NPR News: 09-29-2026 7AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman.
How will weaker fuel-efficiency standards affect car buyers and gas use?
The Trump administration is relaxing the standards that are supposed to make cars and trucks more fuel efficient. Biden-era rules aim to boost fuel efficiency so that cars could get up to 50 miles to the gallon. The move by President Trump lowers that to 35 miles to the gallon. NPR's Willa Rubin reports the administration and auto industry say this will save car buyers hundreds of dollars.
In statements to NPR... automakers praise the move. They say that the new standards are more in line with market realities, meaning, you know, EV sales are still a minority of new car sales in the U.S. But critics say just looking at the sticker price ignores some of the longer-term expenses that come with being a car owner.
NPR's Willa Rubin reporting. AAA says that this morning the average cost for a gallon of regular gas is $4.46. Diesel is more than $6.40. This morning, President Trump is poised to announce updates to the website America.gov. AI industry leaders are expected to join him at the announcement.
Why did OpenAI scrap the release of its newest AI model?
Big tech company OpenAI says it is scrapping the release of its newest AI model after it failed to meet company internal testing standards. NPR's John Ruwitch reports. The decision comes after a string of reports of AI bots involved in hacking incidents.
The company had been planning to release the model called GPT-6.1 Astra in the coming days, but it's decided to scrap the release. Saachi Jain, head of safety systems at OpenAI, said, "...it didn't quite meet the bar in testing and fell short in terms of communication with the user about the work it's done." He told the Wall Street Journal it performed poorly on alignment, the term AI developers use for how well a model sticks to what people want rather than going off script. In an emailed statement, Jain says when shipping new models to users, OpenAI has an extremely high bar in terms of safety and alignment. The company says it has other new models coming soon. John Ruwitch, NPR News.
How are federal job cuts affecting the CDC’s public health work?
Employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta say that the federal agency's work is being hampered by job cuts. From member station WABE, Jess Mador reports.
The CDC lost 30 percent, or more than 3,800 employees, between March of 2025 and May of this year, according to the report. That includes hundreds of employees who were terminated, put on administrative leave, or who opted for retirement. The Trump administration has maintained the cuts eliminated waste, fraud, and abuse in the government. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employees Union says the job cuts continue and amount to a dismantling of the public health infrastructure designed to respond quickly to threats. For NPR News, I'm Jess Mador in Atlanta.
This is NPR. Former special counsel Jack Smith is scheduled to testify today before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Why is former special counsel Jack Smith testifying before the Senate?
Lawmakers are reviewing his probes of President Trump. Some Republican lawmakers want to see Smith criminally prosecuted. Smith says if he had the same set of facts presented to him today... he would again choose to prosecute a president regardless of party. Business leaders and elected officials in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are urging the U.S.
Why are Jackson Hole leaders opposing a baseball field in Grand Teton National Park?
Interior Secretary to reject a proposed baseball field inside Grand Teton National Park. From member station KHOL, Sophia Boyd-Flegel reports.
Some Jackson Hole locals were shocked by a recent Washington Post report that the Trump administration had scouted locations in Grand Teton National Park to build a baseball park to host a Major League Baseball game. NPR has not independently confirmed the report. Rick Howe is a longtime leader of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.
I thought it was just kind of one of those conspiracy theories of jokes. It isn't. This isn't something we should be accepting.
Howe told commissioners that even a temporary field on already disturbed land would undermine the purpose of the park to protect its natural resources, wildlife, and serve the public.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:03
2
How will weaker fuel-efficiency standards affect car buyers and gas use?
0:03–1:10
3
Why did OpenAI scrap the release of its newest AI model?
1:10–2:06
4
How are federal job cuts affecting the CDC’s public health work?
2:06–3:06
5
Why is former special counsel Jack Smith testifying before the Senate?
3:06–3:28
6
Why are Jackson Hole leaders opposing a baseball field in Grand Teton National Park?
3:28–4:31
7
Where did Hurricane Polo make landfall, and where is it headed?
4:31–4:53