Up First from NPR

President Trump is due to meet with Syria's new leader as the administration prepares to lift sanctions on the country. Could he also participate in Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Turkey? Plus, on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to defend his sweeping changes at the Department of Health and Human Services. 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 Ryland Barton, Diane Webber, Ally Schweitzer and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ana Perez, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Companies are rushing to import merchandise while a temporary trade deal between the U.S. and China is in place, but what happens after the 90-day arrangement expires is unclear. As President Trump visits the Middle East, economic opportunities and security issues top the agenda. Jurors hear often graphic testimony on the first day Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial. 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 Carrie Kahn, Jacob Ganz, Rafael Nam, Ally Schweitzer and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ana Perez, Nia Dumas and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump chose Saudi Arabia - again - for the first state trip of his second term. What does that say about his foreign policy? Hamas says it will release the last living American hostage held in Gaza, Edan Alexander. And as Republicans look for massive budget cuts, what could happen to Medicaid? 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 Ryland Barton, Krishnadev Calamur, Carrie Kahn, Kelsey Snell, Ally Schweitzer and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ana Perez, Nia Dumas and Chris Thomas. We get engineering support from David Greenberg, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Sean Combs who was once at the forefront of hip-hop music and fashion is now on trial for sex trafficking. The hip-hop mogul launched the careers of numerous stars and grew his business empire to a reported $1 billion dollars in 2022. A fortune that has since shrunk considerably as he faces multiple civil lawsuits, a crumbling media empire and the prospect of years behind bars. With his trial set to begin tomorrow, today on The Sunday Story NPR Music reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmineto shares how Sean Combs went from music intern to media mogul and how it all came crashing down. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

India and Pakistan accuse each other of carrying out strikes on military bases. It's the latest escalation between the two countries. Plus, NPR learns that the Department of Agriculture is demanding states hand over the personal data of those receiving food stamps. Critics fear the information could be used to carry out deportations. Also, the Trump administration tightens its control over the independent agency regulating America's nuclear reactors. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

People traveled to the Vatican from all over the world to witness the election of a new pope. What more do we know about the life of the Chicago-born pontiff who also holds Peruvian citizenship? Also, negotiators from the US and China will meet this weekend in Switzerland for talks about the trade war between the two countries. 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 Daniel Burke, Ryland Barton, Padmananda Rama, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Pakistan's defense minister warned that hostilities between his country and India could escalate into a nuclear confrontation, the White House plans to add Libya to the list of countries where it sends deportees, and the Federal Reserve voted to keep interest rates unchanged, for now. 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 Ryland Barton, Anna Yukhananov, Rafael Nam, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

India struck multiple targets across Pakistan in the most extensive strikes in more than 50 years, the papal conclave to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic church begins today, and the Supreme Court has allowed a ban on transgender people serving in the military. 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 Ryland Barton, Daniel Burke, Krishnadev Calamur, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Kaity Kline, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump will meet with Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, who won his election on an anti-Trump platform. In a surprise move, the Justice Department asked for a lawsuit against the abortion medication mifepristone to be dismissed, and the global film industry is reeling after President Trump announced plans to hike tariffs on movies produced outside of the U.S. || 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 Roberta Rampton, Diane Webber, Jane Greenhalgh, Ciera Crawford, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Kaity Kline, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump says he "doesn't know" if it's his job to defend the US Constitution when it comes to providing immigrants due process. Israel approved a plan to take control of the distribution of food aid inside Gaza, and the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering begins today. 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 Krishnadev Calamur, Carrie Kahn, Jacob Ganz, Janaya Williams, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Kaity Kline, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

In Syria during the 14-year civil war, many children were detained with their mothers. Then, security forces separated them. Thousands of these children have never been found. Since the fall of the Assad regime, parents of disappeared children have continued to search for answers. In this episode of The Sunday Story, NPR correspondent Diaa Hadid investigates: what happened to the disappeared children of Syria? This episode includes mentions of rape and torture. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump proposes major cuts to several federal agencies in next year's budget, but he wants defense and border security spending to increase. The budget plan comes after the economy shrank during the first three months of this year. We'll have the latest on the state of the economy. Plus, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has added the title of national security adviser to his growing roster of roles. But will he have the bandwidth to do both jobs? Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A new executive order aims to cut federal subsidies to PBS and NPR. President Trump is nominating national security adviser Mike Waltz as his ambassador to the United Nations, and a federal judge ruled that the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan immigrants from is "unlawful." 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 Gerry Holmes, Roberta Rampton, Eric Westervelt, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Steve Inskeep speaks with War Room Podcast Host and Trump ally Steve Bannon about the changes the U.S. President has introduced in his first months in office in 2025 and where he sees things heading. 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 Reena Advani and produced by Barry Gordemer. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The US economy shrank in the first three months of the year and economists say the months ahead could also be challenging. Ukraine signed a deal with the US to jointly invest in Ukraine's minerals and natural resources, and tensions are high between India and Pakistan after last week's deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir. 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 Rafael Nam, Ryland Barton, Vincent Ni, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Damian Herring. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump celebrated 100 days of his second term at a rally in Michigan and called his policy changes the "most profound" in generations. Steve Bannon weighed in on the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, and Congressional Republicans return from recess aiming to pass the President's so-called "big beautiful bill" before Memorial Day. 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 Roberta Rampton, Reena Advani, Kelsey Snell, Vincent Ni, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Damian Herring. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

In a new poll, voters graded President Trump's first 100 days in office. An NPR analysis finds more than 100 people and groups the President targeted for retribution in his second term, and NPR traveled to Vermont to speak with a Columbia University student detained by the Trump administration. 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 Megan Pratz, Barrie Hardymon, Jan Johnson, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration continues to crack down on US immigrants without legal status, even the Canadian election has been dominated by President Trump, and a measles outbreak is especially bad in Texas, where two of every three people with the virus live. 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 Russell Lewis, Tara Neill, Alfredo Carbajal, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

NPR's cybersecurity correspondent Jenna McLaughlin recently broke a story about a whistleblower inside the federal government who says DOGE representatives appear to have taken sensitive data, then covered their tracks. Daniel Berulis works for the National Labor Relations Board and he has shared evidence that DOGE engineers disabled security protocols, exported reams of sensitive data and used a "hacker's toolkit" to hide their activities. And he thinks his agency is not alone. Today on The Sunday Story, what this possible breach could mean for the private data of millions of Americans. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

We report live from St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, where Pope Francis's funeral is taking place. Plus, the U.N.'s food agency says it is running out of food to distribute to people in Gaza two months into an Israeli blockade. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy