NPR News: 09-18-2026 11AM EDT
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How are Trump‑aligned super PACs influencing the upcoming Senate races?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. President Trump is scheduled to attend a dinner tonight for donors to his super PAC, MAGA Inc. and Pierre's Jammer Keith reports Trump aligned groups have dropped more than one hundred and fifty million dollars to help Republican candidates in tough races this fall.
According to an NPR analysis of advertising reservations tracked by Ad Impact, Trump's aligned groups and other Republican political action committees are set to significantly outspend Democrats in every competitive Senate race, except for Georgia. Republican strategist Scott Jennings says this is the cavalry coming to help in a tough political environment.
Now the Republicans have enough money to make an actual argument, to draw a real contrast, to have a real debate, and in some of these districts and some of these states it's gonna make a difference.
But as one democratic operative put it, big money like this can buy an umbrella, but it can't change the weather. Tamara Keith, NPR News.
One of the issues facing Americans is increasing gas prices. Earlier this week, President Trump told supporters that the rising cost of gas is a small price to pay for what he's doing in Iran.
What is driving the recent surge in U.S. gasoline and diesel prices?
But the motoring club triple A says the average cost of a gallon of regular gas is now four dollars forty seven cents. Mark Wolf leads the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
There are very few products in the marketplace right now that are essential that have gone up by more than fifty percent in the last six months. These prices are skyrocketing. And the thing is they have more room to go. We don't see any end in sight.
Triple A says the average price for diesel climbed about a nickel overnight. It's now six dollars forty five cents a gallon. Last night Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned to the anti vaccine organization he founded. NPR Sidney Lepkins reports he gave a keynote address.
Why did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. address anti‑vaccine audiences and what did he say?
Can you?
Kennedy spoke at the Children's Health Defense Conference for more than an hour. In his speech, he pointed out a rise in autism and other chronic conditions, but he was careful about not saying vaccines caused those conditions. Instead, Kennedy repeatedly said he wanted to search for answers from his position at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services. He told the crowd that largely views vaccines as dangerous, that although they may have hoped he would Change policies his first day, government is slow. He assured them they had friends in the White House. To register for the event, members of the media had to agree that they assumed all risks for attending the event, including, quote, exposure to illness or contagious disease.
Sidney Lepkin, NPR News.
The AI company Anthropic says its model Claude is helping to design the next version of itself. Anthropic's CEO and other AI leaders have called for a slowdown on AI expansion and research. This is NPR.
How is Anthropic’s Claude model being used to redesign itself and why are AI leaders calling for a slowdown?
A federal judge has blocked any physical work on the Kennedy Center in Washington for at least thirty days. The order temporarily blocks any effort to demolish the building as President Trump has suggested. The president has wanted to put his name back on the Performing Arts Center. A federal judge ordered it removed earlier this year, noting that federal law only allows Congress to change the Kennedy Center's name. Are you sixty five or older? Do you have a story to tell? NPR is now accepting entries for our first ever senior podcast challenge. Here's NPR's Bob Mondelo with the details.
We're dropping a brand new challenge for the fastest growing group in America, people with a lot of life experience and maybe a little gray hair. We're calling it the Senior Podcast Challenge. We're asking anyone 65 and older to hit record and send us their story and we'll choose the best ones. And we'll invite our grand prize winner to Washington to watch their story air.
What legal action halted work on the Kennedy Center and why can’t the President rename it?
What will we be listening for? Well, we've found over the years that the one Ones that really stand out are from people who bring a passion for the story they're telling.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
How are Trump‑aligned super PACs influencing the upcoming Senate races?
0:00–1:13
2
What is driving the recent surge in U.S. gasoline and diesel prices?
1:13–1:59
3
Why did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. address anti‑vaccine audiences and what did he say?
1:59–3:00
4
How is Anthropic’s Claude model being used to redesign itself and why are AI leaders calling for a slowdown?
3:00–3:59
5
What legal action halted work on the Kennedy Center and why can’t the President rename it?
3:59–4:40
6
How can seniors participate in NPR’s new Senior Podcast Challenge?
4:40–5:03