★★ 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
Saturday
8 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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August October S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5
DOJ Sues Eight States for Voting DataAll Things Considered
MILES PARKS
ReportingThe Justice Department is making unprecedented demands for extensive state elections data never before released to it. The data includes sensitive data like partial Social Security numbers and drivers licenses. The states are preparing to go to court. DOJ has not said how it would protect this data. Litigation will force them to do so.
Sen. Duckworth on Hegseth's Quantico SpeechAll Things Considered
SCOTT DETROW
STAFF
ReportingPresident Trump defended the use of troops in U.S. cities while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told military commanders about new physical fitness and grooming requirements for uniformed personnel. Sen. Duckworth, a veteran, observed, "If anything, what they're trying to do is going to make our military less able to fight the wars."
Trump Administration Defunds Federal Watchdog OfficeThe New York Times
MEGAN MINEIRO
ReportingThe White House last week informed a federal office charged with conducting oversight of the Trump administration that it was blocking congressionally approved money for its operations for the coming fiscal year, effectively shuttering it after midnight on Tuesday. The decision to defund the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, which drew quick condemnation from top Republicans in the Senate who are now pressing to reverse it, was the latest effort by the White House to undermine independent investigators in the federal government. In a letter on Monday, Senators Susan Collins, Republican of Maine and the chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee and Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, called on the White House to release the funding.
At Gathering of Military Leaders, Trump Hints at Deployment in U.S. CitiesPBS News Hour
NICK SCHIFRIN
ReportingPresident Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to nearly the entire senior officer corps of the military. It was an unprecedented gathering at a Marine base south of Washington. Hegseth announced new directives and the president laid out a vision to use the military not against overseas enemies, but for threats he sees here at home. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Margaret Donovan.
Democrats Battling With GOP to Avoid 'Devastating' Health Care Cuts, Rep. Ivey SaysPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingWith a federal government shutdown looming, Geoff Bennett spoke with Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland about his party's demands in negotiations with the Trump White House. See also Rep Lawler Calls Democrats 'Hypocritical' to Risk Shutdown Over Health Care Subsidies.
YouTube Settles Trump Lawsuit Over Account Suspension for $24.5 MillionThe New York Times
KATE CONGER
ReportingYouTube agreed to pay a $24.5 million settlement to President Trump and others who were suspended by the video streaming platform in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to a legal document filed on Monday. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, in January settled a similar lawsuit brought by Trump, agreeing to pay $25 million. X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk and formerly known as Twitter, agreed in February to pay about $10 million to resolve a dispute about the 2021 suspension of Trump's account. "The law was on their side," said Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, who said the settlements were akin to "buying influence."
Judge Reinstates Over 500 Voice of America Journalists and StaffThe New York Times
MINHO KIM
ReportingA federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to reverse the layoff notices sent out to nearly all remaining employees at Voice of America, a federal news organization that provides independent reporting to countries with limited press freedom, such as China, Russia and Iran. In a scathing ruling that accused Trump officials of ignoring and disrespecting the court, Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that the administration had violated his April order to restore Voice of America's news coverage so that it would "serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news."
President Tells Top Brass U.S. Cities Should Be Military 'Training Grounds'The New York Times
ERIC SCHMITT
HELENE COOPER
SHAWN MCCREESH
ReportingThe president delivered a rambling address that including familiar talking points and critiques and also Trump's revelation that he had told Hegseth to use American cities where he has deployed troops as "training grounds" for the military. It was striking how many times President Trump tried to get the assembled military leaders to break character and laugh when he mocked his predecessors or used his usual political lines. It was also striking how often they resisted before Trump finally threw in the towel. Already, the remarks by the president and his defense secretary are drawing criticism from former military officials. "I couldn't be prouder of our highest ranking leaders for maintaining an apolitical face under immense pressure," said retired Army Maj. General Paul D. Eaton. But, he added, "Pete Hegseth spent millions to fly in all of our generals and admirals to rant about facial hair and brag about how many pull-ups he can do and have Donald Trump sleepwalk through a list of partisan gripes." There does not seem to be a clear point or purpose in President Trump's address to military generals today.
Illinois Governor Says Trump's Military Deployment Threat Isn't About SafetyNPR Morning Edition
MAWA IQBAL
ReportingIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker says President Trump's threat to deploy 100 military personnel to Chicago is an effort to cause "mayhem," not make residents safer.
Trump Defends Use of U.S. Military Against 'Enemy Within'NPR Morning Edition
WASHINGTON DESK
ReportingPresident Trump defended the use of U.S. troops in American cities and told top U.S. commanders that the military would be used against the "enemy within." Trump and Hegseth, who also spoke Tuesday, reiterated to top U.S. military commanders the reason the administration had renamed the Department of Defense the Department of War. Hegseth said the purpose of the department would exclusively be "war fighting," even as he told U.S. adversaries not to test the country, using vulgar military slang -- FAFO -- to describe what would happen if they did. The presence of military leaders from across the globe at one central location presented challenges from both an operational and a national security perspective. The president's attendance added to those challenges.
'There's Been a Lot of Tears': Local Public Media Stations Grapple With Federal CutsNPR Morning Edition
DAVID FOLKENFLIK
ReportingFederal funding cuts to public media go into effect Wednesday. A South Dakota station explains what it's had to do as local stations across the country adjust to the loss.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Talks About the Potential for a Government ShutdownNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingSen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., talks about the potential government shutdown, what congressional Democrats are demanding and whether she thinks President Trump will carry out his layoff threat.
Previously on My Country, 'Tis of Thee...We've archived 293 items in August, 272 items in July, 253 items in June, 308 in May, 277 in April, 110 in March and 9 in February. Access them from the blue monthly title bar above.
Rory McIlroy on Verbal Abuse at Ryder Cup: 'I Don't Think We Should Ever Accept That'The New York Times
JENNA WEST
ReportingRory McIlroy said the abuse from fans at this week's Ryder Cup "got to me a few times" as disappointed American fans focused their ire on the Northern Irishman during the tournament. While playing with Shane Lowry in the first match of the Saturday afternoon session at Bethpage Black, McIlroy repeatedly had to step away from his golf ball as spectators shouted obscenities and personal insults at the career Grand Slam winner. "Look, I don't think we should ever accept that in golf," McIlroy said Sunday after Europe beat the United States 15-13. "I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. Golf has the ability to unite people. Golf teaches you very good life lessons. It teaches you etiquette.... It was a rough week for all of us. But at the same time, we shut them up by our performance and how we played and we tried to. I chirped back a few times because it got to me a few times, but we tried to handle everything that came our way with class and poise and for the most part, I felt like we did that."
'I'm From Here!' U.S. Citizens Are Ending Up in Trump's DragnetThe New York Times
JAZMINE ULLOA
ALLISON MCCANN
JENNIFER MEDINA
ReportingU.S. citizens, many of them Latino men, have been stopped and in some cases taken into custody by law enforcement officers who are carrying out President Trump's immigration crackdown and who suspect the men are living in the country illegally. While many of those detained have immediately declared their U.S. citizenship to officers, they have routinely been ignored, according to interviews with the men, their lawyers and court documents. In some cases they have been handcuffed, kept in holding cells and immigration facilities overnight and in at least two cases held without access to a lawyer or even a phone call.
Protestors Gather Outside Portland ICE Building After National Guard DeploymentNPR Morning Edition
CONRAD WILSON
ReportingHundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, Sunday to protest the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops. The Oregon Dept. of Justice, City of Portland and the Governor announced a lawsuit, calling the 60-day deployment "an abuse of power."
Republican Strategist Says Pocket Rescissions Could Backfire on GOPNPR Morning Edition
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingRepublican strategist Brendan Buck discusses how the Supreme Court's recent ruling allowing the president to claw back foreign aid could affect spending negotiations and government shutdown prospects.
George Soros's Foundation Responds to Being Targeted by Trump for InvestigationNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingPresident Trump has hinted that an investigation should be launched into philanthropist George Soros. NPR spoke with the head of Open Society Foundation, which Soros started, about Trump's suggestion.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar Talks About the Potential for a Government ShutdownNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingSen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., talks about the negotiations happening on Capitol Hill and at the White House over a potential government shutdown.
Trump Wants to Send Troops to 'War-Ravaged' Portland. City Officials Say There's No NeedNPR Weekend Edition
KAT LONSDORF
AYESHA RASCOE
ReportingPresident Trump says he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon -- the latest deployment to an American city. Officials there say it's unnecessary. The Governor and mayor dispute Trump's claim that the city is unsafe or needs troops.
DACA Has Bipartisan Support in Congress. Still, Republicans Are Following Trump's LeadNPR Weekend Edition
XIMENA BUSTILLO
ReportingOver the last decade, DACA has received varying degrees of support from Republican lawmakers. The program, created in 2012 to protect children who arrived in the country illegally prior to 2007 from deportation, now benefits around half a million people. During the last few months, there have been reports of nearly 20 DACA recipients without criminal records being detained by federal immigration officials despite the protection the program offers from immigration enforcement.
N.J. Sen. Andy Kim Discusses How Democrats Are Negotiating to Avoid a ShutdownNPR Weekend Edition
AYESHA RASCOE
ReportingNPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Senator Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, about his party's strategy heading into a possible government shutdown.
Justice Clarence Thomas Says Legal Precedents Are Not 'The Gospel'ABC News
DEVIN DWYER
ReportingJustice Clarence Thomas said the Supreme Court should take a more critical approach to settled precedent, saying decided cases are not "the gospel" and suggesting some may have been based on "something somebody dreamt up and others went along with." Thomas made the comments during a rare public appearance Thursday evening at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., just over a week before the high court starts a new term that includes challenges to several major, longstanding decisions. Thomas has long been an outspoken advocate for revisiting some of the Court's significant landmark opinions.
Trump Plans to Meet Monday With Top Four Congressional Leaders as Government Shutdown Risk LoomsThe Associated Press
SEUNG MIN KIM
LISA MASCARO
ReportingPresident Trump plans to meet with the top four congressional leaders at the White House on Monday, one day before the deadline to fund the federal government or face a shutdown. The meeting involving House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune as well as House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was confirmed Saturday by a White House official and two other people familiar with the planning. They were granted anonymity to discuss a meeting that has not been announced. "President Trump has once again agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office. As we have repeatedly said, Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people," Schumer and Jeffries said in a joint statement on Saturday night. "We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out."
What Was Lost: Former Federal Workers on the Cost of the CutsThe New York Times
MINHO KIM
AISHVARYA KAVI
ReportingOne in eight federal workers or some 300,000, will have left the government by the end of December. It's possible even more could be pushed out if the government shuts down next week. Some of the workers said that the Trump administration's decisions halted efforts to combat wildfires, stymied public health programs that help lower cancer rates and stopped the creation of free, public tax filing software. "It's just a huge drain," said Cynthia Vinson, who left the National Institutes of Health after 26 years. "All of the work that I have done in my career is being flushed down the toilet." The New York Times photographed and interviewed two dozen former federal workers from across the country to get a sense of how they are doing.
Is Taking Acetaminophen During Pregnancy Really Associated With Autism in Children?NPR Weekend Edition
SYDNEY LUPKIN
SCOTT SIMON
ReportingPresident Trump's announcement this week linking Tylenol with autism could play a role in ongoing legal cases against the company that makes it.
A Trump Republican Critic Urges Constituents to Oppose an Effort to Remove HimNPR Weekend Edition
CLAUDIA GRISALES
SCOTT SIMON
ReportingPresident Trump's most outspoken Republican critic on Capitol Hill is facing immense pressure to fold or pay the price. Now, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie is asking constituents to fight an effort to oust him.
Trump Says He'll Send Troops to Portland, Oregon, in Latest Deployment to U.S. CitiesThe Associated Press
CHRIS MEGERIAN
ReportingPresident Donald Trump said Saturday he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, "authorizing Full Force, if necessary" to handle "domestic terrorists" as he expands his controversial deployments to more American cities. He made the announcement on social media, writing that he was directing the Department of Defense to "provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland." Trump said the decision was necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he described as "under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists."
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Decide Whether He Can End Birthright CitizenshipCNN
DEVAN COLE
JOHN FRITZE
ReportingThe Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to review the constitutionality of President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, pushing the issue before the justices for the second time this year. Despite more than a century of understanding that the 14th Amendment confers citizenship on people born in the United States, the Trump administration told the Supreme Court in an appeal that notion was "mistaken" and that the view became "pervasive, with destructive consequences." CNN reviewed a copy of the appeal, which has not yet been docketed at the high court. "This executive order is illegal, full stop and no amount of maneuvering from the administration is going to change that," said Cody Wofsy, an ACLU attorney who argued the New Hampshire case. "We will continue to ensure that no baby's citizenship is ever stripped away by this cruel and senseless order."
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Slash Foreign AidThe New York Times
ANN E. MARIMOW
ReportingThe Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid that had been appropriated by Congress in a major test of Trump's efforts to wrest the power of the purse from the legislature. In its brief order, the court's conservative majority said the president's ability to conduct foreign affairs appeared "to outweigh the potential harm" faced by foreign aid recipients. The court cautioned that its decision, technically a temporary holding while litigation continues through the lower courts, "should not be read as a final determination on the merits." The three liberal justices dissented, saying the issue before the court is too consequential to address through the emergency docket without full briefing or argument.
How the Trump Administration Is Trying to Change the Way People VotePBS News Hour
LIZ LANDERS
ReportingThe Justice Department has sued eight states to compel them to share their voter registration lists with the federal government. State officials oppose the move because of concerns about how the information will be used by the Trump administration. It comes as President Trump continues to target election systems, including mail-in ballots, ahead of the midterm elections. Liz Landers reports.
Ex-Trump White House Attorney Calls Comey's Indictment 'Un-American and Despicable'PBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingTo discuss the indictment of James Comey and its implications, Geoff Bennett spoke with Ty Cobb. He was a White House attorney in the first Trump administration, managing the response to special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into alleged Russian election interference.
After Comey Indictment, Trump Says He Hopes More Political Opponents Will Face ProsecutionPBS News Hour
LIZ LANDERS
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingFormer FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury, an extraordinary escalation in President Trump's campaign to prosecute his political rivals. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports and Amna Nawaz discusses the developments with Barbara McQuade, a former federal prosecutor and University of Michigan law professor.
Former National Park Superintendents Urge Trump Administration to Close Parks in Case of ShutdownThe Associated Press
MATTHEW DALY
MATTHEW BROWN
ReportingA group of former national park superintendents is calling on the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors in case of a government shutdown. Past shutdowns in which parks remained open led to vandalism of iconic symbols, destroyed wildlife habitat and endangered visitors, 40 former superintendents said in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. A shutdown now could be even worse as parks are already under strain from a 24 percent reduction in staff and severe budget cuts, the former park officials said in a letter Thursday. A secretarial order by Burgum directing parks to remain open has led parks to neglect trash collection and other routine maintenance work, the ex-officials said.
Trump Gets the Retribution He Sought and Shatters Norms in the ProcessThe New York Times
ALAN FEUER
JONAH BROMWICH
MAGGIE HABERMAN
ReportingThe clearest way to understand the extraordinary nature of the indictment on Thursday of James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, is to offer up a simple recitation of the facts. An inexperienced prosecutor loyal to President Trump, in the job for less than a week, filed criminal charges against one of her boss's most-reviled opponents. She did so not only at Trump's direct command, but also against the urging of both her own subordinates and her predecessor, who had just been fired for raising concerns that there was insufficient evidence to indict. The rush to prosecute Comey was the clearest example yet of how the normal process of justice has been reversed under Trump, showing how the president came into his second term with targets already in mind and ultimately pressured the Justice Department, over a degree of internal resistance, into finding a way to charge a former director of the F.B.I. "What we are seeing is the almost wholesale collapse of the Justice Department as an organization based on the rule of law," said Alan Z. Rozenshtein, a former department official who now teaches at the University of Minnesota Law School.
House Democratic Caucus Chair on Trump's Threat of Layoffs if There's a Shut DownNPR Morning Edition
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingHouse Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., talks about the Trump administration's threat to terminate federal workers if the government shuts down Oct. 1.
Sen. Tim Kaine Reacts to the Indictment of Former FBI Director James ComeyNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR speaks with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., following the Trump administration's indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. "You follow the facts before you indict somebody," he points out. "You don't indict them on a two-page lack of details and then say you're going to follow the facts."
Law Professor Talks About Indictment of Former FBI Director James ComeyNPR Morning Edition
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingNYU law professor and former Pentagon counsel Ryan Goodman provides some background as he talks about the Trump administration's indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
Immigrants With No Criminal Record Now Largest Group in ICE DetentionThe Guardian
JOSÉ OLIVARES
WILL CRAFT
ReportingImmigrants with no criminal record are now the largest group in U.S. immigration detention, according to data released by the government. The number of people with no criminal history arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and detained by the Trump administration has now surpassed the number of those charged with crimes. According to the official data, 16,523 people in immigration detention with no criminal record were arrested by ICE, compared to 15,725 who do have a criminal record and 13,767 with pending criminal charges. There are currently a total of 59,762 people in ICE detention across the U.S. The remaining number of people in ICE custody were brought in by border officials.
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Warns That Rule of Law Is 'Under Attack'NPR
CARRIE JOHNSON
ReportingThe federal prosecutor who built two criminal cases against President Trump is sounding the alarm about dire threats to the legal system. In his first public remarks since leaving the Justice Department, former special counsel Jack Smith said he's sad and angry about the dismissals of career public servants and the loss of credibility the DOJ has suffered this year. "My career has been about the rule of law and I believe that today it is under attack like in no other period in our lifetimes," Smith told an audience of students, professors and members of the public at George Mason University last week.
Former FBI Director James Comey Posts Video After Indictment: 'I Am Innocent'ABC News
ALLISON PECORIN
MIKE LEVINE
K. FAULDERS
ReportingIn a video posted following his two-count indictment by a federal grand jury, former FBI Director James Comey says he is innocent. "My heart is broken for the Department of Justice. I have great confidence in the federal judicial system and I am innocent, so let's have a trial and keep the faith," Comey said in the brief video posted to his Instagram account.
Autism Advocate Calls Trump's Statements on the Condition 'Stigmatizing'PBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingThe FDA said it was approving leucovorin, a drug used to treat the toxic effects of chemotherapy, as a therapy for some people with autism. The active ingredient is a modified version of vitamin B9, also known as folate. Officials claimed it could help stem what they called an "epidemic" of autism. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
Doctor Challenges Trump Administration's Claims About Acetaminophen and AutismPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingPresident Trump's warning to pregnant women to stop taking Tylenol, based on his unproven claim that it can lead to autism, sparked widespread concern and many questions about what the science actually shows. Amna Nawaz discussed the president's claims about acetaminophen with Dr. Linda Eckert. She is an author and a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington.
James Comey's Son-in-Law Quits Justice Department After Former FBI Director's IndictmentThe Associated Press
STAFF
ReportingJames Comey's son-in-law resigned as a federal prosecutor minutes after the former FBI director was indicted Thursday. Troy Edwards quit his job "to uphold my oath to the Constitution and the country," he wrote in a one-sentence resignation letter addressed to Lindsay Halligan, the newly appointed acting U.S. Attorney in Virginia's Eastern District, the office that charged Comey.
Ex-FBI Director James Comey Indicted on Charges of Lying to Congress and ObstructionThe Associated Press
ERIC TUCKER
A. DURKIN RICHER
M. KUNZELMAN
ReportingJames Comey was charged Thursday with lying to Congress in a criminal case filed days after President Donald Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies. The criminal case is likely to deepen concerns that the Justice Department under Bondi is being weaponized in pursuit of investigations and now prosecutions of public figures the president regards as his political enemies. It was filed as the White House has taken steps to exert influence in unprecedented ways on the operations of the Justice Department, blurring the line between law and politics for an agency where independence in prosecutorial decision-making is a foundational principle.
Democrats Are Poking at MAGA's Antitrust Soft SpotSemafor
LIZ HOFFMAN
ReportingFour Democratic senators accused President Donald Trump's nominee for a top Justice Department post of allowing "outside corporate influence to corrupt" merger reviews and are seeking records of his dealings with HPE, American Express and other companies that received DOJ takeover approvals. The lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. and Amy Klobuchar, D, Minn., can't prevent the confirmation of Stanley Woodward to be the third-ranking official at DOJ. But with their new letter, which was shared first with Semafor, they are poking at a rare area of disagreement among conservatives, who are torn between a populist dislike of corporate power and the traditional Republican impulse to simply back big business.
Three School Districts to Lose $65 Million Over Gender and D.E.I. PoliciesThe New York Times
TROY CLOSSON
ReportingThe Trump administration said it would withhold more than $65 million in federal grants from magnet schools in three large school districts after they refused to overhaul their policies regarding transgender and nonbinary students or to change their diversity and equity programs. The three school districts -- in New York City, Chicago and Fairfax, Va. -- were accused by the federal Education Department of violating civil rights law. The threats from the federal Education Department's Office for Civil Rights came as the Trump administration has opposed what it calls "illegal D.E.I." initiatives. The department contends the rights of girls are violated when school policies recognize transgender identities. The Education Department sent notices to the three districts on Sept. 16 and gave them one week to meet the demands. By Thursday, the districts had declined to overhaul their policies and the Trump administration announced it would cancel the funding. Several thousand students in the three school systems are expected to be affected. Elizabeth K. Barton, the acting general counsel for the Chicago Board of Education, said in a letter to the federal Education Department on Tuesday that it had "failed to cite any violation of law or provide any evidence of harm done to our students."
Top Economic Leaders Warn Supreme Court to Allow Lisa Cook to Remain at Fed for NowThe New York Times
ANN E. MARIMOW
ReportingA group of the nation's top former economic policymakers warned the Supreme Court on Thursday not to allow President Trump to immediately remove a member of the Federal Reserve Board, saying such a move would threaten the central bank's independence and erode public confidence in the economy. The group includes the former Fed chairs Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke, in addition to a long list of former Treasury secretaries, including Janet L. Yellen, who served under President Joseph R. Biden Jr.; Timothy F. Geithner, who served under President Barack Obama; and Henry M. Paulson, who served under President George W. Bush. In their brief filed with the Supreme Court, the group said allowing Trump to remove Cook now would upset longstanding protections Congress imposed to insulate the Fed from political pressures "jeopardizing the credibility and efficacy of U.S. monetary policy."
A Diminished Social Security Work Force and Its Customers Feel the StrainThe New York Times
TARA SIEGEL BERNARD
ReportingThe Social Security Administration, the nation's social insurance program whose 74 million beneficiaries include retirees, survivors and the disabled, has long wrestled with customer service challenges because of chronic understaffing and budget constraints. And that was before Elon Musk's operatives at the Department of Government Efficiency landed at the agency earlier this year, slashing its work force by roughly 12 percent. That sent the agency into a state of upheaval, while Musk and his lieutenants spread false claims of widespread fraud. Through it all, payments went out. Today, Social Security's field offices -- the public-facing workhorses of the agency, with 1,200 locations across the country -- continue to adjust to their new normal.
White House Tells Agencies to Prepare for Firings if Government Shuts DownThe Guardian
STAFF
ReportingThe White House is telling federal agencies to prepare large-scale firings of workers if the government shuts down next week in a partisan fight over spending plans -- prompting the Democrats to accuse Donald Trump of intimidation tactics. In a memo released on Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget said agencies should consider a reduction in force for federal programs whose funding would lapse next week, is not otherwise funded and is "not consistent with the president's priorities." That would be a much more aggressive step than in previous shutdowns, when federal workers not deemed essential were furloughed but returned to their jobs once the U.S. Congress approved a new financial plan.
Newly Appointed U.S. Attorney Will Attempt to Charge James Comey Despite Prosecutors Finding No Probable Cause: SourcesABC News
KATHERINE FAULDERS
ALEXANDER MALLIN
PETER CHARALAMBOUS
LUKE BARR
ReportingDonald Trump's handpicked U.S. attorney in Virginia is planning to ask a grand jury in the coming days to indict former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly lying to Congress, despite prosecutors and investigators determining there was insufficient evidence to charge him, sources with direct knowledge of the probe told ABC News. Earlier this week, prosecutors presented Lindsey Halligan -- Trump's former personal attorney whom he appointed to lead the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia -- with a detailed memo recommending that she decline to bring perjury and obstruction charges against Comey, the sources familiar with the memo said.
'They Are Jumping the Gun': Families Respond to Trump Administration's Autism ClaimsNPR Morning Edition
YUKI NOGUCHI
ReportingParents of children with autism speak out after Trump linked Tylenol use to autism and promoted leucovorin as a possible treatment, raising concern and confusion.
NPR Morning Edition
Reporting
'It's Really Scary': Mississippi Raises Alarm as Infant Mortality Rate RisesNPR Morning Edition
KATIA RIDDLE
ReportingOfficials in Mississippi recently declared a public health emergency after infant mortality rates in the state rose. Doctors and women on the front lines of the crisis discuss the obstacles they face.
Photographer Sally Mann Warns of 'New Era of Culture Wars' After Art SeizureNPR Morning Edition
OLIVIA HAMPTON
ReportingMann, whose work is held at major art institutions around the world, is reeling after police seized four of her most celebrated -- and reviled -- photographs off the walls of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas in January. "Awful" and "shocking," she recalled.
U.S. Judge Blocks Trump From Tying States' Disaster Aid to Immigration EnforcementReuters
NATE RAYMOND
ReportingA federal judge ruled on Wednesday that an effort by the Trump administration to force states to cooperate with immigration enforcement in order to receive billions of dollars in emergency and disaster aid is unlawful and unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge William Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, sided with 20 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, which challenged conditions the U.S. Department of Homeland Security placed on their ability to obtain grant funding.
Federal Judge Declines to Reinstate Government Watchdogs Fired by TrumpThe New York Times
CHRIS CAMERON
ReportingA federal judge in Washington declined on Wednesday to reinstate eight former inspectors general fired by President Trump after he took office. In her ruling, Judge Ana C. Reyes of the Federal District Court in Washington said Trump had violated the law governing such dismissals, but that there was little point in reinstating them. If the inspectors general were reinstated, Judge Reyes wrote in her 20-page ruling, the president could once again remove them -- lawfully -- by providing to Congress a legally mandated 30-day notice, along with reasons for the removals. Judge Reyes reasoned that the officers' "inability to perform their duties for 30 days" did not rise to an "irreparable harm" that would justify intervening in the case. She also noted that if they were reinstated, Trump could put them on leave. "The Court recognizes plaintiffs' exceptional service," Judge Reyes wrote, adding that the officials "deserved better from their government. They still do. Unfortunately, this court cannot provide plaintiffs more."
At Global Climate Summit This Week, U.S. Isolation Was on Full DisplayThe New York Times
MAX BEARAK
SOMINI SENGUPTA
ReportingAt a climate summit at the United Nations on Wednesday, the vast majority of the world's nations gathered to make their newest pledges to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. Geopolitical heavyweights including China, Russia, Japan and Germany were there. Dozens of small island states were there. The world's poorest countries, including Chad and the Central African Republic, were there. Venezuela, Syria, Iran -- there, too. The United States was not.
Schumer Says Trump 'Totally Derelict' for Scrapping Negotiations to Avoid ShutdownPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingThe federal government is heading toward a shutdown in one week with no potential solution in sight. President Trump canceled a planned meeting with Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, saying what they are asking for in negotiations is "unserious and ridiculous." Geoff Bennett spoke with Sen. Schumer to discuss the negotiations.
Law Professor Sues West Point Over Rules He Says Curb Free SpeechPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingThe U.S. Military Academy at West Point is facing a lawsuit that claims it's violating the First Amendment. The suit, filed by its own law professor, Tim Bakken, alleges that the academy is banning professors from expressing opinions in the classroom and demanding that they seek approval to speak publicly. Geoff Bennett sat down with Bakken to discuss more.
Deadly Shooting at Dallas ICE Detention Facility May Have Been Politically MotivatedAll Things Considered
SERGIO MARTÍNEZ-BELTRÁN
ReportingNPR's Sergio Martinez-Beltran has the latest update from Dallas, where four people were shot at an ICE detention facility Wednesday morning.
A Year After Hurricane Helene, Communities Still Wait for Federal ReimbursementsAll Things Considered
GERARD ALBERT III
ReportingA year after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina, communities are eager for FEMA funds to reimburse recovery expenses, but it's not clear when and if that money will come.
Why Obamacare Bills May Double Next YearThe New York Times
REED ABELSON
MARGOT SANGER-KATZ
ReportingSticker shock may await millions of Americans who must start to sign up for coverage in November. The vast majority of people enrolled in plans under the Affordable Care Act receive additional federal tax credits that were first expanded by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Congress in 2021. Those subsidies, set to expire at the end of the year, are now the subject of a standoff between Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate have demanded an extension in exchange for their support of a government spending bill that must pass by the end of this month to prevent a government shutdown.
Advocate for People With Autism Responds to Trump's Acetaminophen ClaimsNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingColin Killick, executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, responds to President Trump's claim linking autism with acetaminophen use during pregnancy.
Democrat Wins Congressional Seat in Arizona, Narrowing GOP's Slim House MajorityNPR Morning Edition
BEN GILES
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingIn a special election, voters in southern Arizona have chosen to send Democrat Adelita Grijalva to Congress, narrowing the GOP's slim majority in the House.
Kimmel Returns to Late Night With an Emotional Monologue but No ApologiesThe Associated Press
DAVID BAUDER
ReportingJimmy Kimmel offered no apologies in his return to late-night television and, in an emotional monologue where he appeared close to tears, said he was not trying to joke about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He also paid tribute to Kirk's widow. Nearly 8 million people had watched Kimmel's first show back from a nearly one-week suspension on YouTube by midmorning Wednesday. Typically, he gets about 1.8 million viewers each night on television. In his first public comments following the suspension, Kimmel did not hesitate to joke about his frequent foil Donald Trump and credited him for what is expected to be a ratings bonanza. "He tried," Kimmel said. "He did his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly. He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now." See also What the Late-Night Host Said Upon His Return From Suspension.
Hundreds of Federal Employees Laid Off by DOGE Are RehiredThe Associated Press
CURTIS YEE
BERNARD MCGHEE
ReportingHundreds of federal employees who lost their jobs in Elon Musk's cost-cutting blitz are being asked to return to work. The General Services Administration has given the employees -- who managed government workspaces -- until the end of the week to accept or decline reinstatement, according to an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press. Those who accept must report to work on Oct. 6 after what amounts to a seven-month paid vacation. "Ultimately, the outcome was the agency was left broken and understaffed," said Chad Becker, a former GSA real estate official. "They didn't have the people they needed to carry out basic functions."
Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore $500 Million in Federal Grant Funding to UCLAThe Associated Press
STAFF
ReportingA federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding that it froze at the University of California, Los Angeles. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction on Monday, saying the government likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires specific procedures and explanations for federal funding cuts. Instead, the government informed UCLA in generalized form letters that multiple grants from various agencies were being suspended but offered no specific details.
Trump Attacks U.N. And Lectures Nations in Address to General AssemblyThe New York Times
FARNAZ FASSIHI
LUKE BROADWATER
DAVID E. SANGER
ReportingPresident Trump questioned the mission of the United Nations and aired a familiar list of grievances in a meandering speech before the General Assembly as it convened on Tuesday on its 80th anniversary. With wars raging in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, Trump, used his speech to make dubious claims about immigration and green energy and to lecture the representatives of nations gathered in the room. He targeted the United Nations, claiming that he had solved conflicts around the world while the U.N. had done nothing and questioning its purpose. "Sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help in any of them," Trump said. Going well beyond his allotted time, Trump also took shots at his predecessor, Joseph R. Biden, political opponents and close NATO allies that have recognized a Palestinian state.
Trump Cancels Meeting With Schumer and JeffriesPolitico
BEN JOHANSEN
MEREDITH LEE HILL
ReportingDonald Trump canceled a planned meeting with Democratic congressional leaders, the president announced on social media Tuesday. Trump said that "after reviewing the details of the unserious and ridiculous demands being made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats in return for their Votes to keep our thriving Country open, I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive." Trump decided to cancel the meeting after House GOP leadership relayed their concerns about it to the White House, according to two people granted anonymity to describe private conversations. Earlier Tuesday, Jeffries and Schumer said in a statement they planned to use the meeting to "emphasize the importance of addressing rising costs, including the Republican healthcare crisis."
Trump Says Civil Confinement Should Be Used to Get the Unhoused Off the StreetsNPR Morning Edition
BRIAN MANN
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingA plan backed by President Trump could force far more unhoused Americans into long-term treatment for addiction and mental illness. Experts fear people who aren't dangerous could be swept up.
ABC Ends Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension and His Show Will Return TuesdayThe Associated Press
MARK KENNEDY
ReportingABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel's late night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said Monday. "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday," ABC said a statement. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Kirk and now headed by his widow, posted on X about Kimmel's reinstatement: "Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it's their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice." Sinclair said Monday that it would not air Kimmel's show Tuesday and would broadcast news programming instead. "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show's potential return," the company said. There was no immediate comment from Nexstar on its plans for Kimmel's return.
Brazil's Lula Pushes for 'Civilized Relationship' With U.S. Amid Tensions With TrumpPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingWorld dignitaries are gathering this week for the UN General Assembly. The first speech will come from Brazil's president, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, has become an explosive issue in U.S.-Brazilian relations. President Trump levied a 50 percent tariff on many Brazilian goods as a penalty for the prosecution of Bolsonaro. Amna Nawaz sat down with Lula to discuss more.
Ex-DOJ Official Weighs in on Trump Pressuring Bondi to Prosecute Political OpponentsPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingTo discuss President Trump pressuring the Justice Department to prosecute his political opponents, Geoff Bennett spoke with Mary McCord. She's a former acting assistant attorney general for national security and was a longtime prosecutor. She is now executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law.
At Kirk Memorial, Trump Escalates Promises of Political Retribution Against His EnemiesPBS News Hour
LIZ LANDERS
ReportingPresident Trump headlined the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In front of tens of thousands of people, Trump delivered a eulogy for Kirk that was infused with his own political agenda. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports.
Health Experts Respond to Trump's Claims Linking Autism to AcetaminophenPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingPresident Trump tied the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy to autism and made several other claims about vaccines. William Brangham discussed those claims and the concerns about what the president said with Alycia Halladay of the Autism Science Foundation and Jennifer Nuzzo of Brown University's School of Public Health.
Trump Appointees Roll Back Enforcement of Fair Housing LawsThe New York Times
DEBRA KAMIN
ReportingDozens of pages of internal communications, memos and other documents reviewed by The New York Times show efforts by the Trump administration to limit enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law that has prohibited discrimination in housing for nearly six decades. In interviews, half a dozen current and former employees of HUD's fair housing office said that the Trump political appointees had made it nearly impossible for them to do their jobs, which involve investigating and prosecuting landlords, real estate agents, lenders and others who discriminate based on race, religion, gender, family status or disability. Several lawyers said they had been blocked from communicating with clients without approval from a Trump appointee and had been barred from citing some past housing civil rights cases when researching legal precedent for possible new prosecutions.
The Firing of Educators Over Kirk Comments Follows a Familiar PlaybookThe New York Times
STEPHANIE SAUL
ReportingThe American Association of University Professors, an organization founded to defend academic freedom, said it was aware of retaliation against about 60 professors and teachers in connection with critical comments they made about Charlie Kirk or people mourning him. Faculty First Responders, an organization that works with the association to advise educators who are the victim of doxxing and harassment campaigns, has reached out to 35 academic workers in the past week, most of them professors, whose comments about Kirk have been spread in right-wing media, according to Heather Steffen, the group's director.
Wary of Changes Under Trump, 'Citizen Historians' Are Documenting the SmithsonianNPR Morning Edition
ELIZABETH BLAIR
ReportingHistorians and citizens concerned about the Trump administration's approach to and involvement in, the Smithsonian have come together to document how the museums look today. Their goal is to produce a record before any changes that might be made.
What Ancient Rome and Greece Can Teach Us About Comedians and Free SpeechNPR Weekend Edition
CHLOE VELTMAN
ReportingAs president Donald Trump celebrates the cancelation of comedians Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert and says he hopes the same fate will befall others who have been similarly critical, a look at the comedians in the ancient world who faced serious penalties for making jokes about the powers that be and what lessons we can learn from their stories about the fate of free speech in this country.
What Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension Says About the FCC's Influence on BroadcastersNPR Weekend Edition
AYESHA RASCOE
ReportingNPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with longtime telecommunications lawyer Andrew Jay Schwartzman about the suspension of late night host Jimmy Kimmel and the influence of the FCC on broadcasters.
In Chicago, ICE Actions Are Triggering a New Wave of Political ActivismNPR Weekend Edition
ERIC WESTERVELT
JESSICA PUPOVAC
ReportingMany protestors responding to "Operation Midway Blitz," the stepped-up immigration enforcement in Chicago, are politically active for the first time in their lives.
The Pentagon Requires a New Pledge for ReportersAll Things Considered
JIM KANE
DAVID FOLKENFLIK
SCOTT DETROW
ReportingThe Pentagon says journalists must sign a pledge not to gather any information, including unclassified reports, that hasn't been authorized for release in another attack by the administration on the First Amendment.
Tom Homan Was Investigated for Accepting $50,000 From Undercover FBI Agents. Trump's DOJ Shut It Down.MSNBC
CAROL LEONNIG
KEN DILANIAN
ReportingIn an undercover operation last year, the FBI recorded Tom Homan, now the White House border czar, accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating he could help the agents -- who were posing as business executives -- win government contracts in a second Trump administration, according to multiple people familiar with the probe and internal documents reviewed by MSNBC. The FBI and the Justice Department planned to wait to see whether Homan would deliver on his alleged promise once he became the nation's top immigration official. But the case indefinitely stalled soon after Donald Trump became president again in January, according to six sources familiar with the matter. Trump appointees officially closed the investigation, after FBI Director Kash Patel requested a status update on the case, two of the people said.
California Defies Trump, Shields Schools and Clinics From ICEPolitico
LINDSEY HOLDEN
ReportingGavin Newsom on Saturday signed five bills aimed at protecting the state's large immigrant population from President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda -- including a ban on face coverings for federal agents. California's new laws will shield immigrants' health care information, notify families of federal agents' presence at schools and require officers to identify themselves. Several of the proposals came in response to an immigration crackdown that rattled Los Angeles this summer. "What are you afraid of?" Newsom asked of federal agents during the event. "You're going to go out and you're going to do enforcement -- provide an ID. Tell us which agency you represent. Provide us basic information that all local law enforcement is required to provide."
Trump Urges Bondi to Prosecute His RivalsPolitico
KYLE CHENEY
ReportingPresident Donald Trump publicly vented at Attorney General Pam Bondi in a Truth Social post on Saturday, saying the lack of criminal charges against top adversaries was "killing our reputation and credibility." Trump spent much of the post venting about Erik Siebert, the former U.S. attorney from the Eastern District of Virginia, whom he forced out Friday amid reports that Siebert did not believe there was enough evidence to charge James with mortgage fraud. Trump appeared to confirm those reports, accusing Siebert of saying "that we had no case."
U.S. Attorney Investigating Two Trump Foes Departs Amid Pressure From PresidentThe New York Times
GLENN THRUSH
MAGGIE HABERMAN
JONAH BROMWICH
ALAN FEUER
WILLIAM RASHBAUM
ReportingThe U.S. attorney investigating New York's attorney general, Letitia James and the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey said he had resigned on Friday, hours after President Trump called for his ouster. Erik S. Siebert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, had recently told senior Justice Department officials that investigators found insufficient evidence to bring charges against James and had also raised concerns about a potential case against Comey, according to officials familiar with the situation. Trump has long viewed James and Comey as adversaries and has repeatedly pledged retribution against law enforcement officials who pursued him. Siebert informed prosecutors in his office of his resignation through an email hours after the president, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said he wanted him removed because two Democratic senators from Virginia had approved of his nomination. The president did not mention that he nominated Siebert only after the two senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, had already written Trump praising him.
What Does Free Speech Mean?NPR Morning Edition
DAVID FOLKENFLIK
SCOTT SIMON
ReportingThe First Amendment is meant to protect freedom of speech for the nation's people and press. But this week, that protection was tested.
What Does the CDC Panel Vote on Childhood Vaccine Changes Mean?NPR Morning Edition
SCOTT SIMON
WILL STONE
ReportingIt was chaotic and at times tense as a vaccine panel that advises the federal government and met in Atlanta this week. The committee guides the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on who should get vaccines and when and they've been embroiled in controversy under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. NPR's Will Stone spent the last two days watching the meeting.
Grocery Prices Have Jumped Up and There's No Relief in SightNPR Morning Edition
SCOTT HORSLEY
ReportingLast month saw the biggest jump in grocery prices in almost three years. For Shelia Fields, who lives in Galveston, Texas, the hunt for affordable food has almost become a full-time job. "Like yesterday, we went to three different stores here in town. And we bought only what was a really good sale," Fields says. "So we got no meat at all. Because it's just too high." Fields and her husband are both retired nurses and they're worried about outliving their savings.
Trump Signs Proclamation Imposing Annual $100,000 Fee on H-1B VisasThe Guardian
JOHANA BHUIYAN
ReportingDonald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday that would impose an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, dealing a potentially major blow to the U.S. tech industry, which relies heavily on workers from India and China. Roughly two-thirds of jobs secured through the H-1B program are computer-related, government figures show, but employers also use the visa to bring in engineers, educators and healthcare workers. Adding new fees "creates disincentive to attract the world's smartest talent to the U.S.," Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, wrote on X. "If the U.S. ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy."
Trump's Moves Against the Media Mirror Approaches by Authoritarian Leaders to Silence DissentThe Associated Press
JUSTIN SPIKE
NICHOLAS RICCARDI
ReportingSince taking office in January, President Donald Trump has waged an aggressive campaign against the media unlike any in modern U.S. history, making moves similar to those of authoritarian leaders that he has often praised. The tactics are similar to those used by leaders in other countries who have chipped away at speech freedoms and independent media while consolidating political power, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close Trump ally whose leadership style is revered by many conservatives in the U.S. "What we're seeing is an unprecedented attempt to silence disfavored speech by the government," said Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth College. "Donald Trump is trying to dictate what Americans can say."
Historian Jill Lepore Explores the Constitution and Its Interpretations in 'We the People'PBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingOriginalism is often countered by the idea that the Constitution is a living, breathing document meant to be interpreted and changed along with the times. Jill Lepore is a historian at Harvard University and author of the new book, "We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution." Geoff Bennett sat down with Lepore for our series, On Democracy.
Kimmel Suspension and Self-Censorship Set Dangerous Precedent, FCC Commissioner SaysPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingThe debate continues over Disney's decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air indefinitely. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggested that ABC affiliates should pull Kimmel's show or face action from his agency. But Carr rejected accusations that he was punishing free speech. There is also pushback coming from within the FCC itself. William Brangham discussed the latest with Commissioner Anna Gomez.
Judge Dismisses Trump's Lawsuit Against the New York TimesThe New York Times
MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
ReportingA federal judge in Florida on Friday threw out President Trump's defamation suit against The New York Times four days after it was filed, calling the complaint "improper and impermissible" in its present form. Judge Steven D. Merryday, of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, said the president's 85-page complaint was unnecessarily lengthy and digressive. He criticized Trump's lawyers for waiting until the 80th page to lodge a formal allegation of defamation and for including, ahead of it, dozens of "florid and enervating" pages lavishing praise on the president and enumerating a range of grievances. "A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective," Judge Merryday wrote. "Not a protected platform to rage against an adversary."
Court Rules Against Arts Endowment on Trump's 'Gender Ideology' OrderThe New York Times
JENNIFER SCHUESSLER
ReportingA federal court in Rhode Island ruled on Friday that a new National Endowment for the Arts policy of reviewing grant applicants to see if they comply with President Trump's executive order on "gender ideology" violated the Constitution and could not be implemented. In the lawsuit, the groups, which said they had all produced or supported work about transgender and nonbinary people, argued that they would effectively be barred from seeking grants "on artistic merit and excellence grounds," which violated their rights under the First Amendment. In the ruling, Judge William E. Smith, a senior district judge who was appointed by President George W. Bush, noted that the 1965 law creating the endowment had included provisions ensuring that all grants be awarded, as the court put it, "on talent alone, irrespective of the artists' viewpoints or the messages conveyed in their works." The new regulations, he said, ran afoul of that goal.
U.S. Senate Confirms 48 of Trump's Nominees Under New Republican RulesThe Guardian
The Associated Press
The Senate has confirmed 48 of Donald Trump's nominees at once, voting for the first time under new rules to begin clearing a backlog of executive branch positions that had been delayed by Democrats. Frustrated by the stalling tactics, Senate Republicans moved last week to make it easier to confirm large groups of lower-level, non-judicial nominations. Democrats had forced multiple votes on almost every one of Trump's picks, infuriating the president and tying up the Senate floor. The new rules allow Senate Republicans to move multiple nominees with a simple majority vote.
U.S. Law Enforcement Claimed Emojis Could Signal Tren De Aragua AffiliationThe Guardian
SAM LEVIN
MAANVI SINGH
ReportingU.S. law enforcement officials have claimed that the use of certain emojis could signal affiliation with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, according to internal records reviewed by the Guardian. Emojis that officials claimed were "commonly" used by Tren de Aragua and part of members' "code language" include trains, swords, ninjas, aliens and strawberries. Gang experts and immigration attorneys who reviewed the records said the claims were "ludicrous," "uneducated" and "baseless" and raised concerns that authorities could cite emojis to erroneously label people as Tren de Aragua members -- allegations that can have dire consequences, including deportation.
U.S. Vaccine Advisers Drop Plan for Hepatitis B VoteReuters
STAFF
ReportingA revamped panel of U.S. vaccine advisers appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday decided not to go ahead with a planned vote that would have delayed the first hepatitis B vaccine dose for newborns, citing inconsistency in the proposed policy changes. It was not clear how the committee would proceed on the issue going forward.
Trump Says He Plans to Designate Antifa as a 'Terrorist Organization'NPR Morning Edition
ODETTE YOUSEF
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingPresident Trump says he plans to designate antifa as a "major terrorist organization." It's unclear how he'll go about that, but even the suggestion could have significant ramifications.
What Trump Designating Antifa as a Terrorist Organization Would MeanNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingPresident Trump says he wants to designate antifa as a terrorist organization. NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Hina Shamsi of the ACLU about the implications.
'It's Time for People to Stand Up': Demonstrators Protest Jimmy Kimmel's SuspensionNPR Morning Edition
STEVE FUTTERMAN
ReportingDemonstrators gathered outside the Hollywood studio where Jimmy Kimmel films his late night show to protest ABC's suspension of the comedian.
What a New Poll Shows About Where Americans Think the Country Is HeadingThe Associated Press
THOMAS BEAUMONT
LINLEY SANDERS
ReportingRepublicans' outlook on the direction of the country has soured dramatically, according to a new AP-NORC poll that was conducted shortly after last week's assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The share of Republicans who see the country headed in the right direction has fallen sharply in recent months, according to the September survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Today, only about half in the GOP see the nation on the right course, down from 70 percent in June. The shift is even more glaring among Republican women and the party's under-45 crowd. Overall, about one-quarter of Americans say things in the country are headed in the right direction, down from about 4 in 10 in June. Democrats and independents didn't shift meaningfully.
What the Move to Pull Kimmel Off the Air Says About Free Speech Under TrumpPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingThe political fallout from the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk continues. Wednesday, Disney suddenly suspended ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" following comments Kimmel made about how President Trump's supporters were responding to the killing. That suspension was cheered by Trump and his allies, but also raised censorship concerns. William Brangham discussed more with Dylan Byers of Puck.
Trump Calls for Licenses of TV Networks That Give Him 'Bad Publicity' to Be RevokedPBS News Hour
The Associated Press
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday that "97 percent" of some network coverage was negative toward him. "They give me only bad publicity or press," Trump said. "They're getting a license, I think maybe their license should be taken away. It's up to Brendan Carr."
CDC Panel Overhauled by RFK Jr. Changes Childhood Vaccine RecommendationsPBS News Hour
ALI ROGIN
ReportingThe Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices began a two-day meeting to discuss and vote on various recommendations. It's being watched closely because the committee was completely overhauled by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Ali Rogin discussed more with Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC director under President Obama.
