★★ My Country, 'Tis of Thee mikepasini.com
A S C R A P B O O K O F R E P O R T I N G O N T H E C O U N T R Y
Sunday
9 Nov 2025
UPDATED
Sat 8:37 am PST
My country, 'tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty,
of thee I sing:
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside
let freedom ring!
No more shall tyrants here
With haughty steps appear,
And soldier bands;
No more shall tyrants tread
Above the patriot dead—
No more our blood be shed
By alien hands.
Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees
sweet freedom's song:
let mortal tongues awake,
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break,
the sound prolong.
Samuel Smith
1831
Beyond the headlines, these interviews and reports detail what's going on now in the United States. And how that affects all of us. A brief intro follows the head that takes you directly to the story, video or audio recording.
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July September A U G U S T 2 0 2 5
Judge Temporarily Blocks Removal of Guatemalan ChildrenThe New York Times
MIRIAM JORDAN
AISHVARYA KAVI
ReportingWith children already loaded onto planes, a federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting dozens of Guatemalan minors and demanded assurances that they would remain in shelters until a more permanent ruling. The order brought to a close, for now, another last-minute flurry of court action in the administration's mass deportation drive. Lawyers for the children said that they would face peril if they were sent to Guatemala and that doing so would deny them due process. They also argued that the government had ignored special protections for minors who cross the border alone. About 2,000 children, a majority of them from Guatemala, are currently being held in dozens of shelters. "I don't want there to be any ambiguity about what I am ordering," said Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. "You cannot remove any children" while the case proceeds.
State-Run Detention Facilities Are Growing -- and Pushing the Limits of Immigration LawNPR Weekend Edition
SHANNON HEFFERNAN
The Marshall ProjectNPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Shannon Heffernan, criminal justice reporter at The Marshall Project, about the growing number of state-run immigration detention facilities like Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz," that have dehumanizing names.
Congress Returns From Recess, With a Month-End Government Shutdown LoomingNPR Weekend Edition
CLAUDIA GRISALES
AYESHA RASCOE
ReportingLawmakers return to Congress this week from their August recess. They face a long to-do list, with the risk of a government shutdown looming by the Sept. 30 deadline.
Judges, Defense Lawyers and Grand Jurors Poke Holes in Cases From Trump's DC Federal InterventionThe Associated Press
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
ReportingPresident Trump's crackdown on crime in the nation's capital has generated a torrent of charges against people caught up in a surge of street patrols. Judges, defense attorneys and even grand jurors are already poking holes in many cases. "I've seen things over the past 72 hours that I've never seen in federal court," U.S. District Judge Zia Faruqui said Wednesday during a hearing for a man who was jailed for five days on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. Later, he added: "It feels like some sort of bizarre nightmare."
Trump Says He Will Sign Executive Order Mandating Voter I.D.The New York Times
YAN ZHUANG
ReportingPresident Trump said late Saturday that he would issue an executive order to require voter identification for all U.S. elections, a continuation of his efforts to overhaul the nation's election laws, which he has long attacked and falsely blamed for his 2020 election loss. The announcement signals Trump's latest effort to influence election laws using an executive order, something that he has dubious authority to do. The Constitution gives the president no explicit authority to regulate elections. Rather, it gives states the power to decide the rules of elections, oversee voting and try to prevent fraud. It gives Congress the ability to override state laws on voting. Any executive order from the president regarding elections is likely to see immediate legal challenges.
Scientists Breathe New Life Into Climate Web site After Shutdown Under TrumpThe Guardian
ERIC HOLTHAUS
ReportingEarlier this summer, access to climate.gov was thwarted by the Trump administration and its production team was fired in the process. The popular Web site offered years' worth of accessibly written material on climate science. Technically still online, it has been intentionally buried by the team of political appointees who now run the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Now, a team of climate communication experts (including many members of the former climate.gov team) is working to resurrect its content into a new organization with an expanded mission. Their new Web site, climate.us, would not only offer public-facing interpretations of climate science, but could also begin to directly offer climate-related services, such as assisting local governments with mapping increased flooding risk due to climate change.
Chicago Mayor Defies Trump's Immigration Crackdown Plan for the CityThe Associated Press
MARGERY A. BECK
ReportingThe mayor of Chicago pushed back Saturday against what he called the "out-of-control" Trump administration's plan to surge federal officers into the nation's third-largest city, which could take place within days. The Chicago Police Department will be barred from helping federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement or any related patrols, traffic stops and checkpoints during the surge, according to an executive order signed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. The mayor directed all city departments to guard the constitutional rights of Chicago residents "amidst the possibility of imminent militarized immigration or National Guard deployment by the federal government." Johnson had harsh words for Trump during his news conference, accusing the president of "behaving outside the bounds of the Constitution" and seeking a federal presence in blue cities as retribution against his political rivals. "He is reckless and out of control," Johnson said. "He's the biggest threat to our democracy that we've experienced in the history of our country."
A Church's Perspective on Trump's Deployment of the National Guard in D.C.NPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT SIMON
ReportingNPR's Scott Simon talks to a pastor and parishioners at East Washington Heights Baptist Church about crime in Washington, D.C. and whether the National Guard deployment helps or hurts the city.
Analyzing the Impact of a Turbulent Week for the CDCNPR Weekend Edition
DR. CARLOS DEL RIO
Emory UniversityThe director of the CDC is out and updated Covid-19 vaccines come with new restrictions. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University about the latest in health policy news.
Texas Advances Bill Allowing Citizens to Sue Makers and Distributors of Abortion PillsNPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT SIMON
OLIVIA ALDRIDGE
ReportingTexas lawmakers are on track to pass one of the toughest laws aimed at reducing the use of abortion medication, one way people still have abortions in a state that has already banned them in clinics.
Judge Blocks Pillar of Trump's Mass Deportation CampaignThe New York Times
ZACH MONTAGUE
ReportingA federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from carrying out fast-track deportations of people detained far from the southern border, removing, for now, one of the cornerstones of President Trump's campaign to carry out mass deportations. In a 48-page opinion, Judge Jia M. Cobb of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia wrote that the Trump administration had acted recklessly in a frenzied effort to quickly remove as many people as possible, likely violating due process rights and risking wrongful detentions. She said that in a race to meet quotas -- as high as 3,000 immigration arrests per day -- the administration had resorted to staking out courthouses, targeting people pursuing asylum claims and other pathways to remain in the country legally. "In defending this skimpy process, the government makes a truly startling argument: that those who entered the country illegally are entitled to no process under the Fifth Amendment, but instead must accept whatever grace Congress affords them," she wrote.
WFP's Cindy McCain Describes Dire Conditions After Visit to Famine-Gripped GazaPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingIsrael launched its Gaza City offensive, labeling it a Hamas stronghold. It's home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians already facing starvation and yet another round of forced displacement. The U.N. warns that Israel's evacuation orders are a "recipe for disaster." William Brangham discussed more with Cindy McCain of the World Food Programme, who just returned from a mission to Gaza.
Democrat Warns Trump Firing Challenges Integrity of STB Ahead of Railway Merger DecisionPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingIt's not as well-known as the Federal Reserve or the CDC, but the Surface Transportation Board is the latest agency in the Trump administration's sights. President Trump abruptly fired Robert Primus, one of only two Democrats on the five-member board, just as regulators weigh the largest railroad merger ever proposed. Geoff Bennett spoke with Primus about the timing of his firing.
What Consumers Can Expect as De Minimis Exemption EndsPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingAmericans are no longer able to import cheap foreign goods tariff-free. The Trump administration ended the de minimis exemption, which allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. with no import tax. Last year, there were nearly four million such packages a day. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with Clark Packard. He is a trade expert at the libertarian Cato Institute.
Mother of Boy, 15, Held at Gunpoint by U.S. Immigration Agents Files $1m ClaimThe Guardian
DANI ANGUIANO
ReportingThe mother of a 15-year-old boy who was detained at gunpoint by federal immigration agents is seeking $1m in damages and accusing the Trump administration of false imprisonment and "unconstitutional racial profiling." The teenager, a U.S. citizen with disabilities, was in a vehicle with his mother outside Arleta high school in Los Angeles on 11 August when masked immigration agents surrounded them and pulled them from the vehicle. They said the boy was a suspect in a crime and handcuffed him for several minutes until they realized they had the wrong person, the Los Angeles Times reported. The claim, filed by the Carrillo law firm on behalf of the boy and his mother, alleges that ICE and Border Patrol agents had no reasonable suspicion or probable cause to detain the boy and caused him physical injury and emotional distress.
Missouri Governor Calls Special Session to Redraw Congressional Maps to Aid RepublicansThe Guardian
MAANVI SINGH
ReportingMissouri Governor Mike Kehoe has moved to help the Republican party gain an additional seat in Congress, calling a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts in his state. Kehoe's announcement on Friday followed a pressure campaign from Donald Trump, who has urged Republican states to reshape district boundaries to more heavily favor Republicans, boosting the party's chances of maintaining control of the House of Representatives in 2026. Trump has also pushed Indiana lawmakers to redraw that state's maps and has pushed lawmakers in Florida and Ohio to help net three or more seats for the Republican party.
Trump Bypasses Congress to Cancel $4.9bn in Foreign AidThe Guardian
Associated Press
Donald Trump has told the House speaker, Mike Johnson, that he won't be spending $4.9bn in congressionally approved foreign aid, in effect cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch. Trump, who sent a letter to Johnson on Thursday, is using what is known as a "pocket rescission" -- when a president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year, so that the legislature cannot act on the request in the 45-day timeframe and the money goes unspent as a result. It's the first time in nearly 50 years a president has used one. The fiscal year draws to a close at the end of September.
Most of Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal, Federal Court RulesThe Guardian
DOMINIC RUSHE
ReportingDonald Trump overstepped his presidential powers with most of his globe-rattling tariff policies, a federal appeals court in Washington DC ruled on Friday. U.S. law "bestows significant authority on the president to undertake a number of actions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties or the like or the power to tax," the court said in the 7-4 ruling. Many of Trump's steep tariffs are "are unbounded in scope, amount and duration," the ruling added and "assert an expansive authority that is beyond the express limitations" of the law his administration has leant on.
Democrats Seek 'Immediate Answers' After Reported Arrests of Firefighters by U.S. Border AgentsThe Guardian
DANI ANGUIANO
ReportingPatty Murray, the Washington senator, has called for the Trump administration to provide "immediate answers" about reports that two firefighters were detained by border agents as they were responding to a wildfire in the state. Federal immigration authorities on Wednesday staged an operation on the scene of the Bear Gulch fire, a nearly 9,000-acre (3,600-hectare) blaze in the Olympic national forest, where they arrested two people who were part of a contract firefighting crew, the Seattle Times first reported. The fire is the largest currently burning in the state. Authorities made the firefighters line up to show ID, the Seattle Times reported. The Trump administration's immigration policy is "fundamentally sick," Murray said. She continued: "Trump has wrongfully detained everyone from lawful green-card holders to American citizens -- no one should assume this was necessary or appropriate."
New Trump Rule to Ban VA Abortions for Veterans Even in Cases of Rape and IncestThe Guardian
AARON GLANTZ
ReportingDoctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would be barred from performing abortions, even in cases of rape and incest, under new rules proposed by the Trump administration. The draft regulations, which also forbid providers from counseling female veterans about terminating a pregnancy, have generated nearly 20,000 comments in the federal register from conservative activists, abortion rights supporters and female veterans, many of them survivors of sexual assault. "I am a veteran, a mother and my abortion saved my life," wrote Mary Dodson-Otten, a 41-year-old nurse and air force veteran who lives outside Atlanta, Georgia.
Unions Fight Back as Trump Terminates Federal Workers' Union RightsNPR Morning Edition
ANDREA HSU
ReportingThe Trump administration has begun terminating its collective bargaining agreements with federal employee unions, despite multiple lawsuits challenging the move. Unions are fighting back.
Former CDC Official on What Agency Shakeup Could Mean for Pandemic ReadinessNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel speaks with former CDC official Dr. Anne Schuchat about the shakeup at the health agency and what it could mean for the nation's pandemic readiness.
'Public Health Is in Trouble,' Says High-Ranking CDC Leader Who Resigned in ProtestPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingThere are serious concerns about the Centers for Disease Control and its mission after Susan Monarez was suddenly fired from her position as director. She had refused to resign amid clashes with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy. Her dismissal set off a wave of resignations, including chief medical officer Dr. Debra Houry, who joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the developments.
'We Felt Ambushed,' Man Says After Wife's ICE Detention Led to HospitalizationPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingICE arrested Jemmy Jimenez-Rosa in Boston as she and her family returned home to the U.S. after a vacation in Mexico. Rosa, who has a green card, was held for 10 days and moved between detention facilities. She's one of many with no violent criminal convictions caught up in the administration's immigration crackdown. Amna Nawaz spoke with Jemmy's husband, Marcel Rosa and attorney Todd Pomerleau.
What the CDC Lost: A Closer Look at the Top-Ranking Officials Who Have QuitSTAT
ANDREW JOSEPH
ReportingThe Trump administration's abrupt ouster of its new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday rattled public health experts, who viewed it as a sign that health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is further undercutting the integrity of one of the nation's health agencies. But beyond the firing of Susan Monarez, experts were also shaken by the resignations on the same day of at least four top career officials at the CDC. They included several well-known public health advocates who guided the country's responses to infectious disease outbreaks, planned for future pandemics and aimed to reduce the burden of injuries and deaths from the most common causes.
What Do Turmoil at the CDC and New FDA Recommendations Mean for Vaccines and Public Confidence?Here & Now
ROBIN YOUNG
ReportingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez is not stepping down after being fired as the head of the CDC, according to her attorneys, who say she's being targeted for refusing to fire top health experts. This comes as the Food and Drug Administration approves the new Covid-19 vaccine, but adds new restrictions on who can get it. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, joins Here & Now's Robin Young to talk about what it all means for people who want to get vaccines and for public health.
Postal Services Across the World to Suspend U.S. Deliveries After Trump Ends Tariff ExemptionHere & Now
ROB SCHMITZ
ReportingPostal companies across Europe, Asia and the Pacific are halting services to the U.S. after President Trump ended tariff exemptions for packages worth less than $800. Host Rob Schmitz speaks with Ali Velshi, anchor and chief economics correspondent at MSNBC, about how this will impact consumers.
An Industry Insider's Changes at the E.P.A. Could Cost Taxpayers BillionsThe New York Times
HIROKO TABUCHI
ReportingEarly this year, Steven Cook was a lawyer representing chemical companies suing to block a new rule that would force them to clean up pollution from "forever chemicals," which are linked to low birthrates and cancer. Now Cook is in a senior role at the Environmental Protection Agency, where he has proposed scrapping the same rule his former clients were challenging in court. His effort could shift cleanup costs away from polluters and onto taxpayers, according to internal E.P.A. documents reviewed by The New York Times. "It's outrageous," said Tracey Woodruff, a researcher at the University of California San Francisco who studies environmental health, particularly the effects of chemical exposures on pregnant mothers and their babies. "If they overturn this, it would leave the public responsible for cleaning up, not the companies that knowingly polluted the land."
Denmark Summons U.S. Envoy Over Claims of Interference in GreenlandNPR Morning Edition
TERI SCHULTZ
ReportingDenmark's foreign minister summoned the top U.S. diplomat in the country after it was reported that at least three people with connections to President Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland.
U.S. Air Force to Grant Military Honors to Capitol Rioter Fatally Shot on Jan. 6The Guardian
JOSEPH GEDEON
ReportingThe U.S. Air Force will provide military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, the rioter fatally shot during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, marking another step in Donald Trump's aggressive rehabilitation of the attack. The Under Secretary of the Air Force, Matthew Lohmeier, confirmed the decision in an August letter to Babbitt's family. The Biden administration previously denied Babbitt the honors, but Lohmeier said he was "persuaded that the previous determination was incorrect" after reviewing new information about her death. Babbitt, 35, served in the Air Force and Air National Guard and was shot by Capitol Hill police as she climbed through a barricaded door near the House chamber in the mass frenzy to overthrow the results of the 2020 election. The Air Force had originally refused honors in February 2021, according to Lohmeier's letter, saying they would "bring discredit upon the Air Force" due to the circumstances of her death. She was the only person killed by gunfire during the riot.
Fired CDC Chief Susan Monarez Refuses to Step Down, Defying White HouseThe Guardian
OLIVER MILMAN
ReportingA standoff over the firing of the Susan Monarez, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has deepened, with Monarez's lawyers claiming she will not depart unless Donald Trump himself removes her. Monarez, an infectious disease specialist who was confirmed as CDC chief just a month ago, was fired on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services, which gave no reason for the departure. However, the apparently ousted director has refused to be removed. Her lawyers claim that while the White House has said that she is "not aligned with the president's agenda," only the president himself can dismiss her. "As a presidential appointee, senate confirmed officer, only the president himself can fire her," Monarez's lawyer Mark Zaid posted on Bluesky. "For this reason, we reject notification Dr. Monarez has received as legally deficient and she remains as CDC Director. We have notified the White House Counsel of our position."
Judge Rules Utah Must Redraw Its Congressional Map, Frustrating RepublicansThe New York Times
ALI WATKINS
ReportingA judge in Utah has ruled that lawmakers must urgently redraw the state's congressional map, saying that the Republican-controlled State Assembly ignored voter-approved safeguards against gerrymandering when it carved up a Democratic stronghold into four G.O.P.-majority districts. The current map, adopted in 2021, divided a district that had encompassed Salt Lake City, the state's biggest city and an island of Democratic support in an otherwise almost entirely red state. Republican lawmakers approved a map that split the area into four districts that each had a Republican majority. No Democrat has won a U.S. House seat in Utah since 2018.
Miles Taylor Warns: 'We Need America to Wake Up' as Trump Punishes OpponentsPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingThe suspension of FEMA staffers and the FBI raid of John Bolton are just the latest examples of the Trump administration targeting critics or political enemies. That ire is something Miles Taylor knows all too well. While serving in Trump's first administration, he anonymously criticized the president and has been dealing with the fallout ever since. Amna Nawaz spoke with Taylor to discuss more.
FEMA Employees Critical of Trump Placed on Leave Amid Crackdown on DissentPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingAbout two dozen FEMA employees have been placed on leave after they signed an open letter criticizing the Trump administration's cuts and personnel decisions. The letter warns the cuts undermine the progress FEMA has made after Hurricane Katrina, a storm that slammed the Gulf Coast 20 years ago this week. Amna Nawaz discussed the changes with Craig Fugate, the FEMA administrator from 2009 to 2017.
