George Santos under investigation; the complicated cleanup in East Palestine; the New Black Film Canon

Plus, Harry and Meghan get an eviction notice. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. Disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh has been [found guilty of murder](. His sentencing is scheduled for later today. Look out for NPR's coverage. Here's what else we're following today: 🥇 First up [The organs of the male torso, including the lungs, heart, liver, stomach and intestines are seen in an engraving by Michael van der Gucht from around 1688.]( Andrew Harnik/AP After months of scandal and controversy, the House Ethics Committee has opened a formal investigation to determine whether [New York Rep. George Santos broke the law]( while lying to voters. Santos has admitted to "embellishing" his resume before winning a seat on Long Island last November, but has repeatedly denied any criminal wrongdoing. 🎧 On Up First, NPR's Brian Mann breaks down the panel's [most serious questions]( for Santos and the punishments he could face. He says "you can lie to the public and still get elected, but if he lied on federal disclosure forms or misappropriated campaign money that was donated to you, that could be a crime." More than 700 tons of contaminated soil and nearly 2 million gallons of liquid have been collected in East Palestine, Ohio, nearly a month after a Norfolk Southern train derailed. But there's still a long way to go, and experts warn that it will likely take years to complete the cleanup — if it can ever be considered truly complete. [Here's why the process is so complicated](. The saga of the Chinese balloon could spark another space race — a near-space race. China has put new focus on the airships hovering just below outer space. Beijing says the balloons are for [aerial gathering of meteorological data]( but analysts say the data could also help the country develop advanced weapons. 🎧 Listen to [why balloons are so attractive to militaries](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- 📸 Food for thought [A Louisville, Ky., classroom sits empty in January 2022, during a COVID surge driven by the omicron variant. Students lost the routine of going to school during the pandemic, and now many are struggling to get back in the habit.]( Jon Cherry/Getty Images Saudi Arabia has become a regional hub for arts and entertainment. But the Saudi government is still one of the most conservative and repressive in the world, and [critics say the artistic shifts are purely transactional](. 🎧 Listen to [whether the government's efforts are succeeding]( in overcoming the kingdom's conservative image. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎥 Weekend picks [A collage of black movie characters ]( Mark Harris/Slate Check out what [our critics]( are watching, reading and listening to this weekend: Movies: NPR, in collaboration with Slate, is proud to present the [New Black Film Canon]( — an expansion of a list made seven years ago. Some of the best and most impactful movies released since 2016 have been included. [Browse the list here]( and 🎧 [listen to why we chose the films we did here](. Television: There's a lot of backstory that needs to be filled in for the third season of [The Mandalorian](. NPR's Eric Deggans says the first two episodes suffer because of it, but he remains hopeful the hit Disney+ show can turn it around. Books: Rebecca Makkai's new novel, [I Have Some Questions For You]( is full of twists and multilayered narratives with unrelenting developments, memories and possibilities. Music: After a five-year hiatus, Paramore is back with [This Is Why](. And while many may want to forget about the stress of the past few years, the band approaches hard times with a refreshing sense of self. Games: There have been too many good game releases to count recently. NPR staff review a few of the [best new games]( they've been playing that you may have missed. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go [A new study finds that toothed whales can make a range of vocalizations, including some akin to human 'vocal fry,' thanks to a special nasal structure.]( [Adam Li / NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC]( - Kim Kardashian won't be the most popular user of vocal fry for long. New research suggests toothed whales [use vocal fry to echolocate](. - Nicole George-O'Brien experienced a seizure while driving. When she woke up in the hospital, she was worried she had hurt someone. But [her unsung hero]( saved her, and likely the lives of many others. - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are being evicted — sort of. King Charles has [asked them to vacate Frogmore Cottage]( the couple's official U.K. residence, and offered the property to his brother, Prince Andrew. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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]