NPR's Up First is the news you need to start your day. The three biggest stories of the day, with reporting and analysis from NPR News — in 10 minutes. Available weekdays at 6:30 a.m. ET, with hosts Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin and A Martinez. Also available on Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET, with Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon. On Sundays, hear a longer exploration behind the headlines with Ayesha Rascoe on "The Sunday Story," available by 8 a.m. ET. Subscribe and listen, then support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.
Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to Up First+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/upfirst
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
The World Cup is back in North America for the first time in over 30 years. It’s the most popular sporting event on the globe and with 16 additional teams competing this year, it will be the biggest World Cup to date. But in Trump’s America, visa issues and geopolitical tensions are creating additional challenges for the teams and the fans. Today on The Sunday Story , we bring two of NPR’s biggest soccer nerds onto the show to talk about the competition, the entertainment, and the cultural signi...
Today's episode delves into the Supreme Court's impending decisions on birthright citizenship, temporary protected status, and presidential firing powers, alongside a controversial ruling on Alabama voting districts. It then explores how pro-Trump influencers leverage prediction markets to spread unfounded election fraud claims about the Los Angeles mayoral race, raising concerns for future elections. Finally, the podcast reports from Guadalajara, Mexico, revealing the heartbreaking struggle of families searching for disappeared loved ones, a crisis largely ignored as the city prepares to host World Cup games.
Senate Republicans worked through the night to pass President Trump's $72 billion immigration enforcement bill, but voted not to block the president’s anti-weaponization fund. A handful of Republicans are breaking with President Trump over the war in Iran, his anti-weaponization fund, and his pick to lead national intelligence, raising the question of whether his grip on the party is starting to slip after a decade of dominance. And former national security adviser turned Trump critic John Bolto...
President Trump says he'll nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice, even as his now-scrapped anti-weaponization fund continues to complicate a major immigration enforcement bill in Congress. President Trump confirms he cursed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called him crazy in a heated call that halted planned strikes on Beirut, exposing growing tension between the two longtime allies over the direction of the war. And Russia's...
Republican voters in Iowa rejected President Trump's pick for governor in last night's primary, a rare moment of pushback as voters in six states set up key November matchups including House races that could decide control of Congress. The Justice Department is scrapping President Trump's nearly $1.8 billion dollar anti-weaponization fund after sustained bipartisan backlash, though the DOJ says part of the IRS settlement shielding Trump and his family from past tax investigations still stands. A...
NPR's Up First reports on the Justice Department's temporary halt of President Trump's controversial anti-weaponization fund, facing bipartisan opposition and internal GOP pushback. The episode also details the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, strained by Israel's expanding war in Lebanon and Trump's shifting diplomatic interest. Finally, it examines California's primary day, focusing on competitive House races shaped by new congressional maps and the open seat of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.
Anti-establishment candidate Graham Platner seemingly came out of nowhere to become the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Senate seat in Maine. But his campaign has been dogged by controversies. There were the old, deleted Reddit posts in which he made racist comments and blamed sexual assault on victims. There was a now-covered tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol. And most recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that Platner exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women early in ...
Israeli forces captured a 900-year-old castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in 26 years, complicating U.S. efforts to reach a deal with Iran even as the two sides traded more strikes over the weekend. Congress returns from its Memorial Day break facing a stalled immigration funding bill that has become tangled up with President Trump’s push for an anti-weaponization fund and possible payments to January 6 defendants. And the Trump administration’s anti-weaponiza...
Scientists say that sitting is the new smoking. The average American adult now sits for 9-10 hours per day. What’s the least amount of movement someone can do to offset the harms of our modern sedentary lifestyle? Manoush Zomorodi, host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour podcast, has spent the last several years trying to answer that question. After collaborating with Columbia University Medical Center on a major study, she brings Ayesha the answer. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection ...
The episode begins with discussions from the Shangri-La Dialogue on US-China relations, Taiwan's status, and the Iran war, highlighting US calls for allies to increase defense spending. It then delves into President Trump's legal challenges, including the halting of his 'anti-weaponization fund' and ongoing investigations, alongside concerns about presidential health and transparency. Finally, the segment explores how high gas prices are driving consumers to discount retailers, revealing broader inflation warnings and the impact of global conflicts on supply chains.
Vice President Vance says the U.S. is very close to a deal with Iran to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Lebanon remains the main hurdle as Israel bombed Beirut again and is also expanding its control over Gaza. The Justice Department is investigating writer E. Jean Carroll and the major Democratic donor who helped pay some of her legal bills against President Trump, part of a broader pattern of probes into the president’s perceived political adversaries. CBS News editor...
Even as peace talks continue, the U.S. struck Iran near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran retaliated against a U.S. base in Kuwait, while Israel expanded its assault in Lebanon by issuing evacuation orders for the southern city, Tyre. Texas now has one of the most competitive Senate races in the country after Republicans nominated Ken Paxton, giving Democrats an opportunity to flip a seat in the midterms as they map out their path to controlling the Senate. And the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is...
The episode delves into significant political shake-ups across the U.S. and international relations. In Texas, Ken Paxton's win over John Cornyn, backed by President Trump, signals a potential shift in the Republican landscape and sets the stage for a competitive Senate race. Additionally, South Carolina Republicans defied President Trump by blocking efforts to redraw congressional maps, fearing a backlash from voters. Finally, the discussion highlights President Trump's repeated declarations of an "almost done" Iran deal, complicated by his push for more Gulf countries to join the Abraham Accords and the intense political pressures surrounding these negotiations.
