Shangri-La Dialogue, Nippon/U.S. Steel Deal, Taylor Swift Gets Her Masters

Summary

Up First from NPR – May 31, 2025

Hosts: Scott Simon and Ayesha Rascoe

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1. U.S. Defense Secretary Warns of Looming Threat from China at Shangri-La Dialogue

Summary:

In the episode's lead story, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, emphasizing the growing military threat posed by China in the Asia-Pacific region. Hegseth outlined the United States' strategic realignment and increased military presence aimed at deterring Chinese aggression, particularly concerning Taiwan and other neighboring nations.

Key Points:

• Reorientation of U.S. Policies: Secretary Hegseth announced that the U.S. is reorienting its defense policies and military strategies to counter what he described as China's ambition to become a hegemonic power in Asia. He stressed the importance of collaboration with regional allies to enhance collective security measures.

  • Quote: "China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia," Hegseth stated at [03:20].

• China's Gray Zone Tactics: Hegseth highlighted China's use of "gray zone tactics"—strategies that fall short of open conflict but are coercive and destabilizing. This includes military intimidation around Taiwan and economic pressures on neighboring countries.

  • Quote: "It's using gray zone tactics that are short of war but are coercive," Hegseth explained at [02:49].

• U.S. Military Adjustments: In response to the perceived threats, the U.S. military is reorganizing by downsizing and dispersing units to make them less vulnerable to Chinese missile strikes. Additionally, the deployment of missiles within the first island chain aims to secure vital sea lanes.

  • Quote: "The US Military is reorganizing and downsizing and spreading out some of its military units to make them harder for Chinese missiles to hit," Hegseth mentioned at [04:29].

• Regional Reactions: While U.S. officials have reassured allies that the intention is not to contain China but to ensure regional stability, skepticism remains among some nations. Notably, South Korea is concerned about potential U.S. troop withdrawals, which could expose them more directly to North Korean threats.

  • Quote: "South Korea... sees North Korea as the threat to, not China," noted Anthony Kuhn at [04:25].

Community and Political Reception:

Hegseth's remarks received mixed reactions. U.S. allies are increasing their defense spending in alignment with U.S. directives, though not always to the levels desired by Washington. China, perceiving the atmosphere as hostile, notably did not send its defense minister to the forum.

Quote: "China did not send its defense minister this year, perhaps because they feel the atmosphere is too hostile," Anthony Kuhn observed at [03:46].

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2. President Trump Applauds Potential Nippon/U.S. Steel Deal Amid Mixed Reactions

Summary:

The episode delves into the proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan-based Nippon Steel, a deal that has garnered both support and opposition. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the agreement, highlighting its potential to revitalize the struggling American steel industry and safeguard jobs.

Key Points:

• Deal Overview: Nippon Steel's interest in purchasing U.S. Steel involves a significant investment aimed at modernizing facilities and ensuring the longevity of steel production in the United States.

  • Quote: "This is an incredible deal for American steel workers," stated Don Gagne from Pittsburgh at [05:59].

• Political Opposition and Support: Both the Biden and Trump administrations previously opposed the deal. However, Trump shifted his stance, advocating for the partnership as a means to protect and create steel jobs.

  • Quote: "U.S. steel will still have an American CEO and a corporate board with a US Majority," Trump assured at [06:13].

• Community Impact: Local communities, especially in industrial regions like Pittsburgh, have expressed cautious optimism. Mayor Chris Kelly of West Mifflin, near a key U.S. Steel facility, shared his emotional response to the potential deal, reflecting the deep-seated challenges the steel industry faces.

  • Quote: "I started to cry. I mean, I've lived this for a year and a half and I thought, wow, this is I wasn't expecting it," Mayor Kelly recounted at [06:52].

• Opposition from Labor Unions: The United Steel Workers union remains skeptical, citing national security concerns and allegations of unfair trade practices by Nippon Steel.

  • Quote: "The national union... has long been opposed to Nippon coming in," Don Gagne reported at [08:08].

