Promising Alzheimer's drug results; China's zero-COVID protests; Books We Love

Plus, Will Smith tearfully talks about his Oscars slap moment.

View this email online by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. Same-sex and interracial marriages are one step closer to being codified. The Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act with bipartisan support yesterday, and it now goes to the House. Here's what we're following today. 🥇 First up National Institute on Aging, NIH/AP A large study of an experimental Alzheimer's drug has shown that the medication, called lecanemab, reduced the rate of cognitive decline by 27%. It's been called a "real and robust" effect by the director of Yale's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. But about 1 in 5 people in the study had adverse effects, and the risks might outweigh the benefits for some patients. Several days of extraordinary street protests across China have highlighted with brutal clarity how unpopular Xi Jinping's "dynamic zero COVID" policy has become. But experts say the country isn't prepared for the massive COVID surge that would come if the policy is dropped completely. It's the ultimate whodunit: what — or who — is causing inflation? Prices have been going up all year, but economists and politicians can't agree on where it's coming from. 🎧 Listen to who the prime suspects are. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and one other defendant have been found guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection. Rhodes' and the other Oath Keepers' persecution has been the most consequential Jan. 6 case that's gone to trial so far. Republicans in Congress are denouncing Donald Trump's decision to have dinner with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes last week. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view is "highly unlikely to ever be elected president of the United States." Newsletter continues after sponsor message 📚 Books we love Kaz Fantone/NPR Books We Love is back! Our  2022 version comes with 400+ new books, hand-picked by NPR staff and trusted critics. Mix and match search tags like book club ideas and eye-opening reads to find your next favorite read. Stick around to explore 10 years of recommendations all in one place — that’s more than 3,200 titles! 🎧 Today’s listen Carl Court/Getty Images Invasion author Luke Harding began reporting from Ukraine in December 2021 and was in Kyiv the night before the Russian invasion began. 🎧 Listen as he talks about the book and why we should continue to pay attention to Ukraine, or read the interview. Before you go Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images A teary Will Smith gave his first major interview since he slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars. He described how he "just lost it" over Rock's joke about his wife's hair. New York Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is running unopposed to replace Nancy Pelosi as the top  Democratic leader, which would make him the first Black person to lead a major political party in Congress.  A normally quiet neighborhood in Boston has been rocked after police discovered the remains of four infants in an apartment earlier this month. Hours after getting married this weekend, country singer Jake Flint died in his sleep. He was 37. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy