On tonight’s program: Florida’s rural renaissance initiative to help the state’s rural and fiscally-constrained counties develop economically is working its way through the state legislature; Florida’s pension fund investments will include no companies that support DEI principles, as a result of a resolution by the State Cabinet; State lawmakers are considering tighter controls over the hemp industry; And as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease increases in Florida, state lawmakers are looking at more robust responses to the illness.

On tonight’s program: The 1st day of the 2025 Florida Legislative Session included lots of hopeful people advocating for various legislative outcomes; Governor Ron DeSantis kept the tone upbeat during his next-to-last State of the State address; Legislative Democrats find themselves in familiar – and lamentable – territory as Republican supermajorities prepare to work their will at the capitol; And property insurance and budgeting are two of the major issues on the House and Senate calendars.

Who are these people and why are they saying these things? In advance of next week’s start of the Florida lawmaking session, we’ll help you figure out what’s going on; Whatever lawmakers do, the governor usually has the last word. Sometimes well in advance; As a citizen, how do you let lawmakers know what you want? We’ll tell you how to go about that; You’ll get a quick primer on how the committee process works; Florida dreamers could find an affordable path to higher education blocked as a result of one bill already filed in the legislature; And we remember Geraldine Thompson, the Orlando lawmaker for whom the preservation of history was a sacred duty.

On tonight’s program: One lawmakers wants to let students carry guns on college and university campuses; A committee of lawmakers is reviewing the 950 million dollars in projects Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed last year; Florida’s insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance, is raising its rates. And for some, it could be a good thing; We’ll hear about an effort to support Everglades restoration and flood planning. One lawmaker calls it a “great opportunity”; A Florida State University professor talks AI in education. It turns out it’s about a lot more than worrying about whether students are teaching on tests; And we’ll hear from a former first lady of Florida A & M University about helping to pave the way for future students.

On tonight’s program: A special legislative session on immigration also seems to signal a lessening of power for Governor Ron DeSantis; An attorney weighs in on Florida’s efforts to reform immigration policy; Florida lawmakers may again try to pass a bill restricting the kinds of flags that can be flown over government buildings or public schools; Artificial intelligence could be an effective way of detecting illicit firearms. Republicans aren’t happy with that, but some public safety proponents believe it’s a good thing; Florida’s agencies that help kids provide lots of services. But being a place where the children spend the night isn’t supposed to be one of them; The desperate search for something – anything – to halt the spread of citrus greening disease in Florida’s shrinking citrus groves may have turned up a solution. The problem is, that solution could take years to have a positive impact; And a civil rights champion in the Florida Legislature has died.

On tonight’s program: Governor DeSantis rolls out his proposed spending plan. But it includes a lot fewer state government workers than what’s now employed; Pro-gun folks have been pushing Florida lawmakers for years to approve open carry of firearms. Is this the year their efforts finally bear fruit?; Concern abounds over the move by Elon Musk and his team to access sensitive federal government information. Especially since it seems President Trump doesn’t seem to mind; Churches have religious freedom. But when it comes to shielding undocumented immigrants from the law, the government is arguing that’s going too far; Meanwhile, a dedicated organization stands ready to help immigrants caught up in deportation sweeps; In advance of the Florida legislative session, some lawmakers are already looking to improve services for children who have autism; And we get a jump on preparations for what could be yet another busy hurricane season.

In North Dakota, many farmers are still recovering from the 2018 trade war and are now bracing for more losses as President Trump levies sweeping tariffs on everything from soybeans to pork.

If you've been paying attention to international politics, you'll get at least three — yes, THREE! — questions right this week!

The president's contention that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional is considered a fringe view because the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary 127 years ago.

Senate to vote on GOP spending bill as government shutdown deadline looms, Trump to give speech at DOJ about law and order, judges order federal agencies to reinstate thousands of fired workers.

In a pair of rulings Thursday, judges ordered federal agencies to reinstate thousands of workers who were recently fired. In both cases, the judges said the mass firings appear illegal.

NPR asks Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, about uncertainty for federal workers amid Trump administration cuts and a looming government shutdown.

Democrats face a dilemma. Should they help pass a GOP spending bill or allow the government to shut down? NPR speaks with Faiz Shakir, senior adviser to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.

Iranian officials met with Chinese and Russian counterparts in Beijing on Friday to coordinate their positions on nuclear and other issues.

One of the first modern women composers to reach international acclaim, Sofia Gubaidulina, wrote bold music inspired by Eastern and Western philosophies and the joy of sound itself.

President Trump has repeatedly tied his political fortunes to the financial markets. But as his tariff policies impact investors, he's shifting his rhetoric.

During the COVID pandemic, NPR's Morning Edition commissioned pieces by musicians from various genres. Five years later, we listen back on the project.

NPR speaks with former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams about her new memoir, "Careless People," in an interview held before she was barred from discussing her criticism of the company.

For believers, the holy month is about much more than fasting. It's a time for reflection and compassion — to give to the less fortunate, gather with community to break the daily fasts, and pray.

Amid the devastation and fear in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mother reflects on one way she and her family found some joy and connection along some train tracks.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Amanda Seyfried, star of the new series Long Bright River. She plays a police officer investigating the murders of women from Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church about leading a movement to swear off shopping at Target for Lent.

Judges who are ruling against the Trump administration are facing online threats and calls for impeachment.

A White House envoy is in Moscow Thursday to discuss the 30-day of proposed ceasefire with top Kremlin officials. President Vladimir Putin says Russia is open to the idea, but "questions" remain.

Nearly every economic sector relies on secure technology networks: retailers, airlines, hospitals and more. After a faulty software update by cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike, businesses across the globe came screeching to a halt, dragging customers with them. In this episode, the tech firm behind today’s maddening “blue screen of death.” Plus: why the Federal Reserve plans communication blackouts, a former delivery driver remembers using chickens to mark her routes, and industry upheaval threatens an Alaskan fishing community.

The number of people filing for jobless benefits in each of the last two weeks rose. That means it’s taking job seekers longer to find employment. It’s also offers mild support to those who want to see lower interest rates. Also: Who’s spending and who isn’t? And what AI means for authors and publishers.

Now’s the time of year when many families look for a new home. But it’s a seemingly impossible market for first-time buyers: high prices, high mortgage rates, high insurance, low inventory. We’ll explain how some are pulling it off and why some experts believe lower home prices and rents are in sight. Also: State and local governments have been on a hiring spree, and business inventories are up.

Retail sales numbers released today show spending was flat last month. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll see Americans spent more in June than May. What does this mean for the Federal Reserve as it considers lowering interest rates? Also: Homebuilders are feeling a little less confident, and AI is trying to read emotions. Plus, the nocturnal sprint at UPS’ one-day-shipping hub.

The economy seems to be coming in for a soft landing, and that’s a big reason banks are doing so well. Markets are up, emboldening companies to make merger deals, which they pay investment banks to execute. JPMorgan Chase just posted the highest quarterly net income for a bank in U.S. history — $18.1 billion. Also: On the eve of Amazon Prime Day, how a shipping hub handles quick turnarounds. Plus, another decline in China’s GDP, and a DJ looks back at her analog life spinning vinyl.