NPR News: 05-14-2026 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 14, 2026, 2AM EDT

Host: NPR News Anchor, Giles Snyder
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of key global and national news including diplomatic maneuvers related to the Strait of Hormuz, US-China relations, a high-profile espionage conviction, political updates from Nebraska, civil rights action in Tennessee, a major wrongful death settlement in Louisiana, and new security developments in the Middle East.

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Key News Highlights and Insights

1. US Urges China to Help Reopen Strait of Hormuz

Timestamp: 00:11 – 00:49

• Context: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanying President Trump in China, underscores the global economic ramifications of the ongoing Iran war and urges China to take a more active diplomatic role.
• Rubio’s Insight:
  • “Their economy is fueled not by what they consume domestically, but by what they make and sell to other countries. Well, of all the countries of the world, economies are melting down because of this crisis in the streets. They're going to be buying less Chinese product and the Chinese exports are going to drop precipitously. So it's in their interest to resolve this.” (Marco Rubio, 00:24)
  • “We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf.” (Marco Rubio, 00:45)
• Notable Moment: Rubio frames stability in the Strait as a shared economic interest between the US and China.

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2. US-China State Visit: Trade and Taiwan Frictions

Timestamp: 00:49 – 01:24

• Diplomatic Focus:
  • Ongoing Iran conflict frames Trump’s state visit to China, but central agenda includes trade talks and Taiwan tensions.
  • Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly mentions progress in trade negotiations but raises “disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path.” (00:49)
• Notable Point: The visit is a blend of crisis diplomacy and tough talk on foundational disagreements.

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3. US Citizen Convicted as Chinese Agent

Timestamp: 01:24 – 02:09
Reporter: Bruce Konviser

• Story:
  • Liu Jin Wang, convicted in Brooklyn federal court of acting as an unregistered Chinese agent.
  • Allegations included operating a “police station” in Manhattan’s Chinatown, targeting Chinese dissidents on behalf of Beijing, under the guise of helping with paperwork.
• Quote: “But prosecutors successfully argued that that was mere window dressing for what Liu was really doing, targeting Chinese dissidents on behalf of the Communist government in Beijing.” (Bruce Konviser, 01:48)
• Notable Detail: Liu faces up to 30 years in prison; he has lived in the US over 45 years.

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4. Federal Reserve Chair Nominee Approved

Timestamp: 02:09 – 02:34

• Update:
  • Kevin Warsh confirmed by the Senate (54-45 vote) as the new Federal Reserve Chair.
  • Vote largely along party lines.

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5. Nebraska’s Key Democratic Primary Results

Timestamp: 02:34 – 02:57
Reporter: Molly Ashford

• Outcome:
  • Denise Powell wins Democratic nomination for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, after a contentious and highly funded primary.
  • Likely to face Republican Brinker Harding in the general election.
• Quote: “It is time now to really build the biggest, broadest coalition that we can with voters of all stars and stripes all across this district.” (Denise Powell, 02:51)
• Strategic Relevance: Democrats view this race as crucial for regaining House control.

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6. Civil Rights Lawsuit over Tennessee Congressional Map

Timestamp: 03:10 – 03:30

• Legal Action:
  • NAACP sues Tennessee, alleging racial discrimination in newly approved congressional map, following a weakening of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court.

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7. $4.8M Louisiana Settlement for Ronald Green’s Family

Timestamp: 03:49 – 04:16
Reporter: Mel Bridges

• Background:
  • Louisiana settles a wrongful death lawsuit with the family of Ronald Green, a Black motorist who died in 2019 after a violent police arrest.
  • Body cam footage contradicted police claims of a car crash as cause of death.
• Quote: “State police told Green’s family he died in a car crash, but body camera footage later revealed police beat, stunned and dragged Green, who was black, after a traffic stop.” (Mel Bridges, 03:54)
  • The federal government declined to prosecute the five state troopers involved.
• Settlement: $4.8 million

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8. Secret Israel-UAE Talks and Security Developments

Timestamp: 04:16 – 04:54

• Diplomatic Moves:
  • PM Netanyahu’s secret March visit to the UAE led to what Israel calls a “historic breakthrough.”
  • Following the visit, Israel sent Iron Dome air defense systems to the UAE.
• Market Note:
  • Mixed financial market performance reported in Asia during Thursday trading.

