Biden's second term; another Trump trial; Tucker out at Fox

Plus, how this lab takes your morning poops and turns them into COVID data.

View this email online by Suzanne Nuyen April 25, 2023 Good morning. Reports of challenges to remove books from schools and public libraries jumped nearly 40% in 2022. See if any of your favorite reads are among the most challenged. Here's what else we're following:  After months of hinting at it, President Biden is running for another term. His announcement comes on the fourth anniversary of his entrance into the 2020 Democratic primary. Patrick Semansky/AP 🎧 NPR's Scott Detrow tells Up First this morning that Biden intends to run on the message that he's the man "who's gotten government to work again." Detrow says his age will be challenging for his campaign to address, and "many voters are worried about sending someone back to the White House who would be 86 at the end of the second term." But he says his team is confident that he will exceed expectations. Jury selection begins today for the civil trial against former President Donald Trump brought on by writer E. Jean Carroll. Carroll has accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the 90s. Trump, who has denied the allegations, would not be a criminal rapist under the law if the jury rules in Carroll's favor. He could, however, be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in damages. 🎧 This case is based on a new claim from Carroll under a "brand new law in New York that allows adult survivors of alleged sexual assault to sue after many years have passed," NPR's Andrea Bernstein says on Up First. Carroll will testify, but it's unclear whether Trump will. ➡️ Catch up on everything you need to know about the case. 🎧 Listen to a 2019 interview with Carroll as she tells Weekend Edition Saturday the details of her encounter with Trump. Fox News announced yesterday that prime-time star Tucker Carlson is parting ways with the network. His last show was last Friday. The announcement comes less than a week after Fox made a $787 million settlement agreement in a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems. 🎧 NPR's David Folkenflik tells Up First that Carlson is the focus of a separate but related lawsuit by former producer Abby Grossberg, who alleged that his workplace was "defined by sexism and bigotry." 🎧 On Morning Edition, NPR's Shannon Bond examines Carlson's legacy and how he injected a "dark strain of conspiracy-mongering into Republican politics." ➡️ Shortly after Fox's announcement, news anchor Don Lemon revealed he had been terminated at CNN. Folkenflik says the departures are networks asserting they are “more important than their stars.” Newsletter continues after sponsor message I'm really into Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella Former NPR intern Pilar Galvan went to her first Coachella with her father when she was 13 in 2014.  It started a lifelong love — she's been to 10 more since then. She writes about music's capacity to reinforce bonds and create community and the primal experience you can only get at a festival.  What are you really into? Fill out this form or leave us a voice note at 800-329-4273, and part of your submission may be featured online or on the radio. Deep dive Meredith Rizzo/NPR Virginia's Hampton Roads Sanitation District team was among the first to use wastewater surveillance to track viruses, bacteria and other infectious diseases. They walk us through how the process helps them look out for COVID outbreaks and other health threats.  💩 Health experts say wastewater surveillance is useful because it doesn't depend on people seeking out testing. Instead, it relies on something everyone does: poop. 💩 It takes about two days to turn sewage into COVID data. Samples are gathered in the morning to catch people's bowel movements. 💩 The samples are then filtered through three labs by several staff. The process of measuring the amount of virus takes all night. 💩 Employees at the district hope this system can be used for future pandemic warnings. However, the process takes a lot of time and resources. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Here's one musician who's a fan of AI. Grimes is encouraging her fans to use AI to produce songs using her voice. She says she'll share 50% of the royalties on successful songs. A senior at a Nashville high school was recently banned from prom for wearing a suit instead of a dress. Now, local businesses are organizing a second prom just for them. After months of trade talks, four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers is leaving the Green Bay Packers for the New York Jets, though the deal is still not quite finalized. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit 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? 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