Disney sues DeSantis; House passes debt ceiling bill; U.S. economy predicted to slow

Plus, how to express your masculinity in your own terms. [View this email online]( [NPR Up First Newsletter]( by Suzanne Nuyen April 27, 2023 Good morning. Are you among one of the Americans polled who say they're concerned about Biden's age as he runs for reelection? Biden isn't. He says his age "[doesn't register]( to him. Here's what else we're following today. Despite objections from Democrats and President Biden, House Republicans overcame internal divisions and [passed a partisan bill]( yesterday raising the debt ceiling while tying it to spending cuts and GOP initiatives. The bill is expected to die in the Senate. The U.S. hit its debt limit in January. [peaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy is followed by members of the media as he walks in the Capitol.]( Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images 🎧 “This is basically the next stage in a very dangerous stalemate,” NPR’s Claudia Grisales tells the Up First podcast this morning. Biden has repeatedly said he won't negotiate on the debt limit, and Grisales notes, “[The stakes continue to rise for a financial default]( for this country as we get closer to the date where the U.S. runs out of money to pay its bills without a bipartisan deal in hand.” The Walt Disney Company filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, accusing him and other officials of mounting a "[targeted campaign of government retaliation]( against the company’s First Amendment rights. Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers signed a bill stripping Disney of its self-governing authority after its CEO said he opposed the state's so-called "[Don't Say Gay]( bill. Then, Disney [signed a deal]( with its outgoing board to retain development rights just before the law went into effect. 🎧 On Up First, NPR's Greg Allen says, "It's hard for me to see how [picking a fight]( with an entertainment giant like Disney helps him." DeSantis appears to have positioned himself for a 2024 presidential run. The U.S. economy is showing signs of stress. A new report from the Commerce Department today is expected to show lower economic growth in the first three months of the year than in the previous quarter — and growth is [expected to continue to slow]( in the coming months. 🎧 On Morning Edition, NPR's Scott Horsley says many families have "[now burned through any extra savings]( they piled up early in the pandemic, and they might be relying on increasingly costly credit cards to stay afloat." Pharma giant Eli Lilly has released data showing unprecedented weight loss for participants taking tirzepatide, a new weight loss drug. In the latest study, participants who took the drug lost [up to 15.7% of their body weight](. The drug is already marketed as Mounjaro for people with Type 2 diabetes. The company now wants to fast-track the drug’s approval with the FDA for people without diabetes. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [An collage-style diptych showing two shirtless men posing. Their faces are replaced with a colorful background.]( Tara Moore/Getty Images What does it mean to be manly? In America, it probably means being big, strong, fearless, rational and unemotional. But masculinity isn't universal — and putting boys in a "man box" can breed insecurity. Educators and authors spoke to Life Kit about [defining your own masculinity]( 🕺 Think about your values, and don't feel pressured to live "traditional" manly values. 🏋️ ♂️ Don't let anger replace fear, grief, or frustration. These are natural emotions you don't need to suppress. 🕺 Talk to other men, but be patient if they put up walls. 🏋️ ♂️ Rethink your role models, and model the masculinity you want to see. 🎧 Hear more advice for [being masculine on your own terms](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [A transgender pride flag blows in the wind as it's held above a crowd of activists.]( Allison Dinner/AFP Getty Images More than a dozen Republican-led states have pushed laws or policies restricting gender-affirming care. Yesterday, a judge put a [temporary hold]( on Missouri's ban on gender-affirming care for trans adults as well as minors. In Montana, the state House [banned trans Rep. Zooey Zephyr]( from the floor over her opposition to a similar bill. 🎧 Three trans people from different generations spoke to NPR's Mellisa Block on All Things Considered about how times have changed — and how they haven't. [Hear their hopes and fears about the future](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [A close up of a creature known as "by-the-wind sailors" that have been washing ashore on Southern California beaches.]( Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Meet Velella velella. These tiny, blue disc-like creatures have been [washing ashore by the thousands]( on California beaches. Save the white rhinos! John Hume, owner of the Platinum Rhino Project, is [auctioning off a 2,000-strong]( herd of rhinos. The online sale starts at $10 million. Bud Light’s sales are down, and two executives are on leave after conservatives criticized the brand's promotion with a trans influencer. Studies show [these boycotts are often short-lived](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. 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