NPR News: 06-01-2026 9AM EDT

Libby Casey· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. The US military says it struck various radar and drone launch sites in Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz, over the weekend. US Central Command says these attacks came in response to Iran shooting down a US drone operating over international waters. NPR's Aya Batrawy has more.

Aya Batrawy0:19

Centcom says it struck sites on Iran's Qeshm Island and Gorakh on Saturday and Sunday after Iran shot down a US drone. Iran's state-linked media quoted the Iranian Revolutionary Guard saying a telecommunications tower was hit in Sirik, where Gorakh City is located. There was no mention of the US attack on Qeshm Island. It said the Guard responded by targeting the base from which that attack was launched. Kuwait, where US troops are positioned, says its air defenses had intercepted missiles and drones Monday morning. This latest round of violence comes as President Trump wrote a new post on Truth Social urging his critics in Washington to, quote, "Just sit back and relax," and said a deal with Iran that is, quote, "good for the US" will be reached. Aya Batrawy, NPR News, Dubai.

Libby Casey· Host1:02

Questions remain about what the entertainment lineup will ultimately look like for this summer's America 250 celebration in the nation's capital. As NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, several performers have withdrawn over concerns that the events are becoming increasingly political.

Windsor Johnston1:18

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was asked by CNN about the decision by some artists to withdraw from the celebration.

Doug Burgum· Soundbite1:25

I can't wade into the politics of musicians because, uh, you know, some