Good morning — here’s your Up First briefing.
The Department of Justice has secured a two-count indictment against former FBI director James Comey over an Instagram post he later removed. The photo showed seashells arranged on a North Carolina beach to read “8647,” a sequence some interpret as a coded call to oust President Trump. Court filings say a grand jury issued a warrant for Comey’s arrest. This is the second indictment brought by the Justice Department during the Trump era.
Legal observers say it’s unclear whether the case will reach trial. Supreme Court precedent requires prosecutors to prove Comey understood his post as a threat, and the public record includes instances where Comey treated the image as political expression protected by the First Amendment. The Justice Department says it is treating him the same as any other defendant; critics point out that President Trump has publicly urged prosecutions of officials who investigated him.
At the Supreme Court, justices are weighing challenges that could let the administration end Temporary Protected Status for large populations who have lived and worked legally in the U.S. for years. TPS, created in 1990, allows people from countries hit by disasters, armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions to live and work in the U.S. while it’s unsafe to return. The cases center on Haiti and Syria, both granted TPS after major crises. The government argues the statute prevents judges from second-guessing termination decisions; recipients’ lawyers say the administration skipped required procedures and that many beneficiaries have long-established lives in the U.S.
The high court is also hearing a patent dispute over drugs that could change how generic manufacturers challenge brand-name patents, with possible effects on prescription costs.
In Washington, the Federal Reserve meets for what may be Jerome Powell’s final policy decision as chair. The Fed is widely expected to leave its benchmark rate unchanged. Powell’s term ends next month, and the Senate Banking Committee will vote on President Trump’s nominee to replace him, Kevin Warsh. Warsh has argued that productivity gains from AI could allow rate cuts without reigniting inflation, while saying he would respect the Fed’s independence.
King Charles III addressed a joint session of Congress, marking the first time a British monarch has spoken to Congress in nearly 35 years. He urged reinforcement of the U.S.–U.K. and transatlantic partnerships that have supported Western security since World War II. The visit and remarks were seen as a rebuke to rising isolationist currents in the U.S.; President Trump has criticized NATO and some European leaders while speaking warmly of the king personally.
Life note: researchers say everyone carries a “mental load” — the ongoing planning and coordination of household tasks. Sociologist Leah Ruppanner found in a survey of more than 3,000 U.S. parents that women shoulder over 70% of that domestic mental burden. Studies challenge myths that women are naturally better at managing homes, showing men and women perceive household mess similarly and that men who share childcare and chores report better health and happiness. Practical advice: clarify priorities so you can say no to lower‑priority demands, and use guides like NPR’s Life Kit to divide tasks more fairly.
Picture show: winners of the 2026 World Press Photo contest highlight hardship and resilience. Photo of the Year, “Separated by ICE” by Carol Guzy (Miami Herald), depicts a family split in a New York court. Other awardees include joyful scenes such as Ihsaan Haffejee’s image of young dancers at the Joburg Ballet School, notable in a country where ballet was once restricted by race. NPR spotlights many winning images from the Global South.
Three things to know before you go:
1) The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being resurfaced in a blue hue, drawing mixed reactions.
2) The FCC ordered ABC to seek early renewal of broadcast licenses for its eight stations after controversy over a Jimmy Kimmel joke about first lady Melania Trump.
3) Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha ran the London Marathon in 1:59:41, breaking the two‑hour barrier but finishing second; he says he plans to cut another minute next time.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.