Up First

Starting in 2018, sixteen people were arrested in India for allegedly plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They included professors, a poet, trade unionists and members of an improv acting troupe. Even an elderly Jesuit priest.The evidence against them, discovered on their electronic devices, appears damning: minutes of terror cell meetings, emails to banned Maoist rebels and a letter suggesting a suicide attack on Modi.Today, fifteen defendants continue to await trial. They all say they were falsely accused and that the evidence against them was fabricated and planted by hackers in order to silence them. Digital forensic investigators not only agree but say Modi's own government may be involved.In this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR's Lauren Frayer follows the twists and turns of what Indian police say was a complex plot to sabotage Modi's government, and that defendants say was a setup. One of the defendants, the Rev. Stan Swamy, died while fighting to clear his name.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump claims his trial was "rigged," but does not give any evidence. President Biden says it's time to end the war in Gaza now. The top two candidates in Mexico's presidential elections Sunday are both women, meaning the country's likely to make history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Donald Trump is now a convicted felon following the verdict in his New York hush money trial. The guilty verdict on all 34 counts marks the end of the criminal trial, and ushers in the beginning of what could be a long and winding set of legal challenges. And sentencing is scheduled for July, just days before the Republican National Convention where the former president has long been expected to become the GOP's official presidential nominee and continue with his campaign.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Alice Woelfle, Olivia Hampton and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman. And our Executive Producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll offers insights into how the outcome of former President Donald Trump's New York criminal trial might affect how people vote. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.S. is paying attention as some NATO allies allow Ukraine to strike military targets inside Russia using their weapons. And Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says he will not recuse himself from cases related to former President Trump and his 2020 election defeat. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Nick Spicer, Elana Hadler Perl, Lisa Thomson and Ally Schweitzer. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. Our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Biden campaign has launched a summer drive to shore up support from Black voters. Pope Francis has issued an apology for using a slur to refer to gay men during a private meeting with Italian bishops. And South Africans head to the polls in what could be a major political turning point since apartheid ended 30 years ago. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Cheryl Corley, John Helton, Lisa Thomson and Claudia Peschiutta. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. Our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

International condemnation continues in response to an Israeli airstrike on Rafah that killed at least 45 people, according to the Gaza health ministry. Attorneys will deliver their closing arguments in former President Donald Trump's New York criminal trial. And as the summer fire season kicks off more than a quarter of the U.S. Forest Service's wildland firefighting jobs are vacant ahead of what's forecasted to be a warmer, drier summer. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Lauren Migaki, Krishnadev Calamur, Eric Whitney, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Gaza health ministry says that an airstrike in Rafah killed 35 Palestinians and injured dozens more in what was supposed to be a safe zone for people displaced by the war. Rescue and recovery efforts are underway in Papua New Guinea where hundreds of people are feared dead following a massive landslide. And the U.S. is increasingly focused on repatriating the remains of military service members who were killed in WWII and the Korean War. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by John Helton, Andrew Sussman, Lisa Thomson and HJ Mai. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty.. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors Our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Imagine being a homeowner and paying your mortgage on time every month and then, suddenly, losing your house to foreclosure. It sounds like a nightmare. But an NPR Planet Money investigation reveals that this is happening to a striking number of people because of something called 'zombie 2nd mortgages.' On today's episode: What are zombie mortgages? Is all this legal? And is there any way for homeowners to fight the zombies?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The International Court of Justice orders Israel to suspend its offensive in Rafah. How policing has changed in Minneapolis since George Floyd was killed. Federal researchers find that more kids are being diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The National Collegiate Athletics Association along with the nation's five biggest athletic conferences have agreed to settle antitrust lawsuits worth $2.8 billion. Louisiana lawmakers have voted to classify two drugs commonly used to induce abortions as dangerous and controlled substances. And the Justice Department sues Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster calling it an illegal monopoly. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Elana Perl, Carrie Feibel, Emily Kopp, Lisa Thomson and Claudia Peschiutta. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Executive Producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls a general election as he trails the opposition in the polls. Russia's military has started tactical nuclear weapons drills in response to what the Kremlin says are growing threats from the West amid the war in Ukraine. And there aren't a lot of homes on the market, but those that are for sale are selling fast as competition among would-be buyers is keeping prices high. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Nick Spicer, Julia Redpath, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The leaders of Ireland, Spain and Norway announce their countries will recognize Palestinian statehood and the Israeli foreign minister says he's recalling the country's ambassadors for consultations in response. Lawyers for former President Donald Trump and two co-defendants are in court in Florida today asking a federal judge to dismiss the charges against their clients. And a ransomware attack on a major health care system continues to affect hospitals and patients two weeks after it happened. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by John Helton, Russell Lewis, Diane Webber, Alice Woelfle and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for top leaders of Hamas and Israel, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Democratic-led Senate will hold a second vote on bipartisan border legislation that failed to pass earlier this year. And Scarlett Johansson says the maker of ChatGPT copied her voice for its new AI personal assistant. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Lauren Migaki, Kelsey Snell, Kevin Drew, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named an acting president following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials in a helicopter crash. Prime Minister Benjamin Netyanyahu is facing accusations from his own war cabinet that he doesn't have a strategy for replacing Hamas in Gaza. Michael Cohen will return to the stand in what will likely be the final day of testimony in the New York criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. And a London court is expected to deliver a final decision on whether or not Julian Assange can appeal extradition to the U.S. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by John Helton, Lauren Migaki, Dana Farrington, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfe. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

"They can just kill anyone."Since 2016, thousands have been killed in the Philippines' war on drugs. The bloody campaign began under the Philippines' last president, Rodrigo Duterte, who said he would be "happy to slaughter" three million drug addicts in the country. When current president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022, he promised to end this spree of state-sanctioned killings of alleged drug users and sellers, and focus on rehabilitation instead.In today's episode of The Sunday Story, NPR's Emily Feng travels to the Philippines to see what has come of Marcos' attempt to burnish the country's international reputation and to put an end to what most people in the Philippines now refer to as EJKs, or "extrajudicial killings." She found that the killings have continued. And she spoke to researchers, doctors, advocates, and victims' families to try to understand why.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The first aid trucks crossed into Gaza on a floating pier built by the U.S. government. Boeing's annual meeting was tightly controlled as the aircraft company has come under intense scrutiny. Why even vegan restaurant chains are beginning to serve meat.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden meets leaders of Black sororities and fraternities ahead of delivering the commencement address at Morehouse College as campus protests continue. Autoworkers in Alabama will vote on whether or not to unionize a Mercedes-Benz plant. And Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, has pardoned Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murdering Garrett Foster at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Julia Redpath, Eric Westervelt, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from James Willetts. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to a pair of unusually early debates. The Biden administration is moving ahead with a $1 billion arms transfer to Israel a week after pausing a separate shipment of bombs to the country. And officials in Slovakia say that after hours of surgery following an assassination attempt, the country's Prime Minister Robert Fico is in stable but serious condition. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Roberta Rampton, Miguel Macias, Lisa Thomson and Claudia Peschiutta. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to China for a two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York says people under 30 and lower-income families are the most likely to be maxed out and fall behind on their credit card bills. And the Canadian wildfire season gets underway as fires prompt evacuations and threaten towns in Western provinces. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Nick Spicer, Julia Redpath, Miguel Macias, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Kyiv as Ukrainian troops struggle to push back a new Russian offensive. President Biden is set to announce new tariffs on Chinese imports targeting electric vehicles, semiconductors and solar cells. And criminal gangs from China and Mexico continue to flood the U.S. with fentanyl at an unprecedented rate despite billions of dollars in spending to keep the deadly drug out. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Nick Spicer, Roberta Rampton, Gigi Douban and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

More than two months after toppling the prime minister of Haiti, gang leaders control most of the country's capital city Port-au-Prince. Michael Cohen will take the stand today to testify in the New York election interference trial of former President Donald Trump. And as Israel expands its attacks in the Gaza Strip, it also marks Memorial Day. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Tara Neill, Krishnadev Calamur, Peter Granitz, Lisa Thomson, Ben Adler and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Destinee Adams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former Up First host Rachel Martin joins us to discuss her new podcast. Wild Card from NPR is part-interview, part-existential game show in which Rachel rips up the typical interview script and invites guests to play a game about life's biggest questions. We ask her what prompted this new direction and then, Rachel turns the tables and puts Ayesha in the guest seat to play the game. Get more Wild Card here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The State Department releases a highly critical report on Israel's conduct in Gaza. The trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey begins next week. And a solar storm is creating beautiful auroras in the sky but may also disrupt the power grid.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Biden administration has proposed a change to immigration laws meant to discourage people from crossing the border illegally. An American-built floating pier off the coast of Gaza is nearly ready — and U.S. officials say it will help increase the flow of aid into the war zone. And two months after armed gangs took control of the capital of Haiti the country may finally be starting to stabilize. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelley Dickens, Vincent Ni, Tara Neill, Ben Adler, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Destinee Adams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden says he'll stop the shipment of U.S. military aid to Israel if it launches a major offensive in Rafah. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has survived a leadership threat, thanks in part to Democrats. And when House Republicans questioned public school leaders about antisemitism, the superintendents pushed back.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Ni, Kelsey Snell, Nicole Cohen, Ben Adler, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, Destinee Adams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Biden administration is weighing how hard to push back on Israel's conduct of its war against Hamas. Stormy Daniels testifies in Donald Trump's New York trial about an affair that the then-presidential candidate is accused of covering up in 2016. And TikTok wants a federal court to throw out Congress's new "sell-or-be-banned" law.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Ni, Dana Farrington, Kevin Drew, Lisa Thomson, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

After seven months of war and nearly 35,000 deaths, a pause in the fighting in Gaza seemed in sight — and then it wasn't.Russian President Vladimir Putin takes his fifth oath of office, which if he serves the full term would give him a longer tenure than Joseph Stalin. And the House could vote on another motion to oust a Republican speaker — but this time, Democrats might save Mike Johnson.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Ni, Nick Spicer, Kelsey Snell, Lisa Thomson, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Gaza ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas appear to have hit a roadblock. China's president heads to France for a state dinner — hoping to drive a wedge between Europe and America. Boeing is hoping it has better success in space than it's lately had inside the atmosphere.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Ni, Nick Spicer, Russell Lewis, Lisa Thomson, Elana Perl and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In recent years, high profile cases of police brutality across the U.S. have brought increased attention and scrutiny to police misconduct and use of force incidents. When something happens, the police often say "we're investigating." But what's really being done to ensure police are held accountable for their actions?Sukey Lewis is a criminal justice reporter at KQED. As part of the multi-newsroom California Reporting Project, she has spent years obtaining previously-sealed police internal affairs records, to find out what happens when law enforcement agencies investigate themselves.In this episode of The Sunday Story, host Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Lewis about the new season of her podcast, On Our Watch, which focuses on correctional officers. Lewis talks about her reporting on New Folsom, one of the most dangerous prisons in California. And she shares the stories of two whistleblowers who worked as correctional officers within the prison and ultimately died while fighting to expose its secrets.You can listen to all eight episodes of season 2 of On Our Watch at kqed.org/onourwatch.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money criminal case has ended. It dug up a world of information brokers, tabloids and a secret exchange of money. Closing arguments in the U.S. government's case against Google wrapped up this week. It accuses the tech company of being an illegal monopoly. Experts in disease prevention have new recommendations for when women should start getting mammograms.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

After more than a week of silence, President Biden addressed the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses Thursday seeking a balanced approach to a divisive issue. "Google" has been its own verb for years now, which the federal government argues is illegal. (The search engine, that is — not the verb itself.) And protests are engulfing the former Soviet republic of Georgia over a proposed "foreign agents law" that could move the country away from the west and toward Russia.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Gabriel Spitzer, Nick Spicer, Elana Perl and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange, and our technical director is Zac Coleman. Our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Arizona lawmakers have repealed a Civil War-era law that bans nearly all abortions. The police clearing pro-Palestinian encampments on college campuses are doing their jobs under intense scrutiny. And Donald Trump's New York criminal trial takes Wednesdays off, so he spent the day campaigning in two swing states.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Gigi Douban, Larry Kaplow, Megan Pratz, Elana Perl Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New York City police used force overnight to zip-tie the hands of dozens of Columbia University student protesters and haul them away in buses, clearing the encampment two weeks after tents first popped up. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in Israel to pressing for more aid to Palestinians in Gaza — and a hostage deal. And Florida's six-week abortion ban takes effect today — with exceptions only in rare circumstances.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Vincent Ni, Acacia Squires, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A standoff at Columbia, as students defy the university's order to disband the protest against the Gaza war. In Charlotte, an effort to serve a warrant on a fugitive suspect turned deadly, with four officers killed and four more wounded. And Ukraine prepares to receive U.S. military aid that can't come soon enough.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Denice Rios, Nick Spicer, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The International Criminal Court is reportedly weighing arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Student protests over Israel's war in Gaza are spreading to new campuses, but at Columbia, the university and protesters both appear to be working to de-escalate. And Spain's prime minister says he's staying in office — despite allegations of corruption against his wife.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Vincent Ni, Russell Lewis, Nick Spicer, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

From brightening ocean clouds to launching sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, some entrepreneurs and scientists are testing technology that could reflect sunlight back into space to combat global warming. There's evidence some types of solar geoengineering could lower global temperatures a lot. But along with potential benefits come huge potential risks. Experts say the science isn't settled and regulations aren't keeping up. Today on The Sunday Story, a journey into the world of solar geoengineering.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Campus demonstrations in support of Gaza have spread to schools unaccustomed to such activism. In New York City and Washington, D.C., Donald Trump's attorneys defended him and made some extreme claims. An independent investigation finds Israel has not supported claims that a significant number of workers at the The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East are members of Hamas.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As protests and arrests continue at college campuses across the U.S.. are the students calling for divestment in Israel getting closer to their demands? The U.S. Supreme Court took nearly three hours to debate whether a president should have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. And New York State's highest court has overturned the criminal conviction of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrea de Leon, Meghan Sullivan, H-J Mai, Elana Perl, Jan Johnson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, our technical director is Zac Coleman, and our Executive Producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Arizona is now the fourth state to bring "fake elector" charges against allies of Donald Trump. The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments today about whether Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for his official acts as president. And Up First's Steve Inskeep is on a reporting trip in China, where economic pessimism is rising amid frayed U.S. ties.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ben Swasey, Krishnadev Calamur, Reena Advani, Elana Perl, Jan Johnson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, Taylor Haney and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The New York jury weighing criminal charges against Donald Trump has now heard from the trial's first witness. Elon Musk's Tesla is running into a whole lot of red lights: slumping sales, mass layoffs, and now a 55 percent drop in profits. And more than 100 people who reported being abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar will share a nearly $140 million settlement. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Emily Kopp, Cheryl Corley, Jan Johnson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Protests against the war in Gaza on college campuses now stretch from coast to coast. The United Kingdom is ready to pay a country thousands of miles away to take its unwanted refugees. And a years-long labor battle at Starbucks reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, which could set a precedent for future union building efforts.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Alfredo Carbajal, Emily Kopp, Nick Spicer, Ally Schweitzer and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Opening arguments begin today in Manhattan: the People of the State of New York vs Donald J. Trump. As the House passed foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan over the weekend, it tucked in a bill that threatens the future of Tiktok in the U.S. And the U.S. Supreme Court takes up homelessness – specifically, the question of whether people can be punished for sleeping outside.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Julia Buckley, Catherine Laidlaw and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Historical markers dot the American landscape. They are on the sides of roads, in parks, rest areas, in the middle of nowhere. They purport to offer a glimpse into the past, marking a moment or place of significance worth remembering. But a year-long investigation by NPR's Laura Sullivan found some of these markers present a fractured and confused telling of the American story. Some share humor and joy but many present a version of history that's been distorted or outright fictionalized with offensive lies.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Congress is expected to vote Saturday on aid for U.S. allies over the objections of some Republicans. Volkswagen workers at a Tennessee plant have voted overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers. There are new guidelines to safeguard melatonin overuse by children.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Less than a week after Iran launched air strikes into Israel, Israel appears to have responded. New York City police raided a college campus and arrested more than 100 students protesting the war in Gaza. And 12 New York City residents now hold Donald Trump's fate in their hands.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Larry Kaplow, Dana Farrington and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel is now engaged in conflicts on three separate fronts: Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. A new timeline shows Maui's deadly wildfire last year moved incredibly fast. And inflation is proving more stubborn than expected so far this year.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Eric Westervelt, Julia Redpath and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. wants China to help calm tensions in the Middle East by leveraging its influence with Iran. Democrats want to dismiss the impeachment trial against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, while some conservatives want to dismiss House Speaker Mike Johnson for backing aid to Israel and Ukraine. And hot ocean temperatures are turning coral reefs a ghostly white.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by James Hider, Dana Farrington, Neela Banerjee and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Iran is calling its air strikes on Israel a huge success, even though nearly all their missiles and drones were shot down. It looks like House Speaker Mike Johnson could finally bring foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel up for a vote — well...make that four votes. And the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments today in a January 6th case that asks the question: How does one specific federal law define the obstruction of a congressional proceeding?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Dana Farrington, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Iran and its allies launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel over the weekend. Israel, the U.S. and several other countries shot nearly all of them down. And Donald Trump goes on trial today — the first criminal trial ever for a former president.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Andrew Sussman, Dana Farrington, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