In DC, a Heated Standoff Between Police, Neighbors Shows Unease Amid Trump's Law Enforcement SurgeThe Associated Press
COLLIN BINKLEY
ReportingThe street, normally quiet, was abuzz. The block lit up with flashing police cruisers and officers in tactical vests. Some had covered their faces. Neighbors came out of homes. Some hurled insults at the police, telling them to leave -- or worse. Dozens joined in a chant: "Shame on you." Aaron Goldstein approached two officers. "Can you tell me why you couldn't do this at 10:30 or 9:30 and why you had to terrorize the children in our neighborhood?" the man asked the officers as they turned their gazes away from him. Both wore dark sunglasses against the morning sun. They said nothing. The arrest shattered the routine of the neighborhood around Bancroft Elementary School, a public school where more than 60 percent of students are Latino. It came on the third day of a new school year and immigration fears had already left the neighborhood on edge. Groups of residents had started escorting students to school from two nearby apartment complexes.
CDC Director Susan Monarez Is Out After Less Than a Month on the Job and Other Agency Leaders ResignThe Associated Press
MIKE STOBBE
ReportingThe director of the nation's top public health agency is out after less than one month in the job and several top agency leaders have resigned. Officials did not explain why Susan Monarez was no longer with the agency, but her lawyers said she was targeted for standing up for science. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced her departure in a brief social media post Wednesday that said: "Susan Monarez is no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We thank her for her dedicated service to the American people." On Wednesday evening, her lawyers Mark Zaid and Abbe David Lowell issued a statement that said she had neither resigned nor been told she was fired. "When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda. For that, she has been targeted," the attorneys wrote. "This is not about one official. It is about the systematic dismantling of public health institutions, the silencing of experts and the dangerous politicization of science. The attack on Dr. Monarez is a warning to every American: our evidence-based systems are being undermined from within," they said.
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Deporting Kilmar Ábrego García AgainThe Guardian
ANNA BETTS
ReportingA federal judge ruled Wednesday that Kilmar Ábrego García, who was already wrongfully deported once, cannot be deported again until at least early October, according to multiple reports. CNN reported that the U.S. district judge Paula Xinis, who is presiding over the case, scheduled an evidentiary hearing for 6 October and said that she intends to have Trump administration officials testify about the government's efforts to re-deport Ábrego. At the same hearing, Ábrego's lawyers informed the court that he plans to seek asylum in the United States, according to the Associated Press.
Local DC Cases Are Landing in Federal Courts. A Judge Says the Results Are ProblematicThe Associated Press
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
ReportingCiting "the most illegal search I have ever seen in my life," a magistrate judge is upbraiding the federal government for the way it has handled arrests in the District of Columbia this month and says the possible effects -- violations of rights and the potential for illicit detentions -- are not legally acceptable. "We don't just charge people criminally, throw them in the jail for a few weeks and then bring them in here and say, 'Oops, my bad,'" Judge Zia Faruqui said from the bench Monday. "I have never ever in my life seen something close to the illegality of this search." He spoke during a series of hearings this week for people who landed in federal courtrooms on the direction of the Justice Department on charges that, in most jurisdictions, would be handled by local authorities.
Prosecutors Fail to Indict Sandwich Thrower in Trump's Washington Public Safety OperationThe Associated Press
ALANNA DURKIN RICHER
ReportingFederal prosecutors have failed to obtain a felony indictment against a man who was seen on camera hurling a sandwich at a federal law enforcement official in the nation's capital, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Sean Charles Dunn was arrested on an assault charge after he threw a sub-style sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent. A video of the incident went viral and shortly after he was fired from the Justice Department, where he worked as an international affairs specialist in the department's criminal division.
The Framers Wanted the House Closest to the People. Redistricting May Undermine ThatNPR Morning Edition
DEIRDRE WALSH
ReportingPresident Trump's push for Texas Republicans to redraw congressional lines ahead of next year's midterm elections has triggered a redistricting arms race. Bipartisan warnings about the fallout from mid-decade redistricting often focus on the impact on voters in new districts losing responsive representation. Other observers warn that more partisan congressional maps could also further erode the constitutional power of the people's House.
Retired Major General Calls Trump's National Guard Plans 'Unneeded and Dangerous'PBS News Hour
NICK SCHIFRIN
ReportingPresident Trump signed an executive order Monday that said each state's National Guard units "are resourced, trained organized and available to assist federal, state and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances." Nick Schifrin discussed the latest with retired Army Major General Randy Manner, the former acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Can Trump Legally Reinstate the Death Penalty in Washington, D.C.?PBS News Hour
LISA DESJARDINS
ReportingPresident Trump spent more than three hours touting what he sees as his administration's achievements at his cabinet meeting. He weighed in on topics from reinstating the death penalty for murder cases in Washington, D.C., to Health Secretary Kennedy's attempt to identify a cause for autism. Lisa Desjardins reports.
How Trump's Attempts to Control Federal Reserve Board Threaten Its Long-Held IndependencePBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingPresident Trump made it clear he is seeking more control of the Federal Reserve. He said he fired Fed Governor Lisa Cook from the bank's board, but she says she's not leaving and will take the administration to court. At stake is the balance of power on the nation's top bank, which could undermine its long-held independence. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Lael Brainard and David Wessel.
Fed Governor Cook Will Sue to Keep Her Job as Trump Mulls ReplacementReuters
HOWARD SCHNEIDER
ANN SAPHIR
TREVOR HUNNICUTT
ReportingFederal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook will file a lawsuit to prevent President Donald Trump from firing her, a lawyer for the embattled central bank official said on Tuesday, kicking off what could be a protracted legal fight over the White House's effort to shape U.S. monetary policy. "His attempt to fire her, based solely on a referral letter, lacks any factual or legal basis. We will be filing a lawsuit challenging this illegal action," Cook's lawyer, prominent Washington attorney Abbe Lowell, said in a statement.
Court Tosses Trump Lawsuit Against Maryland Federal Judges, Calling It 'Potentially Calamitous'The Associated Press
LEA SKENE
SUDHIN THANAWALA
ReportingA federal judge on Tuesday threw out the Trump administration's lawsuit against Maryland's entire federal bench in an emphatic ruling that underscored the extraordinary nature of the suit, slamming it as "potentially calamitous." U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen, who was nominated by President Trump, also criticized the administration's attacks on the judiciary, highlighting in a footnote that White House officials in recent months had described judges as "rogue," "unhinged" and "crooked," among other epithets. "Although some tension between the coordinate branches of government is a hallmark of our constitutional system, this concerted effort by the Executive to smear and impugn individual judges who rule against it is both unprecedented and unfortunate," he wrote. The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal.
Former FTC Member Rohit Chopra Discusses Trump's Efforts to Reshape InstitutionsNPR Morning Edition
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingNPR asks Rohit Chopra, formerly of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission, about Trump's efforts to reshape institutions like the Federal Reserve.
Governor Pritzker Challenges Trump's Threat to Send Troops to ChicagoThe New York Times
JULIE BOSMAN
ReportingGov. JB Pritzker of Illinois has a message for President Trump: Keep the military out of Chicago. "Calling the military into a U.S. city to invade our streets and neighborhoods and disrupt the lives of everyday people is an extraordinary action and it should require extraordinary justification," Pritzker said. "Look around you right now," he said, gesturing to pedestrians strolling on the city's popular riverwalk and the "L" trains rumbling nearby. "Does this look like an emergency?" Pritzker added that eight of the 10 states with the highest homicide rates were led by Republicans.
Can Trump Fire a Fed Governor? What to Know About the Legal Arguments.The New York Times
ADAM LIPTAK
ReportingPresident Trump on Monday said in a letter that he was firing Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, opening a new legal chapter in his efforts to reshape the government. Congress has limited the president's power to remove Fed officials, saying they can be fired only "for cause," which is generally understood to mean gross misconduct. The Trump administration has accused Cook of mortgage fraud and Trump cited that as justification in his letter firing her. But Cook has not been charged with any crime and she said last week that she had "no intention of being bullied to step down from my position." Many legal experts on Monday raised serious concerns with the manner of her firing and the president's justification for doing so.
Trump Fires Fed's Cook Alleging False Statements on Mortgage FormsReuters
MICHAEL S. DERBY
ReportingPresident Donald Trump on Monday took the unprecedented action of firing Lisa Cook, the first African-American woman to serve as a Federal Reserve governor, over claims of mortgage borrowing impropriety. The president had called on Cook to resign on Aug. 20 after U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte, who was appointed by Trump, accused her of claiming two of her mortgages as primary residences. The U.S. Department of Justice said it was looking into the matter. Pulte's claims against Cook coincide with a broad effort by the Trump administration against diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the U.S. government, a process that has led to the departure of some prominent women and minorities. The Trump administration has also targeted other political opponents, including U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, with similar accusations of mortgage fraud.
FEMA Employees Warn That Trump Is Gutting Disaster ResponseThe New York Times
MAXINE JOSELOW
ReportingEmployees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency wrote to Congress on Monday warning that the Trump administration had reversed much of the progress made in disaster response and recovery since Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast two decades ago. The letter to Congress, titled the "Katrina Declaration," rebuked President Trump's plan to drastically scale down FEMA and shift more responsibility for disaster response -- and more costs -- to the states. It came days before the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest and costliest storms to ever strike the United States. "Our shared commitment to our country, our oaths of office and our mission of helping people before, during and after disasters compel us to warn Congress and the American people of the cascading effects of decisions made by the current administration," the FEMA employees wrote in the letter.
Former White House Attorney Ty Cobb Discusses the DOJ in Trump's Second TermNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House lawyer turned critic of the president, about Trump administration efforts to investigate and prosecute perceived wrongs.
Atlantic Staff Writer Michael Scherer on Laura Loomer's Influence on President TrumpNPR Morning Edition
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingNPR's A Martinez talks with Atlantic staff writer Michael Scherer about Laura Loomer's influence with President Trump and his administration.
Kilmar Ábrego García Detained After Reporting to U.S. Immigration AgentsThe Guardian
DHARNA NOOR
ReportingKilmar Ábrego García -- who has been thrust into the middle of an acrimonious deportation saga by the second Trump administration -- has been detained after reporting to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents in Baltimore on Monday, just three days after his release from criminal custody in Tennesee. "The only reason he was taken into detention was to punish him," Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, an attorney representing Ábrego, told a crowd of supporters outside a Baltimore ICE field office on Monday. "To punish him for exercising his constitutional rights." The attorney also said his client filed a new lawsuit on Monday morning challenging his potential deportation to Uganda and his current confinement.
Reframing Jan. 6: After the Pardons, Comes the PurgeThe New York Times
DAN BARRY
ALAN FEUER
ReportingTo date, the Justice Department has fired or demoted more than two dozen prosecutors who were assigned to hold the Jan. 6 rioters accountable -- roughly a quarter of the complement. Some were junior prosecutors, like Sara Levine, who had secured a guilty plea from a rioter who had grabbed a police officer. Others were veterans, including Greg Rosen, who had led the department's Jan. 6 task force. Scores more prosecutors, involved in these and other cases, have left, either in fear of where the ax might next fall or out of sheer disgust. The Justice Department declined to comment for this article, but a White House spokesman, Harrison Fields, described the agency during the Biden administration as "a cabal of anti-Trump sycophants" engaged in a "relentless pursuit to throw the book at President Trump and his allies."
D.C. Churches See a Drop in Attendance as Congregants Fear Immigration ActionNPR Weekend Edition
ALEJA HERTZLER-MCCAIN
AYESHA RASCOE
ReportingNearly two weeks into the Trump administration's takeover of the police in Washington, D.C., some local churches are experiencing drops in attendance as worshippers fear being detained.
Smithsonian Artists and Scholars Respond to White House List of Objectionable ArtNPR Weekend Edition
MANDALIT DEL BARCO
ReportingThe official White House newsletter has posted an article titled "President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian." It calls out some of the institution's artwork, exhibitions, programs and online articles that focus on race, slavery, immigration and sexuality. The administration has directed the museums to replace "divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate and constructive descriptions." NPR reached out to the White House asking for comment about the article highlighting the Smithsonian artists. They have not responded. While some of the artists and scholars NPR spoke to said they fear being further targeted, others said that being called out by the White House is a "badge of honor." Some referenced other times, in the U.S. and around the world, when art provoked a strong political response; and some said they fear that Trump's call for "anti-woke" art will have a chilling effect on artists, museums and galleries.
Does Trump Have the Power to End Mail-in Voting? Legal Scholar Weighs InPBS News Hour
JOHN YANG
ReportingWith control of Congress at stake in the 2026 midterm elections, Trump is doubling down on efforts to end mail-in voting. In the 2024 election, nearly 30 percent of Americans who voted cast their ballots by mail. Despite a multimillion-dollar Republican push to encourage supporters to vote by mail, Trump says it's a fraud. John Yang speaks with legal scholar Rick Hasen for more.
A Former Federal Prosecutor Reviews Legal Options Against Assertive Presidential PowerNPR Weekend Edition
ANKUSH KHARDORI
PoliticoNPR's Scott Simon talks with Politico's Ankush Khardori about what legal checks remain as the Trump administration flexes presidential power.
Locals React After Officials Erased a Rainbow Crosswalk Honoring Pulse Nightclub VictimsNPR Weekend Edition
JOE M PEDERSEN
ReportingThe rainbow crosswalk in front of Orlando's Pulse nightclub was removed by Florida transportation officials. The crosswalk was a memorial for those killed in a 2016 mass shooting at the gay bar.
'Shameful': Democrats Join Call for Closure of Texas Immigration JailThe Guardian
LORENA FIGUEROA
ReportingProminent Democratic lawmakers and legal advocates have called for the new immigration detention camp at Fort Bliss military base to be shut down amid accusations of lack of external oversight and concerns over access to legal services. Camp East Montana began full operation last weekend as a sprawling tent facility across acres of military land in the eastern part of El Paso, on the U.S.-Mexico border in west Texas. Dubbed the "Lone Star Lockup" by Republicans, the new facility currently accommodates around 1,000 beds for men and is set to expand to 5,000 beds at a cost of around $1.24bn in private contracts, making it the largest among the ranks of immigration detention facilities. After a brief tour of the site on Thursday, Texas Democratic congresswoman Jasmine Crockett said: "What I saw today was a dangerous misuse of military land and resources to cage human beings. This attempt doesn't make our country safer, it wastes taxpayer dollars, rips families apart and takes us backwards as a nation."
'Stay Out of Our City': Chicago Officials Slam Trump's Threat to Target City in Next Crime CrackdownThe Associated Press
CHRISTINE FERNANDO
JOHN O'CONNOR
MICHELLE L. PRICE
ReportingPresident Donald Trump on Friday said Chicago will likely be the next target of his efforts to crack down on crime, homelessness and illegal immigration. Trump's suggestion that Chicago might be the next target for a crackdown on crime didn't sit well with Illinois officeholders. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office has not received formal communication from the Trump administration about military or federal law enforcement deployments in Chicago but said "we have grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops." Johnson called Trump's approach "uncoordinated, uncalled for and unsound," arguing it "has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement."
Judge Blocks Trump From Cutting Money to Chicago, LA and Other Cities Over 'Sanctuary' PoliciesThe Associated Press
SUDHIN THANAWALA
ReportingA judge ruled late Friday the Trump administration cannot deny funding to Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and 30 other cities and counties because of policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts. U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco extended a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from cutting off or conditioning the use of federal funds for so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions. His earlier order protected more than a dozen other cities and counties, including San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. An email to the White House late Friday was not immediately returned.
U.S. Seeks to Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda After He Refused to Plea Offer in Smuggling CaseThe Associated Press
TRAVIS LOLLER
ReportingImmigration officials said they intend to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, after he declined an offer to be deported to Costa Rica in exchange for remaining in jail and pleading guilty to human smuggling charges, according to a Saturday court filing. The Costa Rica offer came late Thursday, after it was clear that the Salvadoran national would likely be released from a Tennessee jail the following day. Abrego Garcia declined to extend his stay in jail and was released on Friday to await trial in Maryland with his family. Later that day, the Department of Homeland Security notified his attorneys that he would be deported to Uganda and should report to immigration authorities on Monday.
Judge Rules Alina Habba Unlawfully Serving as U.S. Attorney for New JerseyABC News
ALEXANDER MALLIN
AARON KATERSKY
AND PETER CHARALAMBOUS
ReportingA federal judge in New Jersey on Thursday ruled that Alina Habba is not lawfully serving as the U.S. Attorney overseeing federal prosecutions in the state, dealing a blow to efforts by the Trump administration to maneuver its hand-picked appointees into acting roles at prosecuting offices around the country. "After reviewing several issues of first impression, the Court concludes that Habba has exercised the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey without lawful authority since July 1," said judge Matthew Brann, the chief district judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, in a 77-page order Thursday. "The Executive branch has perpetuated Alina Habba's appointment to act as the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey through a novel series of legal and personnel moves," Judge Brann wrote. "Along the way, it has disagreed with the Judges of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and criminal defendants in that District about who should or may lead the office. Faced with the question of whether Habba is lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, I conclude that she is not."
FBI Raids Home of John Bolton, a Former Trump Adviser Turned Vocal CriticPBS News Hour
JOSH GERSTEIN
PoliticoEarly Friday, FBI agents searched the Maryland home of John Bolton, the former national security adviser in President Trump's first administration. Agents were also seen entering a building in Washington where Bolton has an office. Bolton has become a sharp critic of Trump, attacking his foreign policy and national security decisions. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Josh Gerstein of Politico.
Powell Hints at Long-Awaited Rate Cut but Admits Fed in 'Challenging Situation'PBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingIn a closely watched speech, Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave the strongest indication yet that the central bank will cut interest rates as soon as September. With inflation ticking up and the job market cooling down, Powell said the Fed was in a "challenging situation." Amna Nawaz discussed more with Loretta Mester, the former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
Pastor Leading Target Boycott on Its Impact and the Retailer's ResponsePBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingTarget is reeling as sales have stalled and its stock price has plunged. The company faced backlash after a rollback of its DEI initiatives prompted a boycott that slowed store traffic nationwide, one of the factors that pushed CEO Brian Cornell to step down. Now, Target is scrambling to reset its image. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Pastor Jamal Bryant, who spearheaded the Target boycott.
What D.C. Police Data Show About Trump Administration's Arrests in the CityAll Things Considered
MEG ANDERSON
AILSA CHANG
ReportingThe Trump administration says it has arrested more than 700 people in Washington, DC as part of its mission to crack down on crime. Data given to NPR by the city's police department indicates a ramp-up in arrests during the campaign, but criminal justice experts caution that it's difficult to draw conclusions about public safety merely from arrests. Arrests do not always result in charges.
A Year Ahead of the Midterms, Medicaid Cuts Take Center Stage in MichiganAll Things Considered
DON GONYEA
ReportingWith the midterm elections still more than 14 months away, Democrats are already crafting their pitch to retake Congress around opposition to President Trump's signature tax and spending law. And in the key swing state of Michigan, the law's cuts to Medicaid are taking center stage. Brian Peters, the CEO of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, said expects a significant impact on coverage for the nearly 2.7 million people in Michigan -- more than a quarter of the state's population -- who are Medicaid recipients. "The state of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that as many as 700,000 Michiganders could lose coverage because of the reconciliation bill," Peters said.
Kilmar Ábrego García Released From Criminal Custody After Court OrderThe Guardian
MAYA YANG
ReportingKilmar Ábrego García has been freed on Friday from criminal custody in Tennessee so he can rejoin his family in Maryland while awaiting trial on human smuggling charges, after a court ordered his release. Magistrate judge Barbara Holmes issued an order allowing the father of two to leave custody for the first time since his return to the U.S. in June, following his wrongful deportation to El Salvador earlier this year. In a statement following his release, Ábrego's lawyer, Sean Hecker said: "Today, Kilmar Ábrego García is free. He is presently en route to his family in Maryland, after being unlawfully arrested and deported and then imprisoned, all because of the government's vindictive attack on a man who had the courage to fight back against the administration's continuing assault on the rule of law. He is grateful that his access to American courts has provided meaningful due process."
Trump Targets Chicago and New York as Hegseth Orders Weapons for DC TroopsThe Guardian
MARINA DUNBAR
ReportingDonald Trump has threatened to take his federal crackdown on crime and city cleanliness to New York and Chicago, as the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth ordered that national guard troops patrolling the streets of Washington DC under federal control will now be armed. The U.S. president talked to reporters in the Oval Office and said: "When ready, we will start in Chicago â Chicago is a mess." He added that then the administration "will help with New York," amid the controversial and aggressive federal efforts to control leading Democratic-voting cities, each of which has a Black mayor.
;Hegseth Fires General Whose Agency's Intel Assessment of Damage From Iran Strikes Angered TrumpThe Associated Press
KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
MARY CLARE JALONICK
MICHELLE L. PRICE
ReportingDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a general whose agency's initial intelligence assessment of damage to Iranian nuclear sites from U.S. strikes angered President Donald Trump, according to two people familiar with the decision and a White House official. Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse will no longer serve as head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. The firing is the latest upheaval in the U.S. military and intelligence agencies and comes a few months after details of the preliminary assessment leaked to the media. It found that Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months by the U.S. strikes, contradicting assertions from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump has a history of removing government officials whose data and analysis he disagrees with.
Supreme Court Lets Trump Administration Cut N.I.H. Grants for Disfavored ResearchThe New York Times
ADAM LIPTAK
ReportingIn a fractured ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled by a 5-to-4 vote that the Trump administration could for now cancel more than $780 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health that the government said had been intended to explore topics like diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, "gender ideology" and vaccine hesitancy. But a different five-justice majority let stand for now a lower court's ruling that the administration's underlying policy directing the cuts was probably unlawful and should be put on hold. The upshot of the scrambled ruling, subject to ongoing litigation, appears to be that grants already canceled will not be immediately reinstated but that recipients may be able to sue in a specialized court. Further cancellations may be barred.
Peterson Institute's Mary Lovely Discusses the State of the U.S. EconomyNPR Morning Edition
MARY LOVELY
Peterson Institute for International EconomicsNPR asks Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, why she believes the U.S. economy is at an inflection point and what factors play into where it may go next.
Largest Retailers in the U.S. Have Raised Prices on Some ItemsNPR Morning Edition
ALINA SELYUKH
LEILA FADEL
ReportingSome of the largest retailers in the U.S., including Walmart, Home Depot and Target, have had to raise prices on some items due to tariffs. They've kept prices down on other items.
What Happens When People Stop Trusting Their Government's Economic Data?NPR Morning Edition
MARY CHILDS
ReportingWhat happens when people stop trusting their government's economic data? Planet Money reports on what happened in Greece.
New Justice Department Hire Has Compared Jan. 6 Prosecutions to the HolocaustNPR Morning Edition
TOM DREISBACH
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingAn NPR investigation finds that a new Justice Department hire compared the Jan. 6 riot prosecutions to the Holocaust, promoted conspiracy theories and called for defendants to receive reparations.
FBI Searches Home of Ex-Trump National Security Adviser John BoltonThe Associated Press
CURTIS YEE
BERNARD MCGHEE
ReportingThe FBI is searching the Maryland home and Washington office of John Bolton, who served in President Donald Trump's first administration as national security adviser, as part of an investigation into the handling of classified information, a person familiar with the matter said Friday. He was not in custody Friday and has not been charged with any crimes, said the person, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The searches, seemingly the most significant public step the Justice Department has taken against a perceived enemy of the president, are likely to elicit fresh alarm that the Trump administration is using its law enforcement powers to go after his foes.
'Flying Blind': Trump Strips Government of Expertise at a High-Stakes MomentThe New York Times
LUKE BROADWATER
JULIAN E. BARNES
ReportingFor decades, American presidents have relied on the expertise of foreign policy professionals to help guide them through tricky negotiations in high-stakes conflicts around the globe. President Trump has taken a different approach toward such experts: He's fired them. Now, as Trump tries to navigate perhaps the trickiest negotiation of his presidency -- ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine -- he is doing so after having stripped away much of the infrastructure designed to inform him about President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and to keep the United States from being outmaneuvered or even duped. "They're flying blind without the expertise," said Evelyn N. Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute at Arizona State University. She said the kinds of people who had been fired "have seen all the intelligence relating to Vladimir Putin's intentions. They have spies on the ground. They know all kinds of information that's gained through technical means."
Newsom Signs California Redistricting Plan to Counter Texas RepublicansThe New York Times
LAUREL ROSENHALL
ReportingCalifornia leaders on Thursday approved a sweeping plan to elect more Democrats by redrawing congressional districts, delivering an immediate counterpunch to the gerrymandered map that Republicans in Texas are passing at the request of President Trump. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two redistricting bills that the Democratic-controlled Legislature sent to him earlier Thursday. He also declared a special election on Nov. 4 that will ask voters to grant final approval to the newly drawn congressional districts. The moves will immediately thrust California into a feverish campaign with national implications as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of the House of Representatives through an extraordinary effort to redraw political maps in the middle of a decade. They will also put Newsom, a potential presidential candidate, at the forefront of a partisan fight against President Trump heading into the midterm election cycle. "We're responding to what occurred in Texas," Newsom said before signing the bills. "We're neutralizing what occurred and we're giving the American people a fair chance, because when all things are equal, we're all playing by the same rules."
Judge Orders That 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Center Be Shut Down for NowThe New York Times
PATRICIA MAZZEI
DAVID C. ADAMS
ReportingA federal judge on Thursday ordered that no more immigrant detainees be sent to a center in the Florida Everglades and that much of the facility be dismantled. The ruling rebuked the state and federal governments for failing to consider potential environmental harms before building the facility, known as Alligator Alcatraz. The judge gave both branches of the government 60 days to move out existing detainees and begin to remove fencing, lighting, power generators and other materials. The order also prohibits any new construction at the site. The decision is a major legal setback for the detention center, the nation's first state-run facility for federal immigration detainees, which has faced several lawsuits and numerous complaints about poor conditions and other problems. The state immediately filed a notice saying that it intended to appeal.
What Gabbard's ODNI Cuts Mean for U.S. Intelligence AgenciesPBS News Hour
SUE GORDON
Former Intelligence OfficerThe Trump administration announced that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence would cut 40 percent of its staff. Tulsi Gabbard claims ODNI is "inefficient" and "rife with abuse." The office was created after 9/11 to coordinate the 17 intelligence agencies. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Sue Gordon, principal deputy director of national intelligence at the ODNI from 2017 to 2019.
New York Appeals Court Throws Out $500-MB Fraud Penalty Against TrumpPBS News Hour
JESSICA ROTH
Former Federal ProsecutorA New York appeals court dismissed a $500 million civil fraud penalty against President Trump and his companies for overvaluing their properties in financial statements. The judges upheld the fraud judgment, but said the fine was excessive. Geoff Bennett discussed the impact of this decision with former federal prosecutor Jessica Roth.
Appeals Court Allows DHS to End Protected Status for Migrants From Central America and NepalPBS News Hour
JANIE HARR
Associated PressA federal appeals court on Wednesday sided with the Trump administration and halted for now a lower court's order that had kept in place temporary protections for 60,000 migrants from Central America and Nepal. This means that the Republican administration can move toward removing an estimated 7,000 people from Nepal whose Temporary Protected Status designations expired Aug. 5. The TPS designations and legal status of 51,000 Hondurans and 3,000 Nicaraguans are set to expire Sept. 8, at which point they will become eligible for removal.
ICE Pepper Sprays Protesters and Press at S.F. Immigration CourtMission Local
MARGARET KADIFA
JOE RIVANO BARROS
ReportingFederal immigration agents pepper-sprayed protesters and a reporter in San Francisco on Wednesday after arresting an asylum-seeker in immigration court that morning. In a chaotic street scene caught on video, the agents pulled out batons and tasers and tackled several protesters to the ground, detaining at least one. ICE officers encountered about 20 people who had gathered outside the court at 100 Montgomery St. Immigrants legally seeking asylum have been routinely arrested after their court hearings and flown to far-flung detention centers and protesters often congregate outside court. Witnesses said the two sides squared off -- protesters trying to stop the vehicles and ICE agents trying to get through.
Divided Court Eliminates Trump's Half-Billion-Dollar Fine in Fraud CaseThe New York Times
BEN PROTESS
JONAH E. BROMWICH
ReportingA New York appeals court on Thursday threw out a half-billion-dollar judgment against President Trump, eliminating an enormous financial burden while declining to overturn the fraud case against him, a remarkable turn in a case that pitted the president against one of his fiercest political foes. "While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the state," wrote Peter Moulton, one of the appeals judges whose lengthy and convoluted ruling reflected significant disagreement among the five-judge panel. The president's appeal will now most likely move to New York's highest court, providing him another opportunity to challenge the finding that he was a fraudster.
Republicans Turn Virginia Into a Test Case for a Bigger Fight Over Civil Rights in SchoolsSemafor
DAVID WEIGEL
ReportingThe Department of Education threatened on Tuesday to withhold federal funding for five Virginia public school districts -- all in DC's shadow, all strongly Democratic -- over their policies letting students use sex-specific facilities "based on 'gender identity.'" But the Virginia education fight is bigger in suburban Fairfax County, where the Justice Department has investigated since May whether a top-ranked school "discriminated against Asian students" by changing its admissions policy to a more "holistic" one. Since January, the Department of Education has opened civil rights investigations under the education law known as Title IX in Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and New York -- all states where Democrats control the governor's office, making each probe a political challenge. Spokespeople for the DOJ and the Education Department did not respond to questions about how local politics played into decisions about what to investigate.
How Deeply Trump Has Cut Federal Health AgenciesProPublica
BRANDON ROBERTS
ANNIE WALDMAN
PRATHEEK REBALA
ReportingWhen the Trump administration announced massive cuts to federal health agencies earlier this year, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he was getting rid of excess administrators who were larding the government with bureaucratic bloat. But a groundbreaking data analysis by ProPublica shows the administration has cut deeper than it has acknowledged. Though Kennedy said he would add scientists to the workforce, agencies have lost thousands of them, along with colleagues who those scientists depended on to dispatch checks, fix computers and order lab supplies, enabling them to do their jobs. Done in the name of government efficiency, these reductions have left departments stretching to perform their basic functions, ProPublica found, according to interviews with more than three dozen former and current federal employees.
ICE's Detention of Atlanta Reporter Seeks to 'Silence Him', ACLU Petition SaysThe Guardian
GEORGE CHIDI
ReportingThe ACLU called Immigration and Customs Enforcement's continued detention of Atlanta-area journalist Mario Guevara an act of retaliation for his reporting on immigration raids, according to a federal petition filed on Thursday. Guevara, a Salvadorian immigrant who has been in the United States for more than 20 years, was arrested on 14 June by a police officer in suburban Atlanta while covering the "No Kings" day protests in a neighborhood with a high density of immigrants. Despite all charges being dropped, Guevara has been in ICE detention in south Georgia for almost two months, the only journalist in the U.S. imprisoned as a consequence of their work today, the ACLU said. Guevara founded MG News, a social media-driven news organization that has become increasingly important to his Spanish-speaking audience for his coverage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) activities in metro Atlanta. As he was being arrested, Guevara was livestreaming on Facebook to more than a million followers.
Former CIA Officer and Army Veteran Discusses Having Security Clearance RevokedNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin speaks with Joel Willett, one of the 37 former and current national security officials whose security clearance was recently revoked by the Trump administration.
Gov. Bob Ferguson Discusses AG Pam Bondi's Demand to End Sanctuary PoliciesNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson after he received a letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi threatening criminal prosecution for impeding immigration enforcement.
DOJ Threatens Legal Action Against Some Cities and States Over Immigration PoliciesNPR Morning Edition
ELENA MOORE
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingThe Justice Department says cities and states risk legal action if they fail to comply with federal immigration law. Democratic leaders are pushing back, saying their policies break no laws and that it is the federal government's job to enforce immigration law not local police.
Scholar Says Trump's Efforts to Reframe U.S. History Is 'Reminiscent of McCarthyism'PBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingPresident Trump described Smithsonian museums as "out of control" for emphasizing, in his view, "how bad slavery was." It's part of a pattern by Trump in his second term to reframe historical narratives, in particular about racism and discrimination. Amna Nawaz spoke with historian Peniel Joseph for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and our CANVAS coverage.
Why the American Academy of Pediatrics Is Diverging From CDC Vaccine GuidelinesPBS News Hour
STEPHANIE SY
ReportingThe American Academy of Pediatrics released new COVID vaccination guidelines and for the first time, they diverge significantly from the recommendations from the CDC. The changes leave parents with competing guidance as we head into fall. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Mississippi Sent Troops to Back Trump's D.C. Takeover Despite Its Own High Crime RatesAll Things Considered
SHAMIRA MUHAMMAD
ReportingMississippi is one of the states that has sent guard troop to Washington, D.C., to fight crime, but its own capital has one of the highest murder rates in the country.
How Hurricane Katrina Changed FEMAHere & Now
CHRISTOPHER FLAVELLE
ReportingTwenty years later, we look at how Hurricane Katrina led to changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and where things stand now.
EV Charger Funds Unfrozen Following Pressure From StatesHere & Now
CAMILA DOMONOSKE
ReportingThe Trump administration had frozen money earmarked to build electric vehicle chargers along highways. Under pressure from a lawsuit filed by states, the government is poised to restart the program.
Conservatives in Ohio and Missouri Want to Roll Back Voter-Approved Abortion RightsHere & Now
SARAH MCCAMMON
ReportingHere & Now's Sarah McCammon speaks with reporters Karen Kasler and Jason Rosenbaum about efforts in Ohio and Missouri to rescind abortion rights that voters approved in the years after the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion rights in 2022.
Senate Adds Guardrails in an Effort to Force Trump to Obey Spending BillsThe New York Times
CARL HULSE
ReportingTop Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, alarmed by President's Trump's moves to withhold funding approved by Congress, have teamed up to add new safeguards to next year's spending bills that would ensure the Trump administration allocates federal dollars as lawmakers intend.
Judge Halts Texas Law Mandating the Ten Commandments in SchoolThe New York Times
POOJA SALHOTRA
ReportingA federal judge in Texas temporarily halted on Wednesday a state law that would have required the Ten Commandments to be visibly displayed in every public school classroom by Sept. 1. The law, passed earlier this year by the Republican-controlled Legislature, mirrors one in Louisiana that was declared "plainly unconstitutional" in June by a panel of judges from the conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. A federal judge also blocked a nearly identical measure in Arkansas this month. In Texas, 16 families from different faith backgrounds brought the legal challenge. They argued that the law would pressure students to adopt a state-favored religious scripture and that it amounted to a clear violation of the separation of church and state.
Federal Reserve Official Says She Won't Be 'Bullied' by Trump Into ResigningThe Associated Press
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
ReportingFederal Reserve governor Lisa Cook late Wednesday said she wouldn't leave her post after Trump on social media called on her to resign over an accusation from one his officials that she committed mortgage fraud. "I have no intention of being bullied to step down from my position because of some questions raised in a tweet," Cook said in a statement issued by the Fed.
Mississippi Supreme Court Map Violates Voting Rights Act, Judge RulesThe Associated Press
SOPHIE BATES
ReportingA federal judge has ordered Mississippi to redraw its Supreme Court electoral map, after finding the map dilutes the power of Black voters. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled the map, which was enacted in 1987, violates the Voting Rights Act and cannot be used in future elections. The Mississippi branch of the American Civil Liberties Union helped litigate the lawsuit, arguing the map cut Mississippi's Delta region -- a historically Black area -- in half. "This win corrects a historic injustice," said Ari Savitzky, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU Voting Rights Project. "All Mississippians will benefit from fair district lines that give Black voters an equal voice -- and new generations of Black leaders an equal chance to help shape the state's future by serving on the state's highest court."
Businesses Face 'Chaos' as EPA Aims to Repeal Its Authority Over Climate PollutionNPR Morning Edition
MICHAEL COPLEY
ReportingThe Trump administration's plan to undo a landmark finding that climate pollution threatens public health and welfare poses lots of risks for corporate America. A lot of businesses want the EPA to be in charge of setting national standards of some kind, according to proponents and legal experts, because it helps shield them from lawsuits and creates a predictable environment in which to make big, long-term investments.
Retired General Discusses Deployment of National Guard Troops in Washington, D.C.NPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR speaks with retired Major General Randy Manner, former vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, about his thoughts on the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.
Trump Calls on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to Resign, Renewing Attack on Central BankThe New York Times
CALLUM JONES
ReportingDonald Trump has called on a Federal Reserve governor to immediately resign, renewing his extraordinary attack on the central bank's independence as officials mull next steps on interest rates. A close Trump ally accused Lisa Cook, an appointee of Joe Biden, of "potentially committing mortgage fraud" and urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate. The claims have not been confirmed. On Wednesday, Trump leaped on the allegations about Cook. The governor "must resign, now!!!" he wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. Cook and the Fed did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump Wants Universities to Show Him the Money or No DealThe New York Times
MICHAEL C. BENDER
ALAN BLINDER
MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
ReportingSince the beginning of Trump's second term, his administration targeted elite schools with a few defined goals: root out antisemitism, restore a more traditional definition of gender in campus activities and athletic programs and expunge perceived liberal bias from colleges. To achieve those ends, the government unleashed the full scope and breadth of its power. Federal agencies under Trump's control have spent months squeezing elite public and private colleges with civil rights investigations, freezing billions in federal research money and threatening to prevent international students from enrolling. But privately, the president saw dollar signs -- and the chance to put his personal stamp on institutions that prize nothing more than their independence. Critics have likened Trump's methods to extortion.
How the Conservative Supreme Court Orchestrated the Fight for Mid-Decade RedistrictingHere & Now
DAVID DALEY
AuthorPresident Trump kicked off a nationwide race to redraw political maps after he urged Texas Republicans to draw five more GOP-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. David Daley, author of the book, "Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy," writes that the "true architect" of the gerrymandering fight is Chief Justice John Roberts and the conservative Supreme Court.
