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Federal enforcement officers wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying firearms stand guard on a street near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Oregon, on October 6, 2025.
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Federal enforcement officers stand guard near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 6. Ethan Swope/AP hide caption

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Ethan Swope/AP

National Guard deployments

9th Circuit rules that National Guard can deploy to Portland

The appeals court overturned the ruling of a lower court judge in Oregon, clearing the way for President Trump to deploy the National Guard to Portland.

Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, seated in an armchair, speaks at the National Association of Music Merchants convention in Anaheim, California, in June 2022.

Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, seen here in June 2022, is asking for his performance of the song "Danger Zone" to be deleted from an AI-generated "King Trump" video that the president posted to Truth Social on Saturday. Jerod Harris/Getty Images hide caption

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Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Culture

Trump's fake video featured 'Danger Zone.' Musician Kenny Loggins wants it scrubbed

The "Danger Zone" singer is asking for his performance to be deleted from a fake "King Trump" video that the president posted to Truth Social on Saturday.

Smoke billows following an Israeli strike that targeted a building in the Bureij camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on Oct. 19.

Smoke billows following an Israeli strike that targeted a building in the Bureij camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on Oct. 19. Gaza's civil defence agency said a series of Israeli air strikes on October 19 killed at least 11 people across the territory, as Israel and Hamas traded blame for violating a ceasefire. Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images

Up First Newsletter

Gaza ceasefire deal violated. And, shutdown enters day 20 with no end in sight

Israel and Hamas say they are committed to the ceasefire after clashes over the weekend. And, lawmakers not feeling the pressures of the government shutdown.

Airstrikes On Gaza, Shutdown Pressure Points, Venezuela Boat Strikes

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Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 21. The Trump administration wants schools to sign a "compact" in exchange for priority access to federal grants.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 21. The Trump administration wants schools to sign a "compact" in exchange for priority access to federal grants. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Education

As deadline for Trump's colleges compact looms, schools signal dissent

Of the original nine schools that received the Trump administration's Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, the majority have indicated they are not planning on signing.

Roman Surovtsev and Samantha Surovtsev are seen in a photo from August 2024.

Roman Surovtsev and Samantha Surovtsev are seen in a photo from August 2024. Surovtsev family hide caption

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Surovtsev family

Deep Dive

Immigration

ICE tried to send one immigrant to a country he never lived in. Then he lawyered up

Roman Surovtsev is like many others who were detained at their regularly scheduled ICE check-ins. What makes his case different is that his wife has marshaled a team of lawyers on his behalf.

He was detained by ICE. Here's what happened when he lawyered up

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Thousands gather to protest the Missouri legislature’s efforts to redraw congressional maps to favor the GOP and amend the initiative petition process on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the state Capitol in Jefferson City.

Thousands gather to protest the Missouri legislature's efforts to redraw congressional maps to favor the GOP and amend the initiative petition process on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the state Capitol in Jefferson City. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio hide caption

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Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio

National

These voters want to overturn Missouri's new gerrymandered congressional map

KCUR

A Missouri group is working to overturn the map that gives the state one more Republican seat in Congress. If they get enough signatures, the map cannot take effect unless Missourians approve them.

MISSOURI REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM

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Protesters march down Pennsylvania Avenue for Saturday's "No Kings" protest in Washington, D.C.

Protesters march down Pennsylvania Avenue for Saturday's "No Kings" protest in Washington, D.C. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images hide caption

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Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

Protesters decry Trump administration policies in No Kings rallies across the U.S.

The second wave of mass protests organized by the progressive No Kings network saw protesters unite against President Trump's anti-immigration tactics, slashing of federal programs and other concerns.

Dominion Voting Systems ballot-counting machines, which have a black plastic exterior and wheels on the bottom, are lined up inside a Torrance County warehouse in Estancia, N.M., on September 29, 2022.

Dominion Voting Systems ballot-counting machines are lined up at a Torrance County warehouse during a testing of election equipment in Estancia, N.M., on Sept. 29, 2022. Andres Leighton/AP hide caption

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Andres Leighton/AP

Elections

Does the sale of Dominion Voting Systems mean a transformation? Depends who's asking

Dominion Voting Systems is at the heart of countless 2020 election conspiracy theories. The company has now been sold, and its new owner has shared contrasting messaging about how much will change.

Standing outdoors, two U.S. Capitol Police officers close an entrance to the Capitol on October 9. One is setting up a sign on a post that says: "MEMBERS ONLY."

U.S. Capitol Police close an entrance to the Capitol as the federal government continued its shutdown on Oct. 9. Because of the shutdown, officers missed their first full paycheck Oct. 10. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

2025 government shutdown

As they go unpaid, Capitol Police are a daily reminder for lawmakers of shutdown pain

The more than 2,000 officers on the force missed their first full paycheck Oct. 10, leaving them to go without pay at a moment when the officials they protect face growing threats and violence.

