Episodes

  • Government Shutdown Looms, Brazil's Ex-President on Trial, Earthquake in Afghanistan

    Government Shutdown Looms, Brazil's Ex-President on Trial, Earthquake in Afghanistan
    Sep 2 2025
    Congress returns to Washington following the August recess as a deadline to avoid a government shutdown looms. The former President of Brazil is on trial for attempting to overthrow the government. And, the Taliban is calling for international aid as rescue efforts continue following a deadly earthquake in Afghanistan.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Tara Neill, Ryland Barton, Lisa Thomson 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.


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    13 mins
  • European Troop Coalition, Heads of State Meet in China, Trump and Labor Day

    European Troop Coalition, Heads of State Meet in China, Trump and Labor Day
    Sep 1 2025
    European leaders are drafting plans to send a coalition of troops to Ukraine as part of a possible post-war security guarantee. China's President Xi Jinping is hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit with the leaders of Russia and India gathering in a challenge to US influence. And, how The Trump administration is faring with workers as the President marks his first Labor Day since returning to the White House.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Miguel Macias, Emily Kopp, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woefle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Thomas Marchitto. And our technical director is Zach Coleman.

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    14 mins
  • A CLEAR Path to the Front of the Line

    A CLEAR Path to the Front of the Line
    Aug 31 2025
    Air travel is stressful enough–and then there are people who can pay to jump the queue. How do some people get ushered straight to the front of the airport security line, while others find themselves waiting? The answer lies in the rise of a private company, CLEAR. Today on The Sunday Story, we look at how CLEAR inched its way into airport security. What actually happens when public and private interests try to coexist?

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    24 mins
  • Trump Tariff Ruling, Texas Abortion Medication Bill, New Dietary Guidelines

    Trump Tariff Ruling, Texas Abortion Medication Bill, New Dietary Guidelines
    Aug 30 2025
    A federal appeals court ruled that most of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal, but is holding off enforcing the decision until October. Also, Texas lawmakers are on track to pass further restrictions aimed at reducing the use of abortion medication. The bill would allow members of the public to file lawsuits against the medicine’s providers. And Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he will release new dietary guidelines, but will they change the nation’s eating habits?

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    16 mins
  • Minneapolis Shooting Latest, New Acting CDC Director, North Korean Leader to Beijing

    Minneapolis Shooting Latest, New Acting CDC Director, North Korean Leader to Beijing
    Aug 29 2025
    The father of the eight-year-old boy who has killed in the shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis has spoken publicly about his son. A top advisor to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been selected to serve as acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And, the leaders of North Korea, China and Russia will gather together for the first time at a Chinese military parade in Beijing next week.

    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 Daniel Burke, Diane Webber, Kate Bartlett, Lisa Thomson and Adam Bearne. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

    And our special thanks to our colleagues at WWNO for hosting us this week, especially operations director Garrett Pittman and news director Ryan Vasquez.



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    14 mins
  • Minneapolis Mass Shooting, CDC Director Fired, Biden Admin and Gaza Aid

    Minneapolis Mass Shooting, CDC Director Fired, Biden Admin and Gaza Aid
    Aug 28 2025

    Investigators in Minneapolis are working to determine why a heavily armed 23-year-old opened fire at a Catholic school on Wednesday morning. The new Director of the Center for Disease Control has been fired less than a month after being sworn into the job. And, NPR reporters spoke with more than two dozen former senior Biden administration officials for a behind the scenes look at the discussions that shaped U.S. policy towards Israel’s war in Gaza.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Cheryl Corley, Jane Greenhalgh, Andrew Sussman, Lisa Thomson, and Adam Bearne. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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    13 mins
  • Fed Governor Legal Fight, DNC Summer Meeting, Taylor Swift Engaged

    Fed Governor Legal Fight, DNC Summer Meeting, Taylor Swift Engaged
    Aug 27 2025

    Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook’s attorney has plans to file a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s bid to remove Cook from her position. The Democratic National Committee wraps up its first major gathering since President Trump’s return to the White House. And, music superstar Taylor Swift is engaged to football player Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Megan Pratz, Jacob Ganz, Hazel Cills, Lisa Thomson and Adriana Gallardo. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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    13 mins
  • Fed Governor Fired, Trump Expands National Guard, Abrego Garcia Back in Custody

    Fed Governor Fired, Trump Expands National Guard, Abrego Garcia Back in Custody
    Aug 26 2025

    President Trump has moved to fire a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. The President has also taken action to eliminate cashless bail and expand the role of the National Guard as part of his crackdown on crime in Washington, DC. And, Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been taken into custody and faces deportation to Uganda.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Padma Rama, Rafael Nam, Eric Westervelt, Lisa Thomson and HJ Mai.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Mansee Khurana.

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

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    13 mins