As Republicans Face Voters During Tense Town Halls, It's About Sticking to the ScriptAll Things Considered
SAIGE MILLER
ReportingAhead of the August recess, the National Republican Congressional Committee, an organization dedicated to increasing the amount of GOP seats in the House, sent Republican lawmakers a memo to "Make August Count," with crafted messaging and language to use when interacting with constituents, encouraging them to go on offense to sell their legislative victories. Amid a flurry of events held by Democratic members of Congress eager to message against the legislation and Republicans in power, the fraction of Republicans holding town halls gives a sense of what is on voters' minds and how the GOP has to address those concerns.
A Texas Democrat Sleeps at the Capitol to Protest GOP Actions in Texas Redistricting FightThe Associated Press
JOHN HANNA
SARA CLINE
JIM VERTUNO
ReportingDemocratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier refused to come to the state Capitol for two weeks. Now she won't leave. Collier was among dozens of Democrats whose walkout to Illinois, Massachusetts and New York delayed the passage of redrawn congressional maps sought by President Donald Trump. When they returned Monday, Republicans insisted the Democrats have around-the-clock police escorts to ensure they wouldn't leave again. But Collier declined to sign what Democrats called a "permission slip" agreeing to have Department of Public Safety troopers follow them so that they could leave the Texas House chamber. So she spent Monday night and into Tuesday on the House floor, where she set up a livestream from the chamber while her Democratic colleagues outside had plainclothes officers following them to their offices and homes. Collier said having officers shadow her was an attack on her dignity and an attempt to control her movements.
U.S. Pediatricians' New Covid-19 Shot Recommendations Differ From CDC AdviceThe Associated Press
MIKE STOBBE
ReportingFor the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations. The group's new Covid-19 recommendations -- released Tuesday -- come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing. This isn't going to help, acknowledged Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious diseases committee. "It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them," he added. The AAP is strongly recommending Covid-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said.
Trump's Justice Department Is Investigating Whether DC Police Officials Falsified Crime DataThe Associated Press
ALANNA DURKIN RICHER
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
ReportingThe Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether police officials in Washington, D.C., have falsified data to make crime rates appear lower than they are, according to two people familiar with the probe who weren't authorized to publicly discuss an open investigation. The investigation comes amid an escalating -- and political -- showdown between the Trump administration and the city over control of the police department. It wasn't immediately clear what federal laws could have been violated by the possible manipulation of crime data.
Trump Administration Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Current and Former Government OfficialsThe Associated Press
ERIC TUCKER
AAMER MADHANI
MATTHEW LEE
ReportingThe Trump administration said Tuesday that it was revoking the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials in the latest act of retribution targeting public servants from the federal government's intelligence community. A memo from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accuses the singled-out individuals of having engaged in the "politicization or weaponization of intelligence" to advance personal or partisan goals, failing to safeguard classified information, failing to "adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards" and other unspecified "detrimental" conduct. The memo did not offer evidence to back up the accusations.
Trump Wants to Stop States From Voting by Mail and Using Voting MachinesNPR Morning Edition
ASHLEY LOPEZ
ReportingLegal experts say Trump does not have the legal authority to tell states how to run their elections. Michael Morley, a professor at Florida State University College of Law, told NPR that the Constitution gives Congress -- not the president -- the power to regulate federal elections. "There's really nothing that the executive branch can do on its own in terms of direct mandates," he said. Any changes to the president's legal authority would require action from Congress, said UCLA law professor Richard Hasen. David Becker, the executive director and founder of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research, said the Founders deliberately gave the president no role in how elections are conducted.
Rights of People Held at Florida Detention Center Being Violated, Lawyers SayNPR Morning Edition
GREG ALLEN
ReportingImmigration lawyers say Florida and the Trump administration are violating the rights of detainees held at a Florida detention center officials have dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."
Jeffries: Noem Will Be 'One of the First Hauled Up to Congress' if Democrats Win MidtermsThe Guardian
JOSEPH GEDEON
ReportingU.S. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is making the Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem and her aggressive immigration enforcement tactics squarely in Democrats' crosshairs for congressional investigation if they flip the House in the midterms. Speaking on the Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller recently, Jeffries said Noem would be "one of the first people hauled up to Congress shortly after the gavels change hands" to answer for what he called the Department of Homeland Security's troubling conduct. "The lack of respect for due process, for the rule of law, the unleashing of masked agents on law-abiding immigrant communities and the disappearing of people in some instances, to other countries without any real evidence that criminal behavior took place," the New York representative said, outlining his concerns about Noem's leadership.
How Partisan Redistricting Battles Could Decide the Next CongressPBS News Hour
LISA DESJARDINS
ReportingTexas lawmakers are back in session after Democrats returned to the state after leaving to block partisan redistricting. Democrats came back because California is planning its own partisan map to counteract GOP gains in Texas. To discuss how the map battle could decide the next Congress, Lisa Desjardins spoke with Dr. Sam Wang of the Electoral Innovation Lab.
How D.C. Residents Feel About Crime and the Federal Takeover of Their CityPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingResidents of Washington, D.C., are still adapting to life under federal control after President Trump seized authority over the city's police force and deployed the National Guard. Nearly 400 people have been arrested and hundreds more troops from West Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina and Mississippi continue to pour in. Geoff Bennett reports on what residents make of the president's move.
Louisiana Becomes Sixth GOP-Led State to Authorize Troop Deployment to DC as Part of Trump PlanThe Associated Press
MATT BROWN
MIKE PESOLI
ReportingThree more Republican governors authorized the deployment of national guard troops to Washington as part of President Donald Trump's show of force meant to crack down on crime and boost immigration enforcement in the nation's capital. The announcements by Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana bring the number of state troops detailed to the president's effort to more than 1,100. Governors from the states said they were responding to requests from the Trump administration. It was not immediately clear why the administration requested additional support.
Trump's D.C. 'Crisis' Enters 2nd Week With More Soldiers -- and No Exit StrategyNPR Morning Edition
BRIAN MANN
ReportingCritics say a deeply troubling aspect of Trump's unfolding crackdown in D.C. is that he launched it on false and debunked claims that Washington is spiraling into disorder. "There is not a crime crisis in D.C.," said Rosa Brooks, a former D.C. Metropolitan reserve police officer who teaches now at Georgetown Law School. "This is police state territory, banana republic police state territory," she added. Federal officials haven't offered any plan for how this surge of troops and federal agents will end. Nor have they offered details on where the city's most vulnerable residents -- those who are poor, homeless, mentally ill and drug-addicted -- will go after being swept off the streets. "We're simply moving the problem around, we're not really providing a solution to folks' homelessness," said Dana White, who works with a social service program in Washington called Miriam's Kitchen. "D.C. shelter capacity is often very limited. Ultimately, these people often have no permanent, stable place to go."
Trump's Move to Sanitize U.S. History Gets Little Support With National Park VisitorsThe Guardian
OLIVER MILMAN
ReportingAs part of his administration's war on "woke," Donald Trump has asked the American public to report anything "negative" about Americans in U.S. national parks. But the public has largely refused to support a world view without inconvenient historical facts, comments submitted from national parks and seen by the Guardian show. Notices have been erected at every National Park Service site, which spans 433 national parks, monuments and battlefields, following an order from May entitled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," issued by Trump's department of the interior. The president had demanded a crackdown on any material that "inappropriately disparages Americans." But a trove of nearly 500 comments relating to the signs submitted across the U.S. by the public in June and July, seen by the Guardian, show that visitors have mostly been reluctant to demand the removal of park materials about the darker chapters of America's past, such as slavery or the mistreatment of Native tribes. "Are we such weak, fragile people that we can't view the full length and breadth of our history?" one visitor to Muir Woods in California wrote in July after a sign called "history under construction" was taken down. "Are we so afraid that we have to hide factual history from the telling of our past? Oh, please!!"
Washington DC Restaurants Suffer Sharp Drop in Diners Since Trump CrackdownThe Guardian
ADAM GABBATT
ReportingThe number of people eating at restaurants in Washington DC has plummeted since Donald Trump deployed federal troops to the city, according to data, as the president's purported crackdown on crime continues. Research by Open Table found that restaurant attendance was down every day last week compared with 2024, with the number of diners dipping by 31 percent on Wednesday, two days after Trump ordered the national guard to patrol Washington.
Gavin Newsom Requests Files on Border Patrol Operation at News ConferenceThe Guardian
ADAM GABBATT
LAUREN GAMBINO
ReportingCalifornia's governor, Gavin Newsom, has filed a request for information from the Trump administration over border patrol agents' appearance at a news conference he hosted on Thursday. In a statement, Newsom said the presence of federal agents at his press briefing in Los Angeles was "intended to intimidate those defending a fair electoral process." Dozens of armed and masked agents descended on the Japanese American National Museum's National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, where Newsom was announcing a redistricting plan for California, in a raid widely condemned by the governor's fellow Democrats. "Trump's use of the military and federal law enforcement to try to intimidate his political opponents is yet another dangerous step toward authoritarianism," Newsom wrote on social media. "This is an attempt to advance a playbook from the despots he admires in Russia and North Korea. The Trump administration needs to answer for this pathetic and cowardly behavior."
Trump Pledges to Scrap Mail Ballots and Voting Machines Before 2026 MidtermsThe Guardian
JOSEPH GEDEON
ReportingDonald Trump said he will sign an executive order to eliminate mail-in voting and voting machines before the 2026 midterms, days after Vladimir Putin told him U.S. elections were rigged because of postal ballots. Data from International IDEA shows 34 countries worldwide allow mail-in voting, with 12 allowing it for all voters and 22 for some voters. Most European countries offer some form of mail voting and over 100 countries let their citizens vote by mail when living abroad. U.S. courts rejected numerous fraud allegations after the 2020 presidential election, finding no evidence of widespread irregularities.
After Meeting Putin, Trump Changes His Position on the Need for a CeasefireNPR
GREG MYRE
ReportingWhen President Trump was flying to Alaska for his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Trump said the main goal was a ceasefire. He said he'd be disappointed if it didn't happen and warned of "severe consequences." But shortly after meeting Putin, Trump reversed himself and said a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war wasn't critical. He wrote on social media that "it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up." Trump's new position aligns him with Putin and puts him at odds with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- who's headed to the White House on Monday.
Government Papers Found in an Alaskan Hotel Reveal New Details of Trump-Putin SummitNPR
CHIARA EISNER
ReportingPapers with U.S. State Department markings, found Friday morning in the business center of an Alaskan hotel, revealed previously undisclosed and potentially sensitive details about the Aug. 15 meetings between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin in Anchorage. Eight pages, that appear to have been produced by U.S. staff and left behind accidentally, shared precise locations and meeting times of the summit and phone numbers of U.S. government employees. At around 9 a.m. on Friday, three guests at Hotel Captain Cook, a four-star hotel located 20 minutes from the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage where leaders from the U.S. and Russia convened, found the documents left behind in one of the hotel's public printers. NPR reviewed photos of the documents taken by one of the guests, who NPR agreed not to identify because the guest said they feared retaliation.
Trump's Selective Stance on Justice: Redemption for Some, Scorn for OthersThe New York Times
ERICA L. GREEN
ReportingAs President Trump made the case for militarizing the streets of Washington, he used pictures of "homegrown terrorists" to illustrate his point that crime in the nation's capital was out of control. The declaration provided a window into the president's selective view of criminality and redemption. In his eyes, Capitol rioters, a triple murderer, two police officers involved in covering up the killing of a Black man and an Israeli settler accused of extremist violence all deserve a second chance. But the people accused of crimes in Washington are irredeemable. Trump, himself a felon, has shown particular leniency to criminals he seems to identify with -- people who are white or wealthy or who he believes have been unfairly persecuted or who rioted in his name on Jan. 6, 2021.
Democratic Cities Prepare for Worst After Trump's Tirades Against DC and LAThe Guardian
RACHEL LEINGANG
ReportingAs tanks rolled down Washington DC streets against the wishes of local leaders, mayors around the country planned for what they would do if the Trump administration comes for them next. City leaders say there are appropriate ways for the federal government to partner with them to address issues such as crime, but that Trump is using the pretext of crime and unrest to override their local authority, create chaos and distract from a bruising news cycle about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. "President Trump constantly creates a narrative that cities like Seattle are liberal hellholes and we are lawless and that is just not the fact," said Bruce Harrell, the mayor of Seattle. "We are the home of great communities and great businesses. So his view of our city is not aligned with reality. It's to distract the American people from his failures as a president."
LAUSD Is Taking Action to Help Immigrant Students Feel Safe Going to SchoolNPR Weekend Edition
MEGAN JAMERSON
ReportingCity officials in Los Angeles are taking new measures to try and ensure that families without legal status feel safe getting their kids to school, after a summer of federal immigration raids.
With More National Guard Troops on the Way to D.C., Hundreds March in ProtestNPR Weekend Edition
BRIAN MANN
ReportingThis weekend, people in Washington, D.C., have been adapting to their police department being under federal control as the Trump administration has taken over policing.
Three Republican-Led States to Send Hundreds of National Guard Troops to WashingtonThe Associated Press
MATT BROWN
MIKE PESOLI
ReportingThree Republican-led states said Saturday that they were deploying hundreds of National Guard members to the nation's capital to bolster the Trump administration's effort to overhaul policing in Washington through a federal crackdown on crime and homelessness. West Virginia said it was deploying 300 to 400 Guard troops, while South Carolina pledged 200 and Ohio says it will send 150 in the coming days, marking a significant escalation of the federal intervention. The moves came as protesters pushed back on federal law enforcement and National Guard troops fanning out in the heavily Democratic city following President Trump's executive order federalizing local police forces and activating about 800 District of Columbia National Guard members.
Black Mayors of Cities Trump Decries as 'Lawless' Tout Significant Declines in Violent CrimesThe Associated Press
TERRY TANG
ReportingAs President Donald Trump declared Washington, D.C., a crime-ridden wasteland in need of federal intervention this week and threatened similar federal interventions in other Black-led cities, several mayors compared notes. The president's characterization of their cities contradicts what they began noticing last year: that they were seeing a drop in violent crime after a pandemic-era spike. In some cases the declines were monumental, due in large part to more youth engagement, gun buyback programs and community partnerships. Now members of the African American Mayors Association are determined to stop Trump from burying accomplishments that they already felt were overlooked. And they're using the administration's unprecedented law enforcement takeover in the nation's capital as an opportunity to disprove his narrative about some of the country's greatest urban enclaves.
How a White House Plan to Overturn a Key EPA Regulation Threatens Children's HealthPBS News Hour
JOHN YANG
ReportingIn July, the Trump administration proposed revoking a landmark 2009 finding that's been the basis for EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. If the proposal is finalized, experts warn that it could jeopardize the health of millions of Americans, especially children. John Yang speaks with pediatrician and clinical professor Dr. Debra Hendrickson for more.
Security Expert Analyzes Fallout of Trump's Alignment With Putin After Their SummitPBS News Hour
JOHN YANG
ReportingEfforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine are shifting next week to the White House, where Trump will meet with Ukraine's Zelenskyy. Their talks come as Trump aligns himself with Putin, dropping his demand for a ceasefire and backing a comprehensive peace deal hours after meeting with Russia's president in Alaska. John Yang speaks with security expert Andrea Kendall-Taylor for analysis.
Trump Bows to Putin's Approach on Ukraine: No Cease-Fire, Deadlines or SanctionsThe New York Times
PETER BAKER
ReportingOn the flight to Alaska, President Trump declared that if he did not secure a cease-fire in Ukraine during talks with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, "I'm not going to be happy," and there would be "severe consequences." Just hours later, he got back on Air Force One and departed Alaska without the cease-fire he deemed so critical. Yet he had imposed no consequences and had pronounced himself so happy with how things went with Putin that he said "the meeting was a 10." Even in the annals of Trump's erratic presidency, the Anchorage meeting with Putin now stands out as a reversal of historic proportions. The net effect was to give Putin a free pass to continue his war against his neighbor indefinitely without further penalty, pending time-consuming negotiations for a more sweeping deal that appears elusive at best.
Environmental Groups Sue Over D.O.E. Report Downplaying Climate ChangeThe New York Times
LISA FRIEDMAN
ReportingA new lawsuit in federal court alleges the Trump administration violated the law by secretly recruiting a group of people who reject the scientific consensus on climate change to write a report downplaying global warming. The Environmental Defense Fund and the Union of Concerned Scientists, both environmental groups, accused the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency of "flagrant violations" of a law that governs advisory committees. The lawsuit alleges that in March Chris Wright, the energy secretary, "quietly arranged for five handpicked skeptics of the effects of climate change" to form a committee called the Climate Working Group that then wrote a report downplaying the threat of rising greenhouse gas emissions. Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, cited the report to justify a plan to repeal the legal foundation for regulating climate pollution. But the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 does not allow federal agencies to recruit or rely on secret groups when engaging in policymaking, according to the lawsuit.
Judge Blocks F.T.C. Investigation of Media Matters as a 'Retaliatory Act'The New York Times
KATE CONGER
ReportingA federal judge granted an injunction on Friday blocking the Federal Trade Commission's investigation of Media Matters, saying the inquiry violated the free speech rights of the liberal watchdog group, which had published research critical of Elon Musk and his social media platform, X. In May, the F.T.C. began examining whether Media Matters illegally colluded with other advertising advocacy groups to pinch off revenue from X. Media Matters reported in 2023 that ads on X appeared alongside antisemitic content. Media Matters sued the F.T.C., calling the inquiry a "campaign of retribution" waged on behalf of Musk and the Trump administration. On Friday, Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan of U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia agreed, calling the inquiry "a retaliatory act" and essentially blocking it from progressing, though the F.T.C. can appeal.
Judge Rejects Trump's Attempt to End Standards of Care for Detained Migrant ChildrenThe New York Times
MIRIAM JORDAN
ReportingA federal judge rejected on Friday the Trump administration's second attempt to end a decades-old legal agreement that mandates basic standards of care and oversight for children in U.S. immigration custody. Judge Dolly M. Gee of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that the Flores Settlement Agreement, in effect since 1997, must remain in place. Court-appointed monitors and lawyers will continue to have access to migrant children in border stations and family detention centers to ensure that the government is complying with the agreement. The first Trump administration tried and failed in 2019 to dissolve the settlement agreement. And in a 20-page ruling, Judge Gee criticized the government for trying again, even though, she wrote, "they point to no meaningful change either in factual conditions or in law since their last motion to terminate." Terminating the agreement would have eliminated independent oversight and left the government to monitor itself.
Electricity Prices Are Climbing More Than Twice as Fast as InflationNPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT HORSLEY
ReportingPower-hungry data centers have been popping up all over, to serve the boom in artificial intelligence. The Energy Department projects data centers and other commercial customers will use more electricity than households for the first time ever next year. That's a challenge for policymakers, who have to decide how to accommodate that extra demand and who should foot the bill.
Thousands to Join 'Fight the Trump Takeover' Protests Against Republican Redistricting PlansThe Guardian
RACHEL LEINGANG
ReportingThousands are expected to gather in cities and towns across 34 states on Saturday for a national day of protest against Republican redistricting plans in Texas and elsewhere. "Fight the Trump Takeover" will be anchored in Austin, Texas, with other sites spread nationwide. "Texas House Democrats are blocking a redistricting vote in the Texas House right now to Stop the Trump Takeover," a Web site for the protests says. "But Trump has made it clear that he's not stopping at Texas. He's targeting Missouri, Ohio, Florida and every state he can twist to help him steal Congress."
Russia Jubilant After Putin Leaves Trump Summit Without Making ConcessionsThe Guardian
PJOTR SAUER
ReportingRussia's reaction to Donald Trump's summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska has been nothing short of jubilant, with Moscow celebrating the fact that the Russian leader met his U.S. counterpart without making concessions and now faces no sanctions despite rejecting Trump's ceasefire demands. "The meeting proved that negotiations are possible without preconditions," wrote former president Dmitry Medvedev on Telegram. He added that the summit showed that talks could continue as Russia wages war in Ukraine. Trump entered the high-stakes summit warning, "I won't be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire," and threatening "severe consequences" if Moscow refused to cooperate. But after a three-hour meeting with the Russian side that yielded no tangible results, Trump shelved his threats and instead insisted that the meeting was "extremely productive," even as Putin clung to his maximalist demands for ending the war and announced no concessions on the battlefield, where Russian forces are consolidating key gains in eastern Ukraine.
Trump's Red Carpet Reception for Putin in Alaska Ends Without Deal to End War in UkrainePBS News Hour
JILL COLVIN
Associated PressFirst came the red carpet, then the warm handshakes, friendly smiles and military planes flying overhead. Finally, President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin climbed into the back seat of Trump's presidential limousine, casually chatting like reunited friends as they were whisked away to talks about the future of the Russia-Ukraine war. It was a greeting fit for the closest U.S. allies. Instead it was rolled out for an adversarial leader who launched the largest land war in Europe since World War II and is seen as one of America's most vexing foes. Hours later, however, their interactions seemed more muted after they emerged from talks. Trump and Putin appeared briefly at what had been billed as a joint news conference -- though neither took questions. They offered generalities about an "understanding" and "progress," while praising one another from podiums positioned unusually far apart before a backdrop displaying the phrase "Pursuing peace."
Dozens of Rural Newspapers Shut Down in Latest Disappearance of Local JournalismPBS News Hour
STEPHANIE SY
ReportingFacing deep financial troubles, News Media Corp. shut down 23 news operations in five states. The closures are just the latest in a trend contributing to news deserts in rural America. Stephanie Sy discussed what this means for the future of local news with Teri Finneman, a journalism professor at the University of Kansas and co-author of "Reviving Rural News."
Trump Administration Backs Away From Federal Takeover of DC Police DepartmentPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingCity officials in Washington are declaring victory after they say the Trump administration backed away from a plan to appoint the nation's DEA chief as an "emergency police commissioner," a move they call an unprecedented federal power grab. It comes after the city sued to block the president's attempt to take control of the Metropolitan Police. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Marc Elias.
New Mexico Republican Candidate Gets 80 Years for Shootings at Democrats' HomesThe Guardian
Associated Press
A failed political candidate in New Mexico has been sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in the aftermath of the 2020 election. A jury convicted former Republican candidate Solomon Peña in March of conspiracy, weapons and other charges in the shootings in December 2022 and January 2023 on the homes of four Democratic officials in Albuquerque, including the current state house speaker.
Democrats Introduce Joint Resolution to End Trump's 'Lawless' DC TakeoverThe Guardian
MARINA DUNBAR
ReportingRepresentative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House judiciary committee, DC's non-voting House delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton and representative Robert Garcia, ranking member of the House committee on oversight and government reform introduced a joint resolution on Friday, invoking the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973. The resolution states Trump has not demonstrated the existence of any special emergency conditions that would warrant the federalization of the police force. In the Senate, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland will sponsor the resolution. "The only emergency here is a lawless president experiencing a growing public relations emergency because of his close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and his stubborn refusal to release the Epstein file despite his promise to do so," said Raskin in a statement shared with the Guardian.
After a Freeze, Trump Administration Reluctantly Agrees to Fund EV ChargersAll Things Considered
CAMILA DOMONOSKE
ReportingThe Trump administration is reopening a federal program to fund the installation of high-speed EV chargers along freeways nationwide, after a six-month freeze in funds and a legal battle with states. President Trump has repeatedly denounced the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program as wasteful. It was created in 2021 through a bipartisan act of Congress and unlike many other Biden-era climate measures, that law remains on the books; Congress has not reversed it. Now, the DOT has started the process of unfreezing the money by releasing new guidance that will allow the funds to flow again — while removing a number of Biden-era requirements. "It's ironic that this guidance was sold as cutting red tape, yet all it has accomplished is more than half a year of needless delay," Katherine García, the director of the Sierra Club's Clean Transportation for All program, wrote in a statement.
With Midterms Over a Year Away, a Record Number of Lawmakers Are Eyeing the ExitsNPR Morning Edition
STEPHEN FOWLER
ReportingSince President Trump returned to the White House this year, a record number of members are eyeing the exits as the Republican-led Congress has largely ceded its power to Trump's vision of the country. With just under 15 months to go until the 2026 midterms, nine senators and 21 House members have announced they don't plan to run for reelection, each a modern record for this point before the election, according to an NPR analysis of congressional campaign data since 2017.
President Trump Shakes Up the Kennedy Center HonorsNPR Morning Edition
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingPresident Trump has announced a new host of the Kennedy Center Honors: himself. NPR speaks with "Trump Revealed" co-author Marc Fisher about Trump's love of the limelight.
Trump's Efforts to Reshape the U.S. Forest Service Face PushbackNPR Morning Edition
KIRK SIEGLER
ReportingWith federal wildfire response resources nearly maxed out, President Trump says he's consolidating them into a new agency. Congress is trying to tap the brakes.
A Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia on the Trump-Putin SummitNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin speaks with former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul about the diplomatic dynamics ahead of today's U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska.
Republicans Who Backed Trump's Anti-Environment Bill Have Accepted Over $105m From Big OilThe Guardian
DHARNA NOOR
ReportingThe Republican lawmakers who voted for Donald Trump's anti-environment tax and spending bill have accepted more than $105m in political donations from the fossil fuel industry, a new analysis has found, raising concerns about their relationship with big oil. Signed into law last month, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes billions of dollars in giveaways to oil and gas companies and their executives, alongside provisions to scale back credits for clean vehicles, wind and solar which were enshrined by Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.
Barack Obama Praises Texas Democrats as State Legislature Moves to End Special Session Without Passing New Electoral MapsThe Guardian
SAM LEVINE
ReportingTexas lawmakers will adjourn their first special session without passing new congressional maps on Friday -- though Greg Abbott, the state's governor, has said he will immediately call another session -- and Democratic lawmakers signaled they are likely to return to the state. Gene Wu, the chair of the Texas Democratic caucus, said in a statement on Thursday that Democrats would return as long as the first special session adjourned on Friday and California introduced its own new congressional map to offset the gains by Republicans. California's governor, Gavin Newsom, announced on Thursday its maps would be coming shortly. Former president Barack Obama spoke to the Texas Democrats via video on Thursday, praising them for fighting against the redistricting plan. He told them they should return to Texas "feeling invigorated" and with the knowledge they helped lead what will be a long fight. Former attorney general Eric Holder also joined the call. "We can't let a systematic assault on democracy just happen and stand by and so because of your actions, because of your courage, what you've seen is California responding, other states looking at what they can do to offset this mid-decade gerrymandering," he said, according to ABC News.
Washington Sues to Block Trump's Federal Takeover of Its Police Department as Crackdown IntensifiesThe Associated Press
LINDSAY WHITEHURST
ASHRAF KHALIL
ALANNA DURKIN RICHER
ReportingThe nation's capital sued to block President Trump's takeover of its police department in court on Friday, hours after his administration escalated its intervention into the city's law enforcement by naming a federal official as the new emergency head of the department. Washington's top legal official sought an emergency restraining order in federal court blocking a Trump administration move to put a federal official in charge of its police. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues the police takeover is illegal and threatens to "wreak operational havoc." The lawsuit comes after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday night that Drug Enforcement Administration boss Terry Cole will assume the police chief's duties and approval authority for any orders issued to officers. It was unclear where the move left the city's current police chief, Pamela Smith, who works for the mayor.
Border Patrol Agents Show Up in Force at Newsom RallyThe New York Times
LAUREL ROSENHALLJESUS JIMÉNEZ
HAMED ALEAZIZ
ReportingMore than a dozen Border Patrol agents turned up in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday at a rally and news conference that Gov. Gavin Newsom was holding on congressional redistricting. The governor's event had nothing to do with immigration and local elected officials expressed outrage that the federal agents decided to stand there in a brazen show of force outside a museum where Newsom and other leaders were speaking. "This is just completely unacceptable," Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles told reporters. "This is a Customs and Border Patrol that has gone amok. This absolutely has to stop. There was no danger here." The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
'Stop the Insanity': Texas Democrat Urges GOP to End Redistricting BattlePBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingGov. Gavin Newsom threw down the gauntlet Thursday, saying California will move forward to redraw congressional maps in his party's favor if Texas Republicans do the same. Texas Democrats have blocked the plan by walking out on a special session, but a second special session is expected. Geoff Bennett discussed the strategy with state Rep. Ann Johnson, one of the Democrats who left Texas.
Trump's D.C. Takeover Escalates With Surge in Arrests and Homeless Encampments ClearedPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingThe Trump administration's federal takeover of Washington, D.C. is escalating with arrests at high-profile locations and homeless encampments torn down. Protests also erupted in the streets after the White House said federal agents would patrol around the clock. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Juliette Kayyem, a former Homeland Security official now at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Fight Against Tuberculosis Stalls in Bangladesh as U.S. Cuts AidPBS News Hour
FRED DE SAM LAZARO
ReportingEarlier this year, the Trump administration's defunding of USAID brought an abrupt halt to hundreds of global health programs, including those targeting tuberculosis. The disease kills more people than any other infectious agent worldwide, about 1.25 million in 2023. In partnership with the Pulitzer Center, Fred de Sam Lazaro reports from Bangladesh on efforts to contain the fallout.
Judge Orders RFK Jr.'S Health Department to Stop Sharing Medicaid Data With Deportation OfficialsThe Associated Press
AMANDA SEITZ
KIMBERLY KINDY
ReportingA federal judge ordered the nation's health department to stop giving deportation officials access to the personal information -- including home addresses -- of all 79 million Medicaid enrollees. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services first handed over the personal data on millions of Medicaid enrollees in a handful of states in June. After an Associated Press report identified the new policy, 20 states filed a lawsuit to stop its implementation. In July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services entered into a new agreement that gave the Department of Homeland Security daily access to view the personal data -- including Social Security numbers and home address -- of all the nation's 79 million Medicaid enrollees. Neither agreement was announced publicly. The extraordinary disclosure of such personal health data to deportation officials in the Trump administration's far-reaching immigration crackdown immediately prompted the lawsuit over privacy concerns.
Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration Guidance Against Diversity Programs at Schools and CollegesThe Associated Press
COLLIN BINKLEY
ReportingA federal judge on Thursday struck down two Trump administration actions aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the nation's schools and universities. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland found that the Education Department violated the law when it threatened to cut federal funding from educational institutions that continued with DEI initiatives. The guidance has been on hold since April when three federal judges blocked various portions of the Education Department's anti-DEI measures. The ruling Thursday followed a motion for summary judgment from the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association, which challenged the government's actions in a February lawsuit.
Illinois Judge Rules Against Arresting Quorum-Breaking Texas LawmakersDemocracy Docket
JEN RICE
ReportingAn Illinois judge Wednesday rejected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's demand to enforce arrest warrants against Democrats who left Texas to block a Republican redistricting plan that could help the GOP keep control of the U.S. House in 2026. Illinois Judge Scott Larson determined the court did not have the power to initiate contempt proceedings against Texas Democrats, saying Paxton's emergency motion and petition "do not cite any authority to allow this court to obtain subject matter jurisdiction to initiate the requested contempt proceedings."
U.S. Producer Prices Surge in July as Trump Tariffs Push Costs HigherThe Associated Press
PAUL WISEMAN
ReportingU.S. wholesale inflation surged unexpectedly last month, signaling that President Donald Trump's sweeping taxes on imports are pushing costs up and that higher prices for consumers may be on the way. The Labor Department reported Thursday that its producer price index -- which measures inflation before it hits consumers-- rose 0.9 percent last month from June, biggest jump in more than three years. Compared with a year earlier, wholesale prices rose 3.3 percent. The numbers were much higher than economists had expected.
Mayors of Democratic Cities Respond to Trump's Threats They Could Be Next After D.C.NPR
RACHEL TREISMAN
ReportingWhen President Trump announced his plans to mobilize Washington, D.C.'s National Guard and take control of its local police force, he suggested that other liberal-leaning cities could be next, naming Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Baltimore and Oakland. "I think it's very notable that each and every one of the cities called out by the president has a Black mayor and most of those cities are seeing historic lows in violent crime," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told CNN. "The president could learn from us instead of throwing things at us." Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have declared they will not allow federal law enforcement to take over their cities. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says Trump doesn't have the authority to federalize local law enforcement in the first place.
U.S. Medical Journal Rejects Call From RFK Jr to Retract Vaccine StudyThe Guardian
Reuters
An influential U.S. medical journal is rejecting a call from the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, to retract a large Danish study that found that aluminum ingredients in vaccines do not increase health risks for children, the journal's editor told Reuters. The study, which was funded by the Danish government and published in July in the Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed nationwide registry data for more than 1.2 million children over more than two decades. It did not find evidence that exposure to aluminum in vaccines had caused an increased risk for autoimmune, atopic or allergic or neurodevelopmental disorders. The work is by far the best available evidence on the question of the safety of aluminum in vaccines, said Adam Finn, a childhood vaccination expert in the UK and pediatrician at the University of Bristol, who was not involved in the study. "It's solid, a massive dataset and high-quality data," he said.
Some Houston Residents Worry About Changes Under Proposed Redistricting PlanNPR Morning Edition
ANDREW SCHNEIDER
ReportingIn one Houston neighborhood, residents worry their problems -- and their votes -- will go unheard if Republican state lawmakers go ahead with a redistricting plan to give them an edge in elections.
Juneau Hit by Flooding From Melting Glacier for Third Year in a RowNPR Morning Edition
ALIX SOLIMAN
ReportingFor three years in a row, Juneau has had unprecedented flooding in August from a melting glacier. This year, officials built a levee to protect the city. It seems to have helped, but it's temporary.
A Look at the Trump's Administration's Crackdown on Homelessness in D.C.NPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR speaks with Amber Harding, executive director of The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, about the Trump administration's misguided efforts to crackdown on homelessness in the nation's capital.
Trump Was 'Very Involved' in Kennedy Center Honorees Selection, Vetoed 'Wokesters'All Things Considered
ELIZABETH BLAIR
JENNIFER VANASCO
ReportingThis year's Kennedy Center honorees are country singer and Grammy Award-winner George Strait; Broadway actor and singer Michael Crawford, known for originating the lead role in The Phantom of the Opera; the actor Sylvester Stallone, star of the Rocky and Rambo movies; disco singer Gloria Gaynor, known for her women's empowerment anthem "I Will Survive"; and the rock band Kiss. At a press conference on Wednesday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, President Trump said he was "very involved" in selecting the group -- a departure for the Kennedy Center Honors. This morning, Trump also said that his staff urged him to host the event in December. He agreed, noting that he had previously hosted "The Apprentice."
Inside One of the Most Understaffed Immigration Courts in the CountryAll Things Considered
XIMENA BUSTILLO
ReportingThe Chelmsford Immigration Court opened last year as a way to reduce the backlog on the overloaded Boston court, which used to process immigration cases for much of New England. Chelmsford and Boston are now the only courts located in New England, two of about 70 immigration courts and adjudication centers nationwide. Eight months into the Trump administration, there are only seven judges listed on the court's Web site, down from the 21 intended to serve. One of those seven is set to retire in the coming days, NPR has learned. Another has been detailed to review cases in Indianapolis. NPR spoke with nearly a dozen of the judges assigned to work at the Chelmsford Immigration Court who are no longer there. All attest to a clear pattern: judges vacating their benches, increased political pressure and a growing dread of not knowing if their jobs are safe.
U.S. Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Part of UCLA's Frozen FundingThe Guardian
Reuters
A U.S. judge on Tuesday ordered Donald Trump's administration to restore a part of the federal grant funding that it recently suspended for the University of California, Los Angeles. U.S. district judge Rita Lin in San Francisco ruled that the grant funding suspensions violated an earlier June preliminary injunction where she ordered the National Science Foundation to restore dozens of grants that it had terminated at the University of California. That order had blocked the agency from cancelling other grants at the University of California system, of which UCLA is a part.
Historians Alarmed by White House Plan to Oversee Smithsonian ExhibitsThe New York Times
GRAHAM BOWLEYJENNIFER SCHUESSLER
ROBIN POGREBIN
ReportingHistorians and free speech advocates have begun to speak out to express their alarm at the White House's announcement of a wide-ranging review of exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution's museums and galleries. The free expression group PEN America said it feared the review "will rewrite history and strip truth from exhibits," while Sarah Weicksel, the executive director of the American Historical Association, described the Trump administration move as a "major overstep." Weicksel, who leads the country's largest group of professional historians, said she had been hearing from some of its more than 10,000 members who said they have deep concerns. "Only historians and trained museum professionals are qualified to conduct such a review, which is intended to ensure historical accuracy," she said. "To suggest otherwise is an affront to the professional integrity of curators, historians, educators and everyone involved in the creation of solid, evidence-based content."
Judge Appears Skeptical of Lawsuit Against Federal Bench in MarylandThe New York Times
ALAN FEUER
ReportingA federal judge signaled on Wednesday that he had doubts about an extraordinary lawsuit the Trump administration filed against the entire federal bench in Maryland, challenging a standing order intended to briefly slow down the government's ability to deport undocumented immigrants. During a hearing in Federal District Court in Baltimore, the judge, Thomas T. Cullen, said he had some reservations about the suit, making his remarks even before a lawyer for the Justice Department had the chance to offer any arguments on behalf of the administration.
With Deep NIH Cuts, Research Into Health Disparities FaltersThe New York Times
RONI CARYN RABIN
IRENA HWANG
ReportingThe federal government has for decades invested vigorously in research aimed at narrowing the health gaps between racial and socioeconomic groups, pouring billions of dollars into understanding why minority and low-income Americans have shorter lives and suffer higher rates of illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Spending on so-called health disparities rose even during the Trump administration's first term. But in its second, much of the funding has come to a sudden halt. In letters from the NIH, scientists were told that their projects were canceled because they "harm the health of Americans," "provide a low return on investment," or "do not enhance health, lengthen life or reduce illness." In interviews, many scientists whose work depends on NIH grants described the terminations as harrowing and bewildering. Many felt their research was not evaluated on its merits, but nixed because words like "race" or "gender" were in the project's title or description.
Group of Health Professionals Call for RFK Jr to Be RemovedThe Guardian
MELODY SCHREIBER
ReportingA grassroots organization of health professionals has released a report outlining major health challenges in the U.S. and calling for the removal of Robert F Kennedy Jr from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report from Defend Public Health, a new organization of about 3,000 health professionals and allies, is an attempt to get ahead of misinformation and lack of information from health officials. "The Maha report is essentially a distraction from the real causes of poor health," said Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emerita at the University of Arizona and a founding member of Defend Public Health. "This administration does not want to address things like poverty and education and access to healthcare."
Trump's Efforts to Defund Planned Parenthood Threatens U.S. Healthcare System, Study SuggestsThe Guardian
CARTER SHERMAN
ReportingPlanned Parenthood clinics treated people who rely on Medicaid at more than 1.5m visits in 2024, new research published on Wednesday shows. But the reproductive health giant's ability to treat those patients is now in jeopardy due to Republicans' efforts to "defund" Planned Parenthood by kicking it out of Medicaid. If the ban moves forward, experts warn that it could cripple the entirety of the U.S. healthcare social safety net.
Trump Administration Calls for 'Comprehensive Review' of 8 Smithsonian MuseumsNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingThe White House told the Smithsonian it wants to review eight of its museums to make sure they align with Trump's cultural directives. NPR speaks with Georgetown University professor Lisa Strong.
Trump Administration Seeks to Eliminate or Privatize Energy Star ProgramNPR Morning Edition
JEFF BRADY
ReportingThe Energy Star program has saved Americans more than a half-trillion dollars in energy costs and has reduced climate pollution. Now the Trump administration wants to eliminate or privatize it.
DOJ Faces Off Against Entire Maryland Federal Bench on WednesdayNPR Morning Edition
CARRIE JOHNSON
ReportingThe Justice Department has sued the entire federal bench in Maryland over a dispute related to deportations. Both sides are due in court in Baltimore for a hearing on Wednesday.
Letitia James' Lawyer Discusses DOJ Investigation Into New York Attorney GeneralNPR Morning Edition
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingThe Justice Department launched a grand jury investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. NPR speaks to James' lawyer, Abbe Lowell, who calls it a "dangerous escalation."
Advocates Fear Trump's Crackdown in D.C. Will Put Many Homeless People Behind BarsNPR Morning Edition
BRIAN MANN
ReportingAs hundreds of National Guard troops deployed on Tuesday in the nation's capital, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said homeless people in Washington, D.C., who refuse to move into shelters will face prosecution or fines. "There are very few beds available [in Washington]," said Jessie Rabinowitz with National Homelessness Law Center. "There are a handful of shelter beds available in far-flung parts of the city. Often in parts of the city where people don't want to be."
Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Discusses Trump's Crackdown on Washington, D.C.NPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin speaks with former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn about President Trump's crackdown and deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.
Tariff-Driven Inflation Accelerating With 'Worst Yet to Come,' AEI's Michael Strain SaysPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingNew inflation figures showed signs that President Trump's tariffs are starting to have an impact on consumer prices. Overall inflation held steady, but core inflation, which is closely watched by the Fed and does not include volatile food and energy prices, ticked up. Amna Nawaz discussed tariffs and inflation with Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute.
CDC Shooting Highlights Increasing Rhetoric and Hostility Against Health ProfessionalsPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingA 32-year-old gunman fired nearly 200 rounds at six buildings on the CDC campus in Atlanta last week. One police officer was killed and the suspect was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities also say the gunman believed the Covid-19 vaccine was to blame for his mental health problems, including depression and thoughts of suicide. In the days since, CDC staff have spoken out about what they describe as dangerous rhetoric and rising hostility. Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health and professor of emergency medicine, discusses the issue.
Judge Tells Trump Officials to Release Funds for Democracy GroupThe New York Times
CHRIS CAMERON
ReportingA federal judge blocked the Trump administration from withholding federal funding to the National Endowment for Democracy, a nonprofit established by Congress to bolster democracy worldwide that had been paralyzed by the loss of funding earlier this year. Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia wrote in her 15-page ruling that the Trump administration had withheld funds from the nonprofit "for impermissible policy reasons," and that the endowment had suffered irreparable harm in the form of layoffs of critical staff members and suspension of several democracy-supporting initiatives. "These harms to the endowment's global reputation and to the 'very existence of its programs' are irreparable," Judge Friedrich wrote ordering the release of $95 million in federal funds to the nonprofit, roughly 30 percent of its annual budget.
RFK Jr. Undermines Trust in Expertise at Department of Health and Human ServicesNPR Morning Edition
SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingFrom firing vaccine experts to cutting off research funding, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has undermined trust in expertise at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A Look at the Deal to Allow Nvidia Chip Sales to China in Exchange for RevenueNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin speaks with Peter Harrell of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about the Trump administration's deal to allow AI chip sales to China in exchange for revenue.
Trump's Washington, D.C., Takeover Targets a Host of Groups, Many of Them VulnerableNPR Morning Edition
BRIAN MANN
ReportingPresident Trump said Monday he'll use the National Guard and Metro police to target criminals in Washington, D.C., but criminals aren't his only targets. Trump also called for a purge of poor people and people without housing from the nation's capital. Much of his toughest rhetoric was aimed at young people.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb Discusses Federal Control of Police in the CityNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin talks with Brian Schwalb, attorney general of Washington, D.C., about President Trump's move to put law enforcement in the capital under federal control.
Trump's Move to Federalize D.C. Police Angers Many Residents in the CapitalNPR Morning Edition
ALEX KOMA
ReportingPresident Trump's move to control the Washington, D.C., police department for the next month has outraged many residents and left local leaders scrambling as they adjust to the intervention.
U.S. Inflation Held Steady as Mild Tariff Hit Offset by Cheaper Gas, FoodThe Associated Press
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
ReportingU.S. inflation was unchanged in July as rising prices for some imported goods were balanced by falling gas and grocery prices, leaving overall prices modestly higher than a year ago. Consumer prices rose 2.7 percent in July from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, the same as the previous month and up from a post-pandemic low of 2.3 percent in April. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 3.1 percent, up from 2.9 percent in June. Both figures are above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target.
Trump Nominates Conservative Economist to Head Agency That Compiles Jobs, Inflation DataThe Associated Press
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
ReportingPresident Donald Trump has nominated E.J. Antoni, chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation, to head the agency that compiles and publishes the nation's employment and inflation figures. Antoni has criticized the bureau's' collection and publication of the jobs data for years, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, after which the agency has frequently revised its initial jobs estimates lower. The announcement comes one day before the BLS is scheduled to release the latest inflation data, for July. It is forecast to show that consumer prices rose for the third straight month as tariffs are pushing up the cost of many imported goods.
Trump's Rhetoric on DC Echoes a History of Racist Narratives About Urban CrimeThe Associated Press
MATT BROWN
ReportingPresident Donald Trump has taken control of the District of Columbia's law enforcement and ordered National Guard troops to deploy onto the streets of the nation's capital, arguing the extraordinary moves are in response to an urgent public safety crisis. Even as district officials questioned the claims underlying his emergency declaration, the Republican president promised a "historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse." His rhetoric echoed that used by conservative politicians going back decades who have denounced American cities, especially those with majority non-white populations or led by progressive politicians, as lawless or crime-ridden and in need of outside intervention.
Trump Administration Proposal Could Harm Funds for Unhoused StudentsHere & Now
KALYN BELSHA
ChalkbeatThe Trump administration has proposed removing dedicated funding for unhoused students. Instead, there would be consolidated funding with other education block grants. Here & Now's Scott Tong gets more on the proposal and the impact with Kalyn Belsha, senior national reporter for the education publication Chalkbeat.
AI Companies Are Selling Microchips to China. National Security Experts Are ConcernedHere & Now
SCOTT TONG
ReportingChipmakers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have agreed to pay the U.S. government 15 percent of the revenue they make from selling advanced AI chips to China. It's a highly unusual arrangement for these companies to get export licenses for the Chinese market. National security experts have major concerns about these companies selling AI chips to China, worrying that it could give it an advantage over the United States when it comes to AI development.
How Trump's Immigration Policies Are Affecting Caregivers and Nursing HomesPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingMore than one million immigrants work in healthcare and make up an increasing share of caregivers for elderly and disabled Americans. That includes not only medical professionals, but also workers who keep facilities running. The industry already faces labor shortages and the Trump administration's immigration policies could make it more difficult to find workers. William Brangham reports.
'We're Allowed to Be Partisan' in Drawing Congressional Maps, Texas Republican SaysPBS News Hour
STEPHANIE SY
ReportingTexas Gov. Greg Abbott says he'll extend the standoff over redistricting for as long as necessary. The Republican effort is being pushed by President Trump and Abbott, who called a special session. Democrats have called foul and they're trying to run out the clock by staying out of state. Stephanie Sy discussed more with the GOP lawmaker central to the debate, state Rep. Carl Tepper.
The Legality of Trump's D.C. Takeover as Statistics Show Decline in CrimePBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingIn an unprecedented move, President Trump has taken over Washington, D.C.'s police department and activated its National Guard. The federal takeover invokes rare, but legal, presidential authorities, but local officials say he's wrong to say that crime has spiraled out of control. Amna Nawaz discussed the legality behind this action and what this means with Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck.
Trump Seizes Control of Washington DC Police and Deploys National GuardThe Guardian
GEORGE CHIDI
ReportingDonald Trump invoked section 740, of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, placing the DC Metropolitan police department under federal control, deploying the national guard while describing a "lawless" city in ways that are sharply at odds with crime statistics reported by the police. Violent crime in Washington DC has fallen sharply since 2023, shaking off pandemic increases to reach a 30-year low on the day Trump took office and have fallen 26 percent further this year according to weekly reports from the Metropolitan police department. The change in crime rates is consistent with dramatic decreases in violence in large cities across the country. Homelessness rates in the nation's capital have also been falling, with the most recent point-in-time count showing a decrease from 2024.
Transcripts of Grand Jury That Indicted Epstein Ex-Girlfriend Maxwell Won't Be Unsealed, Judge SaysThe Associated Press
LARRY NEUMEISTER
MICHAEL R. SISAK
JENNIFER PELTZ
ReportingTranscripts of the secret grand jury testimony that led to the sex trafficking indictment of Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell won't be released, a judge decided Monday. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said in a written ruling the government had suggested the materials could be released publicly "casually or promiscuously," which would risk "unraveling the foundations of secrecy upon which the grand jury is premised" and eroding confidence by persons called to testify before future grand juries. "And it is no answer to argue that releasing the grand jury materials, because they are redundant of the evidence at Maxwell's trial, would be innocuous," he added.
A Look at the President Trump's Contentious Relationship With Washington, D.C.NPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel asks historian George Derek Musgrove about the relationship between the federal government and the nation's capital over the use of law enforcement.
Las Vegas Sees Drop in Tourism, Hinting at Broader Economic Woes Facing the U.S.NPR Morning Edition
JULIANA KIM
ReportingIn its June report, the LVCVA said the dip in tourism reflected a "broader backdrop of persistent economic uncertainty and weaker consumer confidence." In its June report, the LVCVA said the dip in tourism reflected a "broader backdrop of persistent economic uncertainty and weaker consumer confidence." What happens in Las Vegas matters on a national scale because it often reflects larger trends, according to Andrew Woods, the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "It tends to be a signal for potentially where the economy's headed," he said.
U.S. Veterans Agency Lost Thousands of 'Core' Medical Staff Under TrumpThe Guardian
AARON GLANTZ
ReportingThe Department of Veterans Affairs has lost thousands of healthcare professionals deemed "core" to the system's ability to function and "without which mission-critical work cannot be completed," agency records show. The number of medical staff on hand to treat veterans has fallen every month since Donald Trump took office. The VA has experienced a net loss of 2,000 registered nurses since the start of this fiscal year, the data show, along with approximately 1,300 medical assistants, 1,100 nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses, 800 doctors, 500 social workers and 150 psychologists. The numbers are at odds with claims by the VA secretary, Doug Collins, that veterans' healthcare would not be impacted by an agency-wide reduction of 30,000 workers to be completed this year through a combination of attrition, a hiring freeze and deferred resignation program.
In Election Cases, Supreme Court Keeps Removing GuardrailsThe New York Times
ADAM LIPTAK
ReportingIf Republicans succeed in pulling off an aggressively partisan gerrymander of congressional districts in Texas, they will owe the Supreme Court a debt of gratitude. In the two decades Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has led the Supreme Court, the justices have reshaped American elections not just by letting state lawmakers like those in Texas draw voting maps warped by politics, but also by gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and amplifying the role of money in politics.
Asylum-Seekers Thought They Were Following the Rules. Now Some Are Told to Start OverNPR Weekend Edition
XIMENA BUSTILLO
ReportingThe Trump administration is stripping protections of some asylum applicants who filed as far back as 2019. NPR has learned that dozens of immigrants across the U.S. have received letters in the mail notifying them that their asylum cases have been dismissed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. The reason, according to the letters: These asylum-seekers, many of whom entered between 2019 and 2022, did not receive a mandatory screening, known as a "credible fear" interview, at the border.
Carmakers Have Absorbed Most Losses From Tariffs. Will Consumers Bear the Cost Soon?NPR Weekend Edition
ADRIAN MA
ReportingNPR's Adrian Ma speaks to Jamie Butters, Detroit bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, about how President Trump's tariffs are hitting the automotive market.
West Coast Sees Highest Covid-19 Levels as Cases Rise Across U.S., CDC Data SaysThe Guardian
CORAL MURPHY MARCOS
ReportingSeveral states in the western U.S. are experiencing a surge in new Covid-19 infections, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An update released on Friday shows Covid-19 activity in wastewater has risen to a "moderate" level nationwide, up from "low" the week before. The highest levels are in the western U.S., including in states such as Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah, all of which are marked as "high."
IRS Commissioner's Removal Reportedly Over Clash on Undocumented Immigrant DataThe Guardian
EDWARD HELMORE
ReportingThe removal of the Internal Revenue Service commissioner Billy Long after just two months in the post came after the federal tax collection agency said it could not release some information on taxpayers suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, it was reported on Saturday. The IRS and the White House had clashed over using tax data to help locate suspected undocumented immigrants soon before Long was dismissed by the administration, according to the Washington Post.
Companies Aiding Trump's Immigration Crackdown See 'Extraordinary' RevenuesThe Guardian
JOHANA BHUIYAN
JOSÉ OLIVARES
ReportingThe tech, surveillance and private prison providers arming Donald Trump's massive expansion and weaponization of immigration enforcement are running a victory lap after reporting their latest financial results. Palantir, the tech firm and Geo Group and CoreCivic, the private prison and surveillance companies, said this week that they brought in more money than Wall Street expected them to, thanks to the administration's crackdown on immigrants. Private prison company executives, during their respective calls, could barely contain their excitement, flagging to investors opportunities for "unprecedented growth" in the realm of immigration detention.
Ukraine Will Not Give Up Land, Zelenskyy Warns Ahead of Trump-Putin MeetingThe Guardian
ANDREW ROTH
ReportingPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy said early on Saturday that "Ukrainians will not give their land to occupiers" after Donald Trump said he would meet Vladimir Putin next week and that an end to the war must involve "some swapping of territories." The Ukrainian president said Kyiv was ready for real solutions that could bring peace but that any solutions without Ukraine would be against peace. "Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing," he said, adding that the war "cannot be ended without us, without Ukraine."
Week in Politics: Israel Faces Criticism for Gaza Takeover Plan; Trump Doesn't InterveneNPR Weekend Edition
DOMENICO MONTANARO
ReportingDomenico Montanaro sums up Trump's position on Gaza and Israel, Ukraine and Putin, Texas and California redistricting and finally his threat to take over Washington, D.C.
California Democratic Leaders Endorse Gov. Newsom's Redistricting PlansNPR Weekend Edition
GUY MARZORATI
ReportingIn response to Texas drawing five more GOP-leaning congressional seats, Democrats in California officially reveal their plan to redistrict ahead of the 2026 midterm elections if voters approve a remapping only if Texas remaps its districts to exclude Democratic representation.
Independent Grocery Stores Rely on Food Stamps Sales. The New Tax Bill Could Impact ThisNPR Weekend Edition
STEPHAN BISAHA
ReportingCuts to the food stamp program could affect rural grocery stores that rely more heavily on low-income shoppers. And Alabama grocer explains the situation he's facing with a third of his business paid for with food stamps.
Federal Response to Recent Disasters Reveals Impact of Trump's Changes to FEMAPBS News Hour
STEPHANIE SY
ReportingSince taking office, President Trump has called for the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, suggesting it could be dismantled as soon as December. Lately, his team has backed away from that idea, but there are still major changes underway and concerns that FEMA's response is at times politicized. Stephanie Sy looks at the changes and what they mean for disaster preparedness.
Trump Administration Seeks $1B Settlement From UCLA, White House Official SaysPBS News Hour
JOCELYN GECKER
The Associated PressThe Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles, a White House official said Friday, weeks after the Department of Justice accused the school of antisemitism and other civil rights violations. UCLA is the first public university to be targeted by a widespread funding freeze over allegations of civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action.
Trump Removes Billy Long as IRS Commissioner, Giving Him the Shortest-Ever Tenure in the RoleThe Associated Press
FATIMA HUSSEIN
ReportingPresident Donald Trump has removed former U.S. Rep. Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his confirmation, a White House official said Friday. It was not immediately clear why Long was dismissed. His quick exit makes him the shortest-tenured IRS commissioner confirmed by the Senate since the position was created in 1862. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting IRS commissioner, according to the White House official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Long's ouster only compounds the turmoil at the nation's tax collector, which has been beset by turnover since the beginning of Trump's second term. The IRS shuffled through four acting leaders before Long was confirmed in June and has lost a quarter of its staff since the Department of Government Efficiency burrowed in in a self-stated mission to reduce waste, fraud and abuse.
Justice Dept. Subpoenas Office of Letitia James, Who Sued Trump for FraudThe New York Times
JONAH E. BROMWICH
DEVLIN BARRETT
SANTUL NERKAR
ReportingThe Justice Department has opened an investigation into one of President Trump's longtime adversaries, Attorney General Letitia James of New York, examining whether her office violated his civil rights in its successful fraud suit against him, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The acting U.S. attorney in Albany sent James's office two subpoenas, one of which was related to the civil fraud case, which led to Trump being penalized more than half a billion dollars. The second subpoena is related to the office's long-running case against the National Rifle Association, the people said. James sued the organization in 2020, winning the ouster of its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre and sharply diminishing its power. It is a highly unusual use of a civil rights law more typically used to investigate potential racial, religious or sex discrimination, among other categories.
