Podcast: Up First

Republican leaders must find a fragile balance in the reconciliation bill between making deep cuts and protecting programs for the vulnerable. Also, an overwhelming majority of Americans say democracy is under serious threat, and USAID officially ends today.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 Jason Breslow, Dana Farrington, Rebecca Davis, Janaya Williams and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Claire Murashima and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Several Senate Republicans are attacking the cuts to Medicaid in the President's massive tax and spending bill, Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles and drones across Ukraine, and two firefighters are dead in North Idaho after an ambush by a sniper. 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 Jason Breslow, Ryland Barton, Kevin Drew, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Destinee Adams and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In 2025 America's car industry is encountering a new reality and has quickly shifted priorities to reflect changing winds in politics and the market. While the Biden administration was fully invested in electric vehicles and incentivized manufacturers to increase EV production, the Trump administration has set out to put all those policies in reverse. Today on The Sunday Story, NPR's Camila Domonoske explains how the car industry is navigating the country's changing priorities and what's next for electric vehicles in America.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court rules that individual judges don't have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions, but the court did not clarify the constitutionality of birthright citizenship. The Senate has a timeline to advance Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill." Israel's prime minister denies a newspaper report that Israeli troops have been firing at will on hungry Gazans at aid distribution centers.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The administration has revealed new details about U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear program, the Supreme Court hands down it's final rulings of the session today, and a new aid group in Gaza is drawing international controversy because hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while approaching the group's food distribution sites. 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, Krishnadev Calamur, Alex Leff, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our executive producer is Jay Shaylor.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court has come to a highly anticipated decision in the case related to birthright citizenship. The issue before the court was how lower courts should handle President Trump's executive order declaring that the children of parents who enter the U.S. illegally or on a temporary visa are not entitled to automatic citizenship. A conservative supermajority sided with the Trump administration's request to limit universal injunctions issued by federal courts. This episode was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Natalie Winston, Ally Schweitzer, Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Claire Murashima, Kaity Kline, and Lilly Quiroz. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange and our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor. 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

President Trump ended the NATO summit in The Hague with a warmer view of the alliance. A federal judge has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the government wrongly deported to El Salvador. And Senate Republicans have hit some roadblocks in the race to pass President Trump's signature policy bill by next 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 Roberta Rampton, Gigi Douban, Kelsey Snell, Jason Breslow, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. 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

New intelligence suggests U.S. strikes only set Iran's nuclear back by months, contrary to claims by President Trump, the President meets today with NATO members, and the nomination of a current Justice Department official to an appellate judgeship is drawing fresh attention to controversies inside the department.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, Andrew Sussman, Anna Yukhananov, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Zac Coleman. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump announced on social media that Iran and Israel have agreed to a total ceasefire, and the US Supreme Court says the Trump administration will be allowed to quickly deport immigrants to countries they are not from. Also, New York City's Democratic mayoral primary is today. It's a tight race that's brought attention to the city's ranked-choice voting system.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, Gigi Douban, Andrea De Leon, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump says U.S. military strikes on Iran "obliterated" Tehran's nuclear program, Iran continues to send missiles into Israel, while Iran's ambassador to the United Nations denounced U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites as "premeditated acts of aggression." 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, Alex Leff, Andrew Sussman, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. 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

This week marks three years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, in an historic ruling that changed the landscape of abortion access. Since that decision came down, abortion rates across the country have actually increased, despite many states enacting abortion bans or severely restricting abortion access. One way many women are still accessing abortion is through abortion pills. The Network is a new series by Futuro Media and our colleagues at NPR's Embedded that looks at the surprising history of how the use of abortion pills began in Latin America and eventually spread around the world, including to the U.S.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump ordered the U.S. military to bomb three Iranian sites he said were crucial to that nation's nuclear ambitions.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel warns of a "prolonged" conflict with Iran. But with the war now in its second week, do the two countries have the weapons to fight a sustained campaign? Plus, President Trump is pushing to pass his massive tax cut and spending bill by as early as next week. But can he overcome the opposition within his own party? Also, a heat dome is expanding across the country and millions of Americans could experience record-breaking temperatures in the coming days.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A court says President Trump can keep control of the National Guard in Los Angeles, for now. Differences of opinion about whether to join Israel's war against Iran are dividing the MAGA movement, and EU Ministers are seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict at a meeting with their Iranian counterparts in Geneva. 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, Ryland Barton, Alex Leff, Miguel Macias, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Claire Murashima and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The latest developments in the Israel-Iran conflict, and the evolution of President Trump's thinking on whether to involve the US. Plus, the Social Security trust fund is expected to run out of cash in eight years, unless Congress acts before then.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, Alex Leff, Jane Greenhalgh, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Claire Murashima and Christopher Thomas. 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

President Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Iran. Israel and the U.S. intelligence community disagree about whether Iran has suspended its nuclear weapons program or not, and immigration enforcement continues to target work sites in agriculture, construction and hospitality. 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, Andrew Sussman, Anna Yukhananov, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Claire Murashima and Christopher Thomas. 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 has expanded its attacks on targets inside Iran to include the country's state television studios. The suspect accused of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband faces federal and state murder charges, and Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family have reached a multibillion dollar settlement with 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 Vincent Ni, Cheryl Corley, Andrea DeLeon, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Claire Murashima, and Christopher Thomas. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

An arrest has been made in the shooting of two Democratic Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses, Israel and Iran are trading missile strikes with few signs of deescalation, President Trump has arrived at the G7 in Canada, and the Justice Department sent an unprecedented demand for election data to the state of Colorado.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, Alex Leff, Roberta Rampton, Janaya Williams and Arezou Rezvani. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Claire Murashima and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. faces a housing crisis and growing threats of climate change. One global city is tackling both problems at once, and U.S. cities are paying attention. In this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR's Julia Simon travels to Vienna, Austria to see how they make affordable housing that's resilient to climate change. And she meets politicians trying to build this "green social housing" in America.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Iran and Israel traded military strikes overnight, raising fears of a wider conflict. Plus, a military parade will take place in Washington, D.C. later today, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. army. Critics say it's a vanity project of President Trump and are organizing No Kings protests across the country.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy