NPR News: 05-14-2026 12AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 14, 2026, 12AM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder
Main Theme: Morning headlines covering global politics, U.S. policy, health debates, sports, and economic market updates.

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1. President Trump’s Visit to China

Segment: 00:31 – 01:25

• Overview:
  President Trump is visiting Beijing, China, participating in a diplomatic summit with President Xi Jinping.
• Details:
  • Trump received a formal welcome, including military displays and children waving flags in Beijing.
  • “President Trump was clearly charmed by the children.” (Tamara Keith, 00:45)
  • The visit’s agenda centers on trade but also includes talks on the Iran war, technology, and the sensitive issue of Taiwan.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend. And the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.” (President Donald Trump, 01:16)

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2. U.S.-China Relations and Taiwan

Segment: 01:25 – 01:56

• Key Points:
  • The Trump administration has approved an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan but has not delivered it.
  • Meetings also address technology security and ongoing tensions over Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

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3. Ongoing Debate About the Origins of COVID-19

Segment: 01:56 – 02:28

• Overview:
  The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee heard testimony on the origins of COVID-19.
• Details:
  • Discussion over whether the virus originated from a Chinese laboratory.
  • CIA officer James Erdman III testified that intelligence leaders downplayed the lab-leak hypothesis.
  • “Intelligence community leaders and senior analysts downplayed the possibility that the COVID pandemic originated as a result of a lab incident.” (James Erdman III, 02:11)
  • Despite suspicions, many scientists maintain that the most likely scenario is animal-to-human transmission.
  • “There’s limited evidence on the origins of the virus. Many scientists say the most likely scenario is that it came from animals in the wild.” (Katie Ariddle, 02:19)

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4. Trump Administration Withholds Medicaid Payments to California

Segment: 02:28 – 03:27

• Overview:
  The Trump administration announced a freeze on $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California, citing insufficient action on Medicaid fraud.
• Details:
  • Vice President J.D. Vance is spearheading the crackdown.
  • Letters sent to all 50 states warn of potential funding freezes unless anti-fraud action intensifies.
  • Threat of broader cuts if states do not comply.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “And if we continue to find problems, we can turn off other resources within their state Medicaid programs as well.” (James Erdman III, 03:09)
  • Additionally, a six-month freeze is being imposed on new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home care providers.

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5. Florida’s Legal Action Against the NFL’s Rooney Rule

Segment: 03:27 – 04:14

• Overview:
  Florida’s attorney general has subpoenaed the NFL, alleging that the league’s Rooney Rule constitutes “blatant race and sex discrimination.”
• Details:
  • The attorney general sent NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a letter following previous threats of civil action.
  • Enforcement action against the NFL remains a possibility if the matter isn’t resolved.
  • The Rooney Rule was created to increase diversity in NFL coaching and executive searches.

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6. PGA Championship Preview

Segment: 04:14 – 04:53

• Overview:
  The world’s top golfers gather in Pennsylvania for the PGA Championship, the year’s second major tournament.
• Details:
  • Rory McIlroy, freshly 37, is considered a favorite and is adjusting his schedule for peak performance.
  • Tiger Woods is no longer considered a contender.
  • Scotty Scheffler enters as the defending champion, coming off three consecutive runner-up finishes.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “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, 04:28)
  • “A little bit of it’s bittersweet just because finishing second in a golf tournament is not bad.” (Scotty Scheffler, 04:43)

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7. Market and Economic Updates

Segment: 04:53 – 05:11

• Overview:
  • Asian markets show mixed results amid anticipation of the Trump-Xi summit.
  • Oil prices are trading above $100 a barrel.

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Memorable Moments

• Trump’s warm, public remarks toward Xi Jinping set a positive diplomatic tone. (01:16)
• Tension lingers over Medicaid funding and federal-state relations, highlighted by VP Vance’s hardline statements. (03:09)
• The enduring questions about the origins of COVID-19 continue shaping the political narrative. (02:11)

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For listeners seeking a rapid round-up of global events—from diplomatic summits and health policy debates to sports and finance—this episode delivers concise, matter-of-fact coverage with first-person insight directly from newsmakers and reporters.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump is in China, where he received a grand welcome before he started a series of meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. NPR's Tamara Keith is traveling with the president.

