Linda McMahon education secretary; Bluesky : NPR

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Immediately’s prime tales

President-elect Donald Trump introduced he’ll nominate Linda McMahon to guide the U.S. Division of Training. Throughout Trump’s first time period, she was picked to run the U.S. Small Enterprise Administration. She is greatest recognized for constructing the skilled wrestling firm WWE right into a powerhouse alongside her husband.

• 🎧 McMahon is a shock for the position as she wasn’t one of many training candidates with actual conservative credentials, NPR’s Cory Turner tells Up First. She served on the Connecticut State Board of Training for a couple of yr. She informed the committee after she was nominated that she had gone to varsity with plans to turn out to be a instructor. Extra not too long ago she chaired the board for the America First Coverage Institute, which helps faculty selection. On the subject of closing the Training Division, Turner says a bipartisan group knowledgeable him that’s one wrestling match McMahon — or any Training secretary — in all probability cannot win. The division was created by Congress and solely Congress can abolish it.

FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell was grilled by Congress yesterday about accusations that the company responded slowly to disasters and discriminated in opposition to some hurricane victims for political causes. In the meantime, the Biden administration desires more cash for catastrophe restoration after this yr’s blitz of hurricanes, flash floods and wildfires.

• 🎧 Criswell was pressed particularly on FEMA’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which hit the Southeast back-to-back, NPR’s Debbie Elliott says. In a specific incident that brought on scrutiny, a now-fired FEMA supervisor directed staff to skip homes in Florida with Trump marketing campaign indicators through the aftermath of Milton. That former crew lead claimed she was following the usual protocol to keep away from hostility that staff confronted within the discipline after disinformation unfold within the wake of Helene. Criswell denied any wider subject in the best way FEMA gives catastrophe support and mentioned that the worker’s actions aren’t indicative of any widespread cultural points at FEMA.

Not less than 100,000 individuals have left the social media platform X since Trump gained the presidential election in what has turn out to be often known as the X-odus. X is owned by Elon Musk, a vocal Trump supporter and now certainly one of his key advisers. The platform has turn out to be overrun with posts about Musk and Trump. Many on the lookout for another have turned to Bluesky.

• 🎧 “After Trump gained, many on X famous an uptick in Trump content material,” NPR’s Bobby Allyn says. Main as much as the election, Musk tinkered with the algorithm to provide his posts a lift. The app has at all times had conservative content material, however customers famous it stopped being a mixture of views. Bluesky remains to be a small social community, however its CEO, Jay Graber, says it has been rising by about 1,000,000 customers a day for the reason that election. Allyn says it’s too early to say if Bluesky would be the new Twitter largely as a result of its infrastructure and workers are restricted proper now.

Looking for widespread floor

Over the previous couple of years and thru this yr’s contentious marketing campaign season, there was a coarsening in the best way individuals discuss to one another. Reporters throughout the NPR Community are on the lookout for examples of individuals working by their variations. These tales discover how some persons are making an attempt to bridge divides.

As the vacations method, many individuals are getting ready to have interaction in conversations with family members who could maintain differing views. Analysis in neuroscience and psychology signifies that, regardless of our disagreements, there are efficient methods to bridge divides. If you end up in a disagreement the place mutual respect is current and also you’re focused on constructive dialogue, science gives a number of instruments to assist make the dialog extra productive.

Immediately’s hear

Emily Watson, left, and Olivia Williams, proper, play two Harkonnen sisters who type a sisterhood later often known as the Bene Gesserit within the HBO prequel collection Dune: Prophecy.

Marco Postigo Storel for NPR

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Marco Postigo Storel for NPR

Within the new HBO collection Dune: Prophecy, Emily Watson and Olivia Williams play two sisters who type a robust sisterhood later often known as the Bene Gesserit. The present takes place 10,000 years earlier than the rise of the novel’s messianic determine, Paul Atreides. Watson and Williams jokingly consult with the interval as 10,000 years B.C. — earlier than Timothée Chalamet, who performs Atreides within the Dune movies. The sisterhood is working to direct humanity on the best path after a large conflict the place people beat machines. The six-episode season premiered Sunday. Morning Version host Michel Martin spoke with Watson and Williams in regards to the collection’ manner of tackling how ladies view and wield energy.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Rep. Nancy Mace (proper) has authored a invoice that may ban trans ladies from ladies’s loos on the U.S. Capitol, simply weeks earlier than Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (left) — the primary overtly trans particular person elected to Congress — is ready to be sworn in.

Andrew Harnik, Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, by way of Getty Photos

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Andrew Harnik, Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, by way of Getty Photos

1. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has authored a measure that may ban transgender ladies from ladies’s loos within the U.S. Capitol. This comes weeks earlier than Democratic Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the primary overtly trans particular person elected to Congress, is predicted to be sworn in.
2. Alex Jones filed a lawsuit Monday in opposition to satirical information outlet The Onion to cease it from getting management of Infowars and its dad or mum firm.
3. Rust will get its world premiere at this time at a Polish movie pageant known as Camerimage. It has been greater than three years since cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on set.

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.