NPR News: 07-30-2026 12AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder.
Why was Todd Blanche's attorney general confirmation vote postponed?
A Senate panel has postponed a planned Thursday vote on Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general. Two key Republican senators demanding guarantees related to the Justice Department's deal with President Trump to end his IRS lawsuit. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.
Late Wednesday night, the committee announced the vote was off for now.
What written assurances are Senators Cornyn and Tillis demanding from the Justice Department?
A spokesperson said Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Tillis of North Carolina, both Republicans, want written assurances from the Justice Department related to President Trump's settlement to end his IRS lawsuit over his leaked tax returns. Blanche needs the support of every committee Republican for his nomination to advance. Cornyn and Tillis have both said they won't support Blanche without the written guarantees they are seeking from the Justice Department. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
Also on Capitol Hill, Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during Tuesday's hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although it pains me to do so,
Why did Dr. Anthony Fauci invoke the Fifth Amendment at the congressional hearing?
Because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions. Thank you.
Dr. Fauci was subpoenaed by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul to appear before the committee he chairs. The two have long sparred over the pandemic, and Fauci accused Senator Paul of being obsessed with seeing him behind bars. Paul's committee has scheduled a contempt of Congress vote against Fauci for next week. Iraqi militias hit by U.S.
What are the latest developments after U.S. and Saudi strikes on Iraqi militias?
and Saudi airstrikes are vowing revenge. They've given the Iraqi government a deadline to respond to the attacks, and PRS Jane Araf has more.
The wave of strikes killed at least 20 fighters, according to the militias. They were buried on Wednesday, mourners at a procession in Baghdad chanting death to America. These are Iranian-backed militias that emerged in a security vacuum after the U.S. invasion of Iraq two decades ago. Some are now on the Iraqi government payroll. And while the new Iraqi prime minister has pledged to the U.S. he will rein in the armed groups...
What verdict was reached in the Salman Rushdie stabbing federal terrorism trial?
No previous Iraqi leader has had much success. A militia group that calls itself the Iraqi Resistance has given the Iraqi government a deadline of next Thursday after a major Shia commemoration to respond to the attacks. Jane Araf, NPR News, Amman.
The U.S. military says it has completed what it describes as a heavy wave of strikes against Iran. In a social media post, the military said the strikes were launched in response to attempted Iranian missile attacks on U.S. base in Jordan. This is NPR.
What unresolved questions remain about the 2018 Seattle protest shooting covered in the Embedded series?
A 28-year-old man has been convicted of federal terrorism charges stemming from the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie nearly four years ago. The jury delivered its verdict Wednesday in Buffalo, New York, finding Hadi Matar guilty of all the charges against him. Matar already serving a 25-year sentence on New York state charges linked to the attack. Actor and musician Jared Leto says he has, quote, never assaulted anyone. He was responding to a BBC documentary in which multiple women accused him of doing so. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.
In the documentary Jared Leto, Hollywood's Dark Secret, four women accuse the 54-year-old of sexual assault or misconduct. One woman says the actor assaulted her when she was 17. Another accuses him of statutory rape. The women, whose full names aren't used in the documentary, say these incidents occurred between 2002 and 2016. Leto has been the subject of numerous misconduct allegations over the years, but none of these have led to an arrest or criminal charges. In an emailed statement to NPR via his publicist, Leto said, I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false. Chloe Valtman, NPR News.
The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday despite high inflation and a spike in energy prices caused by the Iran war.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:04
2
Why was Todd Blanche's attorney general confirmation vote postponed?
0:04–0:24
3
What written assurances are Senators Cornyn and Tillis demanding from the Justice Department?
0:24–1:06
4
Why did Dr. Anthony Fauci invoke the Fifth Amendment at the congressional hearing?
1:06–1:49
5
What are the latest developments after U.S. and Saudi strikes on Iraqi militias?
1:49–2:26
6
What verdict was reached in the Salman Rushdie stabbing federal terrorism trial?
2:26–3:01
7
What unresolved questions remain about the 2018 Seattle protest shooting covered in the Embedded series?
3:01–5:03