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Tim Balthis, 57, and his wife Fran pose for a photo at their home in Pound, Virginia. Tim has what is called “complicated black lung,” the advanced and fatal stage of the disease.

Tim Balthis, 57, and his wife Fran pose for a photo at their home in Pound, Virginia. Tim has what is called "complicated black lung," the advanced and fatal stage of the disease. Roger May for NPR hide caption

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Tim Balthis, 57, and his wife Fran pose for a photo at their home in Pound, Virginia. Tim has what is called “complicated black lung,” the advanced and fatal stage of the disease.

Tim Balthis, 57, and his wife Fran pose for a photo at their home in Pound, Virginia. Tim has what is called "complicated black lung," the advanced and fatal stage of the disease. Roger May for NPR hide caption

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Health

Black lung rates in Appalachia are as high as the 1970s, with thousands of miners sick

 LPM News

Rates are now the highest they've been in nearly 50 years among veteran coal miners. Mining experts blame toxic silica dust, now more common in mines.

Appalachia's black lung rates highest in nearly 50 years as miners' protections stall

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People vote in the primary election at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Tuesday.

People vote in the primary election at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Tuesday. Nic Antaya/AP hide caption

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People vote in the primary election at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Tuesday.

People vote in the primary election at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Tuesday. Nic Antaya/AP hide caption

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Politics

Progressive Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's Democratic primary for Senate

El-Sayed, an epidemiologist, backs Medicare for all and decries corporate money in politics. He beat Rep. Haley Stevens, whose supporters said she would have had a better chance in the fall.
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks during a press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Jan. 6, 2014.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks during a press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Jan. 6, 2014. Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP hide caption

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Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks during a press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Jan. 6, 2014.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks during a press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Jan. 6, 2014. Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP hide caption

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Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Asia

Ousted Bangladeshi leader vows to return from exile despite facing a death sentence

Hasina's speech marked the second anniversary of her ouster. She fled Bangladesh by helicopter following nearly two months of protests in 2024 that left nearly 1,400 people dead, according to the United Nations.
“Love on Haight” is a store on Haight Street in San Francisco that carries a lot of Grateful Dead memorabilia and tie dye clothing as well as a large photo of Jerry Garcia.

"Love on Haight" is a store on Haight Street in San Francisco that carries a lot of Grateful Dead memorabilia and tie dye clothing as well as a large photo of Jerry Garcia. Deanne Fitzmaurice for NPR hide caption

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The Ripple Effect

How Deadheads became rock and roll's greatest renewable resource

Even as the band has changed and reinvented itself, the Grateful Dead's fanbase has proven to be uniquely and consistently renewable — a cosmic inheritance passed down from one generation to the next, welcoming younger Deadheads with open arms.
Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, walks out of a meeting with Steve Scalise on Capitol Hill, Oct. 2023.

Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, walks out of a meeting with Steve Scalise on Capitol Hill, Oct. 2023. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, walks out of a meeting with Steve Scalise on Capitol Hill, Oct. 2023.

Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, walks out of a meeting with Steve Scalise on Capitol Hill, Oct. 2023. Andrew Harnik/AP hide caption

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Politics

House Ethics Committee will investigate Ohio Republican Max Miller

The committee said it was reviewing allegations that Miller "may have engaged in domestic violence." Miller has denied the allegations, which have swirled around his bid for a third term in Congress.
The FDA allowed some Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as “lower risk” than cigarettes.

The FDA allowed some Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as "lower risk" than cigarettes. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
The FDA allowed some Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as “lower risk” than cigarettes.

The FDA allowed some Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as "lower risk" than cigarettes. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Your Health

Nicotine pouches can be marketed as 'lower risk' than cigarettes. Is that dangerous?

The FDA allowed some Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as "lower risk" than cigarettes. Public health experts agree they can help current smokers, but worry young people may become addicted.
Firefighters put out a fire after Russian missiles hit a warehouse in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

Firefighters put out a fire after Russian missiles hit a warehouse in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. Dan Bashakov/AP hide caption

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Firefighters put out a fire after Russian missiles hit a warehouse in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.

Firefighters put out a fire after Russian missiles hit a warehouse in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. Dan Bashakov/AP hide caption

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Dan Bashakov/AP

Europe

A Russian barrage in Ukraine's capital kills 17 as air defenses fall short

Ukraine's depleted air defenses failed to stop any of Moscow's incoming missiles overnight.
Motorcyclists navigate through a road barricaded with concrete blocks set up by supporters of the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) during a protest demanding greater political rights and the abolition of 12 legislative refugee seats, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026.

Motorcyclists navigate through a road barricaded with concrete blocks set up by supporters of the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) during a protest demanding greater political rights and the abolition of 12 legislative refugee seats, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. M.D. Mughal/AP hide caption

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M.D. Mughal/AP
Motorcyclists navigate through a road barricaded with concrete blocks set up by supporters of the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) during a protest demanding greater political rights and the abolition of 12 legislative refugee seats, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026.

Motorcyclists navigate through a road barricaded with concrete blocks set up by supporters of the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) during a protest demanding greater political rights and the abolition of 12 legislative refugee seats, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. M.D. Mughal/AP hide caption

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M.D. Mughal/AP

Asia

Pakistan's ruling party leads in Kashmir vote despite boycott call by banned group

Candidates backed by twice-elected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party have won 24 of the 34 seats decided in the first two phases of voting, the election commission, said Wednesday.
A man stands at the podium on a stage surrounded with screens. There is a large crowd gathered around in the foreground. The man is Texas State. Rep. James Talarico.

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate James Talarico speaks during the 2026 UnidosUS annual conference at the Fairmont Austin hotel on July 29, 2026. The conference featured a range of discussions centered around top-of-mind concerns for Latino voters. Patricia Lim/KUT News hide caption

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Patricia Lim/KUT News
A man stands at the podium on a stage surrounded with screens. There is a large crowd gathered around in the foreground. The man is Texas State. Rep. James Talarico.

Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate James Talarico speaks during the 2026 UnidosUS annual conference at the Fairmont Austin hotel on July 29, 2026. The conference featured a range of discussions centered around top-of-mind concerns for Latino voters. Patricia Lim/KUT News hide caption

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Patricia Lim/KUT News

Latino voters could decide key races in Texas. They're still weighing their options

 KUT News

Affordability and the state of the economy remain front and center concerns of many Hispanic voters.
The entrance to Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., July 2020.

The entrance to Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., July 2020. John Antczak/AP hide caption

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John Antczak/AP
The entrance to Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., July 2020.

The entrance to Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., July 2020. John Antczak/AP hide caption

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John Antczak/AP

National

Authorities arrested a man with ammo and apparently monitoring security at Trump golf course near LA

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Jeanine John Taele, 38, was taking photos and video and had a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket.
Miles Delivers cofounder Margaret Reynolds with her son Otto Reynolds at an event.

Miles Delivers cofounder Margaret Reynolds with her son Otto Reynolds at an event. Elaine Appleton Grant hide caption

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Elaine Appleton Grant

Healthcare

How a community in Maine is fighting to save their birthing center

With maternity care deserts growing around the country, a grassroots coalition in Maine launched a strategic attack to prevent the proposed closure of a rural labor and delivery center.

Maine birthing center fight

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This photograph taken in Le-Perreux-sur-Marne, outside Paris on February 9, 2026 shows undated pictures provided by the US Department of Justice on January 30, 2026 as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files. US authorities on January 30, 2026, released the latest cache of files related to the investigation into the late conviceted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files contained references to numerous high-profile figures. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP via Getty Images)

A report from Senate Democrats says big banks had concerns for years about suspicious money transfers made by Jeffrey Epstein. But in most cases those worries went unreported until Epstein was charged with sex-trafficking. Martin Bureau/AFP hide caption

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Martin Bureau/AFP
This photograph taken in Le-Perreux-sur-Marne, outside Paris on February 9, 2026 shows undated pictures provided by the US Department of Justice on January 30, 2026 as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files. US authorities on January 30, 2026, released the latest cache of files related to the investigation into the late conviceted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files contained references to numerous high-profile figures. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP via Getty Images)

A report from Senate Democrats says big banks had concerns for years about suspicious money transfers made by Jeffrey Epstein. But in most cases those worries went unreported until Epstein was charged with sex-trafficking. Martin Bureau/AFP hide caption

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Martin Bureau/AFP

News

Senate Democrats say banks turned blind eye to suspicious moves by Jeffrey Epstein

A report from Senate Democrats accuses big banks of failing to report suspicious money transfers made by Jeffrey Epstein until after his arrest in 2019.
Kevin Morby

Kevin Morby Kevin Anderson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Kevin Anderson/Courtesy of the artist
Kevin Morby

Kevin Morby Kevin Anderson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Kevin Anderson/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

How Midwest doldrums became a gift for Kevin Morby

 XPN

Morby's Little Wide Open is a love letter to a part of the country he finds endlessly inspiring.

World Cafe: Kevin Morby

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Kalsang Lhamo, a 73-year-old retired nurse, practices Tibetan calligraphy at the Chengguan District Day Care Center for the Elderly in western China's Tibet autonomous region on July 20, 2026, during a government-organized visit for foreign journalists.

Kalsang Lhamo, a 73-year-old retired nurse, practices Tibetan calligraphy at the Chengguan District Day Care Center for the Elderly in western China's Tibet autonomous region on July 20, 2026, during a government-organized visit for foreign journalists. Ng Han Guan/AP hide caption

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Ng Han Guan/AP
Kalsang Lhamo, a 73-year-old retired nurse, practices Tibetan calligraphy at the Chengguan District Day Care Center for the Elderly in western China's Tibet autonomous region on July 20, 2026, during a government-organized visit for foreign journalists.

Kalsang Lhamo, a 73-year-old retired nurse, practices Tibetan calligraphy at the Chengguan District Day Care Center for the Elderly in western China's Tibet autonomous region on July 20, 2026, during a government-organized visit for foreign journalists. Ng Han Guan/AP hide caption

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Ng Han Guan/AP

Asia

Under China's new 'unity' law, Tibetans fight to preserve language and culture

A 73-year-old retired nurse's decision to learn to write Tibetan language offers a glimpse into how some embrace their language and cultural identity in Tibet.
A utility worker marks a spot where a suspected gas line is at a burned property during the Old Trails fire in Spokane, Washington, on Aug. 4.

A utility worker marks a spot where a suspected gas line is at a burned property during the Old Trails fire in Spokane, Washington, on Aug. 4. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
A utility worker marks a spot where a suspected gas line is at a burned property during the Old Trails fire in Spokane, Washington, on Aug. 4.

A utility worker marks a spot where a suspected gas line is at a burned property during the Old Trails fire in Spokane, Washington, on Aug. 4. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

National

Arson suspect makes first court appearance as Spokane wildfires rage on

Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old convicted felon, is accused of "knowingly and maliciously" causing the Old Trails Fire, the most destructive of the three blazes burning around Spokane, Washington.
Ukrainian Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly over a Patriot air and missile defense system in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on Aug. 4, 2024.

Ukrainian Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly over a Patriot air and missile defense system in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on Aug. 4, 2024. Efrem Lukatsky/AP hide caption

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Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Ukraine invasion — explained

The soaring demand for Patriot missiles, from the Middle East to Ukraine

The U.S. and its partners depend on Patriot interceptors to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles. But Russia and Iran are firing their weapons at rates far higher than Patriots can be produced.
A view of the Nasdaq MarketSite after SpaceX company executives rang the opening bell to celebrate the launch of SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) in New York on June 12, 2026.

A view of the Nasdaq MarketSite after SpaceX company executives rang the opening bell to celebrate the launch of SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) in New York on June 12, 2026. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
A view of the Nasdaq MarketSite after SpaceX company executives rang the opening bell to celebrate the launch of SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) in New York on June 12, 2026.

A view of the Nasdaq MarketSite after SpaceX company executives rang the opening bell to celebrate the launch of SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) in New York on June 12, 2026. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Business

SpaceX's revenue rises as its once-soaring stock price drifts back to Earth

On their first earnings call since SpaceX's June public offering, executives said the company is pouring funds into rocket development, Starlink satellites and AI.

SpaceX’s revenue rises as its once-soaring stock price drifts back to Earth

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Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg has been tapped to be the next commissioner of Major League Soccer.

Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg has been tapped to be the next commissioner of Major League Soccer. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

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Richard Drew/AP
Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg has been tapped to be the next commissioner of Major League Soccer.

Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg has been tapped to be the next commissioner of Major League Soccer. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

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Richard Drew/AP

National

MLS named LAFC co-owner Larry Berg as its next commissioner. Here's what to know

For their commissioner of the future, MLS owners chose a soccer native. Berg's team is seen as one of MLS's best-run franchises, and he has embraced rule changes designed to modernize the league.
Ring video shows veteran Anna King being detained by National Guard troops.

Ring video shows veteran Anna King being detained by National Guard troops. ACLU of the District of Columbia/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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ACLU of the District of Columbia/Screenshot by NPR
Ring video shows veteran Anna King being detained by National Guard troops.

Ring video shows veteran Anna King being detained by National Guard troops. ACLU of the District of Columbia/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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ACLU of the District of Columbia/Screenshot by NPR

National Guard deployments

A veteran was detained by the National Guard in her front yard. Now she's suing

Military veteran and D.C. resident Anna King has filed a $3 million lawsuit against the Idaho National Guard, saying three guard members assaulted her while detaining her in front of her home.

A veteran was detained by the National Guard in her front yard. Now she’s suing

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After Annabelle Gurwitch was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, a volunteer living with the same diagnosis offered advice that changed the way she saw the future.

After Annabelle Gurwitch was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, a volunteer living with the same diagnosis offered advice that changed the way she saw the future. Gurwitch family photo hide caption

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Gurwitch family photo
After Annabelle Gurwitch was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, a volunteer living with the same diagnosis offered advice that changed the way she saw the future.

After Annabelle Gurwitch was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, a volunteer living with the same diagnosis offered advice that changed the way she saw the future. Gurwitch family photo hide caption

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Gurwitch family photo

My Unsung Hero

A volunteer's unexpected advice changed how she faced cancer

After Annabelle Gurwitch was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, a volunteer with the same diagnosis encouraged her to stop worrying so much about the future and start living again.

A volunteer's unexpected advice changed how she faced cancer

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Jean Smart plays comedian Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series Hacks.

Jean Smart plays comedian Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series Hacks. Jake Giles Netter/HBO Max hide caption

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Jake Giles Netter/HBO Max
Jean Smart plays comedian Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series Hacks.

Jean Smart plays comedian Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series Hacks. Jake Giles Netter/HBO Max hide caption

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Jake Giles Netter/HBO Max

Television

'It's just so fun to make people laugh,' says 'Hacks' star Jean Smart

 Fresh Air

The fifth and final season of the HBO Max series Hacks is nominated for 24 Emmys, including one for Smart as best actress in a comedy series. The writers "raised the bar every single season," Smart says.

FA: Jean Smart, Hacks

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CAMP DAVID, MARYLAND - JULY 31: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a Cabinet Meeting at Camp Davaid, the presidential retreat, on July 31, 2026 in Camp David, Maryland. U.S. President Donald Trump convened members of his Cabinet at the presidential retreat as the war with Iran continues.

CAMP DAVID, MARYLAND - JULY 31: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a Cabinet Meeting at Camp Davaid, the presidential retreat, on July 31, 2026 in Camp David, Maryland. U.S. President Donald Trump convened members of his Cabinet at the presidential retreat as the war with Iran continues. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
CAMP DAVID, MARYLAND - JULY 31: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a Cabinet Meeting at Camp Davaid, the presidential retreat, on July 31, 2026 in Camp David, Maryland. U.S. President Donald Trump convened members of his Cabinet at the presidential retreat as the war with Iran continues.

CAMP DAVID, MARYLAND - JULY 31: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche attends a Cabinet Meeting at Camp Davaid, the presidential retreat, on July 31, 2026 in Camp David, Maryland. U.S. President Donald Trump convened members of his Cabinet at the presidential retreat as the war with Iran continues. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Politics

Senate Judiciary Committee advances Blanche nomination, setting up a final vote

The 12-10 vote on Tuesday sets Blanche up for a final confirmation vote for the role of attorney general. GOP leaders hope to hold that vote before the Senate leaves for its August recess.

WATCH

Charlie Puth: Tiny Desk Concert

Charlie Puth, one of the biggest pop hitmakers of the last decade, turns the Tiny Desk into a jazz club.
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