NPR News: 08-03-2026 7AM 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 Cautel.
Why did Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescind the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund?
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has rescinded an order for a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. NPR's Claudia Gonzalez reports the fund was formed to compensate President Trump's allies and rioters at the January 6th attack.
Blanche rescinded the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund in writing to address concerns holding up President Trump's nominee for attorney general before a Senate panel.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.
What is at stake in Michigan’s Democratic primary between Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul Al‑Said?
The rescindment could clear the way to advance Blanche's nomination to the Senate floor. Claudia Rizales, NPR News.
In Michigan, voters will soon be choosing between four-term Congresswoman Haley Stevens, a moderate, and Dr. Abdul Al-Said, a progressive candidate and former public health official. NPR's Tamara Keith reports on the closely watched Democratic race in the Purple State.
It's a true swing state, and Democrats really need to hang on to that seat, currently held by a retiring Democrat, if they want a chance of gaining control of the Senate. The primary matchup really reflects something Democrats have been wrestling with at least since 2016. Who can win, a populist progressive or a moderate favored by the Democratic establishment?
Establishment Democrats say for swing voters, nominating al-Said is too much of a risk because some of the positions that he's taken could be painted as extreme. But those in the insurgent wing of the party say playing it safe is the real electability problem. Japan's currency, the yen, jumped against the dollar 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.
Why did the U.S. and Japan jointly intervene to support the yen and what were the effects?
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. 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 US by easing pressure on Japan to sell US dollar assets, which could indirectly affect US interest rates.
How will the new 10‑year Colorado River plan change water management and what are experts concerned about?
Trump quipped that Japan has been good to the US, with the exception of its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News.
Stocks in Europe climbed after attacks by US forces were called off this weekend. This is NPR News. The federal government has released a new plan for managing the Colorado River. It sets a 10-year framework for sharing the shrinking water supply, as Alex Hager of member station KGZZ reports.
What happened during the mass migrant arrivals at Ceuta and how are Spain and Morocco responding?
After long-failed negotiations, the new plan would force policymakers back to the table every two years to adjust the rules. Some water experts say that could make it hard to create long-lasting changes that are needed in response to drought and climate change. Elizabeth Cobley researches the river at the University of Nevada, Reno.
I'm not very confident that there's a lot in here that would get us beyond the sort of challenges we've seen over the last couple of years and this pattern of managing crisis to crisis that the basin has really been in lately.
Cobley says the 10-year plan adds some predictability to river management and negotiators could use it as an opportunity to find new agreement. For NPR News, I'm Alex Hager in Phoenix.
Tens of thousands of migrants have now returned to Morocco from the Spanish territory of Ceuta. The Spanish government called in the military on Saturday when some 50,000 to 60,000 migrants overwhelmed border security in just days.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:06
2
Why did Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescind the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund?
0:06–1:01
3
What is at stake in Michigan’s Democratic primary between Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul Al‑Said?
1:01–2:13
4
Why did the U.S. and Japan jointly intervene to support the yen and what were the effects?
2:13–2:43
5
How will the new 10‑year Colorado River plan change water management and what are experts concerned about?
2:43–3:13
6
What happened during the mass migrant arrivals at Ceuta and how are Spain and Morocco responding?
3:13–4:53