NPR News: 05-14-2026 6AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 05-14-2026 6AM EDT

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Korva Coleman
Date: May 14, 2026
Episode Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

The May 14th, 2026 edition of NPR News Now delivers a concise update on key global and domestic stories in five minutes. Topics include President Trump’s state visit to China and trade negotiations, tensions over Taiwan, the U.S. House investigation into prediction markets, Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, and the Supreme Court’s impending decision on telemedicine access to abortion pills.

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Key News Segments & Discussion Points

1. President Trump’s State Visit to China

[00:00 – 01:29]

• State Banquet and Delegation: President Trump arrives in Beijing with a large delegation, including over a dozen leading U.S. corporate executives, seeking progress on U.S.-China trade agreements.
  • Notable Quote:
    • President Trump: “And they're here today to pay respects to you and to China, and they look forward to trade and doing business. And it's going to be totally reciprocal on our behalf.” ([00:28])
• Trade Tensions and Efforts to Stabilize: This meeting marks roughly a year after the U.S.-China trade war and represents efforts to restore a more stable trade relationship.
• Strait of Hormuz & Taiwan:
  • Both leaders agree on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for energy flow, with no White House mention of Taiwan—though Chinese state media states Xi raised the issue, warning of potential “clash” if the U.S. mishandles Taiwan.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Chinese President Xi (as reported): “If the issue of Taiwan is not handled well, the U.S. and China will clash.” ([01:17])
• Taiwanese Response:
  • Spokesperson Michelle Lee remarks that China's military threat, not Taiwan's governance, is the true source of regional instability.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Michelle Lee: “…the sole source of instability in the Taiwan Strait and the region is China's military threat against Taiwan or, put another way, the risk of authoritarian expansion.” ([01:29])

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2. U.S. House Oversight Committee Probes Prediction Markets

[01:49 – 02:54]

• Investigation into Insider Trading Claims:
  • The committee is requesting information from several prediction market platforms, amid reports highlighting concerning bets on military and political events.
  • Chairman James Comer states this inquiry may lead to subpoenas if information is withheld.
    • Notable Quote:
      • James Comer: “We'll request information, and if we have trouble getting it, then a subpoena will follow.” ([02:18])
• Context:
  • Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi enable billions in weekly wagers on events ranging from sports to elections. The investigation follows a call from Rep. Chris Pappas for more oversight.

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3. Musk v. OpenAI Closing Statements

[02:54 – 04:10]

• Billionaire Lawsuit:
  • The high-profile federal civil trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI approaches closing arguments after three weeks of testimony.
  • Musk accuses the company and CEO Sam Altman of betraying its nonprofit mission for personal gain.
  • KQED’s Rachel Myro underlines the complexity of the jury’s task:
    • Notable Quote:
      • Rachel Myro: “All the pieces of the puzzle are now in the box, the puzzle Elon Musk wants them to solve. Did his fellow OpenAI co founders abandon their duty to the nonprofit's mission while making themselves billionaires?” ([03:22])
• Additional Context:
  • The case does not address Musk’s recent move to merge his own AI company, Xai, into SpaceX.
  • Both OpenAI and Xai are reportedly eying major IPOs.

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4. Supreme Court Deadlines and Abortion Pill Access

[04:10 – 04:40]

• Mifepristone & Telemedicine Access:
  • The U.S. Supreme Court’s deadline approaches for considering a national ban on telemedicine-provided abortion pill mifepristone, prompted by a case from Louisiana.
  • The potential decision could affect access nationwide, affecting even states that support abortion rights.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump:
  • “And they're here today to pay respects to you and to China, and they look forward to trade and doing business. And it's going to be totally reciprocal on our behalf.” ([00:28])
• Chinese President Xi (as reported by Chinese media):
  • “If the issue of Taiwan is not handled well, the U.S. and China will clash.” ([01:17])
• Michelle Lee (Taiwanese govt.):
  • “…the sole source of instability in the Taiwan Strait and the region is China's military threat against Taiwan or, put another way, the risk of authoritarian expansion.” ([01:29])
• Rep. James Comer:
  • “We'll request information, and if we have trouble getting it, then a subpoena will follow.” ([02:18])
• Rachel Myro (KQED/NPR):
  • “All the pieces of the puzzle are now in the box, the puzzle Elon Musk wants them to solve. Did his fellow OpenAI co founders abandon their duty to the nonprofit's mission while making themselves billionaires?” ([03:22])

