"Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.
before Congress today for the first time since the Iran War began. The hearing focused
“on the Trump administration's one and a half trillion-dollar military budget proposal for”
2027, Democrats like Pennsylvania's Chrissy Hula-han used the opportunity to grill Heggseth on the Iran War's costs, President Trump's shifting justifications for the war, and
the huge drawdown of critical munitions."
How many more months, just order of magnitude, do you think that you're going to need to be able to conclude operations successfully? And how many more billions of dollars do you think you're going to ask this body for? As you know, as the President has stated, you would never tell your adversary. Lawmakers from both parties also have raised concerns about Heggseth's firing of top generals
and other military leaders. A Supreme Court decision-finding Louisiana's Congressional map, unconstitutional, could have sweeping implications for some majority black political districts across the South, but the immediate effect on the 2026 mid-terms is still unclear as NPR's Sam Greenglass reports.
“Section two of the Boating Rights Act resulted in the creation of more than a dozen protected”
majority black districts in the South. In ruling the Louisiana's Congressional map
an unconstitutional racial jerrymander, the court opened the door for GOP-led states to eliminate districts drawn to be a majority black. Terry stool is a Democratic Congresswoman from Alabama. It will pave the way for the greatest reduction in representation for black and minority voters since the years following reconstruction. Some Republicans are calling on legislatures to pass new maps now, but that will be tricky
given that primaries are soon in some states. Sam Greenglass and PR News Washington. A host of regulatory changes were unveiled today by the Justice Department in Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The changes are meant to loosen gun rules for owners in the industry, but guns safety groups say it's dangerous. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz has more.
“The DOJ and ATF released a list of 34 regulations to alter existing rules on firearms, owners,”
and dealers. Once such changes the creation of the liaison rule to work directly with the gun industry. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and newly confirms ATF director Robert Sakeda said the goal was to streamline regulations, cut down on paperwork, and to make life easier for gun dealers and owners. The gun violence prevention group march for our lives strongly criticized this effort. The group said this was a quote "cordinated
giveaway to the gun lobby." Most of these regulations are still proposals and not yet finalized. But the DOJ says this is just the start of more expected changes. Jacqueline Diaz and Piano's. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil jumped nearly 6% today in the national average price for a gallon of regular gas is now $4.23. It's NPR. The White House says funds to pay Department of Homeland Security personnel will soon run out. The Office
of Management and Budget says that could lead to more airport disruptions and national security concerns, meanwhile congressional negotiations have come to a standstill. There are more than a 50 bald eagle nests with cameras across the country, each spring when the baby eagle attached the real fun begins and appears Ava Berger reports. Here is how Jenny Boysard describes Jacqueline's shadow, her favorite bald eagle couple.
They act like an old married couple sometimes, a lot of times should try to go in for a kiss and help the back of me and he's like not ready yet. Boysard is the media manager at Friends of Big Bear Valley, the non-profit that runs the camera, she's one of 1,000 sometimes millions of people who watch bald eagle camera live streams. Jacqueline's shadow's nest is in the San Bernardino Mountains in California.
The cameras give anyone anywhere and at any time exclusive access to the tragedies, scandals and love of bald eagle families. People watching from around the country have created communities deeply invested in these domestic dramas. In the Eagles, none the Wiser, Ava Berger and P. R. News. If you can't visit the original Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, you might find one that
at least rings a bell in 1950 the Treasury Department commissioned replicas for each US state and several territories that become a fascination for bell hunters. The replicas weigh the same as the original and even have a faux cracks but differ in metallurgical makeup. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Every day NPR reports stories that keep you informed without fear or favor. That's the
promise of a free press in a democracy. It's in the first amendment. I'm Tom Bowman and
I cover the Pentagon for NPR. Stand up for independent news coverage today by donating early for public media giving days, coming up on May 1st and 2nd, give now at donate.npr.org.
