film critic Rex Reed has died at the age of 87. His publicist says Reid died yesterday in New York after a brief illness. Wall street futures are mostly higher this morning. S and p futures are up 26. This is NPR News. In Texas, a tentative settlement agreement's been reached in Austin in a case involving four men who were wrongly accused of raping and killing four teenage girls at a yogurt shop in 1991. If approved, the city will pay three of the men and the family of a fourth $35 million. In February, a judge declared the four to be innocent after investigators determined a suspect who died in 1999 had carried out the crimes. One of the four was sent to the state's death row and another received a sentence of life in prison. Advances in DNA evidence helped to clear the four. The world's top ranked golfers are in Pennsylvania this week for the PGA Championship. It's the second of golf's four majors with Tiger woods no longer a contender in recent years, two players are vying for bragging rights as best golfer. As Greg Eklund reports, having just turned
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37, Roy McIlroy of Northern Ireland is at the top of his game as the two time Masters champion. But with only a month separating the Masters and this week's PGA Championship, McIlroy says he's pacing himself.
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I need to take that time after the Masters to just reset and decompress and get myself into the right mental space again.
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Scotty Shuffler of Dallas enters the PGA Championship with three straight runner up finishes.
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A little bit of it's bittersweet just because finishing second in a golf tournament is not bad.
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Scheffler is the PGA Championship's defending champion. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eklin in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
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I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.
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Episode: NPR News: 05-13-2026 5AM EDT
Date: May 13, 2026
Host: Dave Mattingly
This episode delivers the top headlines across politics, international affairs, business, and sports in a concise five-minute format. Today's coverage includes President Trump's high-profile trip to China, turmoil for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a redistricting standoff in South Carolina, the death of revered critic Rex Reed, justice served in a historic Texas case, and a preview of the PGA golf championship.
President Trump departs for a state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Main agenda items: trade, tariffs, and opening the Chinese market to American businesses.
Trump minimizes the importance of China's involvement in U.S.–Iran discussions.
"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 (00:31)
Notable: A CEO delegation is traveling with Trump, including Nvidia’s executive, signaling the importance of tech cooperation.
Context: China is Iran's largest oil customer.
King Charles is set to address Parliament amid swirling doubts about PM Keir Starmer's future.
Starmer’s Labour Party suffered significant defeat in local elections; his approval ratings are historic lows.
Internal party divisions and cabinet resignations intensify uncertainty.
Starmer attempts to restore confidence by introducing reforms via the King's speech, targeting public services, cost of living, and immigration.
"Starmer could still be forced to resign or set a timetable for that."
— Lauren Freyer (01:36)
South Carolina’s Senate rejects last-minute efforts to redraw congressional maps, despite pressure from President Trump.
The effort aimed to eliminate Democrat Jim Clyburn’s district.
Majority Leader Shane Massie (R) and four other Republicans side with Democrats, citing lack of public input and rushed process.
"The map, hastily crafted without public input or thorough vetting, could actually make several districts more competitive for Democrats."
— Gavin Jackson (02:17)
Key context: Tennessee recently approved their map; South Carolina stands firm.
Top golfers head to Pennsylvania for the PGA Championship, the season’s second major.
Rory McIlroy, two-time Masters champion, focuses on mental and physical readiness.
"I need to take that time after the Masters to just reset and decompress and get myself into the right mental space again."
— Rory McIlroy (04:11)
Scottie Scheffler, from Dallas, enters as the defending champion after three consecutive second-place finishes.
"A little bit of it's bittersweet just because finishing second in a golf tournament is not bad."
— Scottie Scheffler (04:25)
Summary Tone:
The reporting is urgent, concise, and balanced, connecting today’s fast-moving events with context and direct voices from involved figures.