Morning news brief
Ukraine denies involvement in a drone strike on the Kremlin. The two warring factions in Sudan agree to a seven-day cease-fire. The White House will announce new policies on artificial intelligence.
Politics & Government
Montana judge denies state Rep. Zooey Zephyr's bid to return to the House floor
NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr after a district judge declined to intervene against the GOP-majority state House in its move to silence the transgender lawmaker.
Senator says the Supreme Court should 'take the hint' on code of conduct
Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine talks about efforts to create a binding code of conduct for the Supreme Court.
These states are narrowly defining who is 'female' and 'male' in law
LGBTQ advocates say these bills are another attempt to restrict transgender rights. Republicans sponsoring the bills say the definitions are important to keep sex from being conflated with gender.
New North Carolina abortion limits on legislative fast track
Lawmakers began voting Wednesday on a Republican package of abortion restrictions that would tighten North Carolina's ban on the procedure from after 20 weeks to 12 weeks while creating new exceptions but also more requirements for pregnant women and physicians.
There's a toxic brew of mistrust toward U.S. institutions. It's got real consequences
Republicans are lambasting Democrats' attempts at uniform ethics standards at the Supreme Court as partisan politics. It's just the latest chapter in a decline in national unity.
Jack Lew had a front-row seat to debt ceiling fights under Obama. Here's his advice
The U.S. came dangerously close to defaulting on its debt in 2011. Jack Lew, chief of staff and then treasury secretary under President Obama, offers some advice to the current administration.
Transgender surgery ban advances in North Carolina House
Dozens of transgender North Carolinians and their supporters spoke out against state lawmakers Tuesday as a House committee advanced legislation banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors without allowing members of the public to testify.
North Carolina Republicans unveil new abortion restrictions
North Carolina Republican legislative leaders said on Tuesday there's agreement in the GOP-dominated legislature on backing a measure that would prohibit abortion in nearly all cases after roughly the first trimester of pregnancy.
Desperate migrants are choosing to cross the border through dangerous U.S. desert
The humanitarian aid group Border Kindness leaves water and other aid in areas along the U.S.-Mexico border. They say people are ill-prepared for conditions on uncharted trails.