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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was the subject of an attack at a town hall last night. She was not harmed and continued the event. Threats against members of Congress have risen for the third year in a row. NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports. U.S. capitol Police attribute this in part to a false sense of anonymity online.
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Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was rushed by a man at her town hall. He sprayed an unknown liquid from a syringe in her direction. Also this week, Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost of Florida said he was punched in the face at the Sundance Festival. The Capitol Police reports an uptick in 2025 of concern statements, behaviors and communications towards federal lawmakers, their families and their staff. They investigated nearly 15,000 threats last year, up nearly 58% from 2024. Last year, there was an increase in security funding from members of Congress in response to growing concerns about political violence. Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, Washington.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is not ruling out new military action in Venezuela. He tells lawmakers that the South American country was a base of operation in this hemisphere for Many of the U.S. competitors and enemies until ex President Nicolas Maduro was seized weeks ago.
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We are not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time. The only military presence you'll see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy. Okay, that is our goal, that is our expectation, and that is what everything that outlines towards. But if that said, if an Iranian drone factory pops up and threatens our forces in the region, that the president retains the option to eliminate that threat.
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Rubio is appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a panel on which he was a senior member before he resigned from the Senate last January to assume his current role. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady this afternoon when policymakers wrap up their latest meeting. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The central bank is facing pressure from the White House to cut rates more aggressively.
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The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates three times since September out of concern with a soft job market. Job growth has slowed sharply over the last year, and surveys show worries about job security are weighing on consumer confidence. But inflation is still higher than the Fed would like So a majority of Fed policymakers are expected to vote to keep rates where they are. For now, President Trump insists borrowing costs should be much lower, and he's been demanding the Fed do his bidding, even though the central bank is supposed to be insulated from political pressure. Trump is preparing to nominate a replacement for Jerome Powell, whose term as Fed chairman is set to expire later this spring. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
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At last check on Wall street, the Dow was down slightly at 48,997. The S& P and Nasdaq also down a fraction. You're listening to NPR News. With tax filing season now open to millions of taxpayers in the U.S. the nation's official taxpayer advocate, Aaron Collins, released a report to Congress today put projecting significant challenges. She says the Internal Revenue Service is affected by 27% reduction of its workforce, reorganization of leadership, and major changes to tax laws. Under the GOP's tax and spending legislation, however, the Trump administration is promising substantial refunds. As a result, Top officials are predicting a smooth tax filing season. The American Lung Association's latest annual report on tobacco use criticizes the administration for rolling back funding and staff behind anti smoking efforts. It says there are still nearly half a million smoking related deaths every year. NPR's Yuki Noguchi has details.
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Since 2000, there's been steady progress on rates of smoking, with a percentage of US adults who smoke declining from about 23% then to about 11% in 2023. But the lung association says much of that progress is being undermined by the Trump administration. Last year, it virtually eliminated the Centers for Disease Control Prevention's Office on Smoking and Health and cut many positions at the Food and Drug Association's Tobacco Control Unit. The lung association says that's imperiled programs like state's quit lines, which offer phone or tech support to smokers trying to quit. Yukinoguchi, NPR News.
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U.S. stocks are trading slightly lower this hour with the Dow down two points. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.
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