Iowa primaries; Anti-weaponization fund; Bill Pulte : NPR

Key Points:

• Trump-endorsed Randy Feenstra lost the Iowa gubernatorial primary to businessman Zach Lahn, marking a rare defeat for Trump-backed candidates; Lahn will face Democrat Rob Sand in a competitive general election.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the halt of Trump's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund after a federal judge blocked its creation amid bipartisan opposition, especially from Republicans concerned about payouts to January 6 rioters.
• Trump appointed Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, despite Pulte lacking the extensive national security experience typically required and bypassing Senate confirmation.
• Researchers criticize a new White House webpage that dehumanizes immigrants by equating them with "aliens," warning it could incite hate crimes and profiling against undocumented individuals.
• Experts advise minimizing exposure to harmful "forever chemicals" (PFAS) found in water and food by checking local water quality reports, using certified filtration systems, and avoiding fish from contaminated waterways.