Wrong way down a one-way track

Plus: A biometric smart gun comes to market and what's next in the debt limit fight [View this email online]( [NPR Politics]( April 29, 2023 This week, we looked at abortion restriction polling, Disney's case against DeSantis and smart gun tech. Plus, what's next in the debt limit fight. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Big Picture: Out of step Damian Dovarganes/AP When your news and information comes from limited sources that serve to mostly reinforce your own ideological viewpoint, it’s not surprising when a party struggles to see – or accept – that it’s out of step with the broader public. It’s happening to both parties on some issues, but it is happening most acutely with Republicans. That was underscored this week on abortion rights and views of former President Trump, the GOP’s leading primary contender once again. The latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that the majority of Americans are [against many of the severe restrictions]( being pushed by Republicans in red states, like six-week bans, banning medication abortions and making states where abortion is legal safe havens for those coming from out of state to seek abortions. Sometimes, GOP elected officials are even out of step with their own base. Majorities of Republican respondents were against bans on medication abortion and making abortion only legal in the first six weeks. And then there’s Trump. Just 29% of independents in the NPR poll said they want Trump to be president. And yet, 71% of Republicans do – and 63% of them want him to be president again [even if he’s convicted of a crime.]( The party can dismiss “the polls” and claim everything is biased, but it's hard to ignore the mounting evidence of data, found not only in public surveys but also in analyses conducted by sober Republican pollsters and strategists. The underperformance for Republicans in the last three election cycles – in which they’ve hitched their wagon to Trump – is glaring. But few GOP candidates have prosecuted that case against Trump – that he’s a weak general-election candidate who can only spend four more years in office. Without that, the party will continue to bump down a one-way road. — [Domenico Montanaro]( NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent [Read More]( Participate in Public Media Giving Days Next week, we are celebrating Public Media Giving Days. Our work is only possible through the help of listeners, readers and supporters like you. We don’t have investors, owners, or shareholders. We hold ourselves accountable to you. If public media has ever made a positive impact in your life, we hope you’ll consider donating and supporting our mission. Every single gift makes a difference. [Donate today](. ICYMI: Top Stories Damian Dovarganes/AP Disputed election theory case: North Carolina's [highest court has overruled one of its own rulings]( throwing into question if the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a decision on the major elections case known as Moore v. Harper. North Dakota abortion ban: North Dakota adopted one of the nation’s [most restrictive abortion laws this week](. It allows exceptions for up to six weeks for rape, incest and medical emergencies. Justice Roberts says no: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts declined an invitation from Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois to [testify next month before Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing]( about the high court’s code of ethics. Montana House punished transgender member: [The Montana House of Representatives voted Wednesday]( to block Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who is transgender, from attending or speaking during floor sessions. The punishment stemmed from recent comments Zephyr made about a bill to ban gender-affirming care. Disney sues DeSantis: The Walt Disney Company is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, [accusing him of a “campaign of government retaliation” against it]( and violating its First Amendment right to free speech. Smart gun tech: A start-up called Biofire says it has [developed the first biometric smart gun for market.]( The gun -- which uses facial recognition and fingerprint verification -- recently began taking orders. -- [Dustin Jones]( NPR Politics reporter --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Going Deeper: NPR Politics Podcast Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was able to narrowly pass a bill to temporarily raise the debt limit this week. But it was paired with spending cuts and policy changes to social programs that mean it's dead on arrival in the Democratic-held Senate. So what happens next? [Catch up on what happened this week in the debt limit fight with NPR's Susan Davis, Deirdre Walsh and Domenico Montanaro.]( The Shot: Capturing Native Americans' diversity and complexity Matika Wilbur A recent book of photographs of Native Americans from Matika Wilbur, who is of Swinomish and Tualip descent, was born out of a desire to illustrate Native Americans' diversity and complexity. In 2012 she sold everything and took off to photograph members of all of the then-562 federally-recognized U.S. tribes -- for decades and over 600,000 miles. [You can see some of the images here.]( One of them is of artist and filmmaker Holly Mititquq, shown here. Mititquq, of the Iñupiaq tribe, is working to revitalize her tribe’s tradition of tattoos. She told Wilbur that the ink artworks on her body "are markers of her life and the celebration of her milestones. I'm wearing my lineage on my face.” -- [Dustin Jones]( NPR Politics reporter --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [nprpolitics@npr.org](mailto:nprpolitics@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) 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 Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]