NPR News: 07-22-2026 9PM EDT

Speaker 10:00

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Jeanine Herbst· Host0:15

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The White House has signed a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. NPR's Quil Lawrence reports for decades, the US has been concerned about nuclear weapons proliferation in the Middle East.

Quil Lawrence0:31

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long sought US reactor technology with the stated goal of developing a peaceful nuclear power program. The American nuclear industry is interested in doing business with the oil-rich country, but previous US presidents had worried it could lead to a weapons program and a nuclear arms race in the Middle East with the Saudis' archrival, Iran. In the past, nuclear cooperation was held out as an incentive if Saudi Arabia recognized the state of Israel or if the kingdom addressed human rights concerns. According to a memo seen by NPR, this deal requires none of those concessions and may not include the strictest international inspections to make sure the Saudis don't begin a weapons program. Quil Lawrence, NPR News.

Jeanine Herbst· Host1:13

The House advanced three notable bills to the Senate this afternoon just before they leave town for a month-long recess: a trillion dollars for the military, new restrictions on congressional stock trading, and a Republican budget framework with money for the Iran war, farmers, and