NPR News: 07-18-2026 9AM EDT

Windsor Johnston· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Tens of millions of people across the Eastern United States are again dealing with smoke from Canadian wildfires. NPR's John Stolnis reports forecasters say air quality could begin improving later today.

John Stolnis0:17

Smoke will be present for much of the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions, but relief is on the way today. National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira says a string of heavy storms will help.

Frank Pereira· Soundbite0:29

We're expecting a break with some clear air spreading down, uh, across the Northeast behind that.

John Stolnis0:35

Pereira says the storms are expected to sweep much of the smoke up into New England. Hundreds of wildfires continue to burn in Canada, and forecasters say more wildfire smoke could return next week. John Stolnis, NPR News.

Windsor Johnston· Host0:49

President Trump's social media company is planning to sell faster access to the president's posts. NPR's Bobby Allen reports the service is being offered to banks and Wall Street trading firms.

Bobby Allen1:03

The company that runs Trump's Truth Social platform is offering to give customers faster access to the president's often long and rambling social media posts. At times, Trump makes major announcements about policy or foreign affairs from his Truth Social account, whether about tariffs or the war in Iran. Those posts can move financial markets. And now for a fee reportedly up to a hundred thousand dollars, customers can access these updates faster than the general public. Critics of the licensing fee for presidential announcements