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Chapter 1: What recent events have occurred between the U.S. and Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. Despite a continued ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, Iran has fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them, and the U.S. is continuing its blockade of Iranian ports. Security analyst Jim Walsh with MIT's Security Studies program says neither side is accomplishing what it wants.
Iran can close the strait. Yes, yes, they can. And plus, the U.S. can blockade Iran. Yes, that's also true, simultaneously true. But neither action undoes the other side's action. It simply punishes them for what they're doing. And so we will continue to have the strait blocked, and we will continue to have Iran blockaded. And then the question is, who can take the punishment more?
Who's on the clock? Who's going to cry uncle?
President Trump says he is winning the war, but Walsh says right now it's more politically painful for the U.S. to continue fighting amid voter frustration with high gas prices and midterm elections coming in November. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spent another day on Capitol Hill. He's up to seven hearings over next year's budget request.
As NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports, many Democratic senators pushed Kennedy on his position on vaccines.
After a history of anti-vaccine activism, Secretary Kennedy has made dramatic changes to vaccine policy. He often describes vaccines as effective for those who want to take them, framing it as a personal choice. He seemed to shift that rhetoric in an exchange with Democratic Senator Michael Bennett of Colorado in the Finance Committee.
Are you taking the position that the measles vaccine is vital to keeping American children healthy in this country? Are you taking that position today? That has not been your position. That's my position. We promote the measles vaccine. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Some Republican pollsters have warned that Kennedy's stance on vaccines is unpopular. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
The Trump administration wants to spend less money next year on the IRS. NPR's Scott Horsley reports Senate Democrats say that would make it harder for the agency to go after wealthy tax cheats.
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Chapter 2: How is Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressing vaccine policies?
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