Politics and views in the United States

Fauci invokes the Fifth Amendment at a Senate hearing, The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady and Iran escalates the Middle East conflict.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the national response to the pandemic, repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during Senate questions on whether COVID was created in a Chinese lab or developed in nature.

Republicans, led by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, plan to pursue a contempt vote.

Fauci says Paul was trying to find a way of charging him with perjury.

President Donald Trump missed this week's deadline to ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling, blocking an effort to end automatic birthright citizenship.

Republican lawmakers are instead pursuing legislation.

The administration's ending a Biden-era Medicare subsidy that's kept down Part D prescription costs.

Republicans objected to spending billions to hold average monthly premiums under $40 for millions of seniors and people with disabilities.

Survivors of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are back on Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to reject acting AG Todd Blanche's nomination to be attorney general.

Danielle Benske told reporters she was frustrated by a meeting demanded by retiring North Carolina Republican Senator Tom Tillis.

When Senator Tillis asked Todd Blanche to meet with survivors, I don't think that he had the meeting in mind that we got.

There was no integrity.

There was no understanding that he's dealing with the largest sex trafficking ring that we've seen in the U.S. ever.

A committee vote on the nomination may be stalled.

Retiring Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn is withholding support until the Justice Department provides binding assurances about ending plans for a huge so-called anti-weaponization fund.

The Federal Reserve is leaving benchmark interest rates unchanged at three and a half to three and three quarters.

Some on the board favored a rate hike, signaling concern that inflation could stay elevated.

A Quinnipiac poll shows Trump's approval rating falling to a new low, with less than a third of voters approving of his job performance.

The White House says the president is delivering results on jobs, inflation, and the economy.

U.S. and Saudi warplanes struck Iran-backed militias in Iraq as Iran-launched missiles at a Jordanian base used by U.S. forces and apparently separate drone strikes at a U.S.-owned tanker ablaze in Egypt.

Texas lawmakers may try to tighten enforcement of the state's abortion pill ban during the next legislative session.

Reproductive rights advocates say the restrictions are even starting to affect other rights.

Raven Freeborn is with Avall Texas.

This isn't just about abortion.

If lawmakers can punish people for intent in one area, they can and will extend that logic anywhere else.

To protest, to speech, to health care, and to voting.

I'm Joe Ulori for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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