NPR News: 08-08-2026 7AM EDT
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Who is Todd Blanche and how did he become the new U.S. Attorney General?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Senate has narrowly approved Todd Blanche to serve as the new US Attorney General. MPR's Franco Ordonia's 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, 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 Ordonas, NPR News traveling with the president.
What concerns do Republicans have about Todd Blanche’s independence as Attorney General?
It's been one year since a gunman opened fire on the centers for disease control and prevention in Atlanta. NPR's Ping Huang reports.
It was Friday afternoon near the end of the workday when a gunman stood across the street from the CDC's main campus and started shooting. doctor Dan Jernigan was there. At the time, he led the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. For about fifteen minutes, he says.
Being in an office in Atlanta was more dangerous than tracking Ebola in West Africa.
The CDC staffers all survived, but the gunman killed DeCab County Police Officer David Rose. A main road on campus is being renamed after him. The gunman who killed himself was motivated by anti vaccine and anti C D C messaging.
What happened during the CDC shooting in Atlanta and why does it matter for public‑health safety?
Dernigan says those sentiments are still out there.
The rhetoric and demonization of public health and public health leaders. It certainly has not stopped.
Ping Huang NPR News. The Trump administration has signed another settlement with an energy company to not develop offshore wind. NPR's Julia Simon reports it's the latest instance where a foreign company gets paid to develop fossil fuels in the US instead of renewable energy.
The settlement is between German company RWE and the Trump administration. RWE will now not develop wind projects in New York, California, and Louisiana and get paid $1.2 billion for it. RWE will shift investments to gas infrastructure, which release far more planet heating emissions than offshore wind. All told, the administration has paid roughly $4 billion to foreign.
Why did the Trump administration pay billions to block offshore wind projects?
and energy companies to not develop offshore wind. The Trump administration has argued that offshore wind is unreliable, although when paired with batteries and a well managed grid, offshore wind is proven to be dependable. Julia Simon, NPR News.
This is NPR News in Washington. Most kids have little idea what they want to do when they grow up. NPR's Jana Wu Jong Li reports on how mentorship can open the door to careers they may never have considered.
Even when kids are passionate about something, it can be hard for them to figure out what that dream job looks like and how to make it happen. And research shows that can be especially true for young people from marginalized backgrounds. There's expectations that black folks do this and black folks don't do that. Keith Russell is a conservation scientist at Audubon in Philadelphia who mentors aspiring black birders and scientists.
How can mentorship help Black youth pursue careers in birding and science?
And that's been a real barrier for black folks to get into burning. So It's really important to have support and to you know be with people that understand your interests. Russell says mentorship could help young people understand what needs to be done to achieve those dreams, like plan their education or work on specific skills.
Janet Wojangli, NPR News. Wildfires near Spokane, Washington have burned more than eight thousand acres. At least seven hundred buildings have been destroyed and roughly sixty four thousand people have been forced to evacuate, with many still unable to return home. Emergency crews are stretched thin as drought and extreme heat fuel fires across the Pacific Northwest.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Who is Todd Blanche and how did he become the new U.S. Attorney General?
0:00–1:04
2
What concerns do Republicans have about Todd Blanche’s independence as Attorney General?
1:04–1:49
3
What happened during the CDC shooting in Atlanta and why does it matter for public‑health safety?
1:49–2:41
4
Why did the Trump administration pay billions to block offshore wind projects?
2:41–3:36
5
How can mentorship help Black youth pursue careers in birding and science?
3:36–4:31
6
What is the scope of the wildfires sweeping the Pacific Northwest and how are officials responding?
4:31–5:03