NPR News: 05-06-2026 10PM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast from May 6, 2026, rounds up key developments including a pause in U.S. military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran War, expanded Medicare access to weight loss drugs, fresh details on OpenAI's leadership turmoil, and a mix of domestic policy shifts, accidents, and market updates.

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Crisis Paused

More than two months into the Iran War, hundreds of vessels remain stuck in the Persian Gulf, with shipping companies facing mounting costs and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz reopening. President Trump announced a U.S. military effort called Project Freedom to guide ships through the strait but abruptly paused it to allow time for a deal to end the war. NPR's Ayesha Batrawi reports the change surprised nearly everyone, including Israel, which had prepared for escalation and was not briefed beforehand. Trump cited great progress toward a final deal with Iran. Regional pressure played a role: Pakistan's former prime minister, mediating between the U.S. and Iran, thanked Trump on X and noted he and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had urged the pause to prioritize reconciliation.