NPR News: 07-18-2026 5PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – July 18, 2026 (5PM EDT)

Main Theme

This five-minute news update focuses on crucial global and national headlines, including escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, ongoing wildfires impacting air quality in North America, a federal data privacy breach, Norway’s record-breaking fire, and a surprising box office report for a new film adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iranian Attack on U.S. Troops in Jordan

[00:00–01:01]

• Incident: Two U.S. troops killed, one missing after Iranian attack on a base in Jordan.
  • “According to Central Command, the two service members were defending alongside partner forces during Iranian air assaults…” (Carrie Kahn, [00:14])
• Multiple U.S. military installations in Jordan have come under fire.
• Four other U.S. service members injured and treated in hospital.
• U.S. response: For the seventh consecutive night, the U.S. has conducted strikes on Iranian military logistics and infrastructure sites.
• Escalation: Iran accuses the U.S. of targeting civilian structures and claims a preliminary peace plan signed last month is now “no longer being implemented.”
  • “Iran says the US has targeted civilian sites, including bridges and civilian utility structures…” (Carrie Kahn, [00:41])

2. Wildfire Smoke Plagues U.S. Air Quality

[01:01–01:55]

• Smoke from Canadian and northern Minnesota wildfires continues affecting air quality in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest.
  • “The wildfires in northern Minnesota and Canada are still going strong and firefighters are having a hard time with the heat and other weather conditions.” (Kristen Wright, [01:17])
• Meteorologists predict some improvement from upcoming rain and storms.
• Forecast:
  • “As we start clearing out here in the east, they're going to get the next batch of smoke across areas from upper Michigan, eastern Wisconsin, into Illinois and Indiana, including Chicago.” (Brian Hurley, National Weather Service, [01:33])
• President Trump threatens new tariffs on Canada, blaming them for poor forest management.
  • “…and accused the country of not maintaining its forests.” (Kristen Wright, [01:47])

3. Federal Health Data Shared with ICE

[01:55–02:50]

• Federal health officials improperly shared Medicaid data with ICE in January.
• That data, including some not supposed to be shared, ended up with federal contractor Palantir, which operates tools to help ICE locate immigrants’ addresses.
  • “Palantir pulls together various data sources in an app that ICE officers can use to locate immigrants home addresses.” (Jude Joffe Block, [02:09])
• More than 20 states sued to stop this data sharing; a judge allowed limited sharing but paused the agreement after additional data releases came to light.
• Officials recently admitted to resharing the data inadvertently, but ICE claims they did not use it for law enforcement.
  • “Last month, ICE officials said in court filings the data in question was not used for law enforcement purposes.” (Jude Joffe Block, [02:39])

4. Norway Faces Largest Fire in Modern Times

[02:50–03:45]

• A fire in Drammen, Norway, has destroyed over 100 homes, marking it as the largest fire in the country’s modern era.
  • “A massive fire in Norway is now the country's largest in modern times, destroying more than 100 homes.” (Jeanine Herbst, [02:50])
• The blaze started in a townhouse and spread to a nearby forest; cause is still under investigation.
• Hundreds evacuated, but no missing residents reported.

5. Christopher Nolan’s "Odyssey" Has Breakout Box Office Debut

[03:45–04:34]

• Nolan’s film “The Odyssey,” inspired by Homer’s epic poem, opens to unexpectedly high box office numbers.
  • “Tell me, O muse, of that many sided hero who traveled far and wide.” (Bob Mondello quoting the film, [03:45])
• Shot entirely on IMAX cameras—an unprecedented move for Hollywood.
• Many 70mm IMAX shows were sold out far in advance.
  • “Seats for this weekend sold out a year ago…” (Bob Mondello, [04:14])
• Opening was projected at $85 million, but estimates now exceed $120 million in North America.
• Biggest competition for the film is Sunday’s World Cup final.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the U.S.-Iran conflict:

  • “Iran says the preliminary peace plan signed nearly one month ago is now no longer being implemented.”
    — Carrie Kahn (00:54)

• On air quality conditions:

  • “As we start clearing out here in the east, they're going to get the next batch of smoke… including Chicago.”
    — Brian Hurley, National Weather Service ([01:33])

• On the Medicaid data breach:

  • “In recent weeks, federal officials acknowledged inadvertently resharing one of those data sets again with ICE.”
    — Jude Joffe Block ([02:27])

