Up First from NPR Podcast By NPR cover art

Up First from NPR

Up First from NPR

By: NPR
Listen for free

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
  • July 4th Events Curtailed, The Week in Politics, A Funeral For Iran’s Supreme Leader

    July 4th Events Curtailed, The Week in Politics, A Funeral For Iran’s Supreme Leader
    Jul 4 2026
    President Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore turns dark. Despite the heat, Americans are finding ways to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Two former Trump allies want to start a new political party. And after four months, Iranians officially mourn Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, killed in Israeli/U.S. airstrikes.

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

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show more Show less
    15 mins
  • July 4th Heat Wave, Russian Strikes On Ukraine, Future Of Democratic Party

    July 4th Heat Wave, Russian Strikes On Ukraine, Future Of Democratic Party
    Jul 3 2026
    The United States turns 250 tomorrow, but a brutal heat wave is already forcing cities to cancel parades and fireworks, and Washington D.C. will decide this morning whether the public can even attend its July Fourth events.
    Russia hit Kyiv with one of the deadliest strikes of the war overnight, firing nearly 600 missiles and drones that killed at least 27 people, Moscow says it's payback for Ukraine's attacks on its oil facilities.
    And Democrats are hoping to take back the House this fall, but infighting is getting in the way as progressive upsets energize blue-city voters while raising doubts about whether that message plays in the places the party actually needs.

    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 Luis Clemens, Tina Kraja, Jason Breslow, Mohamed ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman.

    And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:50) July 4th Heat Wave
    (05:11) Russian Strikes On Ukraine
    (09:03) Future Of Democratic Party

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

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show more Show less
    12 mins
  • Trump's Crypto Earnings, Democratic Socialists Rising, USA Advances In World Cup

    Trump's Crypto Earnings, Democratic Socialists Rising, USA Advances In World Cup
    Jul 2 2026
    President Trump and his family brought in more than a billion dollars last year, much of it from cryptocurrency ventures that have dwarfed his real estate business and raised questions about potential conflicts of interest.
    Democratic socialists scored another big win in Colorado as Melat Kiros upset longtime Congresswoman Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary, the latest in a string of progressive victories that Republicans are already using to paint the whole party as too extreme.
    And the U.S. men’s team advanced to the World Cup round of 16 with their first knockout win in 24 years against Bosnia-Herzegovina, though they’ll be without their top scorer after a red card in a match played under dangerous heat in the East.

    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 Jan Johnson, Russell Lewis, Jason Breslow, Alice Woelfle and Mohamed ElBardicy

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Zac Coleman.

    And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:54) Trump's Crypto Earnings
    (05:43) Democratic Socialists Rising
    (09:26) USA Advances In World Cup

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

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show more Show less
    13 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
News and Nonfiction Get the stories beyond the headlines

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
All stars
Most relevant
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
he title was good enjoyed listening to the audiobook. the story line was interesting. nice

good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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??

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews