Leila Fadel

I want to ask you about the difference and the similarities with Trump's first term, which you also covered. What are you seeing as the key differences so far?

NPR's Tamara Key. Thanks for joining us, Tam.

The president's sometime advisor, Steve Bannon, expects a busy summer.

So, Steve, what faction does Steve Bannon represent?

And what's he saying as Trump finishes 100 days?

If Bannon is conservative, what's he say about Trump's treatment of the Constitution?

And congressional Republicans returned from recess with a goal of passing the president's so-called big, beautiful bill in a month. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. President Trump took a victory lap in Michigan last night.

OK, so now Bannon has been provocative, controversial for years. He supported Trump's effort to overturn the election he lost in 2020. He's favored attacking the government bureaucracy, urged giving it, quote, blunt force trauma. But here's a question. What is the future that he wants to see?

Fascinating. So the full interview, video interview is at the NPR app and elsewhere. Republicans in Congress returned to Washington this week after a two-week recess.

NPR's Elena Moore is following this and she joins me now in studio. Hi, Elena. Good morning. Good morning. So Republicans have been talking about their plans to pass President Trump's agenda for some time now. Just remind us of where they are in this process.

Okay. Elena, Memorial Day is about a month away. Does it seem like they will actually be able to meet this goal?

Okay, so they're working with different numbers, but what about policy? What are the biggest divisions right now?

Those changes include a trade war, punishing perceived political enemies and invoking wartime authorities.

What else are they considering?

That's NPR's Elena Moore. Thank you, Elena.

And that's Up First for Wednesday, April 30th. I'm Layla Faldin.

And today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Reena Advani, Kelsey Snell, Vincent Nee, Jenea Williams, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Damian Herring, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Who is also supportive, wouldn't you agree? I agree. We can't do this without her. Happy you join us.

Happy you join us tomorrow. I'm now my uncle.

I feel like the other day somebody was like, are you going to Vermont for skiing? And I texted wrong and I said, I'm not going for a skiing. And she was like, who are you? Okay, anyways. Hope you join us again tomorrow.

Joining me now to talk about this milestone is NPR senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith. Hi, Tam. Good morning. Good morning. So that was a long but incomplete list of what President Trump has done since January. So suffice to say, a lot has happened. How did the president take stock of things at his rally last night?

Federal workers are being ordered back to the office, but when they get there, they're finding there aren't enough chairs, desks, or toilet paper. How did one employee get told to report to work at a storage unit?

The employee was given a list of possible locations. including one described as a storage unit.

In the latest, both have tentatively agreed to stop fighting in the Black Sea and allow free commercial shipping through that region to resume.

I'm Michelle Martin. And I'm Layla Faldin. For your next listen, try Consider This from NPR. We here at Up First give you three big stories of the day. Our Consider This colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you. Learn about a big story of the day in less than 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were both part of that group chat, and they appeared before Senate lawmakers yesterday for a previously scheduled hearing where they faced tough questions about how this security breach could have happened.

The federal government is broadening the number of people targeted for deportation and widening the locations where agents may arrest them.

The president's pick to lead the Pentagon faces one more round of criticism. Pete Hegseth denied many accusations about his personal conduct and also spoke of his redemption. Now his former sister-in-law has sent an affidavit adding to the allegations. How's that affect his nomination?

Yeah, Pete Hexeth endured a round of questions about his past as well as his qualifications and his nominations made it out of a Senate committee on a party line vote. The full Senate has yet to vote and now his former sister-in-law has added her own views. She submitted an affidavit to senators saying Hexeth caused his ex-wife to fear for her safety.

But Israel has announced a new military operation, this time in the occupied West Bank. Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, says the military is using key lessons learned from the war in Gaza.

And I'm Laila Fadil. Make your next listen, consider this. The team behind NPR's All Things Considered goes deep into a single news story in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

President Trump met with House Republicans in the Capitol yesterday, urging them to get behind his massive tax and immigration bill or risk a tax increase.

NPR's Deirdre Walsh is at the Capitol and she joins me now. Good morning, Deirdre. Good morning, Laila. So did Trump's pep rally with House Republicans build the support he needs for that bill?

Okay, so did leaders agree to any of these demands to move some of these holdouts?

So Deirdre, talk about the major components in the bill and what their impact would be.

And Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency is trying to expand its reach. Musk has taken a step back, but an NPR analysis found the unit has sought recently to intervene in dozens more entities, even some outside government. Is that legal? Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet President Trump today at the White House for talks amid deteriorating relations between the two countries.

With me now is reporter Kate Bartlett, who's in Johannesburg. Good morning, Kate. Good morning. Okay, so get us up to speed. What brought this meeting about?

So how will Ramaphosa approach the meeting?

And what do ordinary South Africans think about all this?

That's reporter Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg. Thank you, Kate. Thank you.

But his creation, the ad hoc Department of Government Efficiency, keeps finding new parts of the federal government to try to shrink. A new analysis by NPR found at least 40 agencies and groups

And that's Up First for Wednesday, May 21st. I'm Leila Folden.

He predicts any Republican who resists would be knocked out, so why are some saying no?

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Rylan Barton, Kevin Drew, Brett Neely, Tara Neal, Allie Schweitzer, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Hynas, and our technical director is David Greenberg. Join us again tomorrow.

You are so corny. A federal judge says Elon Musk did not have the authority to dismantle a key U.S. agency.

I'm Leila Faldin, that's Anne Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Within hours of President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a limited ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine launched strikes at each other. So is this agreement changing anything?

This comes hours after President Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, announced a limited ceasefire in Ukraine where Putin agreed to stop targeting Ukraine's energy facilities for 30 days. That's far short of the end to fighting on land, air and sea that the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to last week.

We must not annoy Trump.

It was one of the deadliest days of the entire Gaza war with more than 400 killed. Those included five Hamas officials and women and children killed in their homes overnight. Israel says it wants Hamas to agree to a new ceasefire deal and release more hostages. But Hamas hasn't changed its position. And many in the Israeli public are opposed to the return to war.

And I'm Leila Faldel. There's an easy way to stay connected to news and podcasts from the NPR network, the NPR app. Hear community coverage from your local station, stories from around the world, and podcast suggestions based on what you like. Download the NPR app in your app store.

But President Trump is promising to appeal the decision, calling the judge rogue for interfering in Doge's efforts to effectively shut down USAID. For the past six weeks, the Trump administration has been dismantling the agency. It's now a shadow of its former self.

I'm Leila Faudel, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. It's common for countries like China to criticize U.S. efforts to spread democracy. Now, democracy advocates say the Trump administration speaks the same way.

Yeah, the United States has promoted democracy and human rights abroad, and it's been seen as a way to counter the influence of authoritarian countries, especially China. Now the U.S. is blocking those efforts as part of an effort led by Elon Musk, the presidential aide who is the world's richest man.

People around Lubbock, Texas are watching the spread of measles.

Who's gaining from that information war?

Yeah, Brazil's attorney general indicted the far right former president Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of plotting a coup to stay in power, as well as inciting violence and even approving a plan to poison the current president.

Health officials thought they had eradicated this disease 25 years ago, but it's occasionally returned most recently to five counties around Lubbock, Texas.

And I'm Leila Faldin. Make your next listen, Consider This. The team behind NPR's All Things Considered goes deep into a single news story in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Okay, so you describe these really important functions. So what does a 50% budget cut at an agency like GSA look like?

So a lot changing, a lot unclear. We're hearing from a lot of federal workers. They're not taking that resignation offer. They don't trust it. What happens to the people who are left when the dust clears?

So really a sense of being constantly watched. How does all of this fit in with the larger changes that the Trump administration is making across the federal government?

NPR's Jenna McLaughlin, thank you for your reporting.

Top officials from the Trump administration are in Europe this week.

And sending astronauts to Mars is a key goal of Elon Musk, who also has the president's ear on the subject. That means the U.S. may become closer than ever to putting a human on the red planet.

Terry Schultz reports from Brussels, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets allies today. Good morning, Terry. Good morning, Leila. So just walk us through who's going where and why.

Okay, so quite a lineup there, Terry. What are their main messages for the European partners?

OK, so what will NATO allies hear and take away from remarks like that?

Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Okay. Terry Schultz in Brussels. Thank you, Terry.

And now let's consider Mars. The red planet got a shout out in President Trump's inaugural address.

NPR's Nell Greenfield-Boyce is here to talk about what the new administration might do in space, especially in terms of future Mars missions. Hey, Nell. Hey there. So I feel like people have been talking about going to Mars forever now. Why would President Trump mention Mars specifically? Is it because of Elon Musk?

Okay, opportunity and peril. Let's start with opportunity. What's that?

Yeah, and a lot of money. So what's the peril?

OK, so why has it been a dream for so long and why hasn't it happened?

The agency that manages almost all government contracts is also having its budget cut in half.

So when will we know about that? And when will we hear if there's going to be changes about where astronauts go?

The General Services Administration manages most of the federal government's contracts and real estate. but its budget will soon be cut in half.

All right. Now keep us posted. Thank you. That's NPR's Nell Greenfield voice. And that's a first for Wednesday, February 12th. I'm Leila Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Brett Neely, Rylan Barton, Giselle Grayson, Jenea Williams, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from David Greenberg, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

That's according to reporting from NPR's Jenna McLaughlin, who joins us this morning. Good morning. Hi, Leila. Hey, so the GSA probably isn't a household name for a lot of people. Just walk us through why it's so important.

President Trump is doubling down on steel and aluminum tariffs, literally.

With me now is NPR's chief economics correspondent, Scott Horsley. Good morning, Scott.

So what's the president's goal in doubling the steel and aluminum tariffs?

So what does this mean for those businesses and their customers?

Everyone else in this house, get rid of.

And what other industries will be affected by these new higher tariffs?

Right, and canned goods are what we go to when we want to save money, really. Trump has a history with steel and aluminum tariffs going all the way back to his first term in the White House. What can we learn from that?

NPR's Scott Horsley. Thank you, Scott.

The Trump administration has formally asked Congress to take back money for foreign aid and public media.

Joining us now is NPR correspondent Fatima Tanis. Good morning, Fatima. Good morning, Leila. Okay, so let's start with this request to defund public broadcasting.

And what about that $8 billion in foreign aid that the White House wants to send back to the Treasury? What are those funds for?

I mean, Fatima, you've been on this program a lot talking about the way the administration effectively dismantled USAID. So why is the White House sending these requests to Congress now?

A private U.S. group running food distribution sites in Gaza says it has put its operations on hold today. That's after another deadly shooting occurred near its site yesterday, killing 27 Palestinians, according to hospitals and health officials in Gaza.

With me now is NPR's Hadil El-Shalchi in Tel Aviv for the latest. Good morning, Hadil.

Okay, the rollout of this aid distribution has been deadly, and that's not just yesterday. What can you tell us about the operations of this U.S. group?

And the U.S.-backed organization delivering food aid in Gaza has paused distribution for the day following yet another strike. deadly shooting by the Israeli military near one of its sites. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

OK, so is that assertion true? I mean, what are we hearing from Gaza?

And you mentioned that Israel denies shooting into the crowds. What other things have they said about these incidents?

NPR's Hadil El-Shalchi in Tel Aviv. Thank you, Hadil.

And that's Up First for Wednesday, June 4th. I'm Leila Faldik.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Pallavi Gagoi, Jerry Holmes, Carrie Kahn, Lisa Thompson, and Adriana Gallardo. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from David Greenberg, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

It all starts with listening to the person in front of you and the person you'll never meet to the person living a story and the journalist who helps you see it in a new light. The NPR network is built on listening with microphones in every region. So were there any time a voice or sound demands to be heard? Hear stories in the first person. Hear the bigger picture on NPR.

I started laughing. Hey everybody!

This is after the president's failed attempt to put the country under martial law. It's the first such attempt since South Korea went from military rule to democracy in 1987, and it caught its citizens and main ally, the U.S., by surprise.

He doesn't like to say good morning, because no morning is good to A. Martinez.

When you sign up for a simple recurring donation, you support NPR's mission of creating a more informed public. And you unlock special perks for more than 25 NPR podcasts like sponsor-free listening and bonus episodes.

During this year's election, gender-affirming care for transgender minors was a big issue among voters.

Joining us to discuss is NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg. So, Nina, what's at the center of this case?

But Nina, where is the medical profession on all this?

All right. On to the news. South Korea's president shocked the nation when he tried to declare martial law.

That's NPR's Nina Totenberg. Thank you so much, Nina.

That's if no-confidence motions brought by the far left and the far right get the votes needed to pass in the lower house of parliament. The two extremes hold the largest voting blocs in the country's fragmented legislature. The prime minister, who has been in power less than three months, could become one of the shortest-lived in French history.

I'm Leila Fadil, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Transgender rights comes before the Supreme Court today. The justices hear a challenge to a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming hormone treatment for minors.

And I'm Leila Faldil. For your next listen, consider this from NPR. President-elect Trump hasn't yet announced plans to wall himself off from his businesses while in office. And those businesses could benefit from his actions as president. Will Trump's next term make him richer? Listen to Consider This from NPR.

What are the arguments before the court?

Markets have been jittery in anticipation. Will tariffs help or hurt the economy?

It's a big day on President Trump's calendar, something he's been calling Liberation Day.

NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben is here to tell us what to expect. Good morning, Danielle. Hey, good morning. What do we know about these tariffs?

OK, given that we don't know the details of these tariffs, do we know anything about how they'll affect people here in the U.S. ?

OK, if this is so risky for the economy, what has the president said about why he's doing this?

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben. Thank you, Danielle.

President Trump was not on the ballot, but elections in two states are being viewed as an early indicator of how voters feel about him after his first few months in office. In Florida, Republicans hung on to two congressional seats in deeply red districts, cementing their slim majority in the U.S. House.

And the Trump administration has admitted to deporting a Maryland father by mistake.

Chuck Kornbach of Member Station WUWM joins me now from Milwaukee. Good morning, Chuck. Good morning. Okay, so what happened in the race?

Now, Elon Musk became a big part of this race, as you point out, and Trump's endorsement too. Anything to take away from Schimel's loss in that regard?

Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

OK, so back to the court. Liberals have kept their majority. What cases are expected to go before the justices?

Chuck Kornbach of member station WUWM. Thank you, Chuck.

On Friday, a lawyer plans to ask a court to order the return of his client to the United States.

NPR's immigration policy reporter, Ximena Agustillo, has more. Hi, Ximena.

Okay, so tell us what we know about who Abrego Agustillo is and what happened to him.

Okay, so the administration admits in court they knew they couldn't deport him to El Salvador, but they deported him anyways?

So what does his lawyer say about this insistence by the government that Garcia cannot be returned?

Now, are these men that have been detained and accused of crimes, like being part of a criminal gang, supposed to get due process?

And that didn't happen in these cases. NPR's Ximena Bastillo, thank you so much. Thank you. And that's Up First for Wednesday, April 2nd. I'm Laila Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Acacia Squires. Anna Yukonanov, Lisa Thompson, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Hynas, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

What will stop the war in Gaza and free the hostages held by Hamas?

Plus, as President Biden's political career ends, how will history judge his four years in the White House?

Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Well, the last time this year.

People in the Middle East have spent this whole year waiting on a ceasefire. From combatants to civilians under fire in tents to hostages. at locations unknown.

NPR's Emily Fang is joining us from Tel Aviv to take us through this year. Hi, Emily. Hi, Leila. Okay, so earlier this month, we were hearing a lot of optimism that a deal was close before the end of the year and like so many times before a deal didn't come. What are the major roadblocks?

OK, so let's say a ceasefire happens if it were to happen. Is there any plan for what happens to Gaza then?

What?

That's NPR's Emily Fang in Tel Aviv. Thank you, Emily. Thanks, Leila. With no ceasefire in sight, the last major hospital in northern Gaza is now shut down. Israeli forces raided it and detained many of its doctors and nurses.

Yeah, we are not bought and paid for. We are beholden to you, the public. And so if you listen and if you care about staying informed and having information you can trust, please support us and you can help keep this free public service available to everyone and unlock sponsor-free listening to Up First by signing up for NPR Plus. I love that concept.

NPR international correspondent Ayia Betraoui has been following the story closely. She's joining us now, and we want to let you know her reporting includes the sounds of explosions. Hi, Aya. Hi, Leila. So before we get to the raid, just describe the situation in this part of Gaza where this hospital was operating.

And so how did this hospital then become the focus of Israel's offensive on Hamas?

That's NPR's international correspondent, Aya Batraoui. Thank you, Aya.

President Biden will soon finish his term in a way that almost no other president ever has.

NPR senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith covered Biden's whole term and joins me now. Hi, Tam. Good morning. So at this moment, the focus is on how Biden's political career is ending. So remind us what Biden promised when he launched his bid in 2019.

Okay. I kind of knew that. All right. And since it's the last day, we'll just ask one more time for support.

Yeah. And to that point, Biden had a poor approval rating, but he still insisted on running for a second term until a terrible debate performance and pressure from his party forced him to drop out of the race.

Or if you just want to make a gift today and help us out before the end of the year, you can do that at donate.npr.org. And thank you if you're already an NPR Plus supporter or if you support your local station. We're grateful to have your backing as we move into the new year.

You know, we've been talking this week, of course, about the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, the late Jimmy Carter. Now he passed away recently. He also was a one term president, but had decades post-presidency to shape his impact on the country and the world. Biden just doesn't have that. How will that affect how he's going to be remembered?

NPR's Tamara Keith, thank you. You're welcome. And that's a first for Tuesday, December 31st. I'm Leila Fauden.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Didi Skanky, Carrie Kahn, Dana Farrington, Jan Johnson, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Katie Klein, Ben Abrams, and Julie Deppenbrock. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

Well, A, this is where he lives, where he calls home. And I sat down with him in the state prison where he's being held since there are no immigration detention centers here. And the first thing I asked when he walked into the room where I was waiting was, how are you?

And when he says Justice A, he means his release and his ability to stay in this country. His lawyers filed a petition in federal court here in Vermont accusing government officials of violating his First Amendment right to free speech and due process in what they argue is a policy by these officials to silence Palestinian rights advocates.

Yeah, I mean, it was kind of a roller coaster. I mean, he's lived here for 10 years and he was on track to graduate next month with a bachelor's from Columbia. And he went to this meeting thinking, he would finally become an American citizen.

After growing up in a Palestinian refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, he says he only understood the concept of freedom of movement or freedom of speech without retaliation from living here. But because he had watched the experiences of other students, he knew there was a risk.

See what?

And despite that, he says he's in prison, although the government wasn't able to move him to Louisiana like other students, at least not yet, because of an injunction a judge granted here.

Now, he's not charged with a crime, but as with most of these students, the government is invoking a rarely used immigration act. Court filings say his presence has, quote, adverse consequences for foreign policy. In this case, they say his presence would undermine the Middle East peace process and a policy to combat anti-Semitism.

A letter for the Secretary of State was the only evidence the government submitted this week as proof of this. It did not elaborate on how his presence supposedly undermines Middle East peace or how he supposedly fueled anti-Semitism. And what have his lawyers said?

One of his lawyers, Luna Druby, says the accusations are completely false and the government is, quote, scraping the bottom of the barrel to punish students for the advocacy of Palestinian rights. Mahdawi has been very vocal about his opposition to anti-Semitism and is part of peace initiatives with Israeli and Jewish students.

Tomorrow, the federal court here in Vermont will hear Mahdawi's request for immediate release as this case continues.

I mean, it's pretty remarkable. And Democrats have been highly critical of Trump's national security team saying it lacked experience. Is this an example of that supposed lack of experience?

And how do national security officials normally communicate when discussing sensitive military operations?

I mean, it makes sense in principle, but how does it work in reality? Senior national security officials are often traveling for work. Their job doesn't end when the weekend comes. Is this practical?

