US and Iran Trade Strikes After Brief Pause, Fauci Pleads The Fifth, New Asylum Rule

Up First from NPR

The episode covers escalating U.S.-Iran tensions following retaliatory airstrikes after an Iranian attack on a Jordanian base that killed three U.S. soldiers; Dr. Anthony Fauci invokes the Fifth Amendment 100+ times duri

Key takeaways

• U.S. Central Command launched airstrikes on Iran targeting military command centers and missile facilities in retaliation for an attack on a Jordanian base that killed three U.S. soldiers

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) Happy Thursday, I have something I'd like to share with you, and it's actually from a listener like you. Michael from St. Louis says, I listen to Up First every morning. I think it is important to have detailed and factual information that is not owned by corporations, but is instead supported by people like me. And it's true. NPR has no corporate owners, no shareholders. We serve you, the public. And that means that public media needs supporters to continue its mission of creating a more informed public. Our July fundraiser ends tomorrow. So help us end this month strong. Head to donate.npr.org and give today. And thank you. The U.S. launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran overnight. It's in retaliation to a foiled surprise attack on U.S. bases in Jordan. Do the attacks and counterattacks mean a return to all-out war? I'm Michelle Martin. That's Laila Faddle, and this is up first from NPR News. Republican Senator Rand Paul wants to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt. Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a contentious Senate hearing. Why did he refuse to answer any questions? And a new Trump administration rule is making it even harder to seek asylum. What you're really seeing is a concerted attack on asylum from all fronts by the administration. Asylum cases can now be sent without interviewing applicants to immigration court, where asylum approval rates are at their lowest in 20 years. Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day. More attacks between the U.S. and Iran are increasing fears of a return to all-out war. U.S. Central Command says it launched a wave of airstrikes overnight while U.S. bases in Jordan came under an Iranian attack. Saudi Arabia joined Americans' attacks in Iraq on Wednesday. NPR's Jane Araf joins us now to talk about this from Mama and Jordan. Good morning, Jane. Speaker 2: Good morning, Leila. So just a few days ago, it looked as if the U.S. and Iran were pausing attacks to give diplomacy at try, and now we're back to attacks. What happened? Centcom says it launched a heavy wave of strikes against Iran overnight. It said the targets included military command centers and missile facilities. That's in retaliation for what the U.S. military called a surprise an Iranian attack on Wednesday at the Muafaka Salty Air Base in the Jordanian Desert, where the U.S. has a major military presence. It's also where three U.S. soldiers were killed in an Iranian attack this month. Iran itself launched more missiles at U.S. forces in Jordan on Thursday. The U.S. and Jordan said they were shot down. A lot of analysts see this as Iran testing the U.S. under a harder line regime that succeeded Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed by the U.S. at the beginning of the war. Yeah, and then Saudi Arabia, which has not been publicly involved before attacked Iraq. Tell us what's happening there. Yeah. Saudi Arabia has blamed. Iran-backed militias in Iraq for damaging attacks on one of its major oil refineries. But the Iraqi government says Saudi Arabia has never provided any evidence. In retaliation, the U.S. and Saudi on Wednesday launched a wave of airstrikes against at least seven militia bases, killing