Layla Fadel

3American service members have been killed in the Middle east since Friday.

Michelle Martin

The U.S. retaliated with more attacks on Iranian targets. And the war shows no signs of winding down.

Layla Fadel

I'm Layla Fadel. That's Michelle Martin. And this is up first from NPR News. House Republicans have one week left before they head home for the August recess. Speaker Mike Johnson wants more defense money, a stock trading ban for lawmakers and President Trump's election bill. But none of these goals address the rising cost of living voters care about most.

Michelle Martin

And Annie Burnham is Britain's new prime minister.

Eric McDaniel

I am ready.

Michelle Martin

He takes over for Keir Starmer after he was pushed out of office. They're both from the same party, so are their policies any different? Stay with us. We'll give you news you need to start your day.

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Michelle Martin

Three U.S. personnel have now been killed in military operations in the Iran war since Friday, the latest during a controlled detonation in Iraq.

Layla Fadel

The US has continued its waves of attacks against Iran, bombing it for nine straight nights.

Michelle Martin

NPS Jane Araf is with us now from Amman, Jordan. Good morning, Jane.

Jane Araf

Good morning, Michelle.

Michelle Martin

So what has US Central Command said about this most recent death?

Jane Araf

Well, CENTCOM says that a service member was killed in a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. That's when explosive experts try to disable explosives by deliberately detonating them. Obviously something seems to have gone wrong there. The Kurdistan region has come under heavy attack by both Iran and Iraqi Iran backed militias, both because of the US Presence and because of the presence of the Iranian Kurdish armed opposition there. CENTCOM also says it found remains, human remains, at a base in Jordan that it is working to identify. Two other military personnel were killed at the same base Friday, and CENTCOM isn't saying yet whether those remains are believed to be a service member it reported missing in that strike. With these deaths, it makes 17 U.S. military personnel now reported killed and 430 wounded. Iran says at least 3,000 Iranians have been killed since the U.S. and Israel started the war on February 28, many of them civilians. Iran also says almost 27,000 Iranians have been wounded in attacks.

Michelle Martin

Wow, that's noteworthy. There's many, many more wounded than we've reported the fatalities. So. So what is happening in Iran today?

Jane Araf

Well, Iran says several cities were struck overnight. The US Last week attacked Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and electrical installations. Iran said it would respond with attacks in kind, and it has been hitting electrical infrast and water desalinization plants in Kuwait. And it's been striking targets in Bahrain as well. Today.

Michelle Martin

A lot of this is about keeping control of the Strait of Hormuz, which is that major oil shipping channel, about keeping that open, oil and other goods as well. What is the latest on that?

Jane Araf

Iran says it disabled two tankers that were trying to pass through the strait without its permission. Those claims could not be immediately verified, but it has vowed that, quote, not a drop of oil will pass through while the US Is attacking it. IT and oil prices are up again this morning.

Michelle Martin

Let's get back to Jordan, which is where you are. What is happening there, and why is Jordan involved in this?

Jane Araf

Well, definitely does not want to be involved. It's a small, vulnerable country, but it's also a security partner of the US and it has a peace treaty with neighboring Israel. So there's a large US Military presence at Jordanian bases here. Most Jordanians never see them because they're quite remote. But on Sunday, the US Embassy issued a warning saying there were threats against Aqaba, a tourist resort. Jordan denied that, but Iran a short while later struck an airport compound, hitting U.S. targets. There were no reports of casualties, and the airport was operating normally today.

Michelle Martin

That is NPR's Jane Araf in Amman, Jordan. Jane, thank you.

Jane Araf

Thank you.

Michelle Martin

The House has just one week left before lawmakers head back to their districts for the August recess.

Layla Fadel

House Speaker Mike Johnson has a lot he wants to get done in that week. More money for defense, the president's election integrity bill, a stock trading ban for lawmakers, and extending funding for the federal government past the general election in November.

Michelle Martin

NPR Congress reporter Eric McDaniel is here with us to tell us more. Good morning, Eric.