NPR's Greg Myrie. Thank you, Greg.

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. is weighing whether to allow the White House to quickly deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang under a rarely used wartime authority.

Good morning, Joel.

Okay, so this case has been moving pretty quickly. Remind us, what was the appeals court considering at the hearing Monday?

And what happened in the appeals court hearing Monday?

And the prime minister of Greenland is not happy about an upcoming visit from Second Lady Usha Vance.

The administration has been firm in saying they have the authority to invoke this act. What was the case they made in court?

And at the same time, the Trump administration is fighting to avoid releasing more details about these deportation flights. Where does that stand?

with the voting public. But Greenland sees it as aggressive. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. In an extraordinary security breach, the country's most senior security officials created a group chat on a messaging app to discuss U.S.

NPR's Joel Rose. Thank you, Joel.

Since he took office, President Trump has repeatedly suggested that the U.S. should take over Greenland, a territory controlled by Denmark.

Hey, Deepa. Hey, good morning. Okay, so why is Usha Vance going to Greenland?

Now, is she going on her own or is there more White House involvement here?

And that's Up First for Tuesday, March 25th.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Eric Westervelt, Roberta Rampton, Jenea Williams, and Mohamed El-Bredisi. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

Hey, Greg.

Okay, so, I mean, how did this happen?

And the discussion consists of I wrote it wrong.

The deadline for that what did you do last week email that federal workers received has come and gone. But everyone's still confused about who should have responded and what's next.

So federal workers were in this position of, should I reply? Should I not reply? And getting all these mixed messages, Elon Musk and President Trump weighed in again yesterday. Here's the president in a conversation with journalists in the Oval Office.

Is there evidence that there's a bunch of federal workers that don't exist?

The Trump administration has been shifting course on Ukraine so much that it was at odds with allies in Europe in votes at the United Nations.

NPR's Michelle Kellerman joins us now to talk about all this. Good morning. Good morning, Lola. So first, Michelle, why were the Europeans hesitant to join what the U.S. calls a simple step toward peace?

Yeah, and that wasn't the only vote at the UN yesterday. Tell us about what happened in the General Assembly.

Why do you got to point out all my flaws, Steve?

Very different than past votes. Does any of this really make a difference, though?

NPR's Michelle Kellerman. Thank you, Michelle.

President Biden set aside $4 billion to keep the Colorado River flowing.

Alex Hager with member station KUNC covers the drought crisis on the Colorado and joins us now. Good morning, Alex.

Thank you for being here. Okay, this money President Biden put aside basically pays farmers, cities, tribes, and others to not take water they own out of the Colorado River. Why?

And that money came from the Inflation Reduction Act. And one of President Trump's first executive orders was to revoke that act in large part. So is that money just completely gone now?

Okay, so what happens if these big Colorado River users don't get the money President Biden promised?

Okay, so the seven states that use the river in the middle of tense talks about new rules for sharing its shrinking supply, how will this impact negotiations?

That's Alex Hager with member station KUNC in Colorado. Thank you, Alex.

A massive child sex abuse trial has begun this week in the west of France.

We go now to NPR's Eleanor Beardsley to hear more. And just a warning that you're about to hear some disturbing details about this case. Good morning, Eleanor. Good morning, Laila. So just break down the case for us first. Who is this surgeon? Where did he practice? Who did he abuse?

I mean, you describe him getting caught around child pornography in 2004, and then his abuse continues for nearly over a decade. Why was he not stopped?

And this comes after another very covered trial internationally that... documented a pattern of sexual abuse in France, a different trial, right?

And a surgeon is on trial in France. He's accused of abusing hundreds of his patients, most of them children. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Thank you, Leila. Thank you. And that's a first for Tuesday, February 25th. I'm Layla Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Tara Neal, Eric Whitney, Kevin Drew, Jenea Williams, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

Good morning.

That's a great sound. President Trump praised his defense secretary even as an official talked of a search for a replacement.

I'm Leila Faudel, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. Some people were in tears at St. Peter's Square. They put into words their appreciation for the late Pope Francis.

I'm okay. How are you? I'm okay.

He died on Monday at 88 years old after leading the Catholic Church's 1.4 billion followers. Tributes have poured in from around the world remembering Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope from Latin America, as a leader who advocated for the poor and the dispossessed. In Rome, the faithful gathered for rosary prayers for Francis and preparations are underway for his funeral.

Right. That question is whether and when parents should be allowed to pull their kids out of class over religious objections. Can parents pick and choose different bits of the curriculum, taking education a la carte?

One U.S. official tells NPR that the search is underway to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth. Publicly, the president is standing behind him after a tumultuous week. Hexeth's office fired some of his aides. Then came revelations that the secretary shared details of impending airstrikes in Yemen again.

And I'm Layla Faudel. The NPR app lets you keep public radio right in your pocket. You'll find a mix of local, national, and international news, plus the very best podcasts from the NPR network. Download the NPR app.

In your app store.

NPR confirmed the second chat on the messaging app Signal, which included Hegseth's wife, his brother, and his personal lawyer. The first chat was with top officials and a journalist who was inadvertently included.

President Trump begins his first full day at the White House today.

Here with us to break down all that's already happened in the Trump presidency is White House correspondent Franco Ordonez. Good morning, Franco.

OK, so you were at the White House as Trump signed these actions in the Oval Office. What really stood out to you?

Okay, so not even a full day in office and he's signing all these orders, including things, as you point out, that will likely be contested in court. Why the hurry? What's the message here?

Were his orders and actions generally focused on domestic issues overall?

Okay, so that all happened like in hours, not even a full day in office. So today is actually his first full day in office. What should we expect?

NPR's Franco Ordonez. Thank you, Franco.

Immigration is at the center of Trump's first moves as president, a key part of his campaign message and rise back to power.

NPR's immigration policy reporter, Ximena Bustillo, has been covering all of this and joins me now. Hi, Ximena. Good morning. Good morning. So Trump has made some very specific promises around immigration. What actions did he take yesterday?

Trump also issued sweeping pardons and commutations for everyone convicted in connection with the attack on the Capitol, including those who beat police officers with bats and poles. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Is everything he's signing legal and constitutional? I'm thinking of birthright citizenship. I mean, can he just end it? The 14th Amendment of the Constitution says all persons born in the United States are citizens.

I mean, and just a reminder, I mean, Trump's been in power for not even a full day yet. That starts today. But he does have some of his cabinet in place, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Does he have his immigration team assembled?

And speaking of Congress, I mean, lawmakers did actually take action on immigration last night. What did they do?

NPR's Ximena Bustillo. Thank you, Ximena.

As we mentioned earlier, President Trump issued pardons and commutations to every single defendant charged and convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

And PR's Tom Dreisbach has been covering the attack and the pardons, and he joins me now. Good morning. Good morning. So take us through the pardons and the commutations that Trump issued.

I mean, it's not a surprise, right, that Trump had promised pardons for January 6th rioters for years. But were you surprised by the scope?

Within hours in the White House, he signed a flurry of executive orders to roll back President Biden's policies and implement his own.

Wow. Where does this leave the January 6th cases?

That's NPR's Tom Dreisbach. Thank you so much for your reporting.

And that's a first for Tuesday, January 21st. I'm Layla Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Anna Yukonanov, Robert Little, Olivia Hampton, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, Milton Guevara, and Claire Murashima. We get engineering support from Nisha Hynas, and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Join us again tomorrow.

We gossiped. We failed. President Trump claimed on social media that he made progress on a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

That's according to three people briefed on the negotiations who spoke to NPR. And Israel faces unprecedented pressure from three allies. The leaders of the UK, France, and Canada are calling on Israel to end the war or face consequences. The death toll in Gaza is soaring. Hundreds have been killed. in Israel's newest assault, according to health officials in Gaza.

I'm Leila Faldin with Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. Three of Israel's allies have warned Israel to end its offensive in Gaza. They're objecting to an operation that intensified in recent days. And an Israeli order for Palestinians to evacuate. How are Israelis responding to the pressure?

Earlier this spring, another cluster of deadly tornadoes tore across eight states in the Midwest. So is climate change making tornadoes more frequent.

And I'm Layla Faldin. The NPR app lets you keep public radio in your pocket. You'll find a mix of local, national, and international news, plus the best podcasts from the NPR network. Download the NPR app in your app store today.

I feel like there were a lot of nice extra flourishes on all the names today.

Trump claimed some success towards peace, but Putin again resisted Trump's calls for an immediate ceasefire. Putin proposed more talks, which would take place even as the war continues.

I'm Leila Fadil, that's Michelle Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News. In Hong Kong, dozens of pro-democracy activists are sentenced to prison under a national security law that critics say has crushed dissent. Why was a political poll considered a threat and what message is China sending with these verdicts?

They were found guilty of subversion of state power this year in a landmark court case that governments, including the U.S., have condemned. for criminalizing free speech and political activity. The activists were sentenced for their roles in an unofficial primary poll held in 2020.

Here he is at an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, the day before the election.

So what will a second Trump presidency mean for your taxes? It might mean a lower tax bill, but it could have drastic consequences for the national budget.

I'm Michelle Martin. And I'm Laila Fadil. For your next listen, you should consider Consider This from NPR. President-elect Trump suggested that in his second term, he'll take on the news media with more than just words. How might he do it and how will the press respond? Listen to Consider This from NPR.

Does this mean the war is back on?

In Gaza overnight, a series of punishing and deadly Israeli airstrikes took Palestinians by surprise.

NPR's Hadil Elshad, she joins us now from Tel Aviv with the latest. Good morning, Hadil. Good morning. So why is Israel launching this attack now?

So we heard there Enes describe really what sounds like war again. Do these strikes mean the ceasefire is done and the war is back on?

Thank you for your reporting, Hadil.

A federal judge wants the Justice Department to explain its actions in deportations that took place over the weekend.

NPR's Franco Ordonez is here with more about how President Trump is testing his executive powers. Good morning, Franco.

