Conflict on Iran; Democrat elections; Minnesota Medicaid : NPR

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Immediately's high tales Immediately, the Home is predicted to vote on a measure to constrain President Trump's authority to wage warfare in Iran, someday after the same decision did not advance within the Senate. Senators voted 47-53, largely alongside get together strains. The U.S. and Israel are persevering with to assault Iran because the battle heads into its sixth day. Iran says the U.S. will "bitterly remorse" torpedoing an Iranian warship yesterday off the coast of Sri Lanka. The assault killed at the least 87 folks.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5728x3221+0+299/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc4%2Fc8%2F97dd086f46b79c9a5479e8abe6f4%2Fgettyimages-2264164092.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5728x3221+0+299/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc4%2Fc8%2F97dd086f46b79c9a5479e8abe6f4%2Fgettyimages-2264164092.jpg" class="img" alt="People wave flags in mourning of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday. The Iranian authorities ultimately postponed public mourning rituals for the supreme leader." loading="lazy"/> Individuals wave flags in mourning of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei throughout the U.S.-Israeli navy marketing campaign in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday. The Iranian authorities in the end postponed public mourning rituals for the supreme chief. Majid Saeedi/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Majid Saeedi/Getty Pictures 🎧 NPR's Ruth Sherlock, who's in Turkey, tells Up First that she has spoken to traumatized Iranians crossing the border. She says everybody was too scared to supply their names as a result of talking to Western media has gotten folks arrested in Iran. A physician described to Sherlock the phobia of being engulfed in smoke and witnessing many civilian casualties. Sherlock provides that Iran's retaliatory strikes aimed toward U.S. navy bases and belongings within the Gulf area have crippled these international locations' economies. Qatar's prime minister mentioned yesterday that they like diplomacy, however the aggression "can't go unanswered."🎧 A panel of clerics in Iran is deciding who will change Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by an airstrike in the beginning of the warfare. There are 4 frontrunners into account. The main contender is Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah. In response to NPR's Jackie Northam, Mojtaba could be seen as a establishment choice, however analysts inform her Iran's present system can't maintain itself. They are saying that Iran, which has been weakened by warfare, protests and a battered financial system, wants to rework to have legitimacy.🎧 China is sending envoy Zhai Jun to the Center East to assist mediate within the battle, NPR's Jennifer Pak says. The international ministry did not say particularly the place he would go to. Pak says there are two causes China is stepping in: financial pursuits within the area and a diplomatic alternative to behave as a peace seeker. China has not prolonged any navy help to Iran up to now. Pak says different international locations could query whether or not it's strategically worthwhile to accomplice with China if it is not offering safety safety within the warfare.➡️ For the reason that warfare started, site visitors has slowed down within the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway by way of which about 20% of the world's crude oil and pure gasoline passes. Try this animation to see the distinction between Feb. 28 and March 3.➡️ A precision airstrike on an Iranian navy advanced on Saturday hit a neighboring elementary college on Saturday, killing some 165 folks, lots of them schoolgirls. An NPR overview of satellite tv for pc imagery suggests the varsity could have been struck because of outdated focusing on info.

This 12 months, greater than 80 Gen Z and millennial candidates are difficult or working to succeed Home Democrats 65 and older, based on a report by Democratic fundraising platform Oath, first obtained by NPR. This marks a large spike from the earlier cycle, which noticed 24 Democratic candidates underneath 50 difficult older incumbents. Whereas veteran politicians usually coast to reelection, this 12 months's midterms present cracks within the longtime dynamics. Incumbent challengers have historically struggled to lift cash. However this 12 months, some younger challengers are additionally breaking by way of on that entrance, based on an NPR evaluation of marketing campaign finance information.

Minnesota sued the Trump administration this week, accusing the federal authorities of weaponizing Medicaid towards the state as "political punishment." The dispute facilities round roughly $250 million that the state spent on Medicaid final summer season. The administration is withholding matching funds, citing allegations of fraud. Medicaid is the general public medical health insurance program for low-income folks. It is a state and federal partnership — for each greenback a state spends on Medicaid, the federal authorities matches it. For months, right-wing media and politicians have hammered Minnesota with claims it has fraud-ridden social providers, main the state to submit its personal fraud fact-check web page. Well being coverage specialists say the federal authorities's actions to withhold and defer funding break with regular fraud-handling precedent.

