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Episode Date: July 3, 2026

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Life from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Iranian government is preparing for the funeral of the Iranian Supreme Leader who was killed in an Israeli air strike in March. The official ceremonies will begin tomorrow. NPR's Hadeal al-Shaqi reports it's meant to be a show of force by the Iranian regime. A military band was heard in a video distributed by Iranian state media, showing a delegation of world religious leaders paying their respects at the coffin of Ayatollah Ali Khomeini. On Saturday, there will be memorial ceremonies and processions in Tehran and the city of Qom.

Then the remains will be taken to Shia holy sites in Najaf and Krabla in Iraq. The Ayatollah will be buried next Thursday in his birthplace of Mashhad. Iranian authorities are expected to shut down streets and the airspace. The last time a massive funeral held in Iran was for Ayatollah Khomeini, who led the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Held in 1989, that funeral drew about 10 million mourners. Hadil al-Shalchi, NPR News, Istanbul. A dangerous heat wave is spreading across more than half of the country

ahead of the 4th of July weekend. Miriam Wasser of Member Station WBUR reports the extreme heat is driving up electricity demand and putting additional pressure on power grids. Peak electric demand usually occurs between 4 and 8 p.m. on hot summer days. That's when people come home from work and solar production tapers off. Mary Kate Calapetrio, with the New England grid operator, says that while they expect to have just enough power to meet demand this week, they're still suggesting people try to use less.

If you're able to shift using energy, intensive appliances, things like running your dishwasher, doing a load of laundry, or charging an EV can sort of shift the demand and help reduce how much electricity is being used. Other tips, pre-cooling your home before peak. hours, closing blinds, and unplugging unnecessary appliances. For NPR News, I'm Miriam Wasser in Boston. Candidates who identify as Democratic Socialists have been gaining momentum in deep blue states, but as NPR, Sage Miller reports, it may be an uphill battle for the movement to gain traction elsewhere. There's a solid chance Congress will include more Democratic Socialists following the

midterm election in November. They won big primary races and places like New York in Colorado, but can they convince the party to get on board? New polling from Pew Research shows about a third of Democrats say they like Democratic socialist leaders, and there is room for growth. A majority of Democrats say they're neutral on Democratic socialists. The poll did find moderate Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are not convinced the party should be moving in the direction of Democratic Socialism. Sage Miller, NPR News. This is NPR News in Washington.

A major sports arena in New York City is in the spotlight this weekend, but it's not because of the NBA or the World Cup. NPR's Jennifer Vanasco explains. Musician Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelsey may or may not be getting married at Madison Square Garden tonight. All week, local outlets have been reported. on the box trucks that have pulled up to the arena with lobster, a red carpet, and fake trees, the increased security, street closures, and the rumors that 1,000 people, including celebrities

and music executives, will be guests. But Swift and Kelsey have not publicly confirmed it themselves. It comes at a time when New York City is even busier than usual. With World Cup Games, the arrival of tall ships from around the world to mark America's 250th, and a heat emergency. Jennifer Vanesco and PR News, New York. A former Olympian is facing a federal felony charge after prosecutors accused him of damaging the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia,

Janine Piro, says the evidence against David Hearn shows otherwise. The National Park Service employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands. Turn denies those claims. President Trump has repeatedly accused vandals of damaging the pool after it underwent a nearly $16 million renovation project. This is NPR News.