1A

The government shutdown has gone on for longer than one month. Now, Republicans are considering ending the Senate filibuster to reopen the government.The Supreme Court requested more information as it heard arguments about whether President Donald Trump is within his rights to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.Two prosecutors who went after January 6 rioters were put on leave this week for filing a sentencing memo in the case of a man who showed up armed outside of the Obama residence.Amidst a brutal trade dispute, President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sat down for a face-to-face meeting in South Korea.Despite recent Israeli strikes killing more than 100 people in Gaza, the Trump Administration says the ceasefire with Hamas is still on.Following a snub by President Trump and a successful nuclear weapons test, intelligence officials say Russian President Vladimir Putin is showing no signs of seeking a compromise to end the war Ukraine.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Bruce Springsteen is an American music legend. Songs like “Born to Run” and “Born in the USA” have echoed through ballparks, dive bars, TV shows, and politics for decades.That's why his new biopic, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” is unique. Instead of reckoning with The Boss' glittering legacy, it focuses on a darker period of his career starting in 1981.Played by Jeremy Allen White, Springsteen finishes touring his album “The River,” rents a house in New Jersey by himself, and turns his focus inward to grapple with his past and write a new album, “Nebraska.”The 1A Movie Club convenes to talk about the film.What has audience reception been to the movie? And what did "The Boss" have to say?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

More than 400 bills challenging longstanding public health practices, including vaccines and milk safety, are making their way through statehouses across the country.According to an Associated Press investigation that tracked said legislation, these bills would do everything from ban certain types of immunizations to making the sale and consumption of unpasteurized milk more accessible.Anti-vaccine bills are by far the most common. At least 350 of the 420 bills were related to vaccines. Some 11 states have already adopted more than two dozen laws restricting vaccine access.Who are the highly organized groups behind this wave of anti-science legislation? And how do these bills fit into the broader dismantling of the country's public health system?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hurricane Melissa is on track to make a direct hit on Jamaica today, with rains and winds already lashing the island. Melissa is a category five storm, with winds clocked at up to 175 miles per hour. It's the strongest storm on the planet this year and one of the most devastating on record.Authorities in Jamaica and Cuba have issued evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people. For years, scientists have been telling us that climate change will make hurricanes more dangerous.What does this mean for the people of Jamaica? And what does a climate-change fueled future of hurricanes look like?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A Hitler-praising group chat. A government official with a self-proclaimed “Nazi-streak.” A swastika flag in a sitting U.S. representative's office.Those are a few of the racist, antisemitic forms of speech and expression tied to notable Republicans in recent weeks. Vice President JD Vance downplayed outrage over some of these incidents as “pearl clutching.”Meanwhile, President Donald Trump signed a memo designating groups like “Antifa” and Black Lives Matter as terrorist organizations. It's part of the administration's larger effort to crack down on what it calls a widespread left-wing conspiracy to carry out acts of political violence.In this installment of “If You Can Keep It,” our weekly series on the state of our democracy, we talk about the Trump administration and the fine lines between hate speech, violence, and political dissent.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The government shutdown is now the second longest in the nation's history, and federal workers missed their first full paycheck this week. Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats seem to be going nowhere.Following a federal court's approval, the Trump administration is one legal hurdle away from getting the green light to send National Guard troops into Portland, Oregon. And Trump reversed his decision to send troops to San Francisco after a conversation with the city's mayor.Plus, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson continues to refuse to swear in newly-elected Arizona congresswoman Adelita Grijalva.And, in global news, Israel returned the bodies of several hundred Palestinian prisoners this week. And the fragile ceasefire holds between Israel and Hamas holds; despite Israel killing more than 100 Palestinians and injuring at least 230 over the last two weeks.Donald Trump says a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine has been called off.And, days before President Trump is set to visit the country, Japan swears in its first-ever female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi.We cover the most important stories from around the world on the News Roundup.Find more of our programs online.Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A stroll down the supplement aisle is a walk filled with hope. One pill offers stronger hair and nails. Another promises better memory (which will help when you have to remember to take all these pills). And if you added just one more, you might be able to finally recapture the energy of your teenage years.But how true are these claims? Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not approve the contents or the labeling dietary supplements before they hit the shelves.Around 75 percent of Americans take a supplement, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He once said he took so many vitamins he couldn't remember them all. But RFK Jr., who champions supplements and other alternative medicines, is now pushing the FDA for stronger regulations.What could that mean for the supplement industry? And why are so many Americans turning to health alternatives today?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The ISS has been in low orbit above the earth for almost 25 years. It's played host to astronauts from around the world. But that's about to come to an end.NASA is gearing up to deorbit the ISS in 2030 and it's working with private companies to begin development of commercial space stations to take its place.What will that transition look like? And what does the commercialization of space hold for humanity in the near and far futures?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Last year, Americans spent more than 300 billion minutes on navigation apps, like Waze or Google Maps. The GPS systems in our pockets have come a long way from the first known map, carved into a mammoth tusk 30,000 years ago.But even with satellites tracking us and the ever-changing Earth from the skies – digital maps aren't fact. Errors can show up and are sometimes as old as maps themselves. The phantom island of Sandy Island appeared on Google Maps until 2012, when Australian scientists sailed to its supposed location and found only open ocean.Mistakes on maps were sometimes intentional, sometimes not – but every single one tells a bigger story. How and why did it get there? What does it reveal about the creator of the map and the world around them?We sit down with Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones, better known as the Map Men on YouTube, to talk through these questions and more.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration has cut federal funding to colleges and universities it says don't align with conservative priorities. And now, the White House says it will reward schools that follow in its ideological footsteps.Earlier this month, the administration sent a list of demands to nine schools. Officials are calling it the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” Its stipulations include ending considerations of race and sex in admissions and hiring, capping international student enrollment, and limiting what faculty can say about certain issues.Five institutions — Brown University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Virginia — have rejected the proposal. The others have yet to comment.Trump's compact is the latest chapter in the story of how his administration is trying to exert influence over higher education. In March, the White House canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University over allegations of antisemitism.In this edition of “If You Can Keep It,” our weekly series on the state of democracy, we talk about higher education and what's at stake if academic freedom is compromised.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

John Bolton, President Donald Trump's former national security advisor, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland this week. Also, a federal judge in San Francisco halted the mass layoffs of federal workers by the Trump administration.The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is now in its second week, as both sides hand over hostages and return the bodies of those captured during the conflict.The United States continues to destroy boats off the coast of Venezuela as part of a supposed campaign against drug cartels.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration has decimated the Department of Education with staffing cuts.Now, the latest round of layoffs all but wipes out the Office of Special Education Programs. So, what does that mean for the millions of kids who rely on these services?We sit down to talk about how Education Department cuts will affect children with disabilities.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Last month, the Trump administration started blowing up boats off the coast of Venezuela, calling it part of an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The White House's so-called “war on cartels” is increasingly centered on Venezuela, not Mexico or Haiti, where most of these organizations actually operate.The president is linking these cartels to the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The South American strong man has indicated he's ready to declare a state of emergency in his country if things progress much further.So, are these actions about drugs, or are they really about regime change?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As part of a special issue this November, The Atlantic tasked writers and historians with looking at the country's founding era to find out what America's political thinkers valued at its beginning.The goal is to remind people in the U.S. about the abstract ideas enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other important revolutionary documents. And, how reconnecting with those ideals might help us as we struggle to keep American democracy together 250 years later.We discuss this edition of The Atlantic with two of its contributing writers, hear about why the founding of the country is relevant today, and where we might be going next.And we want to hear from you. How would you fill in the blanks for these four statements?1. “At the founding of the United States, some of the country's most important political values were BLANK.”2. “After 250 years of U.S. history, I would describe the country's *track record* of following through on those values and ideals as BLANK.”3. “Right now, an outside observer would likely look at our politics and say we value BLANK.”4. “When it comes to the United States as a country over the next decade or the next century, I want to see BLANK.”Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Donald Trump promised to crackdown on immigration in Democratic-led cities using aggressive tactics like detaining people based on their race and deploying the National Guard to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.He deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. this summer. He launched an ICE operation in Boston.Now, he's escalating his crackdowns in Chicago and Portland.ICE has made more than 1,000 arrests in Chicago according to the Department of Homeland Security since it began what it's calling “Operation Midway Blitz” last month.Nearly half of the FBI agents working in major U.S. offices have been reassigned to immigration enforcement, according to newly released bureau data. What does this radical shift in law enforcement priorities mean for the cities at the center of the president's crackdown — and for the country more broadly?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act this week. He continues to clash with state and municipal authorities over the limits of his abilities to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into American cities.Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are eyeing their Democratic counterparts, looking for someone from the opposition to join them in voting for a bill that would reopen the government, more than a week into a shutdown.Former FBI Director James Comey was arraigned this week, pleading not guilty on Wednesday to charges that he lied to Congress, and saying he would move to have a court dismiss the case.Meanwhile, the first phase of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas was agreed to this week. But questions remain over how both parties will move forward with the details of the agreement.Despite a friendly summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump in Alaska in August, the Russian government is claiming that any headway made during that meeting has largely been undone.And after just 28 days, Sébastien Lecornu's time as France's prime minister came to an end this week. He's President Macron's fifth government leader to head for the exit in less than two years.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's been two years since Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages from inside Israel.More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory war. On Monday, Israeli and Hamas negotiators met in Egypt to discuss President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.Over the weekend, thousands of Israeli citizens took to the streets in Tel Aviv in support of a deal to release the hostages and end the war in Gaza.What do we know about the U.S.-backed plan to end the war in Gaza? And what does this plan mean for Israelis and Palestinians two years into this conflict? Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court begins its new term this week.It's agreed to hear cases on several hot button issues like tariffs, trans athletes in sports, and the use of presidential power.The rulings could change constitutional precedent as we know it. What's at stake in these cases?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined some stark changes to the U.S. military's policies and norms at last week's gathering of its top brass.From new standards that question the fitness of women in combat roles, to deploying the military to U.S. cities, the White House is outlining a new vision for the armed forces. It's also looking to eliminate existing channels to report abuse and harassment within the ranks and implement random polygraph tests.We talk through all these changes, how they affect our troops, and what they mean for civilians.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

After Congress failed to reach an agreement to keep the doors in Washington open, the government has shut down. This comes as tens of thousands of federal workers are set to exit the federal payroll due to firings and deferred buyout agreements.Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called all military generals to Quantico, Virginia, to listen to an address about his vision for the armed forces.President Donald Trump said he plans on sending troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working there.Meanwhile, overseas, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a 20-point plan to end Israel's war in Gaza.Following multiple Russian incursions into NATO airspace, the alliance has stepped up its drone defense, with Ukraine sharing its expertise with Denmark.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is ready to declare a state of emergency, as the U.S. military builds up presence in the Caribbean.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

How does hatred towards women relate to violence?We've seen more than a few incidents of political extremism and mass violence in the U.S. over the last few years.In the days, weeks, and months after acts like these, we seek motives. We try to understand why violence is perpetrated in hopes of preventing it in the future.One expert argues that in that search for answers – we're missing something crucial. Something that keeps us from addressing this violence and extremism head on. That blind spot is misogyny.We sit down with Cynthia Miller-Idriss. She is a sociologist and founding director of the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab, or PERIL at American University. She's also the author of “Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism.” She joins us to talk about her book and latest research.