"Live from NPR News in Washington.
have carried out a third consecutive night of air strikes against Iranian targets. They included
“coastal defense systems and Iranian missile and drone sites. Central Command says that”
strikes are meant to further degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping in the state of Hormuz. SNPR's Quill Lawrence reports President Trump says the U.S. is reinstating its naval blockade of Iranian ports. "Cent Command announced it will enforce President Trump's order of a maritime blockade on all traffic entering an exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas. The U.S. military will protect
ship traffic passing through the state of Hormuz that doesn't violate the blockade. But the President posted on social media that the U.S. would begin charging a 20% fee on cargo that it protects. T it for tax strikes by the U.S. on Iranian targets and by Iran on U.S. Gulf allies have intensified. And the President has alternately said the ceasefire is over. But then said that negotiations continue for a lasting peace deal. Before the
U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February, tanker traffic moved freely through the
“state, supplying 20% of the world's oil and other important commodities. Quill Lawrence”
sent to your news. South Carolina's governor is appointing the sister of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to serve out the remainder of her brother's fourth term in the Senate. Darling Graham says she's honored to be chosen by Governor Henry McMaster two days after her brother's death. Lindsey Graham died on Saturday at the age of 71 hours after he returned from a trip to Ukraine. A medical examiner says Graham died from a tear in the Aorta.
Special primaries expected to be held in South Carolina next month to determine which Republican will run for the seat in November. Graham had been seeking a fifth term at the time of his death. It appears the Trump administration is abandoning its most aggressive attempt to end gender-affirming care for minors nationwide. And PR Salinas Simmons stuff and says that's according to an official document obtained by NPR. In December the Department of Health and Human
Services proposed a rule to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding, which is a huge part of any hospital's budget, for any hospital that provided gender-affirming care for young people all over the country. Essentially it would have been a national ban on gender-affirming care for youth at hospitals. A document obtained by NPR shows the Trump administration will not be finalizing that proposal after all. Legal scholars say that is a victory for transgender people and their advocates.
A spokesperson for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services wrote to NPR, quote, "CMS does not comment on future rulemaking or speculate on potential actions," unquote. Salinas Simmons stuff and NPR news, Washington. This is NPR news from Washington. The heat will be an issue again today in much of the U.S., heat advisories and extreme heat warnings are in effect in nearly 2,000 states, from California to Montana, stretching eastward across the
great lake states into New England. The National Weather Service, as afternoon highs in the mid to upper 90s, can be expected across much of the western and northern U.S., some places will
likely see triple-digit temperatures, including Flint, Michigan. The first semi-final match of the
men's World Cup soccer tournament kicks off this afternoon in Texas. That's when France takes on Spain. A Steve Futterman reports the winner will advance to Sunday's final. On paper, this is a dream matchup, before the World Cup began, many felt France and Spain were the top two teams. France has been the most impressive World Cup squad so far, led by the great Killing and Boppy, who has eight goals. Spain, on the other hand, has been led by its defense.
In five of its six matches, it has held the opposition scoreless. All while getting just one goal from its young star Lamin Yamal. Yamal turned 19 yesterday, he wears number 19, Spanish fans are hoping today's today, he gets going offensively. Tomorrow, the second semi-final takes place, England versus Argentina. For MP or news, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Cup in Arlington, Texas. Major League Baseball's All-Star Game will be played tonight in Philadelphia.
Last night, Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals won the annual Home Run Derby after topping the Phillies Kyle Schwarber in the final round. I'm Dave Maddingley in Washington.
Your mornings are busy, make the news simple. Every day on up first, we unpack the three
biggest stories of the day. This week, the final match-ups of the 2026 World Cup,
“the latest developments between the US and Iran, and a busy week in Congress with key”
confirmation hearings after the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham. Stay ahead of the news, listen every day to up first on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
