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Chapter 1: What are the latest updates on immigration enforcement in the U.S.?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. Three top officials from agencies that oversee immigration enforcement are to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee today. NPR's Ximena Bustil reports this comes as the Department of Homeland Security faces a potential shutdown tomorrow.
The heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also testified before the House Homeland Security Committee this week. Democrats on the Senate committee have laid out a list of demands in exchange for funding their agencies.
That includes mandating the use of body cameras and judicial warrants, banning the use of masks, and putting a stop to arrests in hospitals, schools, and churches. Republicans have scattered support for proposals such as body camera use, but the parties remain deeply divided on most other potential changes. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.
The House has approved a Republican-backed effort to create more rules for voting and for registering to vote in federal elections.
Chapter 2: How are voting rights being affected by new legislation?
This is called the, quote, Save America Act. Speaker Mike Johnson says people must prove who they are before they cast a ballot.
Proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote. Everyone in the country understands the necessity of that, understands how simple it is and how important it is. And the only people that oppose it are people who want to cheat our system.
But voting rights groups say Republicans could make it far harder for eligible citizens to vote. That's because many Americans don't have their citizenship documents or can't find them quickly in time to vote. It's not clear the voting measure will pass in the Senate. Officials in Nebraska say they will hand over sensitive voter data to the Justice Department.
The Nebraska Supreme Court has refused to block this.
Chapter 3: What are the implications of the Justice Department's actions on voter data?
Opponents say the federal government will now get private information of Nebraska voters, a move they say is blatantly unlawful. The Justice Department has been after similar voter data from other states, but has been rebuffed. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is in Venezuela on a three-day trip. It's part of a U.S. move to overhaul Venezuela's dilapidated oil industry. NPR's Carrie Khan has more.
Secretary Wright was upbeat about recent Venezuelan oil sales, the loosening of U.S. sanctions, and legislative changes opening Venezuela's oil industry to private investment. He says the U.S. and the Venezuelan people's goals are the same.
Chapter 4: What is the current status of U.S. relations with Venezuela regarding oil?
We want to see a flood of investment coming in, more income being generated for the people of Venezuela, more improvement in the quality of lives, and more oil going on to world oil markets to help the planet.
doubt the world. Wright was greeted at the Mirror of Florida's presidential palace by interim president Delce Rodriguez. He said he will visit oil fields and meet with oil executives, but said so far there have been no discussions about setting a timetable for democratic elections. Carrie Kahn, NPR News.
On Wall Street, Dow futures are higher. This is NPR. The search continues in southern Arizona for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie's been missing for more than a week and a half. Authorities believe she was abducted.
Chapter 5: What challenges is Kraft Heinz facing under its new CEO?
The new CEO of the food and beverage company Kraft Hein says he's suspending plans to split the company in two after deciding the reasons for the breakup aren't fixable. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports.
Kraft Heinz in September said it would split into faster-growing sauces and condiments versus slower-growing groceries. That would have undone a mega merger staged by billionaire investor Warren Buffett a decade before, considered one of his big missteps. Buffett was really against the split. Now, new CEO Steve Kaelin says he wants to try resuscitating Kraft Heinz first.
He took over in January, saying the food giant lost its footing because it underinvested in its brands. Kraft Heinz is reporting another quarter of declining sales for more than two years now, and it's now budgeting $600 million for marketing and research and development. aiming for healthier, more convenient options with some lower prices.
Alina Seluk, NPR News.
Chapter 6: How is Madagascar responding to the recent cyclone disaster?
Authorities in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar say a powerful cyclone has killed more than 30 people. Top sustained winds reached 121 miles per hour. Madagascar was recently hit by another cyclone. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is demanding that Iran immediately release Imprisoned Peace Prize winner Nargis Mohammadi.
The women's rights activist was sentenced to another seven years in prison. The Nobel Committee says Mohammadi has been violently beaten in imprisonment by Iranian authorities. You're listening to NPR.