NPR News: 05-06-2026 6PM EDT

The latest NPR News Now broadcast highlights the widening economic ripple effects of the ongoing Iran War, alongside a fresh poll capturing President Trump's deepest political slump tied to those costs. It also covers congressional scrutiny of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a multinational search for two missing U.S. soldiers in Morocco, a new study linking post-surgery steps to better recovery, and a promotional stunt by Fox Sports for the Men's World Cup.

Iran War Disrupts Supply Chains and Household Costs

Economists report that the financial fallout from the Iran War extends far beyond gasoline prices, hitting shipping, freight, and oil markets in ways that inflate everyday household goods. Supply chain professor Jason Miller from Michigan State University explains that many products depend on petrochemicals for plastics and packaging. Plastic prices are rising, which will soon make food wrapping and snack paperboard more expensive for consumers. Ships have rerouted to avoid the Strait of Hormuz for nearly 10 weeks, causing backlogs that could persist for months. These disruptions mean price hikes on household items may not subside quickly, as untangling global freight delays takes extended time.