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Today’s top stories
Today is the final full day of the ceasefire agreement between the U.S., Israel and Iran. The future of any lasting peace remains uncertain. A temporary ceasefire is also in place in Lebanon, but residents there are watching closely: NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf, reporting from south Lebanon, says many fear that if U.S.-Iran talks collapse, so will the pause that has limited fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Life hasn’t returned to normal in Lebanon; Israel still occupies significant border land to prevent Hezbollah attacks, and many of the more than one million displaced people cannot go home. Locals question how long Israel would maintain that occupation even if the ceasefire is extended—the last Israeli presence in southern Lebanon lasted nearly two decades.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned amid an internal investigation into alleged misconduct, becoming the third member of President Trump’s second-term cabinet to depart. White House communications director Steven Cheung posted that Chavez-DeRemer had done a “phenomenal job” and plans to move into the private sector. The investigation has been ongoing for months; several senior staffers have left or been fired. Media reports allege complaints that she had an affair with a subordinate, drank on the job, took staff to a strip club and used taxpayer-funded travel for personal trips to Las Vegas and elsewhere. NPR has not independently verified those claims. Department sources note Chavez-DeRemer spent much time traveling the country on an America at Work listening tour.
Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s pick to be the next Federal Reserve chair, faces a tough confirmation hearing today before the Senate Banking Committee. Senators are expected to question him on inflation, borrowing costs and whether he will follow the president’s push to lower interest rates. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he may block a vote on Warsh until the Justice Department ends its investigation into the Fed—a probe Tillis and others, including current Fed Chair Jerome Powell and a federal judge, say is part of a pressure campaign by Trump to force rate cuts or Powell’s resignation. That pressure could backfire: even though Powell’s term is due to expire next month, he might remain longer. Warsh, who once had a reputation as an inflation hawk while on the Fed’s board, now argues the Fed can cut rates without sparking inflation, citing gains in worker productivity from artificial intelligence. His shifting stance has raised Democrats’ concerns that he might align with the White House.
Today’s listen
Rio de Janeiro is home to the world’s largest urban rainforest, Tijuca National Park, with tree canopies, waterfalls and hiking trails. NPR’s Brian Mann explored the park—riding a packed tram up Corcovado Mountain and hiking steep, often slippery trails through increasingly wild forest. He describes the respite the park offers from the city’s bustle; listen to Mann’s sounds from the trek or read more about his hike.
Picture show
Monster truck shows are booming family entertainment. At the Mallet Event Center and Arena in Levelland, Texas, families watched massive trucks like “Grave Digger” and “Bigfoot.” Modern monster trucks weigh up to six tons, can cost as much as $300,000, and feature huge custom tires and extreme stunts. The sport has grown rapidly nationwide.
3 things to know before you go
1) The Onion struck a deal to take over Alex Jones’ Infowars. If a Texas judge approves, the satirical site could turn Jones’ platform into a parody of itself.
2) Apple CEO Tim Cook, 65, announced he is stepping down; John Ternus will take over in September.
3) Seventeen rare books stolen from John Hay Whitney’s Long Island estate in the 1980s resurfaced last year and will be returned to the family for auction, with proceeds to be donated.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.