NPR News: 05-05-2026 3PM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast covers U.S. international tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, domestic personnel changes at the State Department, proposed funding for a presidential ballroom amid security concerns, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to reduce antidepressant use, primary elections testing President Trump's sway in Indiana, and a new augmented reality tool for better livestock handling.

Strait of Hormuz and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth defended U.S. efforts to force open the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, while stressing that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire remains in effect. He stated that American forces have no need to enter Iranian waters or airspace, emphasizing, "We're not looking for a fight," but insisted Iran cannot block innocent countries and their goods from this international waterway. The ongoing disruptions have driven worldwide fuel prices sharply higher, highlighting the strait’s role in global energy supplies and the risks of blockages to trade-dependent economies.