How can Black women face workplace challenges without losing faith—or losing themselves—in the process? Today on The Sunday Story, host Ayesha Rascoe sits down with Lauren Wesley Wilson, author of the new book, What Do You Need?Lauren has dedicated her career to helping women of color thrive in the workplace as the founder and CEO of ColorComm, a networking community for women of color in communications and media. In this episode, she reflects on big moments in her career, and shares advice for women who may still be searching for a workplace where they can belong.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Vice President Kamala Harris was in Arizona, where the state's high court reinstated an 1864 law all but banning abortion. House Speaker Mike Johnson met with former Pres. Donald Trump in Florida. Argentine police are breaking up protests with water cannons as the economy falters.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We look back at the complicated life and legacy O.J. Simpson leaves behind after he died yesterday from cancer. More than two years into its full scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia's war of attrition in Ukraine appears to be succeeding in ways its military superiority has not. And the Justice Department charges baseball star Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter with $16 million of bank fraud.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by James Hider, Nick Spicer, Rose Friedman, Ravenna Koenig, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden is hosting a meeting with the leaders of two key U.S. allies — Japan and the Philippines — to counter China's power in Asia. The European Union is moving forward with major changes to its migration policies that would make it harder to seek asylum in Europe. And high school seniors are struggling to figure out a new college financial aid form that's been plagued by delays and errors.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Nick Spicer, Steve Drummond, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Arizona's Supreme Court says an abortion ban passed during the Civil War should be the law of the land today. The EPA is, for the first time, putting limits on "forever chemicals" in our drinking water. And Japan's prime minister comes to Washington, just as President Biden questions a global business deal.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Scott Hensley, Roberta Rampton, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Josephine Nyounai.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump wants to leave abortion policy up to the states. The Vatican calls surrogacy and gender theory "grave threats" to "human dignity." And Missouri plans to execute a man who shot and killed two of his family members nearly 20 years ago — despite an unusual coalition advocating against his execution.And a bonus: What was it like to experience a total solar eclipse?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Cheryl Corley, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We've got everything you need to be ready for today's total solar eclipse. (Except for those glasses...you're on your own there!) The Biden administration is taking another crack at an issue it's struggled to get through the courts. And this weekend marked six months of the war in Gaza — with still no clarity on how it might end.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Russell Lewis, Steve Drummond, Mark Katkov, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

David Baron says seeing a total solar eclipse is "like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world."Today on The Sunday Story, we're sharing an episode from NPR's Life Kit. Baron talks to NPR's scientist-in-residence and astrophysicist Dr. Regina Barber about what to expect when viewing the total solar eclipse on April 8, including the sensations you may feel and the strange lighting effects in the sky.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

October 7, 2023, was a Saturday. This Saturday, we look back at the last six months of violence, beginning with the surprise attack by Hamas on communities in southern Israel and continuing as Israel keeps up its retaliation and Hamas continues to hold hostages.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel is allowing aid to flow into Northern Gaza after President Joe Biden warned that U.S. support would depend on steps taken to address civilian harm and humanitarian suffering. No Labels is deciding not to put a third-party unity ticket together to run in the 2024 presidential election. And, a federal judge decided border officials are responsible for migrant children in encampments on California's southern border. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Krishnadev Calamur, Alfredo Carbajal, Lisa Thomson and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman and our Executive Producer is Erika Agular.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A key member of Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet says Israel should set a date for elections. NATO is marking 75 years since its founding — and it remains an alliance that worries about Russia. And an NPR investigation asks why Baltimore's Key Bridge didn't have more protection from passing ships.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Nick Spicer, Barrie Hardymon, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has struck Taiwan, the biggest quake to rock the Asian island in 25 years. rotest votes in Wisconsin's primary — against President Biden and Donald Trump. And a controversial Texas immigration law is back in court for a crucial test.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Padma Rama, Alfredo Carbajal, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Josephine Nyounai, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Two airstrikes in the last 24 hours are drawing new scrutiny to Israel's military actions in the Middle East. Florida's Supreme Court has pretty much ensured that abortion will be the issue on the state's November ballot. And it turns out Google's "incognito" web browsing mode hasn't been incognito after all.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ryland Barton, Mark Katkov, Uri Berliner, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The United Nations' main judicial body says Israel must allow more aid into Gaza, but can the court's order be enforced? Many California fast food workers get a big raise Monday, but restaurant owners say the increase to $20 an hour puts them in a bind. And March Madness does it again: a Cinderella Final Four men's team, and an epic women's showdown Monday night.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Pallavi Gogoi, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In China, a man has been playing the piano outdoors, often in places of great sadness—the epicenter of an earthquake, a dam that submerged villages, a street emptied during a COVID lockdown.He plays just one song: "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence," by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.In the fall of 2022, one of his performance videos goes viral, tapping into years of unexpressed collective grief. In this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR correspondent John Ruwitch asks: who is the piano man, and why has he chosen this path?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Some car companies are looking for workarounds to get their vehicles from ships to dealers after the Baltimore bridge collapse. Demonstrations turn violent in Europe as farmers protest European Union environmental policies and cheap Ukrainian imports. Chocolate lovers will have to pay more for treats as cocoa prices skyrocket.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If you paid enough money Thursday night, you could get your picture taken with three presidents — all at once. Reopening the Port of Baltimore will be a Herculean effort, as crews must clear six million pounds of steel out of the Patapsco River. And Russia's government isn't trying to hide that the four suspects on trial for last week's Moscow terrorist attack have been tortured.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Russell Lewis, Nick Spicer, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We now have an initial timeline — minute by minute — of how a massive cargo ship came to crash into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. Sam Bankman-Fried, the Crypto Wunderkind convicted of fraud, will be sentenced Thursday to a prison term that could last decades. And the Walt Disney Company and Gov. Ron DeSantis appear to have both realized that Florida is a small world after all.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Russell Lewis, Julia Redpath, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

At the site of Baltimore's Key Bridge, rescue efforts have turned to recovery. In Gaza, families are so desperate for food that 12 people drowned trying to retrieve airdropped aid boxes from the sea. And after a newsroom revolt at NBC, the network has ousted its newest contributor, former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Eric Westervelt, Mark Katkov, Pallavi Gogoi, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A one-and-a-half mile bridge in Baltimore has collapsed a large container ship crashed into it and caught fire, with several vehicles falling into the waters below. Israel has canceled a high-level delegation to Washington, after the U.S. declined to block a United Nations resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. And a challenge to FDA regulations that make abortion pills more accessible reaches the Supreme Court.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Mark Katkov, Krishnadev Calamur, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's Defense Minister is in the U.S. today at a moment of tension between the two allies. An offshoot of the Islamic State claims responsibility for Friday's mass shooting in Moscow, while Russian authorities point instead to Ukraine. And two of Donald Trump's legal battles collide today — one criminal, one civil, both in New York City.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Nick Spicer, Krishnadev Calamur, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week the EPA released new rules for vehicle emissions, which will push the auto industry to speed up the transition to electric vehicles. It's expected that electric vehicles will make up over 50% of new cars by 2032. For now EVs account for less than 10% of vehicle sales and drivers still have lots of questions about them and how they really affect the environment. We asked The Sunday Story listeners to share their questions about EVs and the response was overwhelming. So to answer those many questions, host Ayesha Rascoe turns to NPR's business desk correspondent, Camila Domonoske, who covers cars and energy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russian authorities say they've arrested several people responsible for the attack at a large concert venue on the Moscow outskirts, where more than 100 people were killed. House Speaker Mike Johnson passes spending bills with the help of Democrats, and now some Republicans are threatening his job. Catherine, Princess of Wales, announces after weeks out of the public eye that she is receiving treatment for cancer.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Secretary of State Tony Blinken visits Israel as Gaza braces for famine. Donald Trump is ready to take Truth Social public — and it's not just his diehard supporters who want to buy stock. And the Justice Department hits Apple with an antitrust lawsuit for monopolizing the smartphone market.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Julia Redpath, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Biden administration gives electric vehicles a jolt — with new EPA rules that aim to make two-thirds of new cars, trucks and SUVs electric or hybrid by 2032. Alabama follows other conservative states by banning public schools and universities from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion. And some of Reddit's most loyal users are so upset the company is going public, they might try to bet against its stock.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Denice Rios, Susanna Capelouto, Pallavi Gogoi, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Migrants in Texas are waking up to a new day of anxiety after a whirlwind of court orders about a controversial immigration enforcement law. Six former Mississippi police officers who pleaded guilty to torturing two Black men are being sentenced this week in federal court. And Ohio Republicans nominate the candidate endorsed by Donald Trump for a race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Alfredo Carbajal, Susanna Capelouto, Padma Rama, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The United Nations says famine is imminent in Northern Gaza. In one state that has banned abortion, maternal health care now looks very different. And it's Primary Day in five more states — including Arizona, one of a handful of states likely to decide the election this fall.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Carrie Feibel, Megan Pratz, Dana Farrington, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors and David Greenburg, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

An outcome never in doubt: Russia's electoral commission says Vladimir Putin has won yet another term as president. Donald Trump once again defends the January 6th protesters who stormed the Capitol. And two voter concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris as she campaigns for President Biden: his age and her readiness.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Nick Spicer, Dana Farrington, Roberta Rampton, Alice Woelfle and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Israeli government currently prohibits foreign journalists from entering Gaza. NPR's Leila Fadel found another way of reporting from inside the territory.This week on The Sunday Story, we bring you an episode from NPR's Embedded podcast. Fadel speaks with host Kelly McEvers about voice memos she's been receiving from a Palestinian college student trying to survive as bombs fall around her in Gaza. And we hear from a Palestinian American family that escaped the war–only to find that it has followed them home.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Haitians wait for the arrival of a peacekeeping force from Kenya, as violence continues there. After a judge's ruling in Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis remains on the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. The judge said either she or the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship needed to step aside. Israel gears up for a planned offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In Russia, nothing happens without some intrigue — even a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is a near-lock to win a fifth term. We get a first-hand glimpse of the chaos in Haiti, as our correspondent finally makes it across the border. And Chicago pulls an about-face — from welcoming migrants seeking asylum to evicting them.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Nick Spicer, Tara Neill, Alfredo Carbajal, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Many Haitians are troubled by an international plan to impose a transitional government. European Union lawmakers have approved the world's first comprehensive regulations on artificial intelligence. And as we barrel toward a presidential election with two unpopular candidates, third-party bids are scrambling to get on the ballot.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Tara Neill, Dana Farrington, Nick Spicer, Jan Johnson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A House vote today takes aim at TikTok — and its Chinese parent company. Conspiracy theories about noncitizens voting are back this election year, and they're taking even deeper hold with many Republicans. And with Israel blocking most aid shipments to Gaza by land, aid groups are turning to the sea to feed starving people.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Ben Swasey, Mark Katkov, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Haiti's armed gangs have gotten their wish: The prime Minister says he plans to resign. On this primary day in Georgia, we hear from a Democrat skeptical about Joe Biden and a Republican fed up with Donald Trump. And a temperature check on inflation, as gas prices begin their usual spring surge.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Kelsey Snell, Rafael Nam, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Muslims are making the start of Ramadan today — and there is, as yet, no ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to stop the war during this holy month. In Haiti, police say they are "on their knees" as the coordinated attacks from armed gangs enter their second week. And in a moment of global conflict, a movie about the creation of the atomic bomb sweeps the Academy Awards.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Tara Neill , Rose Friedman, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Barbenheimer was the summer blockbuster phenomenon of 2023 around the movies Barbie and Oppenheimer. Both movies made a box office splash and now Oppenheimer is leading in the Oscar nominations race with 13 nods. But there are plenty of lesser known films in the running, including three primarily in a foreign language, vying for best picture. To help understand which films and stars are the favorites to win we are joined this week by Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts Aisha Harris and Linda Holmes.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden and former President Trump both hold campaign events in Georgia today. For Biden, it's part of his post-State of the Union tour of swing states. The humanitarian crisis continues in Gaza, with no ceasefire before Ramadan. Nigerian officials say more than 250 students were abducted from school.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden takes on his age — and, without saying his name, his opponent. Donald Trump is poised to install loyalists atop the Republican National Committee. And a surreal standoff in Haiti continues, between the government and armed gangs.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First was edited Roberta Rampton, Megan Pratz, Tara Neill, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman. And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Correction: An earlier version of this episode referred to Morton Blackwell as a member of the Republican National Committee from Louisiana. He represents Virginia.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden gives his election-year State of the Union address tonight as polls show him trailing former President Donald Trump. Alabama passes a law protecting in vitro fertilization clinics from civil and criminal liability. And how Israel's fractious society has been united by the war in Gaza, five months in.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First was edited Roberta Rampton, Susanna Capelouto, Mark Katkov, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR has confirmed Nikki Haley is due to suspend her presidential campaign after a big win on Super Tuesday for Donald Trump. Why a prominent California Democratic Senate candidate spent millions of dollars to boost a Republican opponent. And, how a cyberattack on an obscure but critical U.S. health care company has disrupted our entire system.Correction: In the broadcast version of this story, the reporter incorrectly refers to a United Health Care subsidiary as "Optus." The correct name is "Optum."Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First was edited Dana Farrington, Kevin Drew, Andrew Sussman and Ben Adler. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Josephine Nyounai, and our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Super Tuesday is here — with more voters casting ballots than any other day. The Supreme Court says states like Colorado can't kick Donald Trump off the primary ballot for his actions on January 6. And a United Nations report has found "reasonable grounds to believe" Israelis were victims of sexual violence during the October 7 Hamas attack.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Krishnadev Calamur, James Hider, Lisa Thomson and Ben Adler. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Vice President Kamala Harris calls for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as the U.S. begins airdropping food into Gaza. In an apparent effort to depose Haiti's prime minister, armed gangs stormed two prisons and let thousands of inmates escape. And France moves to not just bolster the right to an abortion, in contrast to the U.S., but to enshrine that right into the country's constitution. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode was edited by Hannah Bloch, Mark Katkov, Miguel Macias and Ben Adler. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Why is it so complicated to save the Everglades?The Everglades is home to the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere and a sanctuary for over three dozen endangered and threatened species. It also provides fresh water, flood control, and a buffer against hurricanes and rising seas for about 9 million Floridians.But climate change, pollution, agriculture and rapid development are causing potentially irreversible damage.In 2000, the state of Florida and the federal government struck an extraordinary deal to save the Everglades. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was the largest ecosystem restoration project in the world.But from the moment it was signed into law, things got complicated.Now almost 25 years later, the Everglades is as endangered as ever, and the problems have become even more difficult—and expensive—to solve.Today on The Sunday Story, Ayesha Rascoe talks with WLRN's Jenny Staletovich. Jenny has a new podcast series out called Bright Lit Place that tells the dramatic story of the Everglades, what's been done to the ecosystem, and what needs to happen to save it.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The latest in U.S. politics, from presidential border visits to an averted government shutdown. Oregon's state legislature votes to recriminalize drug possession, overhauling what may be the U.S.'s most progressive drug policy yet. Thousands vied for a seat in Iran's parliament on Friday, but voter turnout was low.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is being laid to rest after dying in prison for charges widely seen as politically motivated. Gaza health authorities say more than 100 civilians were killed trying to get food from aid trucks, though Israel says that number is much lower. And scientists have started cloning genetically modified pigs with organs designed to be transplanted into people.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode was edited by Mark Katkov, Hannah Bloch, Scott Hensley, HJ Mai and Ben Adler. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, our technical director is Zac Coleman and our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court will decide if Donald Trump is immune from prosecution for his official actions as president. Mitch McConnell plans to step down as Senate Republican leader at the end of the year. And the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Kelsey Snell, Hannah Bloch, HJ Mai and Ben Adler. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden celebrated an easy win in Tuesday's Michigan primary. But it came with a warning on Gaza. Hunter Biden testifies today in the House GOP impeachment probe into his father. And could the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that gave fertilized eggs the same rights as children spur other states to do the same?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode was edited by Megan Pratz, Kelsey Snell, Barbara Sprunt, HJ Mai and Ben Adler. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Michigan is holding its presidential primaries today, and some Democrats say they're voting uncommitted instead of President Biden. Some Michigan voters warn Biden to change course on the Israel-Hamas war. What's the president hearing from voters who delivered the state in 2020? Also, the United States goes to court to stop a grocery megamerger. Kroger and Albertsons propose to combine. What does it mean for your neighborhood supermarket?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode was edited by Reena Advani, Emily Kopp, HJ Mai and Ben Adler. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to move ahead with a ground offensive in the border city of Rafah, even though a ceasefire deal may delay the operation. The battle over free speech on social media reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, and Congress faces yet another government shutdown deadline this week.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Mark Katkov, Ben Adler and HJ Mai. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In the sleepy town of Asebu, a few miles inland from the Atlantic along Ghana's Cape Coast, a serene 5,000 acre rural settlement is rising out of the palm forests and farmland. Pan-African Village is envisioned as an idyllic haven for settlers from the African diaspora. It was established in 2019, after a local chief announced that anyone from the diaspora could have plots for free. Hundreds of people, largely from North America and the Caribbean, have accepted the offer and are in the midst of building large homes. They regard themselves as the first wave of settlers, carving a new life in their ancestral homeland, devoid of racism and repression. But while locals have tentatively welcomed returning diaspora, Ghana is also experiencing some of the worst economic conditions in decades. In Pan-African Village, brewing tensions over ownership and privileged access to the land are threatening to spill over into violence and unravel the promise of this diaspora haven. This week on The Sunday Story, producer Andrew Mambo speaks with Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR's West Africa Correspondent, about the complicated relationship between the diaspora settlers and the place they see as their ancestral home.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As the Russia-Ukraine War heads into its third year, we look at the state of the conflict. Also, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has spent millions in her home state and sharpened her attacks on former President Donald Trump, hoping to chip away at his support.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Lawmakers in Alabama are working on a legislative solution to a recent state Supreme Court decision which ruled that a frozen embryo has the same rights as a child. How do lawmakers want to fix the issue? Tomorrow will mark the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We'll check with NPR's Joanna Kakissis to hear how people in Ukraine feel about the future. And a data leak from a Chinese technology company is giving the world a glimpse into the Chinese cyber spying ecosystem. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Susanna Capelouto, Mark Katkov, Andrew Sussman and HJ Mai. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez and Phil Edfors, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is ramping up her attacks on former President Donald Trump, but her path to winning the GOP nomination remains very narrow at best. Why is she staying in the race? A key witness in the Republican-led impeachment inquiry against President Biden has been charged with lying about an alleged bribery scheme. And a new study shows that nearly half of all American adults know someone who died from an overdose. How is this affecting the people who are closest to the crisis?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Lisa Thompson, Krishnadev Calamur, Andrea De Leon and HJ Mai. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez and our technical director is Hannah Gluvna.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court today hears a challenge to the EPA's authority to regulate air quality. Three GOP-led states want the court to freeze a plan that limits air pollution that crosses state borders. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has vowed to stay in the presidential race through Super Tuesday. But Saturday's primary in her home state is shaping up to be another decisive victory for former President Donald Trump. What's her case for staying in the race? And Alabama's Supreme Court rules that fertilized eggs have the same rights as children.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Padma Rama, Susanna Capelouto and HJ Mai. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez, and our technical director is Neisha Heinis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange will be in a London courtroom today. He's trying to stop his extradition to the United States. A planned Israeli invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza may force Palestinians into Egypt despite its objections. What will it mean for the more than 1 million Palestinians in Rafah displaced by Israel's war against Hamas? And Louisiana's legislature is in a special session that threatens to undo some of the state's recent criminal justice reforms. Lawmakers will consider over two dozen bills, including a bill that would make state executions easier. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Mark Katkov, Liz Baker and HJ Mai. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russia has taken control of a frontline city in Ukraine only days before the war's second anniversary. With supplies running low, will Ukraine's defense forces be able to withstand a Russian assault? Despite international pressure, Israel seems set on a ground invasion of Rafah. Its stated goal is to destroy Hamas, but the city is filled with over a million displaced civilians searching for safety. And Texas plans to build a new military base in the border city of Eagle Pass. It's the latest escalation in the immigration fight between Texas and the federal government. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Mark Katkov, Denice Rios and HJ Mai. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mass shootings in America are now regular news. The latest happened days ago, at a Super Bowl parade for the Kansas City Chiefs. After the chaos and shock, the same question gets asked, "How did we get here?" In looking for an answer you can go all the way back to the founding of the nation and the birth of the relationship between the gun industry and the American government.Today on The Sunday Story producer Andrew Mambo talks to reporter Alain Stevens of The Trace and host of WBUR's podcast The Gun Machine. They talk about the roots of that relationship and how despite being deeply intertwined and often mutually beneficial, it has also led to scenes like the one in Kansas City.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Family and allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny say he was murdered. A New York judge ordered Trump Organization leaders to pay $364 million for fraud. President Joe Biden's tough words on Israel raise questions over the extent of his influence.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dies in prison. An Atlanta judge will decide if the prosecutor on Trump's Georgia election interference case, should be removed for a conflict of interest stemming from a romantic relationship. Israel plans to push Palestinians out of Southern Gaza as Israeli forces raid the region's largest hospital. And, two juveniles are in custody related to the Kansas City shooting as public looks for answers.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Ben Swasey, Catherine Laidlaw, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman. And our Executive Producer is Erika AguilarLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

