[MUSIC]
Confirmations are flying in the Senate before an August recess. New heads for TSA and FEMA dozens of ambassadors and government jobs. >> And Todd Blanche gets just enough votes to become attorney general. >> I'm Ayy Sharasko.
>> And I'm Scott Simon, and this is up first from NPR news.
A couple of Republicans declined to vote for Todd Blanche saying that the Justice Department has become too politicized under President Trump. >> Working with immigration and customs enforcement has been great business for private prison companies. They've made record profits this year.
>> And while a merger of paramount and Warner Bros. has rattled people in Hollywood a couple of movie theater chains, legal cinemas, and AMC say they wanted to go through. The merger is still stuck in an antitrust lawsuit.
“>> Stay with us, we have the news you need to start your weekend.”
[MUSIC] >> This week on Whitway, don't tell me we asked legendary Oscar and Amy award-winning icon Sally Field if it was difficult to act opposite the CGI Octopus in her latest film. >> I really not married Todd.
I really wasn't married to William. I wasn't Tom Hanks' mother. This is what actors do. >> Don't miss our full conversation in the rest of our games. Listen to the Whitway, don't tell me podcast on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
>> This week on the NPR politics podcast. Another progressive Democrat edges out an establishment candidate. A dual LCA ed 1 Michigan Senate primary campaigning on affordability, health care, and ending U.S. military aid to Israel. Join us as we break down his victory and what it could signal for November's midterms
on the NPR politics podcast. Listen on the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts. >> Early into the morning, the U.S. Senate under pressure from President Trump, voting, and debating which of the president's priorities need to be addressed right now. >> Early today, the Senate confirmed President Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney General.
Todd Blanch, squeaked out of victory. >> And your congressional correspondent, Claudia Grisales joins us now. Thanks so much for being with us. >> Good morning, Scott.
“>> This confirmation consumed the Senate for weeks, why?”
>> Right, a week ago, it wasn't even really clear yet the votes to win confirmation. Much of the concerns came down to a conflict of interest that splinters role in installing Trump's demands, and that includes a controversial settlement this year under his administration.
That was between Trump and the internal revenue service that created a $1.8 billion fund
that was on track to benefit Trump's allies. Now, Blanch issued a written order rescinding that plan, but still, that and more was part of the reasoning that Blanch lost key support from two Republicans at Susan Collins of Maine. And Lisa Mercowski of Alaska, they expressed concerns about the future of the agency with little restraint to Trump's demands, and with the Senate operating under-type margins,
all eyes were then on a final swing vote that's built Cassidy from Louisiana. He ultimately said he would vote for Blanch, helping him get over the finish line by that one vote. >> And what one Senator Cassidy's support? >> Well, he admitted he too had concerns over Blanch's role in things like that anti-weaponization
fund, here's Cassidy on the Senate floor. >> Mr. Blanch is not perfect, and he will tell you this. But the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanch. It is between Mr. Blanch and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump.
>> So, he argued Blanch would actually have more leverage to push against the president if he was confirmed to the role. >> Senator now in an extended August recess, but had a long-to-do list to get there before wrapping up their session early this morning. What else did they do?
>> Well, one big thing, they approved a Russia sanctions bill with broad bipartisan support and a vote of 87 to 11. That's not a common occurrence in Congress these days. It was at least a year in the making. It was named for the late U.P. Senator Lindsey Graham, who is really the architect on this
legislation all the way up until his death last month. The bill is designed to really squeeze the Russian economy. One way it does that is by letting President Trump put tariffs on countries that by Russian oil and natural gas, the bill's supporter saw it as a tribute to Graham and his death-added momentum to get it done.
His sister Darling Graham spoke right before the vote. She was appointed to serve the remainder of his term. >> My late brother Lindsey was a foreign policy and national security expert. He was also a peacemaker who was determined to bring it in to the conflict in Ukraine. >> And Gladiah went to the Bill of Reach President Trump's desk.
>> Well, first it needs to go to the house, which is currently on their August recess, but Speaker Mike Johnson is signal support for the bill. However, we should note that some Democrats have raised concerns about giving Trump more power to put tariffs on other countries.
“>> So with both chambers, now on August recess, what's next?”
>> Well, a lot of campaigning, this is one of the last chances, for both parties to make
their cases before the mid-terms, so that's why this final Senate session was so critical.
