NPR News: 06-26-2026 9PM EDT

Ryland Barton· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Israel and Lebanon have a preliminary peace deal after months of conflict between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it's a great achievement, and that allows his military to remain in territory it occupied in Southern Lebanon. A Hezbollah official warned of civil war. President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission has provided recommendations. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports on one way he's trying to cement his base ahead of the midterms.

Danielle Kurtzleben0:34

The commission interviewed more than 100 people, some of whom said their religious liberty had been threatened. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick served as commission chair.

Dan Patrick· Soundbite0:43

And what was used against them was one phrase that's not in the Constitution, and that phrase is separation of church and state. The left has used that one phrase, that was one line out of one of hundreds of letters by Thomas Jefferson, to batter and hammer people of faith for the last 70 to 80 years.

Danielle Kurtzleben1:02

The report recommends that the Justice Department clarify the meaning of separation of church and state. It also recommends strengthening school choice and issuing know your rights posters about religious freedom. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.

Ryland Barton· Host1:16

President Trump is threatening a 100% tariff on any country that imposes a tax on digital services from the US, like search engines, social media sites, and online marketplaces. In an online post, Trump singled out European countries