Protect yourself from wildfire smoke; Biden addresses LGBTQ+ discrimination; Trump under investigation

Plus, Elliot Page discusses coming out as a trans man and his journey in the film industry. [View this email online]( [NPR Up First Newsletter]( by [Suzanne Nuyen]( June 8, 2023 Good morning. The U.N. has named 2023 the [International Year of Millets]( an ancient grain that could help farmers survive climate change. Here's what else we're following today. Millions of Americans in the Northeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic will wake up to another day of dangerously polluted air today, thanks to [smoke from Canadian wildfires](. [ A man stands before the smoky New York City skyline and East River in Brooklyn on Tuesday.]( Ed Jones/AFP Via Getty Images 🎧 "It was really one of the worst wildfire exposure events in recent U.S. history," according to Jacob Fenston, a reporter for D.C. member station WAMU. He tells Up First this morning that this [air quality is unusual for the region]( and people were unprepared for it. He adds that climate change will make this situation more likely as the weather gets hotter and warm seasons get longer. 📷 See photos of the [hazy skies]( around the U.S. and Canada. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is making his first visit to the White House today. Sunak and President Biden are expected to discuss Ukraine, NATO and possibly AI. 🎧 After Sunak took office in October, Biden and the White House press secretary mispronounced his name for months, which led to a perception in the U.K. that the administration hadn't bothered to learn who Sunak was. Most analysts say the meeting is [more about optics than policies]( according to NPR's Lauren Frayer. The DOJ has notified former President Trump's lawyers that he is the [target of a probe]( related to his handling of classified documents after leaving office, according to an NPR source. 🎧 Taylor Budowich, an aide to Trump in the White House, testified before a federal grand jury in Miami yesterday. Though special counsel Jack Smith hasn't explained why he's [working the case in Miami and D.C.]( NPR's Carrie Johnson says prosecutors may need to bring charges in Florida if they are investigating conduct that happened at Mar-a-Lago. President Biden will name a point person in the Education Department today to address book bans. The move is part of a new plan to [address discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans](. He's expected to announce a Department of Homeland Security program to work with LGBTQ+ community centers, an HHS advisory for mental health care providers, and regulations to protect LGBTQ+ youth in foster care. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [A man talks on his phone as he looks through the haze at the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee, N.J., on Wednesday.]( Seth Wenig/AP Many Americans are not used to dealing with unhealthy air quality from wildfires. Here’s how to interpret key weather terms and [protect yourself and your loved ones](. 🔥 Particulate matter are the tiny solid and liquid droplets in wildfire smoke that can harm you. Big matter is an irritant, but small matter is more dangerous because it can get deep in your lungs and blood. 🔥 The Air Quality Index (AQI) is the EPA’s system for measuring air safety. The numerical system is color-coded, with green being the best air quality and maroon being the worst. 🔥 Stay indoors when possible and wear an N95 mask outside. 🔥 Keep pets hydrated and only let them out for brief bathroom breaks. --------------------------------------------------------------- [ A headshot of Elliot Page. ]( Catherine Opie /Flatiron Books Actor Elliot Page experienced gender dysphoria for most of his life. Despite his success in Juno, he almost quit acting over the pressure he felt to dress and act a certain way. He came out as a trans man in 2020 and has since written a memoir called Pageboy. 🎧 Listen to Page discuss the [joys and perils of show business]( on Fresh Air, or [read the interview highlights](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Carol Buckley works to coax Mundi into the transport cage that will carry her from the Puerto Rico zoo to Buckley's elephant refuge in Georgia]( Erika P. Rodríguez for NPR Mundi the African elephant was the pride of Puerto Rico's only zoo. But she recently [had to leave]( due to natural disasters and the country's debt crisis. No ducking way! Apple's latest iOS will [stop autocorrecting]( a certain swear word. Hawaii's KÄ«lauea volcano has erupted again. You can [watch the lava live here](. (via [Hawaii Public Radio]( Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter included a story about [Jeff Ibrahim]( who competed in a jiu-jitsu competition with Mark Zuckerberg. We said Ibrahim was four years old. He is 40. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Up First emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]