NPR News: 05-12-2026 7AM EDT

President Trump is heading to China for a rescheduled meeting with President Xi Jinping, amid ongoing global tensions including a recent U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. The NPR News Now broadcast covers this trip alongside fragile Middle East ceasefires, an Israeli military tribunal law, federal funding cuts hitting nonprofits, a Hantavirus quarantine, an AI-related lawsuit over a campus shooting, and a diplomatic nomination.

Trump’s China Trip and Trade Talks

Trump departs Washington this afternoon for Beijing, after delaying the visit due to the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran. The war there is expected to dominate discussions, though specifics remain unclear. White House officials emphasize Trump's aim to secure more trade deals to rebalance U.S.-China economic ties. Key on the agenda is establishing a U.S.-China board of trade, which could ease longstanding frictions. Separately, a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon—meant to curb Hezbollah attacks—is holding tenuously, with Israeli forces still targeting Lebanon. Lebanon's prime minister has appealed to the U.S. for assistance in stopping those strikes.