NPR News: 07-15-2026 9PM EDT
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What are the latest U.S.-Iran military exchanges and what actions did the Pentagon take?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. The U.S. and Iran are exchanging fire for the fifth day in a row, and neither side is showing signs of backing down. The Pentagon says the U.S. attacked new Iranian military sites today, targeting Tehran's ability to threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian attacks on U.S. military operations in the region. The U.S. also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Three confirmation hearings took place on Capitol Hill today. President Trump's nominee to be the director of the CDC, Dr. Erica Schwartz, struggled today to convince senators she'd stand up to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy questioned whether she'd be able to act independently from political appointees for the good of the people.
What questions arose during confirmation hearings for CDC and other nominees on Capitol Hill?
Will you have the ability and the firmness to stand up to that political meddling to say, no, that's wrong and this is right. Chairman, you have my assurances that I will continue to lead by my integrity. I will never compromise on the science. I will always, always have the public's health in mind.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch also confronted skeptical questions today over the creation of a fund to compensate allies of President Trump and the tax audit immunity deal for Trump and his family. And Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, faced a tense round of questions from Democrats who questioned his stance on the 2020 election, which President Trump continues to falsely claim was rigged. But Clayton refused to answer Georgia Senator John Ossoff.
Who won the 2020 election?
I'm not going to do this with you.
This is a job interview.
How did the DNI nominee respond when pressed about who won the 2020 election?
We've established that you have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee. Yes, you do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee. Yes. Who won the 2020 election?
Like I said, I'm not going to get into that with you.
Republicans and some Democrats are eager to get a permanent head confirmed because Trump's interim DNI, Bill Pulte, has no intelligence experience. More than 830 wildfires are burning in Canada, along with more than a dozen in northern Minnesota. That's forcing mandatory evacuations and spreading unhealthy smoke across the upper Midwest through the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic. Some of the largest wildfires are burning in west-central Ontario. In remote northern Minnesota, rangers are working to evacuate thousands of campers from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness.
How are Canadian wildfires and Minnesota evacuations affecting air quality across the U.S.?
Officials warn the fire could burn for months. Wholesale inflation fell from May to June on plunging energy prices, but intensifying hostilities with Iran are clouding the outlook. The Labor Department says its producer price index, which captures inflation before it reaches consumers, dropped three-tenths of a percent in May. You're listening to NPR News. More health workers in Congo are striking over unpaid wages as Ebola cases surpass 2,000, including 754 deaths. Many health professionals say they're working under difficult conditions without adequate compensation. The outbreak continues to spread faster than officials can track, and efforts are challenged by the lack of approved vaccines or treatments for this Ebola virus strain.
Hong Kong National Security Police have raided two bookstores and arrested five people in the latest crackdown against independent bookstores. Danny Vincent has more.
Video and photos captured by local media showed police officers removing boxes from independent bookstores. The police said that five people were arrested, suspected of displaying and selling seditious materials. Officials said it suspected the publications were sent to Hong Kong from overseas.
What is the status of the Ebola outbreak in Congo and why are health workers striking?
The raids were carried out on the first day of Hong Kong's annual book fair, one of the largest publishing events in Asia, known for attracting hundreds of exhibitors. The operation is the third round of national security arrests targeting independent booksellers in recent months.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What are the latest U.S.-Iran military exchanges and what actions did the Pentagon take?
0:00–0:50
2
What questions arose during confirmation hearings for CDC and other nominees on Capitol Hill?
0:50–1:51
3
How did the DNI nominee respond when pressed about who won the 2020 election?
1:51–2:39
4
How are Canadian wildfires and Minnesota evacuations affecting air quality across the U.S.?
2:39–3:51
5
What is the status of the Ebola outbreak in Congo and why are health workers striking?
3:51–4:34
6
Why were Hong Kong bookstores raided and what did Amazon announce about satellite internet in South Africa?
4:34–5:04