NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-13-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: May 13, 2025

NPR News: 05-13-2025 5AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. The NPR Politics Podcast makes politics a breeze. Every episode will break down the day's headlines into totally normal language and make sure that you walk away understanding what the day's news might mean for you. Take a deep breath and give politics another chance with the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly.

President Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of his trip to the Middle East. The president was greeted at the airport in Riyadh by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at an arrival ceremony. The BBC's Mike Thompson has more on Trump's first extended foreign trip of his second term in the White House. Aside from chasing lucrative business deals in this oil-rich region, President Trump is likely to focus on several turbulent topics, from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine to nuclear negotiations with Iran. Persuading Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel was one of his big objectives.

But that currently looks too big an ask, with Israel set against any progress towards a Palestinian state. But it's hoped that Mr. Trump's brief presence in the region could yet push Hamas and Israel towards an elusive and lasting ceasefire deal in Gaza. That's the BBC's Mike Thompson. The president will also visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia on his Mideast trip. Separately, President Trump says he's open to the idea of traveling to Turkey on Thursday to attend potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensensky says he plans to make the trip. Russian president Vladimir Putin has not committed to the direct talks. Eden Alexander has been reunited with his family in Israel after being released by Hamas. The 21-year-old American Israeli was released by the militants yesterday after being held captive for more than 19 months. The Israeli soldier was among those taken when Hamas attacked southern Israel in 2023. He was released to the Red Cross and then flown by helicopter to a hospital in Tel Aviv to be evaluated. Hamas says it released Alexander as

a goodwill gesture to the Trump administration. Dozens of white South Africans have arrived in the US. the Trump administration. Dozens of white South Africans have arrived in the U.S. The Trump administration welcomed them as refugees at Washington Dulles International Airport yesterday. NPR's Michelle Kellerman says that's despite the administration pausing all refugee arrivals from war zones around the world. At an airport hangar, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with families of white South Africans, mostly farmers, who the Trump administration claims have faced

racial discrimination. We are excited to welcome you here to our country where we think you will bloom. The ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jean Shaheen, calls it baffling that the Trump administration is admitting Afrikaners for resettlement while blocking thousands of quote legitimate asylum seekers. She wants the administration to explain why it is prioritizing white South Africans over refugees from Afghanistan, Sudan and Myanmar. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

This is NPR News. Court filings show the Corporation for Public Broadcasting rejected an effort by President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency to assign a DOJ team to the CPB. NPR's Stephen Fowler has more. After President Trump attempted to fire three Corporation for Public Broadcasting board members and before an executive order claiming to defund PBS and NPR, DOJ attempted to fire three Corporation for Public Broadcasting board members, and before an executive order claiming to defund PBS and NPR, Doge attempted to embed with a nonprofit. Court filings in a case challenging the alleged firings revealed Department of Government efficiency staffers tried to set up a meeting with CPB leadership late last month.

CPB leaders denied that request, citing federal law that establishes the independent nonprofit outside of the control of the federal government. The request comes as the president is launching a broad assault against the country's two largest public broadcasters. At the same time, Doge has sought to embed itself in numerous independent agencies Trump wants to shutter. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta. The agreement between the U.S. and China to pause steep tariffs on each other's products

for 90 days sent stocks on Wall Street sharply higher yesterday. The Dow added 1,160 points, or more than 2.8 percent. The S&P gained more than 3.25 percent. The Nasdaq rose 779 points, or more than 4.3 percent. Stocks in Asia closed higher today. Wall Street futures are on the downside this morning. Japanese automaker Nissan says it plans to eliminate about 20,000 employees or roughly 15 percent of its global workforce, citing slowing sales.

I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington.