Up First from NPR

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Up First from NPR episodes

December 04, 2025 Trump's Racist Somali Remarks, Signalgate Report, CDC Vaccine Meeting
President Trump leans into a familiar political strategy of attacking immigrant communities as he intensifies racist comments about Minnesota’s Somali population and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
A Pentagon watchdog report finds Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endangered U.S. troops by sharing classified strike plans over Signal, directly undercutting the White House’s claim that no harm was done.
And a CDC advisory panel appointed by the Trump administration prepares to revisit long-standing vaccine recommendations, including whether to scale back protections for newborns and young children.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Andrew Sussman, Scott Hensley, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.
Our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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13 min
December 03, 2025 Russia Rejects Peace Proposal, Hegseth Defends Boat Strikes, Tennessee House Election
A five-hour meeting between Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff ends without a breakthrough, as the Kremlin rejects key parts of the updated Ukraine peace plan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shifts his account of the U.S. strike on an alleged drug boat, saying he didn’t order the second, lethal attack as lawmakers press for answers.
And a special House election in deep-red Tennessee district tightened far more than expected, offering both parties clues about voter energy heading into the 2026 midterms.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebecca Rossman, Jason Breslow, Megan Pratz, Mohamad ElBardicy 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 Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

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15 min
December 02, 2025 Hegseth Boat Strikes, Witkoff To Moscow, National Guard Shooting Suspect
A U.S. official contradicts the White House account of who ordered the deadly boat strike in the Caribbean, while President Trump considers his next moves with Venezuela.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Moscow for high-stakes talks after revising the peace agreement with Ukrainian negotiators.
And new details about the Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers point to a long-running mental health crisis rather than radicalization.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebecca Metzler, Miguel Macias, Alina Hartounian, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Damian Herring. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
Our Senior Supervising Producer is Vince Pearson.

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16 min
December 01, 2025 National Guard Shooting & Immigration, Venezuela Latest, Ukraine Negotiations
The White House is moving swiftly to tighten legal immigration reviews after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C. last week, escalating scrutiny on asylum seekers, green card holders and refugees already living in the U.S.
U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean are under growing scrutiny, as some lawmakers warn one attack may constitute a war crime.
And Ukraine enters a new round of negotiations without its top negotiator, after a corruption scandal forces out President Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Tara Neill, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Lisa Thompson.
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.

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15 min
November 30, 2025Your Next Great Listen
Are you searching for your next favorite podcast? With an endless queue of options, it can be hard to choose. That’s where Lauren Gonzalez, co-writer of the Pod Club newsletter, can help. The Pod Club newsletter aims to cut through the clutter and help you decipher what’s worth listening to. Sign up for the newsletter here: npr.org/podclub.
Podcasts featured in this episode:
It’s Been A Minute: The key to thriving later in life
Life Kit: Overwhelmed by your smartphone?
Close All Tabs from KQED
Spooked: The Thin Place
Throughline: Does America Need a Hero?
Operation Night Cat from NHPR
A Whole Other Country from Marfa Public Radio
Our Common Nature from WNYC

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14 min
November 29, 2025 Airbus A-320 Inspections, Afghan Asylum Seekers in Limbo, Real Video or AI Generated?
A JetBlue plane plunged uncontrollably last month prompting the parent company to issue an order to inspect all Airbus A-320 jets. It’s bad timing for holiday travel. Afghans waiting for asylum say they are in limbo after the Trump administration paused all asylum decisions. This comes after an Afghan national killed a National Guard soldier and wounded another. Tips on how to tell a real video from one generated by AI.

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17 min
November 28, 2025 Trump Suspends Immigration After Guard Attack, Holiday Economy, Retail Spending
One of the two National Guard members allegedly shot by an Afghan man in Washington, D.C. has died. In response, President Trump says he wants to permanently suspend immigration from certain countries.
With the holiday season in full swing, consumer confidence in the U.S. has dropped to its lowest level in months. Yet, despite these worries about the economy retail sales this holiday season are expected to top $1 trillion for the first time.
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, Julia Redpath, Emily Kopp, HJ Mai and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Andie Huether.
Our technical director is Stacey Abbott
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

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NPR Privacy Policy
14 min
November 27, 2025 Targeted Attack On National Guard, Trump Case Dismissed, Russia Awaits Peace Terms
Two national guard members are in critical condition after being shot near the White House. President Trump says the suspect came to the U.S. from Afghanistan. He now calls for a re-examination of all Afghan nationals.
There will also be no legal consequences for Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. A federal judge dismissed the last outstanding election interference case against the president in Georgia.
Also, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to arrive in Moscow next week, where do things stand in the ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine?
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, Ben Swasey, Robbie Griffiths, HJ Mai 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 deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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
13 min
November 26, 2025 Ukraine Peace Negotiations, Trump's Ukraine Motivations, Holiday Travel
Leaked transcripts of a call between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and an advisor of Russian President Vladimir Putin detail how President Trump’s 28-point peace proposal came about. The president dismisses the leak, saying it shows standard negotiating tactics.
Trump, who once campaigned on ending the war within 24 hours, is now thought to care more about reaching a deal than what’s in it.
And millions of Americans will take to the skies this week. The FAA says this year’s Thanksgiving could be the busiest in more than a decade.
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 Kate Bartlett, Rebekah Metzler, Russell Lewis, HJ Mai 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.
Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

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13 min
November 25, 2025 One-on-one with Utah Governor Spencer Cox
After the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, Utah Governor Spencer Cox called for civility. Steve Inskeep spoke to him at a meeting of the Western Governors' Association.

The full video of our interview with the governor is on npr.org and on YouTube.

This bonus episode of Up First was edited by Arezou Rezvani. It was produced by Taylor Haney and Julie Depenbrock. We got engineering support from Jimmy Keeley. 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.

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NPR Privacy Policy
38 min

About Up First from NPR

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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…