Eric McDaniel

Hey, glad to be here.

Michelle Martin

You know, some of the things on that list are politically sensitive. We're just a few months away from the midterm elections. You've been reporting on this. Are lawmakers willing to take these tough votes?

Eric McDaniel

Yeah, just a few months away from the midterms. But let's also talk about the moment we're in now. President Trump is again escalating his war with Iran. More American troops have died. Gas prices as of this morning are again over $4 according to AAA. And polling shows the cost of living and affordability are Americans chief concerns. And that's the context that Republicans have with maybe a two vote margin in the House when they're hoping to take votes on the president's priorities before they head home to sell their record to constituents in hopes of getting reelected. Now, gerrymandering and partisan sorting all mean that fewer lawmakers are actually at risk of losing their jobs than you might assume. But when the margin of control on Washington is so slim, there are still maybe a dozen or so Republicans who are probably sweating the idea of casting a vote to, say, give billions more to an expanding war effort as part of what's known as a reconciliation bill without anything new to pay for that spending when political headwinds are already blowing against them.

Michelle Martin

Eric, aren't there more popular things on the agenda, too? I think the congressional stock trading ban and, you know, voter ID requirements, my recollection is that those are backed by pretty big majorities and polls.

Eric McDaniel

Yeah, that's right. And I think there's a chance that that combined bill could narrowly pass if Speaker Mike Johnson can convince Republicans to stay united on a procedural step required before the final vote. That's a big if. And it's doomed in the Senate, where, unlike the reconciliation bill, it requires a full 60 votes to pass. Some Republicans have objections because this version of the stock trading ban allows members to keep the stocks they already own, which in theory means they could still be swayed to vote in their own interests rather than in the interests of their constituents. Democrats also share that concern, and many of them also oppose the voter ID requirements.

Michelle Martin

What about the proposal to fund the government through the November election?

Eric McDaniel

Republicans are worried that Democrats will not cooperate on funding the government before the current deadline at the end of September. Republicans want to go ahead and lock in current funding levels now for a few months in order to avoid an election time shutdown. They still might face objections from people in their own party who want to use the leverage of a pre election deadline to extract concessions for their own pet projects like reducing government spending or any number of other things.

Michelle Martin

Has President Trump weighed in on any of this?

Eric McDaniel

The president cares about Congress doing one thing and one thing only. That's passing his Save America Act. It's an election integrity bill. As evidenced by his speech last Thursday, the president's laser focused on the idea that there was and remains rampant election fraud in the United States. I should say Republican and Democratic election officials all around the country say that's just not true. But House Republicans are attaching the Save America act to lots of unrelated legislation in order to try and force the Senate to pass it. That won't work. The Senate would again require 60 votes to pass it. There are only 53 Republicans, only 52 voting right now. With Mitch McConnell's extended absence, Democrats don't support the bill, meaning they're not going to add to that math. Congress is, as Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune says, bound by arithmetic.

Michelle Martin

That is NPR Congress reporter Eric McDaniel. Eric, thank you.

Eric McDaniel

Thanks so much.

Michelle Martin

The United Kingdom gets a new prime minister today.

Layla Fadel

Keir Starmer is out. Andy Burnham is in. Burnham is the UK's seventh prime minister in 10 years. That's when Britain's voted to exit the European Union and triggered lots of turmoil.

Michelle Martin

Let's Turn now to NPR's Lauren Frayer in London. Lauren, good morning.

Lauren Frayer

Good morning.

Michelle Martin

So tell us about the new prime minister.

Lauren Frayer

Well, Burnham is no stranger to the halls of power in Westminster. He actually served in parliament for 16 years, but it was as mayor of Manchester, ironically a local post that gave him a national reputation. He brought economic growth to that once gritty city and he pledges to do the same nationally. He's from the north of England, advocated for blue collar workers there, especially during COVID His social media videos have been compared to New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani's. And Paul show is one of the most popular politicians here right now.

Michelle Martin

Have you had a chance to meet him?

