NPR News: 07-03-2026 12PM EDT

Louise Schiavone· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. Congress is home for the Fourth of July, but politics follows members wherever they go. And nationally, the Democratic Party says it's leaving no opportunity untapped as campaigning for midterm elections switches into high gear post-Fourth. NPR's Elena Moore takes a look at the intraparty message challenges among Democrats, such as those posed by the primary victory of New York's Avila Chevalier, a Democratic socialist.

Speaker 20:30

Even though Democrats broadly agree on key economic issues, they worry that other positions held by more leftist candidates will muddy their message. Take Avila Chevalier, for example. She holds positions that make some Democrats nervous. For one, on her campaign website, she advocates for abolishing the, quote, "deportation machine." She is also one of several candidates who has faced criticism that their opposition to Israel's war in Gaza borders on antisemitism.

Louise Schiavone· Host0:58

NPR's Elena Moore. Climate forecasters say the planet is facing a hot year ahead. That's because the seasonal El Niño pattern is strengthening. NPR's Lauren Sommer has details.

Lauren Sommer1:10

The chances for a strong or even super El Niño this year are increasing. That's according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization. El Niño is a natural climate pattern where warm ocean water spreads across the Central Pacific Ocean. That can affect the weather, like bringing more extreme rain to the southern US. El Niño also