NPR News: 09-15-2026 11PM EDT
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Why does the Attorney General claim AI concerns are politically motivated?
Live from MPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Attorney General Todd Blanche says rising concerns about artificial intelligence are politically motivated, NPR's Franco Ordonia's reports.
The Attorney General says the reason that AI concerns are drawing so much attention right now is the same reason the President dismisses those concerns as a hoax. Blanch says it's because the midterm elections are less than two months away.
Every democrat senator suddenly races to a microphone to talk about AI after being eerily silent for months and months and months. So to talk about the timing of this as being nothing but an effort to influence the midterms. I shouldn't have to say that out loud.
Asked about the need for regulations. Blanche says it's not the job of the Justice Department to regulate AI. Indeed, it was highly unusual for the US Attorney General to wade into overtly political matters.
How much has the Iran war cost U.S. taxpayers and military resources?
Franco Ordonas in Pierre News, the White House.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Iran war has cost taxpayers at least thirty eight billion dollars so far. And MPR Squill Lawrence reports that amount does not include damage to US military bases.
The largest cost is the depletion of US munitions, twenty one billion dollars this year. The war has used more than half the US stockpile of interceptor missiles, which are often expanded to shoot down much cheaper Iranian rockets and drones. CBO estimates those will take five years to replenish. The office estimates the war will cost another two to three billion dollars per month going forward. Higher oil prices worldwide are also hitting the military as air operations in the war with Iran used an increasing amount of fuel. The Pentagon did not respond to CBO's questions about damage to bases. The CBO did not put a price on American service members killed in action or the future cost to care for disabled veterans.
What is driving the surge in Thanksgiving travel prices and how are travelers responding?
Quill Lawrence NPR News.
To Los Angeles now where emergency crews are on the scene of a fiery helicopter crash. Local media say the crash happened in the Chatsworth area as multiple helicopters were over the scene of a bus crash.
Flying around the Thanksgiving holiday, likely be more expensive this year. Here's NPR Stephen Pisaha. The average domestic round trip
ticket, economy only, cost nearly $400 on kayak last week. This included tickets for Thanksgiving travel and is about $110 more than the same time last year. Kayak CEO Pier Bueller says the increases have not slowed down travel searches.
Previously, whenever prices go up or down, people don't quite tweak the demand they have for travel, they tweak how they want to travel or where they want to travel.
Why did prosecutors decide not to seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner?
Travelers looking to drive to save money still have to deal with high gas prices. Compared with before the US Israeli war against Iran started, an average gallon of regular today is up about a dollar and thirty four cents, according to Triple A. Steven Bissaha, N PR News. This is
NPR Nick Reiner has avoided the death penalty. Prosecutors in Los Angeles announced Tuesday that they will not pursue death and the killing of Reiner's parents last year, but that Reiner still faces life in prison. The LA County District Attorney says his office took into account the wishes of Reiner family members. Nick Reiner has twice pleaded not guilty to first degree murder and the deaths of Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner. A coalition of business groups from across the West calling on the federal government to give at least two billion dollars for work on the Colorado River. From member station KJZZ, Alex Hager reports that the shrinking river provides water to nearly forty million people from Wyoming to Mexico.
What funding solutions are business groups proposing for the Colorado River crisis?
In a letter to federal officials, business groups from seven states say long term investment is needed to help the Southwest adapt to record dry conditions. Mike Hawkins is a spokesman for the Greater Phoenix Chamber.
This is a big deal to the the West Coast economy, especially, um, and the economy as a whole. So uh the federal government should have some stake in the game for um helping us fund some of these solutions that are gonna be needed to get us through um the next number of years.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why does the Attorney General claim AI concerns are politically motivated?
0:00–0:52
2
How much has the Iran war cost U.S. taxpayers and military resources?
0:52–1:50
3
What is driving the surge in Thanksgiving travel prices and how are travelers responding?
1:50–2:43
4
Why did prosecutors decide not to seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner?
2:43–3:43
5
What funding solutions are business groups proposing for the Colorado River crisis?
3:43–4:39