• Public Sentiment: While some community members are hopeful about job preservation and environmental upgrades, others remain wary of foreign ownership despite preferring Japanese over Chinese investments.

  • Quote: "I'm glad it's Japan rather than China, because China has a lot of investments in our country, which I don't think they should have," resident Mike Medich expressed at [08:54].

Deal Status:

As of the episode's release, no final agreement has been secured. President Trump's endorsement comes with a lack of detailed specifics, leaving the deal's future uncertain.

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3. Taylor Swift Reclaims Ownership of Her Master Recordings

Summary:

In a landmark development for artists' rights, Taylor Swift announced that she has regained ownership of her first master recordings. This achievement marks the culmination of years-long disputes and sets a precedent for artists seeking control over their creative works.

Key Points:

• Regaining Masters: Taylor Swift's first six albums, originally released under Big Machine Records, were sold to Shamrock Holdings without her consent. In response, Swift embarked on re-recording these albums to own her masters fully.

  • Quote: "She still coveted ownership of her masters and felt like she'd been kind of denied the chance to bid on her own work," Stephen Thompson explains at [10:38].

• Financial Investment: Swift reportedly invested approximately $360 million to reacquire her masters, a figure closely matching what Shamrock Holdings initially paid.

  • Quote: "She paid roughly $360 million and that's not far off from what Shamrock holdings paid," stated Stephen Thompson at [10:41].

• Significance for Artists: Owning master recordings grants artists complete control over how their music is used, including licensing for soundtracks, commercials, and other media.

  • Quote: "She has complete control of how her music is used," Thompson elaborated at [10:55].

• Industry Impact: While not unprecedented, Swift's successful reclamation serves as a model for other artists. It underscores the importance of negotiating favorable terms in recording contracts to secure future ownership rights.

  • Quote: "She's kind of trying to set a template for other artists going forward," Thompson noted at [11:32].

• Future Releases: Swift plans to release "Taylor's Version" of her remaining albums, including her self-titled debut and "Reputation." These releases will celebrate her artistic ownership and offer fans the authentic recordings she controls.

  • Quote: "Those new versions are still gonna come out, but they'll be a celebration instead of a bittersweet reclamation," Thompson added at [12:36].

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First provided listeners with insightful analysis on pivotal issues shaping today's geopolitical landscape, economic developments within the steel industry, and significant advancements in artists' rights exemplified by Taylor Swift's reclaiming of her master recordings. Through expert interviews and on-the-ground reporting, NPR delivered a comprehensive overview of each story's implications both locally and globally.

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Notable Quotes:

• "China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia." — Pete Hegseth at [03:20]
• "The US Military is reorganizing and downsizing and spreading out some of its military units to make them harder for Chinese missiles to hit." — Pete Hegseth at [04:29]
• "This is an incredible deal for American steel workers." — Don Gagne at [05:59]
• "She has complete control of how her music is used." — Stephen Thompson at [10:55]
• "Those new versions are still gonna come out, but they'll be a celebration instead of a bittersweet reclamation." — Stephen Thompson at [12:36]

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Transcript

[Scott Simon]

China's defense minister isn't at the Shangri.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

La dialogue, but US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is.

[Scott Simon]

And at the security forum, he's warning Asian military officials about China. I'm Scott Simon.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

I'm Ayesha Rascoe. And this is up first from NPR News. Japan based Nippon Steel wanted to buy U.S. steel.

[Scott Simon]

Both the Biden and Trump administrations were opposed.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

But but last night at a Pennsylvania steel plant, President Trump touted a deal that he says allows a partnership between the two companies.

[Scott Simon]

The details are unclear, but what do people in and around Pittsburgh think about it?

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Also, Taylor Swift is back in control of her first master recordings.

[Scott Simon]

So please stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your week.

