Blog
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Cut Worms on their latest album, ‘Transmitter’
On Cut Worms’ new album, Transmitter, Max Clarke teamed up with Jeff Tweedy at Wilco‘s legendary Loft studio in Chicago. Clarke opened for the venerable indie rock outfit in 2024, and a jam session opened the door to a collaboration.
While Clarke typically likes to maintain creative control of his projects, he allowed himself to take his hands off the wheel and let Tweedy take the reins. The result reflects both artists’ tastes and sensibilities.
Coming up, Max joins us to talk about recording Transmitter, the production tool he refuses to use and, as a lifelong Beatles fan, his chance meeting with Paul McCartney.
This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Miguel Perez. Our senior producer is Kimberly Junod and our engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and booking coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.
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Supreme Court financial disclosures reveal how their books add to their income
Even as the Supreme Court was handing down one legal thunderbolt after another last week, the justices were quietly releasing their annual financial reports. Justice Samuel Alito was the only sitting justice to request an extension, which he has done for 15 years. The disclosures do not give a complete account of the justices’ total income and wealth, but they give insights into their concertgoing, guest professorships and even their involvement in youth sports.
In addition to their salaries, much of the justices’ reported income came from their book deals. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson led the pack earning more than $1.1 million last year for a total of roughly $4 million since her memoir, Lovely One, was published in 2024.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy also reported income from published books. Earnings from their books ranged from $849,000 for Barrett, to $300,000 for Gorsuch and $88,000 for Sotomayor, whose books include her 2013 autobiography and five children’s books. Justice Clarence Thomas, who previously earned $1.5 million for his 2007 memoir, listed no publisher payments last year, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, one of 13 co-authors of a 2016 legal treatise, also received no payments last year. Kavanaugh is said to be working on a memoir but he listed no payments for the anticipated book. Alito does have a book coming out in the fall, but with his financial report still outstanding, there is no data on how much he was paid for the work in 2025.
The only two sitting justices who have not written books are Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Elena Kagan.
Many justices also earned income from teaching at law schools. Roberts reported income from New England Law, located in Boston, and Gorsuch reported teaching income from George Mason University in Virginia. Thomas taught classes at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and Barrett and Kavanaugh taught at Notre Dame Law School. Barrett graduated from the school and began teaching there 23 years ago; Kavanaugh has family connections to Notre Dame.
The disclosures also report gifts, travel, food and lodging that the justices received in 2025. Jackson and Sotomayor were the only two to report gifts. Jackson was given a painting for her chambers valued at $2,500, and Sotomayor reported a trip to Kansas City to watch the opening of a musical based on her children’s book, Just Ask.
In addition, she reported receiving free tickets worth $4,333 while on “a private trip to Puerto Rico.” The tickets were from the record label that represents Bad Bunny, and her trip coincided with the artist’s months-long concert series in San Juan. Sotomayor’s parents were from Puerto Rico, and she has spent much time there over the years.
The justices also disclosed significant reimbursements for travel throughout 2025. Thomas’ travel, food and lodging expenses were paid for by the Hoover Institution for speaking at a celebration of conservative economist Thomas Sowell.
Sotomayor, Gorsuch, Barrett and Jackson were reimbursed for international travel, where they gave speeches, spoke about their books or taught. Roberts was the only sitting member of the court not to report any gifts or travel reimbursements.
The annual filings also shed some light on the justices’ activities off the bench. Kavanaugh reported that in addition to his duties as a Supreme Court justice, he serves as a coach to multiple D.C.-area Catholic Youth Organization girls’ basketball teams. Coach K, as he is known by his players, wrote the court’s June decision declaring that states can ban transgender women and girl athletes from playing on women’s and girls’ sports teams.
The justices’ salaries are established by law. The chief justice earns the most, at $320,700 per year. The eight associate justices earn $306,600 per year. While that is a lot of money to most Americans, the justices and even their law clerks could earn more the minute they leave their Supreme Court jobs for large law firms.
Roberts was the only member of the court to report investing in individual stocks. Alito in the past has also owned shares of individual stocks, but his report is not due for three months when his extension runs out. For the most part, the justices do not own individual stocks, but do invest in index funds, mutual funds and other such investment programs in order to both make money and limit potential conflicts of interest that would require their recusal from certain cases.
However — and this is a big however — the financial reporting forms the justices are required to fill out are so unspecific and the reporting ranges for investment earnings are so broad that it is impossible to determine any justice’s overall wealth. In addition, the current value of the justices’ homes isn’t reported. Neither is their spouses’ income, which in the case of the chief justice, for instance, likely far exceeds his take-home pay.
