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Chapter 1: What surprising stories does this episode highlight?
This is Ira Glass. On This American Life, we look for stories that are surprising and you won't hear anywhere else. Like, for example, this one astronaut who went to the moon. You know what he's not into? Space. Was it cool to float around weightless? No, no, no. This American Life, unexpected stories wherever you get your podcasts.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. In a combative hearing on Capitol Hill today, Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Some of the criticism from lawmakers focused on what was and was not redacted from the files. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.
Some of the strongest criticism came from Congressman Thomas Massey, who helped spearhead the push to release the Epstein files. The Kentucky Republican said in the materials that were made public, the Justice Department redacted the name of an Epstein co-conspirator, but left unredacted a list of the names of Epstein's victims.
Literally the worst thing you could do to the survivors, you did. And they're getting phone calls. A lot of these people didn't want to be known.
Bondi responded in part to Massey by saying this.
This guy has Trump derangement syndrome. You're a failed politician.
Bondi did say the department has tried to fix certain redactions when alerted to the problems. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
Six Democratic lawmakers who participated in a video urging members of the military to refuse illegal orders say President Trump is wielding the Justice Department to attack his political enemies. That's after federal prosecutors tried and failed to secure a grand jury indictment against them.
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Chapter 2: How did Attorney General Pam Bondi defend the Justice Department's actions?
NPR's Sam Greenglass has more.
The Congress member said in the video that no one has to follow orders that violate the Constitution. Trump called the message treasonous, and federal prosecutors opened an investigation. Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan says the grand jury upheld freedom of speech and the rule of law.
Yesterday, 20 anonymous Americans who we will never meet, who made up that grand jury, told us more about the values of America than Jeanine Pirro or Pam Bondi or certainly this president.
Slotkin referring there to Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, whose office has not commented on the attempted indictments. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.
The nation's only federally owned utility, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced today it's abandoning its plans to phase out coal power in favor of renewable energy. Pierce Gentry with member station WUOT reports.
The TVA's shift in strategy comes after a months-long effort by President Trump to install board members loyal to his energy agenda. The new board voted Wednesday to strip renewable energy generation from TVA's strategic plan in favor of keeping its coal power plants, which burn millions of tons of coal each year. TVA Vice President Tom Rice heaped praise on the Trump administration.
Without whom we would not be in the position today to to recommend continuing to operate over 3,000 megawatts of beautiful, clean coal that will directly support energy resiliency, reliability, and low-cost power for the 10 million people we serve.
Regional activists have accused the federal utility of rushing its decision with little to no time for input from the general public. For NPR News, I'm Pierce Gentry in Knoxville.
And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
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Chapter 3: What criticisms were raised regarding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files?
Russia's top diplomat says that Moscow will observe the limits of the last nuclear arms pact with the U.S. that expired last week as long as it sees that Washington does the same. There are no restrictions on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half century, and that's fueling fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race.
Entertainment executive Casey Wasserman is keeping his job leading the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the board reviewed his past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. Justice Department documents show Wasserman exchanged flirtatious emails in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell. Several artists have left Wasserman's talent agency, including singer-songwriter Chapel Roan. Actor Bud Cort has died.
He was best known for his leading role in the 1971 movie Harold and Maude. Cort died this morning after a long illness. As NPR's Netta Ulaby reports, he was 77 years old.
In Harold and Maude, Bud Cort played a young man with a blank expression and morbid proclivities. He meets a much, much older woman through a shared hobby, attending the funerals of strangers. What is your name? Harold. Harold Chasen. Over the course of the film, Maude teaches Harold to take pleasure in being alive. She even gets him to sing.
You know that there are... Bud Cort grew up loving theater in New Rochelle, New York. He started off in Hollywood, working with director Robert Altman in the movies MASH and Brewster McLeod. He performed in dozens of TV shows and movies, ranging from quirky comedies to crime dramas. Netta Ulibi, NPR News.
I'm Ryland Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.
Bad Bunny gave one of the greatest Super Bowl halftime performances of all time. We'll tell you why and what this performance means at this particular political moment. Listen to a recap on Pop Culture Happy Hour via the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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