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Iran picks new leader. And, Trump won't sign bills until Congress overhauls voting

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Brittney Melton

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Iran has selected 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei to be its new supreme leader, according to Iranian state television. He is the son of the country's previous leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by airstrikes at the start of the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran. Yesterday, the American military confirmed the death of a seventh service member in the war. As the conflict enters its second week, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have pledged to continue hitting Iran hard.

Mojtaba Khamenei (center), pictured here in 2019, is the son of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He was selected as the country's next supreme leader. Rouzbeh Fouladi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty hide caption

Trump yesterday threatened to withhold his signature on all bills until Congress passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The proposed law would change voter registration and voting in the U.S., requiring eligible voters to prove their citizenship with documents such as a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate and a valid photo ID. It is already illegal for non-U.S. citizens to vote in federal elections.

A senior member of OpenAI's robotics team has resigned due to concerns about the company's recently announced partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. Caitlin Kalinowski posted on social media that she stepped down on "principle" after the company decided to integrate its AI systems into secure Defense Department computing. OpenAI's agreement with the Pentagon reflects the U.S. government's push to use advanced AI tools in national security, sparking debates in the tech industry about oversight and acceptable practices.

Sauna enthusiast Michael Calcagno, second from right, sits inside a clear-walled wood-fired sauna during the Seattle Sauna Festival in November. Sauna use has taken off as a health practice and scientists are studying its benefits. Mike Kane for NPR hide caption

Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.

The age-old practice of saunas has captured the attention of the wellness zeitgeist, garnering a new generation of followers eager to tap into its benefits. Researchers say saunas challenge the body in a way similar to exercise. The sudden increase in heat puts your cardiovascular system to the test by dilating your blood vessels, increasing your heart rate pushing your blood to your skin, where it can be cooled more easily by sweat.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris holds a campaign button from the Rev. Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential run while speaking during Jackson's public homegoing service at the House of Hope in Chicago on Friday. Kenn Cook Jr. for NPR hide caption

Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died last month at the age of 84, was laid to rest over the weekend at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. A week of services for the civil rights leader included lying in repose at Rainbow PUSH headquarters, lying in state at the South Carolina state Capitol, and a Friday homegoing service at House of Hope megachurch. Thousands attended the service, including former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Take a look at photos from inside these events.

Singer Joe McDonald sings during the concert marking the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival on Aug. 15, 2009 in Bethel, New York. McDonald has died at age 84. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

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