NPR News: 08-03-2026 11AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dua Lisa Kautau.
What did Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescind regarding the January 6th fund?
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has rescinded an order for a controversial fund that was formed to compensate some of President Trump's political allies and rioters at the January 6th attack. Senators John Cornyn and Tom Tillis released a joint statement saying they are pleased that the Department of Justice has issued a formal order terminating the anti-weaponization fund. NPR's Claudia Gonzalez reports.
Blanche rescinded the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund in writing to address concerns holding up President Trump's nominee for attorney general before a Senate panel. Two Republican senators in their final terms, John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Tillis of North Carolina, wanted written assurances the fund was disbanded. dead before moving forward with Blanche's nomination on the Senate Judiciary Committee. With the rescindment, Blanche said he was formalizing in writing his testimony before the committee that the fund would not move forward. He said no members were appointed to direct the fund, no funds were transferred, and no claims were paid. Claudia Rizales, NPR News.
Japan's yen jumped against the dollar today after a rare joint intervention by the U.S. and Japan last Friday, NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said that the U.S. and Japan worked together to sell dollars and buy yen last Friday to curb volatility in financial markets. The move helped the yen to bounce back from its lowest level against the dollar in nearly 40 years. President Trump told reporters that the U.S.
Why did Senators Cornyn and Tillis demand a written termination of the anti-weaponization fund?
was sending a signal of friendship as Japan wanted U.S. help. A stronger yen helps Japan by making imported food and fuel less expensive and helps the U.S. by easing pressure on Japan to sell U.S. dollar assets, which could indirectly affect U.S. interest rates. Trump quipped that Japan has been good to the U.S., with the exception of its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News.
Europe continues to suffer record high temperatures and drought conditions. British authorities have issued fresh health alerts for parts of England where temperatures are forecast to hit 93 degrees today. And Perez-Lauren Frere reports from London.
Authorities say half of England is experiencing drought. Green meadows have turned parched, dry brown. And farmers say the lack of rainfall could lead to shortages of some food crops, including wheat, oats and some vegetables.
What did Blanche confirm about appointments, transfers and claim payments for the $1.8 billion fund?
In the capital London, parts of the city saw brief showers last month, but no rain was registered all month at Kew Gardens, home to the Royal Botanic Gardens and one of the capital's official weather stations. It's the first totally dry full calendar month since Kew began measuring in 1871. About 20 million people, mostly in southern England, are under water restrictions, what British authorities call a hosepipe ban. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.
This is NPR News. There are election primaries tomorrow in five states, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington.
How did the U.S. and Japan intervene to support the yen and what did leaders say?
In St. Louis, Democratic voters will be choosing between Congressman Wesley Bell and former Congresswoman Cori Bush. One of the major issues in that House race is U.S. support for Israel, as Jason Rosenbaum with St. Louis Public Radio reports.
Wesley Bell defeated Cori Bush in the 2024 Democratic primary by about five percentage points. He says he's earned the right to return to Washington to obtain much-needed funds for the St. Louis region.
It's not about national issues. It's not about international issues.
But Bush is hoping St. Louisans reject a multi-million dollar ad campaign from pro-Israel groups.
How are record heat and drought impacting the U.K. and European agriculture?
She's called for an end to military aid to the country, while Bell supports continued assistance.
I do believe that Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal.
If Bush wins, she'll join several other Democratic candidates critical of Israel who've prevailed in primaries. For NPR News, I'm Jason Rosenbaum in St. Louis.
The first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in Washington, D.C., has died at the age of 83.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:06
2
What did Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescind regarding the January 6th fund?
0:06–1:38
3
Why did Senators Cornyn and Tillis demand a written termination of the anti-weaponization fund?
1:38–2:29
4
What did Blanche confirm about appointments, transfers and claim payments for the $1.8 billion fund?
2:29–3:08
5
How did the U.S. and Japan intervene to support the yen and what did leaders say?
3:08–3:45
6
How are record heat and drought impacting the U.K. and European agriculture?
3:45–4:22
7
Which primary races and notable obituaries were highlighted in today's NPR bulletin?
4:22–5:03