Intro

The Senate just passed a bill that would cut more than $1.1 billion in previously allocated federal funds for public media. The Wall Street Journal reports. The president of PBS tells the Washington Post the move would result in an existential crisis for member stations that depend on federal dollars. 

Trump has been going back and forth on his desire to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Neil Irwin from Axios discusses whether the president has the power to do so, and why a recent Fed building renovation matters. 

Los Angeles is struggling to rebuild after devastating wildfires earlier this year. Vox’s Umair Irfan explains why.

Plus, Trump hit out at his own supporters over the Epstein files, why Israel just bombed Syria, and how a major breakthrough in IVF treatment that involves using the DNA of three people could prevent disease.

Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.