Trump rejects Iran's ceasefire proposal response. And, Congress to tackle ICE funding

Congress has returned after a weeklong break. Lawmakers are expected to focus on securing three years of funding for immigration enforcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are usually funded on the same cycle as other agencies — October through September. Democrats blocked funding efforts this year after an immigration crackdown in Minnesota led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal immigration agents.

• 🎧 Republicans have decided they are ready to put the issue of ICE and CBP funding to rest, NPR's Eric McDaniel says. If they succeed in securing that funding through the end of Trump's term, Democrats would lose some of the leverage they have to push for reforms. Congress overall would have one fewer tool in the box of checks and balances to oversee how immigration enforcement is conducted, McDaniel says.

Seventeen American cruise passengers returned to the U.S. early today after weeks aboard a cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak. These 17 passengers are among the nearly 150 people from 23 countries who were on the ship. Three passengers have died since the outbreak began. During the flight back to the U.S., one American tested "mildly" positive for the virus while another exhibited mild symptoms, according to an X post by the official @HHSGov account. Most of the passengers will head to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the College of Public Health at UNMC, says scientists have studied this strain of hantavirus for decades. It doesn't transmit easily between people, and she says it's unlikely to become a pandemic.

• ➡️ Public health officials are using contact tracing to contain the outbreak. Here's how it works.

Today's listen

(L-R) Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys perform onstage during the 2024 March Madness Music Festival at Margaret T. Hance Park on April 7, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for TNT Sports

Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for TNT Sports

In the early 2000s and 2010s, many people discovered The Black Keys through memorable Nissan, Cadillac and Victoria's Secret commercials. Fifteen years later, the Grammy-winning duo is still pushing boundaries with their sound. Their new album Peaches! marks a return to the bluesy rhythms that fueled their early career. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys discuss their new music with All Things Considered. Listen to some of the newest tracks and hear them discuss their motivations for the album. You can also read the transcript here.

Picture show

Praia, Cape Verde (April 9, 2026) - Pedro Bettencourt, president of the country's prestigious Youth Football Training School known by its Portuguese acronym EPIF, says he's seen a change in young players since the national team's success. Here young players prepare for a practice. Ricci Shryock for NPR

Ricci Shryock for NPR

Cape Verde's Blue Sharks are set to make history this summer when they play in the World Cup for the first time. With just over half a million people, the island nation is one of the tiniest countries to ever qualify for the tournament. The landmark achievement has changed how Cape Verdeans view soccer. What was once just street play and schoolyard competition is now a national dream. Pedro Bettencourt, who leads Escola de Preparação Integral de Futebol, one of Cape Verde's top youth soccer academies, says qualification has transformed young players' perspectives on their futures. Take a look at how the youth on the island have been affected by the Blue Sharks' achievement.

3 things to know before you go

A Frontier Airlines jetliner waits for clearance to take off as high winds strafe Denver International Airport Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Denver. David Zalubowski/AP

David Zalubowski/AP

1. A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a pedestrian who was crossing the runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night.
2. Radiohead takes over a Brooklyn warehouse for the next two months with "Motion Picture House." The installation features an animated film, sculptures, paintings and unreleased material from recording sessions for the electronic albums Kid A and Amnesiac. (via Gothamist)
3. The 61st Venice Biennale opened Saturday amid chaos from geopolitical strife, casting a shadow over the contemporary art on display. Multiple, large public demonstrations erupted over Russia's return to the festival, Israel's presence amid the war in Gaza and more.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.