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Layla Faldel
President Trump is furious that Congress might not give him the money he wants for his ballroom.
Emmy Martinez
That's because several Republicans don't want to, including an incumbent he targeted in the primaries.
Layla Faldel
Are his efforts to get rid of some Republicans in Congress backfiring? I'm Layla Fulton. That's a Martinez. And this is up first from NPR News. Israel is pushing the U.S. to resume the war on Iran. Gulf allies are pushing for the opposite. There was a contentious call between President Trump and Israel's prime minister. For now, Trump says says he's willing to give Iran more time.
Emmy Martinez
And federal prosecutors indict former Cuban President Raul Castro. They say he ordered planes to be shot down 30 years ago, killing four U.S. nationals. Castro is 94 years old and not in U.S. custody. But the acting attorney general says he expects Castro will show up in court one way or another. Stay with us. You've got all the news you need to start your day.
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Emmy Martinez
Republicans in Congress are racing to approve billions of dollars for immigration enforcement.
Layla Faldel
But President Trump is fuming about what may not be in that package, money for the White House ballroom. That's after several Republicans said they would oppose it. They include Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. He just lost his primary after Trump supported someone else. And it's all fueling questions about whether Trump's efforts to target GOP incumbents are backfiring.
Emmy Martinez
Joining us now to discuss is NPR congressional reporter Sam Greenglass. So, Sam, Layla just mentioned what may not be in that package, what actually is in the funding package.
Sam Greenglass
Yeah. Republicans want to fund ICE and Border Patrol for the rest of Trump's term. We're talking about approving $72 billion using a tool known as budget reconciliation. That maneuver allows Republicans to circumvent Democrats who oppose more money for these agencies without reforms to limit the tactics of their officers. That is in part because Republicans already gave ICE $75 billion last year with very few strings attached.
Emmy Martinez
So what you just said, what does that have to do with the ballroom?
Sam Greenglass
So, after the White House correspondence dinner, some Republicans began pushing to tack on a billion dollars for and include that roughly $220 million for the ballroom. But lawmakers can't just pass anything through reconciliation. And over the weekend, the nonpartisan Senate parliamentarian nixed that funding, though even before that, it was not clear there would have been enough Republican votes to pass it.
Emmy Martinez
All right, so how is the president reacting?
Sam Greenglass
Well, he pressed Senate Majority Leader John Thune to fire the parliamentarian and kill the filibuster, a demand Trump has made in the past and Thune has resist. Did Trump also wrote on social media, get smart and tough Republicans, or you'll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought?
Emmy Martinez
Okay. Clearly frustrated with his own party this week, he managed to stop Cassidy from getting reelected. He also endorsed a primary challenger for Senator John Cornyn in Texas. What could that mean for the dynamics in Congress?
Sam Greenglass
Well, so far, Cassidy has come out against the ballroom money and provided the critical vote to advance an Iran War Powers resolution after previously opposing it. He joined three other Republicans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, one of the few Republican senators who has regularly broken with Trump.
Aya Batrawi
This president is going to have to continue to deal and work with and partner with or battle with this group of lawmakers. Even though Bill Cassidy lost his primary, he is still a voting member of the Senate until January.
Sam Greenglass
Murkowski said Trump may have forgotten that he needs Congress and said targeting incumbent Republicans like Cornyn could jeopardy seats in November. House Speaker Mike Johnson, though, said Trump knows what's at stake, but added this.
Ryan Lucas
We need people here who are not trying to carve out their own lane and do something that's destructive or counterproductive, I think, to the agenda. That's the message.
Emmy Martinez
So, Sam, I mean, that's not so subtle of a message there from the speaker.
Sam Greenglass
Yeah. I mean, this spring, Trump has vanquished a lot of foes, not just Cassidy. Also, state senators in Indiana A longtime House Republican, Thomas Massie. So while lawmakers like Cassidy could shake things up on their way out the door, others who won want to survive may be less likely to step out of line, even amid warning signs for the party ahead of the midterms.
Emmy Martinez
That's NPR congressional reporter Sam Greenglass. Sam, thank you very much.
Sam Greenglass
You're welcome.
Emmy Martinez
President Trump says he's willing to wait a little longer for an agreement with Iran before deciding whether to strike the country again.
Layla Faldel
Iran says it's ready for either scenario, peace or more war. It comes as Israel pushes for the war to resume and several Arab countries push back.
Emmy Martinez
Joining us to discuss the latest from the Gulf is NPR international correspondent Aya Batrawi in Dubai. So earlier this week, President Trump said he held off on striking Iran because the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates asked him to. But how much longer is Trump willing to wait?
Aya Batrawi
Well, Trump told reporters yesterday the US Is dealing with impressive and talented Iranian negotiators now and that it could be several more days before he makes a decision, but he wouldn't commit to a timeline.
