Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Madingley.
Over the objections of Democrats, the Senate has voted to advance a $70 billion budget resolution
“that funds U.S. immigration and customs enforcement as well as the border patrol.”
The vote early this morning was 50 to 48 and done through the budget reconciliation process requiring a simple majority for passage that measure now heads to the House. Republicans are seeking to end that apartment of homeland security shut down. Democrats and Congress have sought changes to how federal officers carry out immigration enforcement before agreeing to fully fund the H.S.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was on Capitol Hill yesterday, where he was pressed by lawmakers about the rise and confirmed cases of measles across the U.S. As NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports, Kennedy deflected blame for the country experiencing its highest number of measles cases in three decades. Secretary Kennedy has a history of anti-vaccine activism.
He has emphasized vaccination as a personal choice rather than encouraging more people to get the measles vaccine as the disease spreads across the country. Here is Democratic Senator Lisa Blunt, Rochester of Delaware, in one committee hearing.
“Can you take any responsibility in your role for the situation that we are in with this”
measles epidemic? As I said, the measles epidemic began before I came into office the people didn't take that as in no. Kennedy said he's done a great job containing the spread of measles and stressed that it's a global problem.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, thanked Kennedy for his help containing the outbreak in his state. Selena Simmons-Duffin and Piano News, Washington. I'm in the ongoing U.S. ceasefire with Iran and American naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon says the Secretary of the Navy is leaving, and PR's Quill Lawrence
reports on the departure of John Falen. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that Falen was departing the administration effective immediately. There was no explanation for the abrupt end to Falen's tenure just one year into the job. The Iran War involves some of the Navy's most significant operations in decades, though
the Navy's Secretary's job is more focused on training and equipping the force. Secretary of Defense Pete Heggseth has taken an unusually active role in the recent firing of many general officers, including the Army's top general, over the wishes of the Army's Secretary. Falen had been a major donor to President Trump, but had no military experience before
he was appointed. Under Secretary of the Navy, Hong Kong will now be acting Secretary. Kau is a Navy combat veteran with decades of service. Quill Lawrence and PR News. Fast-moving wildfires and South Georgia have destroyed more than 50 homes, and
the authorities say they threaten hundreds more amid dry conditions. Fires are also burning in areas of northern Florida. This is NPR News from Washington. Shareholders and Warner Brothers' discovery are scheduled to vote today on the company's proposed sale to Paramount.
It's valued at more than $110 billion and includes an assumption of debt.
If approved by shareholders, the deal would still be subject to review by federal regulators. The Trump administration says it's effort to expand access to obesity drugs to Medicare beneficiaries has hit a snag, and PR's Sydney Lutkin has more. Through a test program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, wanted health plans to voluntarily add obesity drug coverage for 2027.
But 80% of insurers had to sign on by April 20th, says Julia Cubansky, a Medicare expert at the nonpartisan research group KFF. Even at the discounted prices that CMS had negotiated with the manufacturers, it just wasn't low enough. It seems for the insurers to think that it was in their interest to participate in this
model. A separate temporary program that would allow Medicare beneficiaries to get obesity drugs for $50, will still go into effect in July, but Cubansky says it will now have to last longer and could cost taxpayers billions. Sydney Lutkin and PR News Electric Vehicle Maker Tesla is reporting quarterly earnings
and sales numbers that beat Wall Street forecasts.
Tesla says revenue topped $22 billion in the first quarter of the year, a jump of 16% compared
to the same period one year ago. I'm Dave Maddingley in Washington. For every day and up first, NPR's Golden Globe nominated morning news podcast, we bring
“you three essential stories at the heart of each story, our questions.”
What really happened, what really mattered, what happens next, at NPR we stand for your right to be curious and to follow the facts, follow our first wherever you get your podcasts