So this story really blew up over the weekend. What's the controversy here?

And the Department of Government Efficiency broke into the U.S. Institute of Peace offices with the help of police.

OK, so before we talk about the legal issues, how does the White House view the politics of this issue?

So making light of this really important question of whether or not the Trump administration defied the court order, what did the Trump administration say about that?

Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

And how does this test of Trump's power fit with other moves the administration's making?

Thanks, Franco.

That's White House correspondent Franco Ordonez. The U.S. Institute of Peace was the scene of a hostile takeover by the Department of Government Efficiency.

NPR's Michelle Kellerman spoke to him on the steps of the Institute just across from the State Department, and she joins us now. Good morning, Michelle. Good morning, Lola. So, Michelle, you were right there once Doge forced their way into the building. What did you see?

Michelle, the question I have, and I think so many people have, is, is this legal? Can the Trump administration do this? Because this isn't a government agency, right? It's a nonprofit funded by Congress.

So this seems to be a pattern with Doge, right? An attempt to cut funds without consulting Congress, only for it to all land in court.

That's NPR's Michelle Kellerman. Thank you, Michelle. Thank you. Today, President Trump will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone. The U.S. is pursuing a ceasefire deal in Russia's war on Ukraine, the largest armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War.

Among Putin's demands, an end to international sanctions on Russia. and no NATO membership for Ukraine. If a ceasefire is reached, the two sides say a more sustainable peace can be discussed. NAATU Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week that Ukraine wants peace more than anyone, but he said, we cannot accept peace at any price. And that's a first for Tuesday, March 18th.

I'm Leila Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Jerry Holmes, Roberta Rampton, Russell Lewis, Alice Wolfley, and Janae Williams. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Destiny Adams, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

Today, in Saudi Arabia, U.S. and Russian diplomats met to discuss ways to end Russia's war in Ukraine. After the meeting, which was billed as peace talks, the U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed reporters.

Joining us to talk about what was achieved and what wasn't is NPR's Russia correspondent Charles Maines. Good morning, Charles.

Okay, so this meeting just wrapped up. What can you tell us?

But, Charles, notably, Ukrainian and European officials were absent today. Did either side address that?

Now, given the atmosphere you describe, are we witnessing something more here? Is this a reset between the U.S. and Russia?

Okay, following these talks, do we have any sense of what the outlines of a deal might look like?

NPR's Russia correspondent, Charles Maines, thank you for your reporting.

The Trump administration has begun making broad cuts to federal health agencies.

NPR's Ping Wang joins us now to discuss. Good morning, Ping. Good morning, Leila. So what will staffers of these agencies find as they get back to work from the three-day weekend?

And the governor of New York may try to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office. Controversy surrounding the mayor has deepened since four of his top aides and deputy mayors announced that they will resign. What Mayor Adams is saying about his own future. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Well, on that point of performance, how much do we know about why they were fired?

NPR's Ping Wong. Thank you, Ping. You're welcome. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she may use her authority to force New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office.

NPR's Brian Mann has been following all of this and joins me now. Hi, Brian.

So what did Governor Hochul say?

Now, four top Adams aides are quitting. How big a deal is that?

Yeah, I mean, and this case has been mired in controversy, Brian. We saw a slew of resignations at the Department of Justice over its decision to drop the charges against Mayor Eric Adams. Just remind us what Adams was accused of and why the DOJ suspended the case.

Yeah, Ukraine isn't invited, but ending the war is a primary focus. What's on the bargaining table without Ukraine present?

Any sign that Adams plans to step down?

NPR's Brian Mann following developments in New York City. I'm sure we'll have you back on soon. Thank you, Brian.

And that's a first for Tuesday, February 18th. I'm Leila Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Rylan Barton, Jane Greenhall, Denise Rios, Rina Advani, and Jenea Williams. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

Franco, tell us more about the situation here involving Kilmar Abrego-Garcia.

So wait, Franco, are they ignoring a Supreme Court ruling?

So what are the implications of this? Attorneys say there are more cases like Abrego-Garcia where people are wrongfully being accused of being gang members.

So is Trump having any second thoughts about this?

That's White House correspondent Franco Ordonez. Thank you, Franco.

Today, we're going to learn how they've done that at one small agency. A whistleblower told Congress and NPR about what DOGE did when it arrived at the National Labor Relations Board.

Was the agency's data compromised? And Harvard says it won't let the Trump administration dictate what it teaches, who it hires, or who it admits. It's risking billions of dollars in federal funds by defying the demands. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Last night, the Trump administration froze more than $2.2 billion in contracts and multi-year grants for Harvard University.

Hi, Jonaki. Hi, Layla. Okay, so what does the Trump administration want Harvard to change exactly?

Now, Harvard is refusing to comply, which is very different than what we saw at Columbia, which did comply with a list of demands from the administration to keep its funding. Tell us why.

Despite a Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of a Maryland man who was wrongfully deported to a Salvadoran prison, the White House appears to have no intention of doing that.

OK, so in what way, Janaki, just break down what this two point two plus billion dollars that's already frozen does and this other six point seven or so billion that's on the line. What are they used for?

Now, it's not just Harvard. The Trump administration has sent similar threats to dozens of universities. How are leaders of those institutions responding?

NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta. Thanks, Janaki.

Peace talks to end the civil war in Sudan are happening in London today. It's been two years of war. 100,000 people have been killed and 15 million are displaced. This is the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The UN says famine there is the worst the world has seen in decades. Sudanese officials have criticized the negotiations in London.

And Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele says he doesn't plan to release the man either.

They say their representatives weren't invited and that even as talks were happening, massacres were still taking place in the western region of Darfur. NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu has been covering this since the beginning. He's at that conference in London and he is on his way back to Sudan. You can follow his ongoing coverage of the conflict on NPR.org.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Brett Neely, Stephen Drummond, Mohamed El-Badisi, and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Carla Estevez, Ashley Montgomery, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Lorenz, and our technical director is David Greenberg. Join us again tomorrow.

NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordonez is covering the story and he joins us now. Good morning, Franco.

A temporary trade deal between the U.S. and China has set off a scramble to bring merchandise across the Pacific Ocean while lower tariffs are in place.

NPR's Scott Horsey is with us now to tell us more about this. Good morning, Scott.

You know, so the president's tariffs have made investors and business owners very uneasy these last several weeks. How are they reacting to, I guess we'll call it a temporary reprieve?

And why is that?

Were the people you talked to and the analysts you follow surprised by how much these tariffs came down, at least temporarily?

Wow, that's a lot. That's NPR's Scott Horsley. Scott, thank you.

President Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia today for the first overseas state visit of his second term.

Joining us now to talk about what to expect from the visit is NPR international correspondent Aya Bertraui. She's in Riyadh. Aya, good morning. Thanks for joining us. Good morning, Michelle.

And jurors heard graphic allegations on day one of Sean Diddy Combs' sex trafficking trial. His defense team argues that Combs is a complicated man, but not a criminal. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

I just want to go back to that moment where Trump was greeted and received warmly by the crown prince upon his arrival. Trump's personal relationship with Gulf rulers is something that he seems to be proud of. He says it helps him get deals done that benefit the U.S. So can you just tell us more about those ties?

So Trump's visit is coming at a sensitive time for the Mideast more broadly. There's the war in Gaza, the U.S. nuclear talks with Iran happening. Do we expect Trump to tackle some of these issues on this trip as well?

NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento was there, too, and she's with us now. And here is where I want to let you know... that we are about to discuss allegations of sexual assault, and that might be uncomfortable for some. That being said, Isabella, good morning. Good morning. So tell us what happened on the first official day of this trial.

You also heard from the prosecution's first witnesses. What did they say?

And some business owners are racing to import merchandise, but... We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.

So we were hearing that name quite a lot, Cassie Ventura. Is she the most important figure in the prosecution's case against Combs?

Do we know when that's going to be?

That is NPR's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento. Isabella, thank you. Thank you. President Trump suspended refugee resettlements in the U.S. at the beginning of his second term. But the administration made an exception for white South Africans. Yesterday, a chartered flight carrying 59 Afrikaners landed in Virginia, where members of the administration welcomed them as refugees.

In a statement, Democratic U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized the administration for admitting Afrikaners into the U.S., while thousands of previously approved refugees from places like Afghanistan remain in limbo. Yasmin Aguilar works at a refugee resettlement agency in Idaho. She says she has family from Afghanistan awaiting resettlement.

My brother and sister are still not here, like some other refugees who are in the pipeline for a long time.

And that's Up First for Tuesday, May 13th. I'm Michelle Martin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Carrie Kahn, Jacob Gantz, Raphael Nam, Ali Schweitzer, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ana Perez, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow. Thank you.

Hey, are you there?

To discuss what to expect today, NPR's Jane Araf joins us from Jordan's capital, Amman. Hi, Jane.

So what do you think the tone of this meeting will be after Trump has repeatedly said he wants the Palestinians out of Gaza and wants to own it?

It was fun. It was beautiful. Was it really hard to work when I wasn't there? Did you miss me so much?

Now, as you point out, Jordan has rejected this plan. But what has the government officially said so far?

Now, despite that, Trump keeps insisting Jordan and Egypt will succumb to U.S. pressure and the U.S. has leverage in the form of aid. Does Jordan have leverage?

But it may be a tense meeting. The king, like most of the world's leaders, has rejected Trump's calls for the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza to be displaced to Jordan and Egypt.

What's happening?

President Donald Trump has announced more tariffs, this time on steel and aluminum.

NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben is here to explain what's going on. Good morning, Danielle. Good morning. So what are these tariffs and how do they compare to what Trump imposed in his first term?

So you point out that China doesn't export much steel or aluminum to the U.S. What countries do export all that steel and aluminum?

I think the big question for so many Americans are what are these tariffs going to mean for the U.S. economy and for them?

Now, the president has talked about imposing still more tariffs this week. What has he said?

Thank you for your reporting. Yeah, thank you. President Trump's Justice Department is ordering prosecutors to drop the case against the Democratic mayor of the nation's largest city.

Joining me now with the latest is Bridget Bergen. She's a senior politics reporter at member station WNYC in New York. Good morning, Bridget. Good morning. OK, so for those who haven't been following this closely, just lay out the charges the mayor was facing.

So why does the Justice Department say this case should be dropped?

And the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams may be dismissed. The Justice Department ordered prosecutors to drop the charges. We've got the news you need to start your day. President Trump and Jordan's King Abdullah are meeting today at the White House.

That's WNYC senior politics reporter Bridget Bergen. Thank you, Bridget.

And that's a first for Tuesday, February 11th. I'm Leila Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Nishant Dahiya, Roberta Rampton, Jerry Holmes, Jenea Williams, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from David Greenberg, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

I went to Turks and Caicos.

President Trump calls for patience after markets tumble in response to tariffs.

On social media yesterday, President Trump called for people to, quote, be strong, courageous, and patient in the Oval Office. He said this.

But he also appears open to negotiations.

I've been here, Leila Fadl.

I'm A. Martinez, that's Leila Fadl, and this is Up First from NPR News. Forecasters warn of recession as tariffs could mean higher prices and slow down growth. Fed chair agrees.

I never leave. I'm always awake.

Throughout a lower court's ruling to temporarily stop the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, President Trump invoked it last month, arguing that Venezuelan gang members in the U.S. constitute a, quote, invasion. Attorneys for the men deported say the use of this act at a time of peace is illegal.

They and family members of men deported also say many of those being deported have no criminal history in the U.S. or their country of origin.

And I'm A. Martinez. How about giving Consider This from NPR a listen? We hear it up first, give you the three big stories of the day. Our Consider This colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you in less than 15 minutes. So listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get those podcasts.

I'm Laila Fadil, that's Michelle Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News. Trump addresses Congress tonight after a dizzying first six weeks in the White House with questions around the legality of mass layoffs of federal workers, a major shift in U.S. foreign policy and his push to consolidate executive power. What will Trump's message to Americans be?

President Trump paused military aid to Ukraine after a disastrous meeting in the Oval Office last week.

Yeah, it's the first such address of his term, so it's not formally called the State of the Union, but it will have all the pomp and gravity of that kind of speech. This is one of the president's most visible moments of the year. It usually has a big primetime television audience, and it comes as Trump has been upending longstanding norms of American government and diplomacy.

The reason given for these tariffs? The White House says it wants to stop the flow of fentanyl, going into the U.S. from these countries. When it comes to Canada and Mexico, border security is also one of President Trump's main motivations.

And that's Up First for Tuesday, March 4th. I'm Michelle Martin. And I'm Layla Faudel. Thank you for listening to Up First. You can find more in-depth coverage of the stories we talked about today and so much more on NPR's Morning Edition, the radio show that Michelle Martin, Steve Inskeep, A. Martinez, and I host. Find Morning Edition on your local NPR station at stations.npr.org.

You better join us again tomorrow.

A White House official told NPR the administration wants to review the aid to see if it is contributing to peace. The decision comes after President Trump and Vice President Vance berated Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in an Oval Office meeting last Friday.

Good morning, it's Leila Faldil here with A. Martinez. A quick word before the show, today is Giving Tuesday. It's a global day of generosity and the perfect day to support NPR and our work here on Up First.

And protesters in Georgia are calling for elections as the government suspends talks for membership to the European Union.

Stay with us, we'll give you the news you need to start your day. President Biden came into office promising to respect the independence of the justice system.

To help us make sense of the politics of this moment and what it means for Biden's legacy, we're joined now by NPR White House correspondent Asma Khalid. Good morning, Asma. Good morning, Leila. Okay, so the president signed this full, unconditional pardon for his son. Tell us more about how this is being received.

OK, so you mentioned that some Democrats are trying to argue that the other side is worse. What are other Democrats saying?

So thank you if you already support us through NPR Plus or by donating to your local station. And if you haven't heard of NPR Plus before, it's a new way to support NPR with a tax-deductible recurring donation that unlocks perks to more than 25 NPR podcasts, including... sponsor-free listening to this podcast up first.

From afar, the rapid advance by rebel fighters in Syria seemed to come out of nowhere.

For a closer look, we're now joined by NPR national security correspondent Greg Myrie. Hi, Greg.

Okay, so let's start with a quick update on the latest fighting in Syria after this rebel offensive began. Where do things stand?

Now, this isn't happening in a vacuum, right? What other events are linked to what we're seeing in Syria?

But what sparked this new round of fighting?

Yeah, I mean, this stunning takeover of Aleppo, can it keep going? Do the rebels have the firepower to keep going?

Okay. Can the Syrian forces, the Syrian army, regroup and counterattack?

That's NPR's Greg Myrie. Thank you, Greg.

A political crisis is deepening in the country of Georgia.

NPR international correspondent Charles Mainz is on the line from Moscow, but recently returned from reporting in Georgia. Good morning, Charles.

So what's the latest with the protests?

Okay, now let's get to the show.

Remind us, how did this all start?

Was there a larger significance to the vote?

Has that fed the impression of a Kremlin hand in a lot of this?

Some critics think the choice could upend his legacy.

That's NPR's Charles Maines in Moscow. Thank you, Charles.

And that's Up First for Tuesday, December 3rd. I'm Leila Falded.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Roberta Rampton, Andrew Sussman, Nick Spicer, Lisa Thompson, and H.J. Mai. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Katie Klein. We get engineering support from Nisha Hynes, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

I'm actually sitting right outside my hotel. I've been watching people all morning head out with their badges and go over to the CPAC gathering that just started.

Yeah, so Hungary was really the first place CPAC ever hosted a gathering in Europe because Hungary invited them. And this year, Poland hosted a CPAC earlier this week where we saw Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speak and urge polls to vote for the right-wing nationalists running in a tight presidential election there in just a few days.

And one of CPAC's goals is really to keep growing its global footprint. And here in Hungary, we're going to hear from a hodgepodge of speakers. One of the minds behind Trump's child separation policy back in 2017, Chad Wolf. John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who crafted much of Trump's strategy to overturn the 2020 election results.

So those are the types of voices that are going to be on the stage in the next two days.

Yeah, I met up with the U.S. chairman of CPEC, Matt Schlapp, to talk about the deepening alliances between the MAGA movement, Orban's Fidesz party in Hungary, and other right-wing movements in Europe. And I asked that, especially given that the European Union is withholding billions of dollars allocated for Hungary right now over policies they deem anti-democratic. One of the recent moves...

Was the country effectively banning upcoming pride celebrations? Schlapp says what's uniting them in part is a feeling that their political opponents are actually being the undemocratic ones.

And he's talking about, of course, before President Trump was reelected. And he said that's what populists, conservatives, and right-wing movements around the world feel. So, Viktor Orban and Trump, parallels there? Yeah, I mean, there are. They're different men, as many people have pointed out to me.

But in style and substance, there's a lot that's similar, and their supporters appreciate what they see as the two leaders calling it like it is, outmaneuvering liberals, saying controversial and sometimes downright offensive things out loud. Orban is known for his anti-immigration stance and has depicted himself as the defender of a Christian Europe, working against liberal headwinds in academia.

And the media, Michelle, I'm sure that sounds familiar. And then there are parallels in policies. I mean, this is a different system, a parliamentary system, but basically Orban really centralized power under the prime minister. And one big similarity is the universities. They're all state universities here, but enjoyed academic autonomy.

And now they come under private foundations that get state money, and that foundation decides how the universities are run. In the States, Trump is also using the threat of pulling federal funds to get universities to come in line with his government's demands. And they both spend a lot of time attacking the independent press. That's actually how CPAC opened today.

Hey, Martinez, do you have your headphones on? We need to do pre-production. Where are you? Does he have his headphones on? Oh, thanks for joining us.

The central bank on Wednesday cut its economic growth forecast and raised its expectations for inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that tariffs are playing a role in inflation.

President Trump said later on social media that the Fed, an independent agency, should lower rates as tariffs set in.

Is it the allergies or do you have something more than that?

Are you okay to host?

That's true. I mean, I can do it by myself. I've always wanted it to be my show.

That's despite the fact that the judge has serious concerns about the tactics Doge used to force its way into USIP.

The Federal Reserve is warning that inflation is coming as it held interest rates steady.

I'm Leila Faudel, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. A federal judge says Doge probably terrorized people when they forced their way into the U.S. Institute of Peace. But while she found the way American citizens were treated offensive, she denied a request to stop the dismantling of the agency. We tell you why.

That's expanding what it says is a new offensive in the enclave after it broke the nearly two-month-long ceasefire with Hamas. On Tuesday, there were a series of airstrikes that killed more than 400 Palestinians and wounded hundreds more.

And I'm Leila Faldil. The NPR app lets you keep public radio in your pocket. You'll find a mix of local, national, and international news, plus the best podcasts from the NPR network. Download the NPR app in your app store today.

There are questions this morning about whether a ceasefire deal just clinched between Israel and Hamas will actually begin on Sunday as hoped. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed a cabinet meeting to vote on the agreement. He is blaming Hamas, but the group that runs the Gaza Strip says it is committed to the accord. The two sides have been at war for more than a year.

The past 15 months of conflict have killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza, and left the enclave in ruins. And Israelis have remained distraught and in limbo over the fate of family and friends held hostage in Gaza in the October attack by Hamas that started the war. Here's President Biden announcing the agreement yesterday.

For more on the current shape of this agreement and how people in Gaza and Israel are reacting, I'm joined by two NPR correspondents in the region, Ayyab Atrawi in Dubai and Hadil Al-Shanshi in Tel Aviv. Welcome to you both.

I'm going to start with you. This is described as a ceasefire, but tell us what it would actually do. And does it include a path to end the war, not just pause it?

So a lot of moving parts. A lot of moving parts, very complicated. Hadia, let's go to you on this. How are people in Gaza reacting?

