NPR News: 05-13-2026 8PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 05-13-2026 8PM EDT

Date: May 14, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR News Anchor)

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Episode Overview

This 5-minute NPR News update delivers the day's major events and developments across politics, law, education, science, and sports, focusing on President Trump's visit to China, new oversight of prediction markets, a high-profile legal case in South Carolina, national literacy concerns, archaeological findings, and sports expansion news.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. President Trump in China: Diplomatic High Stakes

[00:11] – [01:10]

• Historic Visit: President Trump is in Beijing, marking the first U.S. presidential visit to China in over eight years.
• Meeting Agenda:
  • Trump and President Xi Jinping will discuss the war with Iran, high global energy prices, and U.S. requests for China’s help in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Talks will also cover Taiwan – a contentious issue due to the U.S.'s history of arms sales to the island, which China claims as its own.
• China’s Approach: Chinese officials signal interest in easing trade tariffs and pressuring Iran towards a ceasefire.
• Memorable Moment: A grand red carpet ceremony welcomed President Trump to Beijing, highlighting the visit's importance.

Emily Feng ([00:33]):
"Trump and China's Xi Jinping will meet in Beijing's Great hall of the People in the city's central Tiananmen Square. And there, Trump says he'll talk about the war with Iran and high energy prices… The two men will also discuss Taiwan, the democratic island China wants to take control of, but which the US has historically sold weapons to to defend against China."

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2. House Oversight Committee Eyes Prediction Markets

[01:10] – [02:09]

• Background: Rising concerns about insider trading in prediction markets tied to military and political events.
• Committee Action: House Oversight Committee, led by James Comer (R-KY), begins requesting market data and threatens subpoenas if compliance lags.
• Focus of Investigation: Major platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, where billions are wagered weekly on all manner of outcomes, including elections and military actions.
• Investigation Trigger: Calls for inquiry came from Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) after reports of suspicious trades.
• Unspecified Targets: Comer did not publicly name any particular market under investigation.

James Comer ([01:33]):
"Well, we're starting to request information. That's the process. That's how it begins. We'll request information, and if we have trouble getting it, then a subpoena will follow."

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3. Alex Murdoch to Receive New Trial

[02:09] – [03:06]

• Case Recap: Alex Murdoch, a former lawyer convicted in 2023 for the murders of his wife and son, is granted a new trial by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
• Reason for Retrial:
  • The Colleton county clerk of Court allegedly prejudiced the jury by attacking Murdoch’s credibility.
  • Admission of financial crime evidence was deemed inappropriate for the murder trial.
• Outcome: Ruling is in Murdoch's favor, though he remains incarcerated on unrelated financial crime convictions.

Victoria Hanson ([02:25]):
"The justices also said the presiding judge should not have admitted evidence of Murdaugh's financial crimes into the six week long trial. The ruling is a win for Murdaugh, who has long denied shooting his wife and son in 2021."

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4. National “Reading Recession” Identified

[03:06] – [03:44]

• Key Insight: U.S. students are facing a declining trend in reading skills, a pattern that began before the pandemic.
• Study Details: Analysis involved test score data from grades 3–8 in over 5,000 school districts across 38 states.
• Findings: Only five states and Washington, D.C. demonstrated meaningful test score growth from 2022 to 2025.

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5. Neanderthals and Dentistry: Ancient Root Canal?

[03:44] – [04:32]

• Discovery: A 60,000-year-old Neanderthal molar found in Siberia shows evidence of having been drilled, possibly as a primitive dental operation.
• Scientific Caution:
  • Microscopic grooves suggest the use of stone tools, but intentionality is debated.
  • Expert perspective (Rachel Kalisher, bioarchaeologist at UC San Diego): Open to the possibility, but the evidence is not definitive.

Rachel Kalisher ([04:17]):
"It's certainly believable, but I'm not sure that the evidence that they provide is necessarily the smoking gun."

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6. Women’s Pro Hockey Expands

[04:32] – [04:54]

• PWHL News: The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced expansions to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario.
• Growth: With 11 teams now (and a 12th to come), the league is doubling its size since 2024, marking a significant moment for women's sports.

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Notable Quotes

• James Comer on Prediction Markets ([01:33]):
  "We'll request information, and if we have trouble getting it, then a subpoena will follow."
• Victoria Hanson on Murdoch Ruling ([02:25]):
  "The ruling is a win for Murdaugh, who has long denied shooting his wife and son in 2021."
• Rachel Kalisher on Neanderthal Dentistry ([04:17]):
  "It's certainly believable, but I'm not sure that the evidence that they provide is necessarily the smoking gun."

