Trump Warns GOP Over Ballroom Funding, Trump Gives Iran More Time, Castro Charged
5/21/202613 min
Republicans in Congress are racing to pass a $72 billion immigration enforcement package using budget reconciliation, but President Trump is furious that funding for his White House ballroom was blocked, escalating tensions with GOP lawmakers still recovering from his primary challenges.
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a tense call Tuesday over the direction of the war with Iran as Trump delayed a planned U.S. strike at the request of Gulf leaders concerned about next week’s Hajj pilgrimage.
The U.S. has indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro for his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two planes that killed four Americans, part of the Trump administration’s intensifying pressure campaign on Cuba.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Tina Kraja, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Adam Bearne.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:59) Trump Warns GOP Over Ballroom Funding
(05:39) Trump Gives Iran More Time
(09:34) Castro Charged
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsLeila Fadel· Host0:00
[gentle music] President Trump is furious that Congress might not give him the money he wants for his ballroom.
A Martinez· Host0:07
That's because several Republicans don't want to, including an incumbent he targeted in the primaries.
Leila Fadel· Host0:12
Are his efforts to get rid of some Republicans in Congress backfiring? I'm Leila Fadel, that's A Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. [upbeat music] Israel is pushing the US to resume the war on Iran. Gulf allies are pushing for the opposite. There was a contentious call between President Trump and Israel's prime minister. For now, Trump says he's willing to give Iran more time.
A Martinez· Host0:34
And federal prosecutors indict former Cuban president Raul Castro. They say he ordered planes to be shot down 30 years ago, killing four US nationals. Castro is 94 years old and not in US custody, but the acting attorney general says he expects Castro will show up in court one way or another. Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.
Speaker 20:53
[upbeat music] New shows, new music, new movies. Keeping up with pop culture sometimes feels like a full-time job. Thankfully, over at Pop Culture Happy Hour, it's literally our job. We break down what's actually worth watching, listening to, and pretending you already knew about, so the next time someone says, "Did you see that?" You can say, "Yeah, obviously." Follow NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.
A Martinez· Host1:22
Republicans in Congress are racing to approve billions of dollars for immigration enforcement.
Leila Fadel· Host1:28
But President Trump is fuming