NPR News: 04-02-2026 5PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Attorney General Pam Bondi is out at the Justice Department. President Trump made the announcement on social media. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports deputy Todd Blanch will serve in the acting role for now. 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 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 Blanch, one of Trump's former personal lawyers, will run the Justice Department on an acting basis. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

1:00In three weeks, shareholders of Warner Brothers Discovery will vote on whether to accept a $110 billion acquisition deal from media mogul David Ellison. As NPR's Mandelito Barco reports, the merger still needs to get past federal and international regulators and faces challenges in California. California Attorney General Rob Bondi says this of the proposed consolidation. It's not a deal. Bondi told NPR he's conducting an anti-trust review, because he doesn't trust the Department of Justice to do a fair investigation. Bondi points to the close relationship, the DOJ and the Ellison family have with President Trump. Maybe they will be fair, be objective, be vigorous, do the job the federal government has long done, but I'm not holding my breath. Meanwhile, some working in the film and TV industry are campaigning to block the merger. Actress Jane Fonda is voicing her concerns on social media. The idea of the whole entertainment industry being run by one company, that doesn't seem good. With Paramount Pictures Skydance, David Ellison already controls CBS.

2:01By merging with Warner Brothers Studios, he'd also have HBO, Mandelito Barco, NPR News. The foreign minister of Bahrain says he's hoping the UN Security Council will pass a resolution tomorrow, calling on Iran to open up the street 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 Kelliman reports. UN 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 Council president, has drafted a resolution to press Iran to reopen the street. Russia's ambassador points out that the closure was the result of what he called an unprovoked act of aggression by the US and Israel against Iran. NPR's Michelle Kelliman reporting. Stocks overcame early losses to close mixed today. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ both rose a fraction. It's NPR. A drone maker backed by President Trump's two oldest sons

3:04is trying to win contracts with US allies under threat by Iran. The company Power Us is holding demonstrations in several Gulf countries of how its drone interceptors could help them ward off the attacks. Power Us recently struck a deal that will bring on the Trump brothers, Eric and Donald Jr. as stakeholders. The Trumps have expanded their business interests rapidly beyond hotels and golf courses in a little over a year since their father took office again. Taxes on sugary drinks are not effective in reducing consumption according to a study in the journal Plus Medicine. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports researchers analyze data from Taco Bell. Researchers studied several years of transactions from Taco Bells, including from drive-thrues in Chicago, Oakland, California, Philadelphia, and Seattle. These are all places that had adopted soda taxes aimed at reducing sugar consumption and encouraging healthier habits. But the study finds that the small tax on soda did not appear to influence decision making. Other studies show that a soda tax can lead

4:06to decreased sales in grocery stores, but this doesn't seem to be the case in fast food. Researchers say it's possible that taxes too low for consumers to notice. Allison Aubrey, NPR News. US egg prices have fallen 60% from last year's record highs, making it easier for consumers to fill their Easter baskets and pass over satir plates. Retail prices average $2.50 per dozen in February compared to 6.23 per dozen in March 2025. This is NPR News from Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.