NPR News: 08-08-2026 11AM EDT
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Who is Todd Blanche and why does his Senate confirmation matter?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Linda Kenyon. The Senate has narrowly approved Todd Blanche to serve as the new U.S. Attorney General. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports the vote puts President Trump's former personal lawyer in charge of the Justice Department.
Blanche overcame a final hurdle after securing key support from Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. It's a major win for Blanche, but also for President Trump, who gets his person in the top job. It also ends a rough few weeks of party infighting over the nomination between Trump and Senate Republicans. Now, it's a tough job, and some Republicans remain concerned about Blanche's independence. Trump has pressed for the department to go after his political enemies.
How are record‑high immigrant detention numbers affecting private‑prison profits?
And as acting Attorney General, Blanche had moved swiftly advancing controversial investigations against some of the president's political targets, including former FBI Director James Comey. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, traveling with the president.
Immigrant detention is approaching record highs in numbers not seen since January of this year. And private prison companies, including GeoGroup and CoreCivic, that work with ICE, are reaping large profits. NPR immigration correspondent Vanessa Romo says they're not the only ones making money. They start at the top of ICE.
The acting director, David Ventrella, is a former executive at GeoGroup. But in a recent letter, he told lawmakers that he's divested his GEO Group stock. Then there's Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, who was also a paid consultant for GEO Group before joining the government.
What conflicts of interest exist among ICE leaders and Trump’s border officials?
And former Attorney General Pam Bondi also lobbied for GEO Group before she was appointed.
NPR's Vanessa Romo adds total revenues for GeoGroup alone were up 15 percent to more than $730 million over the same period last year. Families across the country are straining more than ever to pay for child care. State Impact Oklahoma's Beth Wallace reports from the Sooner State.
There are many reasons for the soaring costs. During the pandemic, some states held off on adjusting how much they reimbursed child care providers for families on subsidies. Federal COVID money dried up, and inflation is driving up prices, resulting in providers making cuts. Providers like Rachel Proper of Oklahoma City's Child Care Incorporated. We had to cut quality measures and really kind of get down to doing
Why are child‑care costs soaring in Oklahoma and what solutions are being tried?
basic child care as opposed to really doing those things that are exceptional and bring magic to our classrooms. States are experimenting with fixes to spread out child care costs and lighten the load on families. For NPR News, I'm Beth Wallace in Tulsa.
Data show the cost of infant care has gone up more than a third in Oklahoma. You're listening to NPR. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a tightening of restrictions for people traveling to the U.S. from Ebola-affected areas in Africa. Michael Koloke has the story.
The latest CDC guidance means Americans and other nationals who have been to the Democratic Republic of Congo within 21 days prior to traveling to the United States will not be allowed to board commercial flights with U.S.
What new CDC travel restrictions are in place for travelers from Ebola‑affected regions?
destinations. Those travelers must remain outside of the DRC for 21 days before re-entering the U.S. The CDC says the measures are in place to reduce the risk of Ebola being brought into the United States, adding that certain categories of travelers who have recently been to Uganda or South Sudan will be required to enter the U.S. through designated airports where they will undergo health screening. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.
Michigan health officials have cleared shoppers to put lettuce back in their grocery carts. But anxiety over cyclosporiasis continues to linger nationwide. An FDA investigation has linked the outbreak to 15 states. Michigan has been hit the hardest.
How is the cyclosporiasis lettuce outbreak linked to Mexican farms and what are the health risks?
The outbreak has been linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. The cyclospora parasite can cause diarrhea, nausea, and gastrointestinal symptoms. At least two confirmed deaths have been linked to this outbreak of cyclosporiasis.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Who is Todd Blanche and why does his Senate confirmation matter?
0:01–0:46
2
How are record‑high immigrant detention numbers affecting private‑prison profits?
0:46–1:41
3
What conflicts of interest exist among ICE leaders and Trump’s border officials?
1:41–2:32
4
Why are child‑care costs soaring in Oklahoma and what solutions are being tried?
2:32–3:26
5
What new CDC travel restrictions are in place for travelers from Ebola‑affected regions?
3:26–4:10
6
How is the cyclosporiasis lettuce outbreak linked to Mexican farms and what are the health risks?
4:10–5:04