Up First from NPR

This November, a notable number of Democrats are running for Congress who all have one thing in common: they are members of the clergy. In a moment when the party is counting on every seat it can flip, will these clergy members be able to win over the party’s secular base? NPR’s religion correspondent Jason DeRose followed four of the candidates who are running competitive races in Texas and Iowa.  See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

A weekend of wild weather as a couple of power storms are set to hit Hawaii and the Northeastern United States. The Supreme Court rejects the new congressional maps in Missouri that favored republicans. Mortgage rates and bond yields continue to rise, raising borrowing costs for both consumers and the government. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast

President Trump hosts China's leader Xi Jinping. While their differences abound on many issues, they extend their truce on tariffs by two months. CNN and MS NOW are denied access to Trump's State dinner with Xi. And diplomats walk out during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's blistering speech at the U.N. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Today's

Tucker Carlson is talking about what happened behind closed doors in his very public break with President Trump. In this episode of NPR's Newsmakers, Carlson told host Steve Inskeep about a meeting with Trump in which, he says, Trump dismissed his concerns about the Iran war by saying, "We'll all die anyway." Carlson has taken the view not only that Israel influenced Trump to launch the war, but that Israel gave Trump no choice, and in fact that outside forces control both American political parties, which he described as the "uniparty," a single organization. Carlson's theories have raised qu

A federal judge ordered the White House to temporarily restore press passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico after finding the outlets are likely to succeed on their due process claim. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President Trump at the White House today, with Taiwan, Iran, artificial intelligence and trade among the major issues on the table. At the United Nations General Assembly, Ukraine pushed for a limited ceasefire with Russia as Iran defends its position in the war with the U.S. and Venezuela’s interim leader promises elections without giving a timetable. Want more analysis of th

President Trump used his U.N. General Assembly speech to threaten Iran with “annihilation” while also revealing that U.S. and Iranian officials had resumed direct talks aimed at ending the conflict. A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows Democrats with a double-digit advantage over Republicans in the congressional vote as President Trump remains a major factor shaping voters’ choices ahead of the midterms. CNN, MS NOW and Politico are asking a federal judge to restore their White House access, while the Trump administration argues the bans are justified by national-security and professional-cond

Major news organizations are suspending use of White House pool coverage after President Trump banned reporters from CNN and two other outlets, with a court hearing set for Wednesday. President Trump addresses the United Nations this morning aiming to cast himself as a peacemaker, a day before Iran’s president speaks, with the war between them still unresolved. Paramount’s owners agreed to concessions to settle an antitrust lawsuit from a dozen states over their $111 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal critics say will not protect jobs or the independence of CBS and CNN. Want more a

World leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly with the war between the U.S. and Iran dominating the agenda and questions about whether diplomacy can gain traction with Iran's president in attendance. President Trump says his planned "triumphal arch" memorial near Arlington National Cemetery will also house drones, snipers and ammunition, after a judge ordered the administration to give notice before work begins. CNN, MS Now and Politico are suing the Trump administration for banning them from the White House. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a lit

This is the story of one of the biggest missing-person cases of our time. It’s been more than fourteen years since American journalist Austin Tice vanished in Syria. There have been many stories about what happened to him. His disappearance has reached the highest levels of power and yet, so little is actually known. BBC’s award-winning investigative journalist Josh Baker brings us Where is Austin Tice?, a new series from NPR’s Embedded and BBC Radio 4. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship pref

President Trump says he’s banning three news organizations – CNN, MS NOW and Politico – from the White House.  Leaders in France, Poland and across the continent have warned that Russia may about to broaden its war in Europe. The warning comes after what they say is a spate of brazen Russian attacks.  The Protect College Sports Act — a bill that promises to bring stability to college sports — is racing to clear some of its final hurdles. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Priv

