Michelle Martin

It feels like the continuation of a long 2025, but happy new year to you.

Yes, and thank you also to our NPR Plus supporters.

Thank you again for your continued support moving into 2026 and beyond.

2025 is gone, and so are pandemic-era subsidies for people who rely on the Affordable Care Act.

I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News.

The Trump administration froze federal childcare funding after a right-wing influencer went viral accusing Somali-run daycares of fraud.

Providers are warning the impact could be immediate.

Hello and Happy New Year.

It's Michelle Martin from Morning Edition.

Thank you to everyone who donated during our end-of-year fundraising campaign.

2025 dealt a big blow to NPR and local stations with the loss of federal funding for public media, but we are so heartened by the outpouring of support, and we will get through this together.

Thank you for keeping NPR strong moving into 2026 and beyond.

Many people get government subsidies to help pay their monthly premium for that insurance.

During the COVID pandemic, Congress created additional subsidies to help keep coverage affordable.

But those additional subsidies expired last night, and now consumers face a hard choice.

On average, premiums for those marketplace plans are more than twice as high compared to 2025.

The move comes just days after the Trump administration singled out Minnesota following a video from a conservative influencer going viral.

The influencer claimed without evidence that daycare centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud.

Just after midnight, Zoran Mamdani was formally sworn in at a small private ceremony held underground at an historic subway station.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James conducted the oath.