[Tonya Moseley]

This message comes from Thuma. Create your oasis with Thuma, a modern design company that specializes in furniture and home goods by stripping away everything but the essential. Thuma makes elevated beds with premium materials and intentional details with clean lines, subtle curves and minimalist style. The Thuma Bed collection is available in four signature finishes to match any design aesthetic. To get $100 towards your first bed purchase, go to Thuma co. NPR Tonya I'm Tonya Moseley, co host of Fresh Air. At a time of sound bites and short attention spans, our show is all about the deep dive. We do long form interviews with people behind the best in film, books, tv, music and journalism. Here, our guests open up about their process and their lives in ways you've never heard before. Listen to the FRESH AIR podcast from NPR and whyy.

[Stephen Thompson]

These days there's a lot of news. It can be hard to keep up with what it means for you, your family and your community. Consider this from NPR is a podcast that helps you make sense of the news.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Six days a week, we bring you.

[Stephen Thompson]

A deep dive on a story and provide the context, backstory and analysis you need to understand our rapidly changing world. Listen to the Consider this podcast from NPR.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

In Singapore, U.S. defense Secretary Pete Hexseff said the U.S. would reorient its policies and its military to deter what he described as a looming threat from China.

[Scott Simon]

He also wants China's neighbors and allies in the region to support that effort.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Hegseth spoke at the annual security and Defense Forum known as the Shangri La Dialogue.

[Scott Simon]

NPR's Anthony Kuhn joins us from Singapore. Anthony, thank you for being with us.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Nice to join you, Scott and how.

[Scott Simon]

Did the secretary describe this threat from China?

[Anthony Kuhn]

Well, Secretary Hegseth was speaking at the Shangri La Dialogue, which is the region's main annual security forum. A friend described it to me as davos for many uniform. And he said that China is intimidating and harassing its neighbors, including Taiwan. It's using gray zone tactics that are short of war but are coercive. And at the same time, he insisted that the US does not seek to strangle or humiliate China. But he said that China's threat is real. Let's hear what he said. China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia.

[Stephen Thompson]

No doubt it hopes to dominate and control too many parts of this vibrant and vital region. Through its massive military buildup and growing willingness to use military force to achieve.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Its goals, China has demonstrated that it.

[Stephen Thompson]

Wants to fundamentally alter the region's status quo.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Interestingly, he also complained that China has great economic leverage over its neighbors and this complicates defense calculations for the U.S.

[Scott Simon]

How were his remarks received by those there?

[Anthony Kuhn]

Well, you know, Scott, U.S. officials have been reassuring China for many years that they don't want to contain it or strangle it. China has never really been convinced, and I think they're even, even less convinced this time. China did not send its defense minister this year, perhaps because they feel the atmosphere is too hostile. The US Wants other nations to ramp up defense spending, and many of them are doing that, but perhaps not to the levels that Washington wants. Another country that's very concerned is South Korea, because the new alignment could see the US Withdraw troops from that country, basically leaving it to North Korea. And they see North Korea as the threat to, not China.

[Scott Simon]

Is the focus on China going to affect US Military presence in the region?

[Anthony Kuhn]

Yes, it is doing that already. The US Military is reorganizing and downsizing and spreading out some of its military units to make them harder for Chinese missiles to hit. And then it's also putting missiles within the first island chain in the western Pacific to try to control the sea lanes there. Now, Hegseth noted that the US has missiles in the northern Philippines, also in Japan's southwest islands, both northeast and southeast of Taiwan.

[Scott Simon]

Secretary Hegseth's remark seemed to echo President Trump's America's first policies. And I wonder if he said anything about that.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Well, there was a lot of domestic focus. He slammed previous administrations defense policies as weak, and he praised President Trump for being a great deal maker and policymaker. Now, a lot of the admission that the US Is going to put its own interests first I think is understood by people in the region. But when they're given marching orders to fall into line with the U.S. that's where I think many governments seem to chafe at the suggestion.

[Scott Simon]

NPR's Anthony Kuhn joining us from Singapore. Anthony, thanks so much for being with us.

[Anthony Kuhn]

You're welcome, Scott.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

U.S. steel and Nippon Steel have a potential deal that would bring billions in investment from the Japanese company to the.

[Scott Simon]

U.S. president Trump applauded this agreement at a steel mill just outside of Pittsburgh last night and said it would protect and even create new steel jobs in a long struggling US Industry.

