NPR News: 08-08-2026 4PM EDT
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Who is Todd Blanche and why is his Senate confirmation as Attorney General significant?
Live from NVR News in Washington, I'm Linda Kenyon. The Senate has narrowly approved Todd Blanche to serve as the new U.S. Attorney General. And Pierre's Franco O'Dornez reports the vote puts President Trump's former personal lawyer in charge of the Justice Department.
Blanch 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. And disacting attorney general Blanche had moved swiftly advancing controversial investigations against some of the president's political targets. including former FBI Director James Comey. Franco Bordonez, NPR News, traveling with the President.
Why is the U.S. Postal Service facing a $2.5 billion loss and what does it mean for its future?
The US Postal Service continues to face major financial challenges. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports the self-funded mailing agency is reporting a net loss for the third quarter in a row this fiscal year.
Tens of millions of people rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail and packages at least six days a week to just about every address in the country. And in turn, USPS relies on selling stamps and service fees, not tax dollars. But with people sending a lot less mail compared to decades ago, plus inflation and fuel costs, USPS ended its third quarter of the fiscal year with a net loss of two and a half billion dollars. David Steiner is a Postmaster General.
As things stand, the Postal Service is expected to be self sustaining while at the same time fulfilling mandates that are inherently unsustainable and do not cover their costs.
USPS which is a financial supportive NPR has paused payments to its worker retirement funds in order to avoid running out of cash. The Postal Service now projects that crisis may come as soon as twenty thirty one.
What red‑flag warnings are Washington state firefighters issuing to prevent new wildfires?
On Zila Wong, NPR News.
A red flag warning looms over part of Washington state. Firefighters there are taking aggressive steps to prevent another major wildfire in areas already scarred by the Spokane Complex fires. Daniel Ramey, a spokesman with the California Interagency Incident Management, says crews are primed and ready if those fires pick up.
Now all those crews are here. They're gonna be bolstered and we're going to upstaff every single division that we have any concern about.
Ramey also says fire officials are working closely with law enforcement when it comes to whether to order. Evacuations.
How did Iranian missiles target a UAE‑owned vessel and what are the regional implications?
The US Iran war continues to affect Iran's Middle Eastern neighbors. The United Arab Emirates reports Iranian missiles targeted one of its ships that's owned by Abu Dhabi's state run Adnak Oil Company. No casualties were reported. You're listening to NPR. Much of Europe is bracing for yet another heat wave. Vicky Barker reports Europeans have been suffering through a record breaking hot summer.
Heat health alerts have already taken effect in much of the UK, where London is about to experience its fifth heat wave of the season. All of Italy's major cities are under the highest level of heat alert, and record heat's been reported in neighboring Austria.
Why is Europe experiencing record‑breaking heat waves and how are health systems responding?
Several European countries have been experiencing temperatures above a hundred and four Fahrenheit, prompting health warnings for millions of elderly or otherwise medically vulnerable people. Climatologists say Europe, which lacks widespread air conditioning, is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, severely testing public health systems, power generation, transportation networks, and tourism infrastructure. For NPR News, I'm Vicky Barker in London.
The US Army says it's opening up test ranges to private companies developing missiles and drones. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll says the decision was driven in part by his observations of the war in Ukraine and how quickly that country moved to produce new weapon systems.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Who is Todd Blanche and why is his Senate confirmation as Attorney General significant?
0:01–1:03
2
Why is the U.S. Postal Service facing a $2.5 billion loss and what does it mean for its future?
1:03–2:01
3
What red‑flag warnings are Washington state firefighters issuing to prevent new wildfires?
2:01–2:42
4
How did Iranian missiles target a UAE‑owned vessel and what are the regional implications?
2:42–3:25
5
Why is Europe experiencing record‑breaking heat waves and how are health systems responding?
3:25–4:56
6
What did Sally Field discuss about acting with a CGI octopus on Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me?
4:56–5:03