Up First from NPR
Hosted by A Martinez, Ayesha Rascoe, Leila Fadel, Michel Martin, Scott Simon & Steve Inskeep · 69 decoded episodes · newest Oct 8, 2026
NPR's Up First is the news you need to start your day. The three biggest stories of the day, with reporting and analysis from NPR News — in 10 minutes. Available weekdays at 6:30 a.m. ET, with hosts Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin and A Martinez. Also available on Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET, with Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon. On Sundays, hear a longer exploration behind the headlines with Ayesha Rascoe on "The Sunday Story," available by 8 a.m. ET. Subscribe and listen, then support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.<br><br><em> Support public media by joining NPR+ at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" ><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Up First, NPR News Now, and more.</em>
Episodes 69
- Sep 15, 2026 · 15 minTrump dismisses AI risks as court protects mail-in votingThe episode connects a high-stakes technology race, election rules, and a national cultural institution confronting financial and legal peril.
- Sep 14, 2026 · 16 minAI safety warnings collide with Trump’s race against ChinaThe episode connects AI governance, threats to vital shipping routes, and Republican electoral risks to a broader test of American power and credibility.
- Sep 13, 2026 · 32 minClancy mistrial exposes the stakes of postpartum psychosisThe deadlocked case tests how courts and society understand criminal responsibility, postpartum mental illness, and the care available to new mothers.
- Sep 12, 2026 · 17 minBRICS challenges dollar dominance as crash probes expose aviation risksThe episode connects shifting global power, contractor accountability in air cargo, and a political effort to reverse the decline of U.S. production jobs.
- Sep 11, 2026 · 16 min9/11 remembrance meets a pivotal fight over political powerThe episode connects the enduring human toll of 9/11 with battles over Republican strategy and congressional representation.
- Sep 10, 2026 · 15 minTrump centers midterms on himself as maps and iPhone reshape stakesThe episode connects Trump’s personal political strategy, a consequential Missouri map fight, and Apple’s costly bet on foldable hardware and on-device AI.
- Sep 9, 2026 · 15 minU.S.-Iran strikes widen risks from the Gulf to WashingtonThe episode connects military escalation, pressure on Israeli settlements, and political strain at the Smithsonian to broader questions about regional security and public institutions.
- Sep 8, 2026 · 15 minCanada retaliates as Trump-centered GOP convention tests party strategyThe episode connects a worsening U.S.-Canada trade dispute, a Republican effort built around Donald Trump, and a deadly airport crash investigation.
- Sep 7, 2026 · 15 minThree crises test aviation safety, Ukraine diplomacy and Germany’s far rightThe episode connects a deadly transportation disaster with stalled diplomacy and an election result that could reshape Germany’s political system.
- Sep 6, 2026 · 29 minSunscreen science exposes gaps in testing and researchThe episode shows why sunscreen can reduce some skin cancers while still falling short as a universal, fully tested solution across skin types.
- Sep 5, 2026 · 17 minDiplomacy stalls as Trump advances arch and wildfires spreadThe episode connects an uncertain Ukraine peace effort, a contested monument project, and a wildfire season reshaping communities across the West.
- Sep 4, 2026 · 15 minAdministration tests voting rules, school diversity and ICE accountabilityThree federal actions could reshape ballot access, tax-exempt education and oversight of immigration enforcement.