Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Skivoni.
There were fresh indications today that the U.S. and Iran are working toward resume talks
“to alert new hostilities in the U.S. is real war in Iran.”
Meanwhile, U.S. central command says that no ships have gotten all the way through the straight of Hormuz since a U.S. naval blockade was put in place Monday, and one that did go through turned back. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy Research Director, Dana Stroll, says, "The parties are at a point where everyone needs a closing deal."
They do need a deal, so does the United States. At the end of this war is the fog clear from the damage. The problems that plagued Iran before the war are going to continue. They can't keep the lights on, they can't provide electricity, they've mismanaged their water, they can't protect their people, they can't stabilize their currency.
And those problems are only going to compound as this naval blockade continues.
Dana Stroll at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a man who received a pardon
from President Trump for assaulting police in the January 6th, 2021 Capitol riot has agreed to plead guilty to new charges of child sex abuse, and PR's Tom Drysbach reports. David Daniel assaulted police protecting the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, and he was set to be sentenced when President Trump issued mass-partants to the riot defendants. But that pardon did not cover additional charges against Daniel.
For possession of child pornography, now Daniel has agreed to plead guilty to illegally inducing two children to engage and sexually explicit conduct. The children were both young girls, according to court filings, and one victim was under 12 years old at the time of the abuse. Daniel is one of dozens of former January 6th defense who have been charged or convicted
of crimes since receiving Trump's pardon. Tom Drysbach and PR news millions of people in the Midwest are under threat of tornadoes today. After at least a dozen twisters reportedly touched down yesterday, striking Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas.
Frank Morris of member station K.C.U.R. reports. Volunteers and idle fans is circling up after tornado cut a path across town, tearing up dozens of homes and businesses. Donald George says he was watching from the parking lot of his temporary home, the night's in motel, until management shoot him in the basement.
“"Well, I was laughing about it honestly, had a few beers in me.”
Then you walk out in this hurry, will you like Diane? Your homeless now." The tornado smashed the hotel's windows, blew the roof off, and took parts of the walls with it. George says he salvaged only a laundry basket full of wet clothes and two beers.
Another twister hit Hillsdale, Kansas, ripping apart more than 50 homes there, despite the destruction known as killed. For enthusiasm, Frank Morris and Kansas City. On Wall Street, the Dow closed up 317 points, the NASDAQ gained 455. This is NPR.
Oil prices retreated today, Brent Crude fell more than 4% to roughly $94 a barrel above the $70 barrel price pre-war, but below a $119 peak. Americans are getting bigger tax refunds due in large part to the signature tax law passed by Republicans last year. But NPR's Stephen Bassaha reports that so far, few Americans are noticing the bump.
The average refund is about $350 more this year compared to the same time last year. Most violers should receive at least some bump according to Andrew Loutz with the bipartisan policy center. But the center surveyed Americans and found only 27% think last year's tax changes favored them.
We know that the vast majority of Americans are going to get a tax cut this year from
“this bill, but people don't perceive it as that, right?”
Even among Republicans, only 35% said the tax changes favored them. Part of that could be because the White House projected average refunds around $1,000. At the $350 that's been the case so far. Stephen Bassaha and PR news. The American Postal Workers Union is launching a TV ad campaign to promote voting by mail.
The 30 second union ad features voters who explain why they vote by mail and encourage
is voting by mail to be protected and expanded. The ad will start airing this week in Ohio where union army soldiers during the Civil War cast the first mail ballots in 1864. But message from the 200,000 member Postal Union counters President Trump stand on mail and voting.
I'm Louise Givoni and PR News. Do you love pop culture? Hate some of it too? You're in good company. Pull up a metaphorical chair to pop culture happy hour.
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