Immediately's pay attention <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+156/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F76%2F79bb2b234cd19bf3471c12855bc6%2Fcpc-school-logos.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x1688+0+156/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F76%2F79bb2b234cd19bf3471c12855bc6%2Fcpc-school-logos.jpg" class="img" alt="NPR's 2026 College Podcast Challenge finalists' colleges and universities." loading="lazy"/> NPR's 2026 Faculty Podcast Problem finalists' schools and universities. LA Johnson/NPR disguise caption

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LA Johnson/NPR The NPR schooling workforce listened to lots of of compelling scholar tales from 75 campuses throughout 35 states to pick out the finalists of their fifth annual NPR Faculty Podcast Problem. A scholar's private narrative about incomes a school diploma whereas elevating a toddler and a glance again on the wealthy sounds of a New York Metropolis neighborhood by way of the recollections of a recording artist are two of the compelling tales they chose. Within the coming days, the judges will choose the Grand Prize winner from the highest 10 podcasts. Within the meantime, you possibly can take heed to the finalists.

If you cannot get sufficient of those scholar podcasts, the workforce has additionally chosen a number of honorable mentions.

Deep dive <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7706x4335+0+401/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2Fdb%2F0833dcfb4d799cc6e1b2c95e49cc%2Fgettyimages-2242905009.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7706x4335+0+401/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2Fdb%2F0833dcfb4d799cc6e1b2c95e49cc%2Fgettyimages-2242905009.jpg" class="img" alt="Prosecutors are expected to argue that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, have engaged in anticompetitive practices that profoundly harm musicians, venues and ticket buyers." loading="lazy"/> Prosecutors are anticipated to argue that Dwell Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, have engaged in anticompetitive practices that profoundly hurt musicians, venues and ticket patrons. NurPhoto/NurPhoto through Getty Pictures/NurPhoto disguise caption

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NurPhoto/NurPhoto through Getty Pictures/NurPhoto The federal antitrust trial towards Dwell Nation, one of many world's largest leisure corporations, started earlier this week. Prosecutors argue that Dwell Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster use anticompetitive practices that deeply hurt musicians, venues and ticket patrons. The Justice Division filed the lawsuit in 2024, however requires ticketing reform have been rising for years. This trial is the largest authorized motion towards the corporate but, with essentially the most potential to alter the stay leisure business's establishment. This is what you might want to know:

🎫 Dwell Nation manages greater than 400 artists and owns or controls greater than 265 North American venues. Ticketmaster controls about 80% of main ticketing. The federal government alleges that artists are pressured to make use of Dwell Nation and Ticketmaster's promotional providers to carry out at its venues.🎫 If discovered responsible of violating antitrust legal guidelines, the DOJ may break up Ticketmaster and Dwell Nation. The DOJ accepted the merger of the 2 corporations in 2010.🎫 If Dwell Nation and Ticketmaster separate, followers will probably really feel the distinction as a result of a market with extra competitors will exist. A wider array of choices may decrease costs and charges, based on Brian Berry, govt director of the Ticket Coverage Discussion board.

3 issues to know earlier than you go <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5280x2970+0+153/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbd%2F89%2F9e3aa3334407869e631decf2478a%2Fgettyimages-2223101072.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5280x2970+0+153/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbd%2F89%2F9e3aa3334407869e631decf2478a%2Fgettyimages-2223101072.jpg" class="img" alt="RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 01: In an aerial view, homes are seen under construction at a new housing development on July 01, 2025 in Richmond, California. According to a report by the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau, U.S. construction spending fell 0.3% in May as higher mortgage rates and rising inventory impacted single-family housing projects. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)" loading="lazy"/> RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 01: In an aerial view, houses are seen underneath building at a brand new housing growth on July 01, 2025 in Richmond, California. In response to a report by the U.S. Commerce Division's Census Bureau, U.S. building spending fell 0.3% in Might as increased mortgage charges and rising stock impacted single-family housing initiatives. (Photograph by Justin Sullivan/Getty Pictures) Justin Sullivan/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Pictures About 7% of latest single-family homes at the moment are accessible for lease reasonably than sale, which may decrease costs for renters and patrons. Builders accomplished greater than 10 occasions as many "build-to-rent" houses within the U.S. in 2024 as a decade earlier.Mifepristone, a medicine used for first-trimester abortion and miscarriage administration, faces a significant authorized problem. The go well with challenges the FDA's 2023 rule permitting it to be prescribed by telemedicine and mail supply. NPR needs to listen to about your expertise with the drugs.On this week's Far-Flung Postcard, NPR's Claire Harbage plunged underwater for an journey in Indonesia's Raja Ampat islands, a vibrant marine biodiversity hotspot. This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.