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Today’s top stories
A federal judge freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration detention yesterday. Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March after what U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement called an “administrative error.” He was later brought back to the U.S. and detained. The judge ruled the government failed to produce a lawful order for his removal. The White House says it will appeal. Abrego Garcia’s lawyers called the ruling an extraordinary victory for due process. Democrats invited family members of people who were deported or detained to the hearing to highlight the impact of immigration enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, questioned by lawmakers about the administration’s compliance with court orders, said she believes immigrants admitted under the Biden administration pose a major national security threat; her department is reopening refugee cases and reviewing asylum applications.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainians would need to decide by referendum if the country surrenders territory — a step the U.S. has suggested as part of a peace deal with Russia. Zelenskyy and European partners are trying to respond to pressure from proposals tied to Trump’s push to end the war. Zelenskyy is engaging with difficult proposals to show Ukraine is negotiating in good faith, NPR’s Joanna Kakissis reports. Giving up territory is a red line for many Ukrainians; Zelenskyy has discussed the possibility of holding elections within 90 days or a referendum on ceding parts of eastern Ukraine. Ukraine remains under martial law because of the invasion, and its constitution forbids elections during wartime; public-opinion polls show most Ukrainians oppose holding elections now.
The Indiana Senate voted 31 to 19 against a congressional redistricting plan backed by the president to help Republicans in next year’s midterms. The vote is notable in a chamber where 40 of 50 senators are Republicans and marks the first time some members of Trump’s party in the state voted against his redistricting push. Republicans have successfully reshaped maps in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina; observers say the GOP likely tilted a few more seats toward itself overall, while Democrats in California have tilted seats their way. Indiana State Sen. Spencer Deery said voting for partisan redistricting opposed his conservative principles and that he would resist federal pressure on the state. The question remains whether other states will follow Trump’s redistricting priorities.
Life advice
Interior designer Vern Yip recommends getting offline and finding real-world inspiration to refresh your home. In his book Color Pattern Texture: The Foundation to Make Your Home Your Own, he suggests hands-on approaches: use quality temporary pieces like a great rug instead of quick online trends; shop yard sales and thrift stores for affordable, higher-quality finds; and consider how wall colors interact with your skin tone and light before committing to a repaint.
Weekend picks
– Movies: George Clooney stars in Jay Kelly, about an aging movie star traveling through Europe; NPR also rounds up new theatrical releases this week.
– TV: The Abandons is a Western-tinged soap about two matriarchs facing off on the frontier.
– Books: NPR lists final noteworthy 2025 titles, including The Sea Captain’s Wife and The Rest of Our Lives.
– Music: NPR highlights six Spanish-language artists who stood out to Alt.Latino in 2025 and more of the year’s best music coverage.
– Food: A selection of 10 cookbooks from 2025 makes a good gift or way to expand your palate.
– Quiz: Test your knowledge with this week’s news quiz.
3 things to know
1) Disney reached a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI to bring Disney characters and images to Sora for video creation and sharing.
2) Archaeologists in Britain say they found the earliest evidence of humans making fire, pushing the origin more than 350,000 years earlier than previously believed.
3) After a breast cancer diagnosis, Gillian Kline’s HR representative, Alex Mackey, not only handled insurance enrollment but provided personal support that Kline describes as an example of true kindness.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.