Melania's Policy Goals; Preventing Lyme Disease; Royal Baby Photos

Top stories for Monday, May 7, 2018 [NPR]( Daily Headlines Monday, May 7, 2018 FIRST UP: What you need to know now [President Trump could plead the fifth or refuse Robert Mueller’s subpoenas.]( That’s what Rudy Giuliani, the latest addition to the president’s legal team, says. He’s still trying to untangle a web of contradictory comments he made last week regarding the president’s knowledge of hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. But Giuliani told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in a Sunday interview that he did not know when Trump learned about that payment. [Vladmir Putin just became Russia’s longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin.]( The Russian president took the oath of office for his fourth term on Monday. "I understand my colossal responsibility," he said in a brief speech. "I believe that the entire point of my life is to serve Russia." Putin easily won re-election in March after his chief opponent was disqualified. By the end of his term, Putin will have served as the country’s president for 24 years. [President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron during an appearance at the White House on Tuesday.]( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images [This week in unveilings: Melania Trump’s policy goals.]( While controversy swirls around her husband and his presidency, first lady Melania Trump will step into the spotlight this week to unveil her policy priorities. They’re expected to focus on the “many issues” facing children today, a spokeswoman for the first lady says. Melania Trump will likely continue her focus on topics she’s addressed in the past, such as social media, cyberbullying and addiction. IN THE NEWS: Digging deeper Lyme disease cases in the U.S. more than doubled from 2001 to 2015. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the actual prevalence of the disease is 10 times higher than what’s reported, and testing for the disease can be tricky since blood tests rely on a person’s immune response. But [it is possible to prevent Lyme disease]( if you’re meticulous. If you're hiking in or near a wooded area, stay vigilant for tick nymphs — young versions that transmit most of the Lyme infections — on your skin or clothing when you get home. Ticks tend to climb upward and will often attach where clothing constricts, such as near the waistline. Check your armpits and behind your ears, too. The takeaway: If you notice a tick attached to your body, don’t freak out if it’s only been there a few hours. The CDC says ticks usually have to be attached for 36 to 48 hours before they can transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Use a pair of narrow tweezers to grasp the tick very near the surface of the skin and tug upward with steady pressure. [President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron during an appearance at the White House on Tuesday.] Renee Klahr/NPR Top GOP strategists admit they’re worried about the overwhelming Democratic enthusiasm they’re facing this November. Some say [it’s no longer an impossibility]( that Democrats could flip both the Senate and the House of Representatives. "If we hold the Senate, I think it will be close. It will be closer than it should be when the cycle started," said one longtime Republican Senate operative. "There's no question it's far more in play than it was a year ago." Democrats would need to flip only two Senate seats to take control of the chamber, but they would also need to hold on to all their incumbent seats. Less-than-stellar fundraising from GOP challengers and stronger-than-expected hauls from Democratic incumbents has also caused worry among Republicans. Watch these races: - West Virginia’s primary contest could indicate a lot about the state’s November Senate race. A nasty three-way contest there pits Rep. Evan Jenkins (the establishment favorite), Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (who argues he's the true conservative candidate in the race) and coal CEO and convicted criminal Don Blankenship against each other. Voters head to the polls on Tuesday. - Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill are currently regarded as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents. Indiana’s Senate GOP nomination is also up for grabs in another bitter three-way race, this time between Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer and businessman Mike Braun. - Republicans appear most vulnerable in Nevada, where incumbent Sen. Dean Heller will face Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen, and in Arizona, where candidates will vie for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Jeff Flake. BEFORE YOU GO [President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron during an appearance at the White House on Tuesday.] Duchess of Cambridge/AP - These aren’t just any baby photos, OK? [They’re royal baby photos](. - Kilauea’s lava flow is bringing the heat...and [forcing more than 1,700 people to evacuate](. - Narcan can make reversing opioid overdoses easier. But [not if it’s unaffordable](. You received this message because you're subscribed to our News emails. | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 [NPR]