NPR News: 05-13-2026 8AM EDT

NPR News Now's 8 a.m. EDT broadcast on May 13, 2026, rounds up developments across trade diplomacy, domestic politics, Middle East conflict, tech litigation, and U.S. primaries, with U.S. farmers' trade anxieties and international tensions prominent amid broader news.

Trump's China State Visit Centers on Trade

President Trump arrived in China for a state visit emphasizing trade over the ongoing war in Iran. U.S. farmers, battered by the U.S.-China trade war, are watching closely for a finalized deal. Pierre's Kirk Sigler reports from Fargo, North Dakota, highlighting hopes for firm Chinese commitments to buy U.S. soybeans—potentially 25 million metric tons next year—despite competition from Brazil's record exports and possible softening Chinese demand. Joe Vaklavic, a former Chicago trade board analyst and host of the Standard Grain podcast, questions the feasibility: "Is China really gonna buy 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans next year?" Farmer Justin Sherlock expresses reliance on hope, saying most farmers want faith in a deal as planting season approaches, with geopolitics otherwise distracting from fieldwork.