NPR News: 07-18-2026 8AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
What developments are affecting shipping and control of the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran has kept effective control over the Strait of Hormuz in the past few days. NPR's Emily Fang reports ship tracking data show the number of ships able to pass through the waterway is now at a three-week low.
The U.S. has been encouraging ships to use a southern passage in the Strait of Hormuz that hugs the coast of Oman, but ship data shows vessels have not been taking that route in the last three days. And of the handful of ships transiting the strait this week, about half are Iranian-flagged ships. On Saturday, Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had taken down two oil tankers with mines in the strait, a claim U.S. CENTCOM said was false. But the uncertainty about the safety of the strait has continued to stop commercial ships and their insurance companies from taking the risky route. Iran continues to share details of the tolls it says it is charging vessels to cross and said this weekend it had proposed a new rule for an environmental fee on ships.
Emily Fang, NPR News.
Federal health officials improperly shared Medicaid data with ICE in January, and the immigration agency later provided the information to a contractor.
How did federal health officials end up sharing Medicaid data with ICE?
NPR's Jude Jaffe Block reports the disclosure was revealed in a recent federal court filing.
Palantir pulls together various data sources in an app that ICE officers can use to locate immigrants' home addresses. Last year, more than 20 states sued to stop federal health officials from sharing Medicaid data with ICE. A federal judge ruled Medicaid officials could share limited data about immigrants in the country unlawfully. But the judge put the agreement on hold this spring after it came out that health officials had shared two data sets that were not limited to unlawful immigrants' data. In recent weeks, federal officials acknowledged inadvertently resharing one of those data sets again with ICE last month. ICE officials said in court filings the data in question was not used for law enforcement purposes.
Jude Jaffeblock, NPR News.
Widespread flooding across Texas is forcing more rescues after days of heavy rain overwhelm roads, homes and rivers. At least two people have died and hundreds have been pulled from high water across southern and central parts of the state.
What are the latest impacts and responses to widespread flooding in Texas?
Miguel Vazquez says he was nearly swept away while trying to reach his home on Wednesday.
I know that's when he pulls me and I try to grip but that's when I dip down and grab him to the dirt and I already have pushed me but I see that fence I said just hell yeah if you're pushing me some more I'll back up on the fence and I won't drown
Forecasters say some areas received more than two feet of rain this week, but floodwaters are beginning to recede as drier weather moves into the region. Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for dozens of counties, while damage assessments and cleanup efforts continue across many parts of the state. This is NPR News. President Trump is threatening tariffs against Canada over hazardous wildfire smoke drifting into the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the air filthy, polluted and unhealthy and said he plans to bring up the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Why is President Trump threatening tariffs over Canadian wildfire smoke?
Trump also blamed the smoke on what he described as poor forest management in Canada. The World Health Organization says El Salvador has eliminated a public health problem. NPR's Pat Metanus reports the disease, trachoma, is the leading global cause of blindness.
El Salvador is the first country in Central America to achieve this milestone, according to the WHO.
How has El Salvador eliminated trachoma and what does the WHO report say?
For the past few years, the country has worked on a multi-sector approach to reach this goal, including strengthening primary health care systems, improving water, sanitation and hygiene for the public. It also trained health staff and increased screening and surveillance. The WHO says trachoma is strongly associated with poverty and lack of access to basic services. It remains endemic in some of the world's most vulnerable communities and can devastate
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:04
2
What developments are affecting shipping and control of the Strait of Hormuz?
0:04–1:14
3
How did federal health officials end up sharing Medicaid data with ICE?
1:14–2:17
4
What are the latest impacts and responses to widespread flooding in Texas?
2:17–3:17
5
Why is President Trump threatening tariffs over Canadian wildfire smoke?
3:17–3:41
6
How has El Salvador eliminated trachoma and what does the WHO report say?
3:41–5:02