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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This year on ThruLine, NPR's history podcast. For generations, an American quest has shaped the world. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. Now, 250 years in, what is that pursuit really about? Join us each Tuesday for an essential new series, America in Pursuit, from ThruLine, on the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump says limited strikes remain an option as nuclear talks with Iran continue. The White House has increased its military presence in the region, signaling it's prepared to escalate if negotiations stall. Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, a former commander of the U.S.
Fifth Fleet, says that buildup is meant to strengthen Washington's leverage.
Chapter 2: How is the pursuit of happiness being redefined in America today?
The president is trying to add pressure for the Iranians to negotiate in good faith. That we can probably all agree on. And to add that pressure, you need a force in place that's capable of the right size. And also you want to articulate a will to use it. So I think that's been there.
Trump has given Tehran 10 to 15 days to come back to the negotiating table or face consequences. Tehran says it expects to finalize a draft agreement within days and send it to Washington. A federal appeals court has cleared the way for Louisiana to require the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.
NPR's Matt Bloom reports the decision reverses a lower court ruling that blocked posters from going up.
Republican lawmakers first passed the measure two years ago. It requires all public K-12 schools and colleges to post the biblical text for students to see. A group of families from multiple faith backgrounds sued, arguing it violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
While a lower court initially agreed, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals did not, primarily because the posters have not gone up yet and the court says the family's case was filed too early. Republican leaders say the ruling means schools must now comply.
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Chapter 3: What are the latest updates on President Trump's nuclear talks with Iran?
But critics of Louisiana's law say they will look for more ways to fight it. The case's outcome could also affect the future of similar Ten Commandments laws passed in Texas and Arkansas. Matt Bloom, NPR News, New Orleans.
Stocks on Wall Street finished the week higher after the Supreme Court struck down many of President Trump's tariffs. NPR's Rafael Nam reports the decision was a relief for investors, but the story isn't over yet.
The Supreme Court ruled that tariffs the president had imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. That led to decent gains on Friday, and all three indexes ended higher for the week, with the S&P and the Nasdaq advancing more than 1% each. But it's not over for tariffs.
Trump is determined to reimpose the import taxes the court struck down by using new authorities, with an additional 10 percent tariff on all imports by executive order. That will still need congressional approval to continue after 150 days, though. For the markets, that all means the uncertainty about tariffs will likely remain for now. Rafael Nam, NPR News.
This is NPR News in Washington. The Trump administration says it plans to require all truck and bus drivers to take their commercial license tests in English. The Department of Transportation says the move will ensure drivers can read road signs and communicate with police.
Earlier this week, the department said nearly 600 driving schools should close because they don't meet basic safety standards. The White House announced it's rolling back a rule on power plant emissions of the neurotoxin mercury. Reed Frazier reports it mainly affects pollution from plants that burn coal.
The rules were created by the Obama administration and cut mercury pollution 90%. A 2024 update mandated even more cuts. The Trump administration's rollback exempts plants from the newest standards, and the industry says the action will prevent more plant closures. But John Wolk of the Natural Resources Defense Council says plants will run pollution controls less.
So there will be more emissions when power plants do that in order to save themselves money at the expense of
The EPA says the rollback saves utilities $78 million a year, but won't lower electricity prices. For NPR News, I'm Reid Fraser in Pittsburgh.
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