While driving down an East Texas country road I spotted this scene. The autumn trees and the late afternoon sun made these golden bales of hay shine just a little bit more. Fortunately I had my camera with me. (c) James Q. Eddy Jr.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth goes to the Hill with $350B funding request

NPR | By Quil Lawrence,

Leila Fadel

Published July 21, 2026 at 5:41 AM CDT

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth will appear on the Hill on Tuesday. He's looking for a $350 billion funding boost, as the war Iran once again flares up with no end in sight.

Quil Lawrence

Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.

Leila Fadel

Leila Fadel is a host of Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.