NPR News: 08-08-2026 6AM EDT
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How did the Senate confirm Todd Blanch as U.S. Attorney General and what were the vote details?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Senate has voted to confirm Todd Blanch as U.S. Attorney General.
On this vote, the yeas are fifty, the nays are forty-nine. The nomination is confirmed.
All Democrats voted against the nomination, along with Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Louisiana Republican Bill Cassidy provided crucial support for Blanche on Friday after raising concerns about his nomination. Blanch previously served as President Trump's personal attorney and the Justice Department's second ranking official. The Senate has also approved a bill imposing sanctions on Russia with broad bipartisan support. NPR's Claudia Grasales reports the measure gained momentum after its chief architect, Senator Lindsey Graham, died last month.
What bipartisan sanctions bill against Russia was approved and why was it named after Sen. Lindsey Graham?
Сенатор Graham led the push for Russia's sanctions as part of an effort to end the war in Ukraine. The legislation was named in his honor as the bill's supporters saw it as a tribute to the South Carolina Republican. That includes his sister, Darlene Graham, who was appointed to serve the remainder of his term.
My late brother Lindsay was a foreign policy and national security expert. He was also a peacemaker who was determined to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
It would place sanctions on top Russian leaders and top importers of Russian oil. It would also allow President Trump to place tariffs on those importers, which some Democrats say unnecessarily gives Trump more power. Claudia Risalis, NPR News, The Capital.
The Pentagon has released a new set of files showing unidentified flying objects, and PR's Jeff Brumfield reports it's the latest round in an ongoing effort to document weird things in the sky.
A flock of mysterious lights flying over the South China Sea, a black triangle in the sky above Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan in two thousand two, and a report of a large metal sphere with a body inside that fell from the sky and landed in a city in Brazil in nineteen sixty three.
What new UFO (UAP) files did the Pentagon release and what do they reveal about unexplained aerial phenomena?
These are but a few of the oddities in the Pentagon's latest UFO files, or rather UAP files. Files since these incidents are now called unidentified aerial phenomena. The Pentagon has released hundreds of files and videos since President Trump called for more transparency around UAPs. So far none provide clear evidence of alien visitors. It appears the truth is still out there. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News.
The Federal Appeals Court has ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of its four hundred million dollar White House ballroom because Congress has not approved the project.
This is NPR. Columbia has sworn in a new president into office 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.
Who is Colombia’s new president and how does he plan to combat rebel groups and drug‑gang violence?
Manuel Ruita has more from Bogota.
Abelardo de la Esprella 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. For MPR News and Manuel Rueda, in Bogota.
A number of states are considering stricter rules for social media influencers who are paid to promote political candidates. Texas now requires creators to disclose compensation in their posts, and lawmakers in New York are considering a similar rule. California already requires disclosure when influencers are paid by political committees.
Which states are tightening disclosure rules for political influencers and what impact could this have on campaigns?
A bill before the state legislature would add penalties for those who fail to comply. The proposals reflect the growing role of paid influencers in political campaigns. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
How did the Senate confirm Todd Blanch as U.S. Attorney General and what were the vote details?
0:00–0:54
2
What bipartisan sanctions bill against Russia was approved and why was it named after Sen. Lindsey Graham?
0:54–2:08
3
What new UFO (UAP) files did the Pentagon release and what do they reveal about unexplained aerial phenomena?
2:08–3:14
4
Who is Colombia’s new president and how does he plan to combat rebel groups and drug‑gang violence?
3:14–4:24
5
Which states are tightening disclosure rules for political influencers and what impact could this have on campaigns?
4:24–5:04