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5 min readPresident Trump is returning to Washington after meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but American soybean farmers say the talks failed to deliver the concrete action they need to compete in a global market increasingly dominated by Brazil. That disappointment is one of several developments in this NPR News Now roundup, which also covers an apparent Russian attack on a UN vehicle in Ukraine, an update on the hantavirus outbreak, the end of Jerome Powell’s tenure as Federal Reserve chair, and new census data showing smaller U.S. cities are growing while big cities shrink.
Trade talks leave farmers wanting more than promises
Caleb Ragland, a soybean farmer in Kentucky who voted for Trump, told NPR that growers are struggling to compete as China turns to other suppliers. “As a farmer, that’s concerning to me,” Ragland said. He added that farmers want more than commitments made “with lips and put down on paper.” Instead, he said, “We need to see beans floating across the ocean.” Trump has predicted that China will buy billions of dollars worth of soybeans, but he did not provide details about any new purchases. The episode captures a gap between the administration’s optimistic framing of the talks and the on-the-ground reality for farmers who face immediate market pressure.
Russia accused of deliberately targeting UN vehicle with drones
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:04) **President Trump Returns from China** - Trump heads back to Washington after meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with American soybean farmers expressing disappointment over a lack of specific tariff and agricultural export discussions.
- 2 (01:08) **Russia Targets UN Vehicle in Ukraine** - Ukraine's president and a UN official say Russia deliberately struck a UN vehicle with drones in southern Ukraine, though no one was injured.
- 3 (02:03) **Hantavirus Outbreak Update** - No new hantavirus deaths reported to WHO in nearly two weeks, but contact tracing continues for the rare rodent-borne virus linked to a cruise ship outbreak last month.
- 4 (03:01) **Jerome Powell Steps Down as Fed Chair** - After eight tumultuous years, Jerome Powell steps down as Federal Reserve chair, handing reins to Kevin Warsh, confirmed by the Senate this week.
- 5 (03:36) **Census Data Shows Smaller Cities Growing** - New census data reveals smaller cities are bucking the trend of declining U.S. population growth, driven by new housing and shifting demographics.
- 6 Standout Quotes
- 7 "We don't just need commitments that are made with lips and put down on paper. We need to see beans floating across the ocean." — Caleb Ragland, Kentucky soybean farmer, on trade talks with China.
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