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Up First from NPR

Up First from NPR

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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.

Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to Up First+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/upfirstCopyright 2015-2026 NPR - For Personal Use Only Daily Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Iran And Yemen's Houthis Blockade, Hegseth On Capitol Hill, Arizona Primary Day

    Iran And Yemen's Houthis Blockade, Hegseth On Capitol Hill, Arizona Primary Day
    Jul 21 2026
    The war between the U.S. and Iran keeps widening as Yemen's Houthi rebels announce a blockade of Saudi Arabia that would choke off another key oil route, even as Iran signals it may be open to talks.
    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth heads to Capitol Hill today to ask for 350 billion dollars more for the war, in a rare chance for senators to question him after the Pentagon admitted 100 troops were wounded in the past two weeks and hasn't briefed reporters since May.
    And it's the last day of primary voting in Arizona, a swing state that's become ground zero for election denialism, with big fall races taking shape for governor, a toss-up House seat, and secretary of state.

    Want more 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 Tina Kraja, Andrew Sussman, Larry Kaplow, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas

    Our director is Christopher Thomas

    We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

    And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:53) Iran And Yemen's Houthis Blockade
    (05:31) Hegseth On Capitol Hill
    (09:20) Arizona Primary Day

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    13 mins
  • US-Iran War Escalates, Congress To-Do List, UK Has A New Prime Minister

    US-Iran War Escalates, Congress To-Do List, UK Has A New Prime Minister
    Jul 20 2026
    A third U.S. service member has been killed since Friday as the U.S. bombs Iran for a ninth straight night, with Iran vowing not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz while the attacks continue.
    House Republicans have one week left before the August recess as Speaker Mike Johnson tries to advance defense funding, a stock trading ban for lawmakers, and President Trump’s election integrity bill amid high voter anxiety over the cost of living.
    And the United Kingdom has a new prime minister this morning as Andy Burnham replaces Keir Starmer, becoming the country’s seventh leader in just ten years.

    Want more 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 Tina Kraja, Brett Neely, Tara Neill, Mohamad ElBardicy and Taylor Haney.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas

    Our director is Christopher Thomas

    We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:54) US-Iran War Escalates
    (05:24) Congress To-Do List
    (09:08) UK Has A New Prime Minister

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    14 mins
  • Infertility doctor secretly fathered dozens of children: how strangers became family

    Infertility doctor secretly fathered dozens of children: how strangers became family
    Jul 19 2026
    What defines a family? For a group of strangers, that question took on a profound, unexpected meaning after DNA tests revealed a hidden, decades-old deception. They discovered they were all half-siblings conceived through artificial insemination in the mid-20th century. Their biological father was not the man who raised them, but Dr. Charles Charny, a Philadelphia fertility specialist.

    In this week's episode of The Sunday Story, Frank Langfitt follows this unique family as they piece together their strange creation tale and decide to become a family.


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    Show more Show less
    32 mins
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Featured Article: Stay Up to Date and Informed with the Best News Podcasts of All Time


In a world where breaking news headlines change hourly and we're inundated with constant notifications, articles, news blasts, and think pieces, it can be difficult to simply keep up with what's going on in the world—let alone make sense of it. That’s where podcasts come in. Ranging from global and breaking news to politics, art, and finance, these shows are hosted by experts in their fields. No matter what your interests, there's a podcast for you.

Featured Article Stay Up to Date and Informed with the Best News Podcasts of All Time
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So much of what people think of as news is just talking heads who try to appease their followers with whatever will make them angry or excited so that they continue to watch. This then feeds the talking head more money and power. There are not many true news channels left. This is one of them. It actually gathers the information and does its research And lets the listener decide.

Actual news not talking heads

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he title was good enjoyed listening to the audiobook. the story line was interesting. nice

good

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I always learn something listening to this program. It is my daily must-listen program to catch up on important news & insightful analysis. I greatly appreciate their fair-minded reporting.

Reporting with honesty & integrity

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Up first is the best way for me to know what fresh hell we are in now. I look forward to better leadership and news that is hopeful and future focused.

What Now??

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I am so glad to hear Ayesha Roscoe hosting this show. I have been a fan of her reporting for some time. Up First is my favorite morning news podcast and it is great to hear her as a host.

Yay! Ayesha’s here!

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