Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright.
The Senate will return to Capitol Hill this week without Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
“Graham died unexpectedly Saturday at the age of 71 from what the medical examiner”
preliminary calls an aortic dissection or tear caused by heart disease. Graham was a close ally in President Trump and known as a U.S. foreign policy hawk. The Senator had just gotten back from Ukraine, Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told morning edition, he just talked to Graham this weekend about a new bill to impose tariffs and sanctions to help stop Russia's war.
These sanctions would be pivotal in getting Putin to the peace table. That was his objective and my hope is that his death tragic, as it is, will provide an impetus to President Trump and my Republican colleagues to pass the Russia sanctions bill. Graham was seeking reelection, South Carolina's Republican governor will appoint someone
to serve in his seat for the rest of the year.
In August, a special Republican primary election will decide on the candidate to run against Graham's challenger, Democrat Annie Andrews in November. The winner of that race will be sworn in as Senator in January. And Pierre's Eric McDaniel reports from South Carolina that Graham's death leaves Senate Republicans short.
President Trump is insistent that Senate Republicans pass his election security legislation to save America act. That's a problem for Senate Republicans because they don't have enough votes to do it. It would require 60 votes to pass and currently there are only 51 Senate Republicans able to show up for votes.
“The president has to rail his own intel chief confirmation hearings and the renewal of a key piece”
of spy legislation, as well as the implementation of a bipartisan housing bill which went into
effect without his signature. All in protest of the Chamber's math problem. Now Graham's death leaves both President Trump and Senate Republicans short a reliable go between and consistent GOP vote, as they train to the basics, like fund the government in an election year, Eric McDaniel and Pierre News to floor in South Carolina.
A fire that tore through a bar in Bangkok has killed at least 27 people authority say. Michael Sullivan reports from Thailand. Tia authorities say they're still investigating the cause of the fire, which began with a sudden power outage, followed by an explosion, smoke, and a fast moving fire that caused many to flee towards the fire exits in the back, only to find themselves trapped in the bathroom
just short of their goal. Why that happened isn't clear, but Bangkok's governor says investigators are looking to see if any emergency exits may have been obstructed, making escape more difficult. Video posted on social media shows some patrons fleeing through a wall of flame out the front door of the Nalad Braubar, some with their close-on fire before reaching safety.
Friend Pierre News on Michael Sullivan in Chiang Mai. This is NPR News in Washington. Actor Sam Neal has died in Sydney at the age of 78. The film star from New Zealand was known for his roles in the hunt for Red October and the piano, but he was perhaps best known for Steven Spielberg's classic Jurassic Park, Christina Kukilot reports.
No, internationally, for his portrayal of paleontologist Dr Alan Grant and Jurassic Park. "It's... it's a dinosaur." To his most terrifying role in the science fiction horror movie, Event Horizon. "Event Horizon... just come back." Neal's career lasted five decades and span television roles, independent films, and Hollywood
blockbusters. In 2023, Neal told the world he was receiving treatment for blood cancer, which said earlier this year that he was cancer-free. A statement on his Instagram account announced his death in the Sydney hospital. The notice she'd by his family described the quote, "sudden and unexpected loss," saying Neal passed with the dignity that had characterized his whole life. For NPR News, I'm Christina Kukilot in Melbourne.
The semi-final teams are set in the men's World Cup Tournament. The final four are Argentina, England, France, and Spain. France and Spain will play tomorrow and England will take on defending champion Argentina on Wednesday. England hasn't taken home a World Cup trophy since 1966. Oil prices have jumped today since the US carried out new strikes against Iran and Tehran retaliated, striking U.S. allies in the Gulf. Control over the straight-of-war moves is still uncertain.
Prices of Brent Crude and the US benchmark crude rose at least 3% today. This is NPR News from Washington. Every story from "Shortwave" and "Pierre Science" podcast starts with a question.
“Like, why do we have nightmares? How does AI affect my energy bill?”
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