Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright.
Chapter 2: What deal did Senate Democrats and the White House reach regarding government funding?
Senate Democrats and the White House have reached a deal to largely avoid a partial government shutdown. The plan separates five funding bills from a two-week stopgap measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats will not agree to a longer DHS measure because they want to negotiate possible changes to immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security has been under scrutiny since federal agents killed two protesters in Minneapolis. NPR's Ximena Bustillo says Democrats are calling for reforms like body cameras, no face masks for officers, and transparent investigations into officer misconduct.
Chapter 3: What reforms are being proposed for the Department of Homeland Security?
Democrats want to make it easier to pursue legal action against immigration officers and quote independent investigations into ICE and other federal enforcement misconduct. They say that the agency is not doing a good job of investigating employee misconduct. And DHS, which is involved in the recent killings, is now investigating itself in these instances.
Government funding expires at midnight.
Chapter 4: What led to the arrest of independent journalist Don Lemon?
A short-term shutdown, though, at least through the weekend, is possible until lawmakers in the House and Senate vote. Independent journalist Don Lemon has been taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles.
The arrest comes after the former CNN anchor covered a protest inside of a church in Minnesota last week against the federal government's immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. A pastor of the church is a nice official. Lemon's attorney calls the arrest an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment.
A second independent journalist who was at the church protest live-streamed on Facebook today. Georgia Fort said federal agents were at her door with an arrest warrant. A federal court has struck down the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
A judge dismissed a federal murder charge against him in New York today, ruling the charge was technically flawed. The judge left in place stalking charges that carry up to life in prison.
Chapter 5: What recent legal developments occurred in the case against Luigi Mangione?
Mangione pleaded not guilty to federal... and state charges. Thompson was shot while walking into a hotel in Manhattan in 2024. The U.S. continues to step up pressure on the Cuban government. NPR's Ada Peralta reports the White House is now threatening tariffs on any country that sends oil to the island.
The executive order from President Trump was tacitly targeting Mexico, which has become the number one provider of oil to Cuba. The Trump administration had already tightened sanctions on Cuba, and it had already forced Venezuela to stop providing oil.
At the same time, Cuban-American members of Congress announced they would ask the White House to suspend flights from the US and block family members from sending remittances. At the moment, Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in decades.
Chapter 6: How is the U.S. government increasing pressure on Cuba?
It no longer has enough fuel for its power plants or even to run its trash trucks. Cuba says the U.S. is trying to squeeze its population into a popular rebellion, but President Miguel Diaz-Canel says they are ready to fight. Ada Peralta, NPR News, Mexico City.
This is NPR. A major food distributor has recalled a wide-ranging list of popular food products across three states. NPR's Amy Held reports.
Minneapolis-based Gold Star Distribution last month announced the recall of hundreds and hundreds of food items like Cheerios, candy, cooking oil, Diet Coke, peanut butter, Pringles and more. Sold in stores mostly in Minnesota, plus one in Fargo and one in Indianapolis.
This after the FDA found bird and rodent waste at the facility handling them and says the unsanitary conditions created a significant health risk, including possible salmonella contamination.
Chapter 7: What food safety concerns arose from the recent recall by Gold Star Distribution?
Medications like Advil and Tylenol are also included. Consumers are advised to destroy affected items and can mail in for a refund to Gold Star. No illnesses have been reported so far. It comes as recent federal cutbacks to food inspectors have led to questions about the safety of the nation's food supply.
Amy Held, NPR News The Sundance Film Festival is winding down its final days in Park City, Utah. It's moving to Boulder, Colorado next year. This week, the event is paying tribute to the late Robert Redford, who started the independent film festival more than 40 years ago. First Lady Melania Trump's new documentary opens today in theaters.
Melania follows her through the 20 days leading up to President Trump's inauguration last year. The Amazon documentary premiered at the Kennedy Center last night. Amazon is among NPR's recent financial supporters and pays to distribute some NPR content. I'm Kristen Wright and this is NPR News from Washington.