NPR News: 05-12-2026 1AM EDT

President Trump has proposed suspending the federal gas tax in response to surging pump prices driven by the Iran war, now in its eleventh week. Other headlines include returning cruise passengers quarantined for hantavirus, a Supreme Court order preserving abortion pill access, the US rejection of a UN migration compact, and mixed Asian stock performance.

Gas Tax Proposal Amid War-Driven Price Spike

The Iran war has disrupted global energy markets, pushing regular gasoline prices from under $3 per gallon pre-bombardment to $4.52 now—a 50% increase. An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows eight in ten Americans reporting strained budgets from these costs, with 63% blaming Trump. In response, the White House is seeking a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax—18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel—which requires congressional approval. Trump cannot act unilaterally.

Bipartisan support exists: North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven indicated willingness, though he emphasized broader measures. Massachusetts Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren urged Republicans to invoke the War Powers Act to limit Trump and curb gas costs. Trump dismissed Iran's reply to a US ceasefire proposal as "garbage," placing talks on life support. His upcoming China trip, focused on trade stability, will likely address the conflict given China's purchases of Iranian oil.