NPR News: 07-21-2025 7AM EDT

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How will Texas's special session redrawing affect the 2026 congressional map?

Dan Ronan 0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. State lawmakers in Texas began a special session today that is set to produce a controversial new map of the state's congressional voting districts. As NPR's Hansy Lo Wong reports, Texas is one of multiple states that may end up holding next year's midterm election with new voting maps.

Hansi Lewong 0:24

Redistricting is usually a once a decade process after a census. But four years after the release of the results from the twenty twenty head count, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session of the Republican controlled legislature to redraw Texas's congressional map with the support of President Trump.

Dan Ronan 0:39

Just a very simple redrawing, we pick up five scenes.

Hansi Lewong 0:43

There are a handful of other states in the South, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, plus Utah and Wisconsin that may end up with new congressional maps soon through lawsuits. And Ohio has to redistrict for its seats in the U.S. House because of a state law. With a narrowly divided Congress, it all means that any changes with voting districts could make a big difference in whether Republicans keep control of the House or lose it to the Democrats. Hanzi Lewong, NPR News.

Dan Ronan 1:05

President Trump has said he will help Afghan refugees stuck in the UAE.

What is President Trump doing to help Afghan refugees stuck in the UAE?

Dan Ronan 1:11

Amkar Kandikar reports that Trump was reacting to a report claiming the UAE officials were going to hand over the Afghan refugees in Abu Dhabi to the Taliban.

Omkar Khandekar 1:22

In 2021, the UAE had agreed to temporarily house several thousand Afghans evacuated from Kabul after the Taliban's takeover of the country. Most of them were eventually taken in by the US, Canada, and other countries. On Saturday, the website Just the News published a report saying the UAE was planning to deport some of the 30 Afghan refugees left to Kabul. Trump responded to the news on Truth Social, saying, quote, I will try to save them, starting right now. Reuters reports that it might just be too late, for the Emirati government had begun returning Afghans to Taliban last week itself. Omkar Handekar, NPR News, Mumbai.

Dan Ronan 2:04

Former federal prosecutor say Justice Department request to unseal grand jury transcripts in the case of deceased sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein and his now imprisoned former girlfriend.

Why is the Justice Department seeking to unseal the Jeffrey Epstein grand‑jury transcripts?

Dan Ronan 2:17

Will likely not produce any groundbreaking disclosures. Earlier President Trump had harsh criticism for some of those supporters who have been pushing to get more material about Epstein and his relationship with Trump made public. At one point he called those people stupid.

Unknown 2:42

is is is a mistake in this in this town. And I think we're learning that. And I I you know, that's his strategy. I was I a little ticked off he said that stuff? Sure I was.

What caused the three‑hour Alaska Airlines ground stop and when will flights resume?

Dan Ronan 2:52

Last week Trump said he was suing the Wall Street Journal for ten million dollars over the Epstein case. This is NPR News. After a three hour ground stop for an IT outage, Alaska Airlines says it has resumed operations. The Seattle based airline said it halted operations at eight PM Pacific time and all Alaska Airline main line and horizon aircraft stopped flying.

How did Scotty Scheffler secure his British Open win and move toward a career Grand Slam?

Dan Ronan 3:19

The airline says as a result of the ground stop, passengers can expect some delays because of the impact to its flight schedule. American pro golfer Scotty Scheffler won the British Open on Sunday with a score of seventeen under par, as NPR's Joe Hernandez reports the victory takes him one step closer to a career grand slam.

Joe Hernandez 3:40

Sheffler trounced the competition during the championship in Northern Ireland, winning the open by four strokes over the runner-up. He bested Americans Harris English and Chris Godderup, who came in second and third. Sheffler said after his victory that it took a lot of work, patience, and focus over all 72 holes of the tournament. Sheffler is now on track to secure a career grand slam by winning four of Golf's top. Tournaments. The twenty-nine year old won the PGA championship in Charlotte, North Carolina earlier this year, and he's won the Masters Tournament twice, once in twenty twenty-two and again in twenty twenty-four. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.