A federal judge told President Trump he cannot demolish the Kennedy Center without 30 days’ notice, after the board shut the building and Trump threatened to rip it down if his name is not on it. The president has taken a series of hits this week, from the Supreme Court blocking his mail-in voting plan to the Fed increasing interest rates against his wishes, raising questions about how much institutions are willing to push back as the midterms approach. Poland’s prime minister says Russia is planning hybrid drone and missile attacks on European countries that support Ukraine, strikes Moscow wo

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years as it tries to bring down stubborn inflation, putting new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at odds with President Trump’s calls for lower rates. Rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war are driving protests and economic pressure around the world as Saudi Arabia faces attacks on its oil infrastructure and shipping routes. European Union President Ursula von der Leyen is proposing a new “associate member” relationship with Canada as the two draw closer amid tensions with the United States, while President Trump threatens new trade

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates for the first time in three years as the Iran war pushes inflation higher and borrowing costs are already climbing. Two new government reports put the cost of the Iran war at more than $30 billion and reveal extensive damage to U.S. bases and growing strain on key weapons stockpiles. The Kennedy Center board voted to close the building for renovations after a federal judge again blocked President Trump’s name from being added, while Trump says he will not move ahead unless that changes. Want more analysis of the most important news of the

President Trump dismissed warnings from leading AI companies that the technology is advancing too fast, calling fears of machines taking over a hoax and framing AI development as a race with China. The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s bid to impose new Postal Service requirements on mail-in ballots, meaning voting by mail that has already started in several states will continue under existing rules. The Kennedy Center says it is on the brink of bankruptcy, with a memo warning the building may be unsafe to occupy as soon as today while the fight over putting President Trump’s n

Leaders of some of the biggest AI companies say it is time to slow the pace of development after a string of incidents in which their systems went off script, even as President Trump says the United States should not ease up in the race with China. Talks between Iran and Gulf Arab states aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz were postponed as Iran-backed Houthis expand their control near another major shipping route and attacks put more pressure on Saudi oil exports. President Trump’s promise to give Americans $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress is getting a mixed response inside

Last week, a judge declared a mistrial in the murder case of Lindsay Clancy, leading the public to wonder: What really went on in the jury room? On this episode of The Sunday Story, Ayesha Rascoe talks to WBUR’s Deborah Becker, who was at the courthouse for the duration of the trial. She explains why this trial ended without a verdict – and what the public interest in the case says about an evolving view of postpartum psychosis.  See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Pol

India hosts the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi this weekend. The crash of an Amazon cargo jet in Miami is raising concerns about the safety culture at the retail giant's air operations. Congress weighs in on potential federal tax incentives to keep film production in the United States. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NP

Communities across the country will gather today to mark 25 years since the September 11 attacks, remembering the nearly 3,000 people who died that day and those later killed by illnesses from the toxic air at Ground Zero. President Trump closed the Republican midterm convention last night by urging supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot, even as large sections of the arena sat empty and he suggested he might not campaign as hard as he did for himself. The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Missouri’s Trump-backed Republican congressional map, after which the state’s secretary of state was fou

President Trump spoke on the first night of the Republican midterm convention, asking voters to pretend he is on the ballot and promising every adult $5,000 if Republicans keep Congress. Missouri election officials are caught between conflicting state and federal court rulings over which congressional map to use in November, with a Republican-drawn map that could help the party flip a Kansas City seat still in dispute. And Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone under new CEO John Ternus, a roughly $2,000 device that marks the company’s biggest iPhone redesign in nearly two decades. Want more

The U.S. has destroyed eight Iranian oil tankers since Saturday, as Iran fires back at American forces and Gulf countries reconsider the risks of hosting U.S. bases. Britain, Canada and France are moving to restrict trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with Britain accusing settlers of ethnic cleansing and Israel responding with diplomatic retaliation. And Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch is retiring after nearly four decades at the institution, as the Trump administration continues criticizing the Smithsonian over exhibits it says are anti-white and too focused on negat

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of U.S. goods took effect at midnight, matching President Trump’s latest duties after talks collapsed last month. Republicans are gathering in Dallas this week for an unusual midterm convention headlined both nights by President Trump, who wants voters to pretend he is on the ballot as the party looks to energize voters ahead of the midterm election. Investigators recovered the flight recorders from the Amazon cargo plane that overran a runway in Miami, killing five people on the ground as the NTSB examines what caused the crash. Want mor

Authorities in Florida are investigating why an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing five people and injuring five more. President Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, made their first wartime visit to Kyiv after talks in Moscow, offering no breakthrough as Ukraine pushes for renewed peace talks and more air defenses. And Germany’s far-right AfD more than doubled its vote in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt, a result that could produce the country’s first far-right regional government since Nazi Germany. Want more analysis of the

Sunscreen may seem simple: slather it on, stay protected. But the science is more complicated than the label suggests. Why is it so hard to stay safe in the sun? On The Sunday Story, we dig into the surprisingly high-tech world of sunscreen and the questions swirling around it. Justine Paradis of New Hampshire Public Radio breaks down the new ingredients, dispels SPF myths, and points to updated guidance around sunscreen use and how it relates to skin color. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship

U.S. envoys arrived in Moscow today to revive efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The administration is rushing to build a triumphal arch overlooking Arlington National Cemetery despite legal efforts to stop it. Wildfires have burned more than 8,000,000 acres this season. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Polic

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow new Postal Service requirements for mail ballots just as midterm voting begins, despite warnings from election officials that the plan could disrupt voting. The I.R.S. is proposing to revoke the tax-exempt status of private schools and universities with programs designed to benefit students based on race, potentially affecting thousands of institutions. An ICE officer is facing federal charges for allegedly lying about a shooting in Minneapolis after video evidence contradicted his account, in a rare prosecution of a federal immigra

The Pentagon is losing experienced leaders under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, raising concerns about depleted weapons stockpiles and the military’s ability to manage a prolonged war with Iran. President Trump says Venezuela isn't ready for elections, while his Energy Secretary signs new oil deals in Caracas with the unelected government. In Massachusetts, jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial told the judge they are deadlocked after five days of deliberations, raising the possibility of a mistrial in the case of a mother accused of killing her three children. Want more analysis of the most imp

The U.S. launched a second day of strikes on Iran after Tehran tried to put sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran firing back at American bases across the Gulf and claiming an American strike hit a wedding. Trump is under pressure to bring down gas prices before the midterms, touting a Venezuela oil deal and a meeting with energy executives even though neither is likely to deliver relief by November. And in Massachusetts, Senator Ed Markey held off a younger primary challenger while other races tested whether Democratic voters want to keep incumbents or push the party further left. Want

The Supreme Court is allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue, handing President Trump a victory on the emergency docket without deciding whether the project is legal. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after 18 months on the job amid growing tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, part of a wider churn at the Pentagon as the war with Iran continues. Finance ministers from the world’s biggest economies are meeting in North Carolina, where the U.S. is pressing them to tighten the squeeze on Iran even as some countries question whether Washington is a source of st

President Trump announced a new oil partnership that would give the U.S. majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan reserves, even as the deal raises questions about Washington’s goals for democracy there. The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire for the first time in nearly a month after American forces struck Iranian rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran retaliated against U.S. bases in Jordan and the UAE. The House is back for one week with midterms approaching, aiming to keep the government funded through Election Day while Republicans look for a message that can

Country singer and rapper Shaboozey is probably best known for his features on Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” album, or for his viral, chart-topping single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Now he has returned to the scene with a new, star-studded record about an outlaw out to avenge her father’s death.  It’s a genre-defying concept album that fuses hip hop with country, spoken-word and ballads – and that features Jamie Foxx, Kehlani, Leon Bridges, Gunna and Sam Elliott. On The Sunday Story, Shaboozey joins Ayesha Rascoe to talk about the inspiration – and intentions – behind “The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other We

An unusually strong El Niño is disrupting the weather around the globe, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's anti-vaccination crusade is muddled after two deaths from measles complications, and it's been six ugly months since the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Po

