Loading summary
Capital One Advertiser
This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply.
NPR News Anchor
Details@capitalone.com 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.
Jerry Advertiser
This message comes from Jerry. Many people are overpaying on car insurance. Why? Switching providers can be a pain. Jerry helps make the process painless. Jerry is the only app that compares rates from over 50 insurers in minutes and helps you switch fast with no spam calls or hidden fees. Drivers who save with Jerry could save over $1,300 a year before you renew your car insurance policy. Download the Jerry app or head to Jerry AI NPR.
Date: May 14, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR News Anchor)
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.
[00:11] – [01:10]
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."
[01:10] – [02:09]
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."
[02:09] – [03:06]
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."
[03:06] – [03:44]
[03:44] – [04:32]
Rachel Kalisher ([04:17]):
"It's certainly believable, but I'm not sure that the evidence that they provide is necessarily the smoking gun."
[04:32] – [04:54]
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.