NPR News: 07-31-2026 3AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder.
Why is Attorney General Todd Blanch's nomination on hold and who is opposing it?
Todd Blanch remains acting Attorney General, but his nomination to the post is on hold. And while President Trump said Thursday that he could pull Blanch's nomination, he also suggested he may try to wait out two key Republicans, John Cornyn of Texas and North Carolina's Tom Tillis. That issue is a controversial anti-weaponization fund Blanche signed off on.
What controversy surrounds the anti-weaponization fund Blanch signed off on?
Blanche has said the fund has been abandoned, but Cornyn and Tillis want written proof. Tillis spoke with reporters on Thursday.
Somebody's telling them to not do what Blanche said they were going to do. Whoever that person is, is giving the president bad advice. The only reason why we wouldn't move forward with this language is because that same advisor wants to bring it back to life at some point.
On social media, Trump said he could put Blanche back up for attorney general after Cornyn and Tillis leave office next year. The State Department says there's been a lot of demand for the 250th commemorative passports featuring President Trump's image. Now it will be a bit easier to get one, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.
How can Americans get the 250th commemorative 'Patriot' passport featuring President Trump?
Up to now, the new passport was only available for Americans applying in person at Washington, D.C. 's passport agency. Now, the State Department is arranging special events at passport agencies across the country for Americans who want to apply for it. There will be 250,000 of these, quote, passports. Patriot passports. President Trump is shown on the first page standing with his fists on a desk in front of the Declaration of Independence. There's information online about how to get one. If you don't want one, apply as usual online or pick the option with extra pages. The commemorative passport is only available in the standard 26-page book. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.
Why are former crypto miners in upstate New York converting to AI data centers?
To New York, despite a statewide moratorium on new AI data centers, former crypto miners in upstate New York are getting into the business. Rosemary Mizdari of member station WNYC reports.
Greenwich Generation is a natural gas-fired power plant in the Finger Lakes region that has the energy capacity for 75,000 homes. Nearly all its generation goes towards mining Bitcoin. After a decline in revenue, The company says it's changing its name to Vulcan and rebranding as an AI data center.
What is driving the record one-day surge in South Korea's KOSPI and AI-linked stocks?
The new venture is also requesting 200% more power from the grid. Environmental regulators declined to comment on whether Vulcan falls under the new statewide data center moratorium. Vulcan has not informed state officials of its new venture. For NPR News, I'm Rosemary Mizderi in New York City.
South Korea's benchmark share index has logged its largest ever single-day gain. The KOSPI jumped more than 18 percent in Friday trading amid a rebound in stocks linked to artificial intelligence.
How are wildfires in Oregon, the Japan earthquake victims, and UEFA's FIFA protest unfolding in the latest news roundup?
This is NPR. Hot and dry conditions are posing challenges for firefighters in Oregon, as close to three dozen major wildfires are burning through rangelands and cattle country in the eastern half of the state. And Pierce Kirk Sigler reports there are new fire weather watch advisories posted.
The National Weather Service is warning thunderstorms could bring little or no rain, but lightning that could spark new fires. Most of the recent fires that have burned close to a million and a half acres of land are believed to have ignited from lightning. Larry O'Neill is the state climatologist for Oregon.
So we're kind of holding our breath right now that the weather conditions can kind of try to moderate, although that's not looking likely.
There's only heat and wind in the immediate forecast, meaning dense smoke advisories will continue across the northwest. O'Neill warns it could be a long summer fire season with the higher altitude forests in Oregon that have so far not burned, remaining extremely dry.
Kirk Sigler, NPR News. The death toll is rising from the earthquake that hit southwestern Japan Tuesday. Officials now say 34 people were killed in the quake. That set off an explosion at a shopping mall, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes on Kyushu, Japan's main southern island.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:04
2
Why is Attorney General Todd Blanch's nomination on hold and who is opposing it?
0:04–0:27
3
What controversy surrounds the anti-weaponization fund Blanch signed off on?
0:27–1:09
4
How can Americans get the 250th commemorative 'Patriot' passport featuring President Trump?
1:09–1:52
5
Why are former crypto miners in upstate New York converting to AI data centers?
1:52–2:25
6
What is driving the record one-day surge in South Korea's KOSPI and AI-linked stocks?
2:25–2:58
7
How are wildfires in Oregon, the Japan earthquake victims, and UEFA's FIFA protest unfolding in the latest news roundup?
2:58–5:03