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5 min readHere is a summary of the NPR News Now episode for June 26, 2026.
The episode opens with a devastating update from Northern Venezuela, where back-to-back earthquakes have caused catastrophic damage. At least 235 people are confirmed dead, and officials expect that number to rise as search and rescue operations continue. Reporter Manuel Ruita described the scene in parts of Caracas as resembling a war zone, with entire buildings collapsed. The destruction is also severe in La Guayra, a coastal city about an hour from the capital, where so many homes have been destroyed that residents are sleeping in parks at night. The United States has deployed disaster response teams to assist with search and recovery, and the White House has pledged $150 million in humanitarian aid.
Supreme Court Ruling on Asylum Faces Backlash from Faith Groups
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:05) **Second Earthquake Devastates Northern Venezuela** - Back-to-back earthquakes in Northern Venezuela leave at least 235 dead, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue operations continue.
- 2 (00:59) **Faith Groups Condemn Supreme Court Asylum Ruling** - Religious organizations that resettle refugees criticize a Supreme Court decision that allows the Trump administration to tighten asylum rules.
- 3 (01:57) **Forest Service Staffing Dispute Amid Western Wildfires** - The Trump administration claims the US Forest Service is fully staffed for summer, but former federal firefighters push back as dozens of wildfires burn in the West.
- 4 (03:00) **Norway's Viking Row Unites Team and Nation at World Cup** - A "Viking Battle Cry" chant, known as the Viking Row, inspires the Norwegian team and goes viral, even reaching the country's parliament.
- 5 (04:02) **California Voters to Decide on Billionaire Tax for Healthcare** - A November ballot measure in California would impose a one-time 5% tax on net worth over $1 billion to offset cuts to low-income healthcare.
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