NPR News: 07-09-2026 2PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 07-09-2026 2PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: July 9, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode covers a range of breaking news stories, including President Trump’s shifting rhetoric toward Iran, a political controversy in Maine’s Senate race, an ongoing investigation into the death of a Mississippi teen, a widespread parasitic infection in Michigan, a Consumer Reports study on arsenic in rice, and Florida's Palm Beach International Airport’s new name.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Sharp Tone Change Toward Iran

(00:01–01:04)

• President Trump’s characterization of Iranian leaders has swung dramatically in just three weeks—from praise to harsh condemnation.
  • Three weeks ago: He referred to Iranians as “brave,” “rational,” and “smart people.”
  • At the recent NATO summit in Turkey: Trump called Iranian leaders “scum,” labeling them as “sick people.”
• NPR’s Franco Ordoñez notes this “pattern” of oscillating rhetoric, describing it as “diplomatic whiplash” and part of Trump’s strategy to pressure for peace while simultaneously raising tensions.
• Trump insisted afterward to the press that another war would not begin.

Notable Quotes:

• “We’re dealing with people that I think are very rational people and they were nice to deal with. They were strong people, smart people.”
  — Donald Trump (00:27)
• “I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum. They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people.”
  — Donald Trump (00:39)

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2. Maine Senate Race Thrown Into Disarray

(01:04–02:02)

• Graham Platner, a progressive nominee and military veteran, withdrew from the race to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins after a rape allegation surfaced.
  • Platner denied the allegation but lost support from major Democratic figures.
  • NPR’s Kevin Miller describes Platner’s campaign as grassroots-backed, not promoted by the state or national Democratic Party.
  • Raises questions about vetting and accountability in candidate selection processes.
• The controversies were “a steady flow...over and over again,” signaling persistent turmoil.

Notable Quotes:

• “It wasn’t even a trickle. It was a steady flow of controversies that kept coming out over and over again.”
  — Kevin Miller (01:33)

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3. Investigation of Mississippi Teen’s Death

(02:02–02:57)

• The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, found dead off the Mississippi coast post-July 4th, is seeking answers.
  • Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the family and calling for an independent investigation.
  • Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynn Jr. confirmed Wells’ identity via dental records.
  • Authorities are requesting public assistance (photos/videos from July 4th) as the case remains open.

Notable Details:

• “We were able to confirm that with dental records yesterday that we were able to provide the state medical examiner’s office.”
  — Bruce Lynn Jr. (02:26)

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4. Cyclospora Outbreak in Michigan and Other States

(02:57–03:34)

• Over 1,000 people have contracted Cyclospora, a parasitic infection, in Michigan.
  • No deaths reported.
  • The infection source remains unidentified.
  • Outbreaks are being investigated in Ohio and over two dozen other states.

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5. Consumer Reports: Arsenic in Rice Products

(03:34–04:21)

• Consumer Reports tested rice products for arsenic content.
  • 42% contained arsenic levels high enough to raise cancer and diabetes risk if eaten daily.
  • Arsenic levels varied: basmati and sushi rice lowest, brown rice highest.
  • Cooking method tip: Boiling rice in water for five minutes, draining, then cooking in fresh water cuts arsenic by at least 50%.
  • Emphasis on concerns around inorganic arsenic.

Notable Quotes:

• “Basmati and sushi rice had the lowest levels, while brown rice consistently had higher levels than white rice.”
  — Maria Godoy (03:55)
• “Cooking rice in boiling water for five minutes, draining it and then cooking it in fresh water reduced the arsenic content by at least half.”
  — Maria Godoy (04:11)

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6. Palm Beach International Airport Renamed

(04:21–04:40)

• Palm Beach International Airport in Florida is now named after former President Donald J. Trump (DJT).
  • The airport joins other locations renamed for Trump.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “It was a steady flow of controversies…” — Kevin Miller (01:33)
• “They’re scum. You know what scum is? They’re scum.” — Donald Trump (00:39)
• “Cooking rice in boiling water for five minutes, draining it and then cooking it in fresh water reduced the arsenic content by at least half.” — Maria Godoy (04:11)
• “Planes are now landing at DJT, not PBI.” — Lakshmi Singh (04:21)

