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Episode Date: July 29, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. U.S. Central Command says Iran launched a series of airstrikes on American forces in the Middle East today, though all the missiles were intercepted. U.S. and Saudi forces later struck Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports the escalation and fighting came as President Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. Israel wants to keep fighting. Now, it argues it still faces major threats from Iran and Hezbollah and Lebanon and wants to further weaken both. Israel also doesn't want Trump to sign a deal that could limit its ability to defend itself. Now, Trump supports Israel security, but his focus on ending what is at a very unpopular war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing rising prices, especially gas prices. That's NPR's Frank O'Ordoñez reporting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling his meeting with President Trump, quote, great. But as MPRs, Frank Lankfit reports, many in Israel noticed the tepid greeting at the White House on Tuesday. Netanyahu entered the White House through a side entrance. The meeting was behind closed doors. The Times of Israel said the low-key approach was to avoid the perception that Israel's trying to get the U.S. to restart major strikes on Iran.

Netanyahu put a different spin on the meeting. to Fox News. One of the best meetings that we've had, and I always hate to disappoint our would-be critics. Netanyahu faces crucial elections in October. And its relationship with the U.S., Israel's top ally, is a big issue here. But Americans increasingly have a negative view of Netanyahu because of Israel's wars in Gaza and Iran. Frank Langford, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Attorneys General from 44 states are calling on the Trump administration to crack down on the prediction market

industry. NPR's Bobby Allen reports the top law enforcement officials say the companies are violating state gambling laws. The Trump administration is currently rewriting the federal rules for the prediction market industry, companies like Kalshi and Polly Market that have thrived in Trump's second term. And Trump officials want them regulated by the federal government as a type of financial investment product, not gambling. But a newly public letter sent by 44 states sends a clear message to regulators in Washington. State officials view prediction markets as having made an end run around state laws and state taxes, especially when it comes to sports betting, which accounts for most of the billions of dollars wagered on Calci and Polymarket, but other

topics are popular, too, like politics and elections. $200 million has already been wagered on the sites ahead of the midterms. Bobby Allen and PR News. Funeral services for Senator Lindsay Graham are being held today in his home state of South Carolina. A service will be held at the First Baptist Church in Columbia. Graham died the month at the age of 71. He was honored Tuesday at Memorial Services in Washington. This is NPR. FIFA says it's planning to sell stakes of the World Cup to private investors as a way to raise billions of dollars. NPR's Raphael NOM reports the announcement from Soccer's world governing body is sparking sharp criticism.

It's a complicated plan. FIFA would create a separate company to oversee all commercial decisions for the men's and women's World Cup, as well as to other FIFA tournaments like the Club World Cup. And in this new venture, FIFA would partner with a firm called Thrive Eternal, run by Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Thrive's role would be to bring in new minority investors to this commercial venture, effectively selling a stake to the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments to others. UEFA, though, the body that governs European soccer strongly opposes the plan, saying, quote, none of us are the owners of football. It is not FIF us to sell. Rafael NAMPR. News.

A mass of wildfire in southwestern France has forced more than 220,000 people from their homes. The fire has burned an area four times the size of Paris. Officials have ordered an additional 4,000 evacuations today along the country's Atlantic Coast. Across Spain, tens of Thousands of people have been driven from their homes by huge wildfires. The country is in its fourth heat wave of the summer, with several blazes still burning out of control, including the largest in its recorded history. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.