Brexit Vote Delayed; Macron vs. 'Yellow Vests'; 2018’s Top Dog Names

Plus, why White House campaigns aren't for everyone. [NPR] by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up Here’s what we’re following today. British Prime Minister Theresa May has postponed a vote on her Brexit plan. Lawmakers were due to vote on the measure Tuesday, after days of debate during which it became clear that May’s plan was facing a massive defeat in the House of Commons. Meanwhile, a top EU court ruled Monday that [the U.K. can still back out of Brexit]( if it wants. After four weeks of "yellow vest" protests, France's President Emmanuel Macron will go on television tonight to try and quell the crisis. Much of [the movement's anger has crystallized around Macron]( who is seen as arrogant and out of touch. China over the weekend summoned the U.S. and Canadian ambassadors to protest the arrest of the CFO of tech giant Huawei. [Meng Wanzhou faces extradition to the U.S.]( on allegations that she and her company violated U.S. sanctions on Iran. The Education Department will fix a troubled grant program for teachers and erase their debts. After a nearly yearlong investigation by NPR, the Ed Dept. has released a plan to help those teachers who have been [unfairly saddled with thousands of dollars in debt]( because of a paperwork debacle by the federal agency. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Daily Good Move over, Emily and Ethan — some of 2018's top names for dogs include Cardi B, Gambino and Groot. [NPR's Scott Simon's dog, Daisy, ]( Elise Simon/NPR [The most popular dog names of 2018]( say a lot about our world and what we're watching. Pups named Harry and Meghan were both up this year, as were names of music idols, including Freddie Mercury and Cardi B. Plenty of pups were named after sci-fi characters and superheroes, with names pulled from Guardians of the Galaxy, Rogue One, Wonder Woman and Black Panther. “Bad guy” names were popular, too. The name Pennywise went up 500 percent. Other popular villain names included Loki, Bane and Anakin. Fit seniors can have hearts that look 30 years younger. [Why develop an exercise habit now?]( Because 75-year-olds who have been doing it for decades may have the cardiovascular systems of people in their 40s and the muscles of 20-somethings, researchers found. --------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper Why White House campaigns aren't for everyone. [Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, pictured above at a 2011 fundraiser, announced this week he would not seek the presidency. ]( Mandell Ngan/AFP/Getty Images Scrutiny of presidential candidates always has existed on some level, but [the trend of picking through personal lives has accelerated in the past 30 years](. Last week, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick opted out of a 2020 presidential bid, citing the "cruel" process. Private matters get splashed all over the news, or a personal stumble — such as former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean’s perceived "scream" into a microphone — can upend a campaign before it really gets rolling. A candidate's high school yearbooks, history of substance abuse, legal and financial struggles — or their family’s personal details, such as the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's teen daughter — are disclosed to the world. Campaigning is grueling: Presidential candidates can expect little sleep for two years, constant begging for campaign donations and a level of public scrutiny that lasts a lifetime. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listen Dolly Parton on her new album, inspiring young people and more. [Dolly Parton's Dumplin' soundtrack is all about finding the confidence to be yourself. ]( Katie King/Courtesy of the artist The country legend talks about creating the soundtrack to Dumplin', the new Netflix film starring Jennifer Aniston that's inspired by her music. (Listening time, 11:25) [▶ LISTEN]( --------------------------------------------------------------- History Lesson The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights was signed 70 years ago today. [Eleanor Roosevelt, center, at the United Nations General Assembly in Paris in September 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in December 1948, was largely the work of Roosevelt, in her role as chair of the U.N. commission responsible for writing it.]( Green/AP On Dec. 10, 1948, the nations of the world approved, almost unanimously, [a detailed list of fundamental rights]( for every human on the planet. The document was largely the work of Eleanor Roosevelt, the chair of the U.N. commission at the time. The declaration forbid slavery, servitude, forced marriage, arbitrary arrest and any interference with privacy or correspondence. Not surprisingly, the declaration stirred some controversy at the time, and resistance to its sweep has only increased in the past seven decades. The struggle to promote any worldwide human rights agreement these days, however, must deal with growing nationalism in many countries — and the notion that anything smacking of "globalism" is suspect. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go [Black Panther, Roma, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Widows, A Star is Born and Eighth Grade all made NPR's favorite-movie list.]( (Top) Marvel Studios/Netflix/Universal Pictures; (bottom) 20th Century Fox/Warner Bros./A24 - From the record-breaking hit Black Panther to the melodrama A Star Is Born, our film critics pick their [15 favorite movies of the year](. - A 29-year-old British sailor was [saved by a cargo ship in the South Pacific]( after her boat flipped. - China launched a rocket carrying a rover destined to [land on the far side of the moon](. - A slave bible from the 1800s on display at the controversial Museum of the Bible [omitted passages that could have incited rebellion](. - Baltimore motorists may have a new reason to stop giving money to [“squeegee kids.”]( --------------------------------------------------------------- ✏️ What do you think of today's email? 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