22 people were shot including children during the Kansas City Super Bowl parade, at least one person has died. Sources believe National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will brief top lawmakers on the threat of Russian antisatellite nukes. And, migrant crossings at the southern border have dropped by 50% after reaching record numbers in December. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Cheryl Corley, Dana Farrington Alfredo Carbajal, and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

House Republicans voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Aljandro Mayorkas accusing him with refusal to comply with immigration laws and breach of public trust. Vice President Kamala Harris heads to Germany to reassure NATO allies that they can rely on U.S. support. And exit polls show Indonesia's defense minister will be the new president of a country that plays a role in the South China Sea security. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Roberta Rampton, Miguel Macias, and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Neisha Heinis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As Israel plans an offensive in Rafah, negotiators are meeting in Cairo to discuss a path towards a ceasefire in Gaza. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's Ukraine meeting with NATO allies with be virtual after cancelling his trip Brussels due to health complications. And after nearly nine years away, Jon Stewart returns to The Daily Show just in time for the presidential campaign.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Lisa Thomson, Miguel Macias and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz.We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel is telling 1.4 million Palestinians sheltering in Southern Gaza to evacuate, as attacks continue in Rafah. Former President Donald Trump threatened to abandon NATO allies if they don't spend more on defense. And, after sinking a bipartisan bill to handle the border crisis, Republicans are calling on President Joe Biden to use executive action to solve the problem.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Andrew Sussman and Mohamed ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lilly Quiroz.We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What happens when you put friendship at the center of your life?NPR's Rhaina Cohen has been thinking about this question for years. It started when she met someone. This someone was not a lover, but a friend. As their relationship deepened, Cohen began to wonder why there wasn't a special term for a platonic relationship that felt romantic, or an understanding of partnerships that went beyond the status of "best friend."In today's episode of The Sunday Story, host Ayesha Rascoe sits down with Rhaina Cohen to talk about her forthcoming book, The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center.You can listen to the song, "Dear Friend," by Rings of Maple here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion of the southern end of Gaza. The failure of a border control measures shows the waning power of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. The Kansas City Chiefs are poised to win their second consecutive NFL championship.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A special counsel report says President Joe Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his tenure as vice president, but stopped short of recommending charges. Ukraine is replacing it's top general amidst stalled progress in the war with Russia. And, federal authorities seize former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's passport as he faces allegations of plotting a coup.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Ally Schweitzer, Tara Neill and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock.We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court is set to rule on Colorado's controversial decision to disqualify Donald Trump from the primary ballot, a case with significant implications for the 2024 presidential election. A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad targets a senior commander of an Iran-backed militia, raising questions of escalation in the Middle East. Pakistan is on edge as a contentious election is underway amidst an economic and political crisis.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Miguel Macias, and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Secretary of State Antony Blinken lands in Israel with Hamas' first public response to a ceasefire deal, which Qatari negotiators describe as "generally positive." Democrats blame former President Donald Trump for sinking a bipartisan Senate bill meant to address the crisis at the border. And, there's more attention on the legal responsibilities of parents with guns after a Michigan jury found the mother of the 2021 Oxford Highschool shooter guilty of manslaughter. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Gerry Holmes, Kelsey Snell, Catherine Laidlaw, and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Widespread flooding in southern California is turning hillsides into rivers of mud, as a slow-moving storm brings life threatening conditions to the Los Angles area. Both Democrats and Republicans will head to the polls in Nevada on Tuesday to vote for their party's presidential nominee, but many Republicans won't have all the choices on the ballot. And Dartmouth college is reinstating standardized testing requirements in admissions, citing research that shows it might help disadvantaged students.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Sadie Babits, Nichole Cohen and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock.We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. carried out more strikes on Iranian-backed groups as Secretary Antony Blinken heads to the Middle East to try and avoid further escalation. The Senate unveiled a $118 billion bipartisan Immigration bill meant to address national security at home and abroad, but House Republicans say it's dead on arrival. And, torrential rainfall in Los Angles, California didn't stop Taylor Swift from making history winning her 4th Album of the Year Grammy Award.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Gerry Holmes, Sadie Babits, Bilal Qureshi and Mohamad El Bardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Ana Perez.We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Since its debut in 2008, NPR's Tiny Desk has become a must-stop destination for music superstars like Taylor Swift and Alicia Keys but also for lesser-known musicians, including those who compete in the annual Tiny Desk contest. Today on The Sunday Story host Ayesha Rascoe talks to senior producer Bobby Carter about the Tiny Desk series, how it has evolved over time and how the Tiny Desk contest has opened the door to the music industry for many artists.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. attacked 85 targets in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the deaths of three American servicemembers last weekend. Tech executives were grilled at a Capitol Hearing. And the scene at a park in Eagle Pass, Texas, where federal and state authorities are each seeking control over the border.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden sanctions Israelis for violence in the West Bank. What can turnout in today's South Carolina Democratic primary tell us about the general election in November? One year after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine Ohio, some residents are still putting their lives back together.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The House approves a three-year expansion for the Child Tax Credit. E.U. leaders back a $50 billion Ukraine aid package as the country struggles with tensions between the president and his military chief. And Universal Music Group pulls some of the world's most popular artists from TikTok.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Mark Katkov, Rose Friedman and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Ana Perez.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Qatar's prime minister sounds a cautious note on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. The Federal Reserve weighs when to cut interest rates. And electric vehicle sales slow.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Jan Johnson, Rafael Nam, Christine Arrasmith and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Ana Perez.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. weighs a response to a drone strike that killed American soldiers, Texas bars federal agents from entering a park used by migrants illegally entering the U.S. and a farmers' blockade reaches Paris.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Gerry Holmes, Eric Westervelt, Mark Katkov and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Ana Perez.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden vows to respond to a drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers at a remote base in Jordan. Israel accuses the main U.N. agency in Gaza of aiding Hamas in its October 7 attack. And House Republicans seek to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Gerry Holmes, Kelsey Snell and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Ana Perez.We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Primary season has just begun but for most Republicans, it's a wrap. The question now is not who the party will pick as its presidential candidate but who former President Donald Trump will choose as his running mate. Today on The Sunday Story, we turn to our colleagues at NPR's Politics Podcast as they consider the vice presidency and who might be on Trump's short list.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A jury ordered former president Donald Trump to pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million for defaming her. President Biden is heading to South Carolina to shore up support from Black voters. What the international court decision on the Gaza conflict means.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The UN's top court will deliver its interim ruling on the genocide charges brought against Israel by South Africa. Campaign politics is putting a bipartisan Senate border deal in limbo as former President Donald Trump urges Republican lawmakers to reject it. And, The Biden Administration is pausing approval of new natural gas export facilities as it weighs their impact on climate change.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Sadie Babits, Ally Schweitzer and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nikki Haley makes a major push in her home state of South Carolina. New revelations suggest Boeing could be at fault for a door plug blowout on a 737 MAX plane. And a man on Alabama's death row is set to be executed using nitrogen gas.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Rusell Lewis, Barrie Hardymon and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump wins New Hampshire's GOP primary. Nikki Haley banks on the upcoming contest in her home state of South Carolina. And mass protests are expected in Argentina against the new president's economic reform plans.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Taylor Haney and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The New Hampshire primary takes place today, with the Republican field essentially reduced to two presidential candidates: Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. Twenty-one soldiers are killed near the border with Gaza in the Israeli military's deadliest incident since the start of the war. And the parents of a teen who opened fire at his suburban Detroit high school in 2021 face trial over their criminal responsibility for having purchased the semi-automatic handgun he used to kill four.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Gerry Holmes, Cheryl Corley and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ron DeSantis endorses Donald Trump ahead of New Hampshire primary. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates a Hindu temple on the site of a historic mosque. And Democrats launch an abortion rights campaign tour.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Roberta Rampton, Miguel Macias and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Clarification: In this episode, we say that abortion used to be a constitutional right. To be precise, abortion used to be a fundamental right protected under the Constitution's 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled in 2022 in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health case that abortion was as not a constitutional right nor a fundamental right protected by the Constitution.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Medical errors happen all the time. They can be overlooked or they can lead to big lawsuits and settlements. But what they rarely lead to is an apology. Doctors and hospitals have long responded to medical mistakes with silence. There are many reasons for this approach: fear of legal liability, loss of status, even shame. But increasingly, patients, families, and yes, doctors, are calling for a new approach, one that acknowledges the lasting damage that comes from a failure to address medical mistakes. This week on The Sunday Story, we talk to Tradeoffs health reporters about a family with a nightmarish story of a what they say was a medical error, and a look at what's being done to keep others from suffering in the same way.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Donald Trump gets an endorsement from Senator Tim Scott just ahead of the NH primary. Also, several dozen countries hold elections this year - we take a step-back to consider what's at stake for global democracy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A report from the Justice Department finds multiple failures in how law enforcement responded to the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Congress has passed yet another short term funding bill against the wishes of the far-right Freedom Caucus. And Iran's role in a number of conflicts in neighboring countries.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A communications blackout has hindered humanitarian efforts in Gaza as intense fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas militants claims more lives. Pakistan has carried out airstrikes in Iran, following Iran's incursion on its territory. And republican lawmakers continue to delay more U-S aid for Ukraine until democrats agree to changes in immigration policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What's behind the uptick in attacks between the U-S military and the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. How the presidential race for the republican nomination looks in New Hampshire. And today, the Supreme Court hears a case that could upend federal regulations.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Donald Trump wins the Iowa caucuses by a big margin. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis comes in second. How critical is the next contest in New Hampshire for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The republican primaries begin today with the Iowa caucuses. What Israel's war against Hamas looks like in Gaza after a 100-days of retaliation. And after his inauguration was in doubt, Guatemala's new president is sworn in. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ben Swasey, Mark Katkov, Kevin Drew, Reena Advani and Mohamad ElBardicy It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Nina Kravinsky. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

