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Episode Date: August 20, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with his Canadian counterpart at the White House later today as a trade deal seems to be in the works. Key terms of the agreement that would avert President Trump's 50 percent tariffs on Canadian imports remain unclear. However, President Trump said yesterday that the deal is very fair to both sides. Trump postponed the tariffs. Negotiators now face a Saturday deadline to finalize the agreement. President Trump hosted tech leaders at the White House Wednesday to discuss U.S. efforts on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. Trump says the technology is crucial to create more jobs and beat China.

But voters have a different perspective, as NPR's deepest chiviram reports. The president argued that if he were the mayor of a town, he would want an AI data center there for the tax benefits. But if I were a governor or mayor, I would want that plant in my community. and many of them are designed in a very beautiful way. That puts Trump at odds with the majority of Americans. A gallop poll from March this year said seven in ten Americans oppose an AI data center getting built in their area. Trump and his remarks acknowledged that AI data centers could use a, quote, little public relations help.

But his stance underscores how his perception of the technology differs from voters' concerns, which could be a top issue in the midterm elections this year. Deepa Shiverom and PR News, the White House. Pennsylvania's acting state police commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, on the aftermath of last night's collision between a small plane and a state police helicopter. The plane crashed into the ground, a short distance ahead in many pieces. The helicopter, without its blades and without its tail boom, rolled inverted and crashed into the ground. Vivens says the plane was coming down on a runway and veered into the helicopter, flivant. lying near the ground. The plane's pilot was killed. Officials say both state troopers on board,

the helicopters survived the FAA and the NTSB investigating. The International Criminal Court says it is undeterred by a U.S. campaign to undermine it. And Pierce Michelle Kellerman reports. In a statement, the International Criminal Court says it deplores the new sanctions on a judge from Japan and a trial lawyer from Senegal. It calls the sanctions a flagrant attack against the independence of the court, saying now nine of the 18 judges are facing U.S. sanctions, along with both of the deputy prosecutors, the former prosecutor, and one staff member. The U.S. is not a party to the court, which was set up as a court of last resort for war crimes. The ICC says the U.S. effort to undermine it could impact the ability of victims to seek justice when all other avenues have been exhausted.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. And you're listening to NPR News. President Trump has chosen a White House insider to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Heidi Overton has worked on several of Trump's health initiatives and is currently a deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. She will need Senate confirmation to succeed Dr. Marty McCarrie, who resigned in May. The West African country of Liberia says it has agreed to accept up to 1,200 nationals of other countries deported from the United States within the next 12 months. Michael Koloki reports the first group expected to arrive today.

Liberia's government says the deported migrants include, quote, citizens or nationals of African and Western Hemisphere countries who are medically authorized to travel. The statement adds that the deportees will be permitted to leave at their discretion and given an opportunity to apply for asylum in Liberia. The Trump administration has previously approached a number of African countries to accept deportees who are citizens of other nations. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Ghana are among countries that have accepted migrants deported from the U.S. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi. Friends Harry and his wife, Megan, are reportedly returning to the UK with their children.

Britain's daily telegraphed newspaper says King Charles III was told us. the decision on Sunday but was not told about it during the couple's visit last month. The telegraph says Harry and Megan's two children have already enrolled at British schools and will start classes in September. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.