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Today’s top stories:
Congressional Republicans are currently regrouping after a chaotic evening where the House failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This was in relation to charges of failing to enforce border policy. The measure was rejected, as four Republicans joined Democrats against it. Additionally, a bipartisan Senate package that links border security policies with foreign aid for Israel and Ukraine could be at risk due to Republicans opposing the border policy, which they had previously demanded.
Election-year politics are playing a significant role in the situation, according to NPR’s Claudia Grisales. Republicans stand to lose a major campaign talking point if the border crisis is resolved through legislation.
Meanwhile, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley lost the Nevada primary despite her opponent, former President Donald Trump, not being on the ballot. Nevada voters chose the “none of the above” option on their primary ballots. Trump is set to compete in Nevada’s Republican caucus tomorrow. A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that immigration is the top issue for Republicans this year, while Democrats prioritize preserving democracy.
In another significant news story, Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford High School shooter, was found guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Ethan Crumbley, who carried out the mass shooting in 2021, is currently serving a life sentence. It is unclear whether this verdict makes gun-owning parents more criminally liable for their children’s actions. Experts note that the case focuses less on how Crumbley obtained the gun and more on how the parents ignored clear warning signs about their son and failed to stop him.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in Israel to negotiate a Gaza cease-fire. Positive responses have been received from Hamas leaders with regard to the ongoing proposal talks. The deal comes in phases, with the first phase aiming to establish calm and allow for the release of hostages and prisoners.
A symbol of Palestinian resistance, Handala, has been in existence since 1969. Created by Palestinian newspaper cartoonist Naji al-Ali, the character symbolizes insurgency, refusal, and struggle.
Finally, a bit of historic reflection: NPR’s Steve Inskeep shares his reflections on Linda Wertheimer, who announced her retirement yesterday after over 50 years of service to NPR. She is regarded as one of NPR’s founding mothers and has been a prominent figure in the world of broadcast journalism.
Before you go, here are 3 things you need to know:
1. A piece of music by composer John Cage has been played for two years and has now changed for the 16th time. This ongoing performance has been deemed the slowest piece of music in the world.
2. A pregnant woman and her fiancé were rescued by an anonymous surfer after getting into trouble in the ocean. The surfer left without identifying himself, leaving the couple filled with gratitude.
3. Facebook and Instagram have announced plans to start labeling images generated by artificial intelligence as part of their efforts to tackle misinformation.
This newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi and contributions were made by Mansee Khurana.
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