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NPR News: 05-13-2026 9AM EDT

May 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

President Trump has arrived in China for a state visit, his first there in nearly a decade, amid tensions over Iran's throttling of oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The NPR News Now bulletin also covers a new report on pre-COVID declines in US student learning, political fallout in Tennessee over redistricting, gunfire in the Philippines Senate, a deadly bombing in Pakistan, and a sharp rise in US wholesale inflation.

Trump's State Visit to China

President Trump landed in China for discussions centered on business arrangements, deliberately steering away from the ongoing war in Iran. This trip marks his return after nearly ten years, at a time when China remains a major buyer of Iranian oil. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been restricted, heightening economic stakes. Iran's foreign minister visited China last week for talks, underscoring Beijing's interests. The visit highlights efforts to prioritize trade amid geopolitical friction, as the US seeks arrangements that could influence global energy flows without escalating conflict rhetoric.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Trump Arrives in China** - President Trump lands for state visit, first in nearly a decade
  • 2 (00:08) **Trump's China Agenda** - Aims to prioritize business deals over Iran war discussions
  • 3 (00:26) **Iran Strait of Hormuz Tensions** - Iran threatens oil shipping; China major buyer of its oil, recent FM talks
  • 4 (00:37) **US Student Math/Reading Scores Report** - New Education Scorecard details pre-COVID learning losses
  • 5 (00:59) **Learning Decline Since 2013** - Steady drop in scores predates pandemic, per Stanford/Harvard/Dartmouth researchers
  • 6 (01:18) **Theories for Education Slump** - Abandoned federal law reduced pressure; social media use exploded among youth
  • 7 (01:37) **Tennessee Democrats Penalized** - Removed from House committees for protesting Republican redistricting walkout

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NPR News: 05-13-2026 9AM EDT

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