Inclusive hadronic observables are ubiquitous in particle and nuclear physics.
Computation of these observables using lattice QCD is challenging due the presence of a difficult inverse problem.
As a stepping stone to more complicated observables, we report on progress to compute the smeared $R$~ratio with staggered quarks using the spectral reconstruction algorithm of Hansen, Lupo, and Tantalo.
We compare staggered-quark results on two ensembles to domain-wall results on a single ensemble and to the Bernecker-Meyer parameterization.
This work utilizes two ensembles generated by the MILC collaboration using highly improved staggered quarks and one ensemble generated by the RBC/UKQCD collaboration using domain-wall quarks.
Possible strategies for controlling opposite-parity effects associated with staggered quarks are discussed.