NPR News: 05-30-2026 7AM EDT

Windsor Johnston· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is calling on Asian allies to ramp up military spending. NPR's Jennifer Pak reports Hegseth is addressing a regional defense summit this weekend in Singapore.

Jennifer Pak0:17

Secretary Hegseth told a room full of military, defense officials, and diplomats that there is rightful alarm at what he called China's historic military buildup.

Speaker 20:26

That a Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power and undermine the equilibrium we all seek to preserve.

Jennifer Pak0:34

He was less clear on how to prevent an escalation and did not clarify the status of US arm sales to Taiwan and the Iran War, key issues affecting Asian allies. Hegseth also touted better US-China relations coming off what he called a historic summit between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Jennifer Pak, NPR News, Singapore.

Windsor Johnston· Host0:56

Lawmakers in Louisiana have approved a new Republican-friendly congressional map. Brooke Thorrington of member station WRKF reports the state's primaries were delayed to allow redistricting.

Brooke Thorrington1:10

Republican lawmakers raced to eliminate one of two majority Black seats after the US Supreme Court ruled the old map unconstitutional. That decision further weakened a central part of the Voting Rights Act. Democratic State Senator Royce Duplessis expressed his frustration with the process and a map that dilutes