Up First briefing: Eric Swalwell; Strait of Hormuz; Pope Leo; FISA 702 : NPR

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At the moment's prime tales Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., introduced his resignation from Congress yesterday amid rising backlash over sexual assault and misconduct allegations. In a press release on social media, he acknowledged the rising calls amongst lawmakers for his expulsion from the Home of Representatives. Swalwell's resolution comes a day after he suspended his gubernatorial marketing campaign in California, the place many individuals thought of him a frontrunner. Swalwell has been embroiled in controversy since final week, when rumors started to flow into on-line about his alleged abusive conduct towards girls.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5696x3204+0+297/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F0e%2F5804a37d4357bf17b82eff60a7a0%2Fgettyimages-2234386046.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5696x3204+0+297/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F92%2F0e%2F5804a37d4357bf17b82eff60a7a0%2Fgettyimages-2234386046.jpg" class="img" alt="Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 08, 2025." loading="lazy"/> Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks at a information convention on the U.S. Capitol on September 08, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures 🎧 Greater than 50 former Swalwell staffers referred to as for him to resign, and several other lawmakers indicated they deliberate to attempt to expel him this week, NPR's Elena Moore tells Up First. In his resignation announcement, he repeated related remarks to these in a video he launched on Friday, denying the allegations whereas admitting to creating "errors in judgment up to now." Swalwell criticized efforts to take away him, arguing that expulsion with out due course of is unsuitable. However he additionally added that it was "unsuitable for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties." Swalwell did not specify when he would go away workplace. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has 14 days to name a particular election for his Bay Space seat when it occurs. Moore says the seat is a brilliant secure blue seat.➡️ Swalwell shouldn't be the one lawmaker leaving his congressional seat. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales introduced yesterday that he'll resign after accusations that he had a sexual relationship with a staffer who later took her personal life.

The U.S. and Iran are each actively blocking oil exports by means of the essential Strait of Hormuz. The standoff is hitting economies in lots of international locations as oil is unable to achieve world markets.

🎧 Iran's financial system depends closely on its oil exports. Throughout the preventing, the nation was getting some oil out, however the U.S. blockade has now lower off its movement. NPR's Greg Myre says it is potential that Iran, which already has a crippled financial system, will endure essentially the most financial ache in an prolonged blockade. Myre says that the overwhelming majority of nations worldwide have taken an financial hit. This contains the U.S., which, regardless of its minimal oil imports from the Gulf, is seeing a lot greater fuel costs after oil surged to proper round $100 a barrel. In instances of disaster, nations sometimes lean on their allies for help, however President Trump has alienated many U.S. allies by failing to seek the advice of them. To date, not one of the U.S.' allies have answered Trump's name to participate within the blockade. Iran has lengthy been internationally remoted, with few allies to show to. Trump drew criticism from even his loyal supporters this week when he shared an AI-generated picture depicting himself as a Jesus-like determine. The president has tried to elucidate the now-deleted submit, telling reporters that he did not assume it was a picture of him as Jesus, however as a health care provider making individuals really feel higher. Trump posted the picture after prominently attacking Pope Leo XIV on social media. Leo, the primary American-born pope, has spoken out in opposition to the battle in Iran.

🎧 NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben says it's notable that the president eliminated the picture. The final time Trump gained broad consideration for deleting a submit, it was a racist video depicting the Obamas as apes, which drew large criticism. Time will inform how a lot Trump's newest submit will alienate anybody. Whereas his Christian supporters have overwhelmingly caught with him, Kurtzleben says the president is presently in a susceptible place. The unpopular battle continues, peace talks have stalled and costs are excessive. Trump's criticism of the pope may additional erode his help, Kurtzleben says.➡️ Pope Leo XIV stated he's undeterred by Trump's criticism and can proceed to talk out in opposition to battle and advocate for peace, dialogue and cooperation between nations. As he started an 11-day tour of Africa yesterday, he emphasised the immense human struggling attributable to world conflicts and insisted that ethical management calls for selling alternate options to violence. A key device of the U.S. spy group is ready to run out on April 20 except Congress votes to resume it. Part 702 of the Overseas Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA 702) aligns with the vast majority of the articles within the president's every day intelligence briefing and is crucial to counterterrorism efforts and to fight trafficking, in accordance with the federal government. However lawmakers from each events are involved that FISA 702 permits for the federal authorities to spy on Americans' communications with out a warrant, violating their constitutional proper to privateness. Within the looming struggle to bolster the regulation's civil liberties protections, advocates warn that weakening the availability may threaten nationwide safety.

