NPR News Now - NPR News: 07-29-2026 6AM EDT

Episode Date: July 29, 2026

NPR News: 07-29-2026 6AM EDTSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched a wave of air strikes targeting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq today. NPR's Janeiraf reports the armed groups that at least 20 of their fighters were killed. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have blamed the Iran-backed militias in Iraq for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities this week. Iraq's prime minister, who met President Trump last week in Washington, convened an U.S. emergency security meeting in Baghdad after the air strikes. The U.S. has been pressing Prime Minister Alia Zedi to rein in Iranian-affiliated militias that are part of Iraq's official defense forces. Jordan's military also said it shot down five Iranian missiles early Wednesday. Iran has been

targeting U.S. bases in the kingdom. Jane Arraf and Pira News Amman. Dr. Anthony Fauci will testify before the Senate today. are expected to press him on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including questions about the virus's origins and past public health guidance. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports. Fauci is headed to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee after getting subpoenaed by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. The two have sparred for years over the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul believes the coronavirus came from a lab and has repeatedly alleged that Fauci

covered up evidence. Fauci has pushed back against such claims, maintaining he's open to the lab leak theory, but that existing evidence supports the virus jumping from an animal to a human. Questions will likely center on over 1,000 pages of Fauci's private notes released by the senator over the weekend. Paul claims that there are discrepancies between how Fauci talked about COVID origins in public and in private, but scientists accuse Paul of cherry-picking examples from early in the pandemic when there was a lot of uncertainty. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

The Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton to serve as President Trump's new spy chief. NPR's Jenna McLaughlin reports Clayton's nomination drew criticism from Democrats who questioned his independence and lack of intelligence experience. Jay Clayton will be Trump's new director of national intelligence. Clayton is currently the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Advocates like Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas say that job's intersection with national security, such as the indictment of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, prepared him to lead the intelligence community's 18 agencies. Critics like Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon,

say Clayton has already shown he won't directly challenge the president's falsehoods. He is never going to stand up to Donald Trump. Wyden pointed to Clayton's refusal to say President Biden won the U.S. presidential election in 2020 during his confirmation hearing as one example. Jen McLaughlin, NPR News. You're listening to NPR and. News from Washington. The National Weather Service says the tornado that tour through northeastern Wisconsin on Monday was an EF3, with winds reaching 140 miles per hour. The tornado

stayed on the ground for about 12 miles and was roughly 1,500 yards wide. It destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and brought down trees and power lines in the city of Appleton and surrounding communities. The governor has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. South Dakota Governor Larry Rodin has won the Republican nomination for governor. Jason Dirk's of South Dakota public broadcasting reports Rodin's runoff victory over a populist challenger. Rodin was lieutenant governor and moved into the state's top seat when Governor Kristy Noem joined the Trump administration last year. Rodin's opposed abortion pills, pledged to reform the state's prison system, and pass legislation to lower property taxes by raising sales taxes. He was challenged for the nomination by business executive. Toby Dodin, who was backed by the right-wing turning point organization founded by the late

Charlie Kirk. The self-described political outsider ran on eliminating homeowner property taxes. In a state where a Democrat hasn't been governor since the 70s, the GOP nominee has into the fall as the frontrunner and faces former state legislator Democrat Dan Allers. For NPR News, I'm Jackson Dirk's and Aberdeen, South Dakota. Federal Reserve policymakers wrap up a two-day meeting in Washington today. The central bank is expected to leave interest rates unchanged, even as inflation remains above its 2% target. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.