• Ukraine-EU Meeting, National Guard Deployment Cases, Pentagon Press Corps
    Oct 23 2025
    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.

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    13 mins
  • VP Vance In Israel, Shutdown Politics, White House Under Construction
    Oct 22 2025
    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.

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    13 mins
  • Shutdown Economics, U.S.- Colombia Tensions, Louvre Heist Fallout
    Oct 21 2025
    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.

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    13 mins
  • Airstrikes On Gaza, Shutdown Pressure Points, Venezuela Boat Strikes
    Oct 20 2025
    Israel says the ceasefire is back on after it launched strikes on Gaza in response to clashes over the weekend that threaten to unravel a fragile deal. It's day 20 of the government shutdown, but the usual pressure points that push lawmakers toward a deal haven’t been felt yet. And the U.S. steps up military operations in the Caribbean, raising fears and tensions in the region.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebecca Rosman, Jason Breslow, Tara Neil, Mohamad ElBardicy and Ally Schweitzer.

    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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    13 mins
  • A Tiny Plot to Call Home
    Oct 19 2025
    Homeless encampments are a part of the landscape in many U.S. cities. In Oakland, California, one of the longest-standing and most well-known encampments was at Union Point Park. It was right by the water, and it had a beautiful view of the sunset. But it was also a concern for some local residents, who worried about crime and safety. When the city tried to clear Union Point Park, the people who lived there united and fought back. Reporter Shaina Shealy followed this community for about a year, as they advocated for their own small plot of land in the city where they could live by their own rules, on their own terms. Her 5-part series from KQED’s Snap Studios is called A Tiny Plot.

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    23 mins
  • "No Kings" Protests; Aid Slow for Gaza; U.S. - China Trade War Heats Up
    Oct 18 2025
    Thousands of "No Kings" rallies are planned across the U.S. today, protesting the Trump administration's policies. Plus, over a week in the Hamas-Israel ceasefire, desperately needed humanitarian aid has been slow to arrive in Gaza. We'll also look at the latest salvos in the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China.


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    15 mins
  • Bolton Indicted, Trump and Zelenskyy Meeting, Rebuilding Gaza
    Oct 17 2025
    John Bolton is indicted on 18 counts for allegedly mishandling classified information dating back to his time as national security advisor during President Trump’s first term. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Trump at the White House to discuss Ukraine's request for long-range missiles, Trump says he will meet with Russia's president in Hungary next. And the scale of Gaza’s reconstruction is staggering, with unexploded bombs buried in the rubble, nearly all buildings damaged or destroyed and major questions about who will lead the reconstruction.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Nick Spicer, Miguel Macias, Mohamad El Bardicy and Alice Woelfle

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Milton Guevara.

    We get engineering support from Zac Coleman. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

    And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor

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    15 mins
  • Venezuela Escalation, Shutdown Layoffs Paused, Military Pay
    Oct 16 2025
    President Trump escalates pressure on Venezuela, authorizing covert CIA operations and striking suspected drug boats. A federal judge pauses the Trump administration’s shutdown layoffs, at least for now. And active-duty troops get paid after a last-minute fix, but military families still feel the strain as the shutdown drags on.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Emily Kopp, Andrew Sussman, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Milton Guevara.

    We get engineering support from Zac Coleman. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

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    13 mins