Senate Republicans Change Rules to Push Through Trump NomineesPBS News Hour
LISA DESJARDINS
ReportingOne of the largest groups of President Trump's nominees was just confirmed in the U.S. Senate. The group includes 48 individuals who would hold significant jobs in the military, national security and overseas. The move was possible only because Republicans changed the rules of the Senate to get more nominees through, more quickly. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports.
Anthropic Irks White House With Limits on Models' UseSemafor
REED ALBERGOTTI
ReportingAnthropic is in the midst of a splashy media tour in Washington, but its refusal to allow its models to be used for some law enforcement purposes has deepened hostility to the company inside the Trump administration, two senior officials told Semafor. Anthropic recently declined requests by contractors working with federal law enforcement agencies because the company refuses to make an exception allowing its AI tools to be used for some tasks, including surveillance of U.S. citizens, said the officials, who spoke to Semafor on the condition of anonymity.
'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' Explores How Attacks on Education Undermine DemocracyNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingRandi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, talks about her new book "Why Fascists Fear Teachers."
Foreign Influencers Are Doing Their Best to Spin the Charlie Kirk AssassinationNPR Morning Edition
GEOFF BRUMFIEL
ReportingThe assassination of Charlie Kirk has been divisive online and some officials believe foreign governments are trying to make things worse. "We have bots from Russia, China all over the world that are trying to instill misinformation and encourage violence," warned Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in a press conference following the shooting last week. But experts who monitor foreign disinformation campaigns say the picture is more nuanced. While it's true that foreign-paid influencers are discussing the shooting and state-run media outlets are spinning events to fit their narratives -- there's not much evidence those messages are reaching Americans, said Darren Linvill, co-director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University.
Facing Trump's Pressure, the Federal Reserve Cuts Rates for the First Time This YearNPR Morning Edition
SCOTT HORSLEY
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingThe Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time this year, but President Trump is demanding bigger rate cuts.
UC Berkeley Professor Warns of 'Unprecedented Crackdown' on Academic FreedomNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
TAYLOR HANEY
ADAM BEARNE
ReportingThe University of California, Berkeley, is facing backlash after disclosing the names of 160 students, faculty and staff to Trump administration officials as part of a federal investigation into allegations of antisemitism on campus. The university sent the documents over several months and notified those named earlier this month. Among them is Ussama Makdisi, a history professor and leading scholar of modern Arab history. "The idea is obviously, clearly a chilling of speech and a chilling of academic freedom because we have no idea what we have allegedly been accused of. We have no idea how to even go about clearing our name," Makdisi said.
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Immediately Deporting Guatemalan Migrant ChildrenThe Associated Press
STAFF
ReportingA federal judge on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump's administration from immediately deporting Guatemalan migrant children who came to the U.S. alone back to their home country, the latest step in a court struggle over one of the most sensitive issues in Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. The decision by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly comes after the Republican administration's Labor Day weekend attempt to remove Guatemalan migrant children who were living in government shelters and foster care. There was already a temporary order in place preventing the removal of Guatemalan children. But that was set to expire Tuesday. Kelly, who was appointed by Trump, granted a preliminary injunction extends that temporary protection indefinitely, although the government can appeal.
House Turns Back Effort to Censure Rep. Ilhan Omar Over Remarks About Charlie KirkThe Associated Press
LISA MASCARO
ReportingThe House declined late Wednesday to punish one of its own over commentary in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination. The 214-213 roll call shelved a resolution from GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina to censure Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and have her removed from two House committees: Education and the Workforce and Budget. The two have feuded viciously on social media. Mace has said Omar, an immigrant who criticized Kirk's views of gun ownership and race relations in the aftermath of George Floyd's 2020 death in Minneapolis, should be deported to Somalia. Omar was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Omar said Mace is pushing a false narrative to raise money "and boost her run for Governor." "Is this what civility looks like in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives?" implored Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Archivist Fired by Trump Launches a National Effort to Strengthen DemocracyPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingColleen Shogan made history when she became the first woman to serve as Archivist of the United States in 2023. In February, President Trump fired her with no reason given. On Constitution Day, Shogan launched a national bipartisan effort called "More Perfect" to work on strengthening democracy. Amna Nawaz reports for our series, Art in Action and our arts and culture coverage, CANVAS.
Woman Wrongfully Detained in Immigration Raid Describes What She EnduredPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingA U.S. citizen was caught in the middle of the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement. Andrea Velez says she was wrongfully arrested this past summer in downtown Los Angeles during an ICE raid. She spent two nights in jail and faced a felony charge the Justice Department later dropped. Geoff Bennett discussed the case with Velez and her attorney, Luis Carrillo.
What Ousted CDC Director Monarez Revealed About RFK Jr. During a Senate HearingPBS News Hour
LISA DESJARDINS
ReportingFormer CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez gave her first detailed account of her high-profile firing during a Senate hearing. Monarez was ousted less than a month into the job, making her the shortest-lived director in the agency's history. Questions about the future of vaccine policy were front and center during the hearing. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports.
Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates Amid Economic UncertaintyPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingThe Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time this year, dropping it by a quarter point. The change could have an impact on many lending rates and the Fed suggested two more cuts by year's end. To discuss the cut and what's ahead, Geoff Bennett spoke with Ron Insana, a contributor to CNBC and publisher of the Substack column, The Message of the Markets.
ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Off Air for Charlie Kirk CommentsThe New York Times
JOHN KOBLIN
ReportingABC announced on Wednesday evening that it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel's late night show "indefinitely" after criticism of comments he made on Monday about the motives of the man who is accused of fatally shooting the conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week. Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission chair, sharply criticized Kimmel's comments on a podcast earlier on Wednesday. Nexstar, an owner of many local stations throughout the United States, said shortly before ABC's announcement that it was pre-empting episodes of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for the "foreseeable future." "Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets," the company said.
Monarez: I Tried to Hold 'The Line on Scientific Integrity'Politico
ReportingOusted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez told senators Wednesday that she was fired for "holding the line on scientific integrity." The former government health official testified to the Senate HELP Committee that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanded on Aug. 25 that she commit to approving every recommendation made by the CDC's outside vaccine committee and dismiss agency career officials responsible for vaccine policy. "The question before us is whether we will keep faith with our children and grandchildren, ensuring they remain safe from the diseases we fought so hard to defeat: polio, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough and many others," Monarez said. "Undoing that progress would not only be reckless, it would betray every family that trusts us to protect their health."
Members of Congress Condemn Kristi Noem Over Fate of Migrant 'Dreamers'The Guardian
JOSÉ OLIVARES
ReportingA group of 95 members of Congress have written a letter to Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, condemning the arrest of protected immigrants known as Dreamers and demanding to know how many have been detained and deported in recent months. In a letter shared with the Guardian and submitted to Noem on Wednesday morning, Democratic representatives denounced the recent rise in the wrongful detention and deportation of immigrants residing in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) program.
U.S. Justice Depart. Removes Study Finding Far-Right Extremists Commit 'Far More' ViolenceThe Guardian
JOSEPH GEDEON
ReportingThe U.S. Justice Department has scrubbed a study from its Web site concluding that far-right extremists have killed far more Americans than any other domestic terrorist group. The report, titled What NIJ Research Tells Us About Domestic Terrorism, vanished from the Department of Justice Web site between Sept. 12 and 13, according to Daniel Malmar, a Ph.D. student studying online extremism at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, who had been monitoring the page. The vanished study opened with: "Since 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists, including 227 events that took more than 520 lives. In this same period, far-left extremists committed 42 ideologically motivated attacks that took 78 lives."
Trump Administration Retreats on Combating Human Trafficking and Child ExploitationThe Guardian
AARON GLANTZ
BERNICE YEUNG
NOY THRUPKAEW
ReportingThe Trump administration has aggressively rolled back efforts across the federal government to combat human trafficking, a Guardian investigation has found. The sweeping retreat threatens to negate decades of progress in the drive to prevent sexual slavery, forced labor and child sexual exploitation, according to legal experts, former government officials and anti-trafficking advocates. Under Trump, key initiatives for fighting human trafficking have been cut back at the U.S. Department of State, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security, the Guardian found. Senior officials and other staffers have been forced out, workers shifted to other priorities and grants delayed or cancelled.
Jerry Quits Ben & Jerry's, Saying Its Independence on Social Issues Has Been StifledThe Associated Press
MICHELLE CHAPMAN
ReportingBen & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield is leaving the ice cream brand after 47 years, saying that the independence it once had to speak up on social issues has been stifled by parent company Unilever. In a letter that co-founder Ben Cohen posted on social media platform X on Greenfield's behalf, Greenfield said, "For more than 20 years under their ownership, Ben & Jerry's stood up and spoke out in support of peace, justice and human rights, not as abstract concepts, but in relation to real events happening in our world," he wrote. "That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever, one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company's governance structure in perpetuity. It's profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone." Greenfield said that the loss of independence was coming "at a time when our country's current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women and the LGBTQ community."
National Parks Removing Historical Items Trump Administration Found 'Disparaged' U.S.NPR Morning Edition
FRANK LANGFITT
ReportingWednesday is the deadline for National Parks across the country to remove any signs, statues or memorials the Trump administration believes reflect negatively on the country.
Most American Jews Say Trump Is Using Antisemitism as an 'Excuse' to Silence Free Speech at UniversitiesNPR Morning Edition
JASON DEROSE
ReportingFour out of ten American Jews say they have personally experienced antisemitism in the past two years, yet a majority disapprove of how the Trump administration has addressed the issue on college campuses, according to a new survey. The study, conducted by the polling firm Impose in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Rochester, found that 72 percent of Jewish Americans are concerned about antisemitism on campus. However, nearly 60 percent disapprove of the Trump administration's decision to withhold federal funding from Harvard and UCLA for, it argues, failing to combat antisemitism on campus. James Druckman, a political scientist at the University of Rochester who helped design the survey, said many respondents view the funding threats as a political maneuver. "Three-fourths of the sample view the Trump administration as using antisemitism as an excuse," Druckman said.
Economic Fallout Mounts as Trump Halts Near-Finished Wind Power ProjectPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingLast month, the Trump administration abruptly halted construction on a nearly completed $6 billion, 65-turbine wind farm off the coast of New England, known as Revolution Wind. The holdup has put thousands out of work and raises big questions about not just the future of this project, but similar efforts across the eastern seaboard. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien reports from Connecticut.
Ex-FBI Agent Analyzes Patel's Performance, Staff Shakeups and Bureau's DirectionPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingIn a Senate hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel defended his record from the investigation into Charlie Kirk's murder to the firings of career officials. To discuss Patel's hearing and his tenure so far at the FBI, Amna Nawaz spoke with Asha Rangappa. She's a former FBI agent and now a lecturer at Yale University.
Kash Patel Defends Record as FBI Director and Handling of Kirk Case in Tense HearingPBS News Hour
LIZ LANDERS
ReportingOn Capitol Hill, FBI Director Kash Patel clashed with Democratic senators on his handling of the Charlie Kirk investigation and on his leadership of the agency. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports.
Our Allies Are Asking: 'Why Does Putin Still Own Trump?'The New York Times
THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Opinion ColumnistSince President Trump decided to rebrand the Defense Department as the "Department of War," to more accurately reflect how tough he is, I suggest we rebrand the White House as "The Waffle House" -- to more accurately reflect Trump's incessant waffling when it comes to actually doing something to deter Vladimir Putin's steadily increasing onslaught on Ukraine, not to mention his recent drone incursion into America's NATO ally Poland. I was in Ukraine last week, attending the Yalta European Strategy conference in the capital, Kyiv and interviewing Ukrainian and European officials, analysts and entrepreneurs. Some version of the same question came up quietly in almost every private conversation: What in the world is going on with your president? Putin keeps spitting in Trump's eye and Trump keeps telling the world that it's raining.
A 'Broken' Trust: F.B.I. Agents Fired by Patel Speak OutThe New York Times
GLENN THRUSH
ALAN FEUER
ReportingAllegations by Meyer and Giardina, reported for the first time in their own words, offer an unusual glimpse into the nation's top law enforcement agency at a moment of upheaval and intense political pressure. They also raise fundamental questions about Patel's treatment of the bureau's career work force -- and why he personally fired two respected midlevel agents he accused of weaponizing the F.B.I. against Trump without a formal internal investigation.
California Nurses Decry Ice Presence at Hospitals: 'Interfering With Patient Care'The Guardian
CORAL MURPHY MARCOS
ReportingDianne Sposito, a 69-year-old nurse with over 40 years of experience, is laser-focused on providing care to anyone who enters the UCLA emergency room in southern California, where she works. That task was made difficult though one week in June, she said, when a federal immigration agent blocked her from treating an immigrant. The nurse said the ICE agent -- wearing a mask, sunglasses and hat without any clear identification -- brought a woman already in custody to the hospital. The patient was screaming and trying to get off the gurney and when Sposito tried to assess her, the agent blocked her and told her not to touch the patient. "I've worked with police officers for years and I've never seen anything like this," Sposito said. "It was very frightful because the person behind him is screaming, yelling and I don't know what's going on with her." The man confirmed he was an ICE agent and when Sposito asked for his name, badge and warrant, he refused to give her his identification and insisted he didn't need a warrant. The situation escalated until the charge nurse called hospital administration, who stepped in to handle it. "They're interfering with patient care," Sposito said.
Mississippi Declares Infant Deaths Emergency as CDC Program That Could Have Helped Is HaltedThe Guardian
CARTER SHERMAN
ReportingThe Trump administration's shakeup of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has forced Mississippi to stop gathering critical data on women's experiences before, during and after pregnancy -- even as the state recently declared a public health emergency over its surging infant mortality rate. Mississippi has suspended data collection for Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (Prams), a national database that has been integral to policymaking on maternal and infant health for nearly four decades, the Guardian has learned. Prams functions as a partnership between state-level health officials and a little-known but influential CDC agency called the Division of Reproductive Health, which has lost most of its staff -- nearly 100 people -- in the Trump administration's purges of federal workers, according to records in a lawsuit filed by several Democratic-led states over the purges. As a result, many of the division's projects, including Prams, have sputtered to a halt, the lawsuit alleges.
Donald Trump Files $15bn Lawsuit Against the New York TimesThe Guardian
MICHAEL SAVAGE
ReportingDonald Trump has filed a $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times in his latest use of legal action targeting a major media outlet. The U.S. president accused it of being a "mouthpiece" for the Democratic party and of "spreading false and defamatory content" about him. The New York Times said last week that it had been threatened with legal action by the White House after articles about a crude birthday note given to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The note bears Trump's signature but the president has denied being its author.
Trump at First Says He Is 'Not Familiar' With Minnesota Democrat's AssassinationThe Guardian
LAUREN GAMBINO
ReportingIn response to a question about why he did not order flags lowered to half-staff to honor Melissa Hortman, the Democratic speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives who was assassinated alongside her husband this summer, Donald Trump initially said he was "not familiar" with the case.
Trump Says U.S. Military Struck a Boat Allegedly Carrying Drugs From VenezuelaNPR Morning Edition
TOM BOWMAN
ReportingThe U.S. military struck a Venezuelan boat for the second time Monday, killing three people. President Trump says the vessel was carrying drugs to the United States.
Sen. Chris Murphy Discusses the Canceling of Critics of Charlie Kirk and Free SpeechNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingSen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., talks with Michel Martin about the cancel culture that has followed Charlie Kirk's assassination and what it means for free speech.
Vice President Vance Hosts Charlie Kirk's Podcast, Talks About His Political LegacyNPR Morning Edition
FRANCO ORDOÑEZ
ReportingVice President Vance, who credits Charlie Kirk with his political rise, hosted Kirk's podcast Monday and talked about carrying on his friend's political mantle.
Officials Push Back Against Trump's Threats to Deploy National Guard in BaltimoreNPR Morning Edition
SCOTT MAUCIONE
ReportingPresident Trump has threatened to expand his campaign to combat crime into other cities, including Baltimore. But the city's mayor and Maryland's governor -- both Democrats -- are pushing back.
