9.9 Washington Wednesday: Betting the midterms on Trump

Mary Reichard (0:05)

Good morning. Republicans gather in Dallas for a presidential style convention for the midterm, going all in on the president's ability to turn out voters.

Nick Eicher (0:14)

Turning out Republicans and turning out Democrats. We'll talk it over with Hunter Baker on Washington Wednesday. Also today, World Tour, a crisis of censorship in the UK, and later.

Dana Tamuccio (0:26)

When I walk that wall, I see a lot of names like, I remember having a drink with that guy, I remember her.

Nick Eicher (0:30)

At the 9-11 Memorial in New York, remembering the people behind the names on the wall, and World Commentator Cal Thomas remembering the lessons of 9-11.

Mary Reichard (0:47)

It's Wednesday, September 9th. This is The World and Everything In It from listener-supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reichard.

Nick Eicher (0:54)

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

Mary Reichard (0:58)

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

Kent Covington (1:02)

The US military says it has destroyed five more Iranian oil tankers. US. Central Command says Iran fired ballistic missiles at a Navy warship twice this week. Those missiles did not find their mark. American forces then struck four tankers in the Gulf of Oman and one near Iran's main oil port at Karg Island. Central Command says it first ordered the crews to abandon ship. Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio (1:29)

The back and forth is pretty straightforward and that is that Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers.

Kent Covington (1:38)

That makes eight Iranian tankers in four days. Iranian state media says Iran answered by firing missiles at American bases in Jordan. The Pentagon has not confirmed that. The renewed fighting has sent energy prices higher. Brent Crude nearly hit $100 per barrel on Tuesday, the highest since late July.

Voters in New Hampshire cast primary ballots on Tuesday. World's Benjamin Eicher reports.

Benjamin Eicher (2:05)

In the US. Senate primary, Republicans picked John E. Sununu, whose brother and father both served as governor of the state. Sununu had President Trump's endorsement and soundly defeated former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, who is running for a seat in New Hampshire, which he now calls home.

Democrats chose Congressman Chris Pappas for the US. Senate seat that retiring Gene Shaheen is giving up. Pappas defeated Karishma Manzoor, who is favored by the party's socialist wing. She ran on government-run health care and cutting off military aid to Israel. And GOP Governor Kelly Ayotte cruised to the nomination in her re-election bid. For World, I'm Benjamin Eicher.

Kent Covington (2:50)

President Trump stood on the grass at the ellipse near the White House Tuesday, next to a large steel beam cut from the wreckage of the World Trade Center's South Tower after 9-11.

Donald Trump (3:00)

This battered piece of steel here today on the ellipse is a reminder that America is blessed with a strength no fire can consume, no evil can conquer, and no terror can destroy.

Kent Covington (3:12)

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation brought the beam. The group takes its name from Stephen Siller, a New York firefighter who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel on foot, gear on his back to reach the towers that morning, giving his life to save others. Friday, 25 years to the day, that beam goes back through that same tunnel.

And Trump on Tuesday posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Wells Crowther. He died in the South Tower at the age of 24 after leading people to safety and running back into the building to save more.

Donald Trump (3:45)

We will never forget, we say it and we mean it, we will never forget those we lost and we will never forget the immortal heroes of September 11, 2001

Kent Covington (3:57)

Trump will mark the 25th anniversary of 9-11 on Friday at the Pentagon.

The head of NATO is calling for member states to step up their financial support of Ukraine. Secretary General Mark Ruda on Tuesday said Ukrainian allies had recently pledged the equivalent of about $80 billion to help Kyiv in its war against Russia, but he says it's not enough.

Hunter Baker (4:20)

Nations must dig deeper.

Kent Covington (4:22)

We do not have a choice, I believe. And US. Pentagon Policy Chief Elbridge Colby added that NATO allies must be prepared to dig in for the long haul.

Elbridge Colby (4:31)

As you all well know, Russia is reconstituting its forces and its defense industrial capacity. We must be prepared for a protracted conflict and for Ukraine's requirements to persist in the months and years ahead.