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Timestamps & Segments

• 00:11 – Trump visits China: talks with Xi Jinping
• 01:10 – House Oversight targets prediction markets
• 02:09 – Alex Murdoch granted new murder trial
• 03:06 – U.S. “reading recession” in schools
• 03:44 – Neanderthal tooth may show ancient dental care
• 04:32 – Women’s pro hockey league announces expansions

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This concise, content-rich episode covers emerging global politics, legislative oversight, major legal reversals, concerning education trends, new archaeological revelations, and significant developments in women's sports.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump and China's leaders Xi Jinping are about to begin talks in Beijing in a few hours. This is the first U.S. presidential visit to China in more than eight years. And as NPR's Emily Feng reports, high stakes issues ranging from trade to technology are on the table.

[Emily Feng]

Trump and China's Xi Jinping will meet in Beijing's Great hall of the People in the city's central Tiananmen Square. And there, Trump says he'll talk about the war with Iran and high energy prices. He's asked for China for help before to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. The two men will also discuss Taiwan, the democratic island China wants to take control of, but which the US has historically sold weapons to to defend against China. China's officials have been signaling their desire for a diplomatic detente with the US on trade tariffs, as well as willingness to help pressure Iran towards a ceasefire. Earlier on Wednesday, Beijing welcomed Trump to China with a grand red carpet welcome. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The House Oversight Committee is investigating prediction markets and threatening subpoenas. The move comes as reports of military and political insider trading mount in Washington, NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[James Comer]

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer says he's requesting data from prediction markets. Those are exchanges that host bets on future events. Here's Comer, a Kentucky Republican on FOX Business.

Well, we're starting to request information. That's the process. That's how it begins. We'll request information, and if we have trouble getting it, then a subpoena will follow.

The probe comes after Representative Chris Pappas, a Democrat from New Hampshire, called on Comer to investigate suspicious bets on military actions and political outcomes. Billions of dollars are wagered each week on prediction markets like polymarket and Kalshi, where users can bet and win money on everything from sports culture to even elections. Comer did not specify which prediction markets are being investigated. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned a case that captivated the nation. Former high profile attorney Alex Murdoch will get a new trial after being convicted in 2023 for the murders of his wife and son. South Carolina Public Radio's Victoria Hanson reports.

[Victoria Hanson]

The ruling was unanimous. The justices said Murdoch was denied a fair trial. Specifically, they said the Colleton county clerk of Court attacked Murdaugh's credibility by telling jurors to watch him closely as he testified. The justices also said the presiding judge should not have admitted evidence of Murdaugh's financial crimes into the six week long trial. The ruling is a win for Murdaugh, who has long denied shooting his wife and son in 2021. But the 57 year old won't be getting out of prison. He's serving a lengthy sentence for state and federal financial crimes, including stealing millions from former clients. For NPR News, I'm Victoria Hanson.

[NPR News Anchor]

In South Carolina, the majority of US Stocks fell today following another discouraging update on inflation. This is NPR. Researchers are warning that the U.S. is experiencing a reading recession, a slide that predates the COVID 19 pandemic. A new analysis of state test scores from third to eighth grade for over 5,000 school districts in 38 found that only five states plus Washington, D.C. had meaningful growth in reading test scores from 2022 to 2025. A team of scientists believe they've found evidence of what may have amounted to an ancient root canal in Neanderthals.

[Ari Daniel]

Ari Daniel reports researchers unearthed a nearly 60,000 year old Neanderthal tooth, a molar in a Siberian cave. It had a deep hole on the biting surface. When the team looked more closely, they noticed microscopic radial GR they think may have been artificially created by drilling into the tooth to deal with a cavity. Perhaps. Rachel Kalisher is a bioarchaeologist at UC San Diego who wasn't involved in the research. She's open to the idea that Neanderthals were capable of treating cavities.

[Rachel Kalisher]

It's certainly believable, but I'm not sure that the evidence that they provide is necessarily the smoking gun.

[Ari Daniel]

Kalisher agrees the hole was likely produced by a stone tool, but she can't be sure it was done intentionally. For NPR News, I'm Ari Daniel.

[NPR News Anchor]

The PWHL delivered a double slap shot of expansion news today, announcing it's bringing women's pro hockey to the distinctly different markets of Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, and growing to 11 teams. There's one more addition still to come to make it an even dozen for a league preparing to double in size since launching in 2024. It's NPR.

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