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Chapter 1: What recent changes occurred in the Justice Department?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Attorney General Pam Bondi is out at the Justice Department after just 14 months on the job. President Trump announced the shakeup in a post on social media. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.
In a post online, Trump called Bondi a great American patriot and loyal friend who oversaw what he called a massive crackdown on crime. But Bondi had come under bipartisan criticism for handling of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She's also been pressed by Trump to aggressively go after the president's perceived political enemies.
And under Bondi's leadership, the Justice Department has investigated and even prosecuted some of Trump's critics. But those cases have foundered in court or before grand juries. Now, Bondi is out, and Trump says Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch, a former personal lawyer for Trump, will take over leading the department for now on an acting basis. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
Iran fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states today. That comes even as President Trump claims the threat from the country has been nearly eliminated. Iran's strikes and control of the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies. Britain held a call today with nearly three dozen countries, but not the U.S., about how to reopen the strait once the fighting is over.
A drone maker backed by President Trump's two oldest sons is trying to win contracts with U.S. allies under threat by Iran. The company, Powerus, is holding demonstrations in several Gulf countries of how its drone interceptors could help them ward off the attacks. Powerus recently struck a deal that will bring on the Trump brothers, Eric and Donald Jr., as stakeholders.
The Trumps have expanded their business interests rapidly beyond hotels and golf courses. in a little over a year since their father took office again. The Teamsters union is celebrating a win against Amazon. The National Labor Relations Board has ordered the e-commerce giant to recognize its union at a Staten Island warehouse and begin contract negotiations. NPR's Andrea Hsu has more.
This order comes four years after workers at an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island ran a grassroots campaign to unionize and shocked corporate America when they won. But Amazon fought back by challenging the results of the union election and refusing to sit down for contract negotiations. In 2024, the Amazon Labor Union joined forces with the Teamsters and continued to press the case.
Now, the National Labor Relations Board, with its two new Trump appointees, has found that Amazon violated federal law by refusing to recognize and bargain with the union. Still, the board has no power to force Amazon to start bargaining. If Amazon does not comply with the order, the board's general counsel must ask a federal court to intervene. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.
Stocks overcame early losses to close mixed today. The S&P 500 rose a fraction. The Dow dropped a tenth of a percent. The stock market will be closed tomorrow for Good Friday. It's NPR. Brazilian banks are now required to check if a property is listed in government satellite data for potential illegal deforestation when applying for credit.
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Chapter 2: How is Iran's recent missile activity affecting global energy supplies?
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