Transcript
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Attorney General Pam Bondi is out at the Justice Department. President Trump made the announcement on social media just a Short time ago. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports. Deputy Todd Blanche will serve in the acting role for now.
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In a post on social media, President Trump calls Pam Bondi a great American patriot and loyal friend and says she'll transition to a job in the private sector. Trump has blamed Bondi for mishandling law enforcement files related to a convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, and he's demanded the Justice Department do more to go after his perceived political enemies. Bondi presided over a huge exodus at the doj. The group Justice Connection, which supports current and former justice workers, says DOJ's Independence, Integrity and workforce have degraded more under her leadership than any other time during the department's history. Todd Blanche, one of Trump's former personal lawyers, will run the Justice Department on an acting basis. Carrie Johnson, NPR News.
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Washing President Trump is expected to sign an executive order at this hour to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The move comes as congressional Republicans remain deadlocked on ending the partial government shutdown. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports. It's unclear where the money will come from or how this will affect negotiations. On Capitol Hill, Trump wrote in a
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social media post, I will soon sign an order to pay all of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security. However, it's unclear how this interacts with congressional Republicans attempts at coming to a funding agreement. On Wednesday, GOP leaders said in a joint statement that the House will take up a measure passed by the Senate last week to fund most of DHS except Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. The House previously rejected that measure. Votes on ICE and Border Patrol funding would come later. Trump last week signed a memo to pay TSA agents amid nationwide airport security delays. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
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The foreign minister of Bahrain says he's hoping the UN Security Council will pass a resolution on Friday calling on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. He's also criticizing Tehran for ignoring a previous resolution and continuing to strike Gulf states in response to the war in Iran. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.
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U.N. secretary General Antonio Guterres says it's past time for the US And Israel to stop the war and for Iran to stop attacking its neighbors. Bahrain, the current security the Security Council president has drafted a resolution to press Iran to reopen the strait. Russia's ambassador points out that the closure was the result of what he called an unprovoked act of aggression by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.