Trump fires Kristi Noem. And, DOJ releases some missing Epstein files

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Right now’s prime tales

President Trump has fired Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem and named Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as his selection to exchange her. On social media, Trump mentioned Noem would transfer to a job as “Particular Envoy for The Defend of the Americas,” a brand new safety initiative he mentioned the administration would announce on Saturday. Mullin, a reasonably new face within the Senate, has established himself as an in depth ally of the president. The Senate should verify Mullin for the DHS function earlier than he can begin. This is what it’s worthwhile to find out about Trump’s decide.

🎧 Noem’s firing comes after each Republicans and Democrats questioned her management throughout two separate hearings this week, NPR’s Ximena Bustillo tells Up First. They requested in regards to the company’s effectivity in distributing catastrophe aid funds and the way it spent its cash. All through her time within the function, Noem has defended the company’s actions, however that backfired after January’s occasions in Minnesota, the place immigration officers killed two U.S. residents. The occasions in that state are instrumental in why the company is now in its third week with out funding. If accepted, one in every of Mullins’ first duties shall be to deal with the dearth of belief in immigration enforcement.

Because the battle in Iran enters day seven, Israel’s navy says it detected missiles launched from Iran, and its air protection methods had been working to intercept them. Iran’s retaliation comes after Israel mentioned it started a “broad wave” of air strikes on Tehran, with extra assaults on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Israel has issued an evacuation order for that space of Beirut. The Iranian Crimson Crescent studies that for the reason that U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, greater than 1,300 individuals there have been killed. Try a number of the key updates that NPR is reporting on.

🎧 NPR’s Hadeel Al-Shalchi, who’s in Beirut, says town is crowded with displaced individuals, and she or he discovered it arduous to discover a lodge room for herself as a result of they’re all full. Individuals who can not discover a place to remain are sleeping of their automobiles or on the streets. Greater than 95,000 persons are at present displaced, in accordance with Lebanese officers. The assaults in Lebanon come after Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, launched rockets into Israel earlier this week. Al-Shalchi says the Lebanese authorities desires to distance itself from the militant group. Yesterday, Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar instructed Al-Shalchi that he instructed the nation’s safety authorities to concern arrest warrants for the Hezbollah members who launched the rockets.➡️ Oscar-nominated Iranian dissident Mehdi Mahmoudian fears his nation faces an infinite cycle of violence. He joins Morning Version host Leila Fadel to debate his ideas on this precarious chapter of Iran’s historical past.➡️ Israel and Iran have clashed for almost 50 years. However earlier than that, there was cooperation between the nations. Throughline explores the nations’ complicated historical past by the lifetime of Jewish Iranian Habib Elghanian.

It has been two months since U.S. forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In that point, the U.S. and Venezuela have shortly mended their relationship. Officers from the 2 nations have struck oil offers. Now, they’re discussing important minerals and have agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations.

🎧 This week, U.S. Inside Secretary Doug Burgum had a gathering with Venezuelan officers, together with Venezuelan Inside Secretary Diosdado Cabello. Cabello is needed within the U.S. for narco-terrorism. NPR’s Eyder Peralta, who’s in Caracas, says the assembly may have been awkward, however as a substitute, there have been many smiles. Burgum says the Venezuelan authorities will quickly make it simpler for the U.S. to do mining in its nation. Burgum has mentioned that China’s management of important minerals, that are used for issues like pc chips, is likely one of the highest strategic nationwide safety threats. Venezuela is prone to have those self same minerals, and the nation may very well be key in breaking the U.S.’ reliance on China.

The Justice Division has launched extra Epstein recordsdata involving sexual abuse allegations in opposition to Trump after an NPR investigation discovered officers withheld dozens of pages. The brand new 16-page drop consists of FBI interview summaries with a lady who accused the president of abusing her when she was a minor. Now that these paperwork are public, there are nonetheless 37 pages that stay lacking from the database, in accordance with NPR’s calculation.

Deep dive

Ivermectin, the anti-parasitic drug that turned fashionable through the COVID-19 pandemic, is again within the highlight. Persons are embracing it in its place most cancers remedy. Whereas it successfully fights parasitic infections like roundworms and scabies in people, and will help in preventing malaria, its repute stays politically polarizing. Scientists as soon as hoped it may deal with COVID-19, however dozens of research confirmed it provided no profit. Regardless of that disappointing analysis, misinformation fueled the drug’s use through the pandemic. Now, the drug’s repute is continuous to develop in conservative political circles as a type of cure-all for numerous illnesses.

💊 State legislatures in Tennessee, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Texas voted to make the drug accessible over-the-counter. Medical doctors categorical concern that this motion might lead individuals to misuse the drug or substitute it for confirmed remedy.💊 Oncologist Jonathan Mizrahi mentioned he began seeing curiosity within the drug for most cancers a couple of yr in the past, when he observed almost half of his new sufferers requested him about it.💊 Mizrahi’s analysis discovered that myths started to blow up on social media after actor Mel Gibson advised final yr on Joe Rogan’s podcast that ivermectin cured three of his associates of superior most cancers.

Weekend picks

Try what NPR is watching, studying and listening to this weekend:

🍿 Films: British actress Lesley Manville mentioned her new movie Midwinter Break, her function in Oedipus on Broadway, and the way she has balanced each stage and display for many years with Morning Version host Michel Martin.

📺 TV: FX’s Love Story follows John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s courtship, marriage, and the good pressure she skilled as a part of one of many world’s most carefully watched {couples}.

📚 Books: March at all times brings a flurry of latest books, and this yr is not any exception. Skip the doomscrolling and as a substitute mark your calendar for these thrilling publishing highlights.

🎵 Music: Mitski describes Nothing’s About to Occur to Me as an idea album a couple of girl residing in unkempt solitude who known as a deviant when she ventures outdoors.

❓ Quiz: This week’s quiz was just a little tough. Do not let the pictures idiot you. I scored a 9 out of 10, so I do know you are able to do the identical or higher.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Prime Atlanta half-marathon finishers are urging U.S. observe officers to safe world championships spots for Jess McClain and two different athletes. Their request comes after an official race automobile misdirected the runners off the course, jeopardizing their qualification for the worldwide group.A Lancet research reveals that pregnant girls in emergency rooms used much less Tylenol after Trump mentioned in September 2025 that it may elevate their infants’ autism danger. Scientists deny a confirmed hyperlink.For the primary time ever, girls identified primarily for nation music topped the Billboard Scorching 100 singles chart and the Billboard 200 albums chart concurrently this week.

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.