Lawmakers Race to Strike Funding Deal as Threat of Government Shutdown LoomsNPR Morning Edition
CLAUDIA GRISALES
ReportingCongress has two weeks (one of which they'll be off) to strike a short-term funding deal that would avoid a government shutdown. But tensions are high amid a debate on political violence, complicating their path.
Trump Attempts to Reshape Federal Reserve Leadership Ahead of Vote on Interest RatesNPR Morning Edition
SCOTT HORSLEY
ReportingPresident Trump is trying to re-shape the leadership of the Federal Reserve, ahead of a key vote this week on interest rates, threatening its independent stewardship of the economy.
Why Trump Wants Companies to Report Earnings Less FrequentlyAll Things Considered
RAFAEL NAM
ReportingEvery three months, thousands of public companies big and small report their earnings and give investors an update about how they are doing. Executives hate the practice: They say it's expensive and laborious to compile the information -- and leads companies to chase short-term wins rather than what's good for their organization over the long run. Now President Trump is taking up their cause. In a social media post, he called for companies to report their earnings every six months, which he says would benefit the country.
Appeals Court Rejects Trump's Bid to Unseat Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook Ahead of Rate VoteThe Associated Press
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
ReportingAn appeals court ruled Monday that Lisa Cook can remain a Federal Reserve governor, rebuffing President Donald Trump's efforts to remove her just ahead of a key vote on interest rates. The Trump administration is expected to quickly turn to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch bid to unseat Cook before the Fed meets. And Cook's lawsuit seeking to permanently block her firing must still make its way through the courts. The White House campaign to unseat Cook marks an unprecedented bid to reshape the Fed's seven-member governing board, which was designed to be largely independent from day-to-day politics.
Judge Rules Trump Administration Illegally Fired Thousands of Probationary WorkersThe Associated Press
JANIE HAR
ReportingThe Trump administration's central human resources office acted illegally when it directed the mass firings of probationary workers as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to downsize the federal workforce, a judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge William Alsup of San Francisco said Friday in awarding judgment to a coalition of labor unions and nonprofits that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management "unlawfully exceeded its own powers and usurped and exercised powers reserved by Congress to each individual" federal agency to hire and fire its own workers. He said the government "disagrees but does not persuade" in its defense that the office did not direct employment decisions, but merely offered guidance to other agencies. "Judge Alsup's decision makes clear that thousands of probationary workers were wrongfully fired, exposes the sham record the government relied upon and requires the government to tell the wrongly terminated employees that OPM's reasoning for firing them was false," said Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, in a statement.
'The Whole Thing Is Screwed Up': Farmers in Deep-Red Pennsylvania Struggle to Find WorkersPolitico
SAMUEL BENSON
ReportingIn Tioga County, where President Donald Trump won 75 percent of the vote in 2024, farmers are losing patience with the White House's promise of a quick solution for farm workers. Their urgent need is highlighted by stories like those of a multigenerational dairy farm that sold off all its dairy cows because the owner could not find workers and another where a farmer's job listings have received no responses. Farmers in the rural region near the New York border say those stories are not unique. "The whole thing is screwed up," said John Painter, a three-time Trump voter who runs an organic dairy farm in Westfield. "We need people to do the jobs Americans are too spoiled to do."
Millions of Americans Expected to Lose Health Coverage Over the Next DecadeNPR Morning Edition
SAM WHITEHEAD
ReportingIn the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, 1 in 3 people already lack health insurance. That's expected to get worse as President Trump's spending cuts take effect.
NPR Revisits HIV/AIDS Patients Who Lost Access to Meds After Trump Cut Foreign AidNPR Morning Edition
GABRIELLE EMANUEL
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingIn April, NPR looked at the impact of President Trump's cuts to foreign aid on HIV positive individuals in Zambia. Many were falling sick without access to their HIV medications. We returned to those people, as well as others who keep close tabs on the HIV/AIDS situation, to see where things stand now.
Russian Drone Enters Romanian Airspace Heightening NATO TensionsNPR Morning Edition
ROB SCHMITZ
ReportingA Russian drone entered Romanian airspace from Ukraine Saturday. It's the latest violation of NATO airspace, coming just days after Russian drones were shot down by NATO aircraft over Poland.
CBS Shifts to Appease the Right Under New OwnerNPR Weekend Edition
DAVID FOLKENFLIK
ReportingCBS' new corporate owner has taken a series of concrete steps to address the concerns of the news division's sharpest critics -- particularly President Trump and his allies. In recent days, the network selected a new ombudsman for CBS News with strong conservative credentials. It promised to run full, unedited interviews on a key public affairs show after receiving blowback from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. And it's in talks to bring on a top news executive who believes the mainstream press is reflexively biased. All of these decisions have come from top officials at Paramount under the new ownership of Skydance Media.
RFK Jr.'S MAHA Report on Children's Health Leaves Something Out: NicotineNPR Weekend Edition
YUKI NOGUCHI
ReportingFrances Daniels, a Baltimore mother of three, read the Trump administration's 20-page report called "Make Our Children Healthy Again," and noticed some notable words were missing from it: "Smoking" and "nicotine." The word "tobacco" is mentioned once in the document, in a reference to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. "I was horrified," Daniels says. "It never once mentioned substance usage. Specifically: nicotine." NPR has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment.
Millions Face Skyrocketing Health Insurance Costs Unless Congress Extends SubsidiesThe Associated Press
MARY CLARE JALONICK
AMANDA SEITZ
ReportingThere's bipartisan support in Congress for extending tax credits that have made health insurance more affordable for millions of people since the Covid-19 pandemic. But the credits are in danger of expiring as Republicans and Democrats clash over how to do it. Democrats are threatening to vote to shut down the government at the end of the month if Republicans don't extend the subsidies, which were first put in place in 2021 and extended a year later when they controlled Congress and the White House. The tax credits, which are slated to expire at the end of the year, go to low- and middle-income people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Some Republicans who have opposed the health care law since it was enacted under President Barack Obama are suddenly open to keeping the tax credits. They acknowledge that many of their constituents could see steep hikes in coverage if the subsidies are allowed to lapse. Still, the two sides are far apart.
After Kirk's Death, Workers Learn the Limits of Free Speech in and Out of Their JobsThe Associated Press
CATHY BUSSEWITZ
WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS
ReportingIn the days following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, numerous workers have been fired for their comments on his death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd. Several conservative activists have sought to identify social media users whose posts about Kirk they viewed as offensive or celebratory, targeting everyone from journalists to teachers. Right-wing influencer Laura Loomer said she would try to ruin the professional aspirations of anyone who celebrated Kirk's death. "Most people think they have a right to free speech ... but that doesn't necessarily apply in the workplace," said Vanessa Matsis-McCready, associate general counsel and vice president of HR Services for Engage PEO. "Most employees in the private sector do not have any protections for that type of speech at work."
E.P.A. To Stop Collecting Emissions Data From PollutersThe New York Times
MAXINE JOSELOW
ReportingThe Environmental Protection Agency moved on Friday to stop requiring thousands of polluting facilities to report the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse gases that they release into the air. The E.P.A. proposal would end requirements for thousands of coal-burning power plants, oil refineries, steel mills and other industrial facilities across the country. The government has been collecting this data since 2010 and it is a key tool to track carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that are driving climate change. The Friday announcement followed months of efforts by the Trump administration to systematically erase mentions of climate change from government Web sites while slashing federal funding for research on global warming.
Families in Crisis After Massive Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant in GeorgiaThe Associated Press
SAFIYAH RIDDLE
ReportingEver since a massive immigration raid on a Hyundai manufacturing site swept up nearly 500 workers in southeast Georgia, Rosie Harrison said her organization's phones have been ringing nonstop with panicked families in need of help. "We have individuals returning calls every day, but the list doesn't end," Harrison said. She runs an apolitical non-profit called Grow Initiative that connects low-income families -- immigrant and non-immigrant alike -- with food, housing and educational resources. Since the raid, Harrison said, "families are experiencing a new level of crisis."
Patel Faces Congressional Hearings After Missteps in Kirk Assassination Probe and Turmoil at FBIThe Associated Press
ERIC TUCKER
ReportingHours after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel declared online that "the subject" in the killing was in custody. The shooter was not. The two men who had been detained were quickly released and Utah officials acknowledged that the gunman remained at large. The false assurance was more than a slip. It spotlighted the high-stakes uncertainty surrounding Patel's leadership of the bureau when its credibility -- and his own -- are under extraordinary pressure. Patel now approaches congressional oversight hearings this coming week facing not just questions about that investigation but broader doubts about whether he can stabilize a federal law enforcement agency fragmented by political fights and internal upheaval.
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Declared Key Property as 'Vacation Home', Files ShowThe Guardian
Reuters
A loan estimate for an Atlanta home purchased by Lisa Cook, the Federal Reserve governor accused of mortgage fraud by the Trump administration, shows that Cook had declared the property as a "vacation home," according to a document reviewed by Reuters. The document, dated 28 May 2021, was issued to Cook by her credit union in the weeks before she completed the purchase and shows that she had told the lender that the Atlanta property would not be her primary residence. The document appears to counter other documentation that Cook's critics have cited in support of their claims that she committed mortgage fraud by reporting two different homes as her primary residence, two independent real-estate experts said. Cook, who remains at the Federal Reserve, has sued the president to resist her dismissal.
What's Next Now That Trump's 'Crime Emergency' in D.C. Has Ended? Residents Weigh InNPR Weekend Edition
JENNIFER LUDDEN
ReportingPresident Trump's crime emergency in Washington, D.C., has ended. But both supporters and critics in D.C. say it will have lasting change.
Authorities Identify Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect as 22-Year-Old From UtahSemafor
NATASHA BRACKEN
ReportingU.S. authorities on Friday apprehended and identified the suspect in the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. The FBI said a family member of the suspect contacted a family friend, who then reached out to authorities with information that Robinson had confessed.
'Civil War' Mentions Surge Online After Kirk AssassinationThe New York Times
SHEERA FRENKEL
STUART A. THOMPSON
ReportingThe term "civil war" was mentioned on Wednesday more than 129,000 times on the social platform X, according to an analysis by The New York Times. On Thursday, it was mentioned at least 210,000 times. That was up from a daily average of around 18,000 in previous months. The talk of civil war came largely from Republican lawmakers, right-wing media personalities and conservative podcasters, according to a review by The Times. Among those who used the phrase were Alex Jones, the creator of Infowars, a right-wing media platform; Chaya Raichik, who is behind the prominent LibsofTikTok social media account, which frequently attacks the L.G.B.T.Q. community; and Andrew Tate, the right-wing influencer known for his misogynistic views. The surging use of the term highlights the divisions among Americans and continues a familiar pattern of inflammatory language.
Typhus, a Disease Once Nearly Eradicated in the U.S., Is on the Rise in TexasNPR Morning Edition
DAVID DAVIES
ReportingTexas is seeing an explosion of cases of typhus, a disease that -- if untreated -- can be fatal. Typhus was almost eradicated from the United States, but now it's making a comeback.
These Fired DOJ Lawyers Are Finding New Ways to Make a DifferenceNPR Morning Edition
CARRIE JOHNSON
ReportingMonika Isia Jasiewicz and three more women who left the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington this year have found their way back to public service -- working together, again, as prosecutors in Arlington County, Va., not far from the District. The small group of assistant commonwealth attorneys meets for lunch most days in the shadow of the local courthouse, bonded by the trauma of losing jobs they loved. "These are people who are at the top of their field," Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, the elected, Democratic commonwealth attorney in Arlington, Va., said. "These are people who care about public service. Our whole job as prosecutors is to do justice and to do it without fear or favor and in my mind there's no better example of people who were doing that than the people who were working in the Capitol siege division."
Hardworking Virginia Family Struggles to Achieve American DreamPBS News Hour
LISA DESJARDINS
ReportingHeadlines have recently been dominated by news that directly affects people's lives, from the new tax cut and Medicaid law to near-daily economy updates. But those headlines don't always capture the everyday reality for millions of Americans just trying to get by. To better understand that reality, Lisa Desjardins went to Virginia's Blue Ridge region, where one hardworking family is struggling.
Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Block Medicaid Funds to Planned ParenthoodPBS News Hour
The Associated Press
A U.S. appeals court panel on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump's administration to block Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood while legal challenges continue. A federal judge in July ruled Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding as the nation's largest abortion provider fights Trump's administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. Planned Parenthood said Thursday's ruling means that more than 1.1 million patients can't use their Medicaid insurance at its health centers. That also puts as many as 200 of those health centers at risk of closure, Planned Parenthood said in a statement.
Belief in the 'American Dream' Fizzles as Labor Market Continues to SlowHere & Now
JILL SCHLESINGER
Jill on MoneyThe data from August's jobs report showed a slowing labor market, with fewer jobs created and the unemployment rate climbing. Jill Schlesinger, CBS News business analyst and host of the "Jill on Money" podcast, tells Here & Now how the data is contributing to people's lessening belief in the "American Dream," that if you work hard, you will get ahead.
Fired FBI Agents Sue Bureau, Accusing Agency Leaders of a Campaign of RetributionNPR Morning Edition
CARRIE JOHNSON
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingThree fired former FBI agents have sued the Bureau and the Trump administration. They accuse the FBI's leaders of carrying out a campaign of retribution.
Trump Wants to Force People Into Treatment for Substance Use and Mental Health IssuesNPR Morning Edition
DEBORAH BECKER
ReportingPresident Trump is calling for an expansion of civil commitments, where people can be forced into treatment for substance use and mental health issues. The idea is picking up steam. But does it work? Massachusetts provides some data.
New Federal Restrictions on Covid-19 Vaccine Eligibility Cause Confusion and AngerNPR Morning Edition
ROB STEIN
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingThe new federal restrictions on who can get the new Covid-19 vaccines are causing anxiety, frustration and anger around the country as people scramble to navigate the confusing patchwork of rules.
A Look at Recent Acts of Political Violence in the U.S.NPR Morning Edition
DOMENICO MONTANARO
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingThe killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday at a college in Utah is the latest in a string of acts of political violence in recent years that have spanned the political spectrum.
Kurt Volker Discusses NATO's Response to Russian Drones Shot Down Over PolandNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin talks with former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker about NATO's response to the Russian drones shot down over Polish airspace.
'The Chaos Is the Point': Tumult as Covid Vaccine Boosters Deployed Under RFK JrThe Guardian
MELODY SCHREIBER
ReportingThe first deployment of updated Covid shots under the Trump administration has been plagued by access issues and misinformation amid confusion and chaos at U.S. health agencies. People attempting to get the vaccines say they have struggled to understand eligibility requirements, book appointments, process insurance claims, battle misinformation from pharmacists and obtain prescriptions from their doctors in some states. Such hurdles will disproportionately affect people of color and low-income people, experts say. These problems come amid turmoil at U.S. health agencies, with top leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quitting because of reported pressure from the Trump administration to approve unscientific vaccine policies and new limitations placed on the Covid vaccines.
U.S. Inflation Worsened Last Month, Putting Fed in Difficult Spot as Job Market SlowsThe Associated Press
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
Reportingnflation rose last month as the price of gas, groceries and airfares jumped, while a measure of layoffs also increased, putting the Federal Reserve in a tough spot as it prepares to cut rates at its meeting next week despite persistent price pressures. Consumer prices increased 2.9 percent in August from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, up from 2.7 percent the previous month and the biggest increase since January. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 3.1 percent, the same as in July. Both figures are above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target. The reading is the last the Fed will receive before their two-day meeting the begins Tuesday, where policymakers are widely expected to cut their short-term rate to about 4.1 percent from 4.3 percent.
New Mexico's Democratic Governor Explains How State Used National Guard to Combat CrimePBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingPresident Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., drew sharp criticism from Democrats who called it government overreach. But in New Mexico, a Democratic governor who deployed the National Guard to assist police has seen violent crime fall in the state's largest city of Albuquerque. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
'Putin Is Mocking' Trump, Polish Foreign Minister Says After Russian Drone IncursionPBS News Hour
NICK SCHIFRIN
ReportingIt was an ominous series of firsts for the world's largest military alliance. For the first time in NATO history, alliance airplanes engaged enemy targets in allied airspace and for the first time since Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, NATO opened fire on Russian drones. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Poland's foreign minister.
Right-Wing Activist and Media Personality Charlie Kirk Has Been Shot and KilledAll Things Considered
STEPHEN FOWLER
ReportingCharlie Kirk, CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot Wednesday at an outdoor rally at a Utah college. Stephen Fowler explains the context.
White House Exerts Enormous Influence Over F.B.I., Lawsuit SaysThe New York Times
ALAN FEUER
GLENN THRUSH
ReportingThe White House has exerted extraordinary influence over decisions at the F.B.I., issuing political loyalty tests and directly ordering the firings of agents targeted by President Trump and his allies, according to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday by three former bureau officials who accused the administration of illegally dismissing them. The sprawling suit, filed in Federal District Court in Washington, provides a disturbing account of what it describes as efforts by Trump's top aides to strip the bureau of its century-long history of independence. It paints an unflattering portrait of the F.B.I. director, Kash Patel, as a middleman executing the orders of top Justice Department and White House officials, including Stephen Miller, Trump's chief domestic policy adviser. The former officials who brought the suit -- Brian J. Driscoll Jr., Steven J. Jensen and Spencer L. Evans -- once occupied senior positions in the F.B.I. They accused Patel of dismissing them as part of "a campaign of retribution" for their "failure to demonstrate sufficient political loyalty." The lawsuit said, "Patel not only acted unlawfully but deliberately chose to prioritize politicizing the F.B.I. over protecting the American people."
Why Gov. Pritzker Says Trump's Threats to Chicago Make Him Worry About 2026 ElectionsNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingFor weeks President Trump has threatened to send National Guard troops to Chicago. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says Trump's repeated threats to send troops are a power grab while the President says it's an effort to fight crime. Pritzker alleges that Trump wants to set a pattern of military intervention before the 2026 Congressional elections. Trump appears to lack the legal authority, at this point, to deploy troops to Chicago without Pritzker's request. But the Department of Homeland Security made a different move on Monday, announcing "Operation Midway Blitz," an operation to round up people without legal status.
Gavin Newsom Rebukes Trump's 'Unhinged California Obsession' in State AddressThe Guardian
ROBERT MACKEY
ReportingCalifornia's governor, Gavin Newsom, used his State of the State address on Tuesday to celebrate California's achievements on its 175th anniversary of statehood but also to criticize Donald Trump for "targeting our state" as it battled wildfires this year, accusing the president of a "relentless, unhinged California obsession." "As I write to you, California is menaced by a federal administration that dismantles public services, punishes allies across the globe and sweeps the rule of law into the gutter," Newsom wrote in the letter. "They have thrown away decades of progress on clean air and water, sent the U.S. military into the streets of our cities and used extortion in an attempt to bully our businesses and world-class public institutions. But California, this uniquely blessed state, is standing up." The governor added, "There's reason to be optimistic on this anniversary. So many people are asserting their moral authority and raising their voices to stand up for the ideals this country was built on.... We are facing a federal administration built on incompetence and malicious ignorance, one that seeks the death of independent thinking."
Trump Jeered by Protesters as He Dines at Washington DC RestaurantThe Guardian
STAFF
ReportingDonald Trump faced protesters shouting "Free DC! Free Palestine! Trump is the Hitler of our time!" as he dined at a Washington restaurant, videos posted online showed. The U.S. president approached the shouting protesters in the restaurant, pausing a few feet away from them for a few moments, nodding and smiling without offering a response. Seconds later, Trump gestured for the area to be cleared out, saying "come on, let's go." Secret Service agents then moved the protesters, who waved Palestinian flag. Others in the restaurant can be heard booing or chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" Code Pink, a feminist activist group, claimed credit for the protest. "While Trump, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and others feasted at a steakhouse, we stood our ground and told them the truth: Free DC. Free Palestine. Trump is the Hitler of our time," they wrote on social media.
Leaked ICE Document Shows Worker Detained in Hyundai Raid Had Valid VisaThe Guardian
JOSÉ OLIVARES
ReportingAt least one of the Korean workers swept up in a huge immigration raid on a Hyundai Motor factory site in Georgia last week was living and working legally in the U.S., according to an internal federal government document obtained by the Guardian. Officials then "mandated" that he agree to be removed from the U.S. despite not having violated his visa. The document shows that immigration officials are aware that someone with a valid visa was among the people arrested during the raid at the Hyundai factory and taken to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detention for removal proceedings, where the people arrested remained on Tuesday before expected deportation flights back to South Korea.
Study Links More Frequent and Severe Heat Waves to Pollution From Major Fossil Fuel ProducersThe Associated Press
ISABELLA O'MALLEY
ReportingFifty-five heat waves over the past quarter-century would not have happened without human-caused climate change, according to a study published Wednesday. Planet-warming emissions from 180 major cement, oil and gas producers contributed significantly to all of the heat events considered in the study, which was published in the journal Nature and examined a set of 213 heat waves from 2000 to 2023. The polluters examined in the study include publicly traded and state-owned companies, as well several countries where fossil fuel production data was available at the national level. Collectively, these producers are responsible for 57 percent of all the carbon dioxide that was emitted from 1850 to 2023, the study found. "It just shows that it's not that many actors ... who are responsible for a very strong fraction of all emissions," said Sonia Seneviratne, a climate professor at the Swiss university ETH Zurich who was one of the study's contributors.
Court Rules Lisa Cook Can Remain a Fed Governor While Fighting Trump's Attempt to Fire HerThe Associated Press
CHRISTOPHER RUGABER
LINDSAY WHITEHURST
ReportingA federal court has ruled that embattled Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook can remain in her position while she fights President Donald Trump's efforts to fire her. The ruling, which will almost certainly be appealed, is a blow to the Trump administration's efforts to assert more control over the traditionally independent Fed, which sets short-term interest rates to achieve its congressionally mandated goals of stable prices and maximum employment. Congress has also sought to insulate the Fed from day-to-day politics. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb late Tuesday granted Cook's request for a preliminary injunction blocking her firing while the dispute makes its way through the courts. Cobb ruled that Cook would likely prevail in the lawsuit she filed late last month to overturn her firing.
MAHA Report 'Not About Actions,' Food Policy Expert SaysPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingFor a deeper dive on the implications of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again report could have on the U.S. food system, Geoff Bennett spoke with Marion Nestle, one of the nation's foremost food policy experts and professor emerita at New York University.
Revised Job Numbers Raise New Concerns About Economic SlowdownPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingThe Bureau of Labor Statistics says the U.S. job market is much weaker than initially reported. More than 900,000 fewer jobs were added in 2024 and 2025 than previously reported. The BLS issues revisions every year, but this change is the biggest on record and comes after President Trump fired the BLS commissioner after a weak monthly jobs report. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Julia Coronado.
Illinois Gov. Pritzker Talks About ICE Agents in ChicagoAll Things Considered
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingPresident Donald Trump has promised to crack down on crime in Chicago. NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep spoke with Governor Pritzker in Chicago about the potential for racial profiling.
BLS Revision Shows Annual Hiring Was Overstated by 911,000 JobsAll Things Considered
MARIA ASPAN
SCOTT HORSLEY
DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN
ReportingU.S. employers are adding far fewer jobs than initially tallied, in the latest sign that the labor market may be weaker than expected, according to a preliminary report from the Labor Department on Tuesday. The report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows hiring for the 12 months ending in March was overstated by an estimated 911,000 jobs. It was the largest such preliminary revision on record, going back to 2000. The revision comes at a time when President Trump is politicizing the BLS and casting doubt on its data, as part of his wider efforts to exert more control over all aspects of the U.S. government.
The MAHA Plan for Healthier Kids Includes 128 Ideas, but Few DetailsAll Things Considered
ALLISON AUBREY
MARIA GODOY
CARMEL WROTH
ReportingThe Make America Healthy Again Commission, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., identified four potential drivers behind rising rates of chronic disease among children, including poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress, as well as "overmedicalization" -- which the commission describes as "a concerning trend of overprescribing medications to children." The report has drawn mixed reactions from researchers and advocates working in public health, who note its goals stand at odds with other recent Trump administration moves. Those include funding cuts to food assistance, Medicaid programs and scientific research, as well as Secretary Kennedy's push for changes in vaccine policy, all of which could undermine public health. "How can we 'Make America Healthy Again' unless we renew our commitment to ensuring access to food for children," and other Americans, asks Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger. "While Administration officials regularly tout the importance of nutrition," they worked with Congress to pass a plan that will push millions of people off federal food assistance, known as SNAP, he says.
Grandparents for Vaccines Launches to Share Stories of Life Before ImmunizationsKGW8
SABINNA PIERRE
KORI JOHNSON
ReportingA new volunteer-led organization called Grandparents for Vaccines launched Sunday on National Grandparents Day with a mission to share firsthand experiences of life before vaccines were widely available. The group brings together hundreds of grandparents nationwide who lived through diseases such as polio, tuberculosis and measles -- illnesses once thought eliminated in the United States, according to leadership council member Teri Mills.
Public Media Stations in Rural America Say Emergency Alert Funding Is in JeopardyNPR Morning Edition
MICHAEL COPLEY
ReportingTens of millions of dollars that Congress set aside to help broadcasters strengthen the country's emergency alert system are in jeopardy, according to public media executives, threatening to leave communities reliant on aging infrastructure as they face growing risks from extreme weather. Between 2022 and 2024, Congress appropriated $136 million to FEMA for the Next Generation Warning System grant program. CPB has been distributing money from FEMA to public radio and television stations to pay for equipment like backup generators and new transmitters so broadcasters could reach more people. But that arrangement fell apart after Republicans in Congress voted in July to strip CPB's federal funding.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal Discusses His Bill Proposing Additional Sanctions on RussiaNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR speaks with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., about his bipartisan bill proposing additional sanctions on Russia and new penalties for its trading partners, including China.
Trump Continues to Threaten Russia With Sanctions Over War in UkraineNPR Morning Edition
GREG MYRE
ReportingPresident Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions against Russia if it doesn't move toward a ceasefire or ending the war with Ukraine. But Russia is escalating its attacks.
U.S. High School Students Lose Ground in Math and Reading, Continuing Long DeclineThe Associated Press
ANNIE MA
TODD FEATHERS
ReportingA decade-long slide in high schoolers' reading and math performance persisted during the Covid-19 pandemic, with 12th graders' scores dropping to their lowest level in more than 20 years, according to results released Tuesday from an exam known as the nation's report card. Eighth-grade students also lost significant ground in science skills, according to the results from the National Assessment of Education Progress. The assessments were the first since the pandemic for eighth graders in science and 12th graders in reading and math. They reflect a downward drift across grade levels and subject areas in previous releases from NAEP, which is considered one of the best gauges of the academic progress of U.S. schools.
Legal Scholar Analyzes Key Court Rulings on Trump's Immigration AgendaPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BANKS
Syracuse UniversityFor a legal perspective on new developments regarding President Trump's immigration agenda, Geoff Bennett spoke with William Banks, professor emeritus of law at Syracuse University.
Hyundai ICE Raid Highlights Focus on Worksites Employing MigrantsPBS News Hour
JASMINE GARSD
NPRThe Supreme Court ruled that sweeping immigration raids in California can continue, lifting a lower court ruling. It follows a raid at a car manufacturing plant in Georgia that led to nearly 500 arrests. That raid by ICE at a Hyundai facility marked the largest single-site raid this country has ever seen. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Jasmine Garsd of NPR.
New SNAP Rules Could Result in 2.4 Million People Losing Benefits Each MonthAll Things Considered
MARIA GODOY
ReportingThe Agriculture Department has started to issue guidance on how states should implement new work requirements for people who get food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The School Shooting Industry Is Worth Billions -- and It Keeps GrowingAll Things Considered
MEG ANDERSON
ReportingThe efforts to keep schools safe from mass shooters has ballooned into a multi-billion dollar industry. Companies are selling school districts assurance with high-tech products, even as gun violence experts say that won't address the root of gun violence.
Trump Note to Epstein That He Denies Signing Is Released by CongressThe Associated Press
MICHELLE L. PRICE
ReportingDemocrats on the House Oversight Committee released on Monday a sexually suggestive letter to Jeffrey Epstein purportedly signed by President Donald Trump, which he has denied. The letter was included as part of a 50th birthday album compiled in 2003 for Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected financier who was once a friend of Trump's. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. Trump has said he did not write the letter or create the drawing of a curvaceous woman that surrounds the letter and he filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for earlier reporting on his link to the letter.
Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on LA Immigration Stops Set After Agents Swept Up U.S. CitizensThe Associated Press
LINDSAY WHITEHURST
ReportingThe Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for federal agents to conduct sweeping immigration operations for now in Los Angeles. The conservative majority lifted a restraining order from a judge who found that "roving patrols" were conducting indiscriminate stops in and around LA. The order had barred immigration agents from stopping people solely based on their race, language, job or location. The court's 6-3 decision followed a pattern of at least temporarily allowing some of the Republican administration's harshest policies, while leaving room for the possibility of a different outcome after the legal case plays out fully. The net effect, meanwhile, has Trump pushing ahead in many of the areas he considers most critical. The majority did not explain its reasoning, as is typical on the court's emergency dopcket. But Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested the lower-court judge had gone too far in restricting how Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents can carry out brief stops for questioning. "The prospect of such after-the-fact judicial second-guessing and contempt proceedings will inevitably chill lawful immigration enforcement efforts," he wrote. In a stinging dissent joined by her two liberal colleagues, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said many stops had not been brief or easy. "Countless people in the Los Angeles area have been grabbed, thrown to the ground and handcuffed simply because of their looks, their accents and the fact they make a living by doing manual labor," she wrote. "Today, the Court needlessly subjects countless more to these exact same indignities."
'I Don't Want Them to Think They Won': U.S. Citizen Says Masked Officers Stopped HerNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingNPR's Michel Martin has the story of a U.S. citizen who says she was questioned by masked officers who did not identify themselves. "You don't look like a citizen," they told her.
Former President of U.S.-Korea Business Council Discusses ICE Raid at Georgia PlantNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel talks with Tami Overby, former president of the U.S.-Korea Business Council at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, about the ICE raid at a Georgia plant.
Law Professor Talks About Trump's Plan to Send National Guard to ChicagoNPR Morning Edition
CRAIG FUTTERMAN
University of ChicagoNPR's Leila Fadel speaks with University of Chicago law professor Craig Futterman about President Trump's plans to send National Guard troops to the Windy City.
Trump Asks Supreme Court for Emergency Order to Keep Billions of Dollars in Foreign Aid FrozenThe Associated Press
MARK SHERMAN
ReportingThe Trump administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court for an emergency order to keep billions of dollars in foreign aid frozen. The crux of the legal fight is over nearly $5 billion in congressionally approved aid that Trump last month said he would not spend, invoking disputed authority that was last used by a president roughly 50 years ago. Last week, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ruled that the Republican administration's decision to withhold the funding was likely illegal.
Appeals Court Upholds E. Jean Carroll's $83.3 Million Defamation Judgment Against TrumpThe Associated Press
JAKE OFFENHARTZ
ReportingA federal appeals court has upheld a civil jury's finding that Trump must pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his repeated social media attacks against the longtime advice columnist after she accused him of sexual assault. In a ruling issued Monday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump's appeal of the defamation award, finding that the "jury's damages awards are fair and reasonable." Trump had argued he should not have to pay the sum as a result of a Supreme Court decision expanding presidential immunity. His lawyers had asked for a new trial.
Trump's U.S. Open Visit Sparks Boos and Long Security LinesThe Associated Press
WILL WEISSERT
ReportingTrump was loudly booed at the men's final of the U.S. Open on Sunday, where extra security led to lines long enough that many people missed the start of play. Wearing a suit and long, red tie, Trump briefly emerged from his suite about 45 minutes before the match started and heard a mix of boos and cheers from an Arthur Ashe Stadium that was still mostly empty. Trump appeared again to more boos before the National Anthem. Standing in salute, the president was shown briefly on the arena's big screens during the anthem and offered a smirk that briefly made the boos louder. Trump was shown on the big screen again after the first set ended and elicited a roar of louder boos and some piercing whistles. He raised his left fist in salute as the noise continued in the stadium. Trump attended the final as a guest of Rolex, despite imposing steep tariffs on the Swiss watchmaker's home country. The U.S. Tennis Association also tried to limit negative reaction to Trump's attendance being shown on ABC's national telecast, saying in a statement before play began: "We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions."