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New U.S. passports with Trump’s image are available. Here’s how to get (or avoid) one
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The State Department began issuing commemorative passports for America’s 250th anniversary on Monday. The passports feature an image of President Trump and are only available in person at the Washington Passport Agency — and only with an appointment.
John Hall drove all the way from his home in Alabama, in what he calls his “MAGA red” Hyundai, to get one of the new passports. “It’s a commemorative thing to have,” he told NPR. “I’m a big Trump supporter.”
But he left empty-handed Monday because he couldn’t get an appointment before he had to return home. He said he would try coming back when the State Department holds “special passport acceptance events” on future dates, including Aug. 22 and Sept. 26.
The Washington passport office is usually for U.S. citizens who can prove they are traveling within a couple of days.
Richmond, Va.’s Kim Zaninovich was in that position, and walked out of the office Monday saying it was “distressing” to see President Trump’s image on the inside cover of her passport. “It’s an angry look,” she said of the illustration of Trump with closed fists on a desk, in front of the Declaration of Independence and the American flag.
Zaninovich said she was given no choice to opt out and get a regular passport. Another applicant, Ariel Baras, said he was asked and decided “why not?”
While there was initially some confusion about whether travelers had a choice, NPR did learn that there’s a trick if you are applying in person in Washington and do not want a passport with Trump’s image: Choose extra pages. The State Department says the 250th commemorative passport is only available in the standard, 28-page book.
Transcript:
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
The State Department is issuing passports commemorating America’s 250th birthday. The first page has a picture of President Trump. Americans can only get them in person at the passport office in Washington, D.C. You need an appointment, and they are only available for a limited time, as NPR’s Michele Kelemen reports.
MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: John Hall (ph) has been on hold for hours to try to get inside the door of the Washington Passport Agency to apply for a passport with Trump’s image in it.
JOHN HALL: There’s only – what? – 30,000 of these going to be give out. It’s a commemorative thing to have.
KELEMEN: He drove all the way from Alabama in his bright red Hyundai.
HALL: I’m a big Trump supporter, as you can see on the back.
KELEMEN: Oh, yeah.
HALL: It’s got 47, my president.
KELEMEN: And on the front of the car it says MAGA red. But while he desperately tries to get one of these passports, Kim Zaninovich (ph) walks out with one depressed to see Trump’s face on the first page.
KIM ZANINOVICH: It’s an angry look. He’s standing in front of the Declaration of Independence, which is something that he clearly doesn’t stand for. You know, I think it’s very interesting that here we are, the 250th anniversary of this country, and the grievances that were written against King George are the same grievances, for the most part, that could be written against him right now. And it’s embarrassing.
KELEMEN: She’s traveling this week and just happened to have an emergency appointment on the day the State Department began issuing these passports. Zaninovich says she didn’t have a choice to opt out. Ariel Barras (ph) says he did have a choice, and opted in.
ARIEL BARRAS: I know Trump’s signature is on it. But, you know, it’s still a special passport, 250. I came here for the fireworks. It was very nice. You know, why not? Celebrating 250 for the U.S.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Your call is important to us. All representatives are still busy.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
HALL: Good to know the call is important them.
(LAUGHTER)
KELEMEN: Alabama resident John Hall did finally get through to someone, who gave him an appointment, but not until next week.
Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department.
(SOUNDBITE OF FLYAMSAM’S “THE OFFBEAT”)
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Appeals court denies Trump’s request to halt removal of his name from the Kennedy Center
On Wednesday, a federal appeals court denied President Trump’s request to stop the removal of his name from Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center. The signage on the building has been covered with tarp and scaffolding since June 13, but in a court filing last month, the center’s current executive director said that Trump’s name has been removed.
In their decision, three judges from the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said that the president had failed to prove that the arts center would be “irreparably injured” without Trump’s name attached to it.
NPR requested comment from the Kennedy Center, but did not receive an immediate reply.
This latest round of court decisions is part of the ongoing litigation filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, against President Trump and the board of the Kennedy Center. In a statement emailed Wednesday to NPR, Beatty said: “Today’s ruling again affirms that this administration’s efforts to rename the Kennedy Center were unlawful. His name no longer desecrates this sacred memorial, which belongs to the American people. Now it is time for the Trump administration to accept this, comply with the law, and take the tarps down.”
