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As we record these words, Michigan Senate primary is too close to calm. We do have results from other primaries. What do they tell us about the line-ups for this fall's elections? >> I'm Michelle Martin, that's Stephen Skip, and this is up first from NPR News. [MUSIC]
The world's most powerful military is running short of ammunition.
NPR has learned that the army is low on long-range attack missiles. What does this mean for the war in Iran and possible future conflict? >> Also, the Food and Drug Administration is deciding whether to approve the first flu vaccine using mRNA technology. It was used to develop COVID-19 vaccines.
“Stay with us, we've got the news you need to start your day.”
[MUSIC] >> Have you ever been so upset that you can't even think straight? When we're distressed and in high anxiety, we tend to breathe from our chest, which is actually more hyperventilating and is the opposite of relaxing. So we want to breathe from our belly area. >> This week on LifeKit Podcast, tips for those painful, stressful moments, listen to LifeKit on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
>> Since the 1970s, abortion on screen has been portrayed as either a medical necessity or a dangerous decision. On it's been a minute, we discuss how the many depictions of abortion have shifted with the politics of the times. Watch the full it's been a minute episode on YouTube or listen to the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. [MUSIC] >> Voters took part in primaries in five states yesterday, but in the most closely-watched Democratic primary, the results are still coming in.
>> In Michigan, the progressive candidate of Bill Elsaid has a narrow lead over congresswoman Haley Stevens who's described as more moderate. The winner will advance to compete for a Senate seat that is seen as a must win if Democrats want to take control of the chamber. >> NPR senior political correspondent, Tamara Keith is with us as the results come in, Tam Good Morning. >> Good morning. >> Okay, Michigan Senate primary we've been talking about it here.
I was seen as the ultimate swing state test to Democrats go with a moderate or a more progressive person. Where does it stand? >> It's a lot closer than many were expecting. As it stands now, Elsaid and epidemiologist and former public health official is ahead. But the fact that it is this close with massive some spent on ads to boost Stevens means that the far left of the Democratic party is ascendant.
But like the left right progressive moderate ideological spectrum doesn't quite capture it. It's also insideers versus outsiders, play it safe establishment versus candidates who see their role is disrupting the system.
And the mood in the country and among Democratic voters is very different from what it was during the first Trump midterm in 2018.
When moderate Democrats were seen as the solution, this time Democratic primary voters blame their own parties establishment for Trump's win.
“>> Well now Democrats are desperate to win in November, so what do these results mean for that?”
>> No matter who comes out ahead Democrats are going to have a lot of repair work to do, that primary was so bitter. It left some voters saying they simply couldn't stomach a vote for the other candidate in November. The Republicans selected former congressman Mike Rogers. He was endorsed by President Trump and cleared the field.
Republicans see this as a key pickup opportunity and what could be a difficult year for them. But Rogers is an insider running in a year when the anti-establishment mood is strong. And he'll have to overcome the headwinds created by an unpopular president. >> Okay, as we wait for the results in Michigan, what other races are you watching? >> Well Michigan's seventh congressional district is the only true toss-up house seat in the state.
It's a real swing district. Democrats picked William Lawrence. He's the progressive outsider in that race. He argued that playing at safe was the real electability risk. And now that'll be put to the test.
But in Washington State, congresswoman Marie Glusen Camp Perez was able to fend off a progressive challenger. Tamal one ask about one of the thing is real is an issue for Democrats in primaries. They're attitude toward Israel. Outside spending is a big deal including groups connected to APAC. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
“What do last night's results tell us about the results of that spending?”
>> Well, as we know, we're still waiting for the result in Michigan. But the American Democracy Project, which is linked to the pro Israel lobby and group APAC,
spent $32 million on ads to support Hailey Stevens there.
That's according to the tracking firm ad impact. So if she doesn't pull it out, that would be a massive defeat for them. But in Missouri's first congressional district where that APAC linked group was also the biggest ad spender. The APAC favorite candidate, congressman Wesley Bell, easily defeated former congresswoman Cory Bush in a rematch.
She has been outspoken in her opposition to Israel.
So what we can say for sure is that APAC has spent a ton of money on Democratic primaries this cycle, and the results have been mixed at best. >> Tam, thanks so much for coming back when we know more about Michigan. I'll be here. >> And PR's Tamar Keith.
[MUSIC] >> U.S. missile stockpiles are running low. >> The war with Iran is in its sixth month and PR has confirmed that the army has used
at most of its long range attack missiles during the war that was first reported by Reuters.
>> And PR's Cat Lonsdorf is covering the story. Cat, good morning. >> Hey, good morning Steve.
“>> Okay, what do you know here and what kind of missiles are we talking about?”
>> So what the U.S. is running out of our precision missiles like prisms and attack ends according to a U.S. official familiar with the data who was not authorized to speak publicly. And Steve, just to talk you through those acronyms a bit, attack ends stands for the army tactical missile system.
The other missile, the prisms, stands for precision strike missile. These are all offensive weapons which can be fired from hundreds of miles away. And they play an important role in protecting U.S. service members. Since it means you don't have to send an American pilot for example, to close to an enemy target.
>> I have to pause and just note how impressive it is that the United States has an offensive weapon called an attack. >> Right, yeah. >> And having noted that how precise can you be in saying that the stockpiles are running low? >> Well, it's all classified the Pentagon doesn't give out the numbers of missiles that have been used. We do know that there have been more than 15,000 Iranian targets hit during this war.