A Decades-Long Peace Vigil Outside the White House Is Dismantled On Trump's OrderThe Associated Press
PABLO MONSIVAIS
FARNOUSH AMIRI
ReportingWASHINGTON -- Law enforcement officials on Sunday removed a peace vigil that had stood outside the White House for more than four decades after President Donald Trump ordered it to be taken down as part of the clearing of homeless encampments in the nation's capital. Philipos Melaku-Bello, a volunteer who has manned the vigil for years, told The Associated Press that the Park Police removed it early Sunday morning. He said officials justified the removal by mislabeling the memorial as a shelter. "The difference between an encampment and a vigil is that an encampment is where homeless people live," Melaku-Bello said. "As you can see, I don't have a bed. I have signs and it is covered by the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression." The White House confirmed the removal, telling AP in a statement that the vigil was a "hazard to those visiting the White House and the surrounding areas."
U.S. Open Orders Broadcasters to Censor Reactions to TrumpBounces
BEN ROTHENBERG
ReportingAn internal email sent by the U.S. Tennis Association leadership to U.S. Open broadcasters, obtained by Bounces, requested that broadcasters censor any possible protests or other reactions to President Donald Trump's presence at Sunday's U.S. Open men's final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Chicago Unites Against Trump Across Protests and the Mexican Independence Day ParadeNPR Weekend Edition
KAT LONSDORF
AYESHA RASCOE
ReportingA Mexican Independence Day parade went on as planned, despite fears of increased immigration enforcement from the Trump administration in Chicago this weekend. There were also some protests in Chicago, where the president has threatened federal intervention.
'No Outreach' to Epstein Victims Despite Trump's Vow to Investigate, Lawyers SayThe Guardian
VICTORIA BEKIEMPIS
ReportingFor more than six months, Donald Trump and his justice department have insisted they would get to the bottom of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, but nine attorneys -- who have represented approximately 50 Epstein survivors -- told the Guardian they have not been recently contacted by the justice department. The revelation casts doubt on the effort by the Trump administration to fully investigate Epstein's crimes and activities and reveal everything that the government knows about him. It comes as Trump faces intense political pressure, including from his own base, over his social ties to Epstein, who was famed for courting rich and powerful figures into his circle. "There has still been no outreach from the DoJ or members of Congress to me seeking to interview my clients," said the top civil attorney Gloria Allred, who has represented 27 Epstein survivors. Lisa Bloom, who has represented 11 Epstein survivors, said: "No, haven't heard anything. As usual the survivors are being ignored in the political battle."
What's the Story Behind the Detention of Hundreds of South Koreans in an ICE Raid?NPR Weekend Edition
ERIC WESTERVELT
JASMINE GARSD
ReportingFederal agents arrested nearly 500 workers they said were in the U.S. illegally at a construction site in Georgia for a South Korean battery maker. Officials said it was the largest immigration enforcement action at a site.
What Do the Latest Job Numbers Indicate? An Economics Expert Weighs InNPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT SIMON
ReportingNPR's Scott Simon talks to Greg Ip, The Wall Street Journal's chief economics commentator, about the jobs report, tariffs facing legal challenges and U.S. government investment in private companies.
Why Some Longtime Gerrymandering Opponents Are Reconsidering Their ViewsNPR Weekend Edition
HANSI LO WANG
ReportingThe congressional redistricting fights that President Trump has sparked in Texas, California and Missouri are leading some advocacy groups to reconsider their position on partisan gerrymandering.
Trump Claims Chicago Is 'World's Most Dangerous City'. The Four Most Violent Ones Are All in Red StatesThe Guardian
GEORGE CHIDI
ReportingAs Trump threatens to deploy national guard units to Chicago and Baltimore, ostensibly to quell violence, a pattern has emerged as he describes which cities he talks about. Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Baltimore. But not Jackson, Birmingham, St Louis or Memphis. An analysis of crime trends over the last four years shows two things. First, violent crime rates in America's big cities have been falling over the last two years and at an even greater rate over the last six months. The decrease in violence in America is unprecedented. Second, crime in large cities in the aggregate is lower in states with Democratic leadership. But the president focuses his ire almost exclusively on large blue cities in blue states, sidestepping political conflict with red Republican governors. The four cities of populations larger than 100,000 with the highest murder rates in 2024 are in Republican states: Jackson, Mississippi (78.7 per 100,000 residents), Birmingham, Alabama (58.8), St Louis, Missouri (54.1) and Memphis, Tennessee (40.6).
Chicago's Mexican Independence Day Celebrations Shadowed by Trump's Threats for the CityThe Associated Press
CHRISTINE FERNANDO
BEN FINLEY
ReportingTrump's plan to dispatch National Guard troops and immigration agents into Chicago has put many Latino residents on edge, prompting some to carry their U.S. passports while giving others pause about openly celebrating the upcoming Mexican Independence Day. Though the holiday falls on Sept. 16, celebrations in Chicago span more than a week and draw hundreds of thousands of participants. But this year the typically joyful period coincides with Trump's threats to add Chicago to the list of other Democrat-led cities he has targeted for expanded federal enforcement. Although details about the promised Chicago operation have been sparse, local opposition is already widespread and includes suburban communities with their own bases of immigrant communities. State and city leaders have said they plan to sue the Trump administration.
Trump Seeking Ways to Take Over 9/11 Memorial in NYCThe Associated Press
PHILIP MARCELO
ReportingThe Trump administration said it is exploring whether the federal government can take control of the 9/11 memorial and museum in New York City. The site features two memorial pools ringed by waterfalls and parapets with the names of the dead and an underground museum. Since opening to the public in 2014, it has been run by a public charity, now chaired by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a frequent Trump critic. The White House confirmed the administration has had "preliminary exploratory discussions" about the idea and noted the Republican pledged during his campaign last year to make the site a national monument, protected and maintained by the federal government. But officials at the National Sept. 11 Memorial & Museum say the federal government, under current laws, can't unilaterally take over the site, which is located on land owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The U.S. government shouldering costs and management of the site also "makes no sense," given Trump's efforts to dramatically pare back the federal bureaucracy, said Beth Hillman, the organization's president and CEO. "We're proud that our exhibitions tell stories of bravery and patriotism and are confident that our current operating model has served the public honorably and effectively," she said.
Darren Walker Explores Inequality and Democracy in 'The Idea of America'PBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingDarren Walker has spent much of his life fighting inequality. From humble beginnings in rural Texas, he went on to lead one of the nation's most powerful philanthropic institutions. Walker is now nearing the end of his tenure as president of the Ford Foundation and joined Amna Nawaz to discuss his new book, "The Idea of America: Reflections on Inequality, Democracy and the Values We Share."
Chicago Fed President Unpacks Weak Jobs Report and What It Says About the EconomyPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingThe labor market appears to have stalled this summer, according to the significantly weaker than expected jobs report. Employers added just 22,000 new jobs in August and revisions show the economy lost 13,000 jobs in June, the first net loss since December 2020. Amna Nawaz discussed the report with Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austin Goolsbee.
Gov. Healey on Why Massachusetts Is Requiring Insurers to Pay for COVID VaccineHere & Now
SCOTT TONGJULIA CORCORAN
ReportingMassachusetts is the first state in the country to require health insurers to continue covering immunizations recommended by the state's Department of Public Health rather than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gov. Maura Healey announced measures this week, including requiring insurance carriers to cover vaccines that the state's public health department recommends and allowing pharmacies to administer the Covid-19 vaccine to anyone 5 and older who wants it. Healy said the insurance guidelines apply not just to the Covid shot but other seasonal vaccines like flu and RSV, as well as routine shots for kids, such as measles, mumps, chickenpox and Hepatitis B. She also announced efforts to create a public health collaborative with states in New England and across the Northeast. California, Oregon and Washington have also announced plans to preserve vaccine access amid shifting guidance from the CDC.
Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Ending of Legal Protections for 1.1M Venezuelans and HaitiansThe Associated Press
JANIE HAR
ReportingA federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary legal protections that have granted more than 1 million people from Haiti and Venezuela the right to live and work in the United States. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of San Francisco for the plaintiffs means 600,000 Venezuelans whose temporary protections expired in April or whose protections were about to expire Sept. 10 have status to stay and work in the United States. It also keeps protections for about 500,000 Haitians. Chen scolded Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for revoking protections for Venezuelans and Haitians that the judge said would send them "back to conditions that are so dangerous that even the State Department advises against travel to their home countries." He said Noem's actions were arbitrary and capricious and she exceeded her authority in ending protections that were extended by the Biden administration.
Why the End of the De Minimus Tariff Exemption Is Causing Shipping Chaos WorldwideNPR Morning Edition
DARIAN WOODS
WAILIN WONG
ReportingPlanet Money looks at what the de minimis tariff exemption is, who wins and loses with the end of this policy and why ending it has resulting in shipping chaos worldwide.
Millions of Student Loan Borrowers Are at Risk of Defaulting, Data ShowsNPR Morning Edition
CORY TURNER
ReportingNew data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reveals a growing problem; millions of federal student loan borrowers are at serious risk of default. Ten percent have missed at least three payments.
Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington Talks About RFK Jr.'S Senate HearingNPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingSen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., talks about why she and other senators, including some Republicans, are concerned about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine changes and CDC shakeup.
U.S. Added Just 22,000 Jobs in August, Continuing Slowdown Amid Trump TariffsThe Guardian
LAUREN ARATANI
ReportingThe U.S. jobs market stalled over the summer, adding just 22,000 jobs in August and continuing a slowdown in the labor market as businesses adjusted to disruptions caused by tariffs. The latest jobs report also contained more bad news. The U.S. lost 13,000 jobs in June, according to the latest survey, the first time it went into the negative since December 2020. The unemployment rate for August inched up to 4.3 percent, the highest it's been since 2021. The closely watched data comes from a monthly survey of employers conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has been under attack from Donald Trump after it revised its findings last month, showing that hiring in early summer was much weaker than initially reported.
Fact Focus: A Look at False and Misleading Claims Made by RFK Jr. During Senate HearingThe Associated Press
MELISSA GOLDIN
ReportingU.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made myriad false and misleading claims on Thursday as he fielded questions examining his seven-month tenure leading the nation's health agencies at a contentious three-hour hearing. Kennedy ignored government data, twisted legislation and pointed to unsubstantiated treatments while addressing topics such as Covid-19 vaccines, rural hospitals and school shootings. Here's a closer look at the facts.
Examining RFK Jr.'S Claims About Vaccines, COVID and the Health of AmericansPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingIn a fiery Senate hearing, Robert Kennedy Jr. made a number of questionable or misleading claims about vaccines, COVID and the health of Americans. Amna Nawaz discussed some of these claims with Dr. Richard Besser, the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Obama administration.
In Tense Hearing, RFK Jr. Challenged on Vaccine Views and Trust in Health AgenciesPBS News Hour
LISA DESJARDINS
ReportingHealth Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled during a combative hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Senators pressed Kennedy on his views on vaccines and whether he was effectively limiting access and destroying trust in past data and public health agencies. The hearing comes just a week after his decision to fire the director of the CDC, Dr. Susan Monarez.
U.S. Military Strikes on Suspected Drug Smugglers Spark Legal and Diplomatic ConcernsPBS News Hour
NICK SCHIFRIN
ReportingThe Trump White House is signaling a new war on drug cartels. On Monday, the president released video of what the administration says was a strike on a drug-running boat off the coast of Venezuela. Nick Schifrin takes a closer look at what happened and at the administration's case for both the policy and the legality of this renewed focus on drug trafficking.
Holiday Spending in the U.S. Is Expected to Experience Its Steepest Drop Since the PandemicHere & Now
ALI VELSHI
MSNBCA new survey out of consulting firm PwC has found that holiday spending in the U.S. is expected to fall 5 percent this year, the first spending pullback since 2020. Ali Velshi, anchor and chief economics correspondent at MSNBC, gets to the bottom of the factors driving this upcoming drop.
How Defunding a Federal Nutrition Education Program Will Impact FamiliesHere & Now
SCOTT TONG
ReportingThe massive tax and spending law that President Trump signed this summer to trim government spending eliminates all funding starting in October for a nutrition program called SNAP-Ed. It teaches low-income people around the country how to shop on a budget and cook healthy meals. Here & Now's Scott Tong talks about impacts with Jennifer McCaffrey, assistant dean for the Family and Consumer Sciences programs at the University of Illinois Extension.
GOP Discontent With RFK Jr. Is GrowingPolitico
SHAWN ZELLER
CARMEN PAUN
SIMON J. LEVIEN
AMANDA FRIEDMAN
ReportingRepublican support for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Capitol Hill is starting to waver. Most Republicans on the Finance Committee had Kennedy's back during his first appearance in the Senate since he cut funding for mRNA vaccines, restricted access to Covid shots and fired his CDC director, but the number of critics is growing. In addition to Louisiana's Bill Cassidy, who's sparred with Kennedy since voting to confirm him in February, John Barrasso of Wyoming, the Senate's second-ranking Republican and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, took issue with Kennedy's leadership. "In your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines," Barrasso said. "Since then, I've grown deeply concerned."
Trump Claims the Power to Summarily Kill Suspected Drug SmugglersThe New York Times
CHARLIE SAVAGE
ReportingBy ordering the U.S. military to summarily kill a group of people aboard what he said was a drug-smuggling boat, President Trump used the military in a way that had no clear legal precedent or basis, according to specialists in the laws of war and executive power. Trump is claiming the power to shift maritime counterdrug efforts from law enforcement rules to wartime rules. The police arrest criminal suspects for prosecution and cannot instead simply gun suspects down, except in rare circumstances where they pose an imminent threat to someone. By contrast, in armed conflicts, troops can lawfully kill enemy combatants on sight. "It's difficult to imagine how any lawyers inside the Pentagon could have arrived at a conclusion that this was legal rather than the very definition of murder under international law rules that the Defense Department has long accepted," said Ryan Goodman, a New York University law professor who worked as a Pentagon lawyer in 2015 and 2016.
Washington DC Sues Over Trump's Deployment of the National GuardThe Guardian
ROBERT TAIT
ReportingWashington D.C. on Thursday sued to stop Trump's deployment of national guard troops there. The city's attorney general, Brian Schwalb, said the hundreds of troops were essentially an "involuntary military occupation." He argued in the federal lawsuit the deployment was an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement. About 2,300 troops from seven states have been deployed in the streets of the U.S. capital since Aug. 11 in a move that Schwalb says exceeds the president's powers and violates the city's autonomy, as enshrined in the Home Rule Act. Schwalb's suit argues the forces were placed under Pentagon command and then deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service to perform enforcement roles "in violation of the foundational prohibition on military involvement in local law."
Sen. Warren Says Banking Panel Should Focus on Trump's Attacks on Fed IndependenceNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingThe Senate Banking Committee will today hold a hearing on Fed nominee Stephen Miran, currently chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. A Harvard-educated economist, Miran has been critical of the Federal Reserve's independence and advocated for more direct presidential control, views that have raised concerns about his nomination. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the committee's highest-ranking Democrat, has pledged to address those concerns directly during the hearing.
Some States Running Into Medicaid Funding DilemmaNPR Morning Edition
NICK DE LA CANAL
ReportingStates are planning for how they'll run leaner Medicaid operations after federal budget cuts. But some states are running into another problem -- they can't legally use their budgets to fill the gap.
Florida Working to End Vaccine MandatesNPR Morning Edition
GREG ALLEN
ReportingFlorida's governor said he'll be asking the state Legislature to repeal a statute that requires children to receive vaccines for polio, diphtheria, measles and mumps before entering school. If it passes, Florida will be the first in the nation to eliminate all vaccine mandates for children and adults.
U.S. Sheriffs Decry White House Effort to Hire Away Local Law Enforcement for IceThe Guardian
SAM LEVIN
ReportingThe White House's aggressive push to hire federal immigration agents is causing friction with local sheriffs, even those who back Trump's deportation agenda. More than a dozen U.S. sheriffs and law enforcement associations have complained that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has tried to poach local deputies and officers as ICE rapidly expands. "It is unprofessional and unethical," Grady Judd, the sheriff in Polk county, Florida, told the Guardian last month after his deputies received recruitment emails from ICE.
