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Episode Date: July 8, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingley. The U.S. military says American forces struck more than 80 Iranian targets yesterday in what U.S. Central Command describes as retaliatory strikes. The attacks were in response to Iran hitting three merchant ships in the Strait of Formos. Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Turkey a short time ago, President Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran to be over. The president described the Iranian leadership ship as scum and sick people, adding he didn't want to engage with Tehran. The president did not roll out talks continuing to permanently end the war with Iran. NPR's Jackie Northam says the Trump administration has also reversed a decision that allowed Iran to temporarily

produce, sell, and deliver crude oil. Last month, the Trump administration swept aside long-standing sanctions on Iran oil as part of an interim peace agreement. It was one of the sweeteners the U.S. offered in a bid to get Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. The waivers allowed Iran to sell crude and other petroleum products on the open market, potentially pulling in between $8 and $10 billion in sales for the regime while the agreement was in place. The waiver was due to expire mid-August but could have been extended by mutual consent. But after Iranian attacks on ships, the U.S. canceled the sanction waivers

and started launching strikes in retaliation for the attacks on the country. commercial vessels. Jackie Northam, NPR News. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she will run for the presidency next year. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley says Le Pen announced her intention after an appeals court in Paris suspended a five-year ban on Le Pen seeking political office. Le Pen spoke in an interview on the nightly news several hours after the verdict. I'm very happy because the French people have been given back their right to choose, she said, framing it as a win for democracy. The appeals court also reduced her original prison term to one year with

an electronic bracelet, though it upheld Le Pen's conviction for channeling several million euros from European Parliament funding to pay salaries for political activities in France. Le Pen says she's innocent and will again appeal the charges. She said she'll run for president as a team alongside the parties number two. Le Pen touted their strong partnership and convictions and said they would reverse the decline of France. Eleanor Beardsley and Pierre News, The quarter finals are set for the men's World Cup soccer tournament. France will play Morocco tomorrow. That'll be followed by Spain against Belgium on Friday. On Saturday, Norway will take on England and Argentina will play Switzerland. Argentina advanced to the final eight yesterday after scoring three late goals to beat Egypt three to two. Switzerland advanced after beating Colombia in penalty kicks. This is NPR News. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is now among those calling on Democratic nominee Graham Platner to drop out of the race for a Senate seat from Maine. The head of Maine's Democratic Party is too.

Graham Platner must drop out of this race so that Democrats in Maine can focus on defeating Susan Collins this November. That's Devin Murphy Anderson speaking in a video posted on X. Calls for Platner to step aside expanded after Politico reported allegations from a woman who was dating Platner in 2020. one, accusing him of forcing her to have sex despite her objections. Plattner has denied the allegations as well as those made against him by other women. A new analysis finds many health insurance companies in the U.S. will be raising premiums next year for Affordable Care Act plans. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin says that follows sharp price hikes this year. After several years of affordable premiums and high enrollment, the Affordable Care Act marketplaces

like health care.gov are under new management. Republicans in Congress did not renew billions in extra federal subsidies that had been keeping premium costs down, and so costs for many people shot up at the beginning of the year. About one in five enrollees could not afford these higher premiums and dropped their coverage. Now a preliminary analysis of insurance filings finds that insurance rates will be going up again next year by a median of 14 percent, according to the Health Research Organization, KFF. The millions of people who buy their health insurance in the marketplace often don't have any alternative source of coverage.

Selina Simmons-Duffin and PR News. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.