[Anthony Kuhn]

This is an incredible deal for American steel workers and it includes vital protections to ensure that all steelworkers will keep their jobs at all facilities in the United States will remain open and thriving.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

This is a deal Trump opposed on the campaign trail, but trying to reassure his critics. He said U.S. steel was will still have an American CEO and a corporate board with a US Majority, but the.

[Scott Simon]

President was light on specifics and admitted later there is no final deal yet. NPR's Don Gagne joins us now from Pittsburgh. Don, thanks for being with us.

[Don Gagne]

Good morning.

[Scott Simon]

What's the reaction in steel country?

[Don Gagne]

I've been in and around Allegheny county these past couple of days and in West Mifflin, where a key US Steel facility is located. So let's start there with the local mayor. His name is Chris Kelly. What was your immediate reaction?

[Stephen Thompson]

I started to cry. I mean, I've lived this for a year and a half and I thought, wow, this is I wasn't expecting it.

[Don Gagne]

And he made it clear they were tears of joy.

[Scott Simon]

He's talking did the mayor talk about how his community had been hurt by the decline of U.S. steel?

[Don Gagne]

Yeah, he's lived it. He grew up in a nearby town where he says it was decades of decline. He says one mill after another closed and more than 200,000 jobs disappeared.

[Scott Simon]

And I saw the devastation that came.

[Stephen Thompson]

Along with individuals losing their homes and their jobs, their cars, their families, you know, turned to drug abuse, eventually domestic violence. And I didn't want to see that.

[Don Gagne]

And he sees the new investments from Nippon Steel as new life.

[Scott Simon]

And what did people in the community tell you?

[Don Gagne]

So most are only just learning some of the details, but it's being welcomed for lots of reasons. I met 55 year old Malik Swain outside a local restaurant. He said it's good news, including what updating these old mills will mean for the environment. I think it's good for the Mon Valley, actually. I think it's going to keep jobs there, grow it. They're also going to upgrade the facility. So I think that's a good thing.

[Scott Simon]

As far as air quality goes, hopefully.

[Don Gagne]

I do want to note here that the United Steel Workers, the national union, has long been opposed to Nippon coming in, citing national security and allegations of unfair trade practices.

[Scott Simon]

Of course, Don, it's interesting that the president has really increased trade pressure on other countries. What do his supporters say about Nippon Steel, which is, after all a Japanese company, potentially taking over a company that was once such a cornerstone of U.S. manufacturing?

[Don Gagne]

And that was a big reason during the campaign last year that both candidate Trump and President Biden opposed this proposed deal with Nippon Steel. Now, though, such concerns seem to be overridden by the prospect of more jobs. But listen to this. I heard this from a resident. His name is Mike Medich.

[Scott Simon]

I'm glad it's Japan rather than China, because China has a lot of investments in our country, which I don't think they should have.

[Don Gagne]

And I'll add here that medic doesn't necessarily see this as a big engine for new jobs, but he says had this mill closed, that would have been.

[Scott Simon]

A real blow to the community and Pierce, Don Gagne. Don, thanks so much for being with us.

[Don Gagne]

It's a pleasure.

[Scott Simon]

Foreign.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Over the ownership of her early albums, Taylor Swift's master recordings finally belong to her.

[Scott Simon]

She made the announcement on her website Friday, calling it more than a dream come true.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Swift had already re recorded four of the six albums, which she calls Taylor's version.

[Scott Simon]

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson joins us now. Stephen, thanks for being with us.

[Stephen Thompson]

Thank you, Scott.

[Scott Simon]

It's been a long time coming for Taylor Swift, hasn't it?

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. It is the product of years of disputes. Taylor Swift's first six albums came out on a label called Big machine records in 2019. After she'd completed that contract, Big Machine was sold to a group led by her former manager, Scooter Braun. The next year, he sold the masters to a group called Shamrock Holdings. Taylor Swift was furious. She still coveted ownership of her masters and felt like she'd been kind of denied the chance to bid on her own work. And so she set about recording new versions of those albums herself, basically to create a new set of master recordings that she would control. But she has openly wished for years that she could acquire those rights and to essentially own her entire career output outright.

