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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.
Chapter 2: What sanctions did the Trump administration announce against Russia?
The Trump administration has announced sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies. It comes after efforts to end the war in Ukraine have repeatedly failed. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking for more foreign help, and Trump canceled a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war.
Hopefully he'll become reasonable, and hopefully Zelensky will be reasonable too. You know, it takes two to tango, as they say.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions are a result of, quote, Russia's lack of serious commitment to a peace process. Putin directed drills of the country's nuclear forces today, including practice missile launches from land and by submarine. The drills also involved bombers firing long-range missiles. Russia's military said the exercise tested the skills of military command structures.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to limit its communications with Congress. It comes after he cracked down on press access, as NPR's Quill Lawrence reports.
In a memo obtained by NPR, Hegseth instructs all defense staff, with the exception of inspectors general, to get permission before sharing information with congressional offices. The memo says unauthorized engagements with Congress, no matter how well-intentioned, may undermine department-wide priorities.
But that may be hard to implement since lawmakers from both parties request information from military officials about everything from the National Guard to nuclear weapons hundreds of times each day, according to a congressional aide who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The aide said this memo fits an alarming trend by the Pentagon to clamp down on public scrutiny and congressional oversight. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
The generational divide within the Democratic Party has come into sharp focus in New York City's mayoral race. As NPR's Brian Mann reports, newcomer Zoran Mamdani is leading the race in part by appealing to young voters.
Mamdani, who's 34, has maintained a solid lead over Democratic Party veteran and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in part by creating videos like this one that have gone viral on social media. People are looking for politics that actually lead somewhere. Poll show Mamdani has built a big advantage among younger voters.
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