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Chapter 1: What is the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast about?
Know that fizzy feeling you get when you read something really good, watch the movie everyone's been talking about, or catch the show that the internet can't get over? At the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, we chase that feeling four times a week. We'll serve you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, and more.
From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, catch the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR.
Chapter 2: What are the key challenges in the Republican spending bill negotiations?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens. House Republicans are trying to finalize a spending bill amid disagreement over proposed steep cuts to Medicaid. Moderate Republicans have won some concessions, but NPR's Lena Moore reports that GOP conservatives are pushing back.
Chapter 3: What are the proposed changes to Medicaid by House Republicans?
This week, Speaker Johnson said that at least one of the previously floated options for cutting Medicaid is now off the table, a move that may complicate Republicans' goal of finding a total of $1.5 trillion in savings. And in a letter to Johnson, many hardline conservatives say that goal was non-negotiable. Georgia Congressman Rich McCormick is one of them.
He says the speaker has a hard decision to make.
Now you have 32 members that said, this is our criteria. We're not negotiable on this. You cannot pass the big, beautiful bill without the support of the more conservative fiscal hawks in Congress.
Republicans are still negotiating and hope to resolve this and other major differences in the coming weeks. Elena Moore, NPR News.
Chapter 4: How is the Trump administration managing migrant deportations?
The Trump administration plans to send migrants to North Africa as it grapples with fallout over two mistaken deportations. According to an official who's not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, a group of migrants from Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines could soon be flown to Libya.
As NPR's Tom Bowman reports, the proposal could face what some Republican supporters have called immigration hiccups.
Chapter 5: What issues is Libya facing with U.S. deportation plans?
One of the hiccups here is Libya's government of national unity said it rejected the use of Libyan territory as a destination for deporting migrants without its knowledge or consent. It says that there's been no coordination with the United States regarding these migrants being sent to Libya. And now Khalifa Haftar, his Libyan National Army, they control eastern Libya.
He also rejected any migrants coming from the United States to Libya. He said simply, quote, it violates the sovereignty of the homeland.
NPR's Tom Bowman reporting. A jury has acquitted three former Memphis police officers of state charges stemming from the 2023 beating death of motorist Tyree Nichols. Details from NPR's Debbie Elliott.
Jurors found fired Memphis police detectives Tadarius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith not guilty on a host of state charges, including second-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. Two other officers had pleaded guilty in the case. Key prosecution evidence was video showing the officers punch, kick, and use police batons and pepper spray on Nichols after a traffic stop.
Nichols was black, as are the now former officers involved. Defense lawyers argued they acted in keeping with Memphis Police Department policy because Nichols ran a red light and failed to stop when officers pursued him. Attorneys representing Tyree Nichols' family called the verdict a devastating miscarriage of justice. Debbie Elliott, NPR News.
U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading. This is NPR. Police in New York say at least 80 people were arrested at Columbia University Wednesday following clashes with campus security guards. Authorities say pro-Palestinian demonstrators stormed the school's main library and refused orders to identify themselves and leave.
The protest is being denounced by both Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that his agency is checking the visa status of the protesters involved. For the second time in less than two weeks, a U.S. fighter jet has been lost in the Red Sea. Steve Walsh of member station WHRO has that story.
According to a defense official, the FAA-18 Super Hornet was landing on the USS Truman. The arrestment cable, which slows the jet, broke during the landing. The aircraft plunged into the ocean. The two aviators on board ejected safely. They were picked up by a search and rescue helicopter. The aviators suffered minor injuries. No flight deck personnel were injured.
The accident comes just eight days after another fighter from the USS Truman fell overboard after the handling crew lost control of the jet while it was being towed inside the hangar bay. A third fighter was lost when it was accidentally targeted by the strike group in December. For NPR News, I'm Steve Walsh.
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