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Today’s top stories
A federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration detention after finding the government could not produce a lawful removal order. Abrego Garcia had been deported to El Salvador in March in what Immigration and Customs Enforcement later called an “administrative error,” then returned to the U.S. and detained. The White House plans to appeal. His lawyers called the ruling an extraordinary win for due process. Democrats invited relatives of people who were deported or detained to the hearing to highlight the human impact of immigration enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, questioned by lawmakers, said she views immigrants admitted under the Biden administration as a major national security threat; her department is reopening cases of refugees admitted under Biden and seeking renewed reviews of asylum applications.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said any decision to cede territory would require a referendum by the Ukrainian people. The U.S. has pushed Ukraine to consider territorial concessions as part of a negotiated peace with Russia, and Zelenskyy and European partners are weighing ways to respond to pressure — including proposals from the Trump administration — while showing they are negotiating in good faith. Ceding land is a red line for many Ukrainians; Zelenskyy has discussed holding elections within 90 days or a referendum in parts of eastern Ukraine as one path to end the war. But Ukraine remains under martial law, the constitution bars elections during wartime, and polls show most Ukrainians oppose holding elections now.
The Indiana Senate rejected a congressional redistricting plan promoted by President Trump, voting 31 to 19 against maps intended to help Republicans next year. The defeat came in a chamber where 40 of 50 senators are Republicans and marked the first time members of Trump’s own party collectively pushed back on his redistricting effort. Nationwide, recent redistricting has already favored Republicans in states such as Texas, Missouri and North Carolina. State Sen. Spencer Deery said redrawing districts for partisan gain conflicted with his conservative principles and that he would resist federal pressure; other lawmakers said constituents rejected the new map. Analysts say Republicans still appear to have a modest edge overall: Texas could net the GOP up to five extra seats, Missouri and North Carolina one each, while California’s changes have tilted roughly five seats toward Democrats. It’s unclear whether other states will follow Trump’s calls for aggressive redistricting.
Life advice
Designer Vern Yip recommends stepping away from social media and turning to in-person sources when refreshing your home. In Color Pattern Texture: The Foundation to Make Your Home Your Own, he emphasizes hands-on approaches that prioritize how a room feels as well as how it looks.
– Trendy online decor such as peel-and-stick options may photograph well but often lack the weight and texture of real materials; a quality rug can serve as a temporary fix until you can afford a fuller update.
– Shop yard sales and thrift stores for affordable, often higher-quality secondhand pieces.
– When picking paint, consider how colors interact with your skin tone and the light in a room — some hues can make you look washed out.
Weekend picks
What NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
– Movies: Jay Kelly, a George Clooney film about an aging movie star traveling through Europe; plus a theater roundup of new releases.
– TV: The Abandons, a Western described as a soap-opera-style frontier drama.
– Books: Final noteworthy titles of 2025, including The Sea Captain’s Wife and The Rest of Our Lives.
– Music: Six Spanish-language artists that caught Alt.Latino’s attention this year, along with wider coverage of 2025’s best music.
– Food: A selection of 10 cookbooks from 2025.
– Quiz: Test your knowledge with this week’s news quiz.
3 things to know before you go
1. The Walt Disney Company reached a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI to bring Disney characters and images to Sora for video creation and sharing.
2. British archaeologists reported the earliest evidence of humans making fire, suggesting controlled use of fire may date back more than 350,000 years earlier than previously thought.
3. After a breast cancer diagnosis, Gillian Kline said an HR colleague helped her navigate a last-day insurance decision and provided crucial support beyond logistics — an example of unexpected workplace kindness.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.