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5 min readNPR News Now: July 13, 2026 — 1PM EDT
This afternoon's NPR News Now episode covers a dense mix of breaking political developments, legal actions, and public health warnings. The dominant thread is a cascade of political upheaval: the death of Senator Lindsey Graham triggers a special election in South Carolina, a Democratic Senate nominee in Maine is replaced under murky circumstances, and a dozen Democratic state attorneys general are suing to block a major media merger. A federal judge also recommended sanctions against President Trump in an IRS lawsuit, while South Korea's former president received a prison sentence.
Democratic States Sue to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger
A dozen Democratic state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit to block Paramount from acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, citing anti-competitive concerns. The merger would give the Trump-allied Ellison family control over some of the country's largest movie studios, television newsrooms, and other entertainment properties. The lawsuit argues the deal would concentrate too much media power in the hands of a single political ally of the former president, potentially distorting competition across film production, broadcast news, and streaming. The case is likely to test antitrust law in an era of rapid media consolidation.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:21) **Democratic AGs Sue to Block Paramount-WBD Merger** - A dozen Democratic state attorneys general file an antitrust lawsuit to stop Paramount from acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery.
- 2 (00:40) **South Carolina Prepares for Special GOP Senate Primary** - A special primary election will be held to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
- 3 (01:02) **Blumenthal Urges Passage of Russia Sanctions Bill in Graham's Memory** - Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal says he and Graham were pushing for sanctions to pressure Putin to the peace table.
- 4 (01:31) **Update on Senator Mitch McConnell's Health** - Republicans break weeks of silence about why McConnell was hospitalized.
- 5 (01:44) **Maine Democrats Scramble to Replace Senate Nominee** - The Maine Democratic Party has two weeks to select a new candidate to replace Senate nominee Graham Platner.
- 6 (02:39) **Court Recommends Sanctions Over Trump IRS Lawsuit** - A federal judge finds President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS sought to use the system to legitimize a nearly $1.8 billion tax backcomb.
- 7 (02:58) **Former South Korean President Sentenced to Prison** - Former president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to two years in prison for election-related corruption.
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