Well, you know, this is a war that the media really hasn't been able to cover as thoroughly on the ground as we would like. Of course, we're very grateful to have our colleague Anas Baba there. But do we have a sense of whether other journalists will be able to regain access to Gaza anytime soon?

Hadiyah, let's go to you on this question. Let's turn to Israel. How is the public reacting there?

And Los Angeles has some of the toughest rules in the country to deal with the threat of wildfires. Why weren't they enough to prevent the ongoing catastrophe? Stay with us. We've got news you need to start your day.

Aya, talk about the origins of this agreement. Could you just say more about how it came about?

And given all the ups and downs in the negotiations, can it still fall apart?

OK, so let's say things go as planned. What can we expect to happen in the coming days and weeks?

That is NPR's Aya Batraoui in Dubai and Hadil al-Shalshi in Tel Aviv. Thank you both so much for sharing this reporting.

L.A. County has strict building codes and it limits new development in risky areas. But the fires burning now are leading many people to ask if that's enough.

And that's up first for Thursday, January 16th. I'm Michelle Martin.

Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Neela Banerjee, Jerome Sokolowski, Ali Schweitzer, and Lisa Thompson. It was produced by Ziad Bach, Nia Dumas, Iman Ma'ani, and Lili Kouros. We get engineering support from Nisa Hainas, and our technical director is Zach Coleman. Join us again tomorrow.

I'm Leila Faldin, that's Michelle Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News. Trump also had a long phone call with Vladimir Putin, and afterwards he said negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will begin immediately.

He held his first confirmed talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a conversation with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, and he says they went well.

President Trump says India is taking advantage of the U.S. when it comes to tariffs.

Yeah, that's because the Trump administration has made clear that it plans to dismantle the department she's been nominated to lead.

In Trump's first term, the two men seem to have a natural camaraderie. But these days, Trump is focused a lot on trade and immigration, two issues that could put a dent in the longstanding relationship between the U.S. and India.

And I'm Layla Faldin. Your next listen is Consider This from NPR. We here at Up First give you three big stories of the day. Our Consider This colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you. Learn about a big story of the day in 15 minutes or less. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Blasts heard over Pakistan's second largest city is the latest step in a generations-long conflict in South Asia.

On the line with us is NPR's Dia Hadid. She's in Mumbai and covers both India and Pakistan. Good morning.

So, Dia, just bring us up to speed. What is happening today?

Right, but I'm thinking, where does this go? It seems like tensions are just rising and rising at this point.

And the Federal Reserve says it will wait and see how the economy responds to higher tariffs, but interest rates will remain unchanged for now.

Has India said anything about these allegations about the drones?

That's Diya Hadid in Mumbai. Thank you, Diya.

The Trump administration wants to send migrants to Libya, possibly as soon as this week.

NPR's immigration reporter, Ximena Ostio, joins us now to talk about all this. Good morning, Ximena. Good morning. So what do we know about this plan to send migrants to Libya?

OK, so we've already seen actions in court to try and stop these military flights before they've even happened. What can you tell us about the lawsuit?

Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Okay, so there's a legal block in this court. I mean, Libya is not considered the safest country. Have other concerns been raised about this plan?

This isn't the first deal, though, that the White House has made with other countries. We've already reported a lot on the U.S. paying El Salvador $6 million to house migrants removed from the U.S. in a mega prison there. What's the point of these agreements?

NPR's Ximena Bustillo. Thank you, Ximena. Thank you. If you're waiting for lower interest rates to take out a car loan, finance a business, or just make a big purchase on your credit card, you're going to have to wait a bit longer.

NPR's Scott Horsley has been watching the Fed's deliberations, and he joins us now. Hi, Scott.

Okay, so in its statement, the Fed pointed to growing uncertainty about the economic outlook. What does it mean by that?

What will Fed policymakers be watching for between now and then?

Now, President Trump has repeatedly called on the Fed to lower interest rates. Is that having any effect?

I'm PR Scott Horsley. Thank you, Scott.

How are two nuclear powers managing the latest confrontation in their generations-long Cold War?

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Rylan Barton, Anna Yukonanov, Raphael Naum, Jenea Williams and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Katie Klein, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

Yeah, Trump had explicitly promised to ban Muslims from the country and he had to change the ban several times to get it past the courts. This time around, the president's new travel ban is just one of several controversial moves he made on a particular Wednesday in June.

I'm Leila Faudel, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. Elon Musk attacked a Republican budget plan. At least one Republican senator agrees with his assessment that the U.S. is borrowing too much.

President Trump issued a new travel ban.

With few votes to lose, how do Republicans manage the dissent in their own ranks?

Senate Republicans started work this week on a multi-trillion dollar bill to enact the heart of President Trump's domestic agenda.

With me now is NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales. Good morning, Claudia.

OK, so we know Elon Musk spent big last year to help get the president elected. Then he was the face of the administration's cuts to federal workers and federal agencies before recently stepping back. So now we see him railing against Trump's signature domestic policy bill. What's happening here? What's his objection?

And how are Republican leaders responding to Musk's criticisms?

OK, Claudia, they say that, but the bill would grow the deficit, right?

And we're seeing some Republicans push back against that CBO analysis. What's going on there?

The U.S. wants to arrive at terms that prevent Iran from ever building a nuclear weapon. Iran denies that it wants one. But Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, says the U.S. proposal was against his country's own interests.

And I'm Leila Faudel. Your next listen is Consider This from NPR. We here at Up First give you the three big stories of the day. Our Consider This colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you. Learn about a big story of the day in less than 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

I would say people should join us tomorrow, too.

All the days.

President Trump is building an economic barrier designed to limit imports and encourage domestic manufacturing.

NPR's chief economics correspondent, Scott Horsley, joins us now to break this down. Good morning, Scott.

All right. So, you know, President Trump promised high tariffs throughout the campaign. So is anyone actually surprised by this move?

Oh, wow. So how did the White House decide who pays what?

So let's talk about that. What's the potential economic effect of that?

And what about international fallout?

NPR's Scott Horsley. Thank you, Scott.

And TikTok has until Saturday to find a new owner. A number of high-profile buyers are lining up, but who is leading the pack? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Yeah, leaders across the world have reacted with dismay and confusion following President Trump's announcement. Some are preparing countermeasures targeting the U.S., while others are hoping to strike up negotiations.

The owners of TikTok have until Saturday to sell the app.

But leading the pack is software company Oracle, according to NPR's Bobby Allen, who joins me now. Good morning, Bobby. Good morning. So why is Oracle's offer the Trump administration's preferred plan?

But I don't understand that because I thought the whole idea of the TikTok ban was to split TikTok from China. Would this plan do that?

OK, so is there a timeline when this all might happen?

And so you're telling me that Mr. Beast doesn't have a chance?

Mr. Beast. All right. Thanks, Bobby.

And today's episode of Up First was edited by Raphael Nam, Rylan Barton, Brett Neely, Lisa Thompson, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Damian Herring-Nathan, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

The Vegas incident involved a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside a Trump Hotel. But first, we hear from New Orleans, where a pickup plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street. Investigators have learned a little more over the past 24 hours.

I'm Leila Fadil, that's Stephen Skiba, and this is Up First from NPR News.

Investigators are looking for answers in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

Cham said Dean Jabbar was from the Houston area and drove a rented pickup to New Orleans. So far as we know, his 42 years were filled with mostly ordinary life events.

And the explosion outside the Vegas hotel involves two big brand names connected by politics.

Stay with us. We've got the news. You need to start your day.

Yeah, a joint terrorism task force of FBI agents and local law enforcement is investigating that blast, which killed the driver and injured at least seven other people.

And I'm Laila Fadil. There's an easy way to stay connected to news and podcasts from the NPR network, the NPR app. Hear community coverage from your local station, stories from around the world, and podcast suggestions based on what you like. Download the NPR app in your app store.

Politics is a lot these days. I'm Sarah McCammon, a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, and I'll be the first to tell you what happens in Washington definitely demands some decoding. That's why our show makes politics as easy as possible to wrap your head around. Join us as we make politics make sense on the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for having me, Scott.

That's right, she was. And she said they were coming home from dinner, and as they unlocked the door of their apartment building, a man held it open behind them and asked her husband, are you Mahmoud Khalil? And I'll just play you a bit of what she says happened next.

And so at this point, your heart is sinking. And what is happening in front of you?

But she's a U.S. citizen, right? Yeah. I mean, that's part of the reason she didn't take Mahmoud's warnings that he might be deported seriously. She was born here. He's a lawful permanent resident. He has a green card. And she says, as most Americans do, she believed they had the right to say whatever they wanted. And he was using that right to speak up about the treatment of his own people.

He's Palestinian. And now, Nora's in this position she never could have imagined, facing the possibility of that she's going to have this baby while her husband is detained in Louisiana or possibly deported.

Well, she says they've provided no evidence of that accusation because there isn't evidence. He's also never been charged with an actual crime. That would be a crime if he provided support to Hamas. Here's more of what Noor said.

The government's actually arguing they can take his green card under a rarely used immigration provision, not because of a crime. I also asked her if her husband were allowed to return home tomorrow, let's say. Would she feel safe in the U.S. after what's happened? And here's what she said.

And I wasn't sure if she'd lost her sense of safety in the apartment or the country, so I asked, and she said both.

Thanks for having me, Scott. Thank you.

President Biden made a statement about his predecessor, who was elected in 1976.

Those deeds spread across many decades. His single term in office was remembered for inflation, international unrest, and the seizure of American hostages in Tehran. He also made significant changes in the U.S. government that endure to this day. And after leaving the White House, he founded the Carter Center, which promoted health care and monitored elections around the world.

Something you just couldn't even imagine just a few months ago. Absolutely. But because NPR is, after all, national public radio, we rely on support from the public. That's you to keep this free service going. So please join us in our mission to create a more informed public by signing up for NPR+.

NPR Plus. Got it. It's a simple recurring donation that gets you perks like sponsor-free listening to more than 25 NPR podcasts, including Up First. Thank you if you're already a Plus supporter. If not, you can sign up right now at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org. Maybe it's your New Year's resolution. Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100.