California's governor has made the rounds on local and national news pitching a new court as a solution to homelessness. But there's a gap between how these courts are being sold and the reality. Today on The Sunday Story, Ayesha Rascoe and Anna Scott explore what this policy experiment in California can help us understand about the causes of and solutions to homelessness.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Another powerful winter storm brings much of the Midwest to a halt; Subzero temperatures are predicted for the Iowa Caucus on Monday; The US strikes Yemen again, trying to get the Houthis to stop their attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. and Britain launch airstrikes on Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen. Taiwan prepares for closely watched elections. Israel presents its response to South Africa's charge of genocide in the International Court of Justice.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Michael Sullivan, Andrew Sussman, Ally Schweitzer and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, and Ana Perez. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New York State and former president Donald Trump present closing arguments in the trial involving Trump's business practices. South Africa's case against Israel for genocide in the International Court of Justice. The U.S. government approves a new way to invest in Bitcoin. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Mark Katkov, Pallavi Gogoi, and Miguel Macias. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbot. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Donald Trump made his case for immunity to appeals court judges. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized for the past week, following surgery for prostate cancer. Some House Republicans want to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Andrew Sussman, Kelsey Snell, and Miguel Macias. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A federal appeals court will hear arguments about whether Donald Trump is immune from federal prosecution over alleged attempts to overthrow the 2020 election. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making his fourth trip to Israel to try to prevent a wider conflict. The new federal financial aid application for college students arrived three months late and contains an error that means some students miss out on funds. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Nicole Cohen, Miguel Macias and Mark Katkov. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Congress reaches a deal on government funding, with little time to get it passed. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to Israel seeking to prevent a wider war in the Middle East. Controversy erupts following Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's undisclosed hospitalization.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Jim Kane, Ally Schweitzer, Kelsey Snell, Michael Sullivan, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ben Abrams and Ziad Buchh. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Extreme weather driven by climate change is affecting housing across the country. Millions of homes are at risk of flooding, fire or drought. Increasingly, local municipalities are facing hard decisions about whether to tear homes down or ban new construction altogether. Today on The Sunday Story, a visit to three communities in America trying to balance the need for housing with the threat of climate-driven disaster.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The FBI has arrested 1,200 people in connection with the Capitol riots and is still looking for more suspects. Secretary of State Antony Blinken makes another trip to the Middle East. Wastewater shows that COVID cases are on the rise, but fewer people are ending up in the hospital.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Donald Trump says if he's elected he'll pardon many rioters convicted of crimes in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection. Can he really do that? And the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Iran this week. Why does the violent Sunni group have its sights set on Iran? Plus, a growing trove of unsealed court documents related to convicted sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has revived conspiracy theories. What are people saying in the darkest corners of the web?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Barrie Hardymon, Michael Sullivan and Brett Neely. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Explosions in Iran, a drone strike in Lebanon and a threat from Hezbollah's leader to punish those responsible. Is the risk of a wider regional conflict growing? And new court documents related to disgraced financier and convicted sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein are now public. Plus, a glimpse into the journey of migrants desperately trying to make it to the U.S.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Andrea DeLeon, and Tara Neill. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbot. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A top Hamas leader was killed in Lebanon's capital of Beirut. How big a blow is this for the militant group? And Harvard's president has resigned after just 6 months on the job. Does her departure point to an even bigger political battle brewing? Plus, New York's attorney general is hoping to oust the National Rifle Association's long-time leader from his position on corruption charges.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Catherine Laidlaw, Mark Katkov, Michael Sullivan and Andrea DeLeon. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis . And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A landmark court ruling in Israel has delivered a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government while it wages war in Gaza. And state legislatures are planning to tackle issues this year that federal lawmakers have been slow to take on. Plus, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may soon set limits on several so-called forever chemicals in drinking water. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Ally Schweitzer, and Susanna Capelouto . It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. Engineering support comes from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

2024 will be a big year in American politics. How will the economy, immigration, abortion rights, ongoing wars, and looming criminal trials for the leading Republican candidate shape this year's presidential election? Also, why economic forecasters predict slower growth and lower inflation in the year to come. Plus, how many climate-focused companies are embracing artificial intelligence.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Uri Berliner, Neela Banerjee. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Adam Bearne, Ben Abrams and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story host Ayesha Rascoe talks to NPR labor correspondent Andrea Hsu and NPR culture correspondent Mandalit del Barco about the forces driving this year's massive strikes. More than half a million workers went on strike in 2023, largely from the private sector.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

More than 150 missiles and drones fell on Ukrainian cities on Friday, hitting a shopping mall and a maternity hospital. President Zelensky says there will be payback. The Israeli army says it will ramp up its offensive in Gaza, all while artillery exhanges between Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Israel also increase. Three special counsels will be investigating former President Trump, President Biden, and Biden's son, Hunter. But some at the Department of Justice think they may be overused.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Israeli offensive in Gaza continues as new evacuation orders are issued. Around 1,000 trucks wait at the Ukraine-Poland border as a Polish truckers blockade protests the lack of shipping regulations. A Georgia judge rules in favor of newly drawn congressional maps that give republicans an advantage. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Susanna Capeluto, Michael Sullivan, Alice Woelfle and Miguel Macias. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Mansee Khurana and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The World Health Organization warns that disease could kill more people in Gaza than the bombings, if living conditions and health care systems do not improve. The New York Times sues the makers of ChatGPT, saying the chatbot threatens the digital news industry. Plus, 2023 is likely to be the hottest year on record and some scientists say we're not prepared for what's coming.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Neela Banerjee, Gabriel Spitzer, Denice Rios and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Mansee Khurana and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Mexico to discuss immigration policy as a caravan of thousands of migrants travels towards the southern border. Militias backed by Iran are targeting American and Israeli forces in several Middle Eastern countries. And the U.S. economy is showing signs of recovery, but President Biden isn't always getting credit for it.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Dana Farrington, Alice Woelfle, Russell Lewis and Miguel Macias. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Mansee Khurana and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Despite U.S. calls to protect Palestinian civilians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to intensify attacks on Gaza until Hamas is defeated. India's external affairs minister is meeting with his counterpart in Moscow to strengthen relations between the longtime allies. And, after some big wins in 2023, the United Auto Workers union is setting its sights on foreign automakers with plants in the south.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Michael Sullivan, Pallavi Gogoi and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Mansee Khurana and Lisa Weiner. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Christmas in Bethlehem is somber this year. In the wake of the war in Gaza, church leaders are canceling traditional celebrations. The 2024 presidential election year is upon us and it's promising to be unlike any we've seen before. And, although little legislation was passed this year, Congress has seen plenty of action.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Roberta Rampton, Kelsey Snell and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock and Mansee Khurana. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As China's economy slows and optimism fades, aging workers who've spent decades of their lives building up Chinese cities find themselves in a difficult position. They're facing mandated retirement, but have little to show for years of backbreaking work.In this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR correspondent Emily Feng tells the story of migrant workers in China, and brings us the voices of two construction workers who labored in hopes of achieving the Chinese dream, but found it out of reach. Now they wonder: how will they survive in old age?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The UN Security Council agreed on a resolution pressing for more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. In the territory itself, people are suffering from lack of food and water and intermittent communications blackouts. A jury found two paramedics guilty in the death of Elijah McClain while he was in police custody.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In the U.N. Security Council, negotiators try to win U.S. support for a resolution in Gaza. Violet rhetoric swirls online after Trump ballot decision in Colorado. Leaders in Michigan say Chicago is experiencing a migrant crisis.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Cheryl Corley, Ally Schweitzer, Michael Sullivan, Andrew Sussman, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Claire Murashima, David West and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez and Phil Edfors, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas are underway with Egypt helping to broker a deal. European Union leaders hail a breakthrough agreement on migration. Intense rain events are getting more common, say climate scientists.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Neela Banerjee, Ally Schweitzer, Michael Sullivan, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Claire Murashima, David West and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Colorado Supreme Court blocks Donald Trump from that state's 2024 presidential primary, citing the 14th Amendment. The latest from the war between Israel and Hamas. Nearly 40 million Congolese vote for a new president.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ally Schweitzer, Michael Sullivan, Ben Swayse, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Claire Murashima, David West and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. announces Operation Prosperity Guardian in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Texas criminalizes border crossings at the state level. Catholics react to the Vatican allowing priests to bless same-sex couples.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ryland Barton, Cheryl Corley, Michael Sullivan, Ally Schweitzer, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Claire Murashima, David West and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urges a wind-down in Israel's major combat operations. Republicans in Congress seek tighter border controls in exchange for Ukraine and Israel aid. Newspaper founder Jimmy Lai goes on trial in Hong Kong.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Ally Schweitzer, and Michael Sullivan. It was produced by Claire Murashima, David West and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story host Ayesha Rascoe explores the media's challenge in covering Donald Trump. As he campaigns for a second term as President, Trump is increasingly threatening retribution and violent acts if he's reelected. Rascoe speaks with a journalist and a scholar who both believe the media is failing to convey the danger Trump poses to American democracy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Israeli military said it accidentally killed three hostages held in Gaza. In a statement, the army said it mistook them as a threat and fired. Just because inflation is cooling down doesn't mean prices are also going down - and they won't be any time soon. Two former police officers face murder charges after the fatal shooting of a mentally ill woman last June in San Antonio, Texas. Advocates there hope for mental health and police reform.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Disagreements emerge between U.S., Israeli, Palestinian and Gulf leaders and activists over who should be in charge of the Gaza Strip after the war. Criminal prosecutors across Ohio broke rules in the courtroom that are supposed to protect the rights of defendants on trial, all in an effort to get convictions. Hunter Biden is being investigated for using his ties to influential people to make business deals and allegedly using shell companies to hide millions of dollars in earnings; GOP congressman James Comer, who is leading the probe, is now accused of doing the same. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Robert Little, Alice Woelfle and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Kaity Kline, David West and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin traditionally ends most years with an extended press conference. What does Putin say as another year ends with his country still at war in Ukraine? The Supreme Court will hear its first abortion case since overturning of Roe v. Wade. Lower courts delivered mixed rulings on mifepristone. What does this mean for women who receive abortion pill in the mail? Also, the civil fraud trial against former President Trump is done.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Will Stone, Dana Farrington and HJ Mai. It was produced by Kaity Kline, David West and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Republican-controlled House is set to vote on formalizing its impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden. Biden makes some of his most critical comments to date about Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas attack. And Alabama plans to execute a prisoner in January using nitrogen hypoxia, a process so novel and untested that state officials required the man's spiritual adviser to sign a waiver that said he could be exposed to the deadly gas.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Roberta Rampton, Noah Caldwell and Olivia Hampton.It was produced by Kaity Kline, David West and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Gilly Moon. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A Texas woman has left the state, whose highest court ruled she does not meet the exception to the abortion ban, to have the procedure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets President Biden in Washington as the pair makes a last-ditch plea to Congress for funding. And the Supreme Court has been asked to fast track a case that centers on whether former President Donald Trump should be shielded from criminal prosecution.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Diana Webber, Roberta Rampton, Krishnadev Calamur and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Kaity Kline, David West and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from James Willetts. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

