NPR News: 08-05-2026 12PM EDT
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Why is the Michigan Senate race considered a must‑win for Democrats?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. The U.S. Senate race in Michigan is one of the most closely watched. It's seen as a must-win if Democrats want to take control of the chamber. Yesterday's Democratic primary was called this morning for progressive candidate Abdul Al-Sayed after a nail-biter of a night in his contest against moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens. Al-Zayed spoke to supporters in Detroit a little while ago.
I know that it was a bitter end to this very long primary, but I also know that Haley brings the best of herself to her work. She is one of the most committed public servants that you'll ever meet. She loves democracy like I love democracy. And whatever differences that we might have had in the primary, they pale in comparison to what unifies us.
How did Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers secure the GOP nomination?
Al-Sayed is a former public health official. NPR's Tamara Keith reports on what's next in Michigan's Senate race.
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 in 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.
NPR's Tamara Keith reporting there. Now to the war with Iran. President Trump says a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come as soon as today. Meanwhile, Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis say they fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker in the northern Red Sea.
What are the latest developments in the Iran‑Saudi oil tanker conflict?
NPR's Hadil Al-Shalchi reports.
The Houthi rebels called the targeting of the Saudi oil tanker, quote, precise. They said this strike brings the number of Saudi tankers they have attacked to eight. Last month, the Iranian-backed group declared a blockade on Saudi ships in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. They said it was in retaliation for a Saudi siege in Yemen. Saudi Arabia depended on this choke point to ship oil after the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz began in February. The blockade on Bab al-Mandeb threatens to widen the U.S. war with Iran and further affect the world's oil supplies. Hadil Alshalji, NPR News, Istanbul.
Elon Musk's aerospace and AI company SpaceX touted growing revenues and shrinking losses in its first quarterly earnings report since its IPO.
How is SpaceX performing financially after its IPO and what are its biggest expenses?
But as NPR's John Ruich reports, the company spent heavily on AI and research and development.
On an earnings call, Elon Musk put a positive spin on the company's progress in satellite communications, AI, and the development of a reusable heavy-lift rocket.
The SpaceX team is solving some of the hardest engineering problems in the history of humanity. and I think the team is succeeding.
Subscriptions to its satellite internet arm Starlink doubled to $12 million with growing income, but the company remains unprofitable, reporting a loss of more than $500 million during the quarter, with capital expenditures nearly doubling from the prior quarter.
John Rooch reporting. This is NPR News. Scientists say they have found a new clue as to how COVID-19 may cause long COVID. NPR's Rob Stein has the story.
The researchers studied more than 1,100 patients who were hospitalized for COVID at 20 hospitals around the country.
What new clue did scientists discover about the cause of long COVID?
In a paper published in the journal Nature, the team, led by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, found that infection with the coronavirus that causes COVID can apparently reactivate other viruses that had been dormant in their bodies. That includes a family of common viruses that may be associated with long COVID. The researchers hope the advance will lead to new ways to treat long COVID, which affects millions of Americans. Rob Stein, NPR News.
The first of its kind flu vaccine faces a big test. Today is the deadline for the Food and Drug Administration to decide whether to approve it. The vaccine is for older adults and uses the same mRNA technology used in COVID shots. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has questioned it.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why is the Michigan Senate race considered a must‑win for Democrats?
0:00–0:47
2
How did Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers secure the GOP nomination?
0:47–1:32
3
What are the latest developments in the Iran‑Saudi oil tanker conflict?
1:32–2:19
4
How is SpaceX performing financially after its IPO and what are its biggest expenses?
2:19–3:16
5
What new clue did scientists discover about the cause of long COVID?
3:16–4:17
6
Why is the first‑of‑its‑kind flu vaccine facing FDA scrutiny and what are the concerns?
4:17–4:59