[Tamara Keith]

President Trump was greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in front of the Great hall of the People here in Beijing. There was a military display, a marching band playing the US national anthem, among other songs, and a large group of children waving Chinese and flags and artificial flowers jumping up and down chanting a welcome. President Trump was clearly charmed by the children.

[Giles Snyder]

Shortly after arriving at the Great Hall, Trump and his delegation sat down with Xi. And during opening remarks inside the hall, Trump praised the Chinese leader.

[President Donald Trump]

It's an honor to be with you. It's an honor to be your friend. And the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever. Before.

[Giles Snyder]

The meetings between Trump and Xi expected to focus on trade, but also include the Iran war technology and Taiwan, the self government island that China wants to take control of. In December, Trump authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, but has not yet moved forward with delivery. Debate continues on Capitol Hill about the origins of the COVID virus. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee her testimony Wednesday suggesting the virus originally came from a Lab in China. NPR's Katie Ariddle reports.

[Katie Ariddle]

For years, Republican leaders have been suggesting that the COVID 19 virus leaked from a Chinese laboratory and that public health officials at the time to cover this fact up. Today, a man named James Erdman iii, who works for the CIA, reinforced this narrative.

[James Erdman III]

Intelligence community leaders and senior analysts downplayed the possibility that the COVID pandemic originated as a result of a lab incident.

[Katie Ariddle]

There's limited evidence on the origins of the virus. Many scientists say the most likely scenario is that it came from animals in the wild. Katie Arittel, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

The Trump administration is withholding $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California and threatening to susp unless states show they are prosecuting Medicaid fraud. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz reports Vice President J.D.

[Jacqueline Diaz]

vance announced these actions as part of his role as the administration's frauds are. He said the White House is targeting California because it isn't taking fraud seriously. The administration is sending letters to all 50 states. It's threatening to freeze funding to the state's Medicaid programs unless they aggressively go after Medicaid fraud. And if they don't, Vance said the administration will look to make other cuts.

[James Erdman III]

And if we continue to find problems, we can turn off other resources within their state Medicaid programs as well.

[Jacqueline Diaz]

As part of this crackdown, the administration is also imposing a six month freeze on some new Medicare enrollments by hospice and home care providers. Jaclyn Diaz, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

This is NPR News. Florida's attorney general has issued an investigative subpoena to the NFL over the Rooney Rule. He has sent NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a new letter after threatening civil action over the rule that he says amounts to blatant race and sex discrimination. He had threatened possible enforcement action against the league in March. The Rooney Rule is intended to promote diversity in the hiring process for top coaching and executive jobs. 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 the world's best golfer as Greg Ek Having just turned

[Greg Eklund]

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.

[James Erdman III]

I need to take that time after the Masters to just reset and decompress and get myself into the right mental space again.

[Greg Eklund]

Scotty Shuffler of Dallas enters the PGA Championship with three straight runner up finishes.

[James Erdman III]

A little bit of it's bittersweet just because finishing second in a golf tournament is not bad.

[Greg Eklund]

Scheffler is the PGA Championship's defending champion. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eklund in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

[Giles Snyder]

With the spotlight on the summit in Beijing between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the major stock markets in Asia are mixed in Thursday trading oil prices above $100 a barrel. I'm Jael Snyder. This is NPR News.

[Cachava Advertiser]

This message comes from Cachava. It can be tough to stick to your wellness routine, especially when you're on the go. Cachava's new travel packs make it easier. Just one packet provides nutrition ready for wherever life takes you. With protein, fiber, grains, probiotics, electrolytes and more. Take your daily ritual with you. Go to kachava.com and use code NPR. New customers get 15% off their first order. That's K-C-H-A-V-A.com code NPR.