But many of those have been in the massive U.S. air strikes that the U.S. was carrying out earlier. Now, we should note that many senior military officials and analysts believe that the U.S. does have sufficient supply of offensive weapons for now, despite those shortages I just mentioned. One of the concerns with running low on these precision missiles is that it takes years to replenish them. So, a shortage leaves the U.S. vulnerable in future conflicts too,
particularly if China decides to attack Taiwan in the coming year. >> Oh, well, there, there you have hit on something, Kat, because it may well be the United States's plenty of missiles for now. But military planners would be asking, why do we need thousands more for a conflict that breaks out next week?
“That's why they would feel like it's as short as you.”
>> Right. >> Now, we're talking about offensive missiles here. What about defensive missiles? >> Right. So, that is a key question. A report out last month by the Center for Strategic and International Studies sheds some light on that. It found that the U.S. stockpile of Patriot Interceptors, those are the main tool that the U.S. has to shoot down incoming attack drones and missiles
that targets in the Middle East like U.S. bases, has shrunk by about two-thirds since this war started and Iran. The exact number of Patriots is also classified, but a U.S. official not authorized to discuss sensitive issues told MPR that the figures in that report are pretty accurate. Those missiles also take a good amount of time to replenish and they're expensive around four
million dollars a piece, which is a lot when they're often being used to shoot down Iranian drones,
which cost something like 20 to 30,000 dollars a week. >> Well, what an imbalance. What is the military saying on the record about all this? >> Well, not a whole lot, because, like I said, all of this information around weapons is classified.
“The Trump administration has sent a lot of mixed messages when talking publicly about the issue”
in June Defense Secretary Higgs-S said that reports of depleted stockpiles were, quote, "manufactured stories," although he also acknowledged that rebuilding the stockpile could take months or years. And, you know, Steve, there is real urgency here, too. Ukraine desperately needs U.S. made Patriot missiles to defend against Russian attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky is pleading for other countries to send some of their
Patriot missiles to Ukraine, but so far, nobody has offered. >> And, Pierre's Cat Launster, if thanks so much, really, appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> The Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide as soon as today,
whether to approve a flu vaccine. >> It would be the first flu vaccine that uses mRNA
technology, and that is leading to some suspense about the approval. And, Pierre, else corresponded to Rob Stein joins us now, Rob, good morning. >> Good morning, Steve. >> What's the vaccine? >> It's called M. Fuseva, and it was developed by Moderna, the same company that made one of the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. And it works the same way. It stimulates the immune system into producing
antibodies that can fight off viruses. In this case, flu viruses instead of the coronavirus that causes COVID. >> Oh, yeah, which was the same technology used on an COVID vaccine. >> And how well does this one work? >> It seems to work pretty well, Steve. Moderna tested the vaccine in more than 40,000 people, and found that number one, it looks safe. And number two, it appears to produce stronger protection than traditional flu vaccines
in people aged 15 older. Based on that, independent FDA advisors voted unanimously in June
To recommend that the FDA approved M.
at the University of Minnesota, what he thinks about the vaccine.
“>> I think this is really a critical step forward in advancing influenza vaccine technology.”
And I think it's just imperative that the FDA come down with an affirmative decision. >> Because while the current flu vaccines work okay, a lot of people still get the flu, even if they've been vaccinated, and stronger protection isn't the only advantage of this new mRNA flu vaccine. >> Oh, what other advantages are you thinking of? >> So, mRNA vaccines can be updated much more easily. So, like if a new strain suddenly emerges,
like it did this past season, the vaccines can be reformulated much more quickly to make them more protective. That would be especially important if a really new flu strain evolved, sparking another flu pandemic. mRNA vaccines can also be produced much faster than traditional
vaccines. Here's Michael Auster-Homan again. >> Right there, that is a game changer, an
major way. >> But don't forget, the mRNA technology is very controversial.
“>> Oh, I won't forget, but what is that controversy really about?”
>> So, you know, the vaccine mandates during the pandemic lift a lot of people very angry about the COVID shots, and there was a lot of misinformation about the shot's safety. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other top Trump administration officials have been extremely hostile to mRNA vaccines. They made it harder to get the COVID shots and slashed hundreds of millions of dollars for research into new mRNA vaccines. Also,
the FDA initially refused to even review M flu Ziva, only reconsidering after intense blowback. Opponents still hope the FDA won't approve M flu Ziva. I talked about this with Dr. Brian Hooker. He's the Chief Scientific Officer at Children's Health Defense. That's an anti-vaccine
“group once headed by Kennedy. >> I really believe that this technology is just too new.”
There has not been the adequate level of study of the implications for, you know, literally everybody. I just feel like the train is leaving the station and we're not ready yet. >> So, everyone is waiting to see if the FDA under RFK Jr. follows the recommendation of its advisors
and approves this first mRNA flu vaccine or not. >> And PR health correspondent Rob Stein, Rob
Thanks. >> You bet Steve. >> And that's up first for this Wednesday August 5th. I'm Steveinsky. >> And I'm Michelle Martin today's episode of First was edited by Larry Caplow and Resuscement. Scott Henley, HDMI, and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Zian Butch and Eid Domas. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Misha Heines and Patrick Murray and our technical director is Carly Strange. Our supervising producer is Michael Lipkin.
We hope you'll join us again tomorrow. >> Dave, we do. This week on shortwave, the Universal Vaccine. One vaccine that can protect against multiple diseases for years. >> It's not just theoretical. It's possible. The question is, how do you translate this safety into humans? >> Why the future of vaccines could be a one-stop shop on shortwave. Listen on the MPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Zendaya and Tom Holland are back in
Spider-Man brand new day and the movie has a more grounded tone than we've seen from the franchise. But does it strike the right balance of fun and darkness? We'll talk about it on NPR's pop culture happy hour. Listen via the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
