NPR News: 05-04-2026 9PM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast from May 4, 2026, covers a range of developments including President Trump's defense of his economic policies amid declining public approval tied to the ongoing war with Iran, redistricting controversies in Republican-led Southern states, a congressional bill targeting exploitative veterans' claims firms, Rudy Giuliani's serious health setback, weak hotel bookings ahead of the World Cup, and new findings about a tiny distant world's atmosphere.

Trump's Economic Remarks Amid Falling Approval

At a White House Small Business Summit, President Trump promoted his economic agenda while addressing public frustration over the war with Iran, now in its sixth week. Trump dismissed criticism about the conflict's length by comparing it to longer U.S. engagements like Vietnam, which lasted 19 years, and Iraq, which ran 10 to 12 years. NPR reporting notes that Americans' outlook on the economy and Trump's handling of it has worsened, with his approval ratings on economic issues dropping even among his supporters. Trump also criticized recent Supreme Court rulings against several of his tariff policies, insisting that those tariffs had enriched the United States. This comes as broader sentiment shifts, highlighting tensions between his economic messaging and the costs of prolonged military action.