Transcript
Jeanine Herbst (0:00)
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump is shaking up the leadership of the Pentagon today, firing the chair of the Joint Chiefs of staff, Air Force General C.Q. brown Jr. The second black chair of the Joint Chiefs, as well as Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first black woman to serve as chief of naval operations. On social media, Trump thanked the four star fighter pilot for his service and nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Kane for the job. It's a highly unusual move. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairmen traditionally keep their jobs as administrations change, regardless of political party. Trump has long insisted that the military's leadership is too focused on diversity issues and has lost sight of its role as a combat force. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously criticized General Brown and said Frank Hetty was selected for her post because of her gender. Meanwhile, a federal judge has blocked a sweeping executive order from President Trump ending government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, saying it likely violates freedom speech rights. Judge Adam Abelson granted the injunction. As the suit plays out, Trump signed an executive order on his first day directing federal agencies to terminate all equity related grants or contracts. And Trump has been in office for a month now. And with a flurry of executive actions and orders, he's working to remake the federal government. Thousands of federal workers have been laid off in funding cuts to numerous agencies. This is federal workers, unions and attorneys general from around the country go to court to try to stop the measures. Now NPR's Domenico Montanaro reports. A new poll out this week shows Trump's support may be waning.
Domenico Montanaro (1:42)
The bottom line is that it looks like that the honeymoon for Trump appears to be over. The country has largely always been split on Trump, slight majority disapproving. And that's what we saw in back to back polls with CNN and Washington Post Ipsos. People were split on Trump's approach to immigration, but both polls found a majority think that he's exceeding his power as president. CNN's poll also found that 62% think that he hasn't done enough to reduce the price of goods.
Jeanine Herbst (2:05)
And Pierce. Domenico Montanaro in Los Angeles, the country's new district attorney, says he opposes a new trial for the Menendez brothers, accused of brutally killing their parents in 1989. Steve Futterman has more.
Nathan Hockman (2:17)
In his first comments on the case, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hockman presented a much less sympathetic view of the brothers than his predecessor. The brothers claim there is new evidence to show that they were sexually abused by their father, Joseph, which they say led to the killings. Hockman at a news conference says even if that's true, it does not justify the murders. Sexual abuse in this situation, while it may have been a motivation, does not constitute self defense. A hearing is set for next month where a judge will consider whether to reduce the brother's life in prison without parole.