Lauren Frayer

I have not. I have my interview request in though, but I've been up in Manchester talking to people who know him, including Rose Marley, who first met Burnham on the indie music scene and became one of his advisors.

Jane Araf

She recalls her first impression, the original

Michelle Martin

kind of idea of like say this suited Westminster kind of MP went out the window very quickly, started wearing his trainers and his T shirts and started DJing.

Lauren Frayer

Burnham actually used to moonlight as a DJ in Manchester. Now unclear if he'll have time for that as Prime Minister now?

Michelle Martin

I don't know. Well, we'll see. Maybe he'll invite you to a rave. I hope so. What does he pledge to do in terms of policy?

Lauren Frayer

So that is less clear? I mean, this has all happened quickly. As Starmer's approval ratings tanked, the ruling Labor Party sort of cast around for a replacement. Burnham returned to Parliament last month, only became head of the ruling Labor Party just on Friday. And then he gave a speech sort

Eric McDaniel

of in I am ready, ready to lead and to build on the foundation laid by one person more than any other.

Lauren Frayer

He said he'll build on Starmer's work. You know, they're from the same party and share roughly the same politics.

Michelle Martin

So is this more of a change in, I don't know, personality or style rather than policy?

Lauren Frayer

Yes. I mean, Burnham has said he'll devolve power away from the capital London, toward municipal and regional authorities. And there have been rumors that he might lift a ban on new North Sea oil drilling permits. He has not announced anything yet, but President Trump has jumped on that. Yesterday, Trump wrote on social media that people in Scotland's oil hub Aberdeen are dancing in the streets. Now, there's no evidence of that, but Trump also wrote that North Sea oil drilling would transform the UK from a, quote, poverty stricken disaster.

Michelle Martin

And what about US UK ties overall? Is there any sense of whether Burnham will change that?

Lauren Frayer

So managing relations with Trump is something that Starmer really struggled with. I mean, he tried to be a Trump whisperer. He enlisted King Charles to do the same. Starmer did win a more favorable trade deal with the US than some other European allies. But then he took a pretty strong stance against the US and Israeli war on Iran. And Trump soured on Starmer, criticized him for, amongst other things, immigration policies. Trump administration officials have voiced support for the far right here. So that is something Burnham will have to contend with along with rising costs of living, slow growth, you know, all the things that Sty meets Darmer, that

Michelle Martin

is NPR's Lauren Freyr and Lunda. Lauren, thank you.

Lauren Frayer

You're welcome.

Michelle Martin

And finally the World cup champion was crowned. Yesterday Spain beat Argentina 1 nil in the final.

Layla Fadel

The winning goal came late in extra time, denying Argentina back to back titles. It's not clear if this will be the World cup for 39 year old Argentinian star Lionel Messi. Now Spain looks like soccer's new dynasty.

Michelle Martin

They've gone unbeaten in 38 straight matches. And with their 19 year old star Lamine Yamal, the Spanish men's squad could just be getting started. This is the first time a country has held both the men's and Women's World cup titles simultaneous. Before you go, this week on THE Sunday Story, we feature reporting from NPR's Frank Langfit on an infertility doctor who secretly fathered dozens of children After a DNA test revealed a family secret, question started swirling.

Jane Araf

Where am I in the universe? And I had a desperate need to

Michelle Martin

find out the truth. Brought dozens of strangers together, the secret offspring of a fertility doctor. Listen now to the Sunday story from the upverse podcast on the NPR App Foreign. For Monday, July 20th. I'm Michelle Martin.

Layla Fadel

And I'm Layla Foden. Today's episode of up first was edited by Tina Kraia, Brett Neely, Tara Neal, Mohamed Albertisi and Taylor Haney. It was produced by Ziad Buch and Nia Dumas. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Hyness. Our technical director is Carly Straight Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

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Jane Araf

DNA test revealed a family secret, questions started swirling. Where am I in the universe? And I had a desperate need to find out the truth. Brought dozens of strangers together, the secret family of a fertility doctor. Listen now to the Sunday story from the upfirst podcast on the NPR app.