NPR News: 07-18-2026 11AM EDT
Summary
This NPR News Now episode covers escalating airstrikes between the U.S. and Iran, with analysis on the conflict's impact on midterm elections. It also reports on severe wildfire smoke affecting air quality in North America and a data privacy controversy involving Medicaid records shared with ICE. Additionally, the broadcast highlights protests against AI data centers, an Ebola outbreak in the DRC hindered by armed conflict, and India’s first private orbital rocket launch.
Topics discussed
U.S.-Iran airstrikes and midterm election impact
Wildfire smoke and evacuations in Canada and U.S.
Medicaid data sharing with ICE and Palantir
Protests against AI data center construction
Ebola outbreak and conflict in DRC
India's first private orbital rocket launch
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