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The White House is continuing its mission to hollow out the federal workforce. The Trump administration has signaled that it will use the government shutdown to prompt and encourage mass resignations and layoffs.More than 150,000 federal employees plan to leave the U.S. government payroll this week. It's the largest single-year exodus of federal workers since World War II.For workers who opted into the deferred exit program, those resignations began on Tuesday. Workers who didn't take the buyouts were recently threatened with dismissal.We check in on the state of the federal workforce. What happens now that tens of thousands of these employees are leaving? And what's life like for those who remain?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Many of us know that being outside feels good. Maybe it's for a short walk to the store. Maybe for a hike at a nearby mountain. Or maybe spending time at the beach with loved ones for a holiday.But did you know that a short walk in nature can improve your attention span by 20 percent? And that even fake plants have been shown to deliver health benefits? There are real benefits to surrounding yourself with the natural world. We sit down with the pioneer of environmental neuroscience, Marc Berman. He's out with a new book all about the science behind the benefits spending time outside called “Nature and the Mind.”Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NATO's airspace is busy these days. And not in a good way. That's especially true for member nations on the alliance's eastern flank.It's not supposed to be that way. In recent weeks, states like Poland, Estonia, Romania, and Denmark have seen drones or other aircraft violate their airspace. In some cases, these airborne craft clearly identify they're Russian in origin.Multiple countries have called on NATO to consult about what to do next. So, what's going on? What is Russia up to?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Donald Trump has, according to many legal experts, crossed the Rubicon.After years of railing against his perceived enemies and publicly threatening to use the government for revenge, he's pressured the Justice Department to bring charges against someone he hates despite warnings from top prosecutors.Late last week, a grand jury narrowly indicted former FBI Director James Comey on allegations that he lied to Congress in 2020. The 5-year statute of limitations was set to expire on Tuesday.So, how independent is the DOJ? And how much independence should it have? We talk about how the Justice Department is treating Trump's enemies and also how it's treated his friends.Find more of our programs online.Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A gunman opened fire at an ICE detention facility in Dallas leaving one person dead and two more injured. All three of the victims were detainees and no ICE agents were hurt. The shooter was found dead according to senior law enforcement officials.Late night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air on ABC this week. He was suspended after he made comments concerning the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.The deadline to pass the government funding bill  is fast approaching. The Trump White House is threatening mass firings if the government does shuts down.And, in global news, President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly this week. In a nearly hour-long speech, he attacked the U.N., criticized the immigration policies of its member states, and called climate awareness the “greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”Spanish and Italian frigates were sent to protect the Global Sumud Flotilla. The boats carrying aid were attacked by drones on Tuesday.And in a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Donald Trump said Ukraine could win back all its territory taken by Russia with NATO assistance.We cover the most important stories here and around the globe in the News Roundup.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ atplus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

More than 50 years ago, President Richard Nixon declared war on cancer when he signed the National Cancer Act in 1971. Since then, the United States has emerged as a juggernaut in cancer research, funded largely by the government.But since President Donald Trump took office in January, the administration's sweeping cuts to the federal workforce and government funding are upending the country's research system.So, how are these funding and staffing cuts affecting cancer research and treatment? And how could they impact our progress towards scientific breakthroughs?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A record number of people are being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And the conditions they're reporting have been described as cruel and inhumane.Last month, 60,000 people were detained by ICE, breaking a record set by the previous Trump administration. A Los Angeles Times analysis of public data found that more than a third of detainees have spent time in a dedicated facility that is over capacity.And now, county jails and ICE field offices are being transformed to fill those gaps. Jails held an average of about 10 percent of all detainees (7,100 people) each day in July, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.So, what fallout is the Trump administration's immigration crackdown having on ICE detention centers? What are the conditions in these centers like? And what legal options do detainees have?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It happens every year — sometimes even more frequently than that.A fight is brewing over funding the government before a deadline at the end of September. On Friday, Republicans in the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, passed a stop-gap measure to fund the government through Nov. 21.This is all happening against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's summer of immigration raids, the deployment of the National Guard to Washington D.C., and the claw back of approved federal funding.In this installment of 1A‘s weekly politics series, we talk about how this month's government funding fight could turn into a shutdown, and what Democrats could demand in exchange for keeping the government open.