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Growing Black Unemployment, Taxing California Billionaires, New Supreme Court Cases Oct 03, 2026

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The U.S. economy added fewer jobs than expected last month, and Black unemployment spiked. California voters will decide whether the state should charge a one-time tax on billionaires, an idea that has split Democrats. The Supreme Court begins its new term on Monday, with cases involving climate change, guns and religious rights.
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Wages Vs Inflation, Tennessee Failed Execution, Cornell Rape Case Special Prosecutor Oct 02, 2026

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The government has a sobering update on the job market, as workers face wages that fail to keep up with higher prices and borrowing costs.
Tennessee has paused executions after Christa Pike survived two doses of a lethal injection drug, marking the state’s second failed execution this year.
New York’s governor has appointed a special prosecutor in the Cornell sexual assault case after new questions emerged about what information campus police shared with the local district attorney.
**correction note: A previous audio version of this story misstated the name of Christa Pike's attorney.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rafael Nam, Susanna Capeluto, Gigi Douban, 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 and Patrick Murray.
Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:29) Wages Vs Inflation
(06:49) Tennessee Failed Execution
(10:25) Cornell Rape Case Special Prosecutor
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FlyDubai Midair Attack, Trump Midterm Campaigning, Hegseth Reshaping Military Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

A FlyDubai flight bound for Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other and tried to crash the plane, with all passengers safe and investigators working to determine exactly what happened.
President Trump is starting his midterm campaign push in Oklahoma and Alabama, raising questions about whether his presence would help or hurt Republicans in battleground states.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he is reshaping the military around a new “warrior ethos,” with plans to cut more senior officers and overhaul parts of the Pentagon seven months into the war with Iran.
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Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Tina Kraja, Rebekah Metzler, Andrew Sussman, 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 and Patrick Murray.
Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:18) FlyDubai Midair Attack
(06:02) Trump Midterm Campaigning
(09:51) Hegseth Reshaping Military
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Trump AI Summit, US Pulls Out Of Iraq, SCOTUS Third Country Deportations Sep 30, 2026

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President Trump told AI executives they can police themselves and signed an order branding the technology “super intelligence,” even as some of those same companies say the rules for keeping it safe are still a work in progress.
More than two decades after the U.S. first invaded Iraq, American forces have now left the country as Iran-backed militias remain powerful and some U.S. partners warn they are being left vulnerable.
The Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to resume deporting some immigrants to countries they have no ties to while the justices consider whether the policy is legal.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Alina Hartounian, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ben Abrams.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and Patrick Murray.
Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:50) Trump AI Summit
(05:40) US Pulls Out Of Iraq
(09:16