World policy leaders meeting in Qatar discuss the Gaza war and its impact on regional security. Donald Trump plans to skip testifying for a second time in the New York civil fraud trial against him and his company. And Argentine President Javier Milei is inaugurated after promises of big changes to his country struggling with an economic crisis.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Kaity Kline, David West and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story host Ayesha Rascoe explores the growing crisis of medical debt in America. Nationwide, 100 million people have health care debt, according to a KHN-NPR investigation, which has documented a crisis that is driving Americans from their homes, draining their savings, and preventing millions from accessing care they need.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Images of Palestinian men stripped to their underwear prompt outrage. Genetic editing leads to new treatments for blood ailment. Income-based plan zeroes out payments for millions of borrowers.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Justice Department has charged President Biden's son on nine counts related to his failure to pay federal taxes. Israeli military soldiers and Hamas militants fight in urban combat. And the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and The University of Pennsylvania face backlash over comments made during a House hearing on campus antisemitism. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Mark Katkov, Steve Drummond and Erika Aguilar. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Ziad Buchh and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors . And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Republican presidential candidates take to the stage for the fourth primary debate. Israeli officials blast the international community for its response to allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas. And former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy decides to leave Congress. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz and Padma Rama. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Ziad Buchh and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Some U.S. lawmakers question whether aid to Ukraine should continue amid a battlefield stalemate. Sen. Tommy Tuberville drops his hold on more than 400 military promotions. And four Republican presidential candidates prepare for a fourth debate in Tuscaloosa, Ala.Clarification: A previous version of this episode did not make clear that Congressional Republicans have additional border policy requests including proposed requirements for asylum cases and ways to curtail illegal crossings.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Kelsey Snell and Megan Pratz. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Mansee Khurana and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Justice Department accuses former U.S. ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha of working as a "clandestine agent" on behalf of Cuba. The Pentagon says that Houthi rebels from Yemen attacked an American naval destroyer and three commercial ships in the Red Sea. And South Africa marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Nelson Mandela.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kirshnadev Calamur, Andrew Sussman and Miguel Macias. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Mansee Khurana and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel says it expanded its ground offensive against Hamas to all parts of Gaza. This includes the occupied territory's southern areas, where people fled to in the early days of the war. What does this mean for the civilians in Gaza? The Supreme Court on Monday hears arguments for and against a bankruptcy settlement. It involves Purdue Pharma, maker of the pain medication OxyContin. And former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney warns about the threat of a second Trump presidency.Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Krishnadev Calamur, Reena Advani and HJ Mai. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Mansee Khurana and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this week's episode, Ayesha shares the latest series out of NPR's Embedded. In "All The Only Ones," Laine Kaplan-Levenson unearths the little-known and often neglected history of trans youth in America. The series follows the lives of young transgender people today and travels back in time to the turn of the 20th century to meet some of the earliest trans youth documented in American history.You can listen to the 3-part series on the Embedded feed here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Fighting between Israel and Hamas has resumed after a seven-day pause. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. Sandra Day O'Connor is remembered as a champion of women in the law.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza resumed on Friday after a weeklong ceasefire. What does the return to war mean for civilians? The White House wants lawmakers to provide additional funds to Israel and Ukraine. House Republicans won't go along, unless they get a concession on their border policy. And Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis debated California Democrat Gavin Newsom. Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Kelsey Snell, Dana Farrington and HJ Mai. It was produced by Ana Perez, Ben Abrams and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Our Executive Producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel and Hamas agree to extend a temporary truce by another day. The House weighs whether to expel first-term Republican Congressman George Santos. And the Department of Justice indicts an Indian intelligence officer for allegedly ordering the assassination of a Sikh separatist in New York. Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Ben Abrams, and Julie Depenbrock. Our editors are Michael Sullivan and Kelsey Snell. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels before heading to the Middle East. President Biden visits Colorado where he's expected to tout his administration's investment in clean energy jobs. And world leaders prepare to begin climate change negotiations in Dubai.Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Ben Abrams, and Julie Depenbrock. Our editors are Mark Katkov, Dana Farrington, and Sadie Babits. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden says Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary truce for two more days. Authorities investigate the shooting of three men of Palestinian descent as a hate crime. And the 2024 race for the Republican presidential nominee shapes up.Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Ben Abrams, and Julie Depenbrock. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Andrea DeLeon, and Megan Pratz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel and Hamas consider extending a four-day pause in fighting. Global climate talks begin later this week in Dubai. And three days of memorial events start in Georgia for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96. Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Julie Depenbrock, and Ben Abrams. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Neela Bannerjee, and Russell Lewis. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story host Ayesha Rascoe heads to Westchester County, in upstate New York to meet with The New York Times Crossword editor Will Shortz. The two sit down at the table tennis center Will owns to talk about how he became the Puzzlemaster on Weekend Edition Sunday, his love for all things puzzles and how recently, in his seventies, he has finally found love in his personal life as well.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hamas released 24 hostages Friday as Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. Another exchange is expected today. Anti-immigrant sentiment fuels looting and vandalism in central Dublin. Why "buy now pay later" plans are expected to grow even more common this holiday season.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A four day cease-fire takes effect between Israel and Gaza ahead of the possible release of 50 hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners. Progressive prosecutors across the country face resistance from police departments that see them as soft on crime. And a journalist remembers the impact Rosalynn Carter had on journalism related to the often neglected subject of mental health. Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Claire Murashima, and Chad Campbell. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Barrie Hardimon, and Diane Webber. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and Josephine Nyounai. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel says the release of 50 hostages in Gaza in return for 150 Palestinians will not start before Friday. Retailers forecast a record numbers of shoppers over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Protesters rally against a new, police training facility in Atlanta.Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Claire Murashima, and Chad Campbell. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Emily Kopp, Susanna Capeluto. We get engineering support from Gilly Moon, Phil Edfors, and Kwesi Lee. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel and Hamas agree to a deal involving the release of some hostages in exchange for a multi-day cease-fire. Sam Altman returns to OpenAI as CEO after days of turmoil at the artificial intelligence company. And Wisconsin's Supreme Court hears a case related to gerrymandering in the state. Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Claire Murashima and Chad Campbell. Our editors are Didi Schanche, Uri Berliner and Ben Swayse. We get engineering support from Phil Edfors and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine enters winter with stalled front lines and uncertainty over the West's continued support for its war with Russia. Migrants set up camps in the tiny border town of Jacumba, California without basic necessities or support from aid organizations. And tens of millions of travelers prepare to take to the skies as Thanksgiving nears. Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Chad Campbell and Claire Murashima. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Andrea DeLeon, and Russell Lewis. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Officials discuss a possible deal related to the release of some hostages in Gaza in exchange for a pause in fighting. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter dies at 96 in Plains, Georgia. And Javier Milei wins Argentina's presidential run-off. Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Chad Campbell and Claire Murashima. Our editors are Susanna Capelouto, Michael Sullivan and Tara Neill. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In 2011, NPR correspondent Howard Berkes noticed an anomaly in the sidebar of a government report on the Upper Big Branch mine disaster in West Virginia. It suggested that there was an extraordinarily high rate of black lung disease among the coal miners who'd been killed in the explosion. And it set him on a decade-long investigation to understand the cause of a hidden epidemic, the toll it took on miners and their families, and why government agencies had failed to prevent it.You can find more of Howard's landmark reporting on black lung disease on the episode page.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israeli troops are evacuating Al-Shifa Hospital now that it's under their control. A maverick politician could become Argentina's next president. Why would a movie studio decide against releasing a movie it's already finished?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel says it is uncovering an intricate network of tunnels used by Hamas in Gaza. Members of United Auto Workers approve a contract negotiated by the union. And prosecutors in Guatemala say they intend to bring charges against President-elect Bernardo Arevalo. Up First is produced by Ana Perez and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Emily Kopp and Tara Neill. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and Arthur Laurent. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our show director is Ziad Buchh. And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden speaks about global affairs with China's leader Xi Jinping. Israel raids Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital. And an NPR investigation finds that thousands of U.S. military servicemembers and veterans are at risk of losing their homes. Up First is produced by Ana Perez, Julie Depenbrock, Shelby Hawkins and Ziad Buchh. Our editors are Roberta Rampton, Bob Little and Michael Sullivan. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden aims to restore communications with China's Xi Jinping. Tensions reach a breaking point as the House seeks to avert a government shutdown. And some State Department employees raise objections over U.S. support for Israel. Up First is produced by Julie Depenbrock, Ana Perez, Shelby Hawkins and Ziad Buchh. Our editors are Roberta Rampton, Kelsey Snell, and Larry Kaplow. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court adopts its first code of ethics. Israel says it has evidence of a Hamas military compound beneath a hospital in Gaza City. And the latest National Climate Assessment explains how climate change is affecting our lives. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan and Rachel Waldholz. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Ana Perez, Shelby Hawkins and Ziad Buchh. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israeli troops advance on Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital, where Hamas militants allegedly maintain a command center. President Joe Biden prepares to speak to his Chinese counterpart for the first time in more than a year. Short-term funding for the federal government faces opposition from Democrats and Republicans.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What does it mean to live a life worthy of those we leave behind? On this episode of The Sunday Story, Ayesha Rascoe explores the idea with author Daniel Kraus. Kraus' latest novel is Whalefall. It tells the story of Jay Gardiner, a troubled young man burdened by guilt after the death of his estranged father. Jay hopes to redeem himself by diving to recover his father's remains in the ocean off the California coast; instead he is swallowed whole by a whale. It is in the whale's dark belly that Jay finally begins to reconcile with his father and understand the lessons he'd been trying to pass on. The book is not just a page-turning thriller but a deep meditation on fathers, sons and loss.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel says it is "closing in" on Hamas militants it claims are using hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in Gaza as cover. The American and Chinese presidents are due to talk for the first time in more than a year. It will be difficult for automakers to pass the cost of recent union wins to consumers.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel agrees to daily pauses in fighting to allow for a "humanitarian corridor" in areas of northern Gaza, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin will not seek re-election in West Virginia. And immigration on the US-Mexico border reaches an all-time high. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katkov, Megan Pratz and Andrea DeLeon. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins and Ben Abrams. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman. Our show director is Milton Guevara, and our executive producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israelis blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for security failures that led to 1,400 deaths by Hamas. GOP presidential candidates take heated shots at the third debate in Miami. And the Screen Actors Guild reaches a tentative agreement with major studios.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Megan Pratz and Rose Friedman. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Abortion access is a winning issue in off-year elections. Candidates vie for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination at a third debate in Miami. And the number of babies born in the U.S. with syphilis is ten times what it was a decade ago. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz and Scott Hensley. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel and Hamas have been at war for a month and with no sign of relief, it's already the deadliest conflict since Israel's creation 75 years ago. The Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that could give gun rights to people convicted of domestic violence. And, voters in Ohio are deciding whether to establish a constitutional right to abortion in the state.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Mark Katov, Barbara Sprunt, Krishnadev Calamur and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel continues intense bombardment on Gaza and vows to eliminate Hamas with no clear alternative to who might take over. Former President Donald Trump is set to testify in a New York courtroom today on charges of conspiring to falsify his property values. And, Epic Games sues Google in an anti-trust case accusing the tech giant of unfair business practices.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Dana Farrington, Adam Bearne, and Mohamad El-Bardicy. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ben Abrams and Milton Guevara.We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today is the New York City Marathon. Around 50,000 runners are racing in the men's and women's divisions. And this year, for only the third time in the race's history, a number of runners will be competing in the nonbinary category.The nonbinary division emerged due to advocacy from trans and nonbinary athletes like Cal Calamia—a rising star in this emerging category. Calamia, who uses both he and they pronouns, is trans and nonbinary, and he started his transition back in 2019. In the last two years, Calamia has been advocating for nonbinary runners and sharing his journey with thousands of social media followers.But this summer, Calamia caught the attention of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, or USADA, for using a prohibited substance. And that substance? Testosterone—which Calamia has been taking for years as part of his gender affirming hormone therapy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Israeli government says Hamas must release hostages before any consideration of a pause in its retaliation for the Oct. 7 attacks. The U.S. House passed an aid package unlikely to be agreed to by the Senate. The FDA is recalling more eye drops.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in Tel Aviv today to ask Israel again to prioritize protection of innocent civilians in Gaza following a third day of deadly airstrikes on the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp. The head of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, breaks his silence with a speech addressing the Israel-Hamas war. And, Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, faces up 110 years in prison for one of the biggest financial frauds on record.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Mark Katkov, Rafael Nam, and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Shelby Hawkins and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Negotiations are ongoing to allow hundreds more foreign nationals to flee war-torn Gaza through Egypt's Rafah border crossing. The White House plans to combat Islamophobia as frustration mounts among Muslims in America. And, schools in Portland, Oregon, are closed for a second day as the teachers' strike continues.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Roberta Rampton, Alice Woelfle, and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Shelby Hawkins and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Another phone and internet blackout is hampering rescue efforts after massive airstrikes hit Gaza's largest and most densely populated refugee camp. Donald Trump Jr. takes the stand in New York in a trial charging his family with fraud. And, today is the deadline set by the Pakistani government, for all undocumented immigrants to leave or face deportation. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Krishnadev Calamur, Alice Woelfle and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Shelby Hawkins and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacy Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israeli tanks and troops have advanced deeper into Gaza as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects international calls for a ceasefire. House Republicans are proposing a stand-alone bill that would send roughly $14 billion to Israel but doesn't include funding for Ukraine. And, Google will lay out its case in a massive monopoly trail brought by the Justice Department.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Russell Lewis, Kelsey Snell, Uri Berliner and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Shelby Hawkins and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

People in Gaza face a dire humanitarian crisis as the Israeli military increases airstrikes on the besieged enclave while the ground offensive presses forward. Israel trades fire with Hizbollah forces in southern Lebanon as the war risks opening a new front. And, President Joe Biden issues an executive order for government oversight on AI companies standards on data privacy.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Reena Advani, Roberta Rampton and Mohamad ElBardicy.It was produced by Julie Depenbrock, Shelby Hawkins and Chad Campbell.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Catcalling can be often thought of as playful and harmless, a classic case of boys will be boys. But the reality is anything but harmless. The interactions often leave predominantly women and girls feeling vulnerable and fearful that if they don't respond correctly they can be in danger. Today on The Sunday Story, artist, musician and podcast host Terra Lopez discusses her new podcast series This Is What It Feels Like from CapRadio. The series puts its audience in the shoes of people dealing with overlooked issues.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A suspect wanted for fatally shooting 18 people in Lewiston, Maine was found dead on Friday. Israel is ramping up its military operations in anticipation of a ground invasion in Gaza as communications are cut off there. Mexican officials say 27 people have died after Hurricane Otis hit Acapulco.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A manhunt continues for the gunman behind a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine. European leaders call on Israel to stop its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian aid to reach people who desperately need it. And, Hurricane Otis left a trail of destruction when it struck the Mexican resort town of Acapulco as a Category 5 storm.Up First is produced by Mansee Khurana, David WestOur editors are Don Clyde, Denise Rios, and Mohamad ElBardicy Our technical director is Zac Coleman And our director is Lilly Quiroz.Our executive producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A person of interest in two mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine is still at large as authorities ask locals to shelter in place. Gaza is running dangerously low on fuel to run hospitals and deliver aid, the United Nations says relief operations may halt as early as today. And Republican have finally done it, they unanimously elected Mike Johnson of Louisiana as Speaker of the House. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Russell Lewis, Tara Neill, Kelsey Snell and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

World leaders urge Israel to restrain its attacks on Gaza after 19 days of airstrikes meant to pave the way for a ground invasion. Today, Republicans will vote on their fourth nominee for speaker of the House, Congressman Mike Johnson from Louisiana. And, 41 states are suing Meta for allegedly designing addictive features on Instagram and Facebook that target kids.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Kelsey Snell, Uri Berliner and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As Israeli bombardment continues across Gaza, diplomatic efforts to facilitate the release of more hostages continue after two Israeli women were freed by Hamas. Today, House Republicans will vote between eight candidates hoping to unite a bitterly divided party. And, a sell-off of US Treasury bonds is sparking fears of higher inflation.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Tara Neill, Kelsey Snell, Rafael Nam and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Desperately needed humanitarian aid has begun to trickle into Gaza as Israeli airstrikes intensify on the besieged enclave. Nine Republicans are vying for the gavel of Speaker of the House after Congressman Jim Jordan failed to secure enough votes last week. And, Argentina is heading into a runoff election between far-right populist leader Javier Milei and the ruling party's candidate, Sergio Massa.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Peter Granitz, Dana Farrington and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For years, medical experts have raised the alarm about the effects of sedentary behavior on the human body. Sitting too much has been linked with numerous health concerns including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and early death. Days filled with sitting and screen time leave us feeling depleted. So what can we do about it? In a new series called Body Electric, TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi investigates: how we can change the relationship between our technology and our bodies?Let us know what you think of The Sunday Story by filling out a short, anonymous survey at npr.org/fallsurvey.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Trucks carrying aid entered the Egypt-Gaza border at Rafah on Saturday. The relative of two American hostages freed by Hamas says now is the time for their recovery. The U.S. economy remains very resilient, despite a sharp rise in interest rates, but what does that mean for consumers?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden says supporting Israel and Ukraine is vital for America's national security. But will Congress agree? Russia has detained a second American journalist. Alsu Kermasheva has been charged with failing to register as a foreign agent. And why are Republican-led states leaving a bipartisan group that aims to prevent voter fraud?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Up First is produced by Mansee Khurana and Kaity Kline. Our editors are Roberta Rampton, Peter Granitz, Ben Swasey and HJ Mai. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our director is Lindsay Totty. Our executive producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The war between Israel and Hamas has killed more than 4,000 people - making it the deadliest of all Gaza wars. And things could get even worse once Israel's expected ground invasion begins. Some Western countries are calling for an investigation into the explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of people. And Congress remains paralyzed because for the second time Ohio congressman Jim Jordan failed to secure enough votes to become House speaker. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Peter Granitz, Andrew Sussman, Kelsey Snell and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Kaity Kline and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hundreds of people are dead after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza. Israeli and Palestinian officials are trading blame over who's responsible for the deadly attack. President Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday morning. There he wants to show solidarity for Israel and prevent any further escalations. And pro-Palestinian protests have erupted across the Middle East following the hospital bombing in Gaza. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Peter Granitz, Tara Neill and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Kaity Kline and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden on Tuesday will leave for a wartime trip to the Middle East. He will visit Israel, which continues to prepare for a ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows worse as supplies are running low. Why is humanitarian aid not getting to the people in need? And the House of Representatives is expected to vote on its next speaker.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Peter Granitz, Kelsey Snell and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Kaity Kline and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's deadline for civilians to leave northern Gaza has passed. What happens to people who remain behind? President Biden wants more aid for both Israel and Ukraine. But as long as the House is paralyzed, this might not be possible. Also, exit polls suggest Poland's opposition parties won enough votes to form a governing coalition. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Peter Granitz, Roberta Rampton, Mark Katkov and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Kaity Kline and Lindsay Totty. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