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In a blow to free speech, TV host Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show was suspended from ABC's lineup after the comedian made jokes about President Donald Trump's relationship with the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.The 22-year-old suspect in Kirk's killing was charged on  Tuesday in Utah County with aggravated murder. The state is seeking the death penalty.This week the president announced the National Guard will be deployed to Memphis, Tennessee.Meanwhile, a United Nations commission concluded that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza against the Palestinian people.The UK rolled out the red carpet for President Trump during his visit with the royal family and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In a press conference at the conclusion of the trip Trump said the two governments were making ties “closer than ever before.”Following recent Russian drone incursions in its own airspace, Poland suggests the European Union should set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Fourteen people are dead after the U.S. military launched strikes on two Venezuelan boats this month in international waters. President Donald Trump says they were heading towards the U.S.That's despite reports from several agencies saying the boat attacked two weeks ago was headed away from the U.S. when it was hit. Trump is also accusing the boats of being connected to Venezuelan drug trafficking cartels that he says posed a threat to the U.S.Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, says the U.S. is trying to start a war.We discuss the stakes and what we know about the situation. Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

FBI Director Kash Patel appeared before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for a second day of questioning by lawmakers.He faced questions about his leadership of the bureau including the firing of dozens of FBI agents and officials, the release of investigative files related to alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, and the shooting of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk.Patel began his hearings on Wednesday by defending the agency under his leadership. What were some of the biggest takeaways from the the hearing?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Various states in the U.S. are locked in a fight over redistricting. It's all centered on which party will keep the House next year. Republicans now have a slim majority, 219 seats to 213.It started this summer when President Donald Trump asked Republicans in Texas to redraw the state's congressional maps early. The goal he said, was to improve Republicans' shot at winning five more seats in the House of Representatives during the 2026 midterm elections. After a standoff with Democrats in the state legislature, Republicans passed a map that did just that.Democrats in California, led by Gov. Gavin Newsom, responded with their own map. It's a redraw aimed at giving Democrats five more seats in the House. Newsom signed that bill into law in late August, saying it would “neutralize” what happened in Texas. Unlike Texas, California's map goes to the voters this November for approval. It would last through the 2030 elections.But the redistricting fights don't end there. Another GOP effort is nearing the finish line in Missouri. Republicans pushed a new map that will set them up to win seven seats instead of the usual six. Democrats currently hold two House seats in Missouri.Missouri Senate Republicans passed their redistricting bill on Friday. Now, it's at the desk of Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe for his signature. So, what does this mean for the state, the Democrats, and the midterms?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer broke the norm when he handed President Donald Trump an invitation for a second state visit.The pomp begins on Wednesday, and leadership across the pond is making no secret of its intention to woo President Trump. But there's more on the docket than making nice – and more at stake, too.What does the visit mean for both the U.S. And the UK?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On Friday, law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of a 22-year-old for the shooting death of Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a Trump ally and the co-founder of Turning Point USA, died after being shot at an event at Utah Valley University. He was speaking to a large crowd at an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” debate, where he invited students to challenge his political and cultural views. At a press conference, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox asked Americans to consider what happens from here – an escalation or an off ramp.Kirk's killing is the latest in a spate of rising political violence across the country. A Minnesota state legislator was murdered in her home in June. The Pennsylvania governor's house was set on fire in April. And last year on the campaign trail, Donald Trump faced two assassination attempts.Experts who study political violence say the frequency and seriousness is increasing significantly. So, how did we get here. And is it possible to pull back? We examine the effect political violence has on the health of our democracy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Republican provocateur and online personality Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while hosting an event at Utah Valley University this week. Despite authorities searching for the person responsible, no suspects are in custody.Donald Trump's takeover of the Washington D.C. police department expired Thursday evening. Trump signaled that he would seek an extension, but that desire has reportedly cooled.Meanwhile, in an attempt to harm Hamas, Israel bombed the Qatari capital of Doha this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that he and his forces are prepared to do so again despite a rare condemnation of Israeli military strategy by the U.S.Poland invoked NATO's Article 4 this week after Russian drones entered its airspace, leading to consultations between representatives of the alliances member nations.France's government has collapsed again. Now, President Emmanuel Macron has appointed outgoing defense minister Sébastien Lecornu as the country's next prime minister.We get into all this and more during this week's News Roundup.