Good morning — here’s what’s happening today.
Top stories
Senate stalls immigration enforcement funding
Congress is set to break for a weeklong recess without passing a Republican-backed package to fund immigration enforcement for three years. The hold-up centers on a surprise White House proposal — a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that would pay people who say they were targeted by the government. Some Senate Republicans say they were caught off guard by the announcement and pulled support from the migration funding measure until the proposal is resolved.
The dispute grew after competing plans emerged for security upgrades to a White House ballroom, which was originally expected to be privately funded. Costs for additional security reportedly ballooned, and President Trump urged Congress to cover the bill. That request, plus the anti-weaponization proposal, prompted at least some GOP senators to withdraw backing for the enforcement funding. Separately, two police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 have filed a federal lawsuit arguing the fund is unlawful and could reward some who participated in the insurrection.
DNC releases incomplete review of 2024 losses
The Democratic National Committee released an external 192-page review of its 2024 campaign shortcomings intended to inform 2026 and beyond. DNC Chair Ken Martin apologized for delaying the report’s release after receiving it in December, and said parts of it were incomplete when delivered. The document omits an executive summary and a conclusion and includes claims the DNC could not independently verify. Analysts say the review underscores a disconnect: voters may distrust national party leadership even while supporting local Democrats, a challenge for organizing ahead of future presidential nominating cycles.
Hurricane season forecast: fewer storms but higher risk
The National Hurricane Center forecasts a slightly below-average 2026 Atlantic season, estimating 8 to 14 named storms between June 1 and Nov. 30. However, unusually warm Atlantic waters increase the chance that at least one very large, destructive hurricane could form. Forecasters warn tens of millions of people living in coastal and inland flood-prone areas — including parts of the eastern and southern U.S., Appalachia, and the Northeast — should prepare for the possibility of severe storms, storm surge, wind damage, and flooding.
Abortion messaging shifts; new pill initiative
Democratic candidates have scaled back paid ads about abortion this year — roughly four times fewer than the same period in 2024 — reflecting a broader emphasis on cost-of-living concerns. Abortion rights advocates say the crowded news cycle makes it harder to elevate the issue, but they stress reproductive care should remain central to political discussions around affordability. In policy-adjacent news, a Planned Parenthood affiliate launched an initiative in which residents of Washington and Hawaii can obtain mifepristone and misoprostol to keep on hand for future use to end early pregnancies.
Climate Solutions Week: local action
NPR is running stories on community-driven climate solutions as federal action stalls. One example: Illinois State University’s Front Yard Free-Cycle and ISU Share Shop give students free dorm essentials to reduce waste and keep reusable items out of landfills. The program is part of campus sustainability efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions by extending the life of goods.
Weekend picks
– Movies: Is God Is — a violent, stylized revenge tale of twin sisters confronting abuse.
– TV: Binge-season recommendation — Survivor; NPR’s guide ranks every season and explains what makes each one work.
– Books: NPR critics preview 15 summer titles to watch.
– Music: Rostam Batmanglij’s new album American Stories blends Americana with Persian influences.
– Theater: New interpretations of John Cage’s Apartment House 1776 appear in a Detroit Opera production.
– Quiz: Test your knowledge of recent cultural trends with NPR’s weekly quiz.
3 things to know before you go
1) Walmart plans to use tariff refunds to lower store prices, responding to consumer anxiety about rising fuel costs.
2) In travel culture: NPR’s Far-Flung Postcards visits Bali, where a traditional kecak dance retells episodes from the Ramayana; a video accompanies the dispatch.
3) The administration is seeking to ease TSA staffing gaps by expanding private-sector roles in airport security through a new TSA Gold+ program.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.