Up First from NPR

Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica, leaving neighborhoods underwater and hundreds of thousands without power as it moves toward Cuba. President Trump insisted nothing will jeopardize the ceasefire in Gaza, even after Israel launched new strikes while both sides accuse each other of violations. And air-traffic controllers are working without pay as the government shutdown strains the aviation system and threatens more flight disruptions.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Tara Neil, Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Ally Schweitzer.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas

We get engineering support from Damian Herring-Nathan. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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More than 40 million Americans will soon be without federal food assistance because SNAP benefits are set to expire on November 1 as the government shutdown drags on. President Trump signs a trade deal in Japan to secure rare earth minerals, a key bargaining chip ahead of his meeting with China's president later this week. And Hurricane Melissa bring over 170 mile per hour winds as it barrels towards Jamaica, and threatening other island nations in the Caribbean.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Padma Rama, Tara Neil, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle .

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Christopher Thomas

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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President Trump’s Asia trip kicks off with peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand and a trade framework with China, before meeting with President Xi Jinping on Thursday. The massive U.S. military build up in the Caribbean waters off the coast of Venezuela is causing concern from Caracas to the U.S. Congress, Venezuelan troops conduct drills on their beaches this weekend. And federal workers face growing financial strain as the government shutdown threatens holiday travel and food benefits.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Tara Neil, Kelsey Snell, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle .

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Christopher Thomas

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Correction: In a previous audio version of this episode we refer to Venezuelan Minister Diosdado Cabello as Minister of Defense instead of Minister of Interior.

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In New Zealand, a nationwide extermination campaign is underway–one of the most ambitious in the world. The country is home to more than 4,000 native species that are threatened or at risk of extinction. To protect their biodiversity, New Zealand has embarked on an experiment that aims to eradicate all invasive species by the year 2050. Can they pull it off? And how far should humans go to reverse the damage we’ve caused?

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In New Zealand, a nationwide extermination campaign is underway. It's one of the most ambitious in the world. The country is home to more than four thousand native species that are threatened or at risk of extinction. To protect its biodiversity, New Zealand has embarked on an experiment that aims to eradicate all invasive species by the year 2050. Can the country pull it off? And how far should humans go to reverse the damage we’ve caused?

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Some members of the House of Representatives are using down time during the shutdown to connect from their constituents back home - we'll tell you what they're hearing. We'll also preview President Trump's trip to Asia, which will be dominated by his administration's at times contentious relationship with China. Plus, the U.S. is ramping up its military presence in the Caribbean. The Pentagon says it's to counter drug traffickers - we'll tell you how the move is being seen in the region.

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More than a million federal workers are missing their first full paycheck as the shutdown stretches into week four, with pressure building on Washington to end the standoff. A wild NBA gambling scandal involving secret gadgets lands an active player and a Hall of Fame coach in legal trouble. And Russia's president shrugs off new U.S. sanctions after President Trump cancels his summit with Vladimir Putin.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Emily Kopp, Russell Lewis, Kate Bartlett, Mohamad ElBardicy and Martha Ann Overland.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Christopher Thomas

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor

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European leaders meet with Ukraine’s president with billions in frozen Russian assets on the table as the European Union and United States impose new sanctions on Moscow. Courts could rule this week on key legal challenges to President Trump’s National Guard deployments in multiple cities. And the Pentagon press corps gets a right-wing makeover as new reporters replace legacy outlets.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Alina Hartounian, Emily Kopp, Mohamad ElBardicy and Martha Ann Overland.

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.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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Vice President JD Vance says he’s optimistic about the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as the U.S. pushes for the next phase of the deal. It’s week four of the government shutdown, and the White House is ramping up pressure with cuts and layoffs. And the demolition of the East Wing raises legal and ethical questions about President Trump’s ballroom project.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Padmananda Rama, Miguel Macias, Dana Farrington, Mohamad ElBardicy and Martha Ann Overland.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Christopher Thomas

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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The economic cost of the government shutdown is mounting, as workers miss paychecks and contracts stall. President Trump’s feud with Colombia is deepening, with threats to cut aid testing a decades-long alliance. And in France, outrage is growing after the Louvre jewel heist, with political backlash and a security crackdown underway.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Raphael Nam, Tara Neil, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Martha Ann Overland.

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.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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