National Public Radio

Republican Senators Release $928 Billion Infrastructure Counteroffer, Including $65 Billion for Broadband

A group of Republican Senators has unveiled a $928 billion infrastructure proposal to counter President Joe Biden's plan for a nearly $2 trillion bill. The proposal outlines a significant increase from the most recent GOP plan to spend $568 billion. The new version includes additional money for roads, bridges, water, rail and airports, but the majority of the proposed spending is part of an existing baseline plan for investments. The total new money is just $257 billion. The single-largest spending item is $506 billion for roads, bridges and major projects — a $91 billion increase.

To Bridge The Digital Divide, Biden Administration Launches Vaccine Hotline

To help overcome the digital divide, the Biden Administration has launched a new vaccination assistance hotline for people who would prefer to get information via telephone. It's part of the administration's push to get 70% of adults in the U.S. vaccinated with at least one dose by July 4. "We know that millions of people in America don't have consistent access to broadband or are uncomfortable navigating the web," wrote Dr. Marcella Nunez Smith, who chairs the Biden administration's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force.

Falun Gong, Steve Bannon And The Trump-Era Battle Over Internet Freedom

Of all the disruptions unleashed by the Trump White House on how the federal government typically works, the saga of one small project, called the Open Technology Fund, stands out. The fantastical tale incorporates the spiritual movement Falun Gong, former White House strategist Steve Bannon, the daughter of a late liberal congressman and a zealous appointee of former President Donald Trump.