Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan.
Chapter 2: What is the current average price of gasoline in the U.S.?
AAA says the price of unleaded gasoline averages $4.42 nationally. That's down 14 cents in the last week. The price of diesel fuel, the main fuel in trucking and railroads, also declined to $5.55. That's down 10 cents from a week ago.
At a White House briefing Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett said he believes energy prices will begin to drop at a faster pace if an agreement is reached to end the war against Iran.
Chapter 3: How are energy prices expected to change with the Iran conflict?
What we've seen is actually oil prices are down about 10 percent in May. There are almost 2,000 ships waiting to come out of the Gulf. And I think the oil market is going to be very well supplied on the other side of this and that we could see prices come down very quickly.
The price of West Texas Intermediate Oil, the benchmark crude that U.S.
Chapter 4: What legal challenges are being faced regarding voting by mail restrictions?
oil traders purchase, is now at $88 a barrel, down from $106 a barrel one month ago. A federal judge in Washington has rejected an attempt to stop an executive order from President Trump calling for restrictions of voting by mail. NPR's Hansi Lowong reports that another judge in Massachusetts is preparing to rule on the same order in the coming days.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols found it's too early for an emergency ruling that would block key parts of an order that the Trump administration has not carried out yet. Rob Weiner of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is representing some of the challengers.
It was predominantly an issue of timing, and we'll have to continue fighting through the coming days.
Trump's order calls for the federal government to create lists of adult U.S. citizens in each state. It also calls for banning the U.S.
Chapter 5: What are the implications of the 23andMe lawsuit for user data privacy?
Postal Service from delivering mail-in ballots to anyone not on those lists. USPS is a financial supporter of NPR. Separately, a federal judge in Boston is preparing to rule on claims that the president's directives violate the Constitution, which gives power to state legislatures and Congress, not the president, to set federal election rules. Anzela Wong, NPR News.
California's attorney general is suing the company formerly known as 23andMe, claiming the DNA testing firm failed to protect sensitive user data. Rachel Milo has more from KQED.
23andMe filed for bankruptcy last year after a 2023 data breach exposed all sorts of genetic data about nearly 7 million users nationwide, including more than 855,000 Californians. State Attorney General Rob Bonta says the company's security was lax and that it misled the public about the severity of the hack.
They need to be held accountable. There's no such thing as a pass when it comes to failing to maintain appropriate privacy protections and lying about it.
Chapter 6: How is Costco benefiting from rising fuel prices?
Bonta's office is also suing a bankruptcy court in Missouri to block the sale of Californians' genetic information. The company, now known as Chrome Holding, did not immediately comment on the suit. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Miro.
And you're listening to NPR. There's been no word from the White House if President Trump will approve a tentative agreement with Iran to extend the current ceasefire for another 60 days while negotiators start a new round of talks. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed there was an agreement Thursday and it comes at a time when it appears the current ceasefire has been wavering.
There have been several instances where the U.S. has taken what it calls defensive action. If the negotiations do resume, the status of Iran's nuclear program promises to be a key area in those talks, and President Trump has insisted Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
Chapter 7: What recent trends are observed in consumer spending during high inflation?
Costco is getting a lot of first-time visitors to its gas stations, thanks to higher fuel prices. The chain says it's selling record amounts of fuel as shoppers are visiting for a hunt on deals. NPR's Elena Saluka reports.
Costco says between April and mid-May, it had the best five-week period on record for gas sales. Executives say high gas prices driven by the war in Iran are sending more drivers to its fuel stations for the first time as people are looking for cheaper options. Costco's gas sales by volume set record after record in the last quarter.
The company's overall sales grew 12 percent, with gas being a big factor. both higher sales and higher prices. AAA says regular gas now costs on average $1.20 more than it did a year ago. At the same time, Costco says shoppers are splurging when they find deals they like. Sales of massage chairs jumped in the latest quarter. Alina Seluk, NPR News.
All three stock market indexes finished the day in positive territory on Thursday. This is NPR. Support for NPR.
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