GOP gearing as much as face robust midterms. And, Pentagon opinions ladies in floor fight

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At present’s high tales

President Trump continues to counsel that the U.S. may have a prolonged and lively position in Venezuela after capturing the ousted president Nicolás Maduro. Trump has proposed a number of plans for Venezuela’s future authorities and economic system. In these proposals, U.S. corporations are anticipated to play a key position.

• 🎧 Trump and his aides are unclear about the way forward for Venezuela, NPR’s Franco Ordoñez tells Up First. When the president says the U.S. will run the nation, many eyes are on Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of employees for coverage. Miller, recognized for his stringent immigration insurance policies, is likely one of the U.S. officers overseeing Venezuela. Ordoñez additionally says Miller has extra not too long ago described ruling over the hemisphere by drive.
• ➡️ Final night time, Trump posted on social media that Venezuela will flip over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S. Whereas seizing present oil manufacturing is one factor, overhauling Venezuela’s oil trade requires a far better effort. This is why.

Whereas assembly with Home Republicans yesterday, Trump tried to supply his celebration a roadmap to victory on this 12 months’s midterm elections. The president acknowledged the potential for his celebration shedding the bulk within the Home this 12 months. Trump mentioned in his speech that the president’s celebration usually loses the midterms.

• 🎧 NPR’s Domenico Montanaro says that whereas it is true the midterms are onerous on the president’s celebration, it’s even worse when a president’s approval score is beneath 50%. Trump is going through his lowest second-term approval rankings, largely because of the rising price of residing. Throughout yesterday’s speech, the president did not supply a lot on the subject. When he did talk about the economic system, it was about how the inventory market is at historic highs. He additionally touted his tariffs, which have actively raised costs on many issues. Individuals have knowledgeable pollsters for months that they consider the president’s insurance policies have harmed the economic system. Montanaro says one space the place Trump and Republicans might take motion is laws on well being care.

The Pentagon is getting ready a six-month overview to judge what it calls the army “effectiveness” of girls serving in floor fight roles. Undersecretary Anthony Tata requested that the Military and Marine Corps submit knowledge on the readiness, coaching, efficiency, casualties and command local weather of floor fight items and personnel by Jan. 15. The hassle goals to find out how gender integration has influenced operational success over the past decade.

Particular sequence

Trump has tried to bury the reality of what occurred on Jan. 6, 2021. NPR constructed a visible archive of the assault on the Capitol, exhibiting precisely what occurred via the lenses of the individuals who have been there. “Chapter 3: Assault on the Capitol,” lays out the timeline of key moments all through the day because the riot unfolded.

On the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, Trump held a “Save America” rally on the Ellipse, a website close to the White Home and U.S. Capitol. A number of audio system promoted voter fraud myths and urged Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election. In the meantime, a bunch of 200 Proud Boys marched towards the Capitol. Earlier than Trump’s speech ended, violence erupted on Capitol grounds. The Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol “was the most videotaped crime in American history, if not world history,” in accordance with Greg Rosen, a former federal prosecutor who led the Justice Division unit that investigated the riot. However conspiracy theories nonetheless falsely label the assault a “normal tourist visit.” NPR’s overview of hundreds of court docket movies exhibits rioters assaulting officers with weapons, calling for executions and looting the constructing. These movies present the precise timing of occasions as they occurred. Corresponding maps present the areas the place the battle happened.

To study extra, discover NPR’s database of federal felony circumstances from Jan. 6. It’s also possible to see extra of NPR’s reporting on the subject.

Image present

The tin soldier, a marionette puppet made by Nicolas Coppola and the principle character in “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” present at Puppetworks.

Anh Nguyen for NPR

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Anh Nguyen for NPR

For greater than 30 years, Puppetworks has staged classics like The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio, Aladdin and extra in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood. Each weekend, youngsters collect on foam mats and coloured blocks to look at picket renditions of the exhibits. The corporate’s founder and creative director, 90-year-old Nicolas Coppola, has been knowledgeable puppeteer since 1954. The theater has puppets of every kind, together with marionettes, swing, hand, and rod. They transport attendees again to the Eighties, when most of those puppets have been made. Over time, Coppola has up to date the present’s repertoire to higher meet the cultural second. Step inside his world with these pictures.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

This tiny forest in Los Angeles, CA is considered one of many micro-forests around the globe providing inexperienced area and contributing to native biodiversity.

Demian Willette/Loyola Marymount College

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Demian Willette/Loyola Marymount College

1. Scientists are establishing micro-forests in huge cities to spice up biodiversity and rejuvenate compromised land. Quick Wave producer Rachel Carlson visited California’s largest micro-forest. Tune in to listen to her account of the expertise.
2. The Hungarian arthouse director Béla Tarr has died at 70. He is finest recognized for his bleak, existential, and difficult movies, together with Sátántangó.
3. Whereas we frequently affiliate serendipity with luck or comfortable accidents, its origin suggests it is extra than simply happenstance. This week, NPR’s Phrase of the Week explores the historic influence of serendipity and presents tips about tips on how to domesticate it.

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.