NPR News: 02-05-2026 9PM EST
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How is Virginia's new congressional map aiming to affect the 2026 midterm elections?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Virginia lawmakers have unveiled a new congressional map for the state that they hope will counter a nationwide redistricting push led by President Trump in favor of Republicans. Jad Khalil with Member Station VPM News reports it's designed to help Democrats win four more states in the U.S. House in this year's midterm elections.
Virginia currently has six Democrats and five Republicans in the House. The new map is designed to help flip some of those Republican seats, but it's not a sure thing yet. Voters need to empower the legislature through a constitutional amendment first, and that requires a voter referendum. Also, a court has ruled against Democrats' plan. A judge in Southwest Virginia said that they didn't follow the law when drafting the proposed amendment. Democrats have appealed.
Why did a Southwest Virginia judge block the Democrats' redistricting amendment?
They say this is necessary to respond to states where Republicans have tilted districts in their favor. Virginia Republicans say it's a partisan power grab. For NPR News, I'm Jad Khalil in Richmond.
The US and Iran begin a new round of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program tomorrow. As NPR's Greg Myri reports, President Trump has threatened a military strike against the country.
Iran wants the talks in Oman limited to its nuclear program and may be willing to make some concessions. But the Trump administration is demanding broader talks that include limits on Iran's ballistic missiles and an end to Iran's support for militant proxy groups throughout the Middle East. If the rivals can't reach an agreement, Trump could turn to the large contingent of Navy ships and warplanes the US has been amassing in the region. A twelve day bombing campaign last June by the US and Israel showed Iran is vulnerable, but Iran has vowed to retaliate if attacked and still has a stockpile of missiles. Greg Myri, MPR News, Washington.
What are the key demands of the US and Iran in the upcoming nuclear talks?
The federal judge has blocked immigration officials from using data shared by the IRS. NPR's Jude Jaffe Block reports it's the second time courts have ruled against efforts to use IRS data to find and deport people.
Last August, the IRS shared the addresses of forty seven thousand non citizens with immigration and customs enforcement. A federal judge in DC found last year that data exchange was unlawful. Now a second federal judge, this one in Boston, has blocked ICE and the Department of Homeland Security from inspecting or using that data. The judge also noted the possibility of both citizens or non citizens being wrongfully detained or used. even deported if they're misidentified. The judge wrote this was especially a concern given that DHS has defended immigration agents using administrative warrants rather than judicial warrants to enter people's homes and arrest them. Jude Jaffee Block and PR News.
US job openings fell to the lowest level in more than five years.
How are federal judges restricting ICE's use of IRS data on non‑citizens?
Another sign that the American labor market remains sluggish. The Labor Department reported that vacancies fell to six six and a half million in December, from six point nine million in November and the lowest since September 2020. This is NPR News. The Kremlin says it regrets the expiration of the latest r the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the US, while President Trump says he wants a better deal. The end of the New START Treaty leaves no caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half century, fueling fears of a nuclear arms race. Russian President Vladimir Putin had expressed readiness to stick to the limits for another year if Washington agreed.
The Food and Drug Administration is set to release a list of compounds found in the cannabis plant, NPR's Bill Chappell reports.
The FDA list is required before a law puts new restrictions on products containing cannabis compounds like THC and CBD this fall. It will also tighten the definition of hemp, which is legal, as opposed to marijuana, which is not. But it's complicated.
What impact will the FDA's cannabis compound list have on hemp and marijuana regulations?
Here's Kelly Vining, a genomics expert at Oregon State University.
Botanically speaking, both hemp and marijuana belong to a single species.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
How is Virginia's new congressional map aiming to affect the 2026 midterm elections?
0:00–0:48
2
Why did a Southwest Virginia judge block the Democrats' redistricting amendment?
0:48–1:47
3
What are the key demands of the US and Iran in the upcoming nuclear talks?
1:47–2:44
4
How are federal judges restricting ICE's use of IRS data on non‑citizens?
2:44–3:49
5
What impact will the FDA's cannabis compound list have on hemp and marijuana regulations?
3:49–4:38