In previous court filings, Trump’s legal team had asserted that removing the president’s name from the arts complex, both on the physical building and in its digital materials, would inflict irreparable harm in both time and money already spent. In the denial, the three judges — Patricia Millett, Robert Wilkins and Gregory Katsas — wrote that since Trump’s name has already been removed, “a stay would not avert those harms.”
Furthermore, Trump had claimed that without his name attached, future fundraising would be threatened “and [will] contribute to the financial decline of the Center.” In response, the appeals judges wrote: “Appellants, however, have failed to support this assertion with any specific facts or evidence. They offer only the conclusory assertions of the Kennedy Center’s Executive Director that were made in a factually unsupported declaration.” The center’s current executive director, Matt Floca, specializes in physical plant management.
The presiding judge in the case, Christopher R. Cooper, has ordered that the center provide him a status report on the center’s operation and programming before the end of this month. As of Wednesday, the center’s calendar lists a small roster of programs, including outdoor free movie screenings, workshops for children, and five free live performances in July on its Millennium Stage. In the past, the Kennedy Center presented over 2,000 arts and education events each year, including free daily Millennium Stage performances.
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Tensions with Iran add fresh uncertainty to an already shaky global economy
Renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran added yet another dose of uncertainty to the global economy.
Crude oil prices jumped and stock prices fell after President Trump declared an end to the fragile ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military attacked dozens of targets along the Iranian coastline overnight, in retaliation for what appeared to be Iranian attacks on vessels trying to transit the strait.
The hostile action threatens to prolong volatility in global markets just weeks after investors had reacted with relief after Trump and Iran had agreed on a ceasefire.
Both the U.S. and international benchmarks for crude oil jumped about 7% on Wednesday, although they still remain well below their springtime peaks. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled more than 800 points, or 1.5%, after hitting a record high just two days earlier.
The resumption of attacks renews the prospect of inflationary pressure after a month of falling gasoline prices. The initial price spike was muted, however, suggesting that markets don’t expect a return to full-blown war. Retail gasoline prices in the U.S. rose less than a penny per gallon overnight, according to AAA, though they could climb higher in the coming days as higher crude oil costs are passed along.
Global markets have been volatile ever since the U.S. and Israel first attacked Iran in February — and the jump in bond yields seen overnight signals that investors expect renewed uncertainty.
All eyes are on the Federal Reserve
The ongoing tensions with Iran will also continue to add pressure on the Federal Reserve under its new chairman, Kevin Warsh.
A market gauge — the CME FedWatch tracking tool — suggests investors now see a better than 1-in-3 chance that the Fed will raise interest rates this month. That’s up from about a 1-in-4 chance on Tuesday, before the ceasefire broke down.
The central bank is closely monitoring higher energy prices, which have already pushed inflation well above its 2% target. The Trump administration is also preparing for a new round of global tariffs, which could put more upward pressure on import prices in the second half of the year.
Even before the latest attacks, the International Monetary Fund had downgraded its forecast for economic growth this year. The IMF expects the global economy to grow 3% in 2026, down from 3.5% last year.
“The possibility of renewed Middle East conflict looms large and could extend commodity price volatility, further threaten supply chains, raise prices, and weigh on financial conditions,” the IMF warned in its latest outlook.
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Family of Nolan Wells, Black teen found dead off Mississippi island, retains lawyer Ben Crump
The family of an 18-year-old who was found dead after a July 4 boat trip to an island off the Gulf Coast has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump amid an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance.
Nolan Xavier Wells’ body was discovered Monday off the coast of Horn Island, Mississippi, where he was last seen with a group of friends Saturday afternoon, officials said.
In a statement released Tuesday, Crump said the family is searching for answers about the events leading up to his death.
“We will not rest until every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light, and we call on investigators to pursue this case with the urgency and transparency this family deserves,” said Crump, who also was recently retained by the family of a Mississippi 1-year-old who was killed when police fired into a moving car.
Wells traveled by boat with friends to the island Saturday but did not return with them that afternoon, according to Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter.
Wells was reported missing that night by his mother. A rescue team found his body the following morning, the family said. An autopsy was set to be completed Tuesday.
Ledbetter said Wells’ friends were cooperating with the investigation.
“From the people we’ve talked to, it sounds like he chose to stay on the island with the assumption that he was going to ride back to the mainland with someone else,” Ledbetter told The Associated Press.
Wells, who would have turned 19 next month, attended Southwest Mississippi Community College, where he played wide receiver on the football team.
In a social media post, his mother, Christine Wonsley, said the family is seeking videos and other documentation from the island.
“My heart is broken for our sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others,” she said. “Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son.”
