NPR News: 05-12-2026 9PM EDT

President Trump is traveling to China for a summit with President Xi Jinping, where the ongoing Iran War is expected to dominate discussions alongside critical trade talks. The episode covers this high-stakes meeting, new bipartisan legislation targeting Chinese vehicles, several Republican-favoring redistricting outcomes, and briefer reports on corporate deals, a Gulf security incident, and the death of an NBA trailblazer.

Trump-Xi Summit and Trade Pressures

President Trump heads to China for talks with Xi Jinping, with the Iran War set to overshadow but not eclipse trade negotiations between the world's two largest economies. The White House emphasizes Trump's push for reciprocity and fairness, amid global concerns that China distorts markets by overproducing and dumping goods. Trump specifically wants China to buy substantially more U.S. products, a demand complicated by China's history of making purchase commitments—particularly benefiting U.S. farmers—that it has often failed to meet, as NPR's Scott Horsley notes. These talks occur against a backdrop of strained relations, highlighted by the timing of related domestic legislation.