Ukraine gets U.S. approval to fire long-range missiles into Russia, raising the stakes in a war that's entering a harsh winter. President Biden pushes his climate agenda at the G20 summit in Brazil, seeking to solidify U.S. leadership as allies prepare for President-elect Trump's return. And, Trump's plan to combat the fentanyl crisis sparks debate over whether tougher crackdowns on traffickers will help or harm efforts to save lives.Your feedback helps us make Up First better. Tell us what you like and what you don't like by taking our survey at npr.org/upfirstsurveyWant more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Tara Neill, Andrea DeLeon, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Milton Guevara.We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: Why did President Biden allow Ukraine to fire missiles into Russia?
In the past, the U.S. hesitated to provoke Russia. What made the president decide that it's time to let the missiles fly?
I'm Steve Inskeep with Leila Fadal, and this is Up First from NPR News. The president is promoting his climate agenda at a summit predicting the U.S. will keep embracing clean energy. Nobody, nobody can reverse it. Nobody. How are world leaders preparing for a president with a different point of view?
And how does a new administration plan to attack drug gangs in Mexico?
President Trump is committed to calling them terrorist organization and using full might of the United States special operations to take them out.
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.
Biden is clearing Ukraine for actions its leaders have wanted for some time. The U.S. has avoided too much provocation of the world's other leading nuclear weapons state. But now Biden acts shortly before the coming of a new administration whose approach to Ukraine is uncertain.
For more on how this fits into Ukraine's larger military effort, we're joined by NPR national security correspondent Greg Myrie. Hi, Greg.
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Chapter 2: What are the implications of Biden's missile policy for Ukraine?
Hi, Leila.
So what's changed? Why is President Biden deciding to do this with two months left in his presidency?
Well, he seems to be acting now because Russia is using some 10,000 North Korean troops in a bid to push Ukrainian forces out of Russian territory. This is according to a U.S. official who spoke to our NPR colleague Tom Bowman. Now, Ukraine captured a chunk of the Kursk region in western Russia about 500 square miles back in August.
These Russian and North Korean forces are clawing back some of that territory in heavy fighting. The Ukrainians will now be able to use these U.S. missiles known as ATAKOMs to try to hold this territory.
But is President Biden no longer worried about provoking Russia here?
Well, no. I mean, all along, his concern has been a possible Russian escalation. But now he seems the priority is signaling that his administration wants to do what it can before leaving office in January. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week, quote, every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door.
And how much will the long-range missiles help Ukraine being able to use them?
Well, yeah, Leila, they should certainly help. Ukraine's argument throughout the war is that Russia can move around troops and weapons with a large degree of freedom behind the front lines on the Russian side of the border. because Ukraine was unlikely to attack them from long distance. So the ATAKOMs will make it riskier for the Russians to operate in these areas.
However, there are real limits to this new policy. The U.S. said the Russians have already pulled back things like warplanes to take them out of missile range. And the U.S. is just providing a limited number of ATAKOMs because their own stockpile is limited and they need to keep some in the U.S. arsenal. The ATAKOMs can travel about 200 miles. They're quite powerful.
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Chapter 3: How is the G20 summit affected by the upcoming Trump administration?
Yeah, Layla. Just yesterday, Russia carried out a heavy strike, 200 missiles and drones, one of the heaviest in months. And every winter, Russia is expected, as it has in the past, to wage sustained attacks on Ukraine's power grid. And this has done a lot of cumulative damage, and it will remain a big vulnerability.
That's NPR's Greg Myrie. Thank you, Greg.
Sure thing.
Leaders of the world's largest economies are gathering in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil today and tomorrow.
It's President Biden's last Group of 20 summit and a tricky one. Some of the measures he's expected to sign on to are not supported by the incoming administration.
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?
The sun's out. It's a picture postcard day here, so that should help with the mood. President-elect Trump's return, though, and global conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are all hanging over the summit. President Biden arrived here late last night. He made a stop first in the Amazon and pledged new U.S. funds for rainforest protection.
He didn't mention Trump there, who dismisses global warming, but Biden did take some jabs at those who he says would, quote, deny or delay America's clean energy revolution.
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Chapter 4: What challenges does Biden face at the G20 summit?
Nobody, nobody can reverse it. Nobody. Not when so many people, regardless of party or politics, are enjoying its benefits.
Also yesterday at the G20 venue, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was asked how world leaders should prepare for another Trump administration. He urged them to, quote, race much faster to tackle common challenges like climate change and inequality. But also, he said, strengthen global governance and institutions now.
Chapter 5: How does climate change impact international relations?
Chapter 6: What will Trump's approach to foreign policy be?
Yeah, Layla. Just yesterday, Russia carried out a heavy strike, 200 missiles and drones, one of the heaviest in months. And every winter, Russia is expected, as it has in the past, to wage sustained attacks on Ukraine's power grid. And this has done a lot of cumulative damage, and it will remain a big vulnerability.
That's NPR's Greg Myrie. Thank you, Greg.
Sure thing.
Leaders of the world's largest economies are gathering in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil today and tomorrow.
It's President Biden's last Group of 20 summit and a tricky one. Some of the measures he's expected to sign on to are not supported by the incoming administration.
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?
The sun's out. It's a picture postcard day here, so that should help with the mood. President-elect Trump's return, though, and global conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are all hanging over the summit. President Biden arrived here late last night. He made a stop first in the Amazon and pledged new U.S. funds for rainforest protection.
He didn't mention Trump there, who dismisses global warming, but Biden did take some jabs at those who he says would, quote, deny or delay America's clean energy revolution.
Nobody, nobody can reverse it. Nobody. Not when so many people, regardless of party or politics, are enjoying its benefits.
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