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'The Bible is not a policy manual’: Christians reckon with immigration under Trump May 03, 2026

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Evangelicals in America are divided over immigration enforcement. So who gets to claim the side of God?
This week on The Sunday Story, NPR’s Brittany Luse sits down with two people who think a lot about the separation of church and state: NPR’s religion correspondent, Jason DeRose, and the Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition. DeRose and Salguero unpack the rhetoric of conservative white Evangelicals and discuss what happens when the government uses scripture to justify policy. How does the Christian tenet of “welcoming the stranger” come to bear on current debates about U.S. immigration enforcement and war?
This conversation was originally published as an episode of NPR’s It’s Been A Minute podcast: “Christians are having a Trump-sized reckoning.”
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Spirit Airlines Folds, Abortion Pills, Government Debt May 02, 2026

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Spirit Airlines ceased operation overnight, as jet fuel prices are pinching airlines. A panel of federal judges in Louisiana has ended telemedicine access to the abortion pill mifepristone for the entire country. And the federal debt has outgrown the entire U.S. economy.
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Stalemate In The Strait Of Hormuz, DHS Shutdown Ends, Trump's Surgeon General Nominee May 01, 2026

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President Trump is facing growing political pressure over the war in Iran as gas prices hit new highs and European allies accuse him of being humiliated by Tehran in the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over. The House passed a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security after weeks of bitter partisan fighting over immigration enforcement.
President Trump has nominated his third pick for Surgeon General after his previous two nominees failed to win Senate confirmation. Dr. Nicole Saphier is a breast cancer radiologist and frequent Fox News contributor.
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 Rebekah Metzler, Kelsey Snell, Kris Husted, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Ally Schweitzer.
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 Zac Coleman.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:40) Stalemate In The Strait Of Hormuz
(06:33) DHS Shutdown Ends
(10:27) Trump's Surgeon General Nominee
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Hegseth Defends Iran War, Powell Stays On As Fed Chair, SCOTUS Voting Rights Case Apr 30, 2026

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The Pentagon estimates the war with Iran has already cost 25 billion dollars as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the cost of the war in a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says he will remain on the central bank’s board after his term ends next month to shield the agency from political pressure.
The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Voting Rights Act only prohibits congressional maps intentionally drawn to discriminate based on race, a decision that could make it much harder to challenge aggressive Republican-led redistricting efforts.
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 Andrew Sussman, Rafael Nam, Ben Swasey, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Ally Schweitzer.
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.
And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:18) Hegseth Defends Iran War
(06:07) Powell Stays On As Fed Chair
(09:55) SCOTUS Voting Rights Case
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Comey Indicted Again, King Charles' Message To Congress, SCOTUS Temp Protected Status Apr 29, 2026

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The Justice Department has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for a second time, accusing him of threatening President Trump with an Instagram post of the numbers 86 47 spelled out in seashells on a beach.
King Charles told a joint session of Congress today that the United States and Britain must strengthen their partnership even as President Trump clashes with European leaders over Iran and NATO.
The Supreme Court hears arguments today in a case that could let the Trump administration move forward with mass deportations of people who have lived legally in the United States for years under temporary protected status. (NOTE: this story contains a bleeped clip of President Trump using vulgarity)
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 Anna Yukhananov, Jason Breslow, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Adriana Gallardo.
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.
Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:58) Comey Indicted Again
(05:46) King Charles' Message To Congress
(09:31) SCOTUS Temp Protected Status
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WHCA Shooter In Court, Trump-King Charles Relationship, Lebanon Ceasefire In Limbo Apr 28, 2026

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The man who stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is being charged with trying to assassinate President Trump, with new court documents revealing he booked the hotel a month in advance and emailed his motives minutes before the attempt.
King Charles addresses Congress today during his state visit to Washington as the royal trip tests whether personal diplomacy can ease sharp tensions between the Trump administration and the UK government.
As diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran remains stalled, Israel carried out new strikes in eastern Lebanon and Hezbollah launched drones at Israeli troops, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
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 Anna Yukhananov, Rebekah Metzler, Ruth Sherlock Mohamad ElBardicy, and Ally Schweitzer.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ben Abrams.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:09) White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooter In Court
(05:41) Trump- King Charles Relationship
(09:44) Lebanon Ceasefire In Limbo
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White House Response To Shooting, Shooter Investigation, King Charles State Visit Apr 27, 2026

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President Trump called for unity after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner with him and the Vice President on stage, then later returned to attacking the press and Democrats.
The suspect in the attempted attack is in federal court today and not cooperating with investigators after his own family warned police just minutes before he tried to storm the ballroom.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Washington today for a state visit as the White House weighs security changes following Saturday’s shooting.
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 Megan Pratz, Krishnadev Calamur, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Ally Schweitzer.
It was produced by Paige Waterhouse and Nia Dumas.
Our Director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott.
(0:00) Introduction
(1:54) White House response
(5:32) Shooting investigation
(9:20) King Charles
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The hidden cost of separating 'emotionally disturbed' students Apr 26, 2026

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There’s a category of special education that stands out from the rest. It’s designed for kids who struggle with their emotions and behaviors, known at the federal level as “emotional disturbance.” More than 300,000 students in the U.S. currently have this label. Often, these students are taught in separate classrooms or even separate schools.
Today on The Sunday Story, reporter Laurie Stern shares how this disability label shaped the life of one student who she followed for nearly two years — and what his experience reveals about how the label can simultaneously support and limit students.
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Hormuz Deadlock, Presidential Laugh Lines, Prediction Markets Apr 25, 2026

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A deadlock between the U.S. and Iran continues over the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have caught the attention of regulators as people profit from privileged information. And the media try to release some pressure through humor at the White House Correspondents Association dinner.
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Strait Of Hormuz Shipping Crisis, Marijuana Reclassification, Georgia Wildfires Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

President Trump says he is prepared to wait for the best deal to end the war with Iran, even as he orders the Navy to shoot any boat caught laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Justice Department is moving marijuana out of its most dangerous drug classification for the first time, a major shift that could open up banking and tax relief for the legal cannabis industry, with a broader review of recreational marijuana expected by June.
And wildfires are tearing through South Georgia and Northern Florida with little warning, destroying nearly 90 homes.
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 James Hider, Ruth Sherlock, Alfredo Carbajal, Rachel Waldholtz, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai
It was produced by Kaity Kline and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor
(0:00) Introduction
(01:57) Strait of Hormuz Shipping Crisis
(06:15) Marijuana Reclassification
(10:04) Georgia Wildfires
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