NPR News: 04-12-2026 10PM EDT

Rory McIlroy slipped into his second consecutive green jacket on Sunday, but the biggest news of the day came from California, where a leading candidate for governor abruptly dropped out of the race. The NPR News Now update for April 12, 2026, covers the collapse of Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, a dramatic U.S. threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, fuel protests paralyzing Ireland, and a cold snap that has devastated cherry crops in the Pacific Northwest.

Swalwell Suspends Campaign After Misconduct Allegations

California Congressman Eric Swalwell ended his campaign for governor on Sunday, following allegations of sexual misconduct made by former female staff members. In a post on X, Swalwell said he was suspending a campaign that, according to NPR’s Scott Schaefer, “has been imploding since multiple women alleged” misconduct. Swalwell had been gaining significant momentum in the race, winning key endorsements and leading other Democrats in pre-election polls. That changed rapidly when more than fifty former staff members called on him to resign his seat in Congress and quit the race for governor. In his statement, Swalwell expressed deep sorrow for what he called his “mistakes in judgment” but denied the allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. His sudden departure adds further turmoil to a race that now has no clear leader with the election set for June