Up First from NPR Trump In China, Hegseth Requests Wartime Budget, FDA Commissioner Resigns
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May 13, 2026 
Claudia Cresales, NPR congressional correspondent who covers Capitol Hill, and Jennifer Pack, China-based NPR reporter on the ground in Beijing, talk about Trump’s summit with Xi and U.S.-China trade tensions. They cover CEOs joining the trip and ceremonial symbolism in Beijing. They also discuss Pentagon estimates of Iran war costs and a sweeping wartime budget request, plus the FDA commissioner’s abrupt resignation.
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CEOs Tag Along To Reopen US-China Trade
- President Trump brought top US CEOs to Beijing to push for resumed sales and tariff relief after last year's trade war pause.
- Jennifer Pack notes companies like Boeing, Cargill, and NVIDIA seek reopened markets and fewer export controls to revive stalled sales.
Biking By The Great Hall Shows Summit Theater
- Steve Inskeep and Jennifer Pack biked near the Great Hall of the People and described the venue's symbolism and scale.
- Pack described the Great Hall's chandeliers, red plush carpet, and marble walls to convey the site's political weight.
China's Mineral Leverage Overrides US Export Controls
- China leverages critical inputs like rare earths while asking to buy US semiconductors and jet engines to rebalance trade.
- Jennifer Pack says China is stronger now partly because it controls key minerals America needs for tech and AI.