GOP sours on Ukraine-border deal

Plus a new top US religious group — and Jon Stewart is back [View this email in your browser]( [Brand Logo]( A Republican 'quandary,' a religious reordering — and a legend returns   For the next few weeks we're bringing you a taste of The Week's new subscriber-only newsletters. Click here to [find out more]( about them Good morning, Welcome to the Morning Report. Today we have stories about an old late-night host returning for the 2024 election, new data on the beliefs of the fastest-growing religious group, a borrowed anecdote about how one Italian city is dealing with thoughtless dog owners, and news that will make supporters of Ukraine (and problem-solving) blue. We hope you enjoy. Peter Weber The Week Digital     Today's politics story [Republicans discuss killing Ukraine-border deal]( What happened? A bipartisan group of senators is finalizing a proposal combining tighter U.S.-Mexico border security and funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. But House Republicans, who balked at providing more Ukraine aid without a border deal, are suggesting the Senate package is dead on arrival. Who said what? Originally, "the border united us and Ukraine divided us," but the politics have changed now that former President Donald Trump is "the nominee," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Senate Republicans on Wednesday, Punchbowl News reported. "We are in a quandary." McConnell backs the deal, but "Trump wants them to kill it because he doesn't want [President Joe] Biden to have a victory," a source familiar with the negotiations told HuffPost. What next? "The fate of both efforts falls on one man, House Speaker Mike Johnson," Josh Rogin wrote at The Washington Post. Unfortunately, Johnson (R-La.) "is beholden to his right wing" and to Trump, and it's "increasingly evident" he "has no actual plan or political incentive to compromise" on the border or Ukraine. If Johnson does bring up the bill, "I think the overwhelming majority of the members of the House will vote for it," said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.). But if he "allows himself to be a hostage to the MAGAs — then we have a problem."     Today's Religion story ['Nones' are the largest US religious group, but many believe in God]( What happened?Pew Research reported Wednesday that 28% of Americans are now religiously unaffiliated — atheists and agnostics but mostly "nothing in particular" — outnumbering Catholics (23%) and evangelical Protestants (24%). But "nones" are not a monolithic cohort, Pew said. Most actually "believe in God or another higher power." Who said what? Religious "nones" are "far less likely than religiously affiliated Americans to say they believe in God 'as described in the Bible,'" Pew said, but only 29% say there's no "higher power or spiritual force in the universe." The commentary It's hard to be sure what "nones" believe, University of Tampa sociologist Ryan Cragun told The Washington Post. "When someone sees the stars and has an overwhelming, spiritual experience of awe, and they call it a 'higher power' what does that actually mean? …. We don’t have answers yet." What next? Religiously, "we're in a 'Let's tear everything down and see how it goes' phase," political scientist Ryan Burge told the Post. Societally, "I think the nothing-in-particulars are really important for the future of American democracy and religion."     Today's Entertainment Story [Jon Stewart returns to 'The Daily Show' for 2024 election]( What happened? "The Daily Show" announced Wednesday that Jon Stewart will return as host every Monday from Feb. 12 through November's election. A rotating cast of regulars will host the other four nights. Who said what? Stewart will "help us all make sense of the insanity and division roiling the country as we enter the election season,” said Paramount's Chris McCarthy. "Yessssssss he’s back," said Trevor Noah, Stewart's departed successor. The commentary "Jon Stewart is a national treasure," but bringing him back in "an election year that already feels like a depressing rerun" is the "late-night equivalent of renominating Joe Biden and Donald Trump," Devin Gordon said at The Atlantic. We'll need his wit, Dean Obeidallah argued at CNN. Given the dark places Trump will drag us, we might get "at least a few Moments of Zen!" What's next? Stewart will "confront a vastly different and far more contentious political landscape" than when he left "The Daily Show" in 2015, The New York Times said. Back then, "fake news" meant "something entirely different from what it does today."     On this day January 25, 1949 The first Primetime Emmy Awards take place in Los Angeles. Awards were handed out for just six categories and only for shows that aired in the Los Angeles market. Modern Emmy Awards typically take place in September, though they were also held in January this year due to the Hollywood strikes.     Today's Newspapers ['Trump buzz saw fells Haley']( After savaging Ron DeSantis for months, Donald Trump's "buzz saw" felled Nikki Haley in Tuesday's first Republican primary, The Washington Post says on Thursday's front page. The New York Times and The Boston Globe saw the New Hampshire primary differently. Trump's "weakness" among independents "could be an ominous sign for November," the Globe reports. ► [See the newspaper front pages](     It's not all bad Betty Brussel learned to swim in the canals near Amsterdam — and at 99, she's still going strong. Over the weekend, she competed in the Victoria Masters Swim Club Meet in Saanich, British Columbia, and shattered three world records in the 100- to 104-year age bracket. (The age categories are based on birth year.) Brussel became interested in competitive swimming about 30 years ago, but she doesn't compete for the records, she told The Guardian. "I just swim."     Under the radar [How poor pollution regulation (still) affects Gulf Coast residents]( Many of America's "most climate-vulnerable communities are along the industrialized Gulf Coast," Scientific American reported, citing a new environmental index from the Environmental Defense Fund and Texas A&M University. The Gulf is a "flood- and hurricane-prone region with deep pockets of poverty, poor health, and economic and racial inequities" tied to the "area's legacy of industrial pollution and high cancer rates." The hardships are ongoing for Gulf Coast residents due to lackadaisical regulations on regional pollution, much of it from oil refineries. How is pollution affecting the Gulf Coast? Many people in the region "experience negative health impacts from pollution issued from local refineries and plants," The Washington Post reported. These can include "odd smells; itchy noses, throats and eyes; and frequent fires." The chemicals used in Gulf Coast refineries often lead to residents being exposed to toxic carcinogens such as benzene. The problem with environmental hazards in the region is not new: A 1981 Texas Monthly article described Texas' Gulf cities as "the Cancer Belt." However, the issue has been turbocharged in recent decades as a result of continued refining. What regulations are in place? Regulations surrounding these emissions "inhabit a legal gray area," The Texas Tribune reported. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tried to enforce regulatory decisions, "the decision to penalize polluters largely lies with state regulatory agencies — who rarely punish companies." An analysis by Texas' own regulators found that the state government "pursues penalties and monetary fines in just 8% of cases."     Tall tale Dog poop DNA database … Dog owners in Bolzano, Italy, are being told to scoop their poop or face a fine of up to $540. Thanks to copious complaints of dog waste on the streets, owners now have to take their dogs in for blood testing, Reuters reported. Their DNA is registered in a database, and when street cleaners find dog poop in public spaces, they'll run a genetic test; the human culprit will be tracked down and fined. About 10,000 dogs have been registered so far.     Later today It's important for news aficionados (present company very much included) to remember that 2024 won't be all about politics or the presidential campaign. Our afternoon newsletter will certainly cover election-related topics — but also where to find the beauty of a dark night sky, how dining has changed since the pandemic and darkening clouds over North Korea. Thank you for reading, Peter     Morning Report was written and edited by Catherine Garcia, Justin Klawans, Harold Maass and Peter Weber. Image credits, from top: Drew Angerer / Getty Images; Helen H. Richardson / The Denver Post via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Illustrated / Getty Images   © Future US, Inc • [theweek.com]( [Unsubscribe from this newsletter]( [Privacy Policy]( The Week is published by Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036.