NPR News: 05-08-2026 8PM EDT

Middle East tensions escalated as the U.S. military fired on and disabled two Iranian oil tankers following an exchange of fire with Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates separately reported a missile strike and drone attack. These incidents undermine a ceasefire in place for about a month, which U.S. officials maintain is still active. The Trump administration is monitoring Tehran's response to its latest proposal to end the war.

Federal Corruption Office Dismantled

President Trump is dismantling a key federal office, the public integrity section, which investigates and prosecutes corruption allegations. NPR's Ryan Lucas notes that its absence will hit hardest outside Washington, particularly in smaller states and rural areas where it provided resources and expertise for local cases. An example is the conviction of a former police officer in a small Pennsylvania town for bribery and using his position to obtain sex from two people. Experts warn that without this section, such abuses of power by state and local officials will likely go unchecked.