/npr-breaking-news NPR Breaking News en-US SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ä± Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT /national-politics/2026-07-04/cautiously-optimistic-swing-voters-describe-their-view-of-america-at-250 As America turns 250, voters from our Swing Shift project talk about the state of the country. Their views ranged from "uncertain" and "concerned" to "excited" and "cautiously optimistic." Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT /national-politics/2026-07-04/cautiously-optimistic-swing-voters-describe-their-view-of-america-at-250 Tamara Keith /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-04/cape-verdes-historic-world-cup-ride-ends-after-pushing-argentina-to-the-brink Cape Verde didn't win a match at the World Cup, and somehow, that didn't seem to matter. The African team's debut on this stage was unforgettable. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:44:19 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-04/cape-verdes-historic-world-cup-ride-ends-after-pushing-argentina-to-the-brink The Associated Press /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-04/iran-begins-dayslong-funeral-for-the-late-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei Iran began a dayslong funeral Saturday for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after an airstrike killed him at the start of the war. He was 86. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:04:16 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-04/iran-begins-dayslong-funeral-for-the-late-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei The Associated Press /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-04/reflections-on-americas-250th-birthday NPR member station reporters across the U.S. asked people how they are thinking about their country on its semiquincentennial. Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-04/reflections-on-americas-250th-birthday Susan Bence, John Burnett, Sofi Gratas, Deena Prichep, Maayan Silver, Ryan Warner, David Wright /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/the-parade-of-presidents-has-been-going-since-1976-meet-the-woman-who-keeps-it-going On the main street of Cuba City, Wisc., there's a Parade of Presidents, with decorative shields for each President, begun as a bicentennial project in 1976. Donna Rogers keeps it all going. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:19:56 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/the-parade-of-presidents-has-been-going-since-1976-meet-the-woman-who-keeps-it-going Susan Bence /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/kerrville-locals-mark-first-anniversary-of-catastrophic-flood-in-central-texas Residents from Kerrville mark the somber first anniversary of the catastrophic flood that brought death and destruction to communities along the Guadalupe River in central Texas. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:11:39 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/kerrville-locals-mark-first-anniversary-of-catastrophic-flood-in-central-texas Sarah K. Grunau /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/after-weeks-of-speculation-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-wed-in-new-york Superfans and sleuths appear to have their hunches confirmed on Friday, as dozens of black cars dropped off elegantly dressed guests outside of Madison Square Garden in New York City. The wedding bash is expected to last into Saturday morning. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:03:00 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/after-weeks-of-speculation-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-wed-in-new-york Rachel Treisman, Vanessa Romo, Brian Mann /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/taylor-swift-and-travis-kelce-are-confirmed-to-be-getting-married-at-msg-tonight Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are expected to tie the knot Friday night. We'll tell you how things are looking around Madison Square Garden, the venue where the nuptials are set to take place. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:56:07 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/taylor-swift-and-travis-kelce-are-confirmed-to-be-getting-married-at-msg-tonight Brian Mann /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/irans-control-of-the-strait-of-hormuz-remains-a-powerful-bargaining-chip Despite efforts by U.S. negotiators, Iran says it wants to charge a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. It's yet another unresolved issue of the U.S.-Iran war. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:51:04 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/irans-control-of-the-strait-of-hormuz-remains-a-powerful-bargaining-chip Aya Batrawy, Tom Bowman /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/how-air-conditioning-has-changed-in-portland-since-2021s-heat-dome In 2021, a devastating heat wave blanketed the pacific northwest, smashing records. How has AC access changed since then in Portland, one of the major cities affected. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:51:01 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2026-07-03/how-air-conditioning-has-changed-in-portland-since-2021s-heat-dome Monica Samayoa