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 CDC quietly rewrites its vaccine guidance online to suggest shots might cause autism, raising new questions about political influence over public health. President Trump unveils a 28-point Ukraine peace plan that leans on territorial concessions Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. And New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani heads to the White House for a meeting with a president who has labeled him a radical threat. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a li...
This episode explores the legal challenges facing the James Comey prosecution due to grand jury irregularities, and delves into the release of thousands of Jeffrey Epstein documents revealing his powerful associates. Additionally, it examines NVIDIA's astronomical earnings and market valuation, weighing the enthusiasm for AI against growing concerns of an economic bubble.
President Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the Khashoggi murder while unveiling major military, nuclear, and investment agreements. Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill forcing the Justice Department to release Epstein files, a move Trump will sign despite earlier resistance. A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll reveals Trump's lowest second-term approval, with voters prioritizing economic issues, giving Democrats a significant advantage for 2026.
Today's episode covers key political developments, starting with the House vote on releasing long-awaited Jeffrey Epstein files amidst calls for accountability and a presidential "U-turn." It then delves into growing rifts within the MAGA movement, highlighted by Marjorie Taylor Greene's public criticisms of President Trump's policies. Finally, the episode examines President Trump's White House meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, focusing on potential defense pacts, advanced technology deals, and the domestic and personal implications for both leaders.
This episode covers three major news stories. President Trump abruptly changed his stance on releasing Jeffrey Epstein files, now urging Republicans to support a vote he previously resisted, amid concerns about potential Justice Department investigations. Concurrently, the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, targeting Venezuela's leadership while President Trump suggests talks with Nicolas Maduro. Finally, a new Border Patrol operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, has led to arrests and widespread fear in immigrant communities, prompting local official and community pushback.
NPR correspondents unpack the current Gaza ceasefire, revealing why progress on Trump's 20-point peace plan has stalled, despite initial agreements. They discuss the ongoing Israeli military presence, Hamas's stance on disarmament, and the grim reality for Palestinians amidst a lack of humanitarian aid and rebuilding efforts. The episode highlights the deep complexities and long-term obstacles to achieving a lasting resolution in the region.
Congress returns to further negotiations on health care subsidies and an earlier-than-expected vote on the Epstein files. President Trump is threatening to sue the BBC over an edit of his speech on January 6, 2021. Russian attacks and a major new corruption probe are the latest developments from Kyiv. 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...
The White House is calling the recent trove of Epstein documents a "distraction" as both Democratic and Republican lawmakers call for the full release of the Epstein files. In Charlotte, North Carolina, city leaders and residents are scrambling after last-minute notice that Border Patrol agents could arrive within days. And economists warn the government shutdown left lasting scars on the U.S. economy, from lost wages to missing federal data that may never be recovered. Want more comprehensive a...
Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s files include messages linking President Trump to the disgraced financier, as Congress prepares to vote on a bill forcing the release of the full Epstein records. After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history ends with a bipartisan deal that leaves Democrats split over what they gained. And with health insurance subsidies still set to expire, millions of Americans could soon face higher premiums unless lawmakers act before year’s end....
House Republicans say they have the votes to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a vote today could send the bill to President Trump’s desk by nightfall. The FAA warns that flight disruptions will continue even after the government reopens, as air traffic controller shortages strain the nation’s aviation system. And the U.S. deploys its largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, escalating tensions with Venezuela. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of th...
The House returns to vote on a bipartisan bill that could end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and send thousands of federal workers back to their jobs. Democrats face internal backlash after several senators broke ranks to support the deal, raising questions about the impact ahead of next year's midterm elections. And COP30 opens in Brazil with a stark warning on global emissions, new data shows fossil fuels are at record highs, and the world is still far from meeting its climate...
Senate Democrats joined Republicans to back a deal potentially ending the federal government shutdown, though not without internal party dissent over healthcare demands. Meanwhile, SNAP benefits remain in a complex legal battle, with families facing uncertainty despite court rulings. Globally, the COP30 climate summit is underway in Brazil, but the U.S. plans to skip, raising questions about multilateralism. The episode also touches on apparent new pardons by President Trump.
What does it mean to live through war? And can someone who’s experienced war ever get over it? These are questions NPR’s Quil Lawrence has been asking himself for years. A decade ago, Lawrence did a story on David Carlson, a veteran who’d excelled at being a soldier but struggled at home with PTSD, drugs and finally incarceration. Could Carlson find a way out or would the trauma of war come to define his life? Listen to Part 2 here . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and u...
Part 2: In part two of Carlson’s War, we find Dave Carlson locked up in prison while tormented by PTSD from his time serving in Iraq. Alone and in pain, Carlson reverts back to a combat mindset and finds himself in a dark place. From here, Carlson sets out on a mission to turn his life around. What can we learn from one veteran’s journey to recovery? If you haven’t heard Part 1, listen here . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to...
U.S. consumers have not borne the full brunt of President Trump's tariffs but that may change if they are held up, all or in part, by the Supreme Court. The Department of Homeland Security is employing powerful new tools to surveil foreigners. A Floridian, arrested by Israel earlier this year at age 15 in a rock-throwing incident, faces 20 years in prison. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship pref...
The FAA directs airlines to cut flights by ten percent as the government shutdown strains the nation’s air traffic system. A federal judge orders the Trump administration to fully restore SNAP food benefits by today, blasting it for ignoring the harm to millions of Americans who rely on them. And President Trump hosts Hungary’s Viktor Orbán at the White House, while some of his allies say he should be paying more attention to the economy at home. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most impo...
President Trump calls on Senate Republicans to end the government shutdown by scrapping the filibuster, even as he admits the standoff hurt the party in this week’s elections. The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether Trump overstepped his authority by imposing tariffs under a decades-old emergency powers law. And in Chicago, federal judges side against the administration in immigration enforcement cases, ordering cleaner detention centers and tighter limits on the use of force. Want more com...
Democrats won two governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey, victories they call a rejection of President Trump’s policies and a sign that economic issues are resonating with voters. New York City elected Zohran Mamdani as its first Muslim mayor, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo in a race that drew record voter turnout. And California voters approved a new congressional map that could give Democrats up to five more House seats in next year’s midterms. Want more comprehensive analysis of ...
Voters in New York, Virginia and New Jersey choose new leaders today, and a redistricting vote in California could reshape the balance of power in Congress. The Trump administration says it will restart SNAP benefits, but only partially, leaving millions of families uncertain about how they’ll eat this month. Aid groups warn of a deepening crisis in Sudan after a paramilitary force accused of genocide seized the last major city in Darfur, killing thousands of people and trapping many more withou...
President Trump returns to Washington D.C. after a week of international travel and a weekend at his resort in Florida while the government shutdown enters its second month. SNAP benefits ran out over the weekend, leaving millions without food aid as courts press the administration to use emergency funds. And New York City voters head to the polls tomorrow in a heated mayoral race between Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo that could shape the future of the Democratic Party. Want mo...
Across the globe, there is a shift in the size of families as birthrates decline. Communities, schools, and workforces are all shrinking at an alarming rate. Even in the wealthiest countries populations are aging and straining key social systems. How are smaller families changing the world and what does it mean for our future? Explore the full series at npr.org/populationshift. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your po...
Two judges rule that it’s unlawful for President Trump to suspend SNAP food benefits. With higher premiums and a government shutdown, open enrollment for health insurance is different this year. Higher electricity prices are factoring into who voters in New Jersey and Virginia pick as their governors. 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...
Democrats are facing growing pressure to end the government shutdown as millions brace to lose food aid and health care costs surge. A federal judge weighs whether to force the Trump administration to keep SNAP benefits flowing for 42 million Americans as funding runs out. And President Trump says the U.S. should resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in decades, a move experts warn could reignite a global arms race. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the d...
President Trump met with China’s President Xi Jinping in South Korea, where the two leaders agree to ease trade tensions after months of tariff wars and threats. More than 65,000 children could lose access to Head Start as the government shutdown threatens to cut off funding for childcare and early learning programs. And a Senate confirmation hearing for Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means, was delayed after she went into labor. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most impor...
Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica, leaving neighborhoods underwater and hundreds of thousands without power as it moves toward Cuba. President Trump insisted nothing will jeopardize the ceasefire in Gaza, even after Israel launched new strikes while both sides accuse each other of violations. And air-traffic controllers are working without pay as the government shutdown strains the aviation system and threatens more flight disruptions. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important ne...
More than 40 million Americans will soon be without federal food assistance because SNAP benefits are set to expire on November 1 as the government shutdown drags on. President Trump signs a trade deal in Japan to secure rare earth minerals, a key bargaining chip ahead of his meeting with China's president later this week. And Hurricane Melissa bring over 170 mile per hour winds as it barrels towards Jamaica, and threatening other island nations in the Caribbean. Want more comprehensive analysis...
President Trump’s Asia trip kicks off with peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand and a trade framework with China, before meeting with President Xi Jinping on Thursday. The massive U.S. military build up in the Caribbean waters off the coast of Venezuela is causing concern from Caracas to the U.S. Congress, Venezuelan troops conduct drills on their beaches this weekend. And federal workers face growing financial strain as the government shutdown threatens holiday travel and food benefits. Wan...
In New Zealand, a nationwide extermination campaign is underway. It's one of the most ambitious in the world. The country is home to more than four thousand native species that are threatened or at risk of extinction. To protect its biodiversity, New Zealand has embarked on an experiment that aims to eradicate all invasive species by the year 2050. Can the country pull it off? And how far should humans go to reverse the damage we’ve caused? See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collectio...
Some members of the House of Representatives are using down time during the shutdown to connect from their constituents back home - we'll tell you what they're hearing. We'll also preview President Trump's trip to Asia, which will be dominated by his administration's at times contentious relationship with China. Plus, the U.S. is ramping up its military presence in the Caribbean. The Pentagon says it's to counter drug traffickers - we'll tell you how the move is being seen in the region. See pcm...
More than a million federal workers are missing their first full paycheck as the shutdown stretches into week four, with pressure building on Washington to end the standoff. A wild NBA gambling scandal involving secret gadgets lands an active player and a Hall of Fame coach in legal trouble. And Russia's president shrugs off new U.S. sanctions after President Trump cancels his summit with Vladimir Putin. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? S...
