Iran war; Ebola; California tank; Pope Leo on AI : NPR

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Today’s top stories

President Trump and other administration officials are managing expectations about a potential agreement to end the war in Iran. Iran has not formally responded to the proposed deal, but semi-official news outlets indicate that disagreements on “one or two” issues could threaten the negotiations. After discussions with leaders from several Gulf countries and Israel on Saturday, Trump stated that the U.S. and Iran have “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, on Sunday, he posted on social media that the U.S. would not rush into an agreement. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said that if an agreement is reached, talks on nuclear issues with the U.S. would begin over a 60-day period. Senior official Hossein Nooshabadi added that this period would start following a 30-day initial agreement regarding the Strait.

• 🎧 NPR’s Mara Liasson reports that Iran is strongly opposed to discussing its nuclear program. Republicans who supported the strike on Iran have been highly critical of the potential deal, Liasson adds. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina urged Trump to “stick to your guns in getting a good deal with Iran.” Liasson notes that a deal might aid Republicans in the upcoming elections. Democrats appear to have an edge when voters are asked about their preferences in the generic ballot, but the Democratic Party’s image remains unfavorable. Democrats in competitive districts need to differentiate themselves from their party, just as Republicans need to distance themselves from Trump, Liasson says.
• 🎧 The U.S. has made it clear that Iran must allow ships to pass through the Strait as part of the agreement, according to NPR’s Aya Batrawy. Iran also insists that the U.S. unfreeze its assets held in foreign banks and that Israel cease its conflict in Lebanon with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Gulf Arab states have suffered significantly from the war and have been severely affected by Iran. Approximately 2 million pilgrims are currently performing the hajj in Saudi Arabia, increasing the urgency of avoiding renewed conflict to ensure their safety. There is growing pressure to finalize a deal, as the war has not softened Iran’s stance, Batrawy reports.

Recent figures from the Congolese government reveal that more than 200 people have died due to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health workers have logged over 900 suspected cases. The virus is rapidly spreading across eastern Congo, a region larger than Florida. Ongoing conflicts between armed groups and national armies are complicating efforts to contain the disease. The World Health Organization warns that the risk of the virus spreading quickly throughout the country is very high. This outbreak involves a rare strain of Ebola that lacks an approved vaccine or treatment.

• 🎧 Chaos and poor infrastructure in eastern Congo are complicating the outbreak amid severe violence, says reporter Emmet Livingstone. Four different national armies are engaged in combat on the ground, with the largest conflict involving the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. Some virus cases have been confirmed in the area. Aid groups are grappling with distrust in healthcare, historical issues, and misinformation, alongside a critical shortage of PPE and medical supplies. U.S. aid cuts have further exacerbated the situation, Livingstone notes.

Approximately 50,000 residents in Garden Grove, Calif., remained under evacuation orders yesterday as emergency response teams managed a potentially explosive situation at the GKN Aerospace manufacturing plant. Late Saturday, firefighters identified a potential crack in a tank at the facility. Orange County Fire Division Chief Craig Covey stated that a crack in the tank might be a favorable outcome. While not ideal, it would be preferable for the chemicals to leak out slowly rather than explode. This tank contains about 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly toxic and flammable chemical used in the production of resins and plastics. Emergency responders say the incident began on Thursday when chemicals in a tank at the facility started exceeding safe temperature limits. Authorities evacuated residents to protect them from the risk of a large explosion and the harmful fumes it could produce. Since the fire department cannot predict the direction in which the fumes might move, they had to clear a wide area around the plant.

Pope Leo XIV addressed the rise of artificial intelligence today in his first encyclical, a major teaching intended for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Leo’s “Magnificent Humanity” urges Catholics to engage in shaping AI ethics rather than leaving it in the hands of wealthy tech elites.

• 🎧 Pope Leo is concerned that Silicon Valley is promoting the idea of a hybrid human-machine world, says Claire Giangrave, Vatican correspondent for NPR’s partner organization Religion News Service. Giangrave states that the pope views AI as a new Industrial Revolution and believes the Catholic Church can guide society toward a more human and humane future. The pope describes a new form of colonialism, where people’s data and information are exploited. He calls it “one of the most urgent moral challenges of our time” and argues that governments and international organizations must establish laws and regulations around AI use. While some AI companies resist any regulation of AI development, others in Silicon Valley are actively seeking guidance from religious traditions as they navigate new and unexpected technological advancements, Giangrave says.

Church and State

View of the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial on July 3, 2006, in San Diego, California. The cross is the centerpiece of the memorial, which sits atop a mountain overlooking San Diego.
Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images
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Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

This week at NPR, we’re going to explore the increased intermixing of God and government in a new series we’re calling Church and State. It’s an idea that has been gaining momentum through the first and second Trump administrations, not only within U.S. politics but also throughout American culture, in songs and paintings, schoolbooks and worship events infused with faith and politics.

In a new survey, Americans say religion is gaining greater influence over the United States’ government. Most respondents expressed discomfort with the rising influence. NPR religion correspondent Jason DeRose says the Church and State project was developed following his team’s coverage of actions by the Trump administration that warranted further exploration. Among those topics is a recent Department of Justice report on anti-Christian bias, which highlights policy differences stemming from animosity towards Christians. Additionally, earlier this month, the administration hosted a prayer service on the National Mall, where cabinet members prayed in front of a giant cross.

On Morning Edition, DeRose shares insights into the stories that will be featured in the Church and State series this week and explains why his team pursued this project.

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