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Episode Date: July 6, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. Russia carried out overnight attacks on Ukraine's capital of Kiev, killing 11 people. The strikes came as Ukraine hit back with another wave of drone attacks. NPR's Charles Mainz reports from Moscow. Russia's defense ministry said it carried out precision missile strikes on military and energy facilities in and around the Ukrainian capital. Yet several clearly struck apartment buildings trapping residents in the rubble. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched some 500 drones into Russia and its occupied territories, damaging two ports on the Baltic Sea and causing a power blackout across the entirety of the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

The continued fighting comes ahead of this week's NATO summit in Turkey, where President Trump will meet with Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Over the weekend, Trump spoke by phone with Russian president, Vladimir Putin, during which Trump offered to renew efforts to end the war now in its fifth year. Charles Baines, NPR News. Moscow. President Trump focused much of his Fourth of July speech on the National Mall on communism. NPR's Mayor Eliasson reports.

Communists is Donald Trump's latest epithet for Democrats, and he's been using it lately as he searches for an advantage for Republicans in the midterm elections. Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the world, only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America. Trump is referring to a handful of members of the Democrats. Socialists of America, who just won some Democratic primaries. In safe blue districts, like in New York City, those wins may not matter, since a Democrat was expected to win there anyway. But many Democrats are worried that in swing states and districts, they could be nominating candidates that are too

far left to win a general election. Mara Liason, NPR News. U.S. men's soccer star, Florin, Balligan, will be allowed to play in tonight's World Cup match against Belgium. FIFA lifted a one-game suspension that had been imposed after the Americans stepped on the ankle of an opposing player. Steve Futterman reports. The U.S. team was never happy about the suspension, but had essentially accepted the fact that Balagan was not going to play. This sudden change is sure to give the Americans an emotional boost. U.S. fans in Seattle were surprised. Mack Curry traveled here from Michigan.

I mean, it's interesting. Never thought that would happen. seems a little weird. I just didn't think FIFA was going to overturn something like that. Brian Penn from Chicago is elated. It's fantastic. Changes the game. Belgium should be scared. And any questions about why FIFA did this? Don't know, don't care. Just happy. Belgium officials say they are astonished by the decision. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Cup in Seattle. President Trump spoke to FIFA's president about the suspension leading up to yesterday's announcement. This is NPR News.

The window is closing to register to vote in this year's primary elections in some places. NPR's Hansi Luwong runs down the list of deadlines coming up. Eligible voters in Tennessee who want to cast ballots in the state's August 6 primary have until Tuesday to register. Then Wednesday is Missouri's sign-up deadline for its primary on August 4th. Guam is holding a primary on August 1st. And the territory's deadline for registering online is Friday, July 10th, though there's an extra week to sign up. in person. If you've already registered a vote, you may want to go to your election officials'

website and check your registration status before your state or territories deadline. Election officials may remove your name from their list of registered voters, especially if you recently move, change your name, or haven't voted in a while. And if you're planning to mail your application, election officials recommend sending it at least a week before the deadline. Anzila Wong and PR News. People in Guam and the surrounding northern Mariana Islands are assessing the damage from Super Typhoon Bavi, the eye of the Category 5 storm passed over the island of Rota with 180 mile-per-hour winds and brought 35-foot surf and flash floods. On Guam, more than a thousand people stayed in emergency shelters. The super typhoon knocked out power across much of

the U.S. territory. The Mariana's other populated islands, Saipan, and Tinian, were still without electricity from the last super typhoon to hit the islands a few months ago. In the World Cup, England defeated Mexico 3 to 2 last night in Mexico City. This ends Mexico's World Cup run. I'm Kristen Wright, and this is NPR News from Washington.