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Chapter 1: What is the theme of the Shortwave podcast?
Shortwave thinks of science as an invisible force showing up in your everyday life. Powering the food you eat, the medicine you use, the tech in your pocket. Science is approachable because it's already part of your life. Come explore these connections on the Shortwave podcast from NPR.
Chapter 2: What is the latest Supreme Court ruling involving Elon Musk?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Supreme Court is temporarily blocking a watchdog group from assessing records from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, it follows a lawsuit seeking to shed light on the team's secretive activities.
Chapter 3: What details are being uncovered about the Trump administration's dealings?
The nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is suing the Trump administration to uncover details about Doge's dealings in the U.S. government. The lawsuit argues Doge is exceeding its legal authority and asks that internal communications, financial disclosures and other documents be released to the public.
A federal district judge found Doge is likely subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. But after an appeal, Chief Justice John Roberts is pausing that ruling, meaning Doge records do not have to be turned over as the appeals process continues. It's a win for the Trump administration, which has stated Doge is operating transparently, despite most of its activities being shrouded in secrecy.
Those activities have resulted in tens of thousands of federal workers being fired and the unwinding of entire government agencies. Bobby Allen, NPR News.
Chapter 4: How are executive orders impacting nuclear power development?
President Trump has signed another slew of executive orders today, some of which are aimed at speeding up the development of nuclear power. The orders would grant the Energy Secretary the authority to approve advanced reactor designs and take authority from the Independent Nuclear Regulatory Commission. However, NPR's Jeff Brumfield says how much it will change the industry remains to be seen.
Chapter 5: What changes are coming to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission?
One company called Oklo actually had its permit for a new reactor design denied by the NRC a few years ago. Today, its CEO was standing behind President Trump and its stock surged 25 percent. But despite that, I do want to say the fact remains nuclear power remains very, very expensive to build. And it's unclear whether these executive orders are really going to change that.
Chapter 6: What happened at the Trump coin gala?
NPR's Jeff Gromfeld, the White House has said there will be significant staffing reductions at the NRC. Top investors in the cryptocurrency named after President Trump dined at his D.C. area golf course last night. NPR's Stephen Fowler has that story.
Chapter 7: How much revenue is linked to the Trump cryptocurrency?
Attendees of the Trump coin gala were greeted by protesters outside the Trump National Golf Club Thursday night. Inside, the president spoke positively about crypto, according to videos that some people shared from the dinner. The president and the White House say there's no conflict of interest with his crypto businesses and assets.
A recent analysis from crypto research firm Chainalysis estimates businesses tied to the Trump organization have earned hundreds of millions of dollars in fees from people buying and selling the coin. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.
The consulting firm Booz Allen has announced it's cutting upwards of 2,500 jobs. The company blames the Trump administration's crackdown on federal contracting. The company's share price took a double-digit hit on the news. Booz makes the vast majority of its work from government-related contracts. The latest cut would amount to about 7 percent of the company's workforce.
Stocks are going to the long holiday weekend. On a down note, the Dow was down 256 points. This is NPR. In what amounts to cooperation in otherwise failed peace efforts, Russia and Ukraine have begun the first phase of a major prisoner swap. Hundreds of soldiers and civilians have been exchanged between the two sides, even as broader efforts to reach a ceasefire continue to falter.
President Volodymyr Zelensky says the first phase brought home 390 Ukrainians, including soldiers and civilians. Russia says it received the same amount of prisoners from Ukraine. Sides last week agreed to exchange 1,000 captives from each side. This is a reminder, please check yourself for ticks after spending time outside.
Zimpier's Ping Wang reports there are early signs this could be an especially bad year for them.
A lot of people have been seeking emergency care for tick bites. That's according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reports the highest rates in more than five years. Allison Hinckley, an epidemiologist at CDC, says May and June are prime time for tick bites.
Taking showers within two hours of coming outside really has shown to be a good way to prevent tick-borne diseases.
That's because it can wash off ticks that are crawling on you and let you search for ticks that have latched. The key thing, she says, is to get the tick off your body as soon as you can. Ticks can transmit pathogens that cause things like Lyme disease, Heartland virus, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
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