NPR News: 08-04-2026 9AM 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.
Which key congressional primaries are likely to decide control of Congress?
The control of Congress could rest in the outcome of primaries taking place in five states today. A tense and closely watched race is in Michigan, where four-term Congresswoman Haley Stevens, a moderate, faces progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a former health care director.
What makes the Michigan race between Haley Stevens and Abdul El‑Sayed so closely watched?
Both are hoping to reclaim the chamber for Democrats. NPR congressional reporter Sam Greenglass says he's also watching other competitive House seats.
It is also primary day in Kansas, Missouri, Washington, and Virginia.
Which competitive House contests in Missouri and St. Louis reflect anti‑establishment momentum?
One race I'm watching is in the St. Louis area, where former Congresswoman Cori Bush is challenging Representative Wesley Bell from the left. Another test of how much an anti-establishment mood is powering this political moment.
NPR congressional reporter Sam Greenglass in Michigan. Authorities in Spokane, Washington have arrested a man suspected of arson in connection with one of three wildfires burning in and around the city. NPR's Kirk Sigler reports the blazes have burned hundreds of homes and displaced more than 60,000 people.
Who was arrested in connection with the Spokane wildfires and what damage did the blazes cause?
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office has arrested a suspect in connection with its investigation into the Old Trails Fire, the most destructive wildfire of the three burning in and around this eastern Washington city. Authorities say 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci, a convicted felon, was arrested at his home here without incident and is being charged with arson in the first degree. All three wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of people since last weekend and forced the evacuation of businesses, the VA hospital, and other health care facilities. Firefighters are trying to take advantage of a brief reprieve in the winds before another heat wave is forecast to arrive midweek. Kirk Sigler, NPR News, Spokane.
Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against three more people accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
Why were charges dropped in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool case and what evidence changed the prosecution?
NPR's Rachel Treisman reports.
The Trump administration has long accused vandals of damaging the pool's liner, but the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. moved Friday to dismiss the case against a former Olympian who was indicted last month. Prosecutors said new evidence points to a rushed paint job. Then they dropped misdemeanor charges against three other people. Attorney Alan Dale represents one of them.
They're all charged with doing about the same thing, putting their hand in the reflecting pool. Um, So how would you dismiss against one and not against all?
How is AI being used to help people clear criminal records and find employment?
President Trump has since pushed back on prosecutors' assessment, continuing to blame vandalism. Rachel Treisman, NPR News.
The weekend rush of some 50,000 to 60,000 migrants from Morocco to the Spanish territory of Ceuta, which led to more than 70 dead, apparently began after false viral Instagram and other social media posts suggesting the border was opening up. This is NPR News from New York City. There's widespread fear that artificial intelligence is taking away people's jobs. But in Utah, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, a legal startup is using AI to help people overcome barriers to employment. NPR's Andrea Hsu explains.
Tens of millions of Americans have some kind of criminal record. This might be a felony, a misdemeanor, or even an arrest without a conviction. Still, any kind of record can scare off employers. Now, most states allow for some records to be sealed or expunged after a period of time, but the process can be expensive. Now a startup called Ross Illegal has whittled down the costs by using AI to figure out which records can be cleared and to draft court petitions. Ross's founder, Noella Sudbury, says lawyers still review everything. But with AI, we can scale our impact. far beyond what would be possible if we were reliant on human beings. So far, Rasa works in three states, but the goal is to go nationwide.
Andrea Hsu, NPR News.
The world's third smallest country, the Pacific island of Nauru, population maybe around 12,000, has a new name, a truer native name, Nauru. Its people internationally will be known as De Nauru instead of Nauruan.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:06
2
Which key congressional primaries are likely to decide control of Congress?
0:06–0:22
3
What makes the Michigan race between Haley Stevens and Abdul El‑Sayed so closely watched?
0:22–0:35
4
Which competitive House contests in Missouri and St. Louis reflect anti‑establishment momentum?
0:35–1:11
5
Who was arrested in connection with the Spokane wildfires and what damage did the blazes cause?
1:11–1:58
6
Why were charges dropped in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool case and what evidence changed the prosecution?
1:58–2:34
7
How is AI being used to help people clear criminal records and find employment?
2:34–5:04