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Timeline of Segments

• 00:00 – 01:29: Trump’s Beijing visit, trade issues, and Taiwan tensions
• 01:49 – 02:54: House investigation into prediction markets
• 02:54 – 04:10: Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI
• 04:10 – 04:40: Supreme Court deadline on abortion pill access

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This edition delivers a rapid-fire summary of significant political, legal, and international developments, highlighting both direct leader statements and evolving legal cases shaping the U.S. and world stage.

Transcript

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are about to open a state banquet in Beijing. It will be held in China's opulent Great hall of the People. Trump is hoping to come to terms on trade agreements with Xin. NPR's Chairman Keith says Trump arrived in Beijing with company.

[Tamara Keith]

More than a dozen top corporate leaders from the U.S. are part of the delegation here, and Trump highlighted their presence in his remarks at the start of his first meeting with Xi.

[President Trump]

And they're here today to pay respects to you and to China, and they look forward to trade and doing business. And it's going to be totally reciprocal on our behalf.

[Tamara Keith]

This is basically a year after Trump launched a trade war and then China struck back, and both countries are now looking to put the trade relationship on at least a little bit more of a stable footing.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Tamara Keith, traveling with the president in Beijing. The White House says President Trump and Chinese President Xi have agreed to enhance economic cooperation. The White House also says both leaders agreed the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to support the flow of energy. But the White House statement made no mention of the issue of Taiwan. Chinese state media is reporting Xi did bring up the issue. China claims Taiwan is its territory. Taiwan says it is self governed. The Chinese report says Xi told Trump if the issue of Taiwan is not handled well, the U.S. and China will clash. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports. Taiwan has responded.

[Michelle Lee]

Taiwanese cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee responded to Xi's warning by saying that the sole source of instability in the Taiwan Strait and the region is China's military threat against Taiwan or, put another way, the risk of authoritarian expansion. Previously, the official line out of Taipei has been that the government is concerned, but not overly worried.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Anthony Kuhn reporting. In the U.S. the House Oversight Committee is investigating prediction markets and threatening subpoenas. The move comes as reports of military and political insider trading grow. In Washington, NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

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.

[President Trump]

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.

[Luke Garrett]

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.

[Korva Coleman]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Closing statements will start today in the federal civil trial brought by billionaire Elon Musk against artificial intelligence company OpenAI and its chief, Sam Altman. Musk, who runs his own AI company, alleges Altman and OpenAI betrayed the founding principles of the company, which he helped create. From member station kqed, Rachel Myro reports.

[Rachel Myro]

After three weeks of testimony wrapped, the judge told the jury all the pieces of the puzzle are now in the box, the puzzle Elon Musk wants them to solve. Did his fellow OpenAI co founders abandon their duty to the nonprofit's mission while making themselves billionaires? Musk brought the lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other co founders, saying they stole a charity. They say they saved it. What this case doesn't address is that Musk just folded his own AI company, Xai, into SpaceX, ahead of what could be the biggest IPO in history. And OpenAI is eyeing a public offering of its own at a similarly high valuation. What happens if OpenAI is ordered to unwind its corporate organization is anyone's guess. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Myro.

[Korva Coleman]

Today's the deadline set by the US Supreme Court to consider a national ban on telemedicine access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The case comes from Louisiana. The state strictly limits abortion and wants to stop out of state providers from giving mifepristone to Louisiana residents. A decision to stop it could stop all health care providers in every state from providing the medication, even in states that protect abortion rights. This is npr.

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