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By
Brittney Melton
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Vice President Vance will head a U.S. delegation for peace talks with Iran in Pakistan this weekend. Negotiators will meet in the country's capital of Islamabad for crucial talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran. This is a significant moment for Vance, who has previously made statements about keeping the U.S. out of foreign wars. He faces the challenge of bringing together two countries that have been enemies for nearly 50 years.
Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before boarding Air Force Two to return to Washington, D.C. from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport on April 8, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary. Pool/Getty Images hide caption
The four astronauts of the Artemis II crew are set to return to Earth today after their mission around the moon. The Orion space capsule is set to enter the atmosphere at 7:53 p.m. ET, just southeast of Hawaii. About 13 minutes later, it should splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. To reach this point, the spacecraft will enter Earth's atmosphere at about 25,000 miles per hour, enduring searing temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
First lady Melania Trump delivered a rare public statement yesterday denying that she had any close ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In her speech, she said she is not one of Epstein's victims, and he did not introduce her to her husband, President Trump. The first lady's statement came after her name surfaced in the latest batch of Epstein files released at the end of January. She also urged Congress to take action and hold public hearings to allow Epstein's victims to testify.
Hundreds of communities across the U.S. are awaiting disaster funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. According to internal agency documents obtained by NPR, FEMA owes communities nearly $10 billion. Much of this funding would reimburse local governments for infrastructure repairs they've already made following major disasters. Emergency managers from several states say the funding backlog is having a ripple effect in communities, straining local budgets and delaying or potentially derailing disaster projects that have taken years to plan.
Oona Zenda/KFF Health News When enhanced federal subsidies expired at the end of last year, many people buying health insurance on state and federal exchanges saw their expected monthly premiums jump. To keep costs down, many switched to a high-deductible health plan. These plans offer lower monthly payments, but patients may face steep out-of-pocket costs when they need care. To prepare for thousands in up-front costs, a health savings account could be a good option for you. Here's how to get the most out of your plan and HSA:
From left, Zendaya and Jean Smart star in new seasons of acclaimed series. Chase Infiniti leads Hulu's The Testaments, a spinoff of The Handmaid's Tale. Patrick Wymore/HBO; HBO Max; Steve Wilkie/Disney hide caption
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star as a storybook couple preparing for their wedding in the dark and twisty comedy The Drama. Just days before the big day, she reveals a horrifying truth about her past that threatens their nuptials.
📺 TV: A wave of buzzy new series and a few big finales arrive this spring, from the dystopian drama and Handmaid's Tale spinoff, The Testaments, to Silicon Valley satire The Audacity.
📚 Books: NPR is spotlighting 11 new books releasing this month. The offerings don't exactly radiate escapist good vibes, but they offer the chance to step into someone else's life and get to know their perspective on our shared world, NPR freelance writer Colin Dwyer says.
🎵 Music: Singer-songwriter Sarah Kinsley dives into a more direct and vulnerable approach on her new EP, Fleeting. She discusses the shift in style on World Cafe.
❓Quiz: This quiz has a little of everything, from questions on politics to one about a twist in a movie that just hit theaters. Hint: this newsletter's next section will help you with one question.
Concessions stand sandwiches range from $1.50 to $3.00 at the Masters this year. Andrew Redington/Getty Images hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
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