Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. U.S. military officials tell NPR the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford will be in the Northern Caribbean by tomorrow.
Chapter 2: What military actions is the U.S. taking in the Northern Caribbean?
Adding to an American force of some 15,000 soldiers and sailors, the U.S. has announced military drills and multiple deadly military strikes on vessels carrying people the Trump administration calls narco-terrorists. all seen as a pressure tactic on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela continues to prepare its military in response.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has named a senior federal prosecutor to look into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's ties with prominent Democrats, banks, and institutions. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports the Trump administration has publicly called for an investigation.
In a post on social media, President Trump accused Democrats of using the controversy over the Jeffrey Epstein files to deflect from their own actions in the recent government shutdown. He also called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate former President Bill Clinton and other prominent Democrats whom Trump alleges were involved with Epstein.
In her own social media post, Bondi said she's tapping the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Jay Clayton, to take the lead on the matter. The moves come as Trump continues to face questions about his own ties to Epstein, particularly after House Democrats released a batch of emails this week that raised questions as to what Trump knew about Epstein's activities with underage girls.
Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
Member station WFAE is reporting that Border Patrol agents have arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina. A demonstration is planned there this afternoon. The governor has called for calm. This weekend, the FAA says flight reductions at dozens of airports will go down from 6 percent to 3 percent, as staffing at air traffic facilities bounces back after the shutdown. NPR's Joel Rose reports.
The FAA said the restrictions were necessary to keep the airspace safe as the agency grappled with widespread staffing shortages of air traffic controllers during the government shutdown. But with the shutdown over, air traffic controllers have finally received some of the back pay they earned, and most are now back to work.
Airlines say they're confident they can ramp up quickly and should be able to return to their full schedules before Thanksgiving holiday travel begins.
Ukraine's independent anti-corruption agencies say associates close to President Volodymyr Zelensky plotted to skim millions from the country's energy sector. This as Ukrainians face a fourth brutal winter with widespread power cuts amid Russia's full-scale invasion. NPR's Joanna Kikisis reports.
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