For example, the Senate this morning also approved a stop-gap funding measure...
the government's lights on past the November elections.
“But Republicans, in particular, have a tough case to make to voters and the midst of the”
Iran war and economic fallout from that. President Trump had assisted that they could also approve the so-called Save America Act. This is a voting overhaul bill, but this morning, a vote on this measure limited to voter ID failed. So this is a fight that might continue even after today.
>> And Pierre's Claudia Grisalle, thanks so much. >> Thank you. [MUSIC] >> Immigrant detention is approaching a record high, numbers not seen since January of this year. And the private prison companies that detain those people for ice are reaping windfall
profits. >> And Pierre immigration correspondent Vanessa Romo joins us. Vanessa, thanks for being with us. >> Hi, Scott.
“>> You listened in on the earnings report calls for two large private prison companies.”
What did you hear? >> I listened to calls with Core Civic and Geo Group. And first, they both noted that this period includes the partial government shutdown of DHS during which time the number of detentions dropped. Obviously, that had an impact on both companies bottom line.
But despite that, they still reported impressive profits. Let's start with the Geo Group. Here's CEO George Zoli talking to investors. >> Our better than expected performance reflects significant revenue growth from the contracts that we entered into throughout 2025.
>> Zoli said that thanks to those contracts, total revenues for the company are up 15%
to more than $730 million over the same period last year.
>> Tell us about the other company you heard about, Core Civic. >> Patrick Swindle is a course of ex-president and CEO. He said that the company's total revenue went up by just over 27% for a total of more than $680 million. He said that they were able to exceed expectations by lowering operating costs, meaning that the business of detaining people is becoming cheaper.
>> And the profits grew larger.
“Now, does all that revenue come from holding people in detention?”
>> No, in fact, both companies are finding different ways to become a sort of one stop shop for all things related to holding people in detention. And even once they're out, so Geo Group noted that their ankle monitoring sales are up and will likely increase further, now that TPS, that's temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants, has ended.
And our member station WVXU in Ohio previously reported on seeing Haitian migrants fitted with ankle monitors as they left meetings with ISO officials. Geo Group also said that they drew more money from transportation and flight contracts with the government, which went up as more people are being deported. Meanwhile, Korsivic said it benefited this quarter from its purchase of clinical solutions
pharmacy, which is a mail order, medications, company for correctional facilities. But actually, Swindle started off the call, touting the recent sale of four of their facilities to DHS.
>> We estimate our net proceeds from these four sales to be approximately $1.6 billion.
And an average price per bed of $377,000 plus Swindle added, Korsivic will continue to get paid for operating those detention centers. So even though those sales won't be reflected until next quarter, they are part of a larger strategy to meet President Trump's goal of having 100,000 people in detention at once. And during the call with Geo Group, Zoli said that they're in talks to do the same.
>> Vanessa, in Pierre's report to the Geo Group, has government ties that run deep. What are those connections? Well, they start at the top of ice, the acting director, David Ventrella, is a former executive at Geo Group. But in a recent letter, he told lawmakers that he's divested his Geo Group stock.
Then there's Trump's borders are Tom Homan, who was also a paid consultant for Geo Group before joining the government. And former Attorney General Pam Bondi, also lobbied for Geo Group before she was appointed. And then there's the President's ties to both Geo Group and Korsivic. There's an analysis of Trump's most recent financial disclosures by the Citizens for Responsibility
and Ethics in Washington last month. And they found that the President's brokers have made 29 trades of private prison stocks since he returned to office. >> And various Vanessa Romo, thanks so much. >> Thank you.
[ Music ] >> This summer's box office is booming, but behind the scenes in Hollywood is a big corporate
Drama.
>> The merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery has loomed as merely a possibility of summer.
“Many in the film industry are against it, but a second, major movie theater chain owner”
has come out to support the deal. We're joined by MPR Culture Correspondent Mandelit Del Barco from our studio in Culver City. Welcome. >> Thank you so much. >> So why do many in Hollywood hate this merger?
>> Well, this mega merger has a lot of vocal opponents who say it would be disastrous for the film industry. In fact, more than 1,400 actors, directors, writers, and filmmakers, signed an open letter to try to block the merger. Here's Scottish actor Alan coming in a recent Instagram post.
>> This merger would mean thousands of job cuts, fewer films and even higher prices, but it isn't the done deal. >> And that's because attorneys general from 12 states, including California, are suing Paramount for anti-trust violations, a judge in Northern California has set a trial for March. >> What's the argument for the deal?
