NPR News: 07-12-2026 7AM EDT

Louise Schiavone· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. Four term US senator Lindsey Graham has died from a brief and sudden illness, his Senate office says. The South Carolina Republican died last night, two days after marking his seventy-first birthday. The day before he died, Graham was in Ukraine and had met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about boosting Ukraine's air defenses. Here they are in Kyiv two days ago.

Speaker 20:25

Happy visit.

Lindsey Graham· Soundbite0:26

Thank you very much [laughing].

Louise Schiavone· Host0:28

While in Kyiv, Graham declared a Ukraine victory over Russia was within reach.

Lindsey Graham· Soundbite0:32

I've never been more optimistic than I am today that we have the formula to end this war. Help Ukraine be more lethal. Let those supporting Russia to know it's gonna be a price to be paid if you keep doing it.

Louise Schiavone· Host0:48

On his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump called Graham one of the greatest people and senators he ever knew. The US and Iran are again exchanging fire for the third weekend in a row. The back and forth strikes began after Iran fired warning shots at a tanker attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The US retaliated, striking multiple sites in Iran. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports.

Carrie Kahn1:11

Iran's navy says it fired the warning shots at the container vessel after, quote, "Several ships attempted to travel along an unapproved route through the vital waterway." The US has urged ships to use a southern route through the strait that hugs the coast of Oman. Iran says that is a violation of the memorandum