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Chapter 1: What did President Trump say about using nuclear weapons against Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump today ruled out using a nuclear weapon against Iran. He also said he has plenty of time to reach a peace deal and stressed that his top priority is making sure that Tehran never possesses nuclear weapons. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.
Trump was testy responding to a reporter's question as to whether he'd use a nuclear weapon against Iran.
Why would I use a nuclear weapon We've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it. No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.
Earlier this month, Trump threatened Iran on social media, saying, quote, a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, unquote.
Chapter 2: What are the latest developments in the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire negotiations?
Trump also tells reporters now that he is not in a hurry to come to a peace deal with Iran, saying, quote, I don't want to rush it. I want to take my time. We have plenty of time. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.
President Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks. The two sides met at the White House today for high-level negotiations. The Justice Department's inspector general is investigating whether the agency has complied with the law passed by Congress to release all of its files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Lawmakers say the department did not meet a December deadline to release all files in its possession. The DOJ says it has complied with the law. Federal authorities have charged a special forces soldier involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Chapter 3: How is the Justice Department addressing the Epstein case?
NPR's Bobbi Allen reports prosecutors say the Army official profited on the site polymarket.
Prosecutors have unsealed an indictment against Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Special Forces soldier who helped plan and carry out the arrest of Maduro. Under the username BurdensomeMix, Van Dyke allegedly placed $32,000 in bets on Polymarket that Maduro would soon be out of power. Those wagers netted him more than $400,000 in profit.
Polymarket is an overseas, unregulated exchange where traders are anonymous and bet with cryptocurrency. But federal investigators worked with Polymarket to identify Van Dyke. He's the first person criminally charged in the U.S. over trades on prediction markets, which have seen massive growth in Trump's second term. Donald Trump Jr.
Chapter 4: What charges have been brought against a special forces soldier related to Maduro?
is an investor and advisor to Polymarket. Bobby Allen, NPR News.
Firefighters are working to contain a series of wildfires that are burning across parts of South Georgia. Brantley County Manager Joey Kaysen says gusty winds are forcing additional evacuations.
We have folks that have been told to evacuate in the last 10 minutes. We need folks to understand they need to be prepared to evacuate. This is a dynamic fire that's changing.
The fires in Brantley County are about 15 percent contained. At the close on Wall Street today, the Dow was down 179 points. This is NPR News in Washington.
Chapter 5: What impact are the wildfires having in South Georgia?
Shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery have voted to merge with Paramount Skydance. NPR's Mandelita Barco reports that media mogul David Ellison offered to buy Warner and all of its assets for $110 billion.
If U.S. and international regulators approved the merger, David Ellison would get the legendary century-old movie studio, its streaming services and cable channels such as CNN and HBO. Ellison has repeatedly promised the combined Warner Bros. and Paramount merger would release 30 films a year. While shareholders approved the deal, they rejected a generous compensation proposal for Warner Bros.
executives. But that vote is non-binding, meaning the board could still give current Warner Bros.
Chapter 6: What are the implications of the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger?
CEO David Zasloff a golden parachute, nearly $887 million. This morning in New York, filmmakers protested the mega deal, saying the consolidation will lead to layoffs, less competition, and more media concentration by the Ellison family, which is friendly with President Trump. Mandalit Del Barco, NPR News.
World soccer champion Italy says it's not interested in replacing Iran at the World Cup this summer. An envoy to President Trump told the Financial Times he suggested it to the international soccer governing body. Iran is not withdrawn from the games. Iranian officials say the team is preparing to play its group stage matchups in California and Seattle as planned in June.
I'm Windsor Johnston and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
As hurricane season approaches, a political storm is brewing at the Federal Disaster Agency. I've never been a big fan of FEMA. It really doesn't get the job done. But can we afford to lose this vital agency? Whenever there's a disaster, the first thing people say is, where's FEMA? American Emergency, the movement to kill FEMA, is a brand new series from WNYC's On The Media. Listen on the NPR app.