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 Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin and A Martinez. Also available on Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET, with Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon. On Sundays, hear a longer exploration behind the headlines with Ayesha Rascoe on "The Sunday Story," available by 8 a.m. ET. Subscribe and listen, then support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.<br><br><em>Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to Up First+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/upfirst</em>

  • 13 minutes
    Comey Indicted Again, King Charles' Message To Congress, SCOTUS Temp Protected Status
    The Justice Department has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for a second time, accusing him of threatening President Trump with an Instagram post of the numbers 86 47 spelled out in seashells on a beach.
    King Charles told a joint session of Congress today that the United States and Britain must strengthen their partnership even as President Trump clashes with European leaders over Iran and NATO.
    The Supreme Court hears arguments today in a case that could let the Trump administration move forward with mass deportations of people who have lived legally in the United States for years under temporary protected status. (NOTE: this story contains a bleeped clip of President Trump using vulgarity)

    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 Anna Yukhananov, Jason Breslow, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Adriana Gallardo.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

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

    Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:58) Comey Indicted Again
    (05:46) King Charles' Message To Congress
    (09:31) SCOTUS Temp Protected Status


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    29 April 2026, 9:46 am
  • 12 minutes 56 seconds
    WHCA Shooter In Court, Trump-King Charles Relationship, Lebanon Ceasefire In Limbo
    The man who stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is being charged with trying to assassinate President Trump, with new court documents revealing he booked the hotel a month in advance and emailed his motives minutes before the attempt.
    King Charles addresses Congress today during his state visit to Washington as the royal trip tests whether personal diplomacy can ease sharp tensions between the Trump administration and the UK government.
    As diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran remains stalled, Israel carried out new strikes in eastern Lebanon and Hezbollah launched drones at Israeli troops, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

    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 Anna Yukhananov, Rebekah Metzler, Ruth Sherlock Mohamad ElBardicy, and Ally Schweitzer.
    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ben Abrams.
    Our director is Christopher Thomas.
    We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
    And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (02:09) White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooter In Court
    (05:41) Trump- King Charles Relationship
    (09:44) Lebanon Ceasefire In Limbo

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    28 April 2026, 10:03 am
  • 12 minutes 28 seconds
    White House Response To Shooting, Shooter Investigation, King Charles State Visit
    President Trump called for unity after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner with him and the Vice President on stage, then later returned to attacking the press and Democrats.
    The suspect in the attempted attack is in federal court today and not cooperating with investigators after his own family warned police just minutes before he tried to storm the ballroom.
    King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Washington today for a state visit as the White House weighs  security changes following Saturday’s shooting.

    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 Megan Pratz, Krishnadev Calamur, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Ally Schweitzer.

    It was produced by Paige Waterhouse and Nia Dumas.

    Our Director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (1:54) White House response
    (5:32) Shooting investigation
    (9:20) King Charles

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    27 April 2026, 9:53 am
  • 38 minutes 5 seconds
    The hidden cost of separating 'emotionally disturbed' students
    There’s a category of special education that stands out from the rest. It’s designed for kids who struggle with their emotions and behaviors, known at the federal level as “emotional disturbance.” More than 300,000 students in the U.S. currently have this label. Often, these students are taught in separate classrooms or even separate schools. 

    Today on The Sunday Story, reporter Laurie Stern shares how this disability label shaped the life of one student who she followed for nearly two years — and what his experience reveals about how the label can simultaneously support and limit students.

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    26 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • 16 minutes 25 seconds
    Hormuz Deadlock, Presidential Laugh Lines, Prediction Markets
    A deadlock between the U.S. and Iran continues over the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have caught the attention of regulators as people profit from privileged information. And the media try to release some pressure through humor at the White House Correspondents Association dinner.

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    25 April 2026, 12:52 pm
  • 13 minutes 6 seconds
    Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Crisis, Marijuana Reclassification, Georgia Wildfires
    President Trump says he is prepared to wait for the best deal to end the war with Iran, even as he orders the Navy to shoot any boat caught laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

    The Justice Department is moving marijuana out of its most dangerous drug classification for the first time, a major shift that could open up banking and tax relief for the legal cannabis industry, with a broader review of recreational marijuana expected by June.

    And wildfires are tearing through South Georgia and Northern Florida with little warning, destroying nearly 90 homes.

