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Today’s prime tales

Congress is on monitor to keep away from a authorities shutdown, after the House voted overwhelmingly — with Democratic assist — to approve a two-tier spending invoice. The unusual approach would keep some government offices open via Jan. 19, and the remaining via Feb. 2, all at present funding ranges. The Senate is anticipated to vote on the plan later this week, and the White House says Biden will signal it if it will get to his desk.

• Yesterday was a dramatic day on Capitol Hill. Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett accused former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of shoving him in a hallway, a cost McCarthy denies however has been accused of earlier than. NPR’s Claudia Grisales, who saw the altercation firsthand, advised Up First that it is simply the most recent signal of how deeply divided House Republicans stay after weeks of more and more private infighting. 

The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, voted Tuesday to advance a two-tier authorities spending invoice.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, voted Tuesday to advance a two-tier authorities spending invoice.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The Israel Defense Forces mentioned in a social media put up early Wednesday that it’s finishing up a “precise and targeted” operation in opposition to Hamas inside Al-Shifa Hospital. Israel has lengthy mentioned that Hamas militants are embedded in Gaza’s main hospital, a declare U.S. officers publicly backed on Tuesday. Many sufferers, medical doctors and civilians stay within the hospital, the place circumstances have deteriorated because it ran out of gasoline to energy its mills.

• Meanwhile, objections over Israel’s operations in Gaza seem to have brought about rifts on the U.S. State Department. Some workers have signed dissent cables urging the administration to name for a cease-fire. NPR’s Michele Kelemen studies that whereas not a lot is understood in regards to the memos’ content material or actual variety of signatories, U.S. officers say they’re listening and meeting with staff. 
• The newest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist ballot finds that Americans are split over Israel’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault. A majority of Democrats now say it has been an excessive amount of, whereas a majority of Republicans say it has been about proper — however there are massive generational and racial divides. NPR spoke with voters in the swing state of Michigan about how they’re fascinated with the battle.  

Check out npr.org/mideastupdates for extra protection, differing views and evaluation of this battle.

President Biden and Chinese chief Xi Jinping will meet at this time on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. Their first face-to-face talks in a yr come at a tense level within the international locations’ rocky relationship, and they have a lot to discuss. NPR’s Tamara Keith says one in all Biden’s objectives for the assembly is to revive the military-to-military communications channels that China broke off greater than a yr in the past.

• Keith says there are additionally indicators that there could be an agreement aimed toward lowering the circulation of elements used to make the lethal artificial opioid fentanyl — although notes that there hasn’t been a lot progress for the reason that two international locations pledged to take action in 2018.
• This is Xi’s first U.S. go to in six years, and Keith studies that the logistics have been fastidiously choreographed, “right down to what President Xi will see out of windows.”  

Life recommendation

If you possibly can’t keep away from vacation journey, you possibly can at the least attempt to guide it strategically.

Photograph by Reet Talreja/Unsplash; Collage by Kaz Fantone/NPR

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Photograph by Reet Talreja/Unsplash; Collage by Kaz Fantone/NPR

If you possibly can’t keep away from vacation journey, you possibly can at the least attempt to guide it strategically.

Photograph by Reet Talreja/Unsplash; Collage by Kaz Fantone/NPR

You do not want consultants to remind you ways hectic vacation journey could be. In truth, Scott Keyes, founding father of the journey web site Going.com, says his largest piece of recommendation is “just don’t do it.” But what when you have no selection? He suggests the best days and times to take off:

• Fly on the vacation, whether or not it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
• Avoid peak journey days proper earlier than and after these holidays.
• Wait for January if potential  — Jan. 8 is when Keyes expects costs to drop dramatically.
• Fly early and direct to extend your odds of an on-time arrival.

Today’s pay attention

Hip-hop legend André 3000 performs the flute on New Blue Sun, his first album in 17 years.

Kai Regan/Courtesy of the artist

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Kai Regan/Courtesy of the artist

Hip-hop legend André 3000 performs the flute on New Blue Sun, his first album in 17 years.

Kai Regan/Courtesy of the artist

André 3000 hasn’t put out an album since legendary hip-hop duo Outkast break up in 2006 — till this week. He introduced in an interview with NPR Music’s Rodney Carmichael that he’ll launch his debut solo album, New Blue Sun, on Friday. And it is a shock for followers in additional methods than one: It will characteristic no rapping and even singing, however instrumental, improvisational recordings of him taking part in the flute. Listen to their wide-ranging conversation and read more here.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

A photograph of Dr. Roland Pattillo sits in the lounge of Pat Pattillo.

/Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR

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/Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR

A photograph of Dr. Roland Pattillo sits in the lounge of Pat Pattillo.

/Lynsey Weatherspoon for NPR

1. Dr. Roland Pattillo, an oncologist, stem cell researcher and professor, died in May at 89. He performed a key function in keeping Henrietta Lacks’ story alive. 
2. Taylor Swift is not solely changing new Kansas City Chiefs followers at dwelling. With one lyric change onstage in Argentina, she despatched curiosity within the staff surging overseas. (KCUR)
3. Tesla’s futuristic Cybertruck has earned loads of critics earlier than even hitting the market. But Giorgetto Giugiaro — the legendary designer behind the DeLorean DMC-12 — is just not one in all them.

This e-newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.