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Episode Date: August 8, 2025

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This week on Consider This, the fight over gerrymandering, spreading from Texas to other states. Now some Democrats want to fight fire with fire. And a lot of us are searching the web differently, letting AI do it for us. Why the internet could change if you search but never click. This week on Consider This, listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Two of President Trump's most outspoken critics are now under federal criminal investigation. Sources tell NPR that the Justice Department has launched a probe into New York Attorney General Letitia James's prosecution of President Trump and his companies over fraud.

She won that civil case. And a separate source confirms an investigation into whether James and California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, who played a key role in Trump's first term impeachment, each committed mortgage fraud. Turns out, third time is not the charm. Today, the Texas House of Representatives, again, fail to reach a quorum to convene and address legislative business, including holding a redistricting vote. Most Democratic state lawmakers

opposed to redrawing the state's congressional map say the plan will disenfranchise minority voters, and they're still out of state. Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports GOP lawmakers have been trying to force them back. Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burroughs said one of his GOP colleagues was prepared to introduce a flood recovery and disaster preparedness bill,

responding to last month's deadly central Texas flood. He told absent Democrats the bill can't be referred to committee without a quorum present. Each one of you knows that eventually you will come back, and we will pass the priorities of the special session on the call. But with each passing day, the political cost of your absence is rising, and it will be paid in full. At least one Democrat who had been absent returned for Friday. brief house session. For NPR news, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston.

Israel is expanding its war in Gaza. The prime minister's office issued a statement today in which it outlined plans to take control of Gaza City, secure the release of all 50 remaining living and to cease hostages, and to establish a power structure that includes neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. A federal appeals court has tossed out criminal contempt proceedings that a lower court judge was holding against officials in the Trump administration. The judge had vowed to hold officials accountable for violating his order in a high-profile immigration case. Here's NPR's Adrian Florido. Back in April, Judge James Bosberg of the Federal District Court for D.C. said he had probable cause to hold administration officials in contempt for ignoring

his order to turn back airplanes that were carrying Venezuelan deportees to a prison in El Salvador. He had said he'd hold proceedings to figure out which officials were responsible and hold them accountable. The Trump administration appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a two-to-one vote, a three-judge panel on the court has now tossed out the contempt finding. Both judges who cited with President Trump were appointed by him. It's a big win for the administration, which argued Judge Bosberg had overstepped his authority by starting contempt proceedings. Adrian Flodillo, NPR News. The Dow has closed up more than 200 points. This is NPR News. who flew in space four times during NASA's early years,

including on the Apollo 13 mission, has died. He was 97 years old. NASA announced his death today. Level's NASA career was peppered with firsts. His first flight, Gemini 7 in 1965, set a space endurance record of nearly 14 days. After Lovell commanded Gemini 12, he'd flown in space longer than any other person at that point. In his next flight, Apollo 8 was the first time humans left Earth orbit, and it circled the moon in 1968. Ukrainian journalist Victoria Rochina,

who died in Russian captivity last year, was buried with honors in Ukraine's capital. NPR's Hannah Palomreco reports from Kiev that several hundred people attended the farewell ceremony. The ceremony began with a funeral service at St. Michael's Cathedral. Then the procession moved to Maidan, the central square of the capital. Hundreds of people kneeled down to pay their respects. Rochina reported from occupied territories.

Russians kidnapped and held her in captivity, and her body was returned in February with traces of beatings and numerous injuries. Rochina's colleagues, who gave a eulogy, emphasized that the circumstances of her death must be investigated, and those responsible must be punished. Hanna Palomarenko, NPR News, Kyiv. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

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