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Trump-endorsed Congressman Randy Feenstra lost the Iowa gubernatorial primary race last night to businessman Zach Lahn. It's a rare blow to President Trump, who has seen almost all of his chosen candidates succeed. Farmers in Iowa have been disproportionately impacted by Trump administration policies like tariffs and the war in Iran. The state is governed by Republicans, but voters have cast their ballots for Democrats in recent federal and state elections. Democratic voters are strategically selecting candidates they believe will best position them to flip seats in November.
Voters fill out ballots at Lowe Park Arts and Environment Center on Tuesday in Marion, Iowa. Iowans voting in today's primary election will nominate candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House in advance of this fall's midterm elections. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images hide caption
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told members of Congress yesterday that plans for Trump's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund are no longer moving forward. His remarks come just days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the creation of the fund after Democracy Forward and other organizations filed a lawsuit.
Trump announced yesterday that he is appointing Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will replace Tulsi Gabbard, who is stepping down at the end of the month. His biography on the FHFA website highlights his career experience in housing and philanthropy, but it does not mention any background in intelligence.
Researchers are speaking out against a new White House web page, saying that it uses dehumanizing language to target immigrants. The site aliens.gov discusses the threat of "aliens," accompanied by the opening theme of The X-Files. The webpage equates undocumented immigrants with extraterrestrials. The administration refers to these individuals as an "it" and claims "they do not belong here." While some may dismiss the wordplay as a joke, Ernesto Castañeda, director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University, says that "for a few people, it may be another license to act violently against people that they may think are aliens, undocumented. They may be another incitement to hate crimes and to profiling people."
Drinking water is one of the main ways people are exposed to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or "PFAS." These chemicals have been linked to negative health outcomes, including certain cancers. show999/Getty Images hide caption
"Forever chemicals" are everywhere, even in our drinking water and food. These substances, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or "PFAS," have been linked to negative health outcomes, including certain types of cancer. Eliminating all sources of PFAS in your life would be impossible, according to one report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. But it is worthwhile to minimize your exposure to the contaminants. Here are some of the ways you can reduce your PFAS exposure:
For additional guidance on whether there are forever chemicals in your drinking water, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
John Follmer prunes back plants at the Japanese garden on the West LA Veterans Affairs campus in April. Stella Kalinina for NPR hide caption
Iraq war veteran John Follmer leads a group of veteran volunteers who rehabilitate a neglected Japanese garden on the West LA Veterans Affairs Campus every Thursday. In 2012, an NPR investigation revealed that the VA was using the campus for questionable purposes while thousands of veterans slept on the streets. After many lawsuits, protests and government promises, housing for more than 1,200 veterans has been built, but construction is years behind schedule. Trump promised to accelerate building efforts there but failed to allocate funding for a single new bed in this year's budget request. The VA told NPR that funding will come later. The ultimate goal is to create a community where veterans can choose to live permanently, rather than just when they are getting back on their feet. Take a look at how this garden is helping veterans.
Author Julia Elliott won for her short story collection Hellions. Forrest Clonts/Tin House hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Source: NPR - Politics
