Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Here’s what to know today.
Top stories
Senate Republicans paused a push to approve multi-year funding for immigration enforcement as Congress prepares to recess for a week. The hold-up centers on a newly announced $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and related White House requests that many senators say they were blindsided by. The fund — intended to compensate people who say they’ve been targeted by the government — has not been appropriated by Congress, and some GOP senators withdrew support for the immigration package while they press for answers about the fund and other Trump administration spending requests, including costly security upgrades to a White House ballroom. Tensions within the GOP showed up elsewhere: House Republicans canceled a planned vote on a measure to limit the president’s war powers.
Two police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 have filed a federal lawsuit arguing the Anti-Weaponization Fund is unlawful and dangerous, saying some of the money could end up helping January 6 defendants.
DNC review of 2024 losses released, criticized
The Democratic National Committee released an external review of the party’s 2024 campaign performance intended to inform 2026 and beyond. The 192-page document drew internal criticism because it was not released earlier and because the DNC chairman acknowledged the copy was incomplete when first received in December. The consultant-authored review lacks an executive summary and a conclusion and the party said it was not given full sourcing for many assertions. Critics say the report contains unverifiable claims, but it also underscores a key political dynamic: voters often distrust national party leaders while continuing to support their local Democratic candidates — a split that could complicate the party’s national strategy going forward.
Hurricane season outlook: slightly fewer storms, but higher risk of a big hurricane
National Hurricane Center forecasters expect an Atlantic season with slightly fewer storms than average, projecting roughly 8 to 14 named storms between June 1 and November 30. However, unusually warm Atlantic waters increase the chance that at least one very large, destructive hurricane will form. That kind of event could threaten tens of millions of people in coastal and inland areas vulnerable to flooding, wind damage, and storm surge — including large parts of the eastern and southern U.S. and some inland regions in Appalachia and the Northeast. Experts warn residents in hurricane-prone areas to review preparedness plans and stay alert throughout the season.
Abortion messaging and access updates
Since January, Democratic candidates have spent far less on campaign ads about abortion than they did during the same period in 2024, reflecting a broader emphasis on cost-of-living concerns among voters. Advocates say abortion access remains a critical issue even if it’s getting less ad attention amid a crowded news cycle.
In policy and service news, a Planned Parenthood affiliate launched “Just In Case Abortion Pills,” an initiative letting residents of Washington state and Hawaii obtain mifepristone and misoprostol for future use to end an early pregnancy if needed.
Climate Solutions Week and local action
NPR is dedicating a week to coverage of local and regional climate solutions as federal action stalls. One example: Illinois State University’s Front Yard Free-Cycle helps students reuse items like clothes and small furniture to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The event, run by the campus sustainability office and a student share shop, aims to keep usable goods out of landfills and teach reuse skills year-round.
Weekend culture picks
– Movies: Is God Is — a revenge road film about twin sisters that mixes dark humor and grief.
– TV: Binge-watch Survivor — NPR’s guide ranks every season and explains what works and what doesn’t.
– Books: NPR critics highlight 15 summer releases to watch.
– Music: Rostam Batmanglij’s new album American Stories blends Americana and Persian influences.
– Theater: New productions are reinterpreting John Cage’s opera Apartment House 1776 in fresh ways.
– Quiz: Try NPR’s weekly news quiz if you want a quick test of what you’ve been following.
3 things to know before you go
1) Walmart said it will likely use recent tariff refunds to reduce some store prices as shoppers worry about rising fuel costs.
2) In travel culture: a Far-Flung Postcards feature highlights Bali’s kecak dance, which retells episodes from the Ramayana; multimedia coverage includes video of the performance.
3) The administration plans to expand private-sector roles in airport security through a new TSA Gold+ program intended to ease staffing shortages at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.