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Episode Date: August 18, 2026

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Live from NPR news in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump threatened Oman today. The Gulf ally of the U.S. has been trying to help negotiate an end to the Iran war. Trump threatened to bomb Oman after Iran said it was working with Oman on a plan to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a 60-day deadline for a deal to end the war expired today. Meanwhile, President Trump surprised another ally, saying the U.S. would scale back military exercises with South Korea. Trump says he's been in contact with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. NPR's Tamara Keith reports. Trump cited South Korea's unwillingness to get involved in the war with Iran and his own relationship with Kim Jong-un in explaining the decision to pull back on the exercises. I'm making it much safer.

You see, I'm actually making it much safer. Kim Jong-un has always treated me with great respect. Trump was answering questions in the Oval Office. Why hasn't Kim Jong-un responded? to your request to have a conversation? I do you know he has he responded. Has he? Yeah, he is.

During his first term, Trump met with the North Korean leader three times. Other presidents have sought to isolate Kim. Tamara Keith, NPR News, the White House. President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. He's trying to save the U.S. plan to end Israel's occupation of Gaza after Netanyahu rejected it. NPR's Daniel Estrin has more. The main points of contention between Israel and Hamas are these. The plan calls for Hamas to

disarm and for Israel to withdraw from the parts of Gaza that it still occupies. Now, Trump's Board of Peace put out this 15-point roadmap a few weeks ago, and the roadmap says that this would happen in stages, that Hamas would disarm bit by bit and that Israel would withdraw its troops bit by bit. But Netanyahu came out and said he rejected that roadmap and he said all disarmament of Hamas would have to be completed first before a single soldier moves from Gaza. NPR's Daniel Estrin reporting from Tel Aviv. Luigi Mangione, September trial in New York City has been postponed indefinitely. Samantha Max of member station WNYC reports the future of the case is uncertain. Mangioni was scheduled to stand trial next month on state murder and weapons possession

charges. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office accused him of killing United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson. But then Mangione pleaded guilty to stalking charges in a separate federal case last week. He admitted to following Thompson to New York City and killing him. Now, Mangione's defense team is asking a state judge to throw out the remaining charges. They say it would violate his rights to keep prosecuting the case after he pleaded guilty. The Manhattan DA's office says it will fight that request. For NPR news, I'm Samantha Max in New York. This is NPR. Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is running for re-election in a new Florida district after Republicans redrew the congressional map. She's now running in a district

that has historically elected black Democrats. Wasserman Schultz faces criticism for running in the district despite being white, but argues her experience, makes sure you're a strong candidate. Her main opponent is former Congresswoman Sheila Sheriffless McCormick, who resigned from the seat in April while facing an ethics investigation. An erectile dysfunction drug is getting more buzz in wellness circles. Tadalafil, best known as Cialis, is being promoted for longevity. NPR's Will Stone reports. Online clinics and influencers are promoting to Dallifil as a kind of all-purpose longevity drug. It belongs to the same class of drugs as Viagra. There is research suggesting to Dallifil could have benefits for blood vessels. and that men taking it are at a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular-related causes.

Dr. Robert Cloner at the Huntington Medical Research Institutes has been studying this. We found an association. We found a signal. This does not prove causation. To do that, Cloner says there would need to be high-quality human trials. Along with erectile dysfunction, Tadalphil is approved for a rare form of high blood pressure affecting the lungs, as well as symptoms of enlarged prostate in men. Willstone, NPR News. There are four times as many people worth more than $100 million in the Trump administration than in the three previous administrations combined. That's according to Consumer Advocacy Group Public Citizen.

57 Trump officials are worth at least $100 million, including 17 ambassadors and the remaining 40 in senior posts across the executive branch. This is NPR News.