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Top Headlines Today
A Virginia grand jury has formally charged former FBI Director James Comey with obstruction of justice and providing false testimony to Congress. These allegations follow President Trump’s call for prosecutors to accelerate their efforts against one of his most vocal opponents. Trump has long criticized Comey, holding him responsible for the appointment of a special counsel who investigated alleged ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign throughout much of his administration.
Former FBI Director James Comey departs the Rayburn House Office Building after testifying to two House committees on December 7, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
- 🎧 NPR’s Carrie Johnson describes the indictment as “minimalist,” spanning just two pages. Despite this, President Trump insists that Comey is only at the start of facing consequences for his alleged misconduct. Recently, the White House replaced a seasoned prosecutor who questioned the evidence’s strength in Comey’s case with Lindsey Halligan, an insurance attorney lacking prosecutorial experience. For the charges to hold, the Justice Department must prove Comey intentionally lied about a material issue. Johnson notes that Comey might claim the prosecution is retaliatory, given the president’s public statements.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called an unprecedented meeting of the Pentagon’s highest-ranking commanders worldwide, scheduled for next week in Virginia. The Pentagon has yet to disclose the purpose or agenda of this rare assembly.
- 🎧 According to NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman, such a large-scale gathering is without precedent. While the Pentagon occasionally convenes combatant commanders for annual briefings, this event’s scale is notably different. Hegseth previously mentioned plans to reduce the number of generals and admirals during his confirmation hearings. Bowman speculates this meeting might relate to that initiative, though no official confirmation exists.
The U.S. government is seeking a multibillion-dollar payment from American investors poised to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations. The Trump administration recently approached the group, which includes tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison and the Murdoch family, proposing a fee “in the low billions,” according to an insider familiar with the discussions. The investors reportedly agreed without hesitation. Some analysts have labeled such demands and similar arrangements as “extortion.”
Featured Image
Sally Mann photographed in her home studio in Virginia on August 16, 2025.
Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR
Renowned photographer Sally Mann’s work is exhibited in prestigious galleries worldwide. However, this year, authorities confiscated four of her most iconic images. One depicts a toddler asleep on a wet bed, while another shows a melting popsicle on her son’s lower body, including his genitals. These photos belong to her Immediate Family collection, which has been publicly displayed for over three decades. The Danbury Institute, a conservative Christian advocacy group, accused the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, of exhibiting “child pornography” in a December 2024 open letter, supported by local officials. Mann expects further cultural backlash from those who misinterpret her art. Explore more about Mann’s perspective on this “new wave of culture wars” and view a selection of her works over the years. Listen to her reflections on the seizure or read the full transcript.
Weekend Recommendations
Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell star in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.
Matt Kennedy/Sony Pictures
Here’s what NPR recommends for your weekend entertainment:
🍿 Films: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a romantic fantasy featuring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie as two strangers on a road trip guided by a mystical GPS that leads them through portals into moments from their past.
📺 Television: The HBO crime drama Task stars Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, following an FBI agent reluctantly returning to duty to unravel a complex drug trafficking case.
📚 Literature: Will There Ever Be Another You centers on a protagonist battling an illness akin to long COVID, descending into physical and mental turmoil, immersing readers in her chaotic unraveling.
🎵 Music: Twenty One Pilots’ latest album Breach has soared to the top of the Billboard 200, reaffirming the vitality of rock music today.
🎭 Theater: Chess Jakobs’ new play, The American Five, delves into the organization of the historic March on Washington by Martin Luther King Jr. and his closest associates. NPR interviews Jakobs and actor Ro Boddie, who portrays King. Listen to their conversation or read the transcript.
🎮 Gaming: Silent Hill fans rejoice! The newest installment, Silent Hill f, is hailed by NPR’s Vincent Acovino as one of the darkest, most intense, and best entries in the series.
❓ Quiz: I stumbled on four questions this week, but I’m confident you'll do better. Give it a shot!
Three Key Updates Before You Go
A Starbucks location in New York City on July 28, 2025. Starbucks is closing stores and cutting 900 corporate positions as part of its turnaround strategy.
Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
- Starbucks is set to cut 900 corporate jobs and shutter several stores across the U.S. and Canada as it nears the one-year milestone of its restructuring plan.
- Amazon has agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement in a landmark lawsuit alleging the company made it difficult for millions to cancel their Prime memberships.
- Though often seen as charming, squirrels can be aggressive. In Marin County, California, at least three residents were hospitalized following attacks by a single squirrel in one neighborhood. (via KQED)
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
