NPR News: 07-12-2026 6AM EDT

Louise Schiavone· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. Senator Lindsey Graham has died, passing from a sudden illness on Saturday night. The 71-year-old South Carolina Republican was one of President Trump's closest and most seasoned allies in Washington. It was an evolution Graham himself has acknowledged, because prior to Trump's 2016 election victory, when Graham had also vied for the GOP presidential nomination, they were anything but friends. He explained it this way to NPR in 2019.

Lindsey Graham· Soundbite0:31

I want him to be successful. I wanted Obama to be successful. The bottom line is he won, I lost. People in South Carolina expect me to work with him. I'm trying to work with him the best I can. I've come to like him, uh, personally. I don't like everything he says or does, but he is president.

Louise Schiavone· Host0:46

Speaking on CNN, presidential historian Tim Naft- Naftali says that Graham's death is consequential.

Tim Naftali· Soundbite0:53

We are witnessing, this is indeed a, a shocking development. Uh, we are witnessing a passing of a generation of, of, of leaders in the Senate.

Louise Schiavone· Host1:03

Graham had just returned from a visit to Ukraine, where he has been a consistent ally. Iran says it's closing off the Strait of Hormuz completely and not allowing any vessel to transit after a third round of US strikes overnight. Pakistani and Omani officials have urged diplomacy, but as NPR's Emily Feng reports, both the US and Iran say a temporary ceasefire is over.

Emily Feng1:26

Pakistan has been an important intermediary in the Iran war,