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The nation's patchwork system of abortion laws is once again being challenged.This time, opponents are targeting telehealth abortions. That's when a provider in a state where abortion is legal meets virtually with a patient and sends them pills to take at home.Those patients come from states all over the country – even those with abortion bans. A quarter of all abortions in the U.S. are done via telehealth. That's according to a June report from the Society of Family Planning.Now, attorneys general in Texas and Louisiana are suing a doctor in New York for prescribing pills to patients in their states, where abortion is almost completely banned. New York is one of several states that's enacted shield laws after Roe was overturned. These statutes ban cooperation with other states' attempts to enforce abortion bans.Now that this has evolved into a battle between states, the Supreme Court is expected to weigh in soon. Their decision could drastically change access to abortion nationwide.So, what's at stake in this case? And how did states' rights become the latest flashpoint in the battle over abortion access?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What's behind Donald Trump's ongoing battle with the Federal Reserve? That's the question on some analysts minds as the White House proposes staff shakeups at the historically independent central bank.Trump has been attempting to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook since Aug. 25. Cook was nominated by Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2022.The administration is attempting to fire her based on allegations that she committed mortgage fraud before joining the Fed – that's despite the fact that she hasn't been convicted or charged with any crime.On Tuesday night, a federal judge temporarily blocked the president from removing Cook from the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. She'll continue to serve as she contests her dismissal.The Fed has operated independently since its inception more than a century ago. How do the Trump administration's proposed changes threaten that independence? And what effect could changes at the Fed have on the U.S. economy?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Donald Trump has tested the limits of the law since the day he took office at the start his second term.This includes signing an executive order to end birthright citizenship, terminating or freezing billions of dollars in federal funding, and enacting sweeping tariffs on foreign goods without congressional approval.But these actions have not been met with silence.Over the last eight months, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by state attorneys, physicians, media organizations, international students, and others to challenge the Trump administration's policies.We check in on major lawsuits against the administration. Where do they stand now? What do they mean for our country's system of checks and balances?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In recent weeks, we've seen a seismic shakeup inside the Department of Health and Human Services and unprecedented discord between the agency, scientists, and doctors.HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. is bucking the science-backed guidance of physicians on vaccines. That's angered some Democrats. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren went after Kennedy over his pseudoscientific approach to running the agency during a Senate hearing Thursday.So, what happens when political ideology outweighs medical consensus?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Jobs numbers are out. They indicate a stalling labor market, with U.S. employers adding just 22,000 jobs in August and unemployment rising to 4.3 percent.After rumors about the president's supposedly failing health swirled online last weekend, Donald Trump appeared in public at a press conference this week announcing the relocation of the Space Force headquarters from Colorado to Alabama.Florida announced this week that it's set to become the first state in the U.S. to end vaccine mandates in schools, including for young children.The leaders of China, India, Russia met this week in a display of friendship meant to signal unity to the world. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping convened in China for a summit of powers not aligned with the West.Meanwhile, Putin told officials in Kyiv he was willing to try and negotiate the end the war in Ukraine should “common sense prevail.” However, he also threatened that he was prepared to continue should he not find terms agreeable.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Every August, New York City becomes the headquarters for all things tennis thanks to the U.S. Open.And a lot has happened for the sport in the Big Apple. This year marks 75 since Althea Gibson broke the tennis color barrier at the tournament.So, ahead of the finals this weekend, we sit down with a panel of experts to talk about the biggest takeaways from this year's event and the future of the sport.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy