Trump’s visit to China; Inflation; Mifepristone; FEMA:NPR

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Today’s best stories

President Trump leaves for a state visit to China today. This will be his first visit to Beijing during his second term. Trade will be the focus, as will the ongoing conflict with Iran. China and Iran are close allies and trading partners, and questions arise over whether China has helped Iran. The United States spent weeks bombing Iran and is now blocking all ships connected to the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images AsiaPac

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images AsiaPac

• 🎧 Observers expect China to announce additional purchases of soybeans and other agricultural productsand maybe even Boeing planes, during the trip. Announcing major procurement deals has become a hallmark of Trump’s foreign trips, but those deals often turn out to be less substantial than they initially appear, NPR’s Tamara Keith said. First. Experts tell Keith that the U.S. and China want to stabilize their relationship. While previous presidents have criticized Xi on human rights and warned him about Taiwan, Trump has focused more publicly on the deals and expressed admiration for Xi’s power in China. Keith says it’s important to note that this is only the first of four potential meetings between the leaders this year, depending on how their discussions progress.
• ➡️ A recent NPR/Chicago Council on Global Affairs/Ipsos poll reveals that many Americans see China as an economic rival seeking world domination.

A new inflation report released this morning will show how much the war with Iran is affecting consumer prices. The rise in gasoline prices is the most visible consequence of the conflict in the United States. As the war enters its 11th week, the president has said he wants to temporarily suspend the gasoline tax — a move that would require an act of Congress. Currently, the tax is 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. But gas isn’t the only area where American consumers are feeling the effects.

• 🎧 One of the most obvious side effects of the conflict is the rise in the price of plane tickets. and baggage fees, says NPR’s Scott Horsley. Airlines are facing significantly higher jet fuel costs and are starting to pass those costs on to their customers. Ultimately, the high cost of diesel fuel could drive up prices for anything delivered by truck or train. Horsley says today’s report should also show an increase in housing costswhich constitute a major component of the government’s cost of living index. Trump wants the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, but that seems less likely, according to Horsley. He adds that the Fed would normally raise interest rates to combat inflation, but that would not free up tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz or increase the supply of jet fuel.

The Supreme Court yesterday gave itself more time to consider a national ban on telemedicine access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Justice Samuel Alito extended an earlier order by three days, meaning the rules for prescribing mifepristone online or by mail will remain in effect at least until Thursday. A May 1 appeals court ruling reinstated pre-pandemic regulations requiring patients to receive mifepristone in person at a doctor’s office or clinic. The Food and Drug Administration said in 2021 that this requirement was medically unnecessary. Last fall, the state of Louisiana filed a lawsuit, arguing that access to telemedicine undermined the state’s ban on abortion. Nearly two dozen Democratic-led states submitted an amicus brief in the case, arguing that the appeals court’s decision places the policy choices of states that have imposed bans above the choices of states “that have made different but equally sovereign decisions to promote access to abortion care.”

Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency, nearly a year after the administration removed him from his position. FEMA has not had a Senate-confirmed leader since Trump took office for his second term. Hamilton previously led the agency in an acting capacity. If confirmed by the Senate, Hamilton will take control of FEMA as Atlantic hurricane season approaches. Hamilton is a former Navy SEAL who worked on contingency planning for terrorist events for the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, according to an official biographical summary he submitted to Congress last year. He temporarily led FEMA in the spring of 2025, but was removed by the Trump administration following a dramatic public disagreement with top officials over whether the agency should continue to exist.

What is eating America

Richard Henderson and his wife Rachel Negro buy groceries for their family at Aldi in Bellmawr, NJ

Rachel Wisniewski for NPR

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Rachel Wisniewski for NPR

What is eating America is a special series exploring the intersection of food and economics.

Food insecurity has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and food prices have increased significantly in recent years. Inflation, tariffs and corporate cost-cutting practices, such as inflation contraction, have made the problem worse. Economic pressures have caused consumers to abandon traditional supermarkets and turn to discount grocery stores and warehouse clubs. Here’s how shoppers and retailers are redefining how to save money on groceries:

• 🛒 Budget grocery stores like Aldi and Lidl tend to be smaller than regular supermarkets. They carry fewer items, have fewer staff, and operate with greater efficiency.
• 🛒 Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club are popular with large families. They can offer groceries at modest prices thanks to their vast purchasing power.
• 🛒 Shoppers are increasingly adopting store brand items. According to the Private Label Manufacturers Association, private label sales grew last year nearly three times faster than sales of national brand products.
• 🛒 Shoppers aren’t just looking for cheaper groceries. They also try to avoid impulse purchases. Grocery industry analyst Phil Lempert says people are using shopping lists more than ever. Consumers are also shopping more online to easily compare prices.

Saving money on food can be difficult. NPR’s latest newsletter walkthrough will help you choose, plan and cook three affordable meals over four weeks. The guide will also give you tips for going out to restaurants. Sign up for the How to Reduce Your Food Bill newsletter here.

Look at this

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during an interview at NPR studios on May 7, 2026.

Ben de la Cruz

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Ben de la Cruz

Meet face to face with the person of the moment. NPR News actors The video podcast brings the biggest names in politics, business, sports, arts and culture out of the headlines and into interviews to discuss the mark they leave on the world. Follow it Journalists Podcast or subscribe to NPR YouTube Channel to get new episodes as they become available.

In an alternate reality, María Corina Machado would rule Venezuela. Many Venezuelans expected her to take over after authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro was ousted from power earlier this year following his capture by U.S. forces. Instead, the opposition leader, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democracy, finds herself on the sidelines. Machado left the country late last year to accept his Nobel Prize. She received threats of violence against her and everyone around her, which delayed her return. Machado says she has also been accused of being a terrorist and a martyr. In a conversation with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly for NPR’s Newsmakers video podcastMachado spoke about his new book, The Freedom Manifestothe difficult process of rebuilding from scratch and the pressures she faces as a global figure, human being and mother.

Watch the conversation on YouTube, listen to the interview or read the article about their discussion.

3 things to know before you leave

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guests Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver and Seth Meyers on the Monday, May 11, 2026 show.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Broadcasting Inc.

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Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Broadcasting Inc.

1. Late night hosts John Oliver, Seth Meyers and the two Jimmies – Kimmel and Fallon – joined Stephen Colbert for one of his final shows on CBS last night.
2. The nonprofit The Cultural Landscape Foundation is suing the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum over the decision to resurface the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and paint its basin blue.
3. A new NewsGuard/YouGov poll finds that 30% of Americans believe at least one of the three previous assassination attempts against Trump was staged.

This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.