Senate votes to fund most of DHS. And, Trump extends Iran's deadline to reopen strait

Special Series Up First Newsletter All Up First Stories Up First Podcast Morning Edition LISTEN & FOLLOW NPR App Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeart Radio YouTube Music RSS link Sign up for the [TITLE] Newsletter Get perks with [Podcast Title]+ Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed. By Brittney Melton Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. The Senate voted overnight to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, which could potentially end a 42-day standoff over immigration enforcement tactics. The deal doesn't include funding for the agency's main immigration enforcement operations nor any changes like banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from wearing masks. The partial government shutdown has forced tens of thousands of employees, including Transportation Security agents, to work without pay or quit. Now, the legislation heads to the House for a vote. Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. spoke to reporters on Tuesday during a news briefing following a weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon at the Capitol. On Truth Social, he says ongoing talks with Iran prompted this second extension, which now pushes the deadline to April 6. The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, is happening this week in Dallas, with members of the Republican faithful gathering for the event. The annual conference usually showcases some of the biggest names in the MAGA movement, but this year Trump is not in attendance. The event comes as the U.S. continues its strikes against Iran after nearly a month, which has divided the president's historically loyal base. NPR's Newsmakers is a new video podcast and cross-platform show bringing audiences in-depth conversations with the most important voices of the moment. hide caption Go face to face with the person of the moment. NPR's Newsmakers brings the biggest names in politics, business, sports, arts, and culture out of the headlines and into the interview chair to discuss the mark they're making on the world. For the premiere of our Newsmakers video podcast, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke with NPR's Steve Inskeep at the Maryland State House. During the conversation, Moore discussed the Iran war, his thoughts on pardon power and what his political future holds. The premiere Newsmakers episode will be available later today. Follow the Newsmakers podcast or subscribe to NPR's YouTube channel to get new episodes as soon as they're available. Samara Weaving in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Pief Weyman/Searchlight Pictures hide caption Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend: 🍿 Movies: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come continues directly from where the first film ended, but this time with even more lore, gore and stars like Elijah Wood and Sarah Michelle Gellar. 📺 TV: The new series Bait focuses on Shah, a struggling British Pakistani actor. After he lands an audition to be the next James Bond, Shah's life starts to resemble Bond's, except he is chasing acceptance instead of a villain. 📚 Books: In The Most Wonderful Terrible Person: A Memoir of Murder in the Golden State, Debra Miller reflects on her traumatic childhood and its lingering effects after her mother, Lucille Miller, was convicted of killing her husband in 1965. 🎵 Music: Flea, the bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has released his debut solo album, Honora. The new body of work showcases the musician's love for jazz. ❓ Quiz: Test how well you know AI, Washington landmarks, and TSA wait times with this quiz. Workers react to the media after updating signage outside the Kennedy Center on Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption This newsletter was edited by Yvonne Dennis. Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor