NPR News: 06-26-2026 5PM EDT

Speaker 10:00

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Ryland Barton· Host0:16

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The U.S. military says it struck Iran today in response to a drone attack on a ship that President Trump says violated the ceasefire. Trump called the drone attack a foolish violation of the agreement. Yesterday, the British military said a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman. The development comes as the U.S. and Iran work to negotiate a permanent end to the war. President Trump is making what he calls communism central to his messaging ahead of the midterms. He's applying the label to Democratic Socialist candidates who are not communists and who have scored wins in recent elections. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.

Danielle Kurtzleben0:53

Trump spoke at the conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition's policy conference, where he cast the need to defeat further left Dems in stark terms.

Donald Trump· Soundbite1:01

These are not social Democrats. These are hardcore, godless communists. They're godless communists. All communists are godless. They don't believe in God. This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence, in my opinion.

Danielle Kurtzleben1:16

He also called communists animals for whom assassination is a, quote, important element of their ideology. Trump has been applying the communist label to New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani and to candidates representing the left flank of the party,