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Memorable Quotes

• Marco Rubio: “We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they're doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf.” (00:45)
• Denise Powell: “It is time now to really build the biggest, broadest coalition that we can with voters of all stars and stripes...” (02:51)
• Mel Bridges: “State police told Green’s family he died in a car crash, but body camera footage later revealed police beat, stunned and dragged Green, who was black, after a traffic stop.” (03:54)

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:11 – Strait of Hormuz crisis; Rubio on US-China-Iran relations
• 00:49 – Trump & Xi trade talks; Taiwan tensions
• 01:24 – Chinese agent conviction in Brooklyn
• 02:09 – Federal Reserve nominee confirmed
• 02:34 – Nebraska Democratic primary results; Powell’s quote
• 03:10 – NAACP lawsuit over Tennessee congressional map
• 03:49 – Louisiana’s settlement in Ronald Green case
• 04:16 – Netanyahu’s UAE secret visit and Iron Dome shipment
• 04:54 – Financial market updates in Asia

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Summary Remark:
This news capsule delivers vital updates across political, legal, and international arenas, echoing NPR’s objective, factual tone while spotlighting significant developments from Asia-Pacific diplomacy to American civil rights and electoral contests.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says it's in China's interest to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

[Marco Rubio]

Their economy is fueled not by what they consume domestically, but by what they make and sell to other countries. Well, of all the countries of the world, economies are melting down because of this crisis in the streets. They're going to be buying less Chinese product and the Chinese exports are going to drop precipitously. So it's in their interest to resolve this. We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they're doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf.

[NPR News Anchor]

Secretary Rubio speaking to Fox News Wednesday night. Rubio is in China as part of the US Delegation accompanying President Trump on his state visit. The ongoing Iran war looms over the visit, but Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinp also focusing on trade. The official Xinhua news Agency is reporting that she told President Trump that trade talks are making progress, but also said she warned that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path. A US Citizen was convicted Wednesday of acting as an unregistered Chinese agent. Bruce Konviser reports that the verdict was handed down in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn.

[Bruce Konviser]

After a week long trial, Liu Jin Wang was found guilty on two of three federal charges related to being a Chinese agent. Prosecutors say Liu set up a so called police station in a section of Manhattan's Chinatown. Liu claims he was merely helping Chinese residents navigate bureaucratic paperwork such as renewing Chinese driver's licenses. But prosecutors successfully argued that that was mere window dressing for what Liu was really doing, targeting Chinese dissidents on behalf of the Communist government in Beijing. The 64 year old Liu came to the US from China more than 45 years ago. He now faces up to 30 years in prison. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Konfiser in New York.

[NPR News Anchor]

President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Reserve as the next chair clinched Senate approval Wednesday. The 54 to 45 vote by the full Senate on Kevin Warsh's nomination was along party lines with a narrow lead. Democratic activist and PAC founder Denise Powell won the Democratic nomination for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district. That's according to a race call by the Associated Press. Nebraska Public Media's Molly Ashford has more

[Molly Ashford]

Powell beat out a crowded field of Democrats, including her closest competitor, state Senator John Kavanaugh, in an often contentious race that saw an influx of outside spending. Though the race was still too close to call on Tuesday night, Powell left her watch party in the lead. And looking towards November, it is time

[Denise Powell]

now to really build the biggest, broadest coalition that we can with voters of all stars and stripes all across this district.

[Molly Ashford]

Powell will face off with Republican Brinker Harding in the general election. Democrats see the district as a key pickup opportunity to help them regain control of the House. For NPR News, I'm Molly Ashford in Omaha, Nebraska.

[NPR News Anchor]

And you're listening to NPR News. The country's largest civil rights group, the naacp, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee's new congressional map. The group says Tennessee Republicans intentionally discriminated on the basis of race against black voters. Lawmakers approved the new map last week following the US Supreme Court's ruling that weakened the landmark Voting Rights Act. Louisiana state officials have agreed to a settlement with the family of a black motorist who died during a violent roadside arrest in 2019. Mel Bridges with member station WWNO has more.

[Mel Bridges]

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Merle confirmed the $4.8 million settlement, saying the state wanted to, quote, put this matter behind us. It ends a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Ronald Green. State police told Green's family he died in a car crash, but body camera footage later revealed police beat, stunned and dragged Green, who was black, after a traffic stop. The federal government declined to prosecute any of the five state troopers involved. For NPR News, I'm Mel Bridges in New Orleans.

[NPR News Anchor]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says Netanyahu secretly traveled to the United Arab Emirates in March for talks with the UAE's president. Israel says the talks resulted in a historic breakthrough. The announcement came a day after US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had sent Iron Dome air defense weapons to the UAE along with personnel to operate them. The UAE is not commented on the visit with President Trump in Beijing meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The major financial markets in Asia mixed in Thursday trading. This is NPR News.

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