As they go unpaid, Capitol Police are a daily reminder for lawmakers of shutdown pain

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, sits before a meeting with President Donald Trump, from right, Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, sits before a meeting with President Donald Trump, from right, Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

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Alex Brandon/AP

Ukraine invasion — explained

After Zelenskyy meeting, Trump calls on Ukraine and Russia to 'stop where they are' and end the war

President Donald Trump on Friday called on Kyiv and Moscow to "stop where they are" and end their brutal war following a lengthy White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

George Santos is surrounded by journalists as he leaves the U.S. Capitol after his fellow members of Congress voted to expel him from the House of Representatives on Dec. 1, 2023. The New York Republican was later sentenced to prison on a range of federal charges, b

George Santos leaves the U.S. Capitol after his fellow members of Congress voted to expel him from the House of Representatives on Dec. 1, 2023. The New York Republican was later sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to range of federal charges, but President Trump has now commuted his sentence. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

President Trump commutes the prison sentence of George Santos

The disgraced New York Republican was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a litany of federal charges, including wire fraud and identity theft.

The video posted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows an AI-generated version of Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly saying "Every day gets better for us" and grinning.

The video posted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee shows an AI-generated version of Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly saying "Every day gets better for us" and grinning. @NRSC/Annotation by NPR hide caption

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@NRSC/Annotation by NPR

A GOP attack ad deepfakes Chuck Schumer with AI

The 30-second video from the National Republican Senatorial Committee is raising alarms among many observers who warn it crosses a new boundary in politics and could unleash a flood of AI-generated deepfake attack ads.

Demonstrators hold up signs as they march down a street during the No Kings national rally in downtown Los Angeles on June 14, 2025.

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the Trump administration during the No Kings national rally in downtown Los Angeles on June 14, the same day as President Trump's military parade in Washington, D.C. Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images

No Kings organizers project a massive turnout for this weekend's protests

Organizers say they expect millions of Americans will march this weekend against the policies of the Trump administration. The protests come amid National Guard deployments in several cities.

'No Kings' organizers project a massive turnout for this weekend's protests

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Members of the Bolivarian militia, wearing uniforms and carrying firearms, stand in rows and wave Venezuelan flags as they participate in a military deployment in support of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 23.

Members of the Bolivarian militia participate in a military deployment in support of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sept. 23. Maduro announced he is considering declaring a "state of external commotion" to deal with "aggressions" from the United States. Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images

Senators will force a vote to prevent war on Venezuela without approval from Congress

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia says new legislation is needed to prevent the Trump administration's escalating actions against Venezuela from leading to war.

Andrew Tait works at a factory and lives with his partner and their daughters on a small farm in rural Virginia. He worries about inflated prices and is concerned about their family's financial future.

Andrew Tait, 36, works at a factory and lives with his partner and their daughters on a small farm in rural Virginia. He worries about inflated prices and is concerned about their family's financial future. Kirsten Luce for NPR hide caption

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Kirsten Luce for NPR

In small towns and rural communities, young voters say they feel unseen by leaders

Gen Z and millennial voters will make up more than half of the electorate in 2028. They're a crucial bloc for both parties, but many are facing daunting economic realities and feel unseen by leaders.

Exploring young rural voters' political and economic anxieties

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The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed to visitors on the first day of the government shutdown on October 1, 2025. More than two weeks into the shutdown, talks on Capitol Hill remain at an impasse.

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed to visitors on the first day of the government shutdown on October 1, 2025. More than two weeks into the shutdown, talks on Capitol Hill remain at an impasse. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

2025 government shutdown

With some shutdown pain points delayed for now, talks in Congress are 'nowhere'

Some key impacts of the shutdown have been pushed back by moves by the Trump administration. But those efforts are temporary, and the pain could spread depending on how long the stalemate lasts.

SHUTDOWN PRESSURE POINTS

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Former national security adviser John Bolton speaks at Duke University in Durham, N.C., on Feb. 17, 2020.

Former national security adviser John Bolton speaks at Duke University in Durham, N.C., on Feb. 17, 2020. Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images

Law

Ex-national security adviser John Bolton indicted in classified documents case

The charges come two months after the FBI executed a search warrant at Bolton's suburban Washington home.

Grand jury indicts John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser

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Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., speaks as she is surrounded by supporters who have urged that House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., swear her in, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., speaks outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Adelita Grijalva can force a vote on the Epstein files, but she's still not sworn in

The Arizona Democrat would be the decisive signature on a petition to force a vote on releasing the records. But Speaker Mike Johnson says he will not swear her in until after the shutdown is over.

Weeks after winning election, Arizona congresswoman is still waiting to be sworn in

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President Donald Trump shows off a model of a proposed new arch for Washington, D.C. during remarks at a fundraising dinner in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump shows off a model of a proposed new arch for Washington, D.C. during remarks at a fundraising dinner in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Culture

President Trump envisions D.C. arch to mark 250th anniversary of U.S.

On Wednesday, the president showcased models for a grand new monument to be added to the gateway of the National Mall: a large, neoclassical arch topped with eagles and a gilded, winged figure.

President Trump is pictured at the White House on Tuesday. On Thursday, he announced plans to meet in person with Russia President Vladimir Putin.

President Trump is pictured at the White House on Tuesday. On Thursday, he announced plans to meet in person with Russia President Vladimir Putin. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Trump says he plans to meet Putin again as Ukraine war drags

President Trump says he will meet with the Russia president in Budapest, after high level meetings next week that would include Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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