>> Well, David Ellison, who owns Paramount's guidance, continues to push for this 111 billion
dollar acquisition on Tuesday, he talked to investors saying it would work. >> Creating a stronger, well-capitalized creative first company with a scale to compete alongside Netflix, Amazon, Apple and others, benefiting consumers, theatrical exhibition, and creators alike.
“Head of Regal Cinema's recently released a statement supporting Paramount, what did he argue?”
>> Eduardo Acunia is the CEO of Regal Cinema, the second largest movie theater chain in the country, and back in June he was on a panel with other Hollywood leaders. It seemed then that he was still making up his mind about the Paramount deal. >> I think they're doing great work. On the other hand, we're all concerned with consolidation, just in general, in any industry
in the world, consolidation usually doesn't bring the best. >> Since then, Acunia says he met with Ellison and his team, and it comes down to trust. Acunia now says he believes there's sincere about their commitment to put 30 films a year into theaters with the combined studios, and he says a long fight in court will create more uncertainty and distractions and could damage the industry.
But he's not the first theater owner to say this. Adam Aaron, the CEO of the country's number one movie theater chain, AMC, has been backing
the deal, and he argued in an op-ed recently that the combined movie studios are critical
to the momentum being felt at the domestic box office.
“>> So why does he think momentum at the box office should figure into this deal?”
>> Both of the CEOs refer to the recent success of Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey, and the newest Spider-Man movie, collectively, these hits have made history their prime to hit $1 billion at the box office this weekend, and that's a really big comeback for movie theaters that suffered through the COVID pandemic and film production shutdowns over the past six years.
When Disney merged with Fox and Fox search light in 2016, the combined studios made about half the number they did before, separately, but these movie theaters CEO say they believe Ellison's promise to provide theaters with even more movies. Of course, we don't know if they'll be hits or if ticket prices would go up. >> But other movie theater owners don't agree?
>> Well, that's right. In fact, cinema united, the association of movie theater owners around the world remains opposed to the Paramount Warner merger. CEO Michael O'Leary sent a memo to the members blasting the deal, saying he's skeptical of Ellison's promises to cinemas, and he noted that the combined company will carry
a debt load of $80 billion a year. >> So what's next for the proposed deal? >> Well, if it doesn't close by the end of September, Paramount will have to start paying Warner Bros. shareholders $7 million a day. And while the anti-trust trial in California looms, one of the Hollywood trade publications
have jokingly begged George Clooney and his a-list friends to save the day by buying Warner Bros. instead. >> In Pierre, our culture correspondent, Mandelite Del Barco, and our studio in Culver City. Thank you so much. >> Thank you.
>> That's up first for Saturday, August 8th, 26th, I'm Ayy Sharasko. >> And I'm Scott Simon, Michael Radcliffe produced his podcast with help from Malena Torque, our editor's Dianna Douglas, so we're able to assist it by Jason Breslow, Alina Hortunian, and Rose Friedman. >> Our director is Andy Craig, and our technical director is David Greenberg.
Those two never stop whispering in our ears.
>> Engineering team includes Simon Laslo, Jansson, Jason, and Zovank and Hovey. >> They wish pretty you, they shouted name. Our senior supervising editor is Shannon Rhodes, our executive producer is Evie Stone and our deputy manager, editor is Catherine Laydlaw, the three fates.
>> Tomorrow on the Sunday Story, Black lung disease, among coal miners in App...
has climbed to his highest level in over 50 years.
>> Why aren't we protecting miners from silica dust? >> Thank you for listening and for supporting your local NPR station.
“And if you need to find your stations, go to stations.npr.org.”
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I didn't know that. [MUSIC] >> This week, I'm considered this.
“Virginia thought her criminal record would follow her forever, until a few minutes with”
an AI app that told her she could clear her felonies.
>> You'll never find a harder worker than someone who has something to prove to themselves
how AI could help millions of Americans with criminal records find work.
“This week, I'm considered this from NPR.”
>> While it seems like everything is being called a recession indicator these days. >> Yeah, like the box of hamburger helper in my pantry. >> Or the new Apple Neo book? >> Or the resurgence of press on nails or lipstick or no lipstick, I've lost track. >> There is only one way to know if these are actual economic warning signs though.
Listen to the indicator from planet money on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
