NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-26-2026 3AM EDT

Episode Date: August 26, 2026

NPR News: 08-26-2026 3AM 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 Linda Kenyon. South Carolina Republicans have elected Senator Darlene Graham as the party's Senate nominee. This is her first time winning an election. She was appointed to serve out the term of her late brother, Lindsey Graham. South Carolina Public Radio's Lewis Alfredo Garcia reports. Senator Darlene Graham defeats Congressman Ralph Norman in a special runoff election. Norman is a member of the House Freedom Caucus. Graham had the backing of President Donald Trump and several established lawmakers throughout the state,

but she was criticized for her lack of political experience. She says in an election night speech that the party now needs to focus on winning in November. Tonight is a great victory, but it's not the finish line. In fact, it is the starting line for an even bigger fight which lies ahead. Graham will face Democratic nominee pediatrician Annie Andrews in the November general election. For NPR news, I'm Louis Alfredo Garcia in Columbia, South Carolina. Iconic country music superstar Dolly Parton has died. Jolene, Jolene, Jolene was singing one of her most popular songs there, Jolene.

Dolly Parton grew up in poverty in Tennessee and rose to fame as a singer and philanthropist. Her publicist says Parton died after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer. She was 80 years old. The U.S. and Canada are in an all-out trade war, with both governments now imposing $20 billion worth of tariffs against each other. As NPR's Emily Fang reports, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney responded in kind, days after the Trump administration announced the newest tariffs. Canada's tariffs range from 15 to 50 percent, and they cover a medley of goods ranging from American fish to paper to tableware. These tariffs come on top of several rounds of American trade penalties. levied on Canada over the last year and a half, including punishing levies on Canadian steel and aluminum.

This week, President Trump also threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars and auto parts to 50% starting next year. And he wrote several bellicose statements on his social media site, Truth Social, accusing Canada of, quote, ripping off the U.S. This aggressive rhetoric and repeated threats to annex Canada has left most Canadians hostile to compromise with the U.S., according to multiple public opinion polls. Emily Fang and Pier News, Washington. Iran and Oman say their top diploids have met in Tehran and discussed a phased approach to managing ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway for oil shipments remains largely shut down nearly six months after the start of the U.S.-led war against Iran.

Traversing the strait remains risky. An oil tanker was disabled on Monday after it was hit by a projectile off Oman. You're listening to NPR. An expedition off the shores of Tel Aviv has found the remains of Israel's most famous shipwreck that dates back to 1948. Etai Stern reports the ship sank during one of the country's deepest crises in a story that is resonating in modern Israel. The ship known as Al-Telena was attacked and sunk off the coast of Tel Aviv just weeks

after Israel estate was established. The orders to fire on it were given by Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. On board were members of the Irgun, a right-wing Jewish militia that refused to be disarmed and absorbed into Israel's new army. Israeli troops sank the ship, bringing the new state to the brink of civil war. Speaking near the Iraq's discovery Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israelis should never allow such internal conflicts again. But recent polling shows deep ideological division with 78% of Israelis saying they worry about social cohesion. For NPR News, I'm Tice Stern in Tel Aviv.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra and its musicians ratified a three-year contract, avoiding what could have been the first strike in the ensemble's 145-year history. Relations have been strained since March when the BSO decided to force out music director Andrus Nelsons. Despite the deal,

the BSO says some issues still remain unresolved, including questions about whether Nelson's will be reinstated, The orchestra's new season is scheduled to begin on September the 17th. I'm Linda Kenyon, NPR News, in Washington.