Trump’s executive orders; Pete Hegseth Allegations: NPR

Good morning. You are reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today’s best stories

The Trump administration is deploying its plan to fight immigration day after day. The federal government is expanding the number of people targeted for deportation and where agents can arrest them. In the United States, Democrats and advocacy groups have challenged the executive’s actions.

• 🎧 Administration clears way for school arreststells NPR’s Ximena Bustillo First. Old rules prohibited the arrest of people suspected of being without legal status in schools, places of worship, health care facilities and other areas. Homeland Security has issued notices to begin phasing out humanitarian parole programs and restarting full implementation of the Remain in Mexico policy, which would force some asylum seekers at the southern border to wait in Mexico for their hearing in U.S. immigration court. Lawsuits have been filed against Trump’s executive action to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to almost everyone born on U.S. soil.

Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, is once again facing allegations of alcohol abuse and misconduct. Hegseth received a series of questions about his background as well as his qualifications for the role. He denied allegations of excessive alcohol consumption and inappropriate behavior. The full Senate has yet to vote on his confirmation, and his former sister-in-law has now submitted an affidavit to senators claiming he made his ex-wife fear for her safety.

• 🎧 Sen. Jack Reed told NPR’s Deirdre Walsh that he requested a statement from Danielle Hegseth, who was married to Pete’s brother Nathaniel, because he didn’t think the FBI background check was adequate. Danielle says Pete’s second wife, Samantha, whom he divorced, “feared for her personal safety” during their marriage and often hid in a closet. Danielle said Samantha also intended to text a code word meaning she wanted someone to fly to Minnesota to help her. Pete’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, argued that Danielle was a “far-left, anti-Trump Democrat” with vested interests. So far, no Republican senator has said they would oppose the nomination.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is in its fourth day, but Israel has announced a new military operation in the occupied West Bank. The operation is centralized in the city of Jenin. The Palestinians fear that the center of the conflict will shift towards them. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says the army has learned key lessons from the war.

• 🎧 NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf says Israel reports this is a counterterrorism operation aimed at bolstering security in the West Bank. Jenin is a militant stronghold and an airstrike killed 10 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. Life in the West Bank has been difficult, even in areas not directly affected by the new operation. The West Bank has a series of checkpoints and designated roads for Palestinians, most of which have been closed by the Israeli army, making travel difficult.
• ➡️ Meanwhile, in Gaza, the path forward beyond the first phase of the ceasefire remains unclear. The reconstruction of Gaza is the last phase, but it will be a colossal project. Here’s what you need to know.

Image exhibition

A rare winter storm hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, bringing heavy snow, sleet and ice that made travel conditions dangerous. The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida declared states of emergency. Authorities across the region are urging residents to stay put and prepare for possible power outages. Forecasters are predicting historic snowfall in many areas. Check out snow photos from Texas to Florida.

Life advice

Credit card rewards programs can provide big perks, like hotel and airline upgrades. You can even get cash back for gas and groceries. Financial journalist Katherine Fan dabbled in credit card points after college and reaped the rewards. Fan explains how to choose the right card and what you need to know before signing up.

• 💳 If you are looking for a premium cardyour credit score should be closer to 720. These cards offer higher rewards.
• 💳 Get a card that fits your spending habits. If you’re traveling, look for a card with benefits that meet these needs.
• 💳 If you are hesitant about paying an annual feethink about cards that don’t have one.
• 💳 Points can feel like free moneybut you should plan your spending based on what makes economic sense for your life. Determine whether the money you’re spending is worth it or whether you’re spending money just to earn points.

3 things to know before you leave

1. Prince Harry and a British lawmaker have agreed a deal with Rupert Murdoch’s British publishing arm. The agreement ends years of struggle to hold tabloids accountable for illegal invasions of privacy and alleged cover-ups of crimes.
2. The FDA expanded its approval of Spravatoan antidepressant nasal spray, which will now be used as a stand-alone treatment for depression.
3. Jules Feiffer, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and playwrightknown for illustrating the children’s classic The ghost tolldied at age 95.

This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.