Daily Briefing: 'Do you hear the people sing?'

Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. Who's crazy enough to enter the Scooter Cannonball?

It's already Thursday. Here's the news:

• The president and first lady received mixed reviews at a musical debut.
• Congress is closer than it's been in a long time to massively reforming college financial aid.
• Meet the teen golfer taking the U.S. Open.

Trump and FLOTUS booed and cheered at the Kennedy Center while attending 'Les Misérables'

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump met a divided crowd as they attended a performance of "Les Misérables" at the Kennedy Center, the performing arts facility he has subjected to a conservative takeover. This was Trump's first time attending a show at the center, where he installed himself as chairman in February after firing many members of the board.

• Meanwhile, protests against President Trump's immigration raids and in support of demonstrators in Los Angeles have spread from coast-to-coast.
• Homeland Security is requesting weapons and drones amid LA's immigration crackdown. But it's unclear what type of weapons Homeland Security officials are seeking for their immigration crackdown in California. Also unclear: who would use them and who they would be used against.
• Three Democratic governors are set to push back Thursday at a Congressional hearing on "sanctuary" jurisdictions where state and local officials restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. And a Republican governor called in the national guard.

Remembering one of the original Beach Boys

Brian Wilson, an eclectic genius whose sunny Beach Boys songs helped define a revved-up era of American popular music, has died at age 82. Wilson’s epic career arc spanned most of his life and was as defined by prolonged bouts of mental illness as it was by meticulously constructed pop confections. The sublime harmonizing on tunes like "California Girls" defined the Southern California ethos, while the inspired orchestration on the Wilson-produced album "Pet Sounds" caused a bowled-over Beatles to respond with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Despite decades away from the musical mainstream in the 1970s and '80s, when his psychological torments were most aggressive, Wilson's towering impact was never in question.

• See photos of Brian Wilson's storied career in the Beach Boys and beyond.

More news to know now

• Arkansas families are suing to block the Ten Commandments in public classrooms, libraries.
• The world's richest man is caving to Trump after their epic feud.
• Harvey Weinstein was convicted on a sex-crimes charge and acquitted on another in retrial.
• Unpacking RFK's lengthy social media post after firing vaccine committee members.
• He had a late-night snack after graduating from college. An allergic reaction killed him.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

'No Kings Day' protests planned for Saturday nationwide

Protests are planned for 1,800 communities across the country Saturday, the same day President Trump holds a military parade in Washington. The rallies, named "No Kings Day" to oppose what they see as Trump's power grab, are expected to be the largest and most numerous protests since Trump's second term began. Organizers say the march putting American flags and American imagery front and center is "very intentional" because the protesters believe Trump's actions, from attacking universities and political institutions to holding a military parade, are "un-American." About a dozen veteran groups partnered to create the protests.

Major student loan changes just came one step closer to becoming law

GOP lawmakers in the U.S. Senate this week proposed their version of the higher education section of President Trump's tax and spending megabill. The 71-page portion of the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" would set new caps on student loan borrowing while drastically cutting the number of repayment plans. Like the House bill, the Senate measure proposes cutting the number of student loan repayment plans to just two. The Senate bill would also dramatically curb lending for graduate students and parents (though at lower caps than House Republicans wanted). Here's what big changes would mean for how Americans pay for college.

Today's talkers

• Colorado coach Deion Sanders gave an update on his health.
• Taylor Swift, her masters and when spending tons of money is good for your mental health.
• Is a pricey AI fridge worth it?
• Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend" album cover stoked controversy.
• Aaron Rodgers went to Mike Tomlin's backyard cookout. There was chemistry (and good food).

Karen Read trial: Defense rests its case

Karen Read's defense team rested its case Wednesday in the Massachusetts woman's second murder trial over the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe, after contentious cross-examination of its final witness. Andrew Rentschler, a biomechanist and accident reconstruction expert, delivered potentially critical testimony about his analysis of O’Keefe’s head, brain and body injuries. O'Keefe, he told jurors, didn't appear to have been hit by a car as prosecutors allege. Here's what you missed from the last day of witness testimony.

Photo of the day: Just 17 at the US Open

The world’s top golfers are competing for the prestigious title at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, —and this year they are joined by high school junior Mason Howell. The Georgia teen tees off at 8:46 a.m. Thursday.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.