The U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and boats laying mines, even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio says negotiations to end the war could still take a few more days, with Israel warning the emerging deal is a bad one as it escalates attacks in Lebanon. Russia carried out one of its largest attacks on Ukraine, hitting every district in Kyiv over the weekend while Ukraine continues long-range drone strikes on Russian oil facilities and warns it desperately needs more a...
President Trump says a deal with Iran is “largely negotiated” after weekend talks with Gulf leaders and Israel. The preliminary agreement is expected to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz while leaving the nuclear program for a later round of talks. Some Republican senators are already calling it a disaster. Gulf countries are pressing hard for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Iran as a preliminary 60-day ceasefire extension is discussed, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Neta...
For people working to address climate change in the U.S., the last year has been a hard one. The Trump administration has been rolling back rules and regulations aimed at reducing planet-warming pollution. But some cities and states are moving forward on climate action. On today’s episode of The Sunday Story , NPR’s Julia Simon brings us local solutions to this global problem. To hear and read more reporting from NPR’s Climate Solutions week, visit npr.org/climateweek . See pcm.adswizz.com for i...
Washington ratcheted up the pressure on Havana this week. A federal judge in Tennessee dismissed criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Electricity costs are rising as the U.S. enters warmer weather, likely meaning higher utility bills for consumers. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy...
Republicans left for recess without passing President Trump’s top immigration enforcement package after he pushed for funding for his White House ballroom and a controversial anti-weaponization fund, raising new questions about growing GOP pushback against the president. The Democratic National Committee has released its long-delayed 2024 election autopsy report, a nearly 200-page document filled with disclaimers that much of the data could not be verified and containing almost no serious discus...
Republicans in Congress are racing to pass a $72 billion immigration enforcement package using budget reconciliation, but President Trump is furious that funding for his White House ballroom was blocked, escalating tensions with GOP lawmakers still recovering from his primary challenges. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a tense call Tuesday over the direction of the war with Iran as Trump delayed a planned U.S. strike at the request of Gulf leaders concerned abo...
President Trump ousted Republican Congressman Thomas Massie in last night's primary in Kentucky, the latest GOP lawmaker to lose his seat for crossing the president, and Democratic voters turned out in force across six states that held primaries on Tuesday. President Trump said he was "an hour away" from launching new military strikes on Iran this week before calling them off and he's now giving Tehran a few more days to reach a deal. Police have identified the three victims killed in the San Di...
NPR's Up First details the ongoing hate crime investigation into a San Diego mosque shooting that killed three. The episode also analyzes key primary elections, examining President Trump's continuing impact on the Republican Party. Finally, it explores Trump's unique decision to drop a lawsuit against the IRS, opting instead to establish a controversial multi-billion dollar "anti-weaponization fund" from taxpayer money.
In this special episode of Up First , we’re sharing the latest episode of NPR’s Newsmakers , featuring UFC president Dana White. When Donald Trump celebrated his imminent return to the White House on election night in November 2024, a parade of high-profile supporters joined him on stage. They included White, the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the multibillion-dollar mixed martial arts organization. White calls Trump "a friend." This June 14, UFC will host a fight on th...
NPR's Up First covers three major news stories: Senator Bill Cassidy's primary defeat in Louisiana, highlighting former President Trump's continued influence over the Republican party. It also discusses the World Health Organization's declaration of an international public health emergency due to a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, noting concerns about a rare strain and delayed response. Finally, the episode delves into Elon Musk's high-profile lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, examining claims that the company deviated from its initial nonprofit mission.
For many of the poorest residents in Lagos, Nigeria, the land their families have lived on for generations is now being violently seized by the government to build luxury condos. The communities are fighting back, but even court injunctions haven’t stopped the bulldozers. This week on The Sunday Story , NPR’s Emmanuel Akinwotu goes to these sites of destruction and talks to those who have lost everything in this race to develop one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities. See pcm.adswizz.com f...
Cuba experienced blackouts and protests this week, and the CIA director made a visit to Havana. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., faces primary voters today. Trump administration travel restrictions are complicating travel plans for World Cup soccer fans. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy...
President Trump is heading home from Beijing claiming he made fantastic trade deals with China, including a commitment for 200 Boeing jets and soybean purchases. The Supreme Court kept the abortion pill mifepristone available over telemedicine, putting a hold on an appeals court order that would have required patients to visit a clinic in person to get the medication. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion within his own party, with candidates already emerging to replace him a...
This episode details President Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders sought to stabilize trade relations despite differing official readouts on Taiwan and economic issues. Simultaneously, a federal appeals court hears a challenge against Trump's executive orders that aimed to punish major law firms for representing political opponents or employing investigators involved in the Russia probe, raising concerns about the rule of law and the legal profession.
President Trump is in Beijing today meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, with American manufacturers hoping for tariff relief even as the war in Iran looms over the high-stakes summit. The Pentagon told Congress they estimate the war in Iran has cost $29 billion dollars so far. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked for $1.5 trillion dollars for next year’s Pentagon budget. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary has resigned after thirteen months on the job, with the final straw being White House pres...
President Trump leaves for Beijing today for a state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as the ongoing war in Iran casts a long shadow over the high-stakes summit. A new inflation report out this morning shows prices rising again, driven heavily by higher gasoline costs from the war in Iran, with ripple effects on airline tickets and other consumer prices. Public health officials say the hantavirus outbreak that started on a cruise ship is not the next COVID, but it still has no vaccine or ...
President Trump has rejected Iran’s latest response to a U.S. peace proposal as “totally unacceptable,” even as Tehran vows it will never bow to what it calls excessive demands by the United States. President Trump leaves for Beijing tomorrow to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping as the war in Iran continues to complicate the high-stakes meeting. Congress is back with a major push to lock in three years of funding for immigration enforcement, giving the Trump administration long-term resources wh...
