NPR News: 06-26-2026 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: June 26, 2026 4PM EDT

Host: Louise Schiavone
Duration: 5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of major national and international news events, covering disaster response in Venezuela, a high-profile mistrial in Los Angeles, Congressional scrutiny of a billionaire’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, new efforts to preserve endangered species’ DNA, and Serena Williams’ return to Wimbledon.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. Venezuelan Earthquake and Rescue Operations

[00:19 – 01:15]

• A massive earthquake in Venezuela has resulted in at least 920 deaths.
• Rescue teams from the U.S., El Salvador, and Spain arrived on Friday to assist with ongoing recovery efforts.
• Key Issues:
  • Pace of rescue is hampered by inadequate equipment and lack of specialized teams.
  • La Guayra is the worst-hit city, with dozens of buildings—among them public housing—reduced to rubble.
  • Military units have been deployed to both aid rescue and prevent looting.
  • Due to damage at La Guayra’s airport, rescue teams are flying into airports 3 hours away.
• Quote:
  • “Recovery efforts have been slow, with many residents complaining about the lack of equipment or specialized teams to get people out.” — Manuel Rueda [00:41]

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2. Mistrial in Los Angeles Wildfire Case

[01:15 – 02:08]

• The federal trial of Jonathan Rinderkinesht, accused of causing the deadly 2025 Palisades fire (12 dead, thousands of homes destroyed), ended in a mistrial.
• Jury Breakdown:
  • Judge’s intervention failed to move the jury toward consensus; final split: 10-2 in favor of not guilty.
• Outcome:
  • Judge set a new trial date for October 19.
  • Rinderkinesht is to remain in detention pending the retrial.
  • The government will retry on all three counts.
• Quote:
  • “The judge asked the jury foreman and each of the jurors, is there anything the court can do that might help you reach a unanimous decision? And each of them said no.” — Steve Futterman [01:29]
  • “That's a victory of sorts for the defense, which had always claimed there was never enough evidence to convict.” — Steve Futterman [01:42]

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3. Congressional Subpoenas for Leon Black

[02:08 – 03:08]

• Leon Black, billionaire investor and former Jeffrey Epstein associate, appeared for a closed-door interview with House Oversight Committee.
• Key Developments:
  • Black walked out when pressed about his Epstein connections.
  • Committee Chair James Comer is issuing two subpoenas:
    • For copies of alleged non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with Epstein’s abuse survivors
    • To depose Black under oath.
• Quotes:
  • “This is a result of refusing to answer specific questions about the NDAs and the terms.” — Rep. James Comer [02:51]
  • Black’s lawyer: Black “never engaged in sex trafficking” and “never paid Epstein for access to women.” [02:58]

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4. AAA Fourth of July Travel Forecast

[03:08 – 03:34]

• AAA predicts a record 72 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for July 4th (between June 27 and July 5).
• About 61 million expected to travel by car.
• Gas Prices:
  • National average is $3.90/gallon for regular.

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5. DNA Preservation for Endangered Species

[03:34 – 04:34]

• The Trump administration announces a partnership with Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based company famous for “de-extincting” species like woolly mammoths.
• Purpose:
  • Store DNA, tissue, or cell samples from 2,300+ species protected under the Endangered Species Act, for research.
• Ongoing efforts already exist in government, zoos, and academia; controversy noted about involving a for-profit company in conservation initiatives.
• Quote:
  • “Some scientists are critical though, of the government partnering with a for profit company to help those efforts.” — Nate Rott [04:30]

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6. Serena Williams Returns to Wimbledon

[04:34 – 04:58]

• Serena Williams (44) relaunches her singles career at Wimbledon, entering as a wild card.
• Faces 20-year-old Maya Joint (Australia, world #53) in first round.
• Williams is a seven-time champion at the tournament.

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “At least 920 people have been killed.” — Louise Schiavone [00:22]
• “The military has now been sent to the coastal city to support rescue efforts and prevent looting.” — Manuel Rueda [00:53]
• “The government plans to retry the case on all three counts.” — Steve Futterman [02:00]
• “Lawmakers said Black walked out of the interview when pressed on his ties with Epstein.” — Ava Berger [02:31]
• “Colossal Biosciences, is best known for its efforts to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth and the direwolf...” — Nate Rott [03:51]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Venezuelan Earthquake Rescue: 00:19 – 01:15
• Palisades Fire Mistrial: 01:15 – 02:08
• Leon Black Subpoenas: 02:08 – 03:08
• AAA Travel Forecast: 03:08 – 03:34
• Endangered Species DNA Banking: 03:50 – 04:34
• Serena Williams’ Wimbledon Comeback: 04:34 – 04:58

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Episode Tone

• Straightforward, urgent, and fact-driven news delivery, with reporters’ concise field updates and brief but pointed Congressional soundbites.

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Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. In Venezuela, efforts are underway to rescue trapped earthquake victims. Venezuela's president says at least 920 people have been killed. Reporter MANUEL While Rueda has more Rescue

[Manuel Rueda]

teams from the United States, El Salvador and Spain arrived in Venezuela Friday morning as crews race against the clock to pull survivors from collapsed buildings. Recovery efforts have been slow, with many residents complaining about the lack of equipment or specialized teams to get people out. In La Guayra, the city hit hardest by the quake, dozens of buildings are rubble, including public housing projects. And the military has now been sent to the coastal city to support rescue efforts and prevent looting. La Guayra's airport was damaged by the earthquakes, so eight teams are flying into airports about a three hour drive from this city. For NPR News, I'm Manuel Rueda in Bogota.

[Louise Schiavone]

In Los Angeles, the federal trial of Jonathan Rinderkanesht, accused of igniting last year's deadly Palisades fire, has ended in a mistrial. Twelve people were killed, thousands of homes destroyed. Steve Futterman has the latest.

[Steve Futterman]

The judge asked the jury foreman and each of the jurors, is there anything the court can do that might help you reach a unanimous decision? And each of them said no. That's when the judge declared a mistrial. The jury foreman did disclose the division of the jury. He told the court it was split 10 to 2 in favor of a not guilty verdict. So that's a victory of sorts for the defense, which had always claimed there was never enough evidence to convict Jonathan Rinderkinesht of actually starting the fire. The government plans to retry the case on all three counts. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles.

[Louise Schiavone]

The judge in the case now has set a new trial date for Oct. 19. The court ordered that Rinderknest remain detained. On Capitol Hill, the House Oversight Committee wants significantly more than it got today in a closed door meeting with billionaire investor and former Jeffrey Epstein Associate Leon Black. NPR's Ava Berger has that story.

[Ava Berger]

Lawmakers said Black walked out of the interview when pressed on his ties with Epstein. House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, told reporters that he's now issuing two subpoenas for Black. He says he wants copies of supposed non disclosure agreements Black allegedly signed with survivors of Epstein's abuse and he wants to depose Black under oath.

[James Comer]

This is a result of refusing to answer specific questions about the NDAs and the terms.

[Ava Berger]

Black has denied any allegations of wrongdoing. His lawyer says in a statement that Black, quote, never engaged in sex trafficking and, quote, never paid Epstein for access to women.

[Louise Schiavone]

Eva Berger, NPR News, Wall street approaching the close the Dow off 46th, the NASDAQ down 60 points. This is NPR News in Washington. The aaa is forecasting 72 million Americans planned to travel at least 50 miles from home for the Fourth of July holiday between tomorrow and Sunday, July. The expectation is that about 61 million will travel by car during that period. AAA says today's average price for regular $3.90 a gallon. The Trump administration says it's partnering with a Texas based private company to preserve the DNA of endangered species. NPR's Nate Rott reports.

[Nate Rott]

The company, Colossal Biosciences, is best known for its efforts to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth and the direwolf and efforts that have raised a lot of concerns in the broader wildlife conservation community. Under the new partnership, the company says it will aim to store DNA, tissue or cell samples of the more than 2300 plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species act and that it will use them for research. Zoos, academic institutions and federal agencies already biobank samples of imperiled species which can be used to help their recovery. Some scientists are critical though, of the government partnering with a for profit company to help those efforts. Nate Rott, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

44 year old tennis superstar Serena Williams relaunches her singles career when the All England Wimbledon tennis tournament begins next week. Entering with a wild card for the competition. Her first round will be played against 20 year old Maya joint of Australia, ranked world number 53, Wimbledon. Williams is a seven time Wimbledon champion. I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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