In an interview with NPR, a high-ranking Syrian official said something unprecedented about relations with Israel.

For more, Hadil joins us now from Damascus. Hi, Hadil. Hello. Okay, so tell us more about that meeting. What exactly did he say?

Syria has never recognized Israel as a state, so this statement's pretty remarkable. Does it indicate the new Syrian leaders plan a different approach with Israel?

A plane's landing gear failed to deploy and it skidded off a runway and crashed into a wall of 181 people on board. Only two emerged alive.

I'm Leila Faudel, that's Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. A high-ranking Syrian official tells NPR he wants the U.S. to mediate cordial relations between Syria and Israel. Those remarks drew a sharp reaction throughout the Arab world and put Syrian leadership in damage control.

And I'm Laila Fadil for a fuller look at the late President Jimmy Carter's legacy. Check out yesterday's special episode with Rachel Martin and Don Gagne on the Sunday story from Up First. While Carter struggled to show he was a strong leader in office, he later became an almost unstoppable force for peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.

Take a listen as we consider the legacy of the man widely called America's greatest former president. a Sunday story from Up First on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Is that Rob?

I'm so jealous of you.

Now, are there some nominees that could face challenges in the Senate from Republicans as well as Democrats?

Good morning.

He's got a new choice for attorney general, and he's made selections for everything from the Department of Treasury to labor. Will his nominees sail through a Republican-controlled Senate?

Now, as we mentioned, Republicans will control the Senate with 53 seats. And for cabinet nominees to be approved, they just need a simple majority, that's 51 votes. Does this make it likely that most of the president's picks will get through?

A woman or girl was killed every 10 minutes in 2023. That's according to a new report released today by the United Nations.

NPR global health correspondent Fatma Tanis is here to tell us more. Good morning, Fatma. Good morning, Leila. So what's the big takeaway from this report?

I mean, the number is just shocking, right, every 10 minutes. But if there are laws in place to prevent femicide, why are the numbers still so high?

Probably a much more decent hour. Are you hosting from Berlin? You are, right?

And negotiators struck a deal at COP29 to triple the amount of climate financing for developing nations. But for poorer countries dealing with the effects of climate change... $300 billion till 2035 is a joke. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. President-elect Donald Trump has announced more choices for who he wants to serve in his cabinet.

That's NPR's Fatma Tanis. Thank you, Fatma.

The COP29 climate conference ended with an agreement on Sunday, which didn't always look likely.

Michael Copley from NPR's Climate Desk is here with me in studio to explain the deal. Good morning, Michael.

So the focus at this year's conference was money. So remind us, what was the big goal for countries coming into the meeting?

Now, the meeting went on more than a day longer than it was supposed to. What were people so upset about?

So, Michael, I can hear how upset some countries are or were. Why did they agree to the deal?

And just before I let you go, I mean, this conference was held a few weeks after President-elect Trump was chosen here in the U.S. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, the key international agreement underlying these talks. What does this mean for these talks going forward?

That's Michael Copley from NPR's Climate Desk. Thank you, Michael.

And that's Up First for Monday, November 25th. I'm Leila Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Krishna Dov Kalmar, Jim Kane, Rachel Waldholz, Lisa Thompson, and Mohamed El-Bardisi. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Lily Quiros. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

NPR congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh joins us now with more on what's ahead. Good morning, Deirdre. Good morning, Laila. So let's start with his pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, who was named just hours after Matt Gaetz dropped out last week. Now she seems to be getting a much better reaction, right?

The deadline was laid out in a three-line email sent Saturday from the Office of Personnel Management. Elon Musk, President Trump's cost-cutting chief, and an unelected billionaire threatened on X that failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.

I'm Laila Faldin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. The leaders of France and Britain are visiting Washington this week on their agenda convincing President Trump not to abandon Ukraine. Can they sway him? Plus, conservatives won the German election and the country's far-right party made its strongest showing in decades.

Summerlin and others also question the legality of the demand. She says the Office of Personnel Management must respect the chain of command within government agencies.

On Sunday, OPM said the emails were part of the Trump administration's commitment to an efficient and accountable federal workforce.

Yeah, European leaders were stunned by President Trump's abrupt reversal of alliances last week. He accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia. Ukraine did not start the war. And Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator while letting Russian President Vladimir Putin off the hook for its full-scale invasion of its neighbor.

In meetings today, Macron will try to keep Trump on board with the U.S. 's traditional allies.

An email to every federal employee asked, what did you do last week? And Elon Musk threatened they would lose their jobs if they didn't answer. You can't interpret silence to be a resignation.

Now, results this morning indicate that Friedrich Meret's center-right Christian Democrats will be able to form a new government with only one coalition partner. That will likely return the country to a more stable two-party government that ran Germany for most of the past three decades.

This is related to Native American-led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline about eight years ago. The company that built the crude oil pipeline is suing Greenpeace. Jury selection begins this morning in North Dakota.

And I'm Leila Faldin. Make your next listen, consider this. The team behind NPR's All Things Considered goes deep into a single news story in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Good morning, A. Have you gotten your village people itch out of the system?

Just do it for Milton one more time.

Now, he's a president who has proved unconventional. At a rally last night, he promised quite a show on his first day in office.

But his inauguration will be a little pared down. It had to be moved into the rotunda because of the below-freezing weather in Washington, D.C., and the hundreds of thousands of people who showed up to see him in person will have to squeeze into the Capital One arena instead.

A new American president takes over today.

Yeah, thousands of people greeted busloads of Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed from Israeli jail. That was after three Israeli women hostages held by Hamas were released earlier in the day, and they had emotional reunions with their families. And this is just the start of the first phase of what's being called a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

I'm Leila Faldin with A. Martinez and this is Up First from NPR News. The first Israeli hostages to be released in the ceasefire deal with Hamas are now home.

Dozens of Palestinian detainees also freed in the deal were reunited with their families. This says displaced Palestinians returned to destroyed homes in Gaza. What lies ahead?

It's an unbelievable joy. It's like someone walking down the street and finds a million dollars.

Yeah, the blackout affected 170 million American users. And then it was lifted after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to pause the federal ban. But the app isn't fully back to normal.

Because on Friday, you were all about your one joke.

And I'm Leila Fadel. Make your next listen, Consider This. The team behind NPR's All Things Considered goes deep into a single news story in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app.

now. Former President Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and it has spread to his bones.

We're joined now by NPR senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith to discuss. Good morning, Tim. Good morning. So, Tim, what do you know about the diagnosis?

And I want to talk more about that. But before we get to that, I mean, reactions have been pouring in to this diagnosis or the news of this diagnosis. Any of them stand out to you?

Now, Tam, you talked about his decline while in office and the focus of that. And this is all happening in a week where there was already going to be a focus on the former president because of the release of a book about his health while in office, right?

Now, the claims in this book, are there broader implications here about Biden's fitness while in office?

And recovery is underway after storms killed more than two dozen people in three states over the weekend. Kentucky's governor says there's been an outpouring of help.

NPR's Tamara Keith, thank you for joining us, Tam. You're welcome. Israel has launched a new ground offensive in Gaza.

NPR's Daniel Estrin is covering the story, and he joins us now. Good morning, Daniel.

So a lot of big developments this weekend. And so let's just break them down one at a time. And let's start with the ground offensive. What do we know there?

So as you describe this intensifying of attacks, there's also news of ceasefire negotiations that began this weekend. Is there any hope these will be successful?

Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

And let's get to that blockade now. About nearly three months, Israel's now saying it's decided to allow food and supplies back into Gaza. Is this a full lifting of that blockade?

We're in PR's Daniel Estrin. Thank you, Daniel.

More than two dozen are dead across Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia after a storm sent tornadoes through these states over the weekend.

Let's turn now to Justin Hicks, who's covering the story for Kentucky Public Radio. Justin, good morning. Hey, good morning, Layla. Can you give us a brief recap of what happened in Kentucky?

Now his office says he received his own cancer diagnosis. The news comes amid a widespread discussion of his fitness during his years in office.

Now, you're in London, Kentucky. What's the scene right now? How are people feeling?

Speaking of weather events, there's been some reporting, too, about the local National Weather Service office having staffing cuts. thanks to these federal cost-saving measures. What do we know about how that affected the office's ability to warn about the storm?

Now, you're in the midst of the destruction there in London, and you've been talking to survivors and volunteers and looking at the wreckage. Were there any moments that stuck out to you?

Absolutely. That's Justin Hicks with Kentucky Public Radio. Justin, thank you for your reporting. Of course. Thanks. And that's Up First for Monday, May 19th. I'm Leila Faldin.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kevin Drew, Carrie Kahn, Anna Yukoninoff, Allie Schweitzer, and Alice Wobley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Zach Coleman. Join us again tomorrow.

For more on how this fits into Ukraine's larger military effort, we're joined by NPR national security correspondent Greg Myrie. Hi, Greg.

So what's changed? Why is President Biden deciding to do this with two months left in his presidency?

But is President Biden no longer worried about provoking Russia here?

And how much will the long-range missiles help Ukraine being able to use them?

Now, we talked about how this is really just two months left in the Biden administration. Could the incoming Trump administration just change this missile policy and others related to Ukraine?

And meanwhile, winter's approaching, which changes the way this fight happens. What are you watching for?

That's NPR's Greg Myrie. Thank you, Greg.

Leaders of the world's largest economies are gathering in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil today and tomorrow.

We go to NPR's South America correspondent to hear more. Hi, Kerry Kahn. Hi, good morning. So what's the mood like in Rio right now as these world leaders gather there at the beach?

Okay, so Trump's not there and not president yet, but he is looming large already during the summit. What are the G20 leaders going to address this week?

Now, these summits are also a lot of posturing, photo ops, but are you expecting any surprises?

In the past, the U.S. hesitated to provoke Russia. What made the president decide that it's time to let the missiles fly?

