NPR is reporting that Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan's primary and is now set to face Republican Congressman Mike Rogers for a U.S. Senate seat in November. The seat is being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, and Democrats view the race as a must-win to regain control of the chamber. El-Sayed, who campaigned alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC, built a younger coalition and now needs to appeal to traditional Stevens voters, including Black, working-class and Jewish voters. He faces a significant fundraising gap, with Republican groups committing at least $45 million against him. Rogers, an established Republican, appeals to the Make America Great Again base and has labeled El-Sayed a communist and extremist, accusations El-Sayed calls baseless. Rogers will need to attract MAGA Republicans without alienating independents who oppose President Trump.
NPR also said a Senate committee is expected to vote today on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. The retired health official, who directed the U.S. government's coronavirus response, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination last week during a hearing, refusing to answer lawmakers' questions. Fauci has often clashed with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul released more than 1,000 pages of Fauci's private diary entries before the hearing, accusing him of hiding his uncertainty about the pandemic's cause. The vote on Fauci follows the Senate's confirmation of Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
President Trump pitched his economic agenda to voters in Las Vegas yesterday, struggling to sell his policies as prices have risen amid the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates more Americans favor Democrats over Republicans on economic issues for the first time in nearly a decade. Trump continues to assert the U.S. economy is thriving under his policies, including no taxes on tips, while blaming high prices on conditions inherited from Democrats. Tipped workers in Las Vegas told NPR that while they received higher tax refunds this year, they face other economic challenges. Tourism in the city declined more than 7% in 2025, and residents say Trump's policy of no taxes on tips is insufficient given declining tourism and higher prices.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta reluctantly dismissed the conspiracy case against Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers, and several other key members. Juries had previously convicted Rhodes and five others of attempting to overthrow the government through force, contributing to the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The Department of Justice under the Trump administration moved to vacate the convictions and drop the case. Judge Mehta's dismissal concludes prosecutors' efforts to hold Trump's supporters accountable for the Capitol siege.
Separately, NPR is reporting that the plains spotted skunk is becoming increasingly elusive in the Great Plains' prairies and forests. Officials are weighing federal protections for the species, and researchers are working to uncover mysteries about the understudied animal.
In health news, NPR's Living Better series highlights how ultra-processed foods have changed snacking culture. While pediatricians often recommend three meals and two snacks daily for children, this advice predates the rise of processed foods, which can increase children's intake of saturated fat, sodium and sugar. Researchers suggest new rules for children's snacking: avoid snacks high in total carbohydrates like crackers and pretzels, wean children off processed snacks onto whole foods such as fruits and nuts, focus on the quality of snacks over their frequency, and stop carrying ultraprocessed options to reduce children's expectations for them.