At the moment's hear <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8202x4614+0+445/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F82%2F22%2F198e4bcb4812b8fc60caba96361e%2Fgettyimages-1245690073.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8202x4614+0+445/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F82%2F22%2F198e4bcb4812b8fc60caba96361e%2Fgettyimages-1245690073.jpg" class="img" alt="A person holding a music score sheet in a rehearsal room on Dec. 2, 2022, in Regensburg, southern Germany." loading="lazy"/> A music rating sheet is pictured in a rehearsal room on December 2, 2022, in Regensburg, southern Germany. Christof Stache/AFP through Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Christof Stache/AFP through Getty Pictures A dementia prognosis can really feel isolating. Folks might pull again from beloved actions like singing. The Second Verse Choir in Denver helps individuals with dementia keep concerned. The founders say they need the exercise to be as accessible as potential for everybody. They assist spotlight sheet music for singers and supply large-print lyrics. Cofounder Anne Rigley insists that caregivers and family members take part, too. Cofounder Kris Boggs says music helps improve individuals's moods. For individuals residing with dementia, music reminiscence could be deeper within the mind than language. Second Verse's first efficiency is on April 18. Hearken to a few of the singers follow forward of the massive day and be taught extra about why the choir is critical.

Image present <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x3375+0+313/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2F18%2Fc85f310d443ebec7160f85f1825a%2Fgreat-green-wall-39.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x3375+0+313/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F66%2F18%2Fc85f310d443ebec7160f85f1825a%2Fgreat-green-wall-39.jpg" class="img" alt="Women install a series of barricades to fix the shifting dunes that threaten to swamp their local oasis oiutside the village of Kaou, Chad. The oasis provides their only source of farmland, but oases in the region have been shrinking steadily, elders say, in the face of hotter temperatures and stronger winds. The dune fixing is part of a broader intervention by SOS Sahel to support farming in the oasis as part of its contributiuon to the Great Green Wall Initiative." loading="lazy"/> Ladies set up a collection of barricades to repair the shifting dunes that threaten to swamp their native oasis oiutside the village of Kaou, Chad. The oasis gives their solely supply of farmland, however oases within the area have been shrinking steadily, elders say, within the face of hotter temperatures and stronger winds. The dune fixing is a part of a broader intervention by SOS Sahel to help farming within the oasis as a part of its contributiuon to the Nice Inexperienced Wall Initiative. Tommy Trenchard for NPR disguise caption

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Tommy Trenchard for NPR In 2007, the African Union launched Africa's Nice Inexperienced Wall mission. The plan was to plant a "wall" of timber spanning your complete width of Africa. The multi-billion-dollar mission aimed to regreen practically 250 million acres throughout 11 international locations, from Senegal to Djibouti. In doing so, the mission would sequester 250 million tons of carbon, create 10 million inexperienced jobs and alleviate poverty and meals insecurity. However 18 years later and after spending huge quantities of cash, a lot of the realm stays barren, turning what was as soon as a hopeful initiative right into a cautionary story of poor planning. Check out the place the mission presently stands.

3 issues to know earlier than you go <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3951x2221+0+160/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2Fcf%2Fd676d25a4d38a7cf78e3c83c3efc%2Fgettyimages-2209956706.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3951x2221+0+160/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2Fcf%2Fd676d25a4d38a7cf78e3c83c3efc%2Fgettyimages-2209956706.jpg" class="img" alt="Phil Collins, who is already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the prog rock group Genesis, had a string of hits in the 1980s that turned him into one of the most successful acts of the decade. This fall, he will be inducted into the Rock Hall for his solo career." loading="lazy"/> Phil Collins, who's already within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame as a member of the prog rock group Genesis, had a string of hits within the Eighties that turned him into one of the crucial profitable acts of the last decade. This fall, he shall be inducted into the Rock Corridor for his solo profession. Christian Rose/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Christian Rose/Getty Pictures Yesterday, the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame introduced its 2026 class of inductees. The checklist of eight performers contains Phil Collins, Sade and Oasis.Sight and creativeness use the identical neurons and neural code, in accordance with new proof reported within the journal Science.A brand new estimate initiatives that 442 of the U.S.' 1,700 personal, nonprofit four-year faculties and universities face the danger of closing or merging inside the subsequent 10 years. This text was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.