[Scott Simon]

How much did this cost Taylor Swift to get back her own masters?

[Stephen Thompson]

Billboard magazine is reporting that she paid roughly $360 million and that that's not far off from what Shamrock holdings paid.

[Scott Simon]

What does it mean for an artist to own their own master recordings?

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, Taylor Swift has always retained publishing rights to her songs. She writes her own material. That's part of what allowed her to rerecord the albums herself. But owning the masters means that she has complete control of how her music is used. Like the actual recordings themselves, she can authorize their use on soundtracks, in commercials, however she wants. And it goes without saying that the catalog for an artist like Taylor Swift is worth an absolute fortune. It's no longer a tradable asset to anyone but Taylor Swift herself. And I think it's safe to say that her catalog is no longer for sale.

[Scott Simon]

And how unusual is this for an artist?

[Stephen Thompson]

There's definitely precedent for it. You know, artists have gone back and reacquired their rights. Jay Z, Rihanna, you know, a few others have gone back and gone through the process of purchasing their own works. But she's kind of trying to set a template for other artists going forward to make sure that in the deals they sign, they have the opportunity to reacquire control of their own work.

[Scott Simon]

What happens now? Is she going to put out what I'll call new versions of her originals now that she owns the masters?

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, in the statement that she made on her website, she said she's still going to put out those Taylor's versions of the other two records that haven't come out yet. Her self titled debut from 2006 and her album reputation from 2017. She said the debut record is basically done. It's ready to be released. But that reputation's going to take a while because it's the one she feels the least need to retool. So the way she put it is that those new versions are still gonna come out, but they'll be a celebration instead of a bittersweet reclamation. She's now the sole keeper of the Taylor Swift empire. I hope she writes a whole album about how happy she is.

[Scott Simon]

Npr, Stephen Thompson, thanks so much for being with us.

[Stephen Thompson]

Thank you, Scott.

[Scott Simon]

And that's up first for Saturday, May 31, 2025. I'm Scott Simon.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And I'm Ayesha Rascoe. Today's podcast was produced by Elena Torrex with help from Danny Hensel. Our director is Andrew Craig, and he keeps us in line.

[Scott Simon]

Quite a job, too. Our editors include Vincent Nee, Megan Pratts, Martha Ann Overland, Jacob Fenston, and Melissa Gray. Who is the wind beneath our wings?

[Ayesha Rascoe]

You know who else keeps us aloft? Andy Huether, our technical director, with engineering support from Zach Coleman, David Greenberg, and Arthur Holiday Laurent.

[Scott Simon]

Shannon Rhodes is our acting senior supervising editor. Evie Stone is our executive producer, and Jim Cain is our deputy managing editor. Well, they're right along with Melissa as the wind beneath our wings.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

It's cold here in their shadows, but we press on. Tomorrow on the Sunday story, you can find a lot of things behind a strip mall in New Jersey, including at least in one case, fossils from 66 million years ago. A new museum has opened up on a dig site in the southern part of the state, and we'll take you there.

[Scott Simon]

And for more news, interviews and analysis, sometimes just plain fun, you can tune into Weekend Edition on your radio. Go to stations.NPR.org to find your local NPR station. Foreign.

[Tonya Moseley]

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When Malcolm Gladwell presented NPR's Throughline podcast with a Peabody Award, he praised it for its historical and moral clarity. On Throughline, we take you back in time to the origins of what's in the news, like the presidential power, aging and evangelicalism. Time travel with us every week on the Throughline podcast from npr.

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Hey, it's Sarah Gonzalez. The economy has been in the news a lot lately. It's kind of always in the news, and Planet Money is always here to explain it. Each episode we tell a sometimes quirky, sometimes surprising, always interesting story that helps you better understand the economy. So when you hear something about cryptocurrency or where exactly your taxes go. Yes, Abez, listen to the Planet Money podcast from NPR.