The House passed a deal to raise the debt ceiling this week in an attempt to avoid an economic disaster. Now, it moves to the Senate where amendments are expected.Meanwhile, overseas a top Russian official said U.K. lawmakers are legitimate military targets after the British foreign secretary argued that Ukraine has the right to use military force within Russia's borders.A new law passed in Uganda would sentence a gay person to life in prison and maybe even the death penalty. The bill's signing prompted criticism from human rights groups. And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won another four years in office after being pushed to a runoff election.We cover all this and more during the this edition of the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) defines the straw purchase of firearms as "purchasing a gun for someone who is prohibited by law from possessing one, or for someone who does not want his or her name associated with the transaction."City officials have tried to enact tougher policies aimed at curbing the practice but were Other cities and states have found ways to push back on illegal trafficking. The issue has attracted federal attention, too. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed last summer, stiffened penalties for straw purchasing.We zoom in on the issue in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, before getting the nationwide picture from the ATF director.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This has been a record year for legislation aimed at trans youth. More than a dozen states have passed laws limiting gender-affirming care for minors.This month Texas became the largest state to do so. The new state law bans hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgeries for people under the age of 18. It also includes language about "weaning" trans youth off medication that is not "medically appropriate." Medical experts say there is no safe way to do so.It passed both chambers of the state legislature and is on Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Abbott said he would sign the bill. We discuss the bill and what it means for families and medical providers. We also revisit our conversation from November 2022 in Austin, Texas.This show was part of 1A's Remaking America collaboration with six partner stations around the country, including KUT in Austin. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

"The Little Mermaid" is back. This time, the Disney classic is reimagined in live action.Many elements from the 1989 cartoon musical have stayed the same — there's a singing crab, a mermaid king, and a tentacled sea-witch. But a new, diverse cast brings the characters to life, or at least to CGI. And they're led by Halle Bailey, who stars as Ariel.We discuss how the remake holds up and the Disney live-action remake formula.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

It's estimated that sleep disorders affect between 50 and 70 million people in America. That includes conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy. But depictions of living with a sleep disorder — like those in The Simpsons — don't always get it right.Even without a disorder, how we sleep has a major impact on our health. It affects our immune system, hormones, and heart health.The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation helps fund sleep research and clinics like CHI-PAP in Chicago, but treatments for sleep issues are still costly. Getting a sleep study done in a lab usually costs between $1,000 and $10,000.We discuss sleep disorders, how we treat them, and sleep hygiene.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.