NPR News: 07-13-2026 4PM EDT

Lakshmi Singh· Host0:01

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is expected to announce this hour who will fill the remainder of Senator Lindsey Graham's term. Graham died unexpectedly Saturday night, likely from a tear in the aorta. He was seventy-one. The Republican had just returned home from his tenth trip to Ukraine, and as NPR's Claudia Grisales notes, was among a bipartisan group of lawmakers to push for stronger sanctions against Russia.

Claudia Grisales0:29

This was what shaped his last congressional delegation overseas, for example, visiting with President Zelensky. And so the hope is they could pick it up in both chambers. The support is there, but as we know, Capitol Hill is very unpredictable. They have a very packed schedule, so it remains to be seen if they can really pull it off.

Lakshmi Singh· Host0:50

Graham was the last surviving member of an influential group of Senate defense hawks. Once a fierce critic, Graham became one of President Trump's most powerful allies. The president says he plans to address the nation Thursday night at nine eastern. He does not say what it's about, but it might involve the US's ongoing war with Iran and dueling claims on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump is threatening to block Iran's ships from moving through the major oil shipping route. NPR's Hadiel Al-Shalchi reports.

Hadil Al-Shalchi1:18

In a post online, President Trump said that the US would be, quote, "rein stating a blockade on Iranian ships or customers from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz." He said that the US will now be known