In today’s newsletter: Iran is using the ceasefire to recover buried weapons and rebuild its military capability. The House passes a bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security without new funding for ICE or Border Patrol. And Steve Kornacki previews the Kentucky Derby.  

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Here’s what to know today.

Iran is accelerating efforts to dig out missiles and munitions

Iran is taking advantage of the ceasefire to dig out weapons it hid underground or that were buried beneath rubble from American and Israeli airstrikes, sources told NBC News.

The regime wants to quickly reconstitute its drone and missile capabilities so it can launch attacks across the Middle East if President Donald Trump resumes military operations, according to a U.S. official and two other people familiar with the matter.

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Iran has only accelerated efforts to retrieve its munitions in recent days as the potential for the war to resume increases with peace negotiations at an apparent impasse, the sources said.

Experts and congressional aides have said that Iran was likely able to preserve some of its arsenal by deploying decoys and dispersing weapons around the country. Before the war, the regime buried or otherwise concealed the rest of its missiles and launchers, according to two of the sources.

Here’s what else we know.

More on the Iran war:

• Trump was expected to be briefed on options for the Strait of Hormuz and on the ground in Iran, according to a U.S. official familiar with the planning.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson said the U.S. is “not at war” with Iran as the White House approaches a key 60-day deadline in the conflict.

• Iran will participate in the World Cup, including games in the U.S., FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.

Staff Pick: A mom and five kids were freed from ICE detention — then almost deported 48 hours later

The U.S. has pursued many terrorism suspects over the years. But in the case of a Colorado man charged in a fatal, anti-Semitic firebombing, the Trump administration’s efforts to detain and deport the suspect’s former wife and children stood out.

We had been following the months-long detention of Hayam El Gamal and her five children in Dilley, Texas. Their situation became urgent when El Gamal was rushed to an emergency room as her health deteriorated and amid questions over the conditions at the detention facility.

We were at the hearing last week in San Antonio when a federal judge ordered that the government release the family. So when they were released, re-detained, put on a plane and almost deported less than 48 hours later, we decided to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at how the dizzying events took place, including details that haven’t been shared before by the family’s attorneys.

— Suzanne Gamboa, national reporter

Record-long DHS shutdown ends without ICE funding

The House approved a Senate-passed bill that would fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, ending the record 75-day shutdown of the sprawling federal agency.

Trump signed the measure into law yesterday, funding agencies such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, TSA and the Secret Service through the end of September.

It does not provide new funding for ICE or Border Patrol, which Republicans will try to pass on their own using a separate budget resolution. The resolution instructs congressional committees to draft legislation and authorize $70 billion to pay for the law enforcement agencies for roughly the next three years.

Read the full story here.

More politics news:

• For subscribers: Conversations with nearly a dozen Democrats reveal how deeply Janet Mills’ Maine Senate campaign struggled to counter Graham Platner’s meteoric rise, leading to her exit from the race.

• Trump pulled Dr. Casey Means’ nomination for surgeon general and announced Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News contributor, as his new pick.

• Louisiana will delay its House primaries after the Supreme Court’s redistricting ruling.

Steve Kornacki’s guide to the Kentucky Derby

There’s no other horse race in the country like the Kentucky Derby — especially when it comes to wagering. With 20 horses running and all of America watching, massive sums of money are being bet in all directions.

The 152nd Derby won’t feature a heavy, singular favorite. Several horses come in with dazzling performances to their names. Others have shown flashes of brilliance or loom as long-shot upsets. And some can potentially alter the outcome of the race with their running styles even if they have almost no shot of winning themselves.

From prep race success to trainer Bob Baffert’s resume, Steve Kornacki previews the biggest storylines and best bets.

Read All About It

• Six people were injured, including several who were stabbed, in an altercation at a Washington state high school, authorities said.

• Camp Mystic officials withdrew their application to reopen this summer, a day after an emotional legislative hearing attended by the parents of the girls killed by a flood at the camp last year.

• Britney Spears was charged with a DUI in California after her arrest in March, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said.
• Britain’s official terror threat level was raised from substantial to severe after two Jewish men were stabbed in London on Wednesday.

• Spotify is rolling out new badges to differentiate human-made music from AI-generated content.

• A former Chick-fil-A worker in Texas is accused of pocketing more than $80,000 in a mac and cheese fraud scheme.

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

This weekend, we’re going a little old school and swapping our one-off texts to loved ones with thoughtful handwritten notes. In addition to finding the best products to upgrade your stationery, our editors rounded up the best pens for left-handed people and spoke with crafting experts to find the best sewing machines for beginners (in case you wanted to send a handmade tote with your letter).

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

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