NPR News: 05-04-2026 1PM EDT

US Navy escorts ships through Strait of Hormuz amid blockade tensions.
The US military reported that Navy destroyers helped two US-flagged commercial ships transit the Strait of Hormuz, marking an initial step in supporting vessels blocked by Iran. President Trump announced plans to assist ships trapped in the Gulf but gave no specifics on actions. Iranian state media, meanwhile, quoted a top official warning that Iran would target oil tankers and commercial ships failing to coordinate passage beforehand. These dueling US and Iranian blockades have effectively closed the strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.

Supreme Court restores mail access to abortion pill Mifepristone—for now.
The Supreme Court temporarily allowed mail delivery of Mifepristone after a lower court last week restricted nationwide access, requiring in-person pickup and sparking lawsuits and confusion. Acting for the court, Justice Sam Alito extended mail access for at least another week while justices review emergency petitions from drug makers. Medication abortions, which make up nearly two-thirds of US procedures, often reach patients in rural areas or states with bans via mail. This follows the court's 2022 Dobbs decision, written by Alito, which ended the national right to abortion.