Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Listen to the Up First podcast for a short daily briefing.
Today’s top stories
Republicans in Congress are racing to approve roughly $72 billion in additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to cover the remainder of President Trump’s term. House and Senate GOP leaders are pursuing the money through budget reconciliation, a process that would allow them to pass the package without Democratic votes. Many Democrats oppose the plan unless it includes reforms that would limit certain enforcement tactics. President Trump has publicly complained because the measure does not include money requested for refurbishing the White House ballroom; several Republicans, including Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, signaled they would oppose the budget if it contained that ballroom funding. Cassidy, who lost his primary after the president backed another candidate, remains a voting senator until January and has recently cast pivotal votes — including advancing an Iran war powers resolution — even when he previously opposed similar measures. Sen. Lisa Murkowski warned that Trump’s attacks on incumbents could backfire and hurt the party’s prospects this fall.
Separately, the House approved bipartisan legislation aimed at easing the nation’s housing affordability crisis. The bill seeks to spur homebuilding and places limits on large corporate landlords by restricting purchases of more than 350 single-family homes.
President Trump said yesterday it may take several days to decide whether to authorize another strike on Iran and declined to set a firm timeline. He described U.S. negotiators with Iran as skilled and said diplomacy is still under consideration. Iran says it is prepared for either renewed diplomacy or continued fighting; its military leadership has warned it could escalate if attacked. Israel has pushed for renewed offensive action, while several Gulf Arab states — which say they were not consulted before recent strikes — oppose a wider war. Those Gulf nations have borne much of the immediate fallout from Iranian counterattacks. A tense call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly included strong Israeli objections to a proposed deal to end hostilities; the White House says it is pursuing options to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon while urging Tehran to show flexibility.
The U.S. Department of Justice has secured a criminal indictment charging 94-year-old former Cuban president Raúl Castro and others for their alleged roles in the 1996 shootdown of two aircraft that killed four members of the anti-Castro group Brothers to the Rescue. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced charges that include conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft and four counts of murder. The indictment accuses Castro of a central role in the attack. The Cuban government called the action politically motivated and without legal basis. The move comes amid heightened U.S. pressure on Cuba following a recent U.S. operation that captured Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro; the administration has since moved to restrict fuel shipments to Cuba and other economic levers.
Science community still recovering from 2025 funding disruptions
Researchers across the country say they are still dealing with the fallout from the Trump administration’s 2025 attempts to cut or freeze billions in research funding, even after some money was quietly restored through congressional appropriations this year. Scientists and research advocates say the restored funds are not flowing quickly enough, and that earlier interruptions and a lack of transparency at agencies like the National Institutes of Health have undermined projects, collaborations and confidence in long-term planning.
Climate Solutions Week: beavers help curb urban flooding in Britain
As part of NPR’s Climate Solutions Week, reporters highlight local and regional efforts to adapt to extreme weather where federal action has stalled. One striking example comes from Britain, where conservationists have reintroduced beavers in urban and suburban areas to reduce flooding. In West London, a family of beavers built dams in an urban creek that created a pond and wetlands, which retain rainwater, slow runoff and have helped prevent frequent flooding near a tube station that once flooded during heavy storms.
Deep dive: Ebola outbreak and what to know
The World Health Organization recently declared a public health emergency after a growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Authorities report more than 600 suspected cases and about 139 suspected deaths tied to the Bundibugyo strain, a less common form of Ebola associated historically with a 30–50% fatality rate. Early symptoms can resemble malaria or typhoid — fever, nausea and diarrhea — and severe cases can progress to widespread bleeding, shock and organ failure. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, Bundibugyo currently has no licensed vaccines or proven antibody treatments. The outbreak is occurring in remote areas with weak health infrastructure and ongoing conflict, complicating contact tracing and containment.
Three things to know before you go
1) The National Trust for Historic Preservation released its annual list of the 11 most endangered historic places in the United States. 2) Meta announced plans to lay off about 8,000 employees as it accelerates a shift toward artificial intelligence. 3) NPR’s Word of the Week explored the origins of the word “bee” and why these pollinators remain vital to ecosystems and agriculture.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.