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Prominent News of the Day
Donald Trump is set to nominate Kevin Warsh as the upcoming Federal Reserve chair, taking over from Jerome Powell whose term concludes in May. Trump has voiced dissatisfaction with Powell’s conservative approach to interest rate reductions. Discover more about Warsh here.
Kevin Warsh (center) is President Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve. Warsh is a former Fed governor who has echoed the president’s call for lower interest rates.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
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Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Tom Homan, the border czar, intends to reduce the number of federal immigration agents in Minnesota. Arriving in Minneapolis for the government’s immigration crackdown, Homan acknowledged operational issues, which led to federal agents fatally shooting two Americans recently. Learn more about these developments here.
- 🎧 Homan is revamping immigration enforcement to enhance safety and efficiency. NPR’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán notes this plan relies on state and local cooperation and involves greater access to prisons and jails, which may reduce agents on the streets. Despite the lack of a timeline, Minnesota arrests continue.
- ➡️ Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar has announced her candidacy for Minnesota governor. Her campaign coincides with the state’s intensified focus on immigration enforcement. Several Republican leaders have also joined the race. More details here.
The Senate has reached a deal to prevent a government shutdown, allowing time to negotiate the Homeland Security bill. Backed by Trump, the agreement provides a two-week extension for talks, but the Senate must vote on these changes and return the measure to the House. Discover more here.
- 🎧 The House is on recess until next week, making a brief shutdown probable, according to NPR’s Ximena Bustillo. It’s uncertain if the House will approve the new package. If swift action is taken, shutdown effects could be minimized since most federal offices are closed over the weekend.
The FBI has confiscated thousands of 2020 election ballots from Fulton County, Ga., a focal point of unfounded fraud claims from that election. Trump’s persistent false victory claims have intensified concerns about the 2026 midterms. Further insights are available here.
- 🎧 NPR’s Stephen Fowler covered Fulton County’s 2020 election aftermath. He observed numerous debunked conspiracy theories, like fake pre-election ballots. The county saw Trump facing criminal charges for election interference, later dismissed. The administration’s actions heighten tensions with state officials concerned about federal steps this year.
Today’s Audio Feature
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Ryder / @ryd.der
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Ryder / @ryd.der
Destin Conrad has secured his first Grammy nod for Best Progressive R&B Album with his debut, Love on Digital. Transitioning from a teen social media sensation to a global musician, Conrad performs on prominent stages, including NPR’s Tiny Desk. Speaking with All Things Considered‘s Ailsa Chang, Conrad expressed concerns about being taken seriously as a musician due to his Vine background. Listen to the interview or read the transcript here.
Weekend Recommendations
Ashton Kutcher as The Corporation in The Beauty.
Eric Liebowitz/FX
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Eric Liebowitz/FX
Explore NPR’s weekend recommendations:
🍿 Movies: The feature film Melania, spotlighting First Lady Melania Trump’s January preparations for re-entering the White House, is premiering on 1,500 screens nationwide.
📺 TV: The series The Beauty features a biotech serum that turns people into supermodels with a deadly price.
📚 Books: Julian Barnes’ novel, Departure(s), explores themes of mortality and time. Barnes, having published 27 books, says this may be his last.
🎵 Music: NPR’s All Songs Considered is featuring new tracks, including Mitski’s “Where’s My Phone?” Listen to this week’s playlist here and enjoy your weekend.
❓ Quiz: Start your day with a quiz challenge, aiming for a score of seven out of 10. Think you can top that? Try it out.
Three Insights Before You Head Out
Niklaus Miller, 29, is photographed in his bedroom in Los Angeles, where he practices and films his social media videos. Not a native Spanish speaker, Miller committed to learning all of Bad Bunny’s lyrics after the artist was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer and has since gained a large social media following while preparing an audition in hopes of making it to the show.
Jessica Pons for NPR
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Jessica Pons for NPR
- Niklaus Miller, known online as the Mediocre Bunny, is learning Bad Bunny’s songs ahead of the Super Bowl halftime show. Check his journey here.
- Two senior staff members have resigned from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with one serving less than two weeks.
- LAist’s Inheriting podcast is seeking family immigration stories for its second season. Share yours by answering these questions.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
