NPR News: 07-12-2026 9PM EDT

Jeanine Herbst· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Texas Republican Congressman Michael McCaul is mourning the loss of his mentor, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died last night at the age of seventy-one. NPR's Claudia Grisales has more.

Claudia Grisales0:15

McCaul said he met with Zelensky separately to discuss he and Graham's joint work on a Russia sanctions bill that has been in the works for the past year. Now, McCaul wants to rename the bill in Graham's honor to mark one of his final legacies.

Michael McCaul· Soundbite0:29

He knew how to work politically to get the things that he really wanted to get done, but I knew in his heart he cared deeply about foreign policy in the United States.

Claudia Grisales0:41

Graham announced Friday that the White House was on board with the Russia sanctions bill. He also told reporters after his meeting with Zelensky he was more optimistic than ever. They had found a new formula to finally end Russia's war with Ukraine. Claudia Grisales, NPR News.

Jeanine Herbst· Host0:57

The US is again attacking Iran this evening after the two countries traded strikes last night following Iran firing warning shots at a Cyprus-flagged tanker transiting the strait in an alternate route that hugs the coast of Iran. But Iran says that's a violation of the memorandum of understanding and says the strait is now closed. President Trump says the ceasefire is over, and he says Iran's new supreme leader is throwing around threatening words. NPR's Mara Liasson has more.

Mara Liasson1:26

Trump's posted, quote, "One thousand missiles