NPR News: 08-20-2026 6PM EDT
Summary
The USS Abraham Lincoln returns home after a record nine-month deployment amid tensions with Iran, while Tehran dismisses Trump’s economic threats. Domestically, the federal debt exceeds $40 trillion, and legislative director James Braid leaves the White House ahead of midterms. The episode also covers new deportations to Liberia, a rollback of disability rights enforcement, and the discovery of mountaineers’ remains in melting Swiss glaciers.
Topics discussed
USS Abraham Lincoln returns home after record deployment
Federal debt hits $40 trillion amid political blame
White House legislative director James Braid departs
First deportations under new Liberia agreement
Threats to community-based disability services
Glacier melt reveals bodies of missing mountaineers
NPR Politics Podcast promo on crime statistics
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