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Palestinians are counting lentils, as Gaza food crisis worsens

Hungry Palestinians rush to a food distribution kitchen in Gaza last week. Moiz Salhi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty hide caption

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Moiz Salhi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty

Consider This from NPR

Palestinians are counting lentils, as Gaza food crisis worsens

Nearly half a million people in Gaza now face starvation, according to a new report from the IPC, the international panel of famine experts who advise the United Nations.

Palestinians are counting lentils, as Gaza food crisis worsens

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Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson called the House budget plan a "sad joke." He and other Senate Republicans are already raising questions about the legislation, even before the House finalizes their work.

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson called the House budget plan a "sad joke." He and other Senate Republicans are already raising questions about the legislation, even before the House finalizes their work. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Politics

The latest roadblock for House Republicans' 'big beautiful bill': Senate Republicans

House Republicans are trying to pass a massive bill full of President Trump's top agenda items by the end of next week. But a new set of hurdles awaits in the Senate.

President Trump arrives in the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday. Trump touched down at Hamad International Airport, with relations between the two governments in the spotlight over Qatar's offer to Trump of a $400 million luxury aircraft to serve as a new Air Force One.

President Trump arrives in the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday. Trump touched down at Hamad International Airport, with relations between the two governments in the spotlight over Qatar's offer to Trump of a $400 million luxury aircraft to serve as a new Air Force One. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Republicans voice concern over Trump's support for a new Air Force One from Qatar

In a rare break with the president, some inside the GOP are expressing concern over the potential national security risks of accepting a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar to replace Air Force One.

Members of the French Navy monitor radar in the control bridge in low light conditions during an anti-drug interception mission by the French surveillance frigate FS Ventose sailing off the French Caribbean island of Martinique, on November 16, 2024.

Members of the French Navy monitor radar in the control bridge in low light conditions during an anti-drug interception mission by the French surveillance frigate FS Ventose sailing off the French Caribbean island of Martinique, on November 16, 2024. JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

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JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images/AFP

Word of the week

Carrots, death rays and passing ships. This is the origin story of the word radar

The nation's aviation infrastructure is again under scrutiny, following a series of paralyzing communications and radar outages at some of the country's busiest airports. Here is a look at the scientific origins of radar.

Understanding an Important Religious Group in Syria

A Druze woman holds her baby daughter at the shrine. Emily Garthwaite for NPR hide caption

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Emily Garthwaite for NPR

State of the World from NPR

Understanding an Important Religious Group in Syria

Syria is in a precarious place as it emerges from civil war and a long dictatorship. The recently announced removal of U.S. sanctions bring hopes that the economy might stabilize. Another challenge is Syria's population— it is one of the most diverse countries in the Middle East and with that comes competing demands and priorities from various groups. NPR's Jane Arraf takes us to southern Syria, near the border with Israel and introduces us to one of the biggest minority groups, the Druze.

Understanding an Important Religious Group in Syria

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Ryan Routh, the man accused in a 2024 assassination attempt of Donald Trump at a West Palm Beach, Fla. golf course, had a federal court hearing Wednesday in Fort Pierce, Fla. In this file photo of the Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse, attorneys argued several merits of the case — including what can and can't be used in the trial.

Ryan Routh, the man accused in a 2024 assassination attempt of Donald Trump at a West Palm Beach, Fla. golf course, had a federal court hearing Wednesday in Fort Pierce, Fla. In this file photo of the Alto Lee Adams Sr. United States Courthouse, attorneys argued several merits of the case — including what can and can't be used in the trial. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Law

Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Trump, asks to have charges dropped

Ryan Routh is accused of the 2024 assassination attempt of Donald Trump as the then-presidential candidate was golfing at his course in West Palm Beach, Fla. Routh has pleaded not guilty.

A demonstrator carrying a sign that says “VOTING RIGHTS NOW” walks across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in 2022 in Washington, D.C.

A demonstrator carrying a sign that says "VOTING RIGHTS NOW" walks across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in 2022 in Washington, D.C. Samuel Corum/Getty Images hide caption

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Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Elections

A federal appeals panel has made enforcing the Voting Rights Act harder in 7 states

After a challenge by Republican officials in North Dakota, a federal appeals panel struck down a key way of enforcing the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination in seven states.

Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez leave a courtroom in blue jumpsuits.

Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez leave the courtroom in Santa Monica, Calif., in August 1990. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996 — and resentenced this week. Nick Ut/AP hide caption

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Nick Ut/AP

Explainer

National

The Menendez brothers are one step closer to freedom. What to know about their case

A Los Angeles judge resentenced Lyle and Erik Menendez, who have spent over three decades behind bars for the 1989 killing of their parents. They are now eligible for parole — but it's not guaranteed.

Kim Kardashian waves as she arrives Tuesday to testify regarding a robbery of millions of dollars in jewels from her Paris hotel room in 2016.

Kim Kardashian waves as she arrives Tuesday to testify regarding a robbery of millions of dollars in jewels from her Paris hotel room in 2016. Aurelien Morissard/AP hide caption

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Aurelien Morissard/AP

Culture

With tears and defiance, Kim Kardashian faces the men accused of robbing her in Paris

The reality star and business mogul appeared in a courtroom Tuesday to testify about the night in 2016 when masked men tied her up at gunpoint and stole more than $6 million in jewelry.

In this file photo, Rodrigo Duterte (left) takes his oath as president of the Philippines before Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes during inauguration ceremony in Malacanang Palace, June 30, 2016 in Manila. Holding the bible is Duterte's daughter Veronica, while his other children look on.

In this file photo, Rodrigo Duterte (left) takes his oath as president of the Philippines before Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes during inauguration ceremony in Malacanang Palace, June 30, 2016 in Manila. Holding the bible is Duterte's daughter Veronica, while his other children look on. The News and Information Bureau/Malacanang Palace via AP hide caption

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The News and Information Bureau/Malacanang Palace via AP

Asia

Detained Philippines ex-President Duterte wins mayoral race in his home city

Duterte's youngest son, Sebastian, the incumbent mayor of Davao, was declared Davao vice mayor. His eldest son, Paolo, was reelected as a member of the House of Representatives, and two grandsons won in local races, an indication of the family's continued influence.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La. (, joined from left by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., talks to reporters about his push for a House-Senate compromise budget resolution to advance President Donald Trump's agenda, even with opposition from hard-line conservative Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, April 8, 2025.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., joined (from left) by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., talks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, April 8, 2025. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Interview highlights

Medicaid cuts will hurt families and cost GOP politically, says Kentucky governor

Republicans' proposed Medicaid cuts will cause 8.6 million people to lose health insurance by 2034, an estimate shows. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said it will cost Republicans seats in Congress.

Democrats sound alarm over GOP Medicaid proposal they say could affect millions

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Nick Fuentes, seen here in 2020, is widely known for his white nationalist and antisemitic views, including Holocaust denial. An official in the Trump administration advocated for the social media platform X to remove its ban on Fuentes over hate speech and was also spotted in the crowd at a 2024 Fuentes rally.

Nick Fuentes, seen here in 2020, is widely known for his white nationalist and antisemitic views, including Holocaust denial. An official in the Trump administration advocated for the social media platform X to remove its ban on Fuentes over hate speech and was also spotted in the crowd at a 2024 Fuentes rally. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Up First Newsletter

3 Trump officials with ties to antisemitic extremists. And, Syria sanctions may lift

NPR has identified some Trump officials with ties to antisemitic extremists. And, why Trump's pledge to potentially lift sanctions on Syria is significant.

Trump Meets Syria's President, Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks, RFK Jr. On Capitol Hill

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, seen here in 2023, has championed the new state education standards that include instructions for students to “identify discrepancies in 2020 election results."

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, seen here in 2023, has championed the new state education standards that include instructions for students to "identify discrepancies in 2020 election results." Sue Ogrocki/AP hide caption

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Sue Ogrocki/AP

Elections

Oklahoma education standards say students must identify 2020 election 'discrepancies'

KGOU

New academic standards in Oklahoma call for the teaching of "discrepancies" in the 2020 election, continuing the spread of a false narrative years after it was first pushed by Trump and his allies.

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