NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-13-2025 12PM EDT

Episode Date: May 13, 2025

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A lot of short daily news podcasts focus on just one story. But right now, you probably need more. On Up First from NPR, we bring you three of the world's top headlines every day in under 15 minutes. Because no one story can capture all that's happening in this big, crazy world of ours on any given morning. Listen now to the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

An elaborate Saudi welcome to President Trump on his first major international trip of his second term. He's in Riyadh currently addressing a forum of investors. For the people in this room, the days of economic misery under the last administration are rapidly giving way to the greatest economy in the history of the world. We are rocking. The United States is the hottest country with the exception of your country, I have to say, right? President Trump announced $600 billion in business deals between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, including over $140 billion in arms deals. He is due to visit Qatar, the UAE as well, and now, according to White House

official, has agreed to briefly meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharif tomorrow. He'd suggested he was open to removing U.S. sanctions on Syria. A visit to Israel is currently not on the itinerary, and Piazaya Batraoui has more on the significance of President Trump's visit to the Middle East. For Trump, you know, he really wants to cap his presidency with another Abraham Accords deal, the prize being Saudi Arabia and Israel establishing ties. But Saudis have been clear it's not going to happen without an end to the war, a path towards a Palestinian state. But you know, the US has direct talks with Hamas now and that led to yesterday's release

of the last living American held in Gaza. So Trump is clearly doing things differently. And I think the perception here in the Gulf is that is exactly what's needed right now. NPR's Zaya Batraoui, more than 300 experts on drug addiction have sent a letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to block cuts

to addiction treatment programs. More from NPR's Brian Mann. The letter points out drug deaths dropped fast last year and argues tens of thousands of lives were saved because of federal spending focused on addiction. Chad Sabora is an addiction activist who helped circulate the letter. This would take us light years back. Basically implode the current structure that treats substance use as a public health issue. The White House budget would slash billions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration, and other agencies focused on addiction. Experts also fear deep cuts to Medicaid, the program that pays for most addiction health treatment in the U.S. Brian Mann, NPR News. Inflation cooled last month due in part to cheaper eggs. Here's NPR's Scott Horsley. Consumers got a break last month at both the grocery store and the gas station.

Grocery prices fell by four-tenths of a percent in April, led by a sharp drop in the price of eggs as farmers got a seasonal reprieve from avian flu. Consumer prices overall were up 2.3 percent from a year ago. That's the smallest annual increase in more than four years. Stripping out volatile food and energy prices, core inflation was 2.8% unchanged from the month before. Furniture prices were up last month, which may reflect the cost of higher tariffs. So far though, retail prices show limited fallout from the trade war. Analysts say that could change in the

months to come. It's NPR News. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky says he will be waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to talk about the process of ending their war. Speaking to reporters in the Ukrainian capital today, Zelensky detailed plans to visit the Turkish capital, Ankara, in two days. Zelensky says he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will wait for Putin's arrival or travel to Istanbul for the face-to-face if Putin prefers. Zelensky says, quote, if Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to

end the war, end quote. In Los Angeles today, a much anticipated resentencing hearing is set to take place involving the Menendez brothers. They were found guilty in 1996 of first-degree murder and a high-profile trial for the killings of their parents. They were given a life sentence. Here's Steve Buttermann. The brothers have served more than 35 years in prison. Their lead attorney, Mark Garagos, says they are no longer a threat to commit a serious crime. The key issue is, is there a likelihood of a super strike? Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Huckman opposes resentencing. The issue with the Menendez brothers is not never.

They should never qualify for resentencing. We said it was not yet. He says the brothers have never fully acknowledged responsibility for their actions. Even if the sentence is reduced to 50 years to life, a parole board would have to approve their release. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. The I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.