'Cruelest, Most Hateful Monument I've Ever Seen': Military Historian on Confederate Statue's ReturnHere & Now
SCOTT TONG
ReportingHere & Now's Scott Tong speaks with military historian Ty Seidule about the Pentagon's decision to return a Confederate monument to Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump Policies Stalled by Series of Rulings, Likely Setting Up Supreme Court FightPBS News Hour
WILLIAM BRANGHAM
ReportingA federal court rejected the Trump administration's use of an 18th-century wartime law, known as the Alien Enemies Act, to deport Venezuelans accused of being gang members. It's another legal setback for the White House, which has also seen courts curtail its authority to impose tariffs and send troops into U.S. cities. William Brangham discussed more with Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck.
'This Is Not a Political Issue, This Is a Crime,' Epstein Survivor SaysPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingAs survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse demand accountability, President Trump has said the attention on the case is political. Geoff Bennett spoke with Liz Stein, an Epstein survivor who is now an advocate working to combat human trafficking nationwide and Jennifer Freeman, a special counsel for the Marsh Law Firm, which represents several Epstein survivors.
The DOD Told Trans Troops to Get Diagnosed. It's Using the Paper Trail to Kick Them OutAll Things Considered
LAUREN HODGES
ReportingAs the Department of Defense removes trans troops as part of the new ban, the Air Force is enacting some new rules that leaves them with no due process ... and in some cases, no benefits.
Lisa Cook and the Fight for the FedAll Things Considered
SALLY HELM
ReportingWhat does a member of the Federal Reserve Board actually do? We hear from two past members about the job and the practices meant to keep decisions apolitical.
Trump Administration Agrees to Restore Health Web sites and DataThe Associated Press
MIKE STOBBE
ReportingFederal officials have agreed to restore health- and science-related webpages and data under to a lawsuit settlement with doctors groups and other organizations who sued. The settlement was announced this week by the lead plaintiffs in the case, the Washington State Medical Association. Soon after President Donald Trump's inauguration, federal health officials deleted or removed information on a range of topics including pregnancy risks, opioid-use disorder and the AIDS epidemic. Doctors, scientists and public health advocates saw it as an "egregious example of government overreach," said Dr. John Bramhall, the organization's president. "This was trusted health information that vanished in a blink of an eye -- resources that, among other things, physicians rely on to manage patients' health conditions and overall care."
Judge Reverses Trump Administration's Cuts of Billions of Dollars to Harvard UniversityThe Associated Press
COLLIN BINKLEY
MICHAEL CASEY
ReportingA federal judge in Boston on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to reverse its cuts of more than $2.6 billion in research funding for Harvard University, delivering a significant victory to the Ivy League school in its battle with the White House. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled the cuts amounted to illegal retaliation for Harvard's rejection of the Trump administration's demands for changes to Harvard's governance and policies. The government had tied the funding freezes to Harvard's delays in dealing with antisemitism, but the judge said the university's federally backed research had little connection to discrimination against Jews. "A review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that (the government) used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country's premier universities," Burroughs wrote.
Snubbing Kennedy, States Announce Plans to Coordinate on VaccinesThe New York Times
EMILY BAUMGAERTNER NUNN
ReportingCalifornia, Oregon and Washington announced plans on Wednesday to form a "health alliance" that would coordinate vaccine recommendations for the three states. The alliance is intended to provide residents with scientific data about vaccine safety and efficacy and to issue guidance on vaccines for respiratory illnesses like Covid and the flu, as well as an array of childhood immunizations. The move comes at a time of unparalleled turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal agency responsible for issuing vaccine guidance for the whole country.
Law Professor Reacts to Court Ruling Against Trump's Use of National Guard in L.A.NPR Morning Edition
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingWilliam Banks, professor emeritus of law at Syracuse University, talks about a court ruling that found the Trump administration's use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles was illegal.
Missouri Republicans Begin Efforts to Redraw State's Congressional MapNPR Morning Edition
JASON ROSENBAUM
ReportingA special legislative session to redraw Missouri's congressional maps begins Wednesday. Republican lawmakers hope it will give the party a better shot at taking one U.S. House seat from Democrats.
Efforts Pick Up in Congress to Force Vote on Release of Jeffrey Epstein FilesNPR Morning Edition
DOMENICO MONTANARO
ReportingThere's a renewed bipartisan push in Congress for information about the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein to be released, with some members trying to force a vote to release all related files.
More Than 1,000 Health Workers Urge Kennedy to Quit Over Anti-Vax PoliciesThe Associated Press
RICHARD LUSCOMBE
ReportingA letter published on Wednesday from more than 1,000 past and present workers of the health and human services department has demanded the resignation of Robert F Kennedy Jr, insisting the health secretary's attacks on vaccines endangered the lives of all Americans. The hard-hitting letter, addressed to Congress members, blames Kennedy for turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the firing of the agency's chief and replacement by a Donald Trump loyalist with no medical or scientific background. The letter posted on Wednesday by a group calling itself Save HHS assails Kennedy for "endangering the nation's health by spreading inaccurate health information."
Trump Cannot Use Alien Enemies Act to Deport Members of Venezuelan Gang, Appeals Court RulesThe Associated Press
NICHOLAS RICCARDI
ReportingA federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot use an 18th-century wartime law to speed the deportations of people his administration accuses of membership in a Venezuelan gang, blocking a signature administration push that is destined for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative federal appeals courts in the country, agreed with immigrant rights lawyers and lower court judges who argued the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was not intended to be used against gangs like Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan group Trump targeted in his March invocation. Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the ACLU, said Tuesday: "The Trump administration's use of a wartime statute during peacetime to regulate immigration was rightly shut down by the court. This is a critically important decision reining in the administration's view that it can simply declare an emergency without any oversight by the courts." The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
'It Should Be Very Concerning to Everyone,' Says Wife of Detained DACA RecipientPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingLast month, 28-year-old Catalina "Xóchitl" Santiago was boarding a domestic flight when she was detained by Customs and Border Protection officers at the El Paso airport. For years, she has legally lived in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Despite that, she remains in ICE detention in Texas. Amna Nawaz spoke with Santiago's wife, Desiree Miller, about the case.
Epidemiologist Breaks Down New Restrictions on COVID ShotsPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingMany Americans who want to get the newest COVID vaccines may now have a harder time doing so. The Food and Drug Administration limited approval for the shots to adults 65 and older or those who are "high risk" for severe disease. The vaccine was previously available to individuals six months of age and older. Amna Nawaz discussed the changes with Dr. Katelyn Jetelina of Your Local Epidemiologist.
Military Lawyers Will Serve as Immigration Judges as Courts Face Massive BacklogPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingThe Trump administration will temporarily assign military lawyers to act as judges in immigration cases. Geoff Bennett discussed questions surrounding the move with James McPherson. He was the undersecretary of the Army during the first Trump administration and also had a 25-year career in the Navy, where he served as that service's top lawyer in uniform.
U.S. Military Strikes Venezuelan Drug Boat in Caribbean, Killing 11PBS News Hour
NICK SCHIFRIN
ReportingPresident Trump announced Tuesday that the United States sank a boat after it left Venezuela carrying drugs. It is the first known military strike in the region since the president ordered an increased presence in the Caribbean.
Congress Returns With a Full Agenda and Little TimeHere & Now
ROBIN YOUNG
ReportingHere & Now's Robin Young speaks with the Washington Post's Kadia Goba about how Congress faces the prospect of a government shutdown if it doesn't pass some form of spending bill by the end of the month. Lawmakers this week will also take testimony from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his firing of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director last week and both Republicans and Democrats are asking for more information from the White House on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
DHS to States: Follow Our Voting Rules or Lose Out on Election Security MoneyAll Things Considered
MILES PARKS
STEPHEN FOWLER
ReportingThe Trump administration has indicated it may withhold tens of millions of dollars in election security funding if states don't comply with its voting policy goals. The money comes from a Department of Homeland Security grant program and voting officials say new requirements from the administration will make the money inaccessible for most of the country.
More Rebukes for Prosecutors: Grand Jurors Refuse to Indict 2 People Accused of Threatening TrumpThe Associated Press
MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
ReportingFederal grand jurors in the nation's capital have refused to indict two people who were charged separately with threatening to kill President Donald Trump, more evidence of a growing backlash against Trump's law enforcement intervention in Washington, D.C. It is extraordinarily rare for a grand jury to balk at returning an indictment, but it has happened at least seven times in five cases since Trump last month ordered a surge in patrols by federal agents and troops in the District of Columbia. One of the instances involved the case against a man charged with hurling a sandwich at a federal agent.
Trump Says He Will Order Federal Intervention in Chicago and Baltimore Despite Local OppositionThe Associated Press
WILL WEISSERT
SOPHIA TAREEN
ReportingPresident Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will direct federal law enforcement intervention to combat crime in Chicago and Baltimore, despite staunch opposition from elected leaders and many residents in both cities. Asked by reporters in the Oval Office about sending National Guard troops to the nation's third-largest city, Trump said, "We're going in," but added, "I didn't say when." Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, scoffed at the notion of sending military troops and federal agents into Chicago, reiterating Tuesday that federal intervention was not required or wanted. Local officials in Baltimore have joined Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in similarly opposing federal law enforcement intervention.
Demonstrators Hold Labor Day Protests Against Trump in ChicagoNPR Morning Edition
MARIAH WOELFEL
ReportingThere were spirited anti-Trump protests around the U.S. Monday. Some of the loudest voices were in Chicago where the president has threatened to deploy National Guard troops.
Former CDC Heads Speak Out Against Trump Administration's Public Health LeadershipNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingFormer heads of the Centers for Disease Control say they're alarmed at the Trump administration's public health leadership. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Richard Besser, former acting CDC director.
Delaware Sen. Chris Coons Talks About Looming Government ShutdownNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., about the looming government shutdown and President Trump's use of pocket rescission.
Rep. Ro Khanna Discusses Bipartisan Demand for DOJ to Release Epstein FilesTNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel speaks with Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California about a bipartisan demand for the Justice Department to release more information related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump Team's Contentious Climate Report 'Makes a Mockery of Science', Experts SayThe Guardian
OLIVER MILMANAND DHARNA NOOR
ReportingMore than 85 climate experts have contributed to a comprehensive 434-page report that excoriates a U.S. Department of Energy document written by five hand-picked fringe researchers that argues global heating and its resulting consequences have been overstated. The Trump administration report, released in July, contains "pervasive problems with misrepresentation and selective citation of the scientific literature, cherry-picking of data and faulty or absent statistics," states the new analysis, which is written in the style of the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports. "This report makes a mockery of science," said Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University. "It relies on ideas that were rejected long ago, supported by misrepresentations of the body of scientific knowledge, omissions of important facts, arm waving, anecdotes and confirmation bias. This report makes it clear DOE has no interest in engaging with the scientific community."
Trump Illegally Deployed National Guard During LA ICE Protests, Judge RulesThe Guardian
STAFF
ReportingJudge Charles Breyer ruled Tuesday the Trump administration's use of National Guard troops during southern California immigration enforcement protests is illegal. Breyer ruled the Trump administration violated federal law by sending troops to accompany federal agents on immigration raids. He said the deployment violated an 1878 law that generally bars federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement. "This was intentional -- Defendants instigated a months-long deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles for the purpose of establishing a military presence there and enforcing federal law. Such conduct is a serious violation of the Posse Comitatus Act," Breyer wrote in the judgment. Breyer said his order was paused until Friday which would provide the Trump administration with an avenue to appeal before it goes into effect.
Trump Orders Have Stripped Nearly Half a Million Federal Workers of Union RightsThe New York Times
EILEEN SULLIVAN
ReportingMore than 445,000 federal employees saw their union protections disappear in August, as agencies moved to comply with an executive order President Trump signed earlier this year that called for ignoring collective bargaining contracts with nearly one million workers. The termination of protections followed an Aug. 1 appeals court ruling on legal challenges to Trump's directive. The order, signed in late March, directed 22 agencies to ignore contracts for employees in specific unions. Last Thursday, Trump signed a second executive order stripping union rights from thousands of other employees at six additional agencies. Federal labor unions targeted in the executive orders have repeatedly sued the Trump administration and in some cases forced the administration to temporarily pause the president's efforts to shrink the federal work force and reshape the government. "This is literally the largest act of union busting in American history," said Mike Podhorzer, a former political director of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. "There's not another time when that many people lost their union."
Photojournalist Documents Arrests Outside of Immigration HearingsPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingAs part of President Trump's deportation push, officials have conducted arrests outside courtrooms as people show up for hearings with immigration judges. The detentions have led to sometimes dramatic scenes with families pleading to let loved ones go. Geoff Bennett spoke with Victor Blue, a photojournalist who spent weeks documenting arrests at federal facilities in Manhattan.
We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American's HealthThe New York Times
Nine Former CDC Directors
We have each had the honor and privilege of serving as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, either in a permanent or acting capacity, dating back to 1977. What Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has done to the C.D.C. and to our nation's public health system over the past several months -- culminating in his decision to fire Dr. Susan Monarez as C.D.C. director days ago -- is unlike anything we have ever seen at the agency and unlike anything our country has ever experienced. Residents of rural communities and people with disabilities will have even more limited access to health care. Families with low incomes who rely most heavily on community health clinics and support from state and local health departments will have fewer resources available to them. Children risk losing access to lifesaving vaccines because of the cost. The men and women who have joined C.D.C. across generations have done so not for prestige or power, but because they believe deeply in the call to service. They deserve an H.H.S. secretary who stands up for health, supports science and has their back. So, too, does our country.
What to Know About "Workers Over Billionaires" Protests on Labor DayAxios
APRIL RUBIN
ReportingAnti-Trump administration protesters will take to the streets again on Monday in worker- and wealth-focused rallies. More than 1,000 events were scheduled as of Saturday organized by the AFL-CIO and groups including Bargaining for the Common Good, the National Education Association, Indivisible, Working Families Party, MoveOn, American Federation of Teachers, Public Citizen and 50501. "This isn't just about policy -- it's about building meaningful worker power to fight back and build a movement rooted in real life, led by real people," organizers said.
How American Workers Are Doing in the Second Trump AdministrationNPR Morning Edition
ANDREA HSU
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingPresident Trump campaigned on a promise to give American workers a renaissance. On this Labor Day, NPR checks in on how that promise is going.
Local, State Leaders Push Back Against Possible National Guard Deployment to ChicagoNPR Morning Edition
JOE HERNANDEZ
ReportingChicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is expecting the National Guard to arrive in the city within days. To prepare, he has signed an executive order that requires outside forces to comply with city laws.
'He's Brazenly Anti-Worker': U.S. Marks the First Labor Day Under Trump 2.0The Guardian
STEVEN GREENHOUSE
ReportingDespite his vow to help coal miners, Trump halted enforcement of a regulation that protects miners from a debilitating, often deadly lung disease. He fired the chair of the National Labor Relations Board, leaving the U.S.'s top labor watchdog without a quorum to protect workers from corporations' illegal anti-union tactics. Angering labor leaders, Trump stripped one million federal workers of their right to bargain collectively and tore up their union contracts. "It's a big betrayal," Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the main U.S. labor federation, said. "We knew it would be bad, but we had no idea how rapidly he would be doing these things. He is stripping away regulations that protect workers. His attacks on unions are coming fast and furious. He talks a good game of being for working people, but he's doing the absolute opposite." Shuler added, "This is a government that is by and for, the CEOs and billionaires."
1.2 Million Immigrants Are Gone From the U.S. Labor Force Under Trump, Preliminary Data ShowsThe Associated Press
COREY WILLIAMS
ReportingAs parades and other events celebrating the contributions of workers in the U.S. are held Monday for the Labor Day holiday, experts say President Donald Trump's stepped-up immigration policies are impacting the nation's labor force. More than 1.2 million immigrants disappeared from the labor force from January through the end of July, according to preliminary Census Bureau data analyzed by the Pew Research Center. That includes people who are in the country illegally as well as legal residents. Immigrants make up almost 20 percent of the U.S. workforce and that data shows 45 percent of workers in farming, fishing and forestry are immigrants, according to Pew senior researcher Stephanie Kramer. About 30 percent of all construction workers are immigrants and 24 percent of service workers are immigrants, she added.