Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.
Oil prices fell sharply after Iran said the "straight of Hormuz" is open to commercial
traffic today.
“Branch crew, the international benchmark, fell to $90 a barrel and US oil, WTI, is around”
$85. That's a drop of more than 10%. And here's Camila Dominozki reports this could start to bring relief to drivers in the weeks ahead if the ceasefire holds. Oil prices have been on a real roller coaster, and there is the risk that things change
again. But if these lower prices stick around, drivers should feel the benefit. Patrick DeHont is with the App Gas buddy, he says prices at the pump will start dropping very soon.
There's an element of immediate relief, and more relief will be coming in a month or two
when things really start to get fully back online. But getting gasoline prices all the way back to the pre-war average could take until the end of the year he predicts. The demand is high in the summer, and it will take times for the global oil market to recover from the last seven weeks.
Camila Dominozki and PR news.
“It's just 200 days to midterm elections in November, and already some primary elections”
have been held, many more are to come. And here's Dominica Montanaro has more on where things stand. The National Environment is so negative for Trump and Republicans right now, because the economy and in unpopular war in Iran, you know, is really leading to Democrats now being the odds aren't favorite to pick up the house.
So that's even with a playing field that's a smaller, smaller than it's ever been for the house. There are only about a few dozen seats that are truly competitive right now, but with such a narrow majority for Republicans, the field tipping in either direction at all is a pretty big deal, and it's been all in Democrats' favor these last few months.
And here's Dominica Montanaro. Meanwhile, a special election will be held Tuesday in Virginia on congressional redistricting that could put more seats in the Democrats' column, this after President Trump pushed for redistricting in Texas to put more seats in Republican hands.
“The acting director of ICE will leave his job at the end of May, Todd Lyons departure”
is the latest shake-up at the Department of Homeland Security, and here's Jimena Pustillo has more. Lyons testified Thursday before House Lawmakers to discuss the fiscal year 2027 budget, but the agency is still not funded for fiscal year 2026. That is because Senate Democrats stripped funding for all of the Department of Homeland Security
earlier this year after federal immigration officers shot and killed to U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Although some Republicans agree changes are needed, a deal to change how ICE operates has not yet been reached. In the statements to NPR, Trump administration officials praised Lyons as leadership and tenure at ICE, Lyons has been with the agency for nearly 20 years, and will leave for a job in the
private sector. His last day is expected to be May 31st. May 31st and PM News, Washington. While street hire by the closing bell, you're listening to NPR News. More than 1,000 U.S. Catholic leaders have signed onto a letter expressing support for
Pope Leo amid the ongoing dispute with President Trump over the war on Iran. And here's Jason Derose reports, "The letter thanks the pontiff and the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for their courage." The letter goes on to say that while some have tried to turn this witness into a partisan dispute, the signers understand it's about fidelity to the gospel.
Joseph Tomas McKellar with the group's Pico-California and Catholics in communion organized the letter. It's really a challenge that the belief that might make right, and it's leading to war and the massacre of innocent children in other countries, it's leading to immense suffering. Among the signatories are layleaders, priests, nuns, and bishops from California to New
Jersey. Jason Derose and PR News. Next week, visitors to the Smithsonian Zoo and Washington DC will get a chance to see the baby Asian elephant born at the zoo in February.
Lin Mai, a girl, is the zoo's first baby elephant in nearly 25 years.
Zoo officials closed off her compound for privacy, and she dealt with her mom initially showing some aggression toward her, but Zoo officials say Lin Mai's had positive interactions with other adult female elephants and that she's playful, vocal, and smart, and that she recognizes her name, she also loves playing in the water. I'm Janine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
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