NPR News: 08-05-2026 8AM EDT
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Why is the Michigan Senate race between Haley Stevens and Abdul El‑Sayed considered a test for progressive Democrats?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. A key Democratic Senate race in Michigan is still too close to call, with candidates Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed locked in a tight contest. NPR's Tamara Keith reports the outcome could be a significant test for both the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and the outside groups that spent heavily in the race.
The American Democracy Project, which is linked to the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, spent $32 million on ads to support Haley Stevens there. That's according to the tracking firm Ad Impact. 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-favored candidate, Congressman Wesley Bell, easily defeated former Congresswoman Cori Bush in a rematch.
That's NPR's Tamara Keith reporting. Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis say they've targeted a Saudi oil tanker in the northern Red Sea with a number of ballistic missiles. NPR's Hadil al-Shanti reports the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi ships and a major choke point that the country uses to transport oil.
How are the Iranian‑backed Houthis escalating the conflict with Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea?
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. Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment on the strikes. Last month, the Iranian-backed group declared a blockade on Saudi ships in the Bab al-Mandab 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-el-Mandeb threatens to widen the U.S. war with Iran and further affect the world's oil supplies. Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Istanbul.
Russia carried out another round of missiles in the Ukrainian capital overnight, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens more.
What impact did Russia’s latest missile barrage have on Kyiv and Ukraine’s air‑defense capabilities?
NPR's Greg Myrie reports Russian forces have intensified the attacks to exploit Ukraine's lack of air defenses.
Russia fired more than two dozen ballistic and hypersonic missiles into Kyiv and its suburbs, igniting large blazes that lit up the night. At daybreak, the sky remained hazy with acrid smoke. The deadliest attack was at a train platform where eight people were killed while waiting for a train that was running late. Ukraine says it's exhausted its stockpile of U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles that have limited the damage from Russian attacks in recent years. President Volodymyr Zelensky is pleading with the U.S. and other nations to resupply Ukraine. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Kyiv.
You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Puerto Rico will start rationing water on parts of the island this week as a worsening drought strains reservoirs.
Why is Puerto Rico implementing water‑rationing schedules amid a worsening drought emergency?
Officials say some customers will lose water service for up to 48 hours at a time under the rotating schedule. The governor has declared a drought emergency and activated the National Guard to help distribute drinking water in the hard-to-take communities. Summer travelers are feeling the effects of higher prices both at the gas pump and when booking flights. NPR's Stephen Basaha reports domestic and international airfares have risen since the start of the U.S. war with Iran.
An average domestic flight last week cost about $80 more than it did a year ago, according to the travel site Kayak. Henry Brunel is a lecturer at California State University Fullerton and says even if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is reached, it'll take a long time for flights to get cheaper.
That's actually a similar pattern to what we saw following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It took about a year after gas prices started going down until we saw the same pattern with airfares.
The average international flight was about $170 more expensive than the same time last year.
What’s the story behind the Iowa State Fair’s 1,776 pork chops on a stick celebration?
Stephen Basaja, NPR News.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association is planning to hand out 1,776 pork chops on a stick at this year's state fair.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why is the Michigan Senate race between Haley Stevens and Abdul El‑Sayed considered a test for progressive Democrats?
0:00–1:17
2
How are the Iranian‑backed Houthis escalating the conflict with Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea?
1:17–2:06
3
What impact did Russia’s latest missile barrage have on Kyiv and Ukraine’s air‑defense capabilities?
2:06–3:08
4
Why is Puerto Rico implementing water‑rationing schedules amid a worsening drought emergency?
3:08–4:12
5
What’s the story behind the Iowa State Fair’s 1,776 pork chops on a stick celebration?
4:12–5:04