How Dems want to resolve the debt crisis; Pope Francis on the LGBTQ community; your germy children are making you sick

Plus, how to revamp your personal brand and control your own narrative. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. Don't panic — we had a [very close encounter with an asteroid]( yesterday. Here's what we're following today: 🥇 First up [Hakeem Jeffires]( Catie Dull/NPR New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the new leader of the House Democrats, says his party won't "pay a ransom note to extremists" when it comes to [negotiating over the debt ceiling with Republicans]( who want government spending cuts in exchange for support for a debt limit hike. 🎧 In an interview, Jeffries said his party would stick to its position but [won't risk the country going into default](. Five former Memphis police officers have been indicted and jailed in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, who died days after a traffic stop on Jan. 7. Officials are expected to release the [potentially graphic bodycam video]( of the arrest as early as today. In his first interview since the death of former Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis criticized laws criminalizing homosexuality and called for Catholic bishops to [apply "tenderness" and help ease discrimination]( by welcoming LGBTQ people into the church. Vatican advisor Juan Carlos Cruz, a gay Chilean man who is a survivor of clergy sex abuse, 🎧 says the remarks were sincere and made for an "[incredible day]( for the LGBTQ community. Sneezing and coughing and fevers, oh my! Many parents are losing it after being sick all winter — thanks to their germy children. Data shows [kids have always brought home waves of respiratory illness](. 🎧 Here's how often your [adorable little germ vectors]( are getting you sick — and when it will pass. The United Ukrainian Ballet Company is made up of refugee dancers who fled Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. Now they're now [preparing to leave The Hague, Netherlands, to]( perform Giselle at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 🎧 Listen to dancers [tell the story of their harrowing journey](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Picture show [A special section called "Baby Land" at Sunset Gardens of Memory cemetery in Millstadt, Illinois, was created for the graves of children.]( Jocelyn Belt Just outside St. Louis, a cemetery for children sits on a hill. A wooden, weather-worn sign welcomes mourners to "Baby Land," a section created for the graves of children. The men who take care of the special spot are witness to the toll of a [crisis taking young lives too soon]( gun violence. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎥 Weekend picks [In Poker Face, Natasha Lyonne stars as Charlie Cale, a casino worker who is gifted at knowing when people are lying.]( Photographer/SourcePhillip Caruso/Peacock Check out what [our critics]( are watching, reading and listening to this weekend: Movies: The Sundance film festival has returned in person to Park City, Utah for the first time since 2020. Put [these movies]( on your radar now — they're gonna be big. TV: Natasha Lyonne is the heart of [Poker Face]( produced by Rian Johnson of Knives Out fame. The Columbo-like show is terrific, accomplishing exactly the combination of homage and experimentation that it promises. Books: In [Love, Pamela]( Playboy Playmate, TV star and sex symbol Pamela Anderson writes about how she embraced her sexuality as a way to take back power in her life. Music: Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto recently released his album [12]( created in March 2021 while he was undergoing treatment for cancer. His colleagues talk about what makes his music so deeply affective. Games: This year's tastefully refurbished [Dead Space]( proves that a timeless game built on a solid foundation can feel as fresh in 2023 as it felt in 2008 — for newcomers and aficionados alike. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🛑 Before you go We Are/Getty Images - Personal branding can be a powerful tool that gives give people the power to write their own narrative. Here's how you can [revamp your own personal brand](. - Police are changing tactics in their search for actor Julian Sands, who disappeared while hiking in Southern California. Authorities are resuming their search "[by air only]( - Consumers are suing Sazerac Company, Inc., the makers of Fireball whiskey, for fraud and misrepresentation, as there [isn't any actual whiskey]( in their mini bottles. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]