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By
Brittney Melton
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Today, the House is expected to vote on a measure to constrain President Trump's authority to wage war in Iran, one day after a similar resolution failed to advance in the Senate. Senators voted 47-53, largely along party lines. The U.S. and Israel are continuing to attack Iran as the conflict heads into its sixth day. Iran says the U.S. will "bitterly regret" torpedoing an Iranian warship yesterday off the coast of Sri Lanka. The attack killed at least 87 people.
People wave flags in mourning of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday. The Iranian authorities ultimately postponed public mourning rituals for the supreme leader. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images hide caption
This year, more than 80 Gen Z and millennial candidates are challenging or running to succeed House Democrats 65 and older, according to a report by Democratic fundraising platform Oath, first obtained by NPR. This marks a massive spike from the previous cycle, which saw 24 Democratic candidates under 50 challenging older incumbents. While veteran politicians typically coast to reelection, this year's midterms show cracks in the longtime dynamics. Incumbent challengers have traditionally struggled to raise money. But this year, some young challengers are also breaking through on that front, according to an NPR analysis of campaign finance data.
Minnesota sued the Trump administration this week, accusing the federal government of weaponizing Medicaid against the state as "political punishment." The dispute centers around approximately $250 million that the state spent on Medicaid last summer. The administration is withholding matching funds, citing allegations of fraud. Medicaid is the public health insurance program for low-income people. It's a state and federal partnership — for every dollar a state spends on Medicaid, the federal government matches it. For months, right-wing media and politicians have hammered Minnesota with claims it has fraud-ridden social services, leading the state to post its own fraud fact-check page. Health policy experts say the federal government's actions to withhold and defer funding break with normal fraud-handling precedent.
NPR's 2026 College Podcast Challenge finalists' colleges and universities. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption
The NPR education team listened to hundreds of compelling student stories from 75 campuses across 35 states to select the finalists in their fifth annual NPR College Podcast Challenge. A student's personal narrative about earning a college degree while raising a child and a look back at the rich sounds of a New York City neighborhood through the memories of a recording artist are two of the compelling stories they selected. In the coming days, the judges will select the Grand Prize winner from the top 10 podcasts. In the meantime, you can listen to the finalists.
If you can't get enough of these student podcasts, the team has also selected several honorable mentions.
Prosecutors are expected to argue that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, have engaged in anticompetitive practices that profoundly harm musicians, venues and ticket buyers. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images/NurPhoto hide caption
The federal antitrust trial against Live Nation, one of the world's largest entertainment companies, began earlier this week. Prosecutors argue that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster use anticompetitive practices that deeply harm musicians, venues and ticket buyers. The Justice Department filed the lawsuit in 2024, but calls for ticketing reform have been growing for years. This trial is the biggest legal action against the company yet, with the most potential to change the live entertainment industry's status quo. Here's what you need to know:
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 01: In an aerial view, homes are seen under construction at a new housing development on July 01, 2025 in Richmond, California. According to a report by the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau, U.S. construction spending fell 0.3% in May as higher mortgage rates and rising inventory impacted single-family housing projects. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
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