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Episode Date: August 21, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are now on their way home. The military says another ship is in the region to provide relief. Family members report deteriorating conditions, including suicide attempts. NPR's Katie Riddle reports. The military has not confirmed reports of suicide. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth says the media has exaggerated the hardships the crew is enduring. But experts who have worked on these kinds of missions say nine.

months at sea, even in the best of conditions, is difficult. Dr. Philip Hunt was for years a Navy physician. He says the treatment of these sailors and Marines is unacceptable. To do that to people who have dedicated, they put their lives on the line. It took an oath. We all took the same oath. It just almost brings you to tears. The return journey home for the aircraft carrier will take a month. Katie Riddle and PR News. The federal debt topped $40 trillion yesterday as the government continues to rapidly pile up debt and spending outstrips revenue by more than $2 trillion a year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blamed the Biden administration. And remember, we did not get here in a day that we were left with a mess.

The Biden administration had the highest deficit to GDP in history when we weren't at war or weren't in a recession. For 2025, we brought it down by more than a percent. The debt has exploded over several presidential presidential. administrations. The federal government borrowed heavily when the pandemic began during President Trump's first term and continued into the Biden years to stabilize the economy and support of recovery. More spending was approved last year when Trump signed a massive spending and tax cut bill. A woman was charged today with plotting to plant a bomb at the New York State Capitol building. Samuel King with New York Public News Network reports court documents alleged she pledged allegiance

to Islamic State. Federal law enforcement agents say Jessica Bowie had a gun and a a explosive device with her Wednesday as she met with informants who she thought were helping her carry out her plan to destroy as much of the capital as possible, and quote, kill all the senators. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarkone says the arrest should serve as a warning to other would-be terrorists. We are vigilant. We are prepared. And just as we stop this defendant, we will continue to disrupt plots and protect the American people. The arrest comes just weeks before the anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

The FBI says they've stopped more than 400 individuals from carrying out alleged attacks here at home and abroad. For NPR News, I'm Samuel King in Albany. The World Health Organization says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Irvabo vaccine. It's licensed for Ebola virus, but not for the Boondibujo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak. The WHO says early DNA suggests it may provide some protection. The outbreak has killed more than 2,400 people out of more than 52,000 cases. It's NPR. Communities still recovering from last weekend's hurricane in Hawaii could get hit again in the coming days.

Now forecasters are warning another system could dump up to 15 inches of rain across the Big Island. Residents of a Rio Grande community in South Texas are suing the federal government over border wall construction. Landowners in San Ignacio say contractors entered private property without pre-execision. Permission. Texas Public Radio's Tim Gutierrez reports. Chanting no border wall, about 60 protesters marched outside the federal courthouse in Laredo. Many came from San Ignacio, where landowners are fighting border wall construction, they say, is crossing onto private land. Tricia Cortez is with the Rio Grande International Study Center. This is a very small historic community that has this unique ability to push,

back against the federal government. Residents along the Rio Grande from Laredo Westward Big Bend National Park have formed the No Border Wall Coalition to oppose new construction. The coalition says San Ignacio landowners have temporarily stopped work on disputed property, asking a federal judge to halt construction while the case moves forward. I'm Tim Gutierrez in San Antonio. A semi-truck sent a truckload of squid spilling into a Rhode Island roadway, leaving a stench as they sat in the road for hours in the summer heat.

The trailer fully loaded with squid overturned on its side while the truck was making a turn and blocked all lanes on one road. Local authorities are calling it the Squidpocalypse of 26. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.