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The House approved a rescission plan last night to claw back $9 billion in previously allocated funds. This plan includes cutting federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which affects NPR, PBS and their member stations, as well as foreign aid. The vote was 216 to 213, with the support of all but two Republicans. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed.
Note: Under NPR’s protocol for reporting on itself, no corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that then-real estate mogul Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a salacious letter for his 50th birthday in 2003. The article alleges that among the materials in an Epstein investigation years ago was a book of birthday letters, including one with the outline of a naked woman, where the signature, “Donald,” can be seen. Trump swiftly denied the allegations and is now threatening to sue the Journal over the story. The president also directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of some of the files related to Epstein’s criminal sex trafficking case.
Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, but “remains in excellent health,” the White House physician said in a memo yesterday. The administration disclosed this information after people online brought attention to photos showing the president with swollen ankles, among other symptoms. The medical condition affects the veins of his legs and is caused when blood has trouble getting pumped back up to the heart. This is fairly common for people over the age of 70. Trump is 79.
Flirting in real life is becoming a lost art. At least that is what confidence coach Regina Bonds thinks. If talking to a cute stranger makes your palms sweat, but you want to find a love interest without dating apps, Bonds has some advice to overcome common fears about approaching a romantic interest in the wild.
For more advice on how to be confident while flirting in person, listen to this episode of NPR’s Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Sorry, Baby is about a woman trying to make sense of life after sexual assault. Though it is very much a drama, offbeat comedic smarts are throughout it.
📺 TV: The first half of HBO’s two-part documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes premieres today. NPR’s Eric Deggans notes that it exemplifies the tension between access and objectivity that filmmakers encounter when creating documentaries about celebrities.
📚 Books: This week, it’s an all-you-can-read buffet of new offerings, with flavors to suit virtually every palate. From a new horror novel from Silvia Moreno-Garcia to a short story collection about the American South by Carrie R. Moore.
🎵 Music: Yanga features the vibrant colors, lively rhythms, melodic tunes, and bold concepts of Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz. NPR’s Tom Huizenga says the album is so good that it might get her a few more awards.
🎮 Games: NPR staff and contributors have examined the diverse offerings of the video game world so far this year. Whether you seek a brief distraction or an epic 50-hour adventure, here’s an interactive list to help you find your next favorite game.
❓ Quiz: Even the questions I didn’t know, I answered correctly and ended up with a score of 10/11. It’s your turn. Do you think you can beat me?
Source: www.npr.org