NPR News Now

Podbit · NPR News Now

NPR News: 07-27-2026 7AM EDT

Explore episode Jul 27, 2026
Government
Senate's Impossible Week: Wars, Shutdowns, and a Compromised DNI Pick

NPR News: 07-27-2026 7AM EDT · Jul 27, 2026 Government

The Senate has one week to pass $1 trillion in government funding, $100 billion in Pentagon spending, and confirm a Director of National Intelligence who already fumbled his confirmation hearings. The 60-vote threshold makes every bill dependent on Democratic cooperation — but Democrats have little appetite to fund a war in Iran that Congress never authorized, or an immigration crackdown they oppose.

1m 21s

Where this was said

Maine Democrats' Emergency Senate Nomination

At 2:41 · chapter starts 0:59

With their Senate race suddenly in crisis, Maine Democrats gathered at a convention over the weekend and chose Troy Jackson — a former logger who rose to become president of the Maine Senate — as their replacement candidate. Jackson's politics mirror his predecessor's almost perfectly: he's a progressive who champions taxing the wealthy and expanding Medicare access, aligning closely with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who had endorsed Graham Plattner and quickly threw his support behind Jackson too. Maine Public's Steve Missler noted that Sanders even campaigned alongside both candidates, and their shared message energized the Democratic base while attracting independents — a promising sign for Jackson heading into his matchup with Susan Collins. Collins, a Republican running for her sixth Senate term, represents a formidable challenge in a state that often rewards incumbents and defies easy partisan categorization.

News
Maine Democrats' Emergency Senate Pick

NPR News: 07-27-2026 7AM EDT · Jul 27, 2026 News

Maine Democrats needed a new Senate candidate fast, and they found one in Troy Jackson — a former logger, longtime state lawmaker, and Bernie Sanders ally. Sanders endorsed both Plattner and Jackson and campaigned with both. Jackson's progressive platform is already energizing Democratic voters and pulling independents ahead of a fight with Susan Collins, who is seeking a sixth term.

1m 42s
Technology
CxMT's Record-Breaking Shanghai Debut

NPR News: 07-27-2026 7AM EDT · Jul 27, 2026 Technology

Chinese chipmaker CxMT became the most valuable company listed on China's stock exchanges after its shares soared on debut in Shanghai. Its chips power AI servers and consumer smartphones — a direct play on China's race to build semiconductor independence amid U.S. export restrictions.

38s

Similar podbits

Government
The AI Race to Govern Itself: Multi-Stakeholder or Bust

Using AI to Increase Your Intelligence & Enrich Humanity | … · Aug 10, 2026 Government

Fei-Fei Li went back to Stanford from Google in 2018 specifically to build a multi-stakeholder governance framework for AI. Her argument: market forces are not societal norms. Just as biology uses IRBs and cars have safety laws, AI needs layered oversight from educators, governments, and the public — not just a few industry titans.

9m 46s
Government
Surveillance vs. Privacy: The Fulcrum We Need to Find

The Surveillance Economy, and How Capitalism Can Fix Poverty · Aug 10, 2026 Government

Mass surveillance is here to stay. The real battle isn't stopping cameras — it's ensuring judges and laws keep that data out of family court and civil disputes, admitting it only for violent crimes and national security. The surveillance economy currently yields more upside than downside, but only if we build the legal guardrails now.

2m 10s
Government
Northern Europe Isn't Socialist — It's Capitalism Done Right

The Surveillance Economy, and How Capitalism Can Fix Poverty · Aug 10, 2026 Government

When people cite Scandinavia as proof socialism works, Galloway says they've got it backwards. Northern Europe runs highly competitive free-market economies with more competition in many sectors than the US — they just make sure taxes are actually paid and redistributed. Billionaires and universal healthcare can coexist.

1m 3s
Government
How to Fix the UK in Four Moves

“We’re At The Beginning Of A Revolution” - Jimmy Carr - #11… · Aug 10, 2026 Government

Two percent adjustments to income tax and stamp duty tweaks are deck-chair rearrangements. The UK's competitiveness hinges on four structural levers: currency valuation, energy costs, regulatory burden, and tax rates. Devalue the pound, build 56 nuclear plants, slash red tape, introduce a flat tax — and the country transforms.

5m 20s
Government
Lisbon Solved Its Drug Crisis — Then Forgot Why

“We’re At The Beginning Of A Revolution” - Jimmy Carr - #11… · Aug 10, 2026 Government

Lisbon had one of Europe's worst heroin crises. Then Portugal legalised drugs and redirected all enforcement money into rehabilitation and housing. Crime collapsed. Addiction fell. Then politics moved the money elsewhere, and the problem started creeping back. Chesterton's Fence: you forget why you were spending that money.

2m 21s