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Chapter 1: Who is Ira Glass and what does he say about America today?
This is Ira Glass, the host of This American Life. So much is changing so rapidly right now with President Trump in office. It feels good to pause for a moment sometimes and look around at what's what.
To try and do that, we've been finding these incredible stories about right now that are funny and have feeling and you get to see people everywhere making sense of this new America that we find ourselves in. This American Life, wherever you get your podcasts.
Chapter 2: What is the latest update on the Hamas hostage release?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Hamas says it will release a hostage who was dual American and Israeli citizenship. Idan Alexander is expected to be transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross, then taken to an Israeli hospital. Separately, a Hamas official speaking anonymously told NPR...
Alexander is being released in return for unspecified things that the U.S. has promised. No details have been released. The official hinted it might mean the release of more Palestinian prisoners and fresh aid into Gaza. Israel has released a statement. It says that the Israeli government has not committed to a ceasefire of any kind, but only to a safe corridor to allow Alexander to be released.
The U.S. and China have agreed to reduce most of their sky-high tariffs on each other for 90 days. They'll keep a base tariff on each other's goods. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant met with Chinese economic officials in Switzerland over the weekend, and he explained the arrangement to reporters.
Chapter 3: What details are known about the US-China tariff reduction deal?
An agreement on a 90-day pause and substantially... move down the tariff levels. Both sides on the reciprocal tariffs will move their tariffs down 115%.
Chapter 4: How did Treasury Secretary Scott Besant describe the tariff agreement?
Total U.S. taxes on Chinese goods will go down 115 percent to 30 percent. Chinese taxes on U.S. goods will initially go down from around 125 percent to 10 percent. Stocks on Wall Street have surged in pre-market trading. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 are all up at least 2 percent.
Chapter 5: What is the impact of the tariff deal on US and Chinese markets?
President Trump leaves today for the Middle East, and Piers Franco-Ordonez reports he'll be focusing largely on business deals as his administration struggles to broker an end to the war in Gaza.
Chapter 6: What is President Trump's Middle East trip about?
The White House says this trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates is about strengthening ties in the region and highlighting cooperation where, as the press secretary puts it, extremism has been replaced by commerce and cultural exchanges. Stephen Cook at the Council on Foreign Relations says the Gulf leaders know what Trump wants.
Chapter 7: How do Gulf leaders view President Trump's visit and goals?
The Saudis, the Emiratis, and the Qataris are going to fall all over themselves over who can outdo themselves to welcome the president. And then they will outdo themselves over the number of deals that they can announce as the president is there or as he is departing.
Cook says the lavish welcome also insulates the Gulf leaders if the U.S. seeks to pressure them to take action on something they don't want. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.
A militant Kurdish group says it's laying down its arms and will disband. The Kurdistan Workers' Party, better known as the PKK, announced today it will disband. It's going to end its armed struggle with Turkey that was aimed at carving out a separate homeland for Kurds. That armed conflict has lasted for more than 40 years. You're listening to NPR.
About 50 white South Africans are arriving in the Washington, D.C. area this morning. President Trump gave them refugee status, claiming they faced persecution in South Africa. The claim has been sharply disputed by the South African government. It says there is no evidence of this. South African officials say the Trump administration has been taken in by disinformation.
When it comes to rice and pasta, most dieticians recommend eating brown rice and whole grains because they're more nutritious. But scientists have discovered a way to make white rice and pasta healthier. Michaelene Ducloff has more.
When we eat refined carbohydrates, we tend to digest them quickly, causing spikes in our blood sugar. Over time, those spikes aren't good for our health. But nutritionist Mindy Patterson at Texas Women's University says there's a way to slow down the digestion of rice and pasta. If you put it in the refrigerator and cool it down... It contributes less sugar that can go to the blood.
When you chill the rice or pasta for six to eight hours, it creates what's called resistant starch. Studies have shown it can help reduce inflammation, improve gut health, and better manage your blood sugar. The trick also works with whole grains, beans, and lentils, making those foods even healthier.
I'm Mike Lean-Ducliffe. This month's full moon is peaking tonight. Full moons have nicknames, and this one is called the flower moon. The website EarthSky says to look for the flower moon just after sunset in the southeast skies. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.
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