Trump Directs Military to Target Foreign Drug Cartels at Sea and on Foreign SoilThe New York Times
HELENE COOPERMAGGIE HABERMAN
CHARLIE SAVAGE
ERIC SCHMITT
ReportingPresident Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations, according to people familiar with the matter. The decision to bring the American military into the fight is the most aggressive step so far in the administration's escalating campaign against the cartels. It signals Trump's continued willingness to use military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs. The order provides an official basis for the possibility of direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels.
Trump Wants a New U.S. Census to Exclude People Here Illegally. It'd Be UnprecedentedNPR Morning Edition
HANSI LO WANG
ReportingWith preparations for the 2030 census already underway, President Trump said Thursday he has instructed his administration to start work on a "new" census. According to a social media post by Trump, that census would exclude millions of people living in the country without legal status -- an unprecedented change to how the country has conducted population tallies since the first U.S. census in 1790. The 14th Amendment requires the "whole number of persons in each state" to be included in a key set of census numbers used to determine how presidents and members of Congress are elected. The Trump administration has released no details about the plan.
What the Implications of a New Census to Remap Congressional Districts Could BeNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR's Steve Inskeep talks with John Bisognano, president of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, about efforts to remap congressional districts and what President Trump's proposed new census could mean.
The Political Battle Over Redrawing Congressional Maps Continues to EscalateNPR Morning Edition
ASHLEY LOPEZ
ReportingDozens of Texas Democratic lawmakers remain scattered across the country. This, as U.S. Senator John Cornyn requests that the FBI steps in to help locate them.
Trump Is Trying to Rewrite the History of the 2021 Attack on the U.S. CapitolNPR Morning Edition
TOM DREISBACH
ReportingPresident Trump has tried to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In the latest example, the Department of Justice hired a former Jan. 6 defendant who urged rioters to "kill" police.
Federal Records Contradict What FEMA Leader Told Congress About Texas Flood ResponseNPR Morning Edition
REBECCA HERSHER
ReportingIn the week after floods tore through Texas Hill Country, most survivors were unable to get through to a federal aid hotline because the Department of Homeland Security let funding lapse, according to publicly available contract records and internal FEMA call center logs obtained by NPR. The call center staffing meltdown appears to have happened because of an administrative bottleneck created by the Trump administration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem personally signs off on all funding requests for more than $100,000, according to House testimony by FEMA acting administrator David Richardson earlier this month. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Michael Coen, who served as FEMA chief of staff during the Obama and Biden administrations, said he couldn't recall ever seeing such a lapse in funding in his time at the agency. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions from NPR.
Ohio Planned Parenthood Affiliate Rejects Medicaid Amid Fears Over Trump CutsThe Guardian
SUSAN RINKUNAS
ReportingAn Ohio affiliate of Planned Parenthood said it will not accept Medicaid insurance because of uncertainty around a judge's ruling ordering the Trump administration to continue sending Medicaid reimbursements to all Planned Parenthood health centers. The operator of four clinics said it was concerned the administration could try to claw those payments back if the ruling is overturned. A second group of a dozen health centers is not offering long-acting contraceptive devices for Medicaid patients for similar reasons. The moves come after U.S. district judge Indira Talwani blocked a provision of the sweeping tax bill that "defunds" abortion providers for one year if they received more than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in 2023.
Appeals Court Tosses Judge's Contempt Finding Against Trump Administration in Prison DeportationsThe Associated Press
LINDSAY WHITEHURST
ReportingAn appeals court on Friday tossed out a judge's contempt finding against the Trump administration in a case over deportations to an El Salvador prison. The decision from a divided three-judge panel based in the nation's capital vacates a finding from U.S District Judge James E. Boasberg. Boasberg found in April there was probable cause to hold President Donald Trump's administration in criminal contempt of court. Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, both of whom were nominated by Trump in his first term in the White House, concurred with the unsigned majority opinion. Judge Cornelia Pillard, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, dissented.
Louisiana's High Medicaid Reliance Places State on Frontlines of Health Care CutsPBS News Hour
LISA DESJARDINS
ReportingPresident Trump's big budget law is expected to make the largest cuts ever to Medicaid, a program that currently provides health insurance for some 70 million Americans. As Lisa Desjardins reports, those impacts will be felt in House Speaker Mike Johnson's home state of Louisiana, which has one of the highest rates of enrollment in the country.
A Look at Trump's Legal Authority Over DC as He Threatens Federal TakeoverPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingPresident Trump continues to direct his ire at Democrat-run cities for what he calls an out-of-control crime wave, despite FBI data showing crime down in every category. This week, he went as far as threatening a federal takeover of Washington D.C. William Brangham discussed the threats with George Derek Musgrove, author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital.
As Trump's Tariffs Kick in, Economist Breaks Down Inflation and Recession Warning SignsPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingAfter months of delay and backroom dealmaking, the Trump administration has imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly 100 countries, sending U.S. import duties soaring to their highest levels in nearly a century. To help break down the impact of the new tariffs and interpret some signs we're seeing across the economy, Geoff Bennett spoke with Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG.
Trump Administration Ousts FBI Official Who Refused to Name Agents Who Investigated Jan. 6The Guardian
CHRIS STEIN
ReportingThe Trump administration is forcing out a senior FBI official who resisted demands made earlier this year for the names of agents who investigated the Jan. 6 insurrection, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Brian Driscoll briefly served as acting FBI director in the first weeks of Donald Trump's new term and his final day is Friday, the people told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the move. Further ousters were possible. The FBI declined to comment to the Guardian.
Conservationists Hail U.S. Judge's Order to Halt Building at 'Alligator Alcatraz' JailThe Guardian
RICHARD LUSCOMBE
ReportingA coalition of conservation groups has welcomed a federal judge's ruling on Thursday that halts construction work on the controversial immigration jail in the Florida Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz. U.S. district judge Kathleen Williams ordered workers to stop adding any new paving, infrastructure or ground filling at the remote tented detention camp that the Trump administration intends to eventually hold 3,000 migrants awaiting deportation. Her verbal ruling, which she said would be reinforced by a written restraining order later on Thursday, will be in effect for two weeks while attorneys argue whether the construction of the camp broke environmental rules.
Video Shows Department of Justice Official Urging Jan. 6 Rioters to 'Kill' CopsAll Things Considered
TOM DREISBACH
ReportingLess than five years after urging rioters to "kill" police at the Capitol, a former Jan. 6 defendant is working as a senior adviser for the Department of Justice. Trump supporters pull on a metal police barrier while police officers hold on to it on Jan. 6, 2021, outside the U.S. Capitol. NPR has obtained police bodycam footage from multiple angles of the former defendant and current administration official, Jared Wise, berating officers and calling them "Nazi" and "Gestapo." NPR located the footage, which has not previously been published, in a review of thousands of court exhibits from Jan. 6 criminal cases, obtained through legal action by a coalition of media organizations.
One Missouri Group Helps Detainees Who Can't Contact Loved OnesHere & Now
JONATHAN AHL
ReportingAs the Trump administration's mass deportation effort continues, many picked up by U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement end up in jail to await legal proceedings. A Missouri group called Abide in Love provides care packages and more to detainees who often arrive with no possessions and no ability to contact their loved ones.
Economist Paul Krugman on the Impact of Trump's TariffsNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR's Steve Inskeep asks economist Paul Krugman what effect President Trump's latest tariff announcements might have on the economy, including inflation and a slowdown that may become a recession.
ICE Recruits Former Federal Workers to Join Its RanksNPR Morning Edition
XIMENA BUSTILLO
ReportingICE is hoping to boost hiring by recruiting retired federal workers and local law enforcement to join its ranks, but a massive increase in its staff will still take time. It's offering a $50,000 signing bonus.
An Epidemiologist on Trump's Decision to Pull Funding for mRNA Vaccine ResearchNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR's Steve Inskeep talks with epidemiologist Michael Osterholm about a Trump administration decision to end funding for research into vaccines that fight respiratory viruses like Covid-19 and the flu.
Senator Cornyn Says FBI Will Help Track Down Texas Democrats Who Fled Over Redistricting VoteReuters
SARAH N. LYNCH
JOSEPH AX
ReportingThe FBI will help Texas track down Democratic state lawmakers who left the state as part of a collective effort to thwart Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts, Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn said on Thursday. "Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats," he said in a statement. "We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities." It was not clear precisely how federal agents might become involved. The FBI declined to comment. The lawmakers have not been charged with any crimes.
Pro-Trump Group Wages Campaign to Purge "Subversive" Federal WorkersReuters
LINDA SO
PETER EISLER
NED PARKER
ReportingThe American Accountability Foundation wants 175 federal employees, mostly civil servants, it has named on "watchlists" posted online to be removed from their jobs for allegedly promoting liberal ideologies. Many are women and people of color with long careers under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Most have little or no public profile and have spent their careers in behind-the-scenes government roles. Reuters spoke with two-dozen people on the lists, all sharing their stories for the first time. Through legal filings, public records and interviews with more than three dozen sources, Reuters traced AAF's evolution from a Biden-focused opposition research outfit to a sharp instrument in the Trump movement's campaign to root out perceived enemies.
U.S. National Parks Staff in 'Survival Mode' to Keep Parks Open Amid Trump CutsThe Guardian
OLIVER MILMAN
ReportingAcross the U.S.'s fabled but overstretched national parks, unusual scenes are playing out this summer following budget cuts by the Trump administration. Archeologists are staffing ticket booths, ecologists are covering visitor centers and the superintendents of parks are even cleaning the toilets. The National Park Service, responsible for maintaining cherished wildernesses and sites of cultural importance from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty, has lost a quarter of its permanent staff since Trump took office in January, with the administration seeking to gut the service's budget by a third. But the administration has also ordered parks to remain open and accessible to the public, meaning the NPS has had to scramble remaining staff into public-facing roles to maintain appearances to the crowds of visitors.
The Associated Press
JOSH BOAK
MIKE SCHNEIDER
JOEY CAPPELLETTI
ReportingPresident Donald Trump has instructed the Commerce Department to change the way the Census Bureau collects data, seeking to exclude immigrants who are in the United States illegally, he said Thursday. The census' data collections will be based on "modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024," the Republican president said on his social media platform, an indication he might try to inject his politics into survey work that measures everything from child poverty to business operations.
Former Prosecutor Questions Legitimacy of Bondi's Russia ProbePBS News Hour
STEPHANIE SY
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingAttorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into accusations that members of the Obama administration manufactured intelligence about Russia's 2016 election interference. Stephanie Sy reports on the latest development in the lengthy saga and Geoff Bennett discusses more with former prosecutor Steven Cash.
How Politicians Are Picking Their Voters With Partisan RedistrictingPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingWednesday marks the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the law that ended the era of Jim Crow voting laws that blocked Black Americans from exercising their right to cast a ballot. But 60 years later, there's renewed effort to give parties more control over the process by giving politicians more ability to pick their voters. William Brangham discussed more with Tony Plohetski and Rick Hasen.
Federal mRNA Funding Cut Is 'Most Dangerous Public Health Decision' Ever, Expert SaysPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingMany public health experts and scientists say they are stunned by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's decision to cancel nearly half a billion dollars in federal funding for future vaccine development. MRNA technology was central in the battle against COVID and can be developed more quickly than traditional vaccines. Geoff Bennett discussed the implications with Dr. Michael Osterholm.
RFK Jr.'S Reasons for Cutting mRNA Vaccine Not Supported by EvidenceThe Associated Press
MELISSA GOLDIN
ReportingAlthough mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. incorrectly argued they are ineffective to justify the Department of Health and Human Service's recent decision to cancel $500 million in government-funded research projects to develop new vaccines using the technology. Kennedy's claim ignores how mRNA vaccines work, according to experts. They prevent against severe infection and death, but cannot completely prevent an infection from occurring in the first place. Plus, years of research supports the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines that use mRNA technology. Here's a closer look at the facts.
Illinois Gov. Pritzker on Why His State Is Hosting Texas State LawmakersAll Things Considered
ALEJANDRA MARQUEZ JANSE
ReportingNPR's Juana Summers speaks with J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, about hosting a group of Texas state lawmakers as they protest a partisan redistricting effort in their state and the legality of that effort and attempts to threaten to Democratic state lawmakers.
Border Patrol Agents Jump Out of Rental Truck and Ambush People at LA Home DepotThe Guardian
SAM LEVIN
ReportingU.S. border patrol agents carried out a raid outside a Home Depot in Los Angeles on Wednesday, jumping out of an unmarked rental truck and chasing and arresting more than a dozen people. Clips of the early morning raid by Home Depot in the Westlake neighborhood, near MacArthur Park, showed masked, heavily armed officers jumping out of a yellow rented truck from Penske and people fleeing. Day laborers often gather outside Home Depot stores looking for work and have been subject to aggressive immigration raids in southern California. Videos of the operation and federal officials' statements boasting about the detentions, have raised questions about whether the U.S. government was complying with a federal court order halting indiscriminate raids in the region due to evidence of racial profiling.
Homeland Security Removes Age Limits for ICE Recruits to Boost Hiring for Trump DeportationsThe Associated Press
REBECCA SANTANA
ReportingThe Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday it is removing age limits for new hires at the agency. The department said in a news release it would waive age limits for new applicants so "even more patriots will qualify to join ICE," the agency responsible for finding, arresting, detaining and removing people who are in the U.S. illegally. Currently, ICE applicants must be 21 years old and no older than 37 or 40, depending on what position they are applying for. In an interview with Fox & Friends, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said applicants could be as young as 18.
How the Trump Administration Is Rolling Back Access to Birth Control in the U.S.All Things Considered
KATIA RIDDLE
ReportingContraception is routine for many Americans -- and people across political parties agree that it should be legal and accessible. But the Trump administration is walking back access for some people.
60 Years Later, a Georgia Democrat Leads the Push to Renew the Voting Rights ActNPR Morning Edition
SAM GRINGLAS
ReportingThe Voting Rights Act was signed 60 years ago today. It was the culmination of a hard-fought campaign by civil rights activists in the South. Now, a Georgia Democrat in Congress is leading the push to renew it.
A Former CIA Official on the 2016 Election Russian Interference ReportNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
LEILA FADEL
ReportingThe Trump administration is revisiting the investigation into Russia's 2016 election interference. NPR's Steve Inskeep and Leila Fadel speak to Susan Miller, an ex-CIA official who is defending her work. "I'm simply tell you what really happened," she emphasizes.
How Pam Bondi Has Redefined the Attorney General RoleNPR Morning Edition
DOMENICO MONTANARO
ReportingAttorney General Pam Bondi has redefined the role in President Trump's second presidency, carrying out his campaign trail promised "retribution" using the Justice Department to target his political opponentså.
A New Law Firm Challenges Trump's Executive PowersNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingA new law firm formed this week with a mission to challenge President Trump's executive power. NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with James Pearce, one of the firm's top lawyers, about the legal void it intends to fill.
Trump's Immigration Policies Are Having an Impact in Our WorkforceNPR Morning Edition
ANDREA HSU
ReportingUnder President Trump's immigration policies, thousands of workers have lost legal status and authorization to work. Those who remain on the job are feeling their absence.
Confederate Statue Toppled During Black Lives Matter Protests Will Be ReinstalledNPR
JENNIFER VANASCO
ReportingThe National Park Service is planning to restore and reinstall a statue of Albert Pike, a Confederate general and Freemason leader, that was toppled during Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents Washington D.C., said in a statement she would reintroduce a bill to permanently remove the statue. "The decision to honor Albert Pike by reinstalling the Pike statue is as odd and indefensible as it is morally objectionable," Norton said. "He resigned in disgrace after committing a war crime and dishonoring even his own Confederate military service. Even those who want Confederate statues to remain standing would have to justify awarding Pike any honor, considering his history."
RFK Jr. Pulls Funding for Vaccines Being Developed to Fight Respiratory VirusesPBS News Hour
AMANDA SEITZ
Associated PressThe Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like Covid-19 and the flu. The projects -- 22 of them -- are being led by some of the nation's leading pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna to prevent flu, Covid-19 and H5N1 infections. Kennedy said in the Tuesday statement that he wants the health department to move away from mRNA vaccines, calling on the department to start "investing in better solutions." He provided no details on what those technologies might be.
E.P.A. Moves to Cancel $7 Billion in Grants for Solar EnergyThe New York Times
MAXINE JOSELOW
ReportingThe Trump administration is preparing to terminate $7 billion in federal grants intended to help low- and moderate-income families install solar panels on their homes, according to two people briefed on the matter. The Environmental Protection Agency is drafting termination letters to the 60 state agencies, nonprofit groups and Native American tribes that received the grants under the "Solar for All" program, with the goal of sending the letters by the end of this week, according to the two people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
Smithsonian Faces Pressure From the White HouseHere & Now
JULIAN ZELIZER
Princeton UniversityHistorian Julian Zelizer discusses how the Smithsonian once faced criticism for an exhibit on atomic bombs and Hiroshima and how that is relevant to the current climate.
Yosemite Employees Worked for Weeks With No Pay Before the Government Hired ThemAll Things Considered
CHIARA EISNER
ReportingSome seasonal employees at Yosemite National Park worked for as long as six weeks without pay this spring and summer as park supervisors scrambled to manage hiring amid federal budget cuts, workers told NPR. The employees said they are now receiving hourly wages but have not been paid for the work they were asked to do as volunteers while they waited to be put on the federal payroll. "It's definitely taking advantage of people who love their jobs and don't want the park to suffer," said one of the employees, who said they volunteered for three weeks before being hired.
Inside Trump's New Tactic to Separate Immigrant FamiliesThe New York Times
HAMED ALEAZIZ
ReportingOfficials have begun separating children from their families in small numbers across the country, in what appears to be a more targeted version of one of the most explosive policies of President Trump's first term. The New York Times has uncovered at least nine cases in which parents have been separated from their children after they refused to comply with deportation orders, according to internal government documents, case files and interviews. The administration has decided to use family separation as a tool, at least in some instances, to persuade families to leave and to create a powerful deterrent for those who might come to the United States illegally.
Trump's Tax Bill Has Triggered a Solar Gold Rush, Helping Chinese ManufacturersSemafor
TIM MCDONNELL
ReportingU.S. companies are rushing to buy solar panels ahead of the Trump administration's early phaseout of tax credits in a frenzy that could stretch into mid-2026, the head of a top solar hardware marketplace told Semafor. Ultimately, the phaseout could end up helping the same Chinese manufacturers the White House wants to combat.
