Biden and McCarthy reach debt ceiling deal; Erdogan wins reelection; Russia strikes Ukraine

Plus, how HBO's "Succession" won our hearts and minds. [View this email online]( [NPR Up First Newsletter]( by [Suzanne Nuyen]( May 29, 2023 Good morning and happy Memorial Day. Hopefully slow-cooked, smoked barbecue is on the menu today. Read about the [science behind a perfect smoke]( and how barbecue spread globally from the Americas. Here's what else we're following today. President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have agreed on a [deal to raise the debt ceiling](. The House and Senate must now [pass the bill]( by next week to avoid a default. [President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, seen here speaking at the U.S. Capitol on March 17, agreed to a deal that would raise the debt ceiling.]( Drew Angerer/Getty Images 🎧 NPR's Ximena Bustillo says there's "still a long road to passage" and "the [timeline to avoid a default remains tight]( A vote could come as soon as Wednesday night. ➡️ The bill includes proposals to claw back unspent COVID funding, a provision to limit annual growth on spending to 1% in 2025 and an end to the student loan repayment pause. Here's [what else is in the deal](. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won Turkey's runoff election and will extend his term by another five years. Turkey's Supreme Election Council announced that with 99.4% votes counted, [52.14% had gone for Erdogan]( and 47.86% for his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu. 🎧 NPR's Peter Kenyon reports that Erdogan did well even in areas most affected by February's earthquakes. On the Up First podcast this morning, Kenyon says Erdogan has "[developed warmer ties" with Russia]( after failing to get Turkey into the EU, and the question now is how he will press forward with a more eastward-looking foreign policy, and what that would mean for Turkey's role as a NATO ally. Russia launched a drone strike targeting Ukrainian capital Kyiv over the weekend as the city observed the anniversary of its founding, killing at least one, according Ukraine's military. 🎧 NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports Russia has attacked Kharkiv more than a dozen times this month and used a [record number of Iranian drones]( in the latest attack. She adds that military analysts suspect Russians are trying to weaken Ukraine before a counteroffensive to reclaim land and eventually drive Russians out. It's the end of an era: [Succession]( is over. 🎧 Listen to NPR critic Eric Deggans [discuss the finale's twists]( on Morning Edition, and how the "wickedly astute and funny dark comedy" won viewer's hearts. Beware! There are spoilers ahead. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Stacey Abrams waves as she walks out onto a stage.]( Drew Angerer/Getty Images Last week, I talked with Stacey Abrams about her second political thriller, Rogue Justice, which delves into the issues of cybersecurity and surveillance. Morning Edition interviews can only be so long. We get it, you’re busy and you want to hear about a range of things before you move on with your day. For my interview, I wanted to know how her thinking and worrying about policy issues inform her novels. I was intrigued by what she had to say. So, I went to hear her talk about the book at [Sixth and I](. Abrams is famously open about herself. When asked about the advice she would give her 20-year-old self, she responded, "He is not that cute." Her personal mantra? "Be Curious. Solve Problems. Do Good." Abrams, a Democrat who lost in two consecutive Georgia Governor’s races to Republican Brian Kemp, was given several opportunities to lambaste her political opponents and critics — but she wouldn’t. Instead she repeatedly kept pushing the audience to consider the motives and concerns of the people they disagree with. If you sometimes get frustrated with the amount of time we have to dig into an issue, so do we. which is why we sometimes find ourselves staying up a little past our bedtimes to find out more. 🎧 Listen to [Michel Martin's conversation with Abrams](. — [Michel Martin]( Morning Edition host --------------------------------------------------------------- [A white dog holds a diploma in his mouth and looks at the camera. His owner, who uses a wheelchair, smiles next to him in her academic regalia.]( Seton Hall University/Screenshot by NPR Justin got his degree in being a good boy! Grace Mariani graduated magna cum laude from Seton Hall University, and her service dog was awarded a [special doggie diploma](. Police in Venice have launched an investigation after part of the canal [turned a fluorescent green](. Do you dream of living a remote life by the sea? The federal government might have [a lighthouse for you]( and some of them are [free](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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]