Political Analyst (3:23)

The hard truth is that even when it comes to our legal immigration system, past presidents have failed to ensure that all prospective citizens Love America, will add value and contribute to our communities, and will assimilate into our culture.

Tracy Mumford (3:38)

Overall, the administration's more aggressive stance has swept up even those who'd traditionally been considered exceptions, like people who were brought to the US as children. Last month, a college freshman who was trying to fly home to Texas to surprise her family for Thanksgiving was detained when she tried to get on her flight and then deported despite a court order saying she should not be removed from the U.S. according to her lawyer. She'd lived in the U.S. since she was 7, when her family came from Honduras, and she had no criminal record. A DHS spokeswoman said she was in the US Illegally and received full due process. One former ICE official who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations said that in the past, this kind of case might have been handled less aggressively, but that the student's immediate deportation shows that, quote, the elements of discretion in how this was conducted appear to be gone. Meanwhile, the Trump administration fired eight immigration judges in New York City yesterday, a significant downsizing that one of the judges who was dismissed said basically eviscerated the court. In all, about 90 immigration judges across the country have been fired out of a system of roughly 600. A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to answer questions about the dismissals while but other judges who were previously let go suggested the administration was targeting those who were considered too lenient. Now, two more quick updates on the Trump administration. The TSA has announced that starting in February, anyone trying to fly without a real ID will be hit with a new $45 fee. The enhanced IDs were required starting back in May after more than a decade of delays, and the TSA says that so far the vast majority of travelers have been in compliance. If you don't have a real id, a passport or a permanent residence card will also work to meet the more strict requirements that the government says are necessary to keep airline travel safe. Also, what part of your body was.

Political Analyst (5:47)

The MRI looking at?

Political Correspondent (5:48)

I have no idea. It was just an mri. What part of the body? It wasn't the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.

Tracy Mumford (5:54)

I President Trump continues to face questions about his health after he said weeks ago that his latest physical included an mri. That kicked off a lot of speculation since he didn't say why the test had been done. Several medical experts told the Times that while an MRI could be part of a routine exam, it's typically not done unless the patient has symptoms of some kind. An MRI can be used to detect a wide range of health issues, from cancer to aneurysms. In response to the continued questions, the White House released a letter yesterday saying advanced imaging had been done to assess Trump's cardiovascular system and abdominal region, but didn't specify if it was an mri. The letter said Trump quote, remains in excellent overall health. Across south and Southeast Asia this week week, rescue and recovery efforts are underway after three devastating cyclones battered the region simultaneously. In Thailand, troops and helicopters have been deployed to rescue people who've been stranded in floodwaters. Officials in Indonesia say over half a million people have been displaced from their homes, and the president of Sri Lanka says the country is facing the largest and most challenging natural disaster in its history. The total death toll has now climbed to over 1200 people, with hundreds still missing. The cyclones, which are the same as hurricanes, are part of a series of destructive storms that have swept through the region. Experts say that this year's monsoon season has been particularly strong because of the weather phenomenon known as La Nina, but that global warming has also made it more unpredictable and intense. Just like with hurricanes in the Atlantic, warming waters in the Pacific and Indian oceans have helped storms form and stretch, strengthen more quickly. Plus, warmer air can hold more moisture, driving up the amount of potential rainfall. And finally, GLP1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been an absolute blockbuster for pharmaceutical companies, and now they've got their eyes on a new set of target customers, overweight pets. Today, a company out of San Francisco is set to announce it's officially begun a pilot study for cats, specifically where they get an injectable implant slightly larger than a microchip that slowly releases the drug. You come back six months later and the cat has lost weight, said the veterinarian leading the study. It's like magic. The study has been dubbed MEOW one, a very rough acronym of Management of Overweight Cats. The full results are expected next summer. In the U.S. veterinarian experts say pets weight is a real issue. Recent estimates suggest roughly 60% of cats and dogs are obese and they can have associated health problems in limited cases. Some vets have already been giving human GLP1 drugs off label to diabetic cats. Now any pet specific GLP1 is likely a ways off given the time needed for a full study, government approval, etc. And some are skeptical whether there's really a market for it. There was a previous weight loss drug for dogs approved almost 20 years ago that reduced pets appetite, but pet owners didn't always like that, one vet nutritionist told the Times, because the main way that people interact with their pets is by feeding them and seeing them all excited and happy about snacks. That drug was later discontinued. Those are the headlines today on the daily Inside the Times investigation into how the global demand for car batteries has fueled a dangerous recycling industry that's caused widespread lead poisoning. You can listen to that in the New York Times app or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.

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