Rural Oklahoma Kids Were Getting More Counselors, Then Federal Cuts Pulled FundingNPR Morning Edition
BETH WALLIS
SIERRA PFEIFER
ReportingThe National Association of School Psychologists has been monitoring mental health training programs that received letters of grant non-continuation from the Education Department. Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach, director of policy and advocacy, said they've counted more than 200 programs that were alerted they would no longer be funded. In a letter to OU, which the program shared with NPR, the department said the grant-funded program reflects "the prior Administration's priorities and policy preferences and conflict with those of the current Administration." The department did not respond to NPR's request for comment.
Why a NASA Satellite Scientists and Farmers Rely on May Be Destroyed on PurposeNPR Morning Edition
REBECCA HERSHER
ReportingThe Trump administration has asked NASA employees to draw up plans to end at least two major satellite missions, according to current and former NASA staffers. If the plans are carried out, one of the missions would be permanently terminated, because the satellite would burn up in the atmosphere. The equipment in space is state of the art and is expected to function for many more years, according to scientists who worked on the missions. An official review by NASA in 2023 found that "the data are of exceptionally high quality" and recommended continuing the mission for at least three years. Both missions, known as the Orbiting Carbon Observatories, measure carbon dioxide and plant growth around the globe.
What Happens When the President Says Government Data Can't Be Trusted?NPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingFrom climate data, to budget forecasts, to intelligence reports, President Trump has challenged sources of data within his administration. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Peter Baker of the New York Times.
I Was the U.S. Labor Secretary. Trump's Latest Firing Undermines a Key AgencyThe Guardian
ROBERT REICH
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor"When Trump doesn't like the message, he shoots the messenger and replaces the messenger with someone who will come up with messages that he approves. So we're left without credible sources of information about what is really occurring.... This is a man and a regime that doesn't want the public to know the truth. He is turning the U.S. into George Orwell's dystopian 1984."
Jesuit Priest Describes Seeing ICE Agents Target Migrants at Immigration CourtPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingThe Trump administration has made sweeping changes to the country's immigration system. In recent months, ICE agents have been arresting migrants outside courtrooms and courthouses. William Brangham spoke with Father Brian Strassberger, a Jesuit Priest who serves migrants on both sides of the border, about what he saw at an immigration court hearing in Harlingen, Texas.
Firing of Labor Statistics Head Undermines Trust in Key Data, Ex-Trump Official WarnsPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingPresident Trump is expected to nominate a new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics this week, days after firing Commissioner Erika McEntarfer following the release of a disappointing jobs report. The president dismissed the data as "rigged" and "manipulated for political purposes." Geoff Bennett discussed more with William Beach, the commissioner of labor statistics during the first Trump term.
Trump Trying to 'Insulate Himself From the Will of the Public,' Texas Democrat SaysPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingTexas Democrats left the state to block a vote on a mid-decade redistricting plan that would benefit Republicans. Geoff Bennett discussed the move with Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, who is currently in Illinois.
This Attack on a Federal Judge Is PreposterousThe New York Times
NANCY GERTNER
Federal District Court Judge (ret.)
STEPHEN I. VLADECK
Georgetown University Law CenterLast week, in a post on social media, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint against James Boasberg, the chief judge of the Federal District Court in Washington, claiming he made "improper public comments about President Trump" and his administration. The complaint misrepresents both what Judge Boasberg said and the nature of the setting in which he spoke and it misapplies the law and the rules governing judicial conduct. Worse, it is a dangerous escalation in a mounting list of assaults by the current administration on the legitimacy of the federal courts. It is, in a word, preposterous. The real issue is why Bondi decided to make such a spectacle out of an obviously frivolous complaint against a highly respected Federal District Court judge. It seems clear that her first intended audience is other district judges. If the chief judge of the Federal District Court in Washington can come in for such treatment, perhaps other judges will think twice before raising legitimate concerns. The second audience is, without doubt, Trump and his supporters. Bondi wrote that Judge Boasberg's comments "have undermined the integrity of the judiciary and we will not stand for that." No. The way to look at this is the inverse: Her Justice Department is attempting to undermine the integrity of the judiciary and the rule of law.
What Could Trump's Firing of a BLS Commissioner Mean for the Integrity of Data?NPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingWhat could President Trump's firing of a Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner portend for the integrity of federal data? NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Hayley Williams of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
A Former Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner on the Firing of BLS HeadNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel speaks with former Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner Erica Groshen about the firing of one of her successors over the latest jobs numbers.
A Texas Democratic Lawmaker on Their Efforts to Stop Republican Redistricting PlansNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingTexas House Democrats fled the state in an effort to deprive Republicans of a quorum in a vote on a redistricting plan. NPR's Michel Martin talks with Democratic lawmaker Gina Hinojosa.
12 States Sue the Trump Administration Alleging New Tariffs Are IllegalNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, who leads a coalition of 12 states in a lawsuit alleging that Trump administration tariffs are illegal.
Senator Amy Klobuchar on States Suing Trump Over TariffsNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin speaks with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), whose state is among those suing the Trump administration for imposing tariffs without Congressional approval.
Texas Governor Threatens to Remove Democrats Who Left State Over Trump-Backed RedistrictingThe Associated Press
JOEY CAPPELLETTI
ANDREW DEMILLO
ReportingRepublican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office Monday if they do not return after dozens of them left the state in an attempt to block the adoption of redrawn U.S. House maps sought by President Donald Trump. The revolt by Democrats in the state House, many of whom fled Sunday to Illinois or New York and Abbot's threat ratcheted up a widening fight over congressional maps that began in Texas but expanded to include Democratic governors who have floated the possibility of rushing to redraw their own state's maps in retaliation. A vote on the proposed maps was set for Monday in the Texas House, but it cannot proceed if Democratic members deny a quorum by not showing up. After one group of Democrats landed Sunday in Chicago, they were welcomed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, but declined to say how long they were prepared to stay away from Texas. "We will do whatever it takes. What that looks like, we don't know," said state Rep. Gene Wu, the Texas House Democratic Caucus leader.
The Economic Health of Major Insurers Is a Mixed DiagnosisThe Associated Press
AYESHA RASCOE
ReportingNPR's Ayesha Rascoe asks Forbes healthcare contributor Bruce Japsen about the financial health of major U.S. insurers and why premiums are expected to go up.
Senate Heads Home With No Deal to Speed Confirmations as Irate Trump Tells Schumer to 'Go to Hell'The Associated Press
MARY CLARE JALONICK
JOEY CAPPELLETTI
ReportingThe Senate left Washington Saturday night for its monthlong August recess without a deal to advance dozens of President Donald Trump's nominees, calling it quits after days of contentious bipartisan negotiations and Trump posting on social media that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer can "GO TO HELL!" Without a deal in hand, Republicans say they may try to change Senate rules when they return in September to speed up the pace of confirmations. Trump has been pressuring senators to move quickly as Democrats blocked more nominees than usual this year, denying any fast unanimous consent votes and forcing roll calls on each one, a lengthy process that can take several days per nominee. Schumer said a rules change would be a "huge mistake," especially as Senate Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass spending bills and other legislation moving forward. "Donald Trump tried to bully us, go around us, threaten us, call us names, but he got nothing," Schumer said.
Former Venezuelan Detainees Speak Out About Abuse in El Salvador's Mega-prisonPBS News Hour
ALI ROGIN
ReportingIn July, a three-country deal released 238 Venezuelan migrants the Trump administration had rounded up and sent to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador. Now, some of the freed men are speaking out about the physical and psychological abuse they endured while locked up. Ali Rogin speaks with ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez for more.
Economist Analyzes Fallout of Trump's Sweeping New Tariffs and Firing of BLS CommissionerPBS News Hour
ALI ROGIN
ReportingThe White House's announcement Friday that it will impose hefty tariffs on imports from nearly 70 countries next week triggered the worst day on Wall Street in more than a month. Those economic jitters were compounded by a weaker than expected jobs report, which prompted Trump to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner who produced it. Economist Ernie Tedeschi joins Ali Rogin to discuss.
Federal Agency Opens Inquiry Into Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith Over Trump InvestigationsThe Guardian
EDWARD HELMORE
ReportingThe U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency, confirmed to NBC News on Saturday that it is investigating former Department of Justice prosecutor Jack Smith for possible violations of the Hatch Act. Smith led investigations into Donald Trump's part in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and alleged mishandling of classified documents. The confirmation of an investigation comes after Arkansas senator Tom Cotton, a Republican, requested last week that Smith, 56, be investigated for "unprecedented interference in the 2024 election."
Judges Keep Restrictions on L.A. Immigration Arrests, in Setback for Trump AgendaThe New York Times
MIRIAM JORDAN
TIM ARANGO
ReportingThe Trump administration's agenda suffered another setback late Friday when an appeals court upheld a decision that temporarily halts federal agents from making immigration-related arrests in the Los Angeles area without probable cause. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a lower court's finding that the raids appeared to exclusively rely on a person's race and other factors, like speaking Spanish. In their ruling on Friday night, the appellate judges wrote that the plaintiffs "are likely to succeed" in showing that federal agents made arrests based on how people looked, how they spoke and where they lived or worked. American citizens and immigrants who are legally in the United States have been caught in the dragnet, which fueled protests in Los Angeles and across the country. President Trump had said that other Democratic-led cities would also be targeted, suggesting that the aggressive enforcement tactics deployed in Los Angeles might be replicated elsewhere.
This Is How the World Is Reacting to Trump's Latest TariffsNPR Weekend Edition
MICHAEL SULLIVAN
JANE ARRAF
KATE BARTLETT
JACKIE NORTHAM
ReportingNPR's correspondents from around the world look at international reaction to President Trump's latest round of tariffs. Reports from Canada southern Africa, the Middle East and Asia paint the picture.
Who Is Allison Burroughs, the Federal Judge Trump Called 'A Total Disaster'?NPR Weekend Edition
CARRIE JUNG
ReportingHarvard University has been at the center of some big legal cases lately -- cases that have all started on the desk of one federal judge, Allison Burroughs of Massachusetts. Here's a look at who she is.
Opinion: A Little League HeartbreakNPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT SIMON
ReportingThe Senior League World Series championship, for Little Leaguers ages 13 to 16 from all over the world, is played today in Easly, South Carolina. But the Cacique Mara team from Maracaibo, Venezuela couldn't compete. They won the Latin American qualifier rounds in Mexico last month, but were denied travel visas to the United States. Not allowing this group of young athletes to come to the U.S. for a major sporting event raises some questions: Will Iran's excellent national soccer team really be permitted to play 2026 World Cup soccer games in the U.S.? Will athletes from Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and other listed countries really be given visas to compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles?
It's Trump's Economy Now. The Latest Financial Numbers Offer Some Warning SignsThe Associated Press
JOSH BOAK
CHRISTOPHER RUGBER
ReportingFor all of President Donald Trump's promises of an economic "golden age," a spate of weak indicators this week told a potentially worrisome story as the impacts of his policies are coming into focus. Job gains are dwindling. Inflation is ticking upward. Growth has slowed compared with last year. More than six months into his term, Trump's blitz of tariff hikes and his new tax and spending bill have remodeled America's trading, manufacturing, energy and tax systems to his own liking. He's eager to take credit for any wins that might occur and is hunting for someone else to blame if the financial situation starts to totter. But as of now, this is not the boom the Republican president promised and his ability to blame his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, for any economic challenges has faded as the world economy hangs on his every word and social media post.
After a Reference to Trump's Impeachments Is Removed From a History Museum, Complex Questions EchoThe Associated Press
DEEPTI HAJELA
HILLEL ITALIE
ReportingFriday the Smithsonian Institution said it had removed a reference to the 2019 and 2021 impeachments of President Donald Trump from a panel in an exhibition about the American presidency. A Smithsonian spokesperson said the removal of the reference, which had been installed as part of a temporary addition in 2021, came after a review of "legacy content recently" and the exhibit eventually "will include all impeachments." The Smithsonian's move comes in the wake of Trump administration actions like removing the name of a gay rights activist from a Navy ship, pushing for Republican supporters in Congress to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and getting rid of the leadership at the Kennedy Center. "Based on what we have been seeing, this is part of a broader effort by the president to influence and shape how history is depicted at museums, national parks and schools," said Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. "Not only is he pushing a specific narrative of the United States but, in this case, trying to influence how Americans learn about his own role in history."
A Look at Trump's Effort to Reshape the White House in His ImagePBS News Hour
TAMARA KEITH
ReportingThe Trump administration announced plans for one of the largest renovations to the White House in decades. It includes a 90,000 square foot state ballroom that will be built in the East Wing at a projected cost of $200 million. The White House says donations from President Trump and other private donors will fund it. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Tamara Keith of NPR.
AMA and Other Medical Associations Are Kicked Out of CDC Vaccine WorkgroupsThe Associated Press
MIKE STOBBE
ReportingU.S. health officials have told more than a half-dozen of the nation's top medical organizations that they will no longer help establish vaccination recommendations. The government told the organizations on Thursday via email that their experts are being disinvited from the workgroups that have been the backbone of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The organizations include the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Shut Down After Being Defunded by Congress, Targeted by TrumpThe Associated Press
TED ANTHONY
KEVIN FREKING
ReportingThe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a cornerstone of American culture for three generations, announced Friday it would take steps toward its own closure after being defunded by Congress -- marking the end of a nearly six-decade era in which it fueled the production of renowned educational programming, cultural content and even emergency alerts. The demise of the corporation, known as CPB, is a direct result of President Donald Trump's targeting of public media, which he has repeatedly said is spreading political and cultural views antithetical to those the United States should be espousing. The closure is expected to have a profound impact on the journalistic and cultural landscape -- in particular, public radio and TV stations in small communities across the United States. CPB helps fund both PBS and NPR, but most of its funding is distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations around the country.
Trump Removes Official Overseeing Jobs Data After Dismal Employment ReportThe Associated Press
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
JOSH BOAK
ReportingPresident Donald Trump on Friday removed the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs figures after a report showed hiring slowed in July and was much weaker in May and June than previously reported. Trump, in a post on his social media platform, alleged that the figures were manipulated for political reasons and said that Erika McEntarfer, the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, should be fired. He provided no evidence for the charge. The charge threatens to undercut the political legitimacy of the U.S. government's economic data, which has long been seen as the "gold standard" of economic measurement globally. Economists and Wall Street investors have for decades generally accepted the data as free from political bias. "This rationale for firing Dr. McEntarfer is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics that are a cornerstone of intelligent economic decision-making by businesses, families and policymakers," the statement from the group, the Friends of BLS, said. "Firing the Commissioner ... when the BLS revises jobs numbers down (as it routinely does) threatens to destroy trust in core American institutions and all government statistics," Arin Dube, an economist at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, said on X. "I can't stress how damaging this is." The Senate confirmed McEntarfer to her post 86-8, with now Vice President JD Vance among the yea votes. "What does a bad leader do when they get bad news? Shoot the messenger," Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a Friday speech.
Kamala Harris Tells Colbert She Wants a Break From Public OfficeThe New York Times
JOHN YOON
ReportingFormer Vice President Kamala Harris said on Thursday that she was taking a break from political office after decades, telling Stephen Colbert, the host of "The Late Show," that the American political system was broken. Colbert said that it was harrowing to hear from Harris that the American system was broken. "Well, but it's also evident, isn't it?" she said. "But it doesn't mean we give up." When Colbert asked her if she would like to tell Americans "I told you so" about what Trump would do in office, she said that "I did predict a lot of it," and added, "What I did not predict was the capitulation." She noted, "I think it is a mistake for us who want to figure out how to get out and through this, to put it on the shoulders on any one person: It's really on all of our shoulders."
Trump Administration Is Cutting Funds to UCLA, Chancellor SaysThe New York Times
JONATHAN WOLFE
ReportingThe federal government is cutting research funds for the University of California, Los Angeles, over claims of antisemitism and bias at the institution, according to its chancellor. In a statement late Thursday, the chancellor, Julio Frenk, said that the federal government was cutting "hundreds of grants" to the university made through the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. He did not specify which funds were being cut or by how much. The National Science Foundation said in a statement that it was "suspending awards to U.C.L.A. because they are not in alignment with current N.S.F. priorities and/or programmatic goals." The National Institutes of Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Disappointing U.S. Jobs Data Fuels Tariff FearsSemafor
LIZ HOFFMAN
ReportingU.S. job growth slowed sharply last month and employment in the preceding two months was worse than previously thought, new data showed, fueling fears of economic uncertainty driven by Washington's protectionism. Overall, the U.S. added 73,000 jobs in July, below the 100,000 expected by economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, while revisions to data from May and June showed that the country added 258,000 fewer jobs than previously thought -- much steeper than typical after-the-fact data tweaks. Stock markets extended losses on the news, while bond prices rose. Traders also increased their bets that the Fed will cut interest rates when policymakers next meet in September.
Trump's 'Golden Share' in U.S. SteelNPR Morning Edition
ERIKA BERAS
ReportingThe iconic American company, U.S. Steel was sold to Nippon Steel in Japan earlier this summer. The sale was years in the making and, on the campaign trail last year, President Trump opposed it. But now, he's approved the sale. And the deal also gives the president himself an outsized say in the future of U.S. Steel. Erika Beras from Planet Money explains what the president calls: a golden share.
Gender Affirming Healthcare for Minors Is Becoming Harder to GetNPR Morning Edition
AARON BOLTON
ReportingGender affirming healthcare for minors is becoming harder to get, even in states where it's legal. The White House is threatening to cut funding from hospitals that provide it.
Joe Biden Says U.S. Is Facing 'Existential' Fight With Marginalized Groups 'Dramatically Under Attack'The Guardian
CY NEFF
ReportingFormer United States President Joe Biden took the stage at the National Bar Association's 100th Annual Awards Gala in Chicago to deliver remarks honoring the United States civil rights legacy and the state of the country. Speaking amid continual scrutiny around his physical and mental health, Biden played up the importance of a strong judicial branch and characterized the U.S. as at a moment in time that "makes us confront hard truths." Biden said, "We see the apparent glee of some of our politicians while watching immigrants who are in this country legally torn from the arms of their family, dragged away in handcuffs from the only home they've ever know. My friends, we need to face the hard truths of this administration." Law firms representing those opposing the Trump administration's agenda have been targeted with executive orders by the administration. Some have capitulated to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Federal judges, increasingly on the receiving end of harsh rhetoric and threats to their safety, have weighed creating their own security forces. "We see the law firms, bowing to pressure, bending to bullies, instead of staying rooted in justice of the law," Biden said.
Prominent Historian Cancels Course at Columbia University Over Trump DealThe Guardian
DANI ANGUIANO
ReportingHistorian Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said professor emeritus of modern Arab studies at Columbia University, has cancelled plans to teach this fall in response to the school's recent agreement with the Trump administration. Khalidi made the announcement in an open letter to Columbia's acting president published in the Guardian on Friday. "Although I have retired, I was scheduled to teach a large lecture course on this topic in the fall as a 'special lecturer' but I cannot do so under the conditions Columbia has accepted by capitulating to the Trump administration in June," Khalidi wrote.