NPR News: 08-08-2026 9PM EDT
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What new demand did Iran make about the Strait of Hormuz?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Iran today issued a dramatic new demand around the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Oman says talks with Tehran to manage the Strait are continuing. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates says an Iranian missile targeted one of its ships that's owned by Abu Dhabi's state run Adnak Oil Company, no casualties were reported, and Yemen attacked the country's Iranian backed Houthi rebels in response to the strikes, escalating tensions and threatening to reignite the civil war. Earlier today, the Senate confirmed President Trump's controversial nominee for US Attorney General, Todd Blanche, who was previously Trump's personal attorney, which caused concerns on both sides of the aisle.
And Piers Barbara Spront has more. And this became a big concern for Democrats that his personal relationship with the president would color the way that he approaches the job. Another issue he faced was the so-called anti-weaponization fund, which is the nearly $2 billion fund that was created as part of a settlement with President Trump to end his lawsuit against the IRS over his leaked tax returns. Senators on both sides of the aisle had concerns about this.
How did the Senate react to President Trump's Attorney General nominee?
Fund, many thought it would be a way for January 6th defendants to get a payday. Uh, in response to that pushback, Blanche told senators the fund was nixed. And in the lead up to this vote, he was spending a lot of time on the Hill trying to gain support from key senators. And Pierre's Barbara Spront reporting.
A growing number of states are considering stricter rules for social media influencers who are paid to promote candidates. And Pierce Windsor Johnston reports the issue's taking on new urgency as campaigns are courting popular online creators in the lead up to the elections in the fall.
Texas now requires online creators to disclose when they are paid to post political content, and lawmakers in New York are considering a similar rule. California already requires disclosure and a bill before the state legislature would allow fines of up to five thousand dollars per violation. The issue recently surfaced in Michigan, where influencers on social media were reportedly offered money to promote Democratic primary Senate candidate Haley Stevens without clearly disclosing the payments.
What are the emerging rules for paid political influencers across U.S. states?
Stephen's campaign denied any involvement. The controversy highlights the growing role of paid influencers as campaigns try to reach voters ahead of the midterm elections. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.
The Senate overnight passed a short term measure to keep federal agencies funded into early December and avoid a government shutdown during campaign season. The Senate's passage shows lawmakers are still smarting from the two historic shutdowns that happened this past year. The bill generally funds the federal government at current levels through December eleventh. But it includes a variety of funding exceptions that the senators negotiated with the White House. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Thousands of people in central British Columbia are fleeing a fast moving wildfire.
Why did the Senate pass a short‑term funding measure to avoid a shutdown?
It's just one of dozens of wildfires spreading across the province. A state of emergency has been issued. And as Dan Carpentruck reports, officials in the District of Summerland have also declared an emergency.
The evacuation order covers the entire district. Officials say the Bald Range wildfire exploded in size over the past twenty four hours and now poses a significant threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the more than twelve thousand people who live there. The region's emergency information officer says it has become one of the quickest moving and fastest growing fires experienced in the area. Recent surveys suggest the fires in British Columbia, the Northwest, and in Northern Ontario have sparked a sharp rise in Canadians' concerns about climate change. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpinchuk in Toronto.
Former President Joe Biden's son Hunter says his father's prostate cancer.
How is Hunter Biden’s prostate cancer affecting the President’s health outlook?
has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him pain.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What new demand did Iran make about the Strait of Hormuz?
0:01–1:09
2
How did the Senate react to President Trump's Attorney General nominee?
1:09–2:13
3
What are the emerging rules for paid political influencers across U.S. states?
2:13–3:06
4
Why did the Senate pass a short‑term funding measure to avoid a shutdown?
3:06–3:59
5
How is Hunter Biden’s prostate cancer affecting the President’s health outlook?
3:59–4:57