Fentanyl and other street drugs are still killing nearly 100,000 people in the U.S. every year.

NPR addiction correspondent Brian Mann is here to talk us through some of Trump's ideas. Good morning, Brian.

So how does Donald Trump say he'll end fentanyl overdoses?

OK, so that's a pretty drastic change, a big pivot from the public health approach. Do experts think this will work?

Hmm.

OK, so he calls it ineffective and unethical. But I imagine there are people who like and support this Trump getting tough approach.

Now, we talked about the Biden administration's focus on public health as they hand over the reins. Is there any sign that was working?

That's Brian Mann, NPR's addiction correspondent, looking ahead at the Trump team's plan to tackle the fentanyl crisis. Thank you, Brian.

And that's Up First for Monday, November 18th.

And how does a new administration plan to attack drug gangs in Mexico?

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Tara Neal, Andrea DeLeon, Mohamed El-Abradisi, and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Zach Coleman. Join us again tomorrow.

Would that really affect fentanyl use in the United States? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. President Biden will now let Ukraine fire long-range U.S. missiles into Russia.

Hello. Now A. Martinez is ignoring me.

This weekend, they were flown not to Venezuela, but to El Salvador. In an extraordinary move, President Trump relied on a rarely used law from more than 200 years ago to quickly expel them without hearings or due process. A federal judge is trying to stop this.

I'm Leila Fadil with A. Martinez, and this is a first from NPR News. The Trump administration deports hundreds of people who they accuse of being Venezuelan gang members using an obscure wartime law. Civil liberties advocates are raising a red flag.

A doctor who was legally working in the U.S. has been sent back to Lebanon. And in a separate case, a German-born green card holder is being detained. And that's raising concerns about an immigration crackdown in Boston.

A judge ordered the deportations to be stopped immediately, but some still happened.

The storms continue to rattle the East Coast overnight, but have largely moved offshore. Residents across the country are still taking stock of the damage.

And I'm Leila Faldale. Thanks for listening to Up First. You can find more in-depth coverage of the stories we talked about today and lots more on NPR's Morning Edition. That's the radio show that Steve Inskeep, Michelle Martin, A. Martinez, and I host. Find Morning Edition on your local NPR station at stations.npr.org.

You're so mean. A deadly storm system has moved offshore after tearing through the Midwest and South over the weekend.

Did you notice that we're working on President's Day? Did you agree to this?

After Trump officials traveled to Europe last week, it became clear the post-war security order in Europe that's been in place 80 years is no more.

European leaders hold an emergency summit in Paris today.

I'm Leila Fadl. That's Anne Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. The U.S. Secretary of State is in the Middle East promoting President Trump's vision to push Palestinians in Gaza out and take it over.

Change in the Middle East. Rubio today is in Saudi Arabia, where he will be discussing President Trump's plan to turn Gaza into a seaside real estate development and displace all the Palestinians. He'll also meet a Russian delegation about ending the war in Ukraine.

But will Arab allies be supportive of Trump turning Gaza into a seaside real estate development?

And in those four weeks, he has gotten the Senate to confirm even his most controversial cabinet picks. His executive actions have forced dramatic changes in the federal government, and he's even tried to eliminate entire agencies. The courts have put a pause on some actions where there are very real questions about whether what Trump wants to do is legal or even constitutional.

Do you work every federal holiday like me?

And I'm Layla Faldin. Make your next listen, consider this. The team behind NPR's All Things Considered goes deep into a single news story in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Leila Falzel in Damascus with Stephen Skeap in Washington, and this is Up First from NPR News. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is trying one more time for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

In the past few days, we've watched many Syrians break into impromptu dance parties in the street. But in that joy over their newfound freedom, there is also grief and desperation for the families of the tens of thousands of people who disappeared under Bashar al-Assad's rule and the hundreds of thousands killed in a civil war.

And then there are people who are worried what the new leadership might do to them.

Yeah, I mean, Assad really leaned on religious and ethnic minorities and marginalized communities to shore up support against the opposition, stoking fears that they would be even more oppressed if the most extreme within his opponents rose to the top. And because Alawites are of the same sect as Esed, it's an offshoot of Shia Islam, they dominated the top ranks of the military and intelligence.

There's this assumption that the community was more loyal to Esed than others in Syria. So now they feel like they could pay the price for Esed and his top loyalist crimes against Syrians when they lived under the same oppression that other Syrians lived under.

In short, no. I mean, the elite are a tiny sliver of an otherwise really poor community. And Assad's loyalists, the elite in Syria... We're Sunni, we're Halawite, we're Christian. And it's evident, this poverty, as soon as you drive into the Meza 86 neighborhood in Damascus that's in the shadow of Bashar al-Assad's palace.

Right away, you see the cinderblock homes, the electric wires tangled and hanging in the narrow alleys. The pot holds streets. A lot of families here say Alawites stayed in military service because the Assad family gave them no other economic choices. Listen to what Ibrahim Issa, who runs a perfume shop in the area, said.

And if you could see Issa, I mean, he was so excited that Assad is gone. He had this twinkle in his eyes and what seemed like an incurable smile because he can finally leave his neighborhood. He was evading military service for two years because he didn't want to fight fellow Syrians. That military service is mandatory.

Some people aren't sure how much to celebrate the fall of Syria's government.

Which is something American diplomats have said many times before. What makes this time any different?

And because conscripts are paid next to nothing to fight for this regime, that gave them next to nothing. So he couldn't risk getting snatched up at a checkpoint.

I mean, in a word, no, not in this neighborhood. When the rebel fighters first came to their neighborhood, they were polite and peaceful, people in the area told me. They took away weapons from soldiers and told them, go home, now you're civilians. The new leadership has said they will be protected and part of a new Syria, but they're still scared.

This is a community that had both soldiers in Assad's army and people fighting with the rebels. They've bled in this country's civil war on both sides. The community was also targeted with bombings by extremists, including in this neighborhood. And now they're starting to see threats on Facebook, warning Alawites that revenge killings are coming.

One showed me a video of an Alawite shrine that he said was recently burned outside of Damascus. And it is showing up not from leadership but in their daily lives. I met a man who is engaged to a Sunni Arab woman and the family loved him until Esed fled. Now some have turned on him and don't want him in the family because of his religious sect.

And another woman is having a neighborhood dispute about the pipes leaking in her apartment from the apartment above. And that neighbor is Sunni. And now she leans out the window and taunts them, saying, where are the Alawites? The tables have turned. So there's definitely apprehension and concern that they'll become scapegoats. But they hope that fear is just that, fear of the unknown.

You're welcome, Steve. There's renewed hope for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

NPR's diplomatic correspondent Michelle Kellerman joins us now from Tel Aviv. Good morning, Michelle. Good morning, Leila. So we've heard many, many times that negotiations are underway, are intense, and there's optimism that a possible deal is afoot and then no deal. What are you hearing from U.S. officials that makes it different this time?

So what do we know about this deal that's emerging and the sticking points?

And you're there in Israel. What are you hearing from family members of some of the hundred hostages still being held in Gaza? Are they optimistic?

What have you heard from Palestinians in Gaza who are living under these airstrikes and in this war about a possible ceasefire and hostage detainee exchange?

NPR's diplomatic correspondent, Michelle Kellerman. Thank you, Michelle.

And I'm Leila Faldin. We here at Up First give you three big stories of the day. Our Consider This colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

In fact, late on Friday, the Trump administration outlined a substantial carve-out for mobile phones, computers, and other electronics. But that may not last very long, and neither side appears ready to back down.

Nayib Bukele has taken hundreds of people deported from the U.S., alleging they're gang members. Bukele has called himself the world's coolest dictator, but has few fans among human rights advocates after locking up his own citizens without due process.

There's now a carve-out for electronics on those steep tariffs the U.S. slapped on Chinese goods, but maybe not for long. Publicly, China showed defiance in the face of this trade war. Are the U.S. and China any closer to negotiations? I'm Leila Faldil with Michelle Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News. El Salvador's president is in D.C. for a meeting with President Trump.

Yeah, Nayib Bukele is the man the Trump administration paid to imprison hundreds of people deported from the U.S. and accused of being gang members. El Salvador got about $6 million in that deal. Those deportations are facing numerous legal challenges in the U.S., Bukele is no darling to human rights organizations because he's imprisoned thousands of his own citizens.

With no due process, he's called himself the world's coolest dictator.

Yeah, the trial pits the Federal Trade Commission against the social media giant. It's expected to last two months, and executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are set to take the witness stand. The case centers on this question. Did Meta break competition laws when it acquired Instagram and WhatsApp?

And that's up first for Monday, April 14th. I'm Michelle Martin. And I'm Leila Fadil. For your next listen, consider this from NPR. We hear it up first, give you the three big stories of the day. Our Consider This colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you. Learn about a big story of the day in less than 15 minutes.

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The trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates comes as the administration tries to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. But Trump is expected to focus less on the quest for peace and more on making business deals, deals that apparently include the Qataris' offer of a new plane for the president.

I'm Michelle Martin with Leila Fanel, and this is Up First from NPR News. As President Trump makes his way to the Middle East, Hamas says it will release the last living American hostage held in Gaza, 21-year-old soldier Idan Alexander. Israel's government says they'll provide for Alexander's safe passage, but that his release does not guarantee a ceasefire deal.

Idan Alexander is an Israeli soldier who Hamas captured when it attacked Israel in October of 2023. His release is the result of secret talks between the U.S. and Hamas. President Trump says it is a step taken in good faith to put an end to the war. Israel says it will keep fighting the war during any negotiations.

Hey, Leila.

GOP leaders have been mired in internal divisions over how to actually turn that agenda into law, but they hope to finalize their plans this week.

The U.S. and China have agreed to temporarily reduce the tariffs they imposed on each other. Both countries say they'll limit tariffs for 90 days to give themselves time to negotiate. China plans to drop tariffs on U.S. imports from 125 percent to 10 percent, and those 145 percent tariffs the U.S. imposed on Chinese imports will fall to 30 percent.