President Donald Trump
Hopefully, those people will make a deal that's going to be great for everybody. But I don't know.
Ryan Lucas
I don't know.
President Donald Trump
I don't do I get what I never back and forth, I never get tired. But what I like to do, if I, if I can save war by waiting a couple of days or I can save people being killed by waiting a couple of days, I think it's a great thing to do.
Aya Batrawi
Now, Iran's position is that they are negotiating the terms of a permanent ceasefire in good faith through mediators like Pakistan, but that they also have suspicion, given that the last two times they were in the midst of talks with the Trump administration, the US And Israel launched war. Now, Iran says it prefers diplomacy, but its armed commanders are threatening an even wider war if Iran is attacked again.
Emmy Martinez
Do Gulf Arab states have much leverage with President Trump right now?
Aya Batrawi
So these countries were not consulted before this war was launched by the US And Israel back in February. Some only got a short notice to prepare their air defenses, while others got no warning at all. But the thing is, they have borne the brunt of Iran's counterattacks in this war, and countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar want to see this war end. But Trump has also been speaking regularly with Israel's prime minister, and just this week they had a tense and contentious call. A person familiar with the matter, not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR Benjamin Netanyahu railed against a deal to end the war and that Trump told him he would continue to pursue a deal that prevents Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, but that Iran needs to show flexibility. Now another factor a to consider here is that Saudi Arabia is hosting 2 million Muslims from around the world for the annual Hajj pilgrimage next week. And Saudi Arabia's foreign publicly thanked Trump yesterday for granting more time for talks with Iran.
Emmy Martinez
Now right now, hundreds of ships are not able to get through the Strait of Hormuz. So what can you tell us about Iran's continued control there?
Aya Batrawi
All right. So this really is Iran's most important point of leverage right now. And it has driven up oil and food prices globally, as we know. And the US has in turn blocked Iranian ships from exporting its oil out at sea. But Iran has established a new body to collect tolls and coordinate the transit of ships through the strait. They're calling it the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. They published a map yesterday of what it says are waters under Iran's control now. And it encompasses the United Arab Emirates territorial waters, including an oil terminal and a port that the UAE is using to bypass the strait. A powerful Emirati minister named Sultan Al Jaber, he also runs Abu Dhabi state run and state owned oil company said this yesterday at the Atlantic Council.
Ryan Lucas
This sets a dangerous precedent once you
Sam Greenglass
accept that a single country can hold the world's most important waterway hostage.
Aya Batrawi
Now again, Gulf countries have borne the brunt of these attacks. And the UAE says drones from Iraq, where Iranian backed militias are active, were launched at its nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. It sparked a fire. It hit an electric generator. But you know, attacks like this show that even in a ceasefire, Gulf countries, especially the UAE, because of its close ties with Israel, remain very vulnerable.
Emmy Martinez
That's NPR's Aya Batrawi in Dubai. Thank you very much.
Aya Batrawi
Thanks a lot.
Emmy Martinez
Raul Castro, the former president of Cuba and the brother of the late Fidel Castro, is facing a criminal indictment in the United States.
Layla Faldel
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges in Miami on Wednesday. The case stems from the 1996 downing of two aircraft operated by a group of Cuban exiles based in Miami.
Emmy Martinez
NPR justice correspondent Ryan Lucas is covering this. So Ryan, what happened in 1996?
Ryan Lucas
Well, look, in the 1990s, this exile group called Brothers to the Rescue was operating flights, small aircraft over the Strait of Florida to rescue or guide Cuban migrants at sea. The group was also dropping pro democracy leaflets from the air that would reach Cuba. Now the indictment says that on February 24th of 1996, Cuban fighter jets shot down two small planes that were operated by Brothers to the rescue. Four U.S. nationals were killed. That includes three American citizens. Raul Castro was Cuba's defense minister at the time. And the indictment alleges that he authorized those planes to be shot down. It also says the aircraft were in international waters at the time. So now Castro is charged with conspiracy to kill US Nationals, destruction of aircraft, and murder. And there are also five co defendants in this case who were Cuban pilots allegedly involved in the operation.
Emmy Martinez
How did the DOJ announce this in Diamond?
Ryan Lucas
Well, the department rolled this out at a splashy press conference at Freedom Tower in Miami, which is like Ellis island for Cuban refugees. The room was packed with members of the Cuban American community. Many Cuban Americans want to see members of the Castro regime face justice. And the crowd cheered. It gave standing ovations a couple of times, which you just don't see at press conferences announcing criminal charges. Blanche said that he's met with members of the community, that he's heard their stories of heartbreak and pain. And he added this, today's indictment, while it does not bring back the murdered victims, it makes a statement. The United States government has not forgotten these innocent men who were shot out of the sky. Now, the U.S. attorney in Miami also spoke. He said his mother spent her first night in that very building after fleeing Cuba. And he said he made reviving this case a priority when he took office last year.
Emmy Martinez
Okay, so how is Cuba responding?
Ryan Lucas
Well, Cuba's president, in a post on X, called this indictment a political move. He says there's no legal basis for it. And he accused the US of trying to fabricate things to justify a military move against Cuba. He also accused the US of lying about what happened in 1996. He said Cuba acted in legitimate self defense after repeated violations of its airspace. And he also says the US Government at the time had been warned about those violations, but ignored them and allowed these flights to continue.
Emmy Martinez
Trump administration has had a pressure campaign running against Cuba. So how does this fit into that?
Ryan Lucas
Right. The administration has been ramping up pressure on Cuba since early January after the successful US Military operation to capture Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and bring him to the US to face narco terrorism charges. Since then, the administration has ordered a blockade of Cuba that's cut off fuel shipments. Cuba's economy is in free fall, and the CIA director just visited the island for talks. And now we have this Castro indictment. Now, Castro is 94 years old. He's not in U.S. custody. But of course, the shadow of that Maduro raid hangs over all of this. Blanche was asked yesterday how far the US Would go to get its hands on Castro. He said there's a warrant out for his arrest. He expects Castro will show up on his own, or as Blanche put it
Emmy Martinez
by another way, NPR's Ryan Lucas. Thank you very much, Ryan.
Ryan Lucas
Thank you.
Emmy Martinez
And that's up first for Thursday, May 21st. I'm Emmy Martinez.
Layla Faldel
And I'm Layla Faldel. Today's episode of up first was edited by Kelsey Snell, Tina Kraia, Krishnadav Kalamar, Mohamed Zadvardisi and Adam Birn. It was produced by Ziad Butch and Nia Dumas. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Zoe Van Genhoven. Our technical director is Carly Strange, and our deputy executive producer is Kennedy Kelly Dickens. Join us again tomorrow.
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Date: May 21, 2026
Episode: Trump Warns GOP Over Ballroom Funding, Trump Gives Iran More Time, Castro Charged
Hosts: Layla Fadel, A Martinez
Featured Reporters: Sam Greenglass, Aya Batrawi, Ryan Lucas
This episode of Up First delivers concise, insightful updates on three major stories shaping U.S. and global affairs:
Timestamps: 02:13 – 05:46
President’s Frustration:
“Get smart and tough, Republicans, or you’ll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought.”
— President Trump, via social media (03:49, paraphrased by Sam Greenglass)
Contents of the Immigration Funding Package:
Republican Response and Party Dynamics:
“We need people here who are not trying to carve out their own lane and do something that’s destructive or counterproductive… That’s the message.”
— House Speaker Mike Johnson (05:10)
Midterm Implications:
Timestamps: 05:52 – 09:37
Current Status:
“If I can save war by waiting a couple of days, or I can save people being killed by waiting a couple of days, I think it’s a great thing to do.”
— President Trump (06:43)
Diplomacy and Tensions:
Gulf States’ Position:
Strait of Hormuz:
"This sets a dangerous precedent once you accept that a single country can hold the world’s most important waterway hostage.”
— Sultan Al Jaber (UAE Minister), relayed by NPR (09:02)
Timestamps: 09:48 – 13:13
Overview of Indictment:
Incident Context:
Political and Community Reactions:
“Today’s indictment, while it does not bring back the murdered victims, it makes a statement. The United States government has not forgotten these innocent men who were shot out of the sky.” (11:55)
Cuban Government Response:
Broader Geopolitical Context:
Legal Prospects:
Trump to GOP:
“Get smart and tough Republicans, or you’ll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought.”
(paraphrased by Sam Greenglass, 03:49)
Speaker Mike Johnson on GOP Unity:
“We need people here who are not trying to carve out their own lane and do something that’s destructive or counterproductive… That’s the message.”
(05:10)
President Trump on Iran Decision:
“If I can save war by waiting a couple of days, or I can save people being killed by waiting a couple of days, I think it’s a great thing to do.”
(06:43)
Sultan Al Jaber (UAE) on Strait of Hormuz:
"This sets a dangerous precedent once you accept that a single country can hold the world’s most important waterway hostage.”
(09:02)
DOJ on Castro Indictment:
“Today’s indictment, while it does not bring back the murdered victims, it makes a statement. The United States government has not forgotten these innocent men who were shot out of the sky.”
— Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche (11:55)
This summary captures the in-depth reporting and unfiltered tone of NPR's Up First, giving listeners—and non-listeners—an integrated understanding of today's top news stories.