NPR News: 07-17-2026 9PM EDT

Libby Casey· Host0:00

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. Secretary of Homeland Security, Mark Wayne Mullen, is warning state officials that if they don't implement the Trump administration's election security measures, they could face penalties. NPR's Jude Joffe-Block reports his remarks follow the president's speech Thursday evening.

Jude Joffe-Block0:19

Mullen says DHS will roll out an updated election infrastructure plan for states, and they will lose access to grants if they don't follow it. The Trump administration wants states to use a federal data system known as SAVE to check voter rolls for non-citizens and deceased voters. Mullen had a warning for state officials that don't participate.

Mark Wayne Mullen· Soundbite0:37

We will make sure that we make those states a priority to look at who voted in their states and hold then the election officials accountable.

Jude Joffe-Block0:46

That could mean fines or even prison time, Mullen said. He says DHS found two hundred and fifty thousand non-citizens on the public voter rolls of four states, but how DHS arrived at that number is unknown, and election experts say that figure is likely highly inaccurate. Jude Joffe-Block, NPR News.

Libby Casey· Host1:04

President Trump says he will call Canada's prime minister tomorrow about the wildfires burning there. On social media, Trump accused Canada of poorly managing their forests and said the US is, quote, "holding Canada responsible." The air in large swaths of the US is unhealthy from North Dakota to the Carolinas. NPR's Eva Berger says there are more than nine hundred wildfires burning in Canada.

Eva Berger1:27

These regions will have fires caused by things like