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:01–01:04 — Trump’s rhetoric on Iran
• 01:04–02:02 — Maine Senate race and Platner controversy
• 02:02–02:57 — Death investigation of Nolan Wells in Mississippi
• 02:57–03:34 — Cyclospora outbreak updates
• 03:34–04:21 — Consumer Reports findings on arsenic in rice
• 04:21–04:40 — Palm Beach International Airport renamed after Trump

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This episode offers a concise but detailed update on major national news stories, with particular emphasis on political controversy, public health, and ongoing investigations. The reporting maintains NPR’s factual and impartial tone.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. In another dramatic shift in tone, President Trump is calling Iranian leaders scum just weeks after praising them as smart and rational. NPR's Frank Ordonez reports on the diplomatic whiplash that has come to define Trump's approach to global affairs.

[Frank Ordonez]

Three weeks ago, President Trump described the Iranians as brave people who wanted to change the direction of their country for the better.

[Donald Trump]

We're dealing with people that I think are very rational people and they were nice to deal with. They were strong people, smart people.

[Frank Ordonez]

But he delivered a much different characterization yesterday at the Naito summit in Turkey.

[Donald Trump]

I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people. They're led by sick people.

[Frank Ordonez]

It's part of a pattern with the president who often swings between praise and threats in an effort to almost will this war to an end. But you can also hear Trump struggling with that balance, insisting to reporters later that the war will not start again. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The state of Maine has become a flashpoint in the Democratic Party's complicated campaign to retake the U.S. senate. Their hope for flipping a seat long held by Republican Senator Susan Collins was thrown into disarray after progressive nominee Graham Platner, a military veteran and oysterman, was accused of raping a woman he used to date. Platner denied the allegation, but he dropped out of the race after he lost the backing of major politicians. Maine Public's Kevin Miller has more on a campaign that was overshadowed by multiple controversies.

[Kevin Miller]

It wasn't even a trickle. It was a steady flow of controversies that kept coming out over and over again. I should say that he was definitely not the party's nominee. This was not the state party that chose him. This was not the national party that chose him. This was kind of the grassroots, the populist, Bernie Sanders style campaign, and those are the folks that put him forward. So there is some questions about why there wasn't more digging into his background.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Kevin Miller on NPR's Here and Now the family of an 18 year old found dead off the Mississippi coast after a Fourth of July weekend trip with friends are demanding answers. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the family. Mississippi Broadcasting's Elyse Gregg reports.

[Elyse Gregg]

Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynn Jr. Says the investigation's ongoing, but the body of 18 year old Nolan Wells has been positively identified.

[Kevin Miller]

We were able to confirm that with dental records yesterday that we were able to provide the state medical examiner's office.

[Elyse Gregg]

Park rangers found Wells body Monday morning on the northwest tip of Horn Island. His mother reported him missing on the night of July 4th after he'd traveled to the island with friends. Crump announced Tuesday that he's representing the family and will conduct an independent review of the circumstances. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is asking for any photos or videos of Wells from July 4th. For NPR News, I'm Ulysse Gregg in Jackson, Mississippi.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR News. In Michigan, officials say more than 1,000 people have been diagnosed with a parasitic infection, Cyclospora. No deaths have been reported. The source of the infection has not been identified. Investigations are underway into similar illnesses reported in Ohio and more than two dozen other states. Michigan officials first announced the outbreak last week. Testing from Consumer Reports finds dozens of rice products contain arsenic, which can be toxic at certain levels. NPR's Marie Godoy with details.

[Marie Godoy]

Arsenic occurs naturally in soil and water, and rice plants seem to soak it up from the environment more than other grains. Consumer Reports found that in 42% of rice products examined, the average levels of arsenic present were high enough that an adult eating just one serving a day over time would have a significantly increased risk for skin cancer, bladder cancer and type 2 diabetes. Arsenic levels varied greatly by brand and type of rice. Basmati and sushi rice had the lowest levels, while brown rice consistently had higher levels than white rice. Testing also revealed that cooking rice in boiling water for five minutes, draining it and then cooking it in fresh water reduced the arsenic content by at least half. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In clarifying the report, was discussing inorganic arsenic. Planes are now landing at djt, not pbi. As of today, Florida's Palm Beach International Airport joins a growing list of places that now bear President Donald J. Trump's name. You're listening to npr.

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