15-minute cities are an urban planning idea growing in popularity. The idea is that you can get to the key places in your life - think work, education, food, recreation - in a 15-minute walk, bike or transit ride. Now mayors from Paris to Cleveland are looking to use them to reduce planet-heating car pollution and improve quality of life.But they face obstacles - from NIMBYs, to public schools, to death threats for urban planners and politicians. Reporter Julia Simon talks about her months-long reporting on a climate solution that has become a lightning rod for conspiracy theories. This reporting is a part of NPR's climate week.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Palestinians are beginning to leave northern Gaza as Israel threatens a ground invasion. Past experiences raise questions about whether Israel can control Hamas in the long term. House Republicans tap Rep. Jim Jordan as the next speaker, but he still must be confirmed by whole chamber.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's military has issued an evacuation order for northern Gaza. It gives the roughly 1.1 million people in that area just 24 hours to get out. Is this the sign that Israel's ground offensive is about to start? House Republicans are once again on the hunt for a new House speaker. Who can unite the party? And a jury in Colorado finds one of two police officers guilty in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and directed by Milton Guevara. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Kelsey Snell, Eric Whitney and HJ Mai. Our team in Israel includes Nina Kravinsky, Taylor Haney and Arezou Rezvani. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza following the weekend attack by Hamas fighters has plunged the area into darkness. How are civilians trying to survive? House Republicans in an internal vote picked Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise to serve as the next House speaker. But he doesn't have the required votes in the full House. Scientists from various disciplines will meet in Washington today to discuss the use of artificial intelligence. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Arezou Rezvani, Amina Khan and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's military is preparing a ground invasion into Gaza. Authorities believe that about 150 hostages are being held there by Hamas militants. In remarks to the nation, President Biden called Hamas' attack on Israel an act of terrorism. And the Hawaiian island of Maui is welcoming back tourists after wildfires this summer leveled the historic town of Lahaina and killed almost 100 people. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Arezou Rezvani, Roberta Rampton, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel is increasing its airstrikes on Gaza in retaliation for Saturday's surprise attack. Hamas in return threatens to kill hostages if Israel continues its bombardment. How much is this war targeting civilians? All of this has ignited pro-Palestinian marches in a number of U.S. cities. How do marchers justify Hamas attack? And this latest crisis in the Middle East has also increased the pressure on House Republicans to select a new speaker. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Larry Kaplow, Steve Drummond, Krishnadev Calamur and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel is at war with Hamas. The militant group launched a surprise attack over the weekend. More than 1,100 on both sides have died so far as Israel retaliates. Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel has also raised questions about Israeli intelligence. Why did Israel and its allies fail to detect any warning signs? And more than 2,000 people have died after a powerful earthquake hit western Afghanistan over the weekend. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Larry Kaplow, Andrew Sussman, Mark Katkov and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this bonus episode of Up First, NPR takes stock of the first day of war between Israel and the Hamas militant group, as the death toll rises into the hundreds on both sides. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Mansee Khurana. And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's prime minister says the country "at war" after attacks by air and land by Gaza militants. Regional governments are reacting cautiously. And the House Speaker vacancy is complicating additional aid for Ukraine.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Florida Republican Matt Gaetz is the man who led the rebellion that pushed out House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. What do his constituents think about what he did? Ukraine is often referred to as Europe's breadbasket. But the ongoing war with Russia has devastated some of its most productive farmland. And Guatemala is dealing with the fallout of August's presidential election. Even though election results are certified, the country's attorney general and others want to challenge the results. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Amina Khan, Tara Neill and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana and David West. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Our director is Chad Campbell. And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A House without a speaker is paralyzed to pass spending legislation, including aid to Ukraine. So who can unite Republicans behind them? More than 2,500 people have died this year while crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The reasons why they flee vary, but they all know the journey could be fatal. And starting next month, Pakistan will expel anyone without proper documentation. That includes an estimated 1.7 million Afghan migrants.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Michael Sullivan, Alice Woelfle and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For the first time in U.S. history, the House of Representatives removed its speaker. Who will fill the vacant seat? Roman Catholic leaders are meeting in the Vatican to chart a way forward for the church. And how do Chinese people spend their "golden week" holiday?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Cheryl Corley, Michael Sullivan and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine's war is far from over. It's biggest challenge, however, may not be on the battlefield, but in the form of waning support from allies. How are leaders in Kyiv reacting? The man accused of orchestrating one of the largest financial frauds in American history, Sam Bankman-Fried, goes on trial today. What's his defense? And Laphonza Butler is set to be sworn in today as California's newest U.S. Senator. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Rafael Nam, Padmananda Rama and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Lawmakers narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a short-term spending measure over the weekend. But to do that the Republican speaker of the house Kevin McCarthy had to work with Democrats. Did he put his job on the line? Former President Donald Trump will appear in court in New York on Monday. This trial, one of many, is a civil trial. He and his company are accused of of fraud. Plus the affects of this planet's warming climate can feel impossible to reverse. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Krishnadev Calamur, Neela Banerjee and HJ Mai. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, David West and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In Colorado, the first of two trials is underway in the death of Elijah McClain.On a late summer night in 2019, McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, was stopped by police in Aurora, Colorado as he was walking home. McClain was put in a chokehold and injected with a high dose of ketamine. He died several days later in the hospital.Authorities declined to press charges against police and paramedics involved in the incident, insisting "they had acted consistently with their training." But nearly a year after McCain's death, the case was reopened. Now three police officers and two paramedics face criminal charges including assault, manslaughter and homicide.Colorado Public Radio justice reporter Allison Sherry has followed McClain's case and the way his legacy has made an impact on policing in Colorado. Today on The Sunday Story, we bring you an excerpt of the audio documentary, "The Life and Death of Elijah Mclain."This story includes graphic descriptions of violence and sounds from body cameras worn by police officers.The full version of this audio documentary is in the podcast Colorado in Depth. To stay updated on the trials, go to cpr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The US government is set to shutdown Sunday after a group of GOP hardliners opposed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's stop gap proposal. Tens of millions of borrowers will start paying back federal loans on Sunday after a three-and-a-half year suspension, amid a possible government shutdown. New York City tries to get its head above water after a state of emergency is declared because of severe rainfall.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

With less than 48 hours left to avoid a government shutdown, the White House is already preparing to manage the fallout. NPR's Asma Khalid spoke with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients about what those plans are. Another labor dispute looms as tens of thousands of health care workers are on the verge of a nationwide walkout. And Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt crypto exchange F-T-X, is set to go on trial next week. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Kaity Kline. Our editors are Roberta Rampton, Pallavi Gogoi , Rafael Nam and HJ Mai. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman. And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Republican candidates for the presidential nomination finally got around to criticize the frontrunner Donald Trump. House Republicans will hold the first public hearing in their impeachment inquiry against President Biden on Thursday. Democrats have criticized the timing of the hearing, as the government faces a shutdown. And tens of thousands of people have fled their self-proclaimed republic inside Azerbaijan.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Megan Pratz, Michael Sullivan and HJ Mai. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Seven Republican candidates will be on stage for the second presidential debate in California on Wednesday. Former President Donald Trump will skip the event. U.S. regulators and 17 states have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the online retail giant of harming competition. And the rollout of the latest COVID-19 vaccines has been plagued with issues.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Emily Kopp, Scott Hensley and HJ Mai. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Kaity Kline. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden will join striking auto workers in Detroit on Tuesday. He has a chance to be the first sitting president to stand on a picket line. Lawmakers in Congress have only days to avoid another government shutdown. But with some right-leaning Republicans continuing to play hardball, can they? And a new report shows that in some states, more than half of election workers have left their jobs since 2020. What does this mean for 2024?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

TV and movie writers have reached a tentative deal with Hollywood studios that could soon end a nearly five-month strike. Union members still have to ratify the deal. Other negotiations, however, aren't go so well. In Washington, a deal to keep the government open beyond the end of this month appears less and less likely. How would a government shutdown affect the U.S. economy? And what's happening inside a North Carolina federal prison?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story, NPR's Daniel Estrin talks about his four-year long investigation into the night that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, founder of ISIS, died. The Pentagon maintains troops did not harm noncombatants. But Estrin's investigation challenges that account. Now the Pentagon says it will review new information brought to light about the incident.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden is going to Michigan to support the United Auto Workers' union strikes. A government shutdown looms large after members of the House GOP couldn't agree on a temporary spending plan. The Census Bureau plans to test asking people about their sexual orientation and gender identity next year; it says the information will help to fight discrimination.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells NPR's Steve Inskeep that more foreign aid is necessary to beat back Vladimir Putin's ambitions to expand Russia's influence across Europe.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The UAW is set to expand its strike if automakers fail to meet a deadline, the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa is overwhelmed by more than 11,000 migrants in the past week and Azerbaijan ends an offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Rafel Nam, Mark Katkov, Michael Sullivan and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

House Republicans can't agree on a stopgap government spending bill, NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and lawsuits say Baton Rouge police beat detainees.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Susanna Capelouto, Ally Schweitzer and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Attorney General Merrick Garland faces grilling by House Republicans, the Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at its meeting today and the long-term consequences of the UAW strike depend on its breadth and length.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Rafael Nam and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden speaks at the United Nations General Assembly, five prisoners are on their way back to the US after a prisoner swap with Iran and Canada blames the Indian government for the assassination of a Sikh leader in British Columbia in June.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Michael Sullivan, Tara Neill and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Auto plants shut down amid a walkout against all Big Three automakers, Tens of thousands of people kick off a week of climate protests in New York and The Drew Barrymore Show pauses over the Hollywood writers and actors strike.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Pallavi Gogoi, Andrea Kissack, Ciera Crawford and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

South Africa has long been one of the world's largest consumers of coal. But the country is now in the midst of transitioning its energy supply from coal to renewable sources. But when a country moves away from a source of energy like coal what happens to the towns and communities that were built to support the coal industry. Today on the Sunday Story we bring you a story from Radio Workshop, a podcast in South Africa that works with youth reporters around the continent. Host Lesedi Mogoathe sent youth reporter Siya Mokoena and senior producer Dhashen Moodley to a coal mining town at the center of this transition to find out what happens to people who've built their lives around coal.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

People in New England prepare as post-tropical cyclone Lee bears down on the region. The United Auto Workers union is still on strike, demanding higher wages and better benefits for new employees. Ukraine hasn't taken back as much land as it wanted since the start of its offensive in June.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Members of the United Auto Workers walked off work at three select plants and are threatening to expand the strike. Florida's COVID vaccine guidance contradicts the CDC's. And officials in Libya say as many 11,000 people have died in flooding there. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sen. Mitt Romney will not run for a second term. States unaccustomed to hurricanes, such as Maine, prepare for Hurricane Lee. And a close advisor to President Joe Biden counseled both a man accused of sexual harassment and the woman who accused him. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Eric Westervelt, Barrie Hardymon and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy launched a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Wednesday. Is Putin looking for a source of weapons for his war in Ukraine? And floods inundate Libya, where rival factions rule the country.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Mark Katkov, Michael Sullivan and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Juile Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Moroccan and international teams are working to rescue survivors from the earthquake. The government opens its antitrust case against Google. And the House returns to Washington with Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a bind.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The death toll from the earthquake in Morocco surpasses 2,100 people. The FDA is poised to green light a new set of COVID boosters. President Biden is wrapping up his Asia trip with a stop in Vietnam.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Michael Sullivan, Scott Hensley, Roberta Rampton and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. And our technical director is Jay Czys.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story NPR correspondent Eyder Peralta travels to Nicaragua. He's the first foreign journalist to make it into the country in more than a year. He traveled to his home country to get an inside look at what life is like for people living under what some call the newest dictatorship in The Americas. He found a country suffocating in fear and he found his own family history repeating.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A strong earthquake hit Morocco killing hundreds of people and injuring scores more. Donald Trump fundraised in South Dakota last night, accompanied by the state's governor Kristi Noem. Antibiotic resistant infections are causing more and more deaths across the world, and air pollution may be to blame.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Can a summer of extreme weather be linked to climate change? Ukraine is the only country that relies on nuclear power while it withstands an invasion. Unemployment lingers in Maui a month after deadly fires.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrea Kissack, Michael Sullivan, Katia Riddle and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Chad Campbell and Ziad Buchh. We get engineering support from Gilly Moon. And our technical director is Josephine Nyounai.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The United Nations says as many as a million people have fled war in Sudan. NPR's Michel Martin visits refugees in Chad. A judge reeled in Texas's floating border barrier. And prosecutors in the Georgia election case want a four month trial.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by HJ Mai, Eric Westervelt, Ben Swasey and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Chad Campbell and Ziad Buchh. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Josephine Nyounai.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected in Kyiv to show American support for Ukraine's war effort. President Joe Biden will travel to India and Vietnam as he tries to China's influence in the developing world. And Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in jail.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Michael Sullivan, Andrew Sussman and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Chad Campbell and Ziad Buchh. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Josephine Nyounai.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Senate reconvenes in Washington with a long to-do list. The suspended attorney general of Texas faces an impeachment trial in Austin. And a murder case in Canada is expected to test the country's antiterrorism laws.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Liz Baker, Ally Schweitzer and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Chad Campbell and Ziad Buchh. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. And our technical director is Josephine Nyounai.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is replacing his defense minister. Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet his Turkish counterpart to revive the suspended grain deal. And Americans have the day off to celebrate Labor Day. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Rafael Nam, Mark Katkov and Peter Granitz. It was produced by Shelby Hawkins, Chad Campbell, Taylor Haney and Ziad Buchh. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange . And our technical director is Neisha Heinis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story, author Simone Stolzoff discusses his book The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work, about our complicated relationship with work. Stolzoff explains how as jobs have changed over generations, so has the meaning we derive from working. Stolzoff shares his findings on our modern relationship with work and ways we can find more balance in our lives.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden is visiting communities in Florida embarking on cleanup efforts after Hurricane Idalia. Unemployment ticked up, counterintuitively due to the continuing strength of the jobs market. Congress heads back to Capitol Hill next week.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Idalia could cause delays over the busy Labor Day weekend, settlement talks falter in the 9/11 terrorism case, and the government releases job numbers for August.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Alice Woelfle, Bob Little, Rafael Nam and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Concerns rise over Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's health, Florida picks up the pieces after Idalia swept through the Gulf Coast and Gabon coup triggers fears of destabilization.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Padma Rama, Russell Lewis, Tara Neill, Michael Sullivan and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hurricane Idalia strengthens ahead of its expected landfall. Enrique Tarrio will learn how long he'll serve in prison. And what's to come for women's soccer in Spain amid a standoff over sexism between players and officials?Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Russell Lewis, Krishnadev Calamur, Jason Breslow, Peter Granitz and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Jay Czys.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Florida braces for Hurricane Idalia. Schools and hospitals recommend masking over rising COVID cases. And a Uganda man faces the death penalty in the country's first "aggravated homosexuality" case.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Russell Lewis, Jane Greenhalgh, Michael Sullivan and Olivia Hampton. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Trump's election obstruction trial gets a start date, hundreds of people gather to honor three Black people shot and killed at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Fla. and millions of students face record temperatures — and no A.C. — in their classrooms. Plus, Simone Biles wins a record 8th all-around national gymnastics title.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Russell Lewis, Denice Rios, Olivia Hampton and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima and Chad Campbell. We get engineering support from Jay Cyzs. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mina Bakhshi learned to climb mountains when she was 17 years old, in her home country of Afghanistan. But when the Taliban captured Kabul, she couldn't see a future for herself anymore. When Mina landed in the U.S., she learned she only had two years of guaranteed stay. She is one of more than 77,000 Afghans who are currently in the U.S. on a status called humanitarian parole. In this episode of The Sunday Story, journalist Lauren DeLaunay Miller digs into the history of humanitarian parole. And we follow Mina's journey over the last two years, as she's built a new life on unstable ground.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukrainians greet the apparent death of mercenary leader with gallows humor. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo seeks to reassure U.S. investors. Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus release new singles.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

From counterprogramming a GOP debate to posing for a mug shot in Georgia, Donald Trump had a busy week. A chart-topping song holds extreme themes. And Russia's Wagner mercenaries recruit for Africa.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Tara Neill, Michael Sullivan, Andrew Sussman, Jan Johnson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana and Claire Murashima. Our director is Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange. And our executive producer is Erika Aguilar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

GOP presidential contenders tangle on a debate stage. Trump is expected in Georgia to answer election meddling charges. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary force is reported dead in a plane crash.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Megan Pratz, Mark Katkov, Jan Johnson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana and Claire Murashima. Our director is Lilly Quiroz. And our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Eight GOP presidential hopefuls, minus the frontrunner, debate tonight. The Biden administration lays out a school debt repayment plan. Regulators plan safety meetings to deal with runway close calls.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden visited Maui, where wildfire survivors worry about finding permanent housing. Climate change forms a backdrop for a summer of extreme weather-related events. And leaders of five emerging economies will talk cooperation and competition at the BRICS summit in South Africa.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Ravenna Koenig, Neela Banerjee, Michael Sullivan, Tara Neill, Jan Johnson, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana and Claire Murashima. Our director is Lilly Quiroz. And our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Forecasters predicted catastrophic flooding in California from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary. Voters fed up with corruption chose a reformist as the next president of Guatemala. And a special legislative session that was called in response to a school shooting opens today in Tennessee.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Today on The Sunday Story, author Elizabeth Rush discusses the book that emerged from her journey to Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica. She explains why Thwaites is under threat and why collaborative problem solving plays a critical role in an era of climate change. The voyage also helped her make an important personal decision: whether or not to become a mother.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hurricane Hilary is expected to reach Southern California as a tropical storm with damaging winds and rain. A spike in mortgage rates means home shoppers may need to adjust their searches. In Seoul, reaction to the Camp David meeting of leaders from the U.S., South Korean, and Japan.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden hosts his counterparts from Japan and South Korea at Camp David. The Canadian city of Yellowknife is evacuated as wildfires approach. Ecuadorians prepare for elections.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Larry Kaplow, Roberta Rampton, Ally Schweitzer, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Hannah Gluvna. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mifepristone remains accessible, for now, after an appeals court ruling Wednesday. Recovery from Maui's wildfires continues. Elections in Guatemala have broad implications for corruption and crime.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Larry Kaplow, Ally Schweitzer, Diane Webber, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Gluvna. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Why Republicans seem unbothered by Trump's indictments. Coup leaders in Niger tighten their grip. NPR obtains confidential reports describing "barbaric" treatment within ICE detention centers.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Barrie Hardymon, Ally Schweitzer, Michael Sullivan, Ben Swayse, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Hannah Gluvna.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A Georgia grand jury indicts Donald Trump. Recovery continues in Lahaina after deadly Maui wildfires. A federal court hears allegations of "harmful conditions" for juveniles jailed in Louisiana.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Susanna Capelouto, Kevin Drew, Ally Schweitzer, Benjamin Swasey, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Recovery continues in Maui after America's deadliest fire in more than 100 years. Georgia prosecutors to present evidence in election interference case. A federal court reviews Alabama's new congressional map.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Kevin Drew, Ally Schweitzer, Ben Swayse, and Allison Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In India, intercaste marriage is very rare and marrying for love is not widely accepted. Among those who defy tradition, a small number face threats of violence from their own families. Enter the Love Commandos, a group tasked with protecting these couples under threat. But how do they do it? And why are they controversial? Today on The Sunday Story, Ayesha sits down with Lauren Frayer, the reporter on Rough Translation's new series "Love Commandos". She spent five years tracking this mysterious group as NPR's former India correspondent, and reveals what she discovered when she started talking to the couples sheltered by the Commandos.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The wildfires in Hawaii have become the state's worst natural disaster in recorded history. David Weiss continues his prosecution of President Biden's son, now as special counsel. The conservative chief justice of the the Wisconsin Supreme Court says the liberal majority has manufactured a "coup."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mass evacuations continue after deadly Maui wildfires. The Supreme Court agrees to review a controversial bankruptcy case involving Purdue Pharma. Wary of Belarus, Poland to send troops to its border.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Amra Pasic, Denice Rios, Ally Schweitzer, and Michael Sullivan. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Deadly wildfires tear across two islands in Hawai'i. The latest inflation report is expected to show rising prices. Clinical trials suggest weight loss drug Wegovy reduces heart attack risks.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Rafael Nam, Ally Schweitzer, Alice Woelfle, and Diane Weber. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Three people charged with assault after a waterside brawl in Montgomery, Ala. Pakistan is ramping up for elections while Imran Khan sits in jail. And Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg launches a PAC.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Larry Kaplow, Megan Pratz, Ally Schweitzer, Michael Sullivan, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Mansee Khurana, Claire Murashima, and Kaity Kline. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

