In today's newsletter: Republican representatives heard from frustrated constituents at town halls across the country. The housing market is becoming increasingly difficult enter, even for six-figure income earners. And a woman's search for answers brings her face-to-face with the woman who would be charged in her father's death.  

Here's what to know today.

From Georgia and Wisconsin to Oklahoma and Oregon, Republican lawmakers have been getting an earful during town halls in their home districts, as constituents complain about the layoffs of federal employees, talks of potential cuts to Medicaid and other drastic actions that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are carrying out. The dissatisfaction among people around the U.S. could be an early sign of political backlash to come as the GOP largely yields to the president and his ally. 

In Roswell, a suburb of Atlanta, Rep. Rich McCormick was confronted by people angry about job cuts at federal agencies, particularly at the CDC, which is a major employer in Atlanta. In West Bend, Wisconsin, a town hall attendee asked Rep. Scott Fitzgerald: “Are you going to subpoena him at some point? Are you willing to use your subpoena power to tell Musk to stand in front of Congress and answer some hard questions?” At an event in Baker City, Oregon, Rep. Cliff Bentz defended Musk, calling him “an absolute world-renowned expert,” a description that elicited some laughs from the crowd.

Democrats, too, are facing pressure from constituents who urged them to fight harder against Musk’s DOGE efforts. At a packed town hall in Albany, New York, a man urged Rep. Paul Tonko to take action. “We will stand behind you, we will be there with you,” the man declared as the crowd cheered.

The raucous town halls have conjured memories of those in 2009 — the start of the tea party movement — when constituents protested over Democrats’ massive health care bill, which became the Affordable Care Act. The next year, a red wave gave House Republicans a 63-seat gain and swept Democrats out of power. 

It’s too soon to tell if the current frustrations among some Americans could lead to Democrats taking the House or Senate in the 2026 midterms. But if Republicans want to avoid getting swamped like Democrats did in 2010, they “must pivot to connecting the dots between their actions and the tangible economic benefits for the working class,” said Ken Spain, who served as a communications director for the House Republican campaign arm in 2009 and 2010. “Otherwise, the echoes of 2009 could become increasingly louder.”

Read the full story here.

More Trump administration and politics news: 

The harsh realities of the U.S. housing market

If you think it's getting more difficult to buy a home, you're not wrong. This week, the National Association of Realtors reported existing home sales fell 4.9% from December to January, a steeper drop than expected despite a 2% improvement from the same period a year before. The situation isn’t much rosier for new builds: Construction permits declined 1.7% in January compared to a year ago, federal data showed.

Together, the data illustrates a tough market, with buyers limited to what they can afford. And for President Donald Trump, who promised that he would thaw a frozen market via mass deportations, deregulation and tax incentives, challenges lie ahead. Read more about the latest report. 

Meanwhile, an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data reflects an exclusive market where even prospective buyers with six-figure salaries can struggle. New homebuying households earned a median income of $110,000 in 2023, NBC News’ analysis found, with buyers 40 years old and under earning $114,000. Among those younger generations, new buyers now have higher incomes than people who already have homes. 

The increasingly exclusive housing market can be an omen of economic distress, experts said. And the effects extend beyond economics. Take a look at three maps and charts that illustrate the status of today’s housing market. 

Farmers rethink plans amid federal funding freeze

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that it would be releasing the “first tranche” of federal funding that had been paused as the Trump administration reviewed former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. But for U.S. farmers who had been relying on the funds to make improvements on their land before spring, the release of $20 million might be coming too late. Across the country, they have had to alter their plans or find alternative sources of money.

Among the farmers left in a state of uncertainty is Brian Grier in Indiana, who had been counting on a $10,000 grant from the USDA to expand the grazing area for his sheep. Without the promise of federal funds, he scrambled to secure a loan from a friend so he could build the fencing and water lines he needs so his lambs would have a place to graze. As of yesterday afternoon, Grier had received no updates about his grant — and has been rethinking his plans. 

Enterprise reporter Suzy Khimm spoke to other farmers left in limbo amid the funding freeze. “The delay of time might not seem like a big deal for someone who is not a farmer,” said Massachusetts farmer and beekeeper Ang Roell. “But it actually is.” Read the full story here.

Passengers on Delta Flight 4819, which flipped upside-down during a crash landing in Toronto, have been offered what? 

A. Physical therapy for recovery
B. Unlimited Delta flights for life
C. $30,000
D. 100,000 Delta SkyMiles

Find out the answer and test your knowledge of this week's most-read stories. (The answer to the question is also at the bottom of this newsletter.)

Coming face to face with her father's killer

After her father’s death in 2023, Christyn Akin-Crockett tried to get authorities in Columbus, Ohio, to investigate his death as suspicious. But an officer told her investigators had to wait for the results of toxicology testing before they might do that, Akin-Crockett said. Frustrated, Akin-Crockett took matters into her own hands. Reporter Tim Stelloh tells the chain of events that led Akin-Crockett to the woman that would eventually be charged in her father’s murder — and the deaths of three other people. It started with a series of text messages.

— Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor

Have you ever asked yourself: How does dry cleaning work? Here's what to know about the process, as well as the best products to keep your clothes clean in between. NBC Select also rounded up the pantry basics you should keep stocked in your kitchen.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. 

By the way, the answer to the quiz question above is C. $30,000.

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