    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 James Hider, Ruth Sherlock, Alfredo Carbajal, Rachel Waldholtz, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai

    It was produced by Kaity Kline and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

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

    And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor


    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:57) Strait of Hormuz Shipping Crisis
    (06:15) Marijuana Reclassification
    (10:04) Georgia Wildfires

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    24 April 2026, 9:57 am
  • 12 minutes 40 seconds
    Tension In Two Ceasefires, Navy Secretary Out, Trump's Slumping Approval
    Iran seized two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz as both the U.S. and Iran claim control of the waterway. The White House insists the ceasefire, which Iran has not officially acknowledged, is holding. In Lebanon, a journalist was killed in an Israeli strike even as Israel and Lebanon meet in Washington today to extend their truce.
    The Secretary of the Navy is out with no explanation, the latest in more than 30 high-level departures at the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the war in Iran enters its eighth week.
    And with the midterms are six months away, President Trump's approval rating on the economy has dropped to 30 percent, the Iran war is two weeks past his own deadline, and his tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court.

    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 Ruth Sherlock, Andrew Sussman, Rebekah Metzler, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Lindsay Totty.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

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

    And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (02:00) Tension In Two Ceasefires
    (05:18) Navy Secretary Out
    (09:05) Trump's Slumping Approval

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    23 April 2026, 10:11 am
  • 12 minutes 33 seconds
    Trump Extends Ceasefire Indefinitely, VA Redistricting Results, Warsh Fed Hearing
    President Trump extends the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely as Iran calls the extension meaningless and accuses the U.S. of preparing a surprise attack.
    Virginia voters narrowly approved a ballot measure letting Democrats redraw the state's congressional map, potentially flipping four House seats this fall.
    And Kevin Warsh told the Senate he wouldn't be the president's sock puppet at the Federal Reserve, but Republican Senator Thom Tillis is still threatening to block his confirmation until the Justice Department drops its investigation of current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

    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 Rebekah Metzler, Ben Swasey, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Lindsay Totty.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

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

    And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:54) Trump Extends Ceasefire Indefinitely
    (05:44) VA Redistricting Results
    (09:18) Warsh Fed Hearing

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    22 April 2026, 9:50 am
  • 13 minutes
    Iran Ceasefire Deadline, Labor Secretary Out, Hearing For New Fed Chair
    The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran expires soon as President Trump calls an extension highly unlikely and Vice President JD Vance heads to Pakistan for talks Iran won't publicly confirm it will attend.
    Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned amid allegations of an affair with her bodyguard, drinking on the job, and using taxpayer money for personal travel, becoming the third cabinet member to leave in less than two months.
    And President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve faces his confirmation hearing today, but Republican Senator Thom Tillis is threatening to block it until the Justice Department drops its investigation of current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
    A previous version of the story "Iran Ceasefire Deadline" incorrectly said the ceasefire between the US, Iran and Israel expires today. It expires on Wednesday.

    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 Ruth Sherlock, Emily Kopp, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

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

    And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:58) Iran Ceasefire Deadline
    (05:59) Labor Secretary Out
    (09:33) Hearing For New Fed Chair

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    21 April 2026, 9:46 am
  • 13 minutes 43 seconds
    Trump and Iran Talks, Iran Reacts to Ship Seized, Tariff Refunds
    The U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to break through the naval blockade. Iran calls it piracy and vows to retaliate with the ceasefire set to expire Wednesday.
    Iran is back to blocking the Strait of Hormuz as both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire and a new round of talks in Pakistan have yet to be confirmed by Tehran.
    And businesses can finally start applying today for refunds on $166 billion in tariffs the Supreme Court ruled were collected illegally, in what could be a scramble for hundreds of thousands of importers.
    Correction: A previous version of the story "Iran reacts to ship seized" incorrectly said the death toll in Lebanon was more than 1,000. It is more than 2,000.

    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 Anna Yukhananov, Ruth Sherlock, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Lindsay Totty.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

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

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:55) Trump and Iran Talks
    (05:34) Iran Reacts to Ship Seized
    (09:30) Tariff Refunds

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    20 April 2026, 10:02 am
  • 31 minutes 56 seconds
    In one Iowa city, public schools compete in the free market. Are students better off?
    Public education used to enjoy strong bipartisan support, but across the country, there’s a growing push to offer students alternatives to traditional public schools. The idea behind “school choice” is that competition improves education. President Trump and Republicans have attacked public education for failing students and for being too “woke,” while Democrats who strongly oppose school choice often dismiss valid criticism of public schools.

    Today on The Sunday Story, NPR education correspondent Cory Turner travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to understand how school choice can change a city's education landscape. Are students better served when schools compete in a free market?

    You can find more of Cory's reporting from Cedar Rapids here.

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    NPR Privacy Policy
    19 April 2026, 7:00 am
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