Biden tackles trans athlete bans; Tennessee expels House members; top secret Ukraine documents

Plus, ask these questions if you want a long and happy marriage. [View this email online]( [NPR Up First Newsletter]( by Suzanne Nuyen April 7, 2023 Good morning and [happy 75th birthday to the World Health Organization](. Eight global health specialists share what they hope WHO will address next. Here's what else we're following today. Tennessee's Republican-led House voted yesterday to expel two of the three Democratic members who recently led a protest in the state House supporting gun control. Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, both Black, were expelled. Rep. Gloria Johnson, a white woman, avoided the same fate with a single vote. When asked why she got a different outcome, Johnson told reporters: "[It might have to do with the color of our skin]( [A protester holds both fists in the air, while holding on to a cardboard sign that says "No Justice No Peace." ]( Jacquelyn Martin/AP 🎧 WPLN's Blaise Gainey tells the Up First podcast this morning that expelled lawmakers could [return by the end of the month](. Nashville's metro council, which is responsible for deciding who fills Jones' empty seat, says it will choose Jones. 🎧 Rep. Justin Jones spoke with NPR's Steve Inskeep today on Morning Edition, calling the decision a "[very dangerous precedent for democracy]( The Biden administration aims to modify Title IX to [prevent schools from banning transgender students]( from joining sports teams that align with their gender identity. At least 19 states have passed laws banning transgender students from sports in the past three years, according to the ACLU. 🎧 NPR's Sequoia Carrilo discusses the proposed changes on Up First, noting that schools would still have some [flexibility to ban transgender athletes]( depending on age and sport. Implementing the change could take months or years. Classified documents that appear to offer details on Ukraine's military and troops' locations have been published on Twitter and Telegram, as reported by The New York Times. The Pentagon is investigating the leaks and if they were altered before they were published. 🎧 Grey Myre, NPR's national security correspondent, tells Up First the documents [appear real but slightly altered](. Military analysts have raised suspicions that a pro-Russian group had acquired the documents and made the changes. A ProPublica report reveals Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury vacations worth millions of dollars from [Harlan Crow, a major GOP donor deeply involved in politics](. The report raises a series of possible conflicts of interest between Thomas and Crow. Democrats are renewing their push for a code of ethics in response. 🎧 NYU law professor Stephen Gillers joins Morning Edition to discuss the [Ethics in Government Act]( which imposes reporting obligations for hospitality and gifts. The act applies to the Supreme Court justices. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [An illustration showing a bird's eye view of a person mowing a heart into the grass while another person sits. ]( Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop What does it take to get — and stay — married? Marriage and social scientist Carol Bruess suggests happy couples [ask each other these questions]( before popping the question to ensure a long-lasting, successful marriage. 💍 What are you unwilling to give up? Put all your non-negotiables on the table. 💍 Can you handle me doing things without you? Connection is important, but you need to balance it with autonomy. 💍 How did your family handle conflict? Your family's conflict style becomes your default response. Discuss this before you get in your first fight. 💍 What's the most you'd be willing to spend on something? Ask this about big and small purchases alike. Money is often more about emotions than numbers. 💍 Are you willing to make sacrifices and share tasks equally? Most heterosexual couples intend to share household chores, but gender roles sneak in. 🎧 Listen to Bruess explain why [marriage is a life-long conversation](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [A screenshot of Mario and Luigi from the new Mario movie. ]( Universal Studios Check out what [our critics]( are watching, reading and listening to this weekend: 🍿 Movies: It's Mario time. [The Super Mario Bros. Movie]( is a fun, visually gorgeous film that will entertain parents, children and die-hard Mario fans alike. 📺 TV: Brooke Shields talks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about her new Hulu documentary, [Pretty Baby]( which chronicles her career and discusses the sexualization of children and young women. 📚 Books: Nicole Chung discusses her second memoir, [A Living Remedy]( with NPR's Steve Inskeep. The book explores themes of family and class and how she struggled to help her adoptive parents. 🎵 Music: NPR's Music team will reveal this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner soon, but before they do, the producers have shared [some of their favorite entries]( out of the nearly 6,000 they received. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Elon Musk holding a microphone.]( Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images In a series of email exchanges, Twitter's CEO Elon Musk recently said that NPR's "state-affiliated media" label [might not be accurate](. As of this morning, the label remains. Taxes are due in less than two weeks, so here's a reminder: The IRS isn't going to call, email or text you. Here's [how to spot an IRS scam](. Julie Cadwallader Staub has no sense of direction. Her husband, Warren, always navigated them safely to any destination. When Julie found herself lost and shaken on a trip to Boston after his death, an [unsung hero helped her find her way](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi. 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 Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]