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Chapter 1: What recent developments are impacting federal workers during government shutdowns?
Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theschmidt.org.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens. Republican leaders say they're reviewing a law that guarantees back pay for furloughed federal workers during government shutdowns. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the Trump administration may be able to justify withholding past due compensation. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports.
Speaker Johnson said while he has not talked to the White House about the plan, there are some legal analysts who say back pay may not be required under the 2019 law. But there are legal analysts who think that that is not something that government should do.
Chapter 2: How is the Texas National Guard involved in federal immigration enforcement?
If that is true. That should turn up the urgency and the necessity of the Democrats doing the right thing here. But atop Senate appropriations, Democrat Patty Murray of Washington calls such arguments by President Trump and other Republicans lawless. Trump doesn't get to change the rules and rob workers just because he's worried his shutdown is backfiring.
Chapter 3: What changes are occurring in the U.S. renewable energy market?
President Trump signed the 2019 measure into law after the longest government shutdown in history. Claudia Rosales, NPR News, the Capitol.
Texas National Guard troops are in Chicago to support federal immigration enforcement and to aid police. As Blaise Gainey reports from the Texas newsroom, the troops were sent there at the president's request.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned the move as an invasion and urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to withdraw support. But Abbott has backed Trump's decision and posted photos of Texas Guard members boarding planes, calling them elite and ever ready.
Chapter 4: What are the latest updates on the conflict in Gaza?
Normally, governors control their National Guard units, but the president can federalize them in rare situations. A power the Trump administration argues is justified by what they call rebellion against federal authority. The administration says the troops are needed to protect federal personnel and and property as immigration enforcement intensifies. I'm Blaise Gainey in Austin.
Chapter 5: How is the U.S. Supreme Court addressing conversion therapy laws?
The International Energy Agency has cut its growth forecast for America's renewable energy market. The move follows the elimination of federal tax incentives. and the Trump administration's efforts to limit wind and solar projects. As NPR's Michael Copley reports, the slowdown could come at a time when U.S. demand for electricity is rising.
The IEA's latest forecast for renewable energy development in the U.S. is almost 50 percent lower than last year's. That could create challenges to economic growth. Energy analysts and executives say renewables are crucial to help meet rising U.S. power demand from new data centers and factories. While activity in the U.S.
renewables market is expected to slow, the IEA says growth is still strong globally.
Chapter 6: What challenges are Broadway performers facing in contract negotiations?
The agency expects power capacity from renewables to double by 2030, and for renewables to overtake coal as the world's largest source of electricity generation by the middle of next year at the latest. Michael Copley, NPR News.
On Wall Street, stocks closed lower with the Dow Jones Industrials losing 91 points, the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 153 points, and the S&P 500 said 25. This is NPR. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to join talks in Egypt on ending the war in Gaza. as Israelis mark the second anniversary of the conflict. Negotiators for Israel and Hamas are considering a U.S.
plan that includes releasing all remaining hostages and an Israeli troop withdrawal. The two sides disagree on Israel's demands that Hamas disarm. The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing arguments over so-called conversion therapy. At issue is whether states have the right to ban faith-based therapy that aims to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ plus minors.
Ruling is expected by June. The union representing Broadway performers and stage managers is set to resume contract talks on Wednesday. Members of the union have been working without a contract since September 30th, as Jeff London reports.
Coming off a record-breaking box office gross of almost $1.9 billion last season, Actors' Equity wants the new contract to reflect the wealth, especially in terms of contributions to the union's health insurance fund. That has been a major concern since the coronavirus pandemic.
The Broadway League, which represents producers and theater owners, has been pointing out only one in ten Broadway shows makes back its investment. The parties enter negotiations with a mediator involved, but Equities Council has already authorized a strike if no progress is made. A strike would shut down 26 current Broadway shows.
Jeff London in New York. This is NPR News.
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