--:-- Giles Snyder: Support for this podcast and the following message come from the University at Buffalo, where researchers have developed an AI-powered handwriting analysis tool to screen for dyslexia and other learning disorders. More at buffalo.edu slash NPR.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Attorney General Pam Bondi has named a senior federal prosecutor to look into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's ties with prominent Democrats, banks, and institutions. President Trump had publicly called for the investigation, as NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: In a post on social media, President Trump accused Democrats of using the controversy over the Jeffrey Epstein files to deflect from their own actions in the recent government shutdown. He also called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate former President Bill Clinton and other prominent Democrats, whom Trump alleges were involved with Epstein.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: In her own social media post, Bondi said she's tapping the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Jay Clayton, to take the lead on the matter.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: The moves come as Trump continues to face questions about his own ties to Epstein, particularly after House Democrats released a batch of emails this week that raised questions as to what Trump knew about Epstein's activities with underage girls.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Ryan Lucas NPR News Washington. President Trump denies knowing anything about the Epstein emails released by House Democrats.
--:-- President Trump: Jeffrey Epstein and I had a very bad relationship for many years, but he also saw strength because I was president. So he dictated a couple of memos to himself, give me a break.
--:-- [Sound of Air Force One]
--:-- President Trump: Speaking to reporters there aboard Air Force One on his way to Mar-a-Lago, where he's spending the weekend.
--:-- Giles Snyder: On Truth Social last night, Trump publicly cut ties with Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
--:-- Giles Snyder: She was one of four House Republicans who joined a Democrat signing a petition to force a vote on the Epstein files.
--:-- Giles Snyder: She's also been critical of Trump and other Republican leaders on several issues, including affordability.
--:-- Giles Snyder: The Israeli military has blocked hundreds of Israeli peace activists from reaching the occupied West Bank this weekend, where they plan to help Palestinians with the olive harvest.
--:-- Lauren Freyer: The military says it declared the village where they were trying to go a closed military zone.
--:-- Lauren Freyer: NPR's Lauren Freyer reports from Tel Aviv.
--:-- Lauren Freyer: Several busloads of volunteers were trying to reach the Israeli-occupied Palestinian village of Burin.
--:-- Lauren Freyer: Their plan was to act as human shields to protect Palestinian farmers from Israeli settler attacks which have hit a record high according to the UN.
--:-- Lauren Freyer: This week settlers ransacked the West Bank biggest dairy farm and also torched a mosque.
--:-- Lior Amichai: We will not stay silent while terror is conducting against Palestinians.
--:-- Lior Amichai: Lior Amichai, director of Peace Now and advocacy groups, sent NPR this voice memo from a checkpoint where Israeli soldiers blocked their passage to Boreen.
--:-- Lauren Freyer: Despite this peaceful action, the military and the police did not want us to join the Palestinians and prevented us from reaching it.
--:-- Lauren Freyer: The Israeli military tells NPR it did this for public safety after a week marred by an increase in violent incidents.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Lauren Freyer, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Rain is expected to fall through the weekend in Southern California.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Flood watches have been posted and evacuation warnings are in effect and areas scarred by recent wildfires.
--:-- Giles Snyder: City officials say areas affected by the January wildfires are highly susceptible to mud and debris flows.
--:-- Giles Snyder: The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, preparing for a federal immigration crackdown.
--:-- Giles Snyder: The Trump administration has not publicly announced a move, but the Mecklenburg County Sheriff says he was told by federal officials that the operation could begin as soon as today.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Charlotte is North Carolina's largest city and a Democratic stronghold in the state.
--:-- Giles Snyder: YouTube television subscribers can now access Disney programming again after a two blackout prompted by contract disputes.
--:-- Matt Bloom: NPR's Matt Bloom reports the two media companies settled on a distribution deal late Friday.
--:-- Matt Bloom: Disney executives said in a statement they were restoring content in time for viewers to watch weekend programming, including college football games on ESPN.
--:-- Matt Bloom: The company pulled its channels from YouTube TV late last month after talks broke down.
--:-- Matt Bloom: Disney said the streaming giant had refused to pay fair rates, while YouTube TV said Disney was proposing costly terms that would lead to higher prices.
--:-- Giles Snyder: The companies didn't release specific terms, but YouTube said it preserves value in its service.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Morgan Stanley analysts estimated that the lockout cost Disney about $30 million a week.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Alphabet, which owns YouTube TV and Google, is a financial supporter of NPR.
--:-- Giles Snyder: And I'm Giles Snyder.
--:-- Giles Snyder: This is NPR News.
--:-- Giles Snyder: This message comes from Mint Mobile.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Starting at $15 a month, make the switch at mintmobile.com slash switch.
--:-- Giles Snyder: $45 upfront payment for three months.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Five gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month.
--:-- Giles Snyder: Taxes and fees extra.
--:-- Giles Snyder: First three months only.
--:-- Giles Snyder: See terms.