The flood disaster on the Nepal-Tibet border is far worse than first known, with hundreds now dead and more than a thousand missing, including dozens of Americans, as a lake swelling behind the debris raises fears of a second flood and rescuers race to reach survivors. Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh gives a speech in Wyoming today after disappointing investors last month with talk of curbing inflation, leaving markets eager to know what he'll actually do about high prices. And a federal judge is weighing whether President Trump can put his name on the Kennedy Center, where the board wan

President Trump has spent the week picking fights with Iran, China, Canada and even his own party, putting Republicans on the ballot in a tough spot ahead of the midterms. Meta has agreed to settle with states that accused it of making its apps addictive for kids, paying up to 17 billion dollars and agreeing to change how Facebook and Instagram work for minors. A glacier collapsed on the border of Nepal and Tibet and unleashed a catastrophic flood that buried whole villages in mud and left hundreds missing. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe

Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after a recent cancer diagnosis. She is remembered as a country legend who became a true American icon. Canada is striking back in the trade war with the United States, putting tariffs on $20 billion of American goods starting September 8 after talks with Washington collapsed. And the Trump administration is moving to revoke nearly 200,000 visas by targeting people who came as tourists and later claimed asylum, though some immigration attorneys question whether it will have any real effect. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus

The Trump administration rolled out what it calls the biggest economic offensive ever aimed at a country, naming 60 targets while warning others to cut ties with Iran or face U.S. sanctions of their own, though the toughest measures are still being held in reserve. In the Gulf, the UAE has already cut all trade with Iran while other neighbors remain in a difficult position, and China continues to buy the bulk of Iranian oil even as it criticizes the new pressure campaign. The Supreme Court handed President Trump a temporary win on his effort to restrict mail-in voting weeks before midterm ball

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to unveil new economic pressure measures on Iran today as President Trump pushes an “Economic D-Day” aimed at cutting off any country that still provides Tehran a lifeline. Iran is vowing to neutralize the United States' economic war and warning neighbors not to get involved, cautioning it could stop oil from leaving the region altogether. Trade tensions with Canada boiled over this weekend after the U.S. imposed a new 50% tariff when talks broke down, prompting Ottawa to threaten retaliation. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day

A thousand miles south of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a series of tiny islands form an atoll, called Palmyra. Palmyra Atoll is part of four protected U.S. marine monuments, forming the country’s largest environmental conservation area. It is also home to a thriving ecosystem of birds, marine life, and one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world. No people live on Palmyra full time, and it is rare for journalists to be granted access. But the Trump administration is now trying to roll back longstanding protections by opening nearby waters to commercial fishing. NPR’s Laure

The IndyCar Grand Prix comes to the nation's capital. And, Canada's prime minister suspended trade talks with the U.S., bringing new 50 percent tariffs on a host of Canadian imports. Plus, we'll look at the national debt, which hit $40 trillion earlier this week. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump is doubling down on economic pressure against Iran, threatening consequences for any country that provides a lifeline as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepares to detail the plan next week. The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on President Trump’s White House ballroom project, which a lawsuit argues needed congressional approval and the administration is now framing the ballroom as a military complex. Investors sold off both stocks and bonds as the yield on government debt hit its highest level in nearly two decades, despite efforts by the Treasury to calm the market. W

President Trump is warning of economic consequences for any country that supports Iran as he tries to wind down the war, leaving Gulf allies worried about their future with their powerful neighbor. The U.S. national debt has topped 40 trillion dollars, with the government now spending more on interest than on defense and driving up the cost of everything from mortgages to small business loans. U.S. oil companies are signing deals in Venezuela for the first time in nearly two decades, eight months after American forces captured Nicolás Maduro, even as the country’s politics remain unsettled. Wa

Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming held primaries last night, with a mixed showing for progressives in Florida, including a surprise win in the Democratic Senate primary. President Trump pushed back new tariffs on Canada by three days after saying the two countries may restart a controversial oil pipeline, though the bigger North American trade deal is still up in the air. A major trial against Meta began in California, with states accusing the company of designing its platforms to be addictive for young users and of misrepresenting the risks. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day

Jared Kushner and Prime Minister Netanyahu met for hours in Jerusalem over the future of Gaza and came out sounding hopeful, though Israel still hasn't committed to the U.S. peace plan that Hamas has already agreed to, with an Israeli withdrawal the main sticking point. The war with Iran is draining America's military and it's being felt across the world, as the U.S. runs low on warships and interceptor missiles and no American aircraft carrier in the Pacific for the first time in years. It's primary day in Alaska, Florida and Wyoming, with a high-stakes Senate race in Alaska that could help

The USS Washington aircraft carrier is on its way to the Middle East to relieve the USS Lincoln which has been at the center of concerns over crew mental health and a lack of fresh food and supplies on the ship. Ukraine launched one of its largest attacks on Russia since the war began, sending more than 800 drones toward Moscow and other areas. At least twenty people have been killed in the fire between both sides. President Trump's Middle East negotiator, Jared Kushner, is in Israel for talks on the future of Gaza, right after a rare face-to-face with Hamas in Egypt, as the two sides remain f

Four hundred years ago, the last of Britain’s native beavers were hunted to extinction. But in 2009, scientists began a grand experiment to bring the furry, buck-toothed rodents back. They relocated a pair of Norwegian beavers to a remote rainforest in Scotland, hoping they’d become the Adam and Eve of a new line of British beavers. Today on The Sunday Story, NPR’s Lauren Frayer travels from the wilds of Scotland to a tube station in London, to explore how these animals – beloved by some humans and loathed by others – are transforming the British landscape. Support public media with NPR+ and e

Paychecks aren't keeping pace with rising prices, and households are feeling the squeeze. Sailors on the ships deployed to the Middle East are straining without enough clean water and fresh food. In the thick of primary season for the midterms, how reliable is polling? Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Lawmakers want the Pentagon to investigate reports of food shortages, poor sanitation and lack of mental health care for sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been out at sea for nearly 9 months. And the Trump administration says it’s gearing up for economic warfare against Iran. What will it mean for ordinary Iranians already suffocating under high inflation? Plus, Ukraine is using drones to challenge Russia’s grip on Crimea. Can Ukraine win back territory it lost more than a decade ago? Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the

Congressman Ro Khanna says America needs an “economic realignment.” Fresh off a tour through his birthplace of Pennsylvania, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he is “thinking seriously” about running for president in 2028 — a race he called a “breaking point in America” that could lead to a destructive revolution or a new economic order.  “If we don't do something dramatically different, we may break,” Khanna tells NPR’s Steve Inskeep in this episode of Newsmakers.  “Have you met these folks in their 30s? They want pitchforks and torches. They want your scalps … politically.”  The California lawm

Recent primary results were supposed to offer clues on voters’ appetite for progressive candidates. But the results — so far — paint a muddled picture. What does that mean for the party’s midterm strategy? And new inflation numbers are out and lettuce was a highlight. How are the leafy greens impacting the cost of living? Plus, rescue teams in Colombia are racing to find the nearly 500 earthquake victims still buried under rubble. Want more 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 R

Results are in from primary races in six states. How did progressive candidates fare against more moderate Democrats in this run-up to the midterm elections? And President Trump has confirmed he secretly swapped planes as he left a NATO summit in Turkey last month. How unusual was this ruse? Plus, Iraq’s new leader wants to disarm the country’s Iran-backed militias that have hit U.S. military installations across the region in recent months. How challenging will that be? Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today’s e

A self-described democratic socialist is shaking up the race for Wisconsin governor and a progressive is up against a moderate in Minnesota. How much of an appetite do voters have for non-mainstream candidates going into the midterm elections? Primary races in six states today will offer clues. And Iran’s demand for war reparations has prompted President Trump to make a reparation demand of his own. Can Trump afford a stalemate that will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed? Plus the view from Colombia, where rescue workers and volunteers are digging through rubble for survivors of a major earthqu