Up First from NPR

Congressional Funding Deal, Israel and Lebanon, Lloyd Austin Fallout

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? <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news">Subscribe</a> 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: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

NPR's Up First is the news you need to start your day. The three biggest stories of the day, with reporting and analysis from NPR News — in 10 minutes. Available weekdays at 6:30 a.m. ET, with hosts Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin and A Martinez. Also available on Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET, with Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon. On Sundays, hear a longer exploration behind the headlines with Ayesha Rascoe on "The Sunday Story," available by 8 a.m. ET. Subscribe and listen, then support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org. Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to Up First+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/upfirst