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Episode Date: September 10, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingley. The war with Iran and the November midterm elections got a lot of attention last night at the Republican Midterm Convention in Texas. President Trump addressed those attending the event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. No matter how well you're doing, we seem not a president, Democrat or Republican, almost never wins the midterms. We've got to change that because we have something going that's so good. can't let that string be broken. So I'm asking you to pretend that I'm on the ballot. Without offering details, the president also pledged a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans hold on to the House and Senate in the midterms. This is Secretary of State Marco Rubio,

says he's pleased to see right-wing governments in South America willing to help the U.S. fight narco-terrorism. NPR's Michelle Kellerman says Rubio is visiting Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In Ecuador, Secretary Rubio announced more targeted sanctions and aid to the military to help the government go after drug traffickers. He brushed off concerns that fishermen are getting caught up in this fight and made clear the U.S. will continue to, quote, blow up ships. And of a threat in this region is emerging to the national security and national interest of our country, we are going to address it. And what we're very happy about is that we can now address it in partnership with other presidents and other leaders in this region that feel the same way. He was speaking after

stops in Colombia and Ecuador before flying on to Peru to meet the newly elected president Keko Fujimori. Michelle Kelleman, NPR News in Lima, Peru. Human Rights Watch is raising concerns over what it calls an unlawful campaign of executions by Iran. As NPR's Hediel Al-Shalchi reports, the group says many of those being put to death were tortured and charged under a broad definition of security crimes. According to a statement released by Human Rights Watch, at least 59 men were executed by Iranian authorities between mid-March and the end of August, after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran. The Human Rights Organization says at least 29 of those killed were arrested in connection with the nationwide protests which Iranian authorities violently

clamped down on before the war. This statement says in many cases the defendants were taken from arrest to the gallows in just five weeks, and in many cases the Iranian courts handed down death sentences for non-lethal acts, such as throwing stones or breaking into state property.

In August, the UN condemned what it called a sharp spike in executions in Iran. Hadil al-Shalchi, NPR News, Istanbul. Wall Street Futures are mostly higher this morning. This is NPR News. from Washington. Gasoline prices in the U.S. continue going up as the price of oil moves higher. crude oil topped $100 a barrel yesterday for the first time since July. AAA says regular gas is now averaging almost $4.28 a gallon. The price went up $5.00

and has risen $13 a gallon over the last week. This has been the hottest summer in the U.S. in more than a century. NPR's Lauren Summer reports. It's not your imagination. This summer was hot. In the U.S., it was the hottest summer in 132 years of record keeping in the lower 48 states. August was also the hottest August on record for both average temperature and maximum temperature. That's according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Globally, August was also the hottest month ever recorded, tying with July of 2023. It was about 3 degrees Fahrenheit hotter of an average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The planet is looking at potentially a hot year ahead, too. A very strong El Nino climate pattern is developing, which raises temperatures globally. Lauren Summer, NPR News. NASA says two astronauts who led the Artemis II Moon mission earlier this year are stepping away from spaceflight. Commander Reid Wiseman didn't disclose his future plans.

Pilot Victor Glover is taking a job at California Polytechnic State University, his alma mater. The NFL kicked off the regular season. season last night in Seattle, where the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seahawks, beat the New England Patriots 13 to 10. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.