An election in Ohio has implications for abortion. President Biden heads to the Grand Canyon to tout his environmental policies. The Red Cross allows blood donations from men who have sex with men.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Liz Baker, Dana Farrington, Jan Johnson, Ally Schweitzer and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, Mansee Khurana and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump's attorneys have until Monday evening to respond to a request for a protective order against him. Niger's coup leaders close the country's airspace. Ukraine calls Jeddah talks productive.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Ally Schweitzer, Michael Sullivan, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Mansee Khurana, Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott, with engineering support from Caleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This month marks 50 years since the birth of hip-hop, so our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour reached out to some NPR colleagues and a few hip-hop luminaries and asked what hip-hop verse changed their lives.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Following another federal indictment, former President Trump addressed Republicans at a dinner in Alabama and says he's done nothing wrong. Saudi Arabia hosts a peace meeting about the war in Ukraine, but without inviting Russia, and the US team is struggling at the Women's World Cup.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Donald Trump pleads not guilty to new criminal charges. The Labor Department releases its monthly jobs report. Putin foe Alexei Navalny awaits a verdict on a slew of new charges.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Rafael Nam, Amra Pasic, and Ally Schweitzer. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump travels to Washington for his arraignment on new criminal charges. A new poll shows Republicans are turning away from climate change. Russia strikes Ukraine's Danube port.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Amra Pasic, Megan Pratz, Ally Schweitzer, and Michael Sullivan. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Hannah Gluvna.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump is indicted on felony charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. How conservative media are covering the indictment. Fitch strips the U.S. of its Triple A bond rating.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Emily Kopp, Rafael Nam, Ally Schweitzer, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Hannah Gluvna, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump's legal woes haven't hurt him in the polls. The ACLU files a lawsuit to block the country's first religious public charter school. Kenya steps in to bolster security in Haiti.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Susanna Capelouto, Megan Pratz, Ally Schweitzer, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Claire Murashima, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A bombing kills dozens on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. Ukraine retakes a small village from Russia. And the trucking company Yellow shuts down after receiving a $700 million government loan. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Amra Pasic, Ally Schweitzer, Michael Sullivan and Emily Kopp. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Claire Murashima and Kaity Kline. Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Neisha Heinis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

B.A. Parker had always known about the plantation called Somerset Place, but she had never been. It's where her ancestors had been enslaved, just a short distance from her family's farm. On a journey to explore what it means to honor her ancestors' legacy, Parker and her mom decide to go back to the plantation where it all began. On the ground her ancestors once walked, Parker asks herself: what kind of descendant does she want to be? Today on The Sunday Story we bring you the second episode of Code Switch co-host B.A. Parker's two-part series about her journey back to her roots. Listen to the full series on Code Switch.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Republican presidential candidates gathered in Iowa for the state party's annual Lincoln Dinner. Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to turn African nations into allies. Car companies are making large profits despite inflation and high interest rates.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The House and Senate are on radically different paths to approving the annual spending bills, setting up an anticipated September clash that could lead to another government shutdown. What to look out for as extreme temperatures cause more cases of dangerous heat exhaustion. And Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defends the overhaul of his country's judicial system.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Ana Perez. Our editors are Reena Advani, Padmananda Rama, Carrie Fiebel and Mohamad ElBardicy . Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A plea deal struck between the DOJ and Hunter Biden is on hold after a judge said she wants more information about whether the deal extends to any prosecution related to his business dealings. Soldiers in Niger have announced a coup, imposing a curfew and closing borders in a country that is a key U.S. ally in West Africa. And there are widespread reports of inhumane conditions at a large migrant shelter in New York City.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Ana Perez. Our editors are Reena Advani, Krishnadev Calamur, Katia Riddle, Michael Sullivan and Amra Pasic. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Fed is expected to raise interest rates again. The Biden administration wants insurance companies to expand mental health coverage. The US plays the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Reena Advani, Rafael Nam, Diane Webber and Olivia Hampton. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's Knesset has passed a law limiting the powers of the country's judges and sparking mass protests. A new study indicates climate change causes increasing heat waves. And President Biden will designate a national monument honoring Emmett Till and his mother.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Reena Advani, Michael Sullivan, Sadie Babits, Susanna Capelouto and Olivia Hampton. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's parliament is set to vote on weakening the powers of its judiciary. Spain is thrown in political limbo after national elections failed to produce a clear winner. And former President Donald Trump is anticipating federal criminal charges for his role in trying to cling to power after the 2020 election. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Reena Advani, Krishnadev Calamur. Michael Sullivan and Olivia Hampton. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

"I feel that I'm stuck. I don't feel that I can build the future I want here."Climate change is disrupting traditional agriculture in Honduras. Unpredictable weather patterns have led to droughts and flooding in a region that has historically relied on rain patterns, and a declining coffee harvest is pushing young farmers to make a difficult decision: should they stay or leave for better opportunities in the U.S.? NPR's Joel Rose and Marisa Peñaloza traveled to remote villages and towns in Honduras to talk to young people who are in the midst of this decision. In this episode of The Sunday Story, Joel and Marisa tell us about their journey, and their conversations with young farmers about what it would mean to stay or go.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Vice President Kamala Harris criticizes a new Florida education standard that suggests enslaved people benefitted from slavery. The UN warns that Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports could disrupt the global food supply. NPR's Scott Simon recounts his own conversations with singer Tony Bennett, who died at the age of 96.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

With former President Donald Trump's announcement that an indictment for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is forthcoming, tension on the campaign trail shows the tightrope other GOP candidates have to walk. The White House and Big Tech announce their plans to keep artificial intelligence in check. And an NPR investigation into Pentagon documents finds flaws in the U.S. claim that civilians were spared in the 2019 operation against the leader of ISIS. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Reena Advani, Dana Farrington, Megan Pratz, Michael Sullivan and Mohamed ElBardicy. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Arthur Laurent and Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As the world experiences more and more extreme weather, climate experts recommend mitigating measures. With Russia not cooperating, Ukraine scrambles to keep its grain supply route operating. And plaintiffs are back in court challenging abortion bans in Texas.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Reena Advani, Neela Banerjee, Michael Sullivan and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Michigan's attorney general has announced charges against 16 people who served as fake electors following the 2020 election. Former President Trump says he's been notified that he's a target in the special counsel's investigation of the January 6 insurrection. And President Biden's immigration policy on asylum seekers is challenged in court.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Reena Advani, Catherine Laidlaw, Russell Lewis, Denice Rios and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Trump has a pre-trial hearing for his alleged mishandling of classified documents. The world's two biggest polluters are meeting in Beijing hoping to revive efforts to address climate change. And Europe is offering much-needed money to Tunisia in an effort to stem a wave of migration. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky and Shelby Hawkins. Our editors are Reena Advani, Dana Farrington, Michael Sullivan and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russia is blaming Ukraine for an attack on a key bridge that links Russia to occupied Crimea. President Biden's re-election campaign raised more money than his rivals in the second quarter of the year. And Alabama's state legislature begins a special session to consider a new congressional voting map. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Ziad Buchh and Ana Perez. Our editors are Reena Advani, Dana Farrington, Benjamin Swasey, Michael Sullivan and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What can middle and high school students teach us? What do they care about? And how do they observe their communities and themselves? NPR's Student Podcast Challenge results are in. It's time to hear what the kids have to say.Today on The Sunday Story, Ayesha Rascoe sits down with producers Janet Woojeong Lee and Lauren Migaki, who run the contest, to discuss the 2023 edition. We hear from Dylan McDonald of Massachusetts who's in the midst of a gender transition and from Jiah Hwang on the heartbreaking moment that reinvigorated her relationship with her sister. Amelia Hankinson brings us an ode to growing taller, and undocumented students talk about the way they see their lives now. Visit our episode page for links to more podcasts featured in this episode.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act, leaving Senate to fight over its policies on transgender health care, diversity and abortion. Also, two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down President Biden's student loan relief program, the Education Department has approved another relief program, one that targets certain low-income borrowers. Plus, we bring you the latest on the deadly floods and landslides in India.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Hollywood actors' union votes to strike. Extreme heat chokes Phoenix, Arizona. And the federal government's budget deficit nearly tripled in the first nine months of the fiscal year.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins and Kaity Kline. Our editors are Olivia Hampton, Rafael Nam, Michael Sullivan, Denice Rios and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

GOP lawmakers want to amend the defense authorization bill. Social media newcomer Threads seeks to downgrade news and politics on its platform. And Guatemala's presidential election faces more chaos.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins and Kaity Kline. Our editors are Olivia Hampton, Rafael Nam, Michael Sullivan, Denice Rios and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden meets his Ukrainian counterpart. New inflation numbers are set to show easing inflation. And major Hollywood studios' contract with the actors' union is set to expire.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins and Kaity Kline. Our editors are Olivia Hampton, Rafael Nam, Michael Sullivan, Denice Rios and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Arthur Laurent.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sweden is set to join NATO after Turkey withdraws objections, protests sweep Israel over judicial overhaul plans and flash floods force evacuations in Vermont.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins and Kaity Kline. Our editors are Olivia Hampton, Roberta Rampton, Michael Sullivan, Denice Rios and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange with engineering support from Arthur Laurent.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden seeks to shore up America's alliances in Europe. Ukrainian commanders released by Russia return to Ukraine. And a federal court bans gender-affirming care for Tennessee minors.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins and Kaity Kline. Our editors are Olivia Hampton, Roberta Rampton, Katia Riddle, Michael Sullivan and Alice Woelfle. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange with engineering support from Arthur Laurent.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

"It's this version of me that my mom's publicized and made very permanent."Lou grew up as a social media baby. Their mom had a public blog where she shared details about her life as a mother. But she also shared details about her kids, including Lou. Now, Lou remembers the blog as a fixture of their childhood, but not in a good way. Throughout their teen years and into adulthood, strange adults would reach out to Lou online, asking personal and often inappropriate questions. Classmates would use content from the blog to embarrass them. Lou is part of a generation of social media babies now grappling as young adults with a digital version of themselves created by their parents and shared with the world. Today on The Sunday Story, a look at family blogging, a trend that's become so popular there's now a name for it: "sharenting." But a growing number of young people are starting to object, saying such blogs take a toll on their mental health and violate their privacy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. vowed to get rid of its chemical weapon stockpile decades ago...and finally fulfilled that promise this weekend. Also, pundits have labeled President Biden's economic plan "Bidenomics" - we look at what that plan includes, and how the president is using the moniker in his campaign. Plus, a lawsuit in Philadelphia targets the makers of the kits used to make ghost guns.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Officials tell NPR the Biden administration plans to deliver controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine. The FDA gives full approval to a drug shown to slow Alzheimer's disease. And ahead of 2024, some progressive Democrats are pressing President Biden to move faster and do more on issues like climate and police reform.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins, Taylor Haney and Julie Depenbrock. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Amina Kahn, Roberta Rampton, Alice Woelfle and Jan Johnson. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China on a mission to ease tensions and open communications. Facebook's parent launches Threads to compete with Twitter. And on-the-road charging remains a barrier to EV sales.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins, Taylor Haney and Julie Depenbrock. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Rafael Nam, Pallavi Gogoi, Alice Woelfle and Jan Johnson. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Experts say long and profound effects of gun violence are felt by survivors — and entire communities. President Biden meets Sweden's prime minister to try to advance Stockholm's admission to NATO. And a judge puts a pause on communications in a GOP lawsuit to limit government contact with tech firms.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins, and Taylor Haney. Our editors are Jane Greenhalgh, Roberta Rampton, Alice Woelfle and Jan Johnson. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott with engineering support from Hannah Gluvna.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A hospital team works around the clock while Israel pursues militants in a West Bank refugee camp. As Ukraine presses its counteroffensive, Russia says it repelled a drone attack on a big Moscow airport. And a Chicago suburb remembers the victims of a mass shooting at a July Fourth parade one year ago.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins, Taylor Haney and Julie Depenbrock. Our editors are Michael Sullivan, Kevin Drew, Cheryl Corley, Alice Woelfle and Jan Johnson. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Presidential candidates aim to court voters by responding to far-reaching Supreme Court rulings. French authorities say security measures are calming the protests that began after the police killing of a 17-year-old. And another Twitter surprise — Elon Musk rations the number of tweets users can see.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by Nina Kravinsky, Shelby Hawkins, Taylor Haney and Julie Depenbrock. Our editors are Dana Farrington, Michael Sullivan, Rafael Nam, Adam Bearne and Jan Johnson. Our technical director is Zac Coleman with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

"They said that they were coming for my family and somebody would have to pay for this."Across the US, election workers say they are being verbally abused, followed, harassed and threatened. Much of this animosity is being driven by misinformation, particularly Donald Trump's ongoing lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him.NPR's Chris Arnold reached out to thousands of election workers and heard back from many across 22 states who fear for their safety, the safety of their families and even their pets. In this episode of The Sunday Story, Chris tells Ayesha Rascoe about his investigation—and how the questions he asked led him to a rural county in Oregon, where election workers are beefing up their security and worrying about what's coming in 2024.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Vice President Harris tells NPR the Biden Administration will move forward with student loan forgiveness. Unrest continues in France after massive protests over a police killing of a teenager. Hollywood prepares for a looming actors' strike.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

How will colleges improve diversity on campus after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race cannot be considered in admissions? Another highly anticipated SCOTUS ruling will decide whether President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan can proceed. The union contract for Hollywood actors expires tonight, will they join writers on the picket line?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A Ukrainian general says the Wagner group is not crucial to Russia's current efforts in Ukraine. Many Midwestern cities are experiencing unhealthy air from wildfire smoke. Anger erupted into violence across France after police shot and killed a 17 year-old Tuesday.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Texas is withering under intense heat as June is on track to be the hottest on on record globally. Honduras tries to reduce gang violence using harsh tactics that are raising questions of human rights abuses. Scientists believe they have detected cases of locally transmitted malaria in the U.S.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Putin tries to present a united front in the wake of a mercenary rebellion. Biden emphasizes that the U.S. played no role in Russia's turmoil. Tribes go to court to try to halt construction of a lithium mine near a sacred site. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Up First is produced by David West, Lindsay Totty, and Mansee Khurana.Our editors are Alice Woelfle, Michael Sullivan, Roberta Rampton, and Eric WhitneyOur technical director is Zac Coleman with Engineering support from Carleigh StrangeLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been silent since a mercenary army attempted a mutiny over the weekend. President Biden hits the road to get the word out about his infrastructure programs. Tensions are high in Atlanta as activists take part in a week of action to stop construction of a massive police training facility. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Up First is produced by David West, Mansee Khurana, and Lindsay TottyOur editors are Andrew Sussman, Roberta Rampton, Nishant Dahiya and Alice WoelfleOur technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh StrangeLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It started with a tip. Eventually, multiple sources said it was an open secret: the founder of New Hampshire's largest addiction treatment network was sexually harassing or assaulting women – allegations he denies.As New Hampshire Public Radio reporter Lauren Chooljian began looking into the allegations, she found a longstanding–and long tolerated–culture of sexual misconduct within the addiction treatment industry. A phenomenon people in the recovery world call "the 13th step."Today on The Sunday Story, we talk to Chooljian about her reporting and bring you the first episode of her new podcast, The 13th Step.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses a former ally of treason. The California State Bar seeks to revoke the law license of a pro-Trump attorney. The Supreme Court upholds the Biden administration's priorities for which kind of migrants to detain.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The search for a missing submersible ended in tragedy as evidence of a catastrophic implosion was found on the sea floor. What does reproductive health access look like a year after Roe v. Wade was overturned? Independent voters share their views on Trump and the current state of American politics.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

India's prime minister is in Washington for a state visit, as part of the U.S. plan to counter China. The search for the missing submersible enters it's 4th day. Residents of East Palestine Ohio are hoping to get answers from hearings on a toxic train derailment that upended life in their town four months ago.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Rescuers had an encouraging development in the search for a missing submersible. An attorney who assisted in the effort to overturn the 2020 election could lose his law license. A new poll asks American's how they feel about abortion a year after Roe v. Wade was overturned.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Secretary of State arrives in London for a conference on Ukraine's economic recovery. Israel is speeding up construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank as fighting between Israelis and Palestinians intensifies. Today is the final day of voting in Virginia's expensive and competitive primary election.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Beijing hoping to lay the foundation for better US-China Relations. Why has President Biden kept in place Trump-era tariffs on Chinese goods? Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 but it's still unknown to many Americans.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

One in ten Black people living in the U.S. is an immigrant, and many Black immigrants—particularly those born in African nations—have settled in the South, according to a Pew Research report from 2022. This statistic caught Code Switch editor Leah Donnella's eye. And she wanted to know: how have Black immigrants redefined their sense of identity in the South, while confronting American racism? In this episode of The Sunday Story, Leah tells host Ayesha Rascoe about the people she met in Tennessee.You can read and listen to more of Leah's reporting, as part of her Above the Fray fellowship, here.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Justice Department releases its investigation into the Minneapolis police that began after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits China to improve communication between the two countries. After a decade of war, Yemen is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, but there once was hope in the country.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hundreds are feared dead after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants sank in the Mediterranean Sea. Wildfire smoke is again drifting South from Canada impacting air quality in several states. A deadly chemical is being mixed with street drugs all over the country, why do we know so little about it?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The mayor of Miami, who has clashed with fellow Floridians Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, joins the 2024 presidential primary. Tucker Carlson is getting a lot of views on Twitter, Fox News wants to stop that. More than 150,000 people have evacuated as a cyclone approaches India and Pakistan.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The former president is facing 37 federal charges but still has the support of many in his party. Ahead of an upcoming NATO summit Baltic countries are pushing for Ukraine to join the alliance. After nearly a year of monthly interest rate hikes, the Fed may give us a break.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Facing 37 federal charges, Former President Trump is set to appear in a Miami court today. The Federal Reserve Board meets this week to decide whether to take a break on interest-rate hikes. A-I technology is already pervasive in the surveillance industry and it's raising questions about civil rights.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Trump rallys support from his base ahead of his appearance in federal court on Tuesday. The much-anticipated Ukrainian offensive has begun. An investigation into political party finances led the to arrest and questioning of an influential Scottish politician.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For almost three decades, Beth Moore was a committed evangelical Southern Baptist. She was also a superstar in the Southern Baptist Denomination. Moore shared her love of Jesus and the Bible with millions of evangelical women at Bible study gatherings across the country, events that often drew stadium-sized crowds. But when the infamous Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape surfaced, Moore was stunned. She's a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and felt Trump's comments bordered on criminality. When the Southern Baptist Denomination said nothing and continued to support Trump, Moore made the decision to walk away from the Church.Today on The Sunday Story our new host, Ayesha Rascoe, talks to Moore about her faith and childhood and why she felt it was time to share her experiences in a new memoir, All My Knotted Up Life.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Prosecutors are charging Donald Trump with 37 federal offenses including obstruction and unlawful retention of defense information. Health experts say children are especially vulnerable to wildfire smoke. Southern Baptist leaders gather in New Orleans and will decide whether to uphold the expulsion of congregations that have women as pastors.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former president Donald Trump has been indicted on federal criminal charges related to classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. He's expected in federal court in Miami on Tuesday.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Trump makes history as the first former president to face federal charges. SCOTUS rules in favor of Alabama Democrats in a voting rights case over redistricting. Wildfire smoke is spreading throughout the Eastern US, what are the health risks?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Much of the Northeast is blanketed in smoke from Canadian wildfires. Former President Trump's lawyers have been informed by the DOJ that he's a target of the Mar-A-Lago investigation. The British prime minister visits Washington DC to talk free trade and stress the importance of the "special relationship".Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Investigating the destruction of a hydroelectric dam in a war zone proves difficult. Former Vice President Mike Pence set to join a growing pool of 2024 GOP presidential candidates. An unexpected merger of two competing golf tournaments has huge implications for the game, and for the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A hydroelectric dam in Russian-occupied Ukraine collapsed causing those downstream to flee. Chris Christie is set to announce his 2024 run, and isn't afraid to take on Trump. Regulators unveiled thirteen charges against cryptocurrency firm Binance, as they seek to regulate the industry.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A signal error appears to be the reason for the train crash that killed 275 people in India. Hundreds of journalists strike as their employer guts newsrooms across the country. GOP election deniers are pushing states to withdraw from a system that helps voter roll accuracy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

For nearly a decade, the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, quietly helped to clean up voter databases and catch fraud. It was a rare bipartisan success story, with Democrats praising it and Republicans calling it a "godsend."But recently, it has become the target of a Trump-allied lawyer and the far right. NPR Voting Correspondent Miles Parks and NPR's Investigations Team trace how conspiracy theories, secret meetings, and grassroots pressure are dismantling this obscure elections tool and giving election deniers their biggest policy victory yet.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A train derailment in India leaves more than 200 dead and many more injured. Biden delivers an Oval Office speech praising the bipartisan debt ceiling legislation. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin addresses a security conference in Singapore amid rising tensions with China.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Senate has passed the debt ceiling bill that will prevent the country from defaulting, but it comes with some changes to work requirements. A Wisconsin mom is taking on YouTube shareholders after her son died of what is called a "Blackout Challenge" he found on the platform. Global defense leaders meet at the international defense summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore today.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The House of Representatives passed the debt ceiling bill and now the legislation heads to the Senate. Former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie are set to enter the Republican presidential race next week. And, the Atlantic hurricane season starts today, but climate change could be making the effects of these storms much worse.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The House of Representatives is set to vote on the deal to suspend the nation's debt limit. A federal appeals court ruled that the Sackler family be sheltered from opioid lawsuits linked to their company Purdue Pharma and Oxycontin painkillers. And, a trial is underway in the case of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting which left eleven worshippers dead.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Officials in Moscow blamed Kyiv for the drone attacks the Russian capital faced on Tuesday. China's Shenzhou-16 spacecraft took off with the first civilian astronaut on board. And, Republican presidential hopefuls will be campaigning in Iowa this week.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached a deal to raise the debt ceiling. Turkey's President Recep Tayyib Erdogan won the runoff election on Sunday, and is set to extend his two decade rule. And Kyiv is under Russian attack as Ukraine prepares for a counter-offensive.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

When Stephanie Foo turned 30, she learned she had complex PTSD. Her efforts to heal from an abusive childhood and intergenerational trauma drove her to write What My Bones Know, a book that combines memoir with the rigorous reporting she'd honed as a journalist.Stephanie talks with producer Justine Yan about the initial shame upon hearing her diagnosis, lessons she learned when she went home to San Jose, California, and the fierce love she's practicing as she expects her first child.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If the US government defaults, the world's financial system would be affected, but some experts say that would actually increase demand for US government debt. An obstacle in the debt ceiling negotiations is tougher work requirements for social safety-net programs. New data shows the US is doing well in preventing new HIV infections, but the gains are happening unevenly across racial and ethnic groups.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Indiana doctor Caitlin Bernard, who spoke out publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old girl from Ohio, faces disciplinary action for violating privacy laws. Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton might be impeached in a vote by members of his own party for allegedly abusing his power. And, voters will head to the polls in Turkey this weekend to decided if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will continue his 20-year rule.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine has been preparing for months to launch a counteroffensive against Russia's invasion, but the high stakes operation has seen many delays. Scientists are using a new method known as in vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, that could revolutionize the way babies are made. And if the government defaults on its debt, people will have a harder time borrowing money.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to announce his bid for the Republican nomination live on Twitter with CEO Elon Musk. Relations between Washington and Beijing have been tense lately, but China's new ambassador to the U.S. says he wants to get the two sides back on track. And, the United States is at risk of downgrading its AAA credit rating as debt ceiling negotiations drag on.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Treasury department is preparing for the possibility of a national default by deciding which bills to pay first if President Joe Biden fails to strike a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on raising the debt limit. California, Arizona and Nevada are proposing new cutbacks to their use of the drought-stricken Colorado River to keep it from running dry. And, TikTok is suing the state of Montana to block a law that would put an outright ban on the popular video-sharing app.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden spoke with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on his way back from Japan as they prepare to meet at the White House today to discuss the debt ceiling. Senator Tim Scott is announcing his bid for the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 race. And while gun regulations are being argued in court, the mayor of Columbus, Ohio is instating a curfew after a deadly month in the city.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Colorado River has more dams on it than any other river in the United States. They were built to harness water high in the mountains and across the arid desert so people could build cities, industries and farms. But the visionaries of the past didn't account for the kind of population growth the southwest has experienced, and they didn't make a plan for what to do if there wasn't enough water to go around. Now, as the region suffers through a second decade of a mega drought, residents are scrambling to find solutions that will preserve their way of life. Today on The Sunday Story from Up First, we head to Las Vegas, where water conservation has a new starring role. This episode comes from a new podcast from Colorado Public Radio and reporter Michael Elizabeth Sakas. It's called Parched.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Hiroshima, Japan. Markets don't seem very concerned about political wrangling over the debt ceiling. Greek voters head to the polls Sunday for elections clouded by a deadly train crash.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine's president is planning on attending the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan in an effort to convince world leaders to offer more support against Russia. After a 12-year ban for his brutal civil war in Syria, President Bashar Al Assad is being welcomed back to the Arab League meeting in Saudi Arabia. And, Disney is canceling a $1 billion investment plan in Florida amid an ongoing feud with Governor Ron DeSantis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New court filings show 21-year-old National Guard Airman Jack Teixeira, who leaked classified information on a game chat platform, was previously red flagged for improperly accessing top secret documents. Pakistani security forces have surrounded the home of the former prime minister Imran Khan, claiming he is sheltering rioters from recent protests. And, Montana has become the first state to push for a complete ban on TikTok.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden is in Japan for the G7 summit but he's cutting his Asia trip short to settle the debt ceiling debate with lawmakers. The commonly used abortion pill, Mifepristone, could soon be removed from the U.S. market completely. And, Russian strikes on Kiyv damaged a U.S. Patriot missile defense system as the war in Ukraine intensifies.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The CEO of the company behind ChatGPT will testify before Congress as lawmakers eye regulations on AI technology. New research from the Public Religion Research Institute finds that religion is declining in the lives of Americans. And, the mayoral race in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is putting a spotlight on major issues is many big cities in America.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Turkey's presidential election appears to be headed for a runoff between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu. For the first time, the UN is holding a Nakba Day event to commemorate the displacement of Palestinians 75 years ago in Israel's founding war. And, the Republican supermajority in North Carolina vowed to override the governor's veto on a bill that would ban abortions after 12-weeks.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Exactly one year ago, on May 14, 2022, a young white man walked into a Buffalo, New York grocery store and shot thirteen people. The ten who died were all black. The shooter acknowledged that he was specifically targeting black people that day, trying to kill as many as possible. The shooting happened a few blocks from a gym, where members of a black competitive cheer team were practicing. Some of the girls at the gym lost family and friends in the shooting. Some did not. But all felt fear and grief and the weight of racism, many for the first time. Today on the Sunday Story, we bring you the first episode of "Buffalo Extreme" from NPR's Embedded podcast. In the series, the girls, their moms and coaches tell us their story of the past year and what it takes to try to recover from a brutal act of racial violence.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Billionaire Elon Musk names former NBCUniversal executive Linda Yaccarino as the new Twitter CEO. Pakistan's former prime minister, Imran Khan, is released on bail after his arrest on corruption charges. Lawmakers in Texas are trying to slow the growth of renewable energy, even though the state's already a leader in wind and solar.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The American Civil Liberties union is suing the Biden Administration over strict new border rules aimed at deterring migrants from crossing the border illegally. Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan is facing his toughest presidential challenge yet as voters head to the polls this weekend. And new research, covering nearly 8,000 school districts, shows that many students in the US suffered significant learning loss during pandemic.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Biden Administration is implementing strict new rules to deter migrants from overwhelming the border as Title 42 comes to an end. New York Representative George Santos is being charged with 13 federal crimes, including money laundering, theft of public funds and lying to the U.S. House. And, The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new rules to lower emissions from power plants.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former President Donald Trump is fighting back against a guilty verdict in the sexual assault and defamation case of writer E. Jean Carroll. Anger is growing in Pakistan as supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan face off against the country's powerful military. And, President Joe Biden will meet again with Congressional leaders on Friday after stalled progress in debt ceiling negotiations.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden will meet with the top four Congressional leaders at the White House to discuss how to avoid a federal debt default. Russia's annual Victory Day celebration takes on new symbolism with Putin's invasion of Ukraine. And, the American Psychological Association is issuing recommendations for teenagers' use of social media after evidence of its harmful side effects.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A motive is still unknown for the gunman in Texas who killed eight people and wounded seven others on Saturday at an outdoor mall north of Dallas, Texas. Tile 42 is set to expire, and tensions are running high at the U.S.-Mexico border after a car hit people outside a migrant center in southern Texas. Closing arguments begin today in former President Donald Trump's sexual assault trial.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The word influencer wasn't added to some dictionaries until 2019, and yet, according to at least one survey, a quarter of all Gen Zers say they plan to become social media influencers. A whole industry has developed to serve them. There are now training courses, influencer agents and conferences. So, how did a generation of people get the idea that they could make money filming themselves? And is it really a viable career path? Today on The Sunday Story, Wailin Wong, a reporter and co-host of NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money podcast, helps us unravel the intricacies of the influencer economy and what it takes to succeed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The coronation of King Charles III takes place in London's Westminster Abbey. Businesses are shedding excess office space, which could destabilize regional banks. Utah's age verification requirement for adult content websites is the subject of a lawsuit.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Four members of the far-right group Proud Boys were convicted of sedition conspiracy to overthrow the government of the United States. Outrage is growing over the chokehold homicide of a mentally ill homeless man during a violent episode on a New York subway train. And, England prepares to welcome King Charles III as the new King of England.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ukraine is denying involvement in two alleged assassination drones that Russia says were brought down above the Kremlin in Moscow. Mediators say a seven day ceasefire was agreed upon by the warring sides in Sudan after multiple failed truces to allow desperately needed humanitarian aid. And, a new poll shows Americans are losing faith in the Supreme Court especially after reports revealing several justices had questionable business dealings.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

After a four-day search, police say they've arrested a suspect in last week's massacre in Texas that left five people dead including a mother and her 9-year-old child. Findings by the National Assessment for Educational Progress show that most students in the US are struggling in subjects like civics and history. And the Federal Reserve is expected to make its tenth interest rate hike as it struggles to rein in inflation.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Writers Guild of America called on their members to stage a strike after failed negotiations over updates to compensation agreements in the streaming era. President Joe Biden has invited lawmakers to the White House for talks to settle the debt ceiling debate after a deadline was set for default. And, The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing today on Supreme Court Ethics after findings that several justices hadn't disclosed questionable business dealings and gifts.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy