Up First from NPR

President Trump has laid out a new vision for US ownership of the Gaza Strip, the first planeload of migrants from the US has arrived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and all staff members at the foreign aid agency USAID have been put on administrative leave. 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 Nishant Dahiya, Barrie Hardymon, Rebecca Davis, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Simon-Laslo Janssen. And our technical director is Neisha Heinis. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

At the last moment the US paused its trade wars with Canada and Mexico, the Trump administration is reportedly targeting the US Department of Education for closure and questions are being raised about the amount of government access given to Elon Musk and his DOGE entity. 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 Tara Neill, Brett Neely, Steven Drummond, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Nearly all foreign aid programs delivered by the US Agency for International Development, or USAID, have been halted, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, D.C. and Sec. Marco Rubio is in Panama following up on President Trump's statements about the Panama Canal. Also, a new NPR series is helping consumers find safely-sourced cannabis products. 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, Nishant Dahiya, Sami Yenigun, Andrea De Leon, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Lilly Quiroz, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Neisha Heinis. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The recent wildfires around Los Angeles are just the most recent example of how extreme weather driven by climate change is affecting housing across the country. Millions of homes are at risk of flooding, fire or drought. Increasingly, local municipalities are facing hard decisions about whether to tear homes down or ban new construction altogether. Today on The Sunday Story, we share an episode that originally aired last year in which reporters Rebecca Hersher and Lauren Sommer visit three communities in the US trying to balance the need for housing with the threat of climate-driven disaster. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The White House says President Trump will implement tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China on Saturday. Also, the FAA prohibits most helicopters from flying near Reagan Washington National Airport. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Cockpit recordings have been recovered from the jet involved in a collision just outside of Washington, DC, a German far-right party is participating in mainstream politics for the first time since World War Two and researchers are studying nuclear weapons at an underground facility in Nevada. 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 Denice Rios, Ryland Barton, Gisele Grayson, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Claire Murashima and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Our executive producer is Kelley Dickens. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

An American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter in the skies over Washington, DC, President Trump says the US will send deported migrants to a temporary facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and an NPR investigation finds lengthy criminal records for some January 6th defendants who received pardons. 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 Russell Lewis, Monika Evstatieva, Barrie Hardymon, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Claire Murashima, and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump's actions this week show the scope of his bid to reshape the federal government, Senate confirmation hearings begin for RFK Jr. and results are in from a national assessment of reading and math, nearly five years since the start of the pandemic. 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, Diane Webber, Nicole Cohen, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Claire Murashima, and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

At least a dozen Justice Department employees involved in prosecuting President Trump received dismissal notices, humanitarian parole programs are ending for 1.4 legal immigrants to the US and a Chinese company has developed a free competitor to ChatGPT. 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 Eric Westervelt, Anna Yukhananov, Kevin Drew, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Claire Murashima. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Palestinians are returning to their homes in northern Gaza, a proposal by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would give local law enforcement officials the power of immigration agents, and rebels backed by Rwanda have captured a key city in the Congo. 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 Jerome Socolovsky, Larry Kaplow, Russell Lewis, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Claire Murashima. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The fall of Syria's leader in December opened the doors to a vast network of detention centers and prisons across the country, uncovering further evidence of the true scale of killings under former president Bashar al-Assad. On this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR's Ruth Sherlock takes us to a notorious prison where thousands were detained and killed, and she visits a suspected mass gravesite outside Damascus. She meets former prisoners and those forced to play a role in what has been called the regime's "machinery of death." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Hamas releases four Israeli soldiers as part of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The U.S. State Department halts most foreign aid. Physicians line up against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination for health secretary. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump visits disaster zones; the Trump administration wants to end the military's diversity and anti-extremism programs; and an Israeli private eye is wanted by the U.S. for hacking. For 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, Diane Webber, Clare Lombardo, Olivia Hampton and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Milton Guevara and Claire Murashima. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Congress passes an immigration crackdown in President Trump's first legislative win, the Trump administration temporarily silences health officials and the Oscar nominations are announced. For 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, Diane Webber, Clare Lombardo, Olivia Hampton and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Chris Thomas, Milton Guevara and Claire Murashima. We get engineering support from Zachary Coleman, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Immigration enforcement will now be able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches ; new misconduct allegations emerge against Pentagon chief nominee Pete Hegseth; and Israel launches a military operation on the occupied West Bank. For 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, Anna Yukhananov, Robert Little, Olivia Hampton and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Chris Thomas, Milton Guevara and Claire Murashima. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump begins his first full day in office, kicks off a slew of immigration-related executive actions and grants clemency to all defendants charged and convicted over the U.S. Capitol attack. For 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, Anna Yukhananov, Robert Little, Olivia Hampton and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States; the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is in effect; and TikTok is back after going offline temporarily, but will it stick around? For 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 Anna Yukhananov, Denice Rios, Jerome Socolovsky, Olivia Hampton and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Americans are living longer than ever. For some, these extra years offer a chance at reinvention and the possibility of a third act in life. Today on the show, WBUR reporter Anthony Brooks talks about the people he's met who've made big life-altering changes later in life often with the hope of doing some good before it's too late. To hear more of Anthony's reporting on people who reinvented themselves late in life check out his series The Third Act. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Israel's war cabinet gave final approval to a ceasefire deal with Hamas overnight. Five years after the first COVID-19 case in the U.S., there is concern about how well the nation in positioned for the next pandemic. The Federal Trade Commission says Pepsi gave unfair deals to a major retailer. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Negotiators have reached a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A law banning TikTok starts Sunday, but the Supreme Court is poised to rule on whether it is legal or not, and if it will be delayed. Plus, the wildfires in Los Angeles surfaced an industry that is attracting scorn: private firefighting. For 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 Kara Platoni, Jerome Socolovsky, Ally Schweitzer and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas, Iman Ma'ani and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy