Trump In China, Hegseth Requests Wartime Budget, FDA Commissioner Resigns
Episode
12 min
Read time
2 min
Topics
Career Growth, Health & Wellness, Leadership
AI-Generated Summary
Key Takeaways
- ✓US-China Trade Summit: Trump arrives in Beijing with CEOs from Boeing, Cargill, and Nvidia — companies whose China sales stalled under tariffs and export controls. China holds leverage through rare earth minerals, which analysts say positions Beijing stronger than at their last Trump summit a decade ago.
- ✓Iran War Costs Escalating: The Pentagon's Iran war price tag jumped from $25B to $29B in two weeks, and that figure still excludes facility repair costs. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates repairs alone add at least $4B more, with supplemental funding requests expected from Congress.
- ✓Defense Budget Pushback: Hegseth's $1.5T defense budget request — a 50% increase over last year's $1T — faces bipartisan resistance. Lawmakers in both parties demand spending breakdowns before approving funds, and GOP senators are growing frustrated over withheld White House information as voters feel war costs at the gas pump.
- ✓FDA Leadership Instability: Makary's resignation leaves the FDA under acting commissioner Kyle Diamantis, a lawyer without a medical degree. His tenure saw advisory committee processes bypassed, mass staff firings, and career employee exodus — factors health policy researchers warn have structurally undermined the agency's regulatory independence.
What It Covers
Trump meets Xi Jinping in Beijing amid a fragile trade war pause, the Pentagon's Iran war cost rises to $29B with a $1.5T budget request pending, and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigns after 13 months over White House pressure on flavored vapes.
Key Questions Answered
- •US-China Trade Summit: Trump arrives in Beijing with CEOs from Boeing, Cargill, and Nvidia — companies whose China sales stalled under tariffs and export controls. China holds leverage through rare earth minerals, which analysts say positions Beijing stronger than at their last Trump summit a decade ago.
- •Iran War Costs Escalating: The Pentagon's Iran war price tag jumped from $25B to $29B in two weeks, and that figure still excludes facility repair costs. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates repairs alone add at least $4B more, with supplemental funding requests expected from Congress.
- •Defense Budget Pushback: Hegseth's $1.5T defense budget request — a 50% increase over last year's $1T — faces bipartisan resistance. Lawmakers in both parties demand spending breakdowns before approving funds, and GOP senators are growing frustrated over withheld White House information as voters feel war costs at the gas pump.
- •FDA Leadership Instability: Makary's resignation leaves the FDA under acting commissioner Kyle Diamantis, a lawyer without a medical degree. His tenure saw advisory committee processes bypassed, mass staff firings, and career employee exodus — factors health policy researchers warn have structurally undermined the agency's regulatory independence.
Notable Moment
China's negotiating position surprises analysts: Chinese officials argue the US should allow semiconductor sales to China to rebalance trade deficits — the exact concession both the Biden and Trump administrations have consistently refused to grant.
Episode Transcript
President Trump arrives in Beijing for a summit with China's Xi Jinping. Our co host Steve Inskeep is there with NPR's Jennifer Peck. They visit the great hall where the leaders will meet and talk about what's at stake for the world's two largest economies. I'm Leila Fauldin. That's Michelle Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News. A Pentagon official told lawmakers the war in Iran has cost $29,000,000,000 so far. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth is asking Congress for 1 and a half trillion dollars for next year's budget. This is admittedly a historic budget. It is a fiscally responsible budget, and it is a war fighting budget. Some Republicans are joining Democrats in pushing back. And FDA commissioner doctor Marty Makary is out after thirteen months on the job. Stay with us. We'll give you news you need to start your day. This message comes from Viking, committed to exploring the world in comfort. Journey through the heart of Europe on an elegant Viking longship with thoughtful service, destination focused dining, and cultural enrichment on board and on shore. And every Viking voyage is all inclusive with no children and no casinos. Discover more at viking dot com. This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees, and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at mintmobile.com/switch. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. This message comes from BetterHelp. As a dad, BetterHelp president Fernando Madera relates to needing flexibility when it comes to scheduling therapy. I have kids 18, so, like, time is very limited. That's why at BetterHelp, our therapists try to have sessions sometimes at night depending on the therapist or during the weekend. So I think that's what we need to tell the parents. You're not alone. We we can help you out. If a flexible schedule would help you, visit betterhelp.com/npr for 10% off your first month of online therapy. Air Force One lands in Beijing soon. President Trump is there to talk with China's president Xi Jinping. Their summit will be brief. Expectations are low, but much is at stake in the trade war, and the president is bringing along many of the biggest corporate chief executives in The United States. Our colleague Steve Inskeep is in Beijing for the summit. Right there. Hi there, Michelle. I'm in the center of this gigantic city, and I'm with NPR's Jennifer Peck, who's based in China. And we're gonna talk through the events of this summit that begins shortly. Jennifer, Leila mentioned CEOs. Who's the president bringing here? Well, he's bringing a bunch of CEOs from Boeing, Cargill, even Nvidia. Mhmm. Basically, companies that want to sell more to China because many of their sales were stalled because president Trump launched a trade war last year. Trump had launched tariffs on Chinese exports, and he had imposed export controls on American high-tech. China struck back. So they reached a kind …
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“Trump arrives in Beijing with CEOs from Boeing, Cargill, and Nvidia — companies whose China sales stalled under tariffs and export controls.”
“Trump arrives in Beijing with CEOs from Boeing, Cargill, and Nvidia — companies whose China sales stalled under tariffs and export controls.”
“Trump arrives in Beijing with CEOs from Boeing, Cargill, and Nvidia — companies whose China sales stalled under tariffs and export controls.”
“The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates repairs alone add at least $4B more, with supplemental funding requests expected from Congress.”
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