NPR News: 07-16-2025 12AM EDT
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Why is Attorney General Pam Bondi under scrutiny over the Epstein file controversy?
Live from MPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. US Attorney General Pam Bondi continues to face questions over her handling of government files. On convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As NPR's Ryan Lucas reports, Bondi has sidestepped reports of a rift.
Bondy has come under a wave of criticism from many in President Trump's MAGA base since the Justice Department released a memo last week stating that there was no Epstein client list, that Epstein had indeed died by suicide, and that no further files from the investigation would be made public. Some critics have called for Bondi's resignation. Asked how she would respond to the MAGA frustrations, Bondi said this.
We're going to fight to keep America safe again, and we're fighting together as a team.
The Attorney General also refused to address reports of a major rift with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over the Epstein matter.
What did Bondi say about personnel matters and the reported rift with the FBI?
I'm not gonna discuss personnel matters. I think we all are committed to working together now to make America safe again. Ryan
Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
President Trump and executives from the oil and tech industries gathered in Pittsburgh Tuesday for a summit to promote investments in the energy and technology sectors. Speaking at Carnegie Mellon University, Trump announced investments in artificial intelligence and energy.
Twenty leading technology and energy companies are announcing more than ninety two billion dollars of investments in Pennsylvania. And if you want, we could probably get 'em up. Let's talk to them right now.
Trump says the investments will put Pennsylvania on track to become a leader in artificial intelligence.
How is the Trump administration handling the National Guard deployment in Los Angeles?
He also says it should ensure that the future economy will be designed and built in the United States. Half of the four thousand National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles last month are now being released from duty. From the LAist Destiny Tours has the story.
The Trump administration said it deployed the troops and seven hundred Marines to protect Federal agents and buildings following immigration protests. The National Guard also accompanied Federal agents on immigration raids. LA Mayor Karen Bass has blasted the deployment, but in a statement Tuesday night, she said the retreat by the Pentagon was because the city stood quote united and stood strong. California is also tied in an ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration over the military action, arguing that it violates limits on federal power. The back and forth by a federal appeals court has allowed the president to keep control over the troops in LA. For NPR News, I'm Destiny Torres in Los Angeles.
Why did the administration fire 17 immigration judges and what could it mean for the courts?
The Trump administration has fired seventeen immigration court judges allegedly without cause. That's according to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which represents the workers. The union says the firings could coincide with a massive backlog of court cases. Democratic senator Dick Durbin says one of the firings may have been the result of a lawmaker speaking to him. This is NPR. A federal agency set up to protect consumers in wake of the two thousand eight financial crisis has become dysfunctional. The Consumer Protection Financial Bureau, or CFPB, is no longer enforcing laws against financial crimes. And penalties imposed on violators have been rescinded. Meanwhile the C F P B employees are facing mass layoffs under the new tax and spending plan.
How has the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau become dysfunctional under recent policies?
Western European nations have agreed to restore sanctions on Iran by the end of next month. Negotiators from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have held several rounds of talks but failed to get Iran to agree to end its nuclear program. President Trump has said the US and Iran will hold more nuclear talks soon, but did not say when. An effort to bring an endangered frog back to Southern California is getting a reason to celebrate. NPR's Nate brought reports that scientists recently used artificial intelligence to show that the frogs are successfully breeding again.
The California red-legged frog is the largest native frog species west of the Rocky Mountains, but it's been eliminated from a 250-mile-long stretch of Southern California and northern Baja California.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why is Attorney General Pam Bondi under scrutiny over the Epstein file controversy?
0:01–0:56
2
What did Bondi say about personnel matters and the reported rift with the FBI?
0:56–1:36
3
How is the Trump administration handling the National Guard deployment in Los Angeles?
1:36–2:36
4
Why did the administration fire 17 immigration judges and what could it mean for the courts?
2:36–3:24
5
How has the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau become dysfunctional under recent policies?
3:24–4:39