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Today’s best stories
Democrat Scott Colom won US Senate seat from Mississippidefeating Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by only a few thousand votes. Colom will be the state’s first Black senator in nearly 150 years. His victory brings the Democratic majority in the new Congress to 55 seats. The race in Alaska is still undecided.
Scott Colom speaks with attendees during an event at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, Mississippi, August 1, 2026.
Sarah Warnock/AP
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Sarah Warnock/AP
- 🎧 Colom’s victory highlights voters’ growing concerns about affordability and the impact of the war in Iran, says Elise Catrion Gregg of Gulf States Newsroom and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. First. During her campaign, Hyde-Smith relied on her record and the support of President Trump, which Gregg said is no longer a winning strategy. This race signals a potential shift nationally, showing that the South is becoming a viable target for Democrats, Gregg says.
- ➡️ A U.S. Supreme Court ruling this year weakened the Voting Rights Act.raising the possibility of a record decline in black representation in Congress. The Democratic blue wave has mitigated the expected decline, but an NPR analysis shows that Black representation in the House of Representatives is still expected to decline as Congress takes over.
The White House warns Democrats that their planned investigations administration officials could cross the line into “blatant criminality.” White House counsel Will Scharf said in a letter to Rep. Robert Garcia, who is expected to lead the House Oversight Committee next year, that the administration was monitoring “abusive and capricious threats” from Democrats. The letter concludes by saying that “the Administration will not be extorted or intimidated by unlawful processes motivated by animosity, pettiness, hatred, or any other unlawful motive intended to intimidate, penalize, or interfere with the lawful operation of government.” Garcia said Democrats won’t be deterred by threats from the Justice Department or Trump’s lawyers.
- 🎧 The administration’s arguments could buy time and push Democrats to go to court to enforce their subpoenas, says NPR’s Tamara Keith. She adds that the White House letter provides a preview of legal arguments the administration could use next year. But more importantly, Keith says it indicates that the White House and Justice Department won’t take Congressional investigations and oversight without a fight.
Russia and Ukraine agree to major prisoner swap after two days of talks in Abu Dhabi under American mediation. Trump envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are in Moscow today to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and try to make further progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.
- 🎧 NPR’s Charles Maynes said that ahead of the talks in Abu Dhabi, U.S. officials were considering Article 5-style guarantees for Ukraine, similar to NATO’s collective security defense. A move like this would be significant if implemented, but Moscow has already rejected the concept of Ukraine’s “lite” status and full NATO membership. Kushner said that in Moscow his goal was to inform Putin directly and persuade him to involve Europeans in discussions about European security. European leaders, concerned about possible deals made without their input, are expected to join Kushner and Witkoff after those talks, when they meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ireland.
Look at this
Abdul El-Sayed sits down for an NPR News actors interview.
Bronson Arcuri/NPR
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Bronson Arcuri/NPR
Meet face to face with the person of the moment. NPR News actors The video podcast brings the biggest names in politics, business, sports, arts and culture out of the headlines and into interviews to discuss the mark they leave on the world. Follow it News actors podcast or subscribe to NPR YouTube Channel to get new episodes as they become available.
Abdul El-Sayed made history as the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate. The 42-year-old progressive from Michigan is already calling for a new direction for his party and urging President Trump to collaborate on concrete solutions. El-Sayed said voters have temporarily put Democrats in power, but he warns they risk losing that trust if they don’t act boldly. As the senator-elect steps into his new role, he is advocating for new Democratic leadership in Congress, an end to the war in Iran, passage of “Medicare for All” and the abolition of ICE. While he recognizes the challenge Senate Democrats face with a majority that is just a few seats away from being filibuster-proof, he remains open to working with his new Republican colleagues. In conversation with Morning editionIn Leila Fadel, El-Sayed reflects on the recent elections, the future of the Democratic Party, and the need for effective legislation in the years to come.
Watch or listen to the interview or read the article about their discussion.
Deep dive
Ford Motor vehicles are displayed for sale at the Leif Johnson Ford dealership June 30 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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Brandon Bell/Getty Images
The average price of a new vehicle in the United States has reached an all-time high of $51,109, according to Kelley Blue Book. This figure is about $500 higher than the previous record set in December 2025. For years, car prices have remained high, mainly due to supply chain issues resulting from the pandemic. But there is good news: while this new high is a record, it only represents a 2.1% increase over the past year. This means that the price increases more slowly. If you’re in the market for a car, here’s what you need to know:
- 🚗 Used cars are also more expensive. The average used car now costs nearly $27.00, or 6% more than last year, according to Cox Automotive.
- 🚗 New vehicles cost more in part because it takes more money for automakers to make them. Tariffs on steel, aluminum and products imported from Canada affect U.S. automakers, which assemble vehicles on both sides of the border. Computer chips used in sensors and electronics also cost more, due to competing demands from data centers.
- 🚗 Americans tend to prefer larger vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks, which often have a higher price tag, according to Kelley Blue Book.
- 🚗 Today’s drivers tend not to want entry-level cars. Instead, they’re increasingly drawn to more expensive features, like 360-degree cameras, heated seats and parking assist systems.
3 things to know before you leave
American actor Stacy Keach poses on May 15, 2018 during a photocall for the film “Gotti” at the 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival, in the south of France.
Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images
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Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP via Getty Images
- Actor Stacy Keach has died at the age of 85 after a long battle with serious heart disease and heart failure. His various roles included police officers, cowboys and Shakespearean characters.
- On this week’s Far-Flung Postcards, NPR’s Ricci Shryock sends greetings from Senegal, where breakdancers are training for their country’s historic hosting of the Youth Olympic Games.
- The largest independent newspaper in Russia, Novaya Gazetais closing its doors after more than 30 years due to pressure from the Kremlin due to the war in Ukraine and censorship laws.
This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.
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