• On The Odyssey movie’s success:

  • “Christopher Nolan shot the film entirely on IMAX cameras, a first for Hollywood...”
    — Bob Mondello ([04:06])
  • “Seats for this weekend sold out a year ago, the film was expected to open to about $85 million in North America, but estimates now range upwards from 120 million.”
    — Bob Mondello ([04:14])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• U.S. Troops Killed in Jordan, U.S.-Iran Strikes – [00:00–01:01]
• Wildfire Smoke Impacts, Air Quality Forecast, Trump Statement – [01:01–01:55]
• Medicaid Data Shared with ICE, Legal Fallout – [01:55–02:50]
• Record Wildfire in Norway, Drammen Evacuations – [02:50–03:45]
• Nolan’s “Odyssey” Breaks Box Office Expectations – [03:45–04:34]

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Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Hurst. U.S. central Command says two U.S. troops were killed during an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan yesterday. Another one is missing. NPR's Carrie Khan has more.

[B]

According to Central Command, the two service members were defending alongside partner forces during Iranian air assaults when they were killed. U.S. troops operate in multiple Jordanian military installations that have come under fire from Iran in recent days. Four other U.S. service members were injured. They were sent to Jordanian hospitals and later discharged. For the seventh straight night, the US has struck dozens of what it says are military logistic and infrastructure sites in Iran. Iran says the US has targeted civilian sites, including bridges and civilian utility structures, citing the ongoing US Strikes. Iran says the preliminary peace plan signed nearly one month ago is now no longer being implemented. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[A]

Poor air quality continues in the Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Midwest as smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada and northern Minnesota spreads. The National Weather Service says heavy rain and storms could help clear the air in some places. As NPR's Kristen Wright reports, the wildfires

[C]

in northern Minnesota and Canada are still going strong and firefighters are having a hard time with the heat and other weather conditions. This means the smoke and poor air quality will stick around in some places. National Weather Service forecaster Brian Hurley says the bad air will linger in the Midwest.

[D]

As we start clearing out here in the east, they're going to get the next batch of smoke across areas from upper Michigan, eastern Wisconsin, into Illinois and Indiana, including Chicago.

[C]

President Trump is threatening to impose new tariffs on Canada and accuse the country of not maintaining its forests. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[A]

Federal health officials improperly shared Medicaid data with ICE in January, and the federal immigration agency then shared that data with contractor PlanetIR. NPR's Jude Joffe block reports.

[E]

Palantir pulls together various data sources in an app that ICE officers can use to locate immigrants home addresses. Last year, more than 20 states sued to stop federal health officials from sharing Medicaid data with ice. A federal judge ruled Medicaid officials could share limited data about immigrants in the country unlike. But the judge put the agreement on hold this spring after it came out that health officials had shared two data sets that were not limited to unlawful immigrants data. In recent weeks, federal officials acknowledged inadvertently resharing one of those data sets again with ICE. Last month, ICE officials said in court filings the data in question was not used for law enforcement purposes. Jude Joffe Block, NPR News.

[A]

And the disclosure of the shared data was revealed in a recent federal court filing. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A massive fire in Norway is now the country's largest in modern times, destroying more than 100 homes. Authorities say the fire started yesterday in a townhouse in Drammen and spread to a nearby forest. Firefighters are continuing to work on controlling the blaze. Today. Hundreds of people have been evacuated to a center, but no residents have been reported missing. The cause of the fire remains unpleasant, clear and is under investigation. Dramond is located about 21 miles southwest of Oslo. The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's film based on Homer's epic poem, has set sail to bigger box office numbers than was expected. NPR's Bob Mondello has more.

[F]

Tell me, O muse, of that many sided hero who traveled far and wide.

[G]

Help me go home.

[F]

The Greek poet Homer gets a co screenwriting credit for the Odyssey, appropriate as his epic tale has been captivating audiences for centuries. But in exit polls, moviegoers say they're lining up for the director and the spectacle.

[G]

No one could stand between me and home.

[F]

Christopher Nolan shot the film entirely on IMAX cameras, a first for Hollywood and at some theaters where the film is showing in 70 millimeter seats for this weekend sold out a year ago, the film was expected to open to about $85 million in North America, but estimates now range upwards from 120 million. With no other studio films opening, The Odyssey's main competition is Sunday's World cup final. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[A]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.