NPR News: 08-08-2026 2PM EDT
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What’s the latest on the Senate’s confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Linda Kenyon. Senate Republicans have okayed the controversial nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was appointed to fill the post left vacant by Pam Bondy's departure in April. NPR Scott Newman has more.
President Trump's former attorney was confirmed in a fifty to forty nine vote, with Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine voting against him. With ailing Senator Mitch McConnell absent, Blanche's fate rested on getting a last moment yes vote from Senator Bill Cassidy. Cassidy, who lost his primary to a Trump backed challenger, was concerned that as acting AG Blanche exempted the president from IRS audits, and that he'd used the power of the Department of Justice to go after Trump's political enemies. But earlier this week the Louisiana Republicans said he would vote for Blanche, all but assuring his nomination. Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington.
How are record‑high immigrant detention numbers and private‑prison profits affecting ICE?
Immigrant detention is approaching record highs and numbers not seen since January of this year. And private prison companies, including Geo Group and Core Civic, that work with ICE are reaping large profits. NPR immigration correspondent Vanessa Romo says they're not the only ones making money. Please start at the top of ice.
The acting director, David Ventrella, is a former executive at Geo Group. 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. And former attorney general Pam Bondi also lobbied for Gio Group before she was appointed.
NPR's Vanessa Romo adds president Trump also has financial ties to both Gio Group and Core Civic in trades supervised by his brokers. Total revenues for Geo Group alone were up fifteen percent to more than seven hundred thirty million dollars over the same period last year.
Why are extreme heat alerts sweeping the U.S. and what do new surveys reveal about Americans’ experiences?
Tens of millions of Americans are under heat alerts today. As NPR Zamie Held reports, a new survey finds a growing share of Americans say extreme heat is changing how they live.
Ninety percent of people say extreme heat has had at least some impact on their lives. Up from eighty three percent two years ago. The AP NORC survey finds a growing share of Americans say it's affecting their energy bills, outdoor activities, their sleep. One thing that's dropped, the percentage of Americans who say climate change is happening, two thirds down from three quarters two years ago. Human caused climate change is making intense heat waves more likely. Then there's the naturally occurring El Nino climate pattern, forecast to intensify in the coming months, making above normal heat even likelier. This as highs in parts of the western US top one hundred ten degrees. The National Weather Service says it's up to twelve degrees above normal for summer.
Amy Held, NPR News.
Who is Colombia’s new president and what’s his plan to combat rebel groups and crime?
You're listening to NPR. Colombia has sworn in a new president following a hard fought election this summer. He's an ally of President Trump and says he will fight rebel groups in the country with greater military force. Manuel Hueta has more from Bogota.
Abelardo de la Sprella held his inauguration in Cali, a city that has been heavily hit by violence from drug gangs and rebel groups. The Conservatives spoke at a military base and said that his top priority will be to restore order in areas of the country where criminal organizations have become more powerful. The time to recover security and liberty has come, he said. For the past four years, Colombia has been staging peace talks with rebel groups that profit from the cocaine trade, but there has been little success. Del Estrella says he will end those negotiations as he takes an iron-fisted approach to crime.
What does the recent Gallup survey reveal about Americans’ use of AI for financial advice?
For NPR News, I'm Manuel Rueda in Bogotá.
A new Gallup survey finds many adults use AI for financial guidance, but they aren't exactly confident about the guidance they are receiving. The survey conducted in partnership with financial services firm Edward Jones finds about one in five Americans who sought financial guidance in the past year used AI, but fewer than three in ten said they had any confidence in its expertise.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What’s the latest on the Senate’s confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche?
0:01–1:00
2
How are record‑high immigrant detention numbers and private‑prison profits affecting ICE?
1:00–2:00
3
Why are extreme heat alerts sweeping the U.S. and what do new surveys reveal about Americans’ experiences?
2:00–2:58
4
Who is Colombia’s new president and what’s his plan to combat rebel groups and crime?
2:58–3:55
5
What does the recent Gallup survey reveal about Americans’ use of AI for financial advice?
3:55–4:35
6
What funny story did Sally Field share about acting opposite a CGI octopus on Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me?
4:35–5:04