Aid groups warn lives will be lost in Gaza as winter settles in and people lack protection against harsh elements and seasonal illnesses. It's Black Friday and retailers are expecting a record-breaking number of shoppers. And, third party presidential candidates got fewer votes in 2024 than in recent years. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Didrik Schanche, Emily Kopp, Megan Pratz, Lisa Thomson and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Adam Bearne, Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lilly Quiroz. We get engineering support from Ted Mebane. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Executive Producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What is the situation in Gaza as winter approaches?
Aid groups warn lives will be lost in Gaza as winter settles in and people don't have protection against harsh elements and seasonal illnesses.
Too little aid is coming in, and of that aid, a fraction is really distributed.
I'm Rob Schmitz, and this is Up First from NPR News. It's Black Friday. As more people say they're tightening their budgets, this is expected to be a record-breaking holiday shopping season. So what's motivating people to spend and who are they actually shopping for? And support for third parties declined in this year's election.
I personally did not feel a lot of support from the national party. I felt like there was a lot of antagonism. What's next for people who want options beyond the two-party system?
Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. Israel and Lebanon agreed on a ceasefire this week to pause more than a year of fighting. But in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes continue to pound the territory, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry there. And now people in Gaza have this to contend with.
Winter has arrived, and most families don't have a home or shelter. Joining us to discuss the latest in Gaza is NPR's international correspondent, Aya Batraoui, who's based in Dubai. Hey, Aya.
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Chapter 2: How are aid groups responding to the crisis in Gaza?
Hi, Rob.
So, Aya, temperatures dropped into the 40s Fahrenheit at night in Gaza this week, and it began to rain. How are people surviving?
Well, Rob, many people are hardly surviving. And aid groups warn that this winter will claim even more lives from things like malnutrition, hyperthermia, flu, and other less visible consequences of this war. NPR's producer Anas Baba met with families in Gaza who are on the very edge of survival.
He went to a strip of coastline called Moesi after a night of rain, and he found families covered in seawater. The few things that they owned, some clothes, pots and pans, were buried in the sand by lashing wind and rain.
Now, for months, thousands of families were forced to live here right at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea because most of Gaza is under Israeli military evacuation order, leaving just this stretch of coast all that's left.
That sounds terrible. I mean, what do people have to protect themselves with?
Well, not very much. I mean, families were able to survive the grueling summer in flimsy tents, but winter is proving impossible. Nidal Abdul Qatati's tent was made out of used flower bags and some wooden sticks, and he tried to cover it with extra tarping to prepare for winter, but then this happened. So he tells Anas that his children erupted into screams around two in the morning.
Waves had crashed into their tent, pulling their blankets and things out to sea. And he says his kids were being swallowed by the sea and being pulled by the tide too. And his three-year-old daughter was crying all through the night after he pulled her ashore. And with no idea where they can go next, he says, where are our human rights?
So, Aya, why is it that people don't have proper shelter when aid groups have had months to prepare for winter?
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Chapter 3: What are the economic expectations for Black Friday this year?
Well, people are not feeling great about prices, but they are shopping, they are spending. We're likely in for another record holiday shopping season. Already, so far just this month, online shoppers alone have spent almost 10% more this year compared to last year.
Chapter 4: How is consumer sentiment affecting holiday shopping?
That seems like a lot.
It's a lot. And that's just as of Wednesday, according to Adobe Analytics, which tracks online transactions.
So is that because the prices are higher? So, I mean, we're spending more, but we're buying less?
I think that's part of it. But there is more to the story. For this Black Friday weekend, retailers are also expecting huge turnout, a record number of people shopping. And of those people, there's a growing group saying they plan to spend more this year than they did last year. Which, you know, how do you get more people shopping when more people say they're tightening their budgets?
Chapter 5: Are shoppers spending more or less this Black Friday?
And the answer is deals. When people feel financially squeezed, to have several days known for discounts is a big draw.
So, deals. Are these deals expected to be really good this year?
Chapter 6: What challenges do retailers face during the holiday season?
Chapter 7: What is the outlook for third-party political candidates?
I personally did not feel a lot of support from the national party. I felt like there was a lot of antagonism. What's next for people who want options beyond the two-party system?
Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. Israel and Lebanon agreed on a ceasefire this week to pause more than a year of fighting. But in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes continue to pound the territory, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry there. And now people in Gaza have this to contend with.
Winter has arrived, and most families don't have a home or shelter. Joining us to discuss the latest in Gaza is NPR's international correspondent, Aya Batraoui, who's based in Dubai. Hey, Aya.
Hi, Rob.
So, Aya, temperatures dropped into the 40s Fahrenheit at night in Gaza this week, and it began to rain. How are people surviving?
Well, Rob, many people are hardly surviving. And aid groups warn that this winter will claim even more lives from things like malnutrition, hyperthermia, flu, and other less visible consequences of this war. NPR's producer Anas Baba met with families in Gaza who are on the very edge of survival.
He went to a strip of coastline called Moesi after a night of rain, and he found families covered in seawater. The few things that they owned, some clothes, pots and pans, were buried in the sand by lashing wind and rain.
Now, for months, thousands of families were forced to live here right at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea because most of Gaza is under Israeli military evacuation order, leaving just this stretch of coast all that's left.
That sounds terrible. I mean, what do people have to protect themselves with?
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