Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.
You a special envoy, Steve Wittkov, and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner,
“are headed back to Pakistan for direct talks with Iran about ending the war.”
White House press secretary Caroline Levitt. The President was flexible in granting an extension of the ceasefire throughout this time. The President has decided to dispatch, a special envoy, Wittkov and Jared Kushner back to Islamabad, the Iranians want to talk.
They want to talk in person. Iran's foreign minister of Assad, she says he's starting a "timely tour of Islamabad" and Moscow to coordinate with partners on bilateral matters, but he didn't specifically say he would attend talks with the U.S. Vice President Fance, who was at the talks with Iran two weeks ago that didn't result
in a deal, is not attending these talks, but Levitt says he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are standing by to fly to Islamabad, if needed. The FDA is speeding up its review of psychedelics for treating mental health, giving priority status to several drugs, which companies have been studying for depression and PTSD. And here's Will Stone, has more.
“Three companies are submitting drug applications to the FDA to offer suicide in the active”
ingredient in magic mushrooms for treating depression.
The third is for a drug that's similar to MDMA, which has shown promise for PTSD.
FDA is giving out special vouchers that are intended to expedite the agency's review of the drugs. It does not mean the drugs are FDA approved yet. This comes on the heels of an executive order from President Trump, the direct federal health agencies to prioritize research on psychedelics.
Scientific interest in these drugs for treating mental health has grown substantially in the last few years, though an effort to get MDMA approved for treating PTSD, fell short in 2024. Will Stone and PR News tornadoes ripped through northern Oklahoma last night, leveling homes, downing power lines
and damaging roads. Jason Wheeler, web member station KOSU has more on the destruction near the town of
“Enid, and a nearby military base, 100 miles north of Oklahoma City.”
After the tornado glanced off Vance Air Force Base, it shifted course toward Dave Lamerton Sun's woodworking business, and as you can tell, it was in full force when it made its turn.
Lamerton's family first saw the destruction soon after the storm moved past them.
And we flashed light in and we looked at it and we said this is terrible. So from that point, we just didn't get much sleep last night and waited to get the sun up and went from there. Lamerton says his sun lost all his equipment and will have to totally rebuild. Many others are in the same boat, emergency management officials estimate 40 homes were damaged
or destroyed. For NPR News, I'm Greyson Wheeler in Oklahoma City. While street ended the day in mixed territory, you're listening to NPR News from Washington. For the first time in decades, worship attendance at congregations in the U.S. has increased. If your Jason D'Rose reports, let's among the findings of a major new study out today.
Beauty and in-person weekly attendance has risen to 70 people. That's up significantly from the pandemic low of just 45 and slightly higher than right before COVID restrictions. The study draws on surveys from nearly 7,500 houses of worship and was done by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
It found that volunteering, giving and clergy well-being, are also up. The survey included Catholic Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu congregations among others. Researchers cautioned these changes don't make up for a decades-long decline. The median U.S. congregation is about half the size it was in the year 2000.
Jason D'Rose and PR News China is sending two giant pandas to the Atlanta Zoo. Its Beijing's latest efforts of Panda Diplomacy, less than a month before President Trump is set to visit China. The China Wildlife Conservation Association says Ping Ping, a male and Fushuang, a female,
kick off a decade-long conservation partnership under an agreement signed with the Zoo last year. That's not clear when the pandas will arrive with the zoo is doing upgrades to the facility to create a more comfy place for the pair.
Giant pandas have been a symbol of U.S.-China friendships since 1972 when China first sent
pandas to the United States. Wall Street ended the day in McTerritory that out on 79 points, the S&P500 and NASDAQ both closed at records. I'm Jeanine Herbst and PR News. Every story from shortwave and pair science podcasts starts with a question.
Like, why do we have nightmares? How does AI affect my energy bill? At NPR, we are here for your right to be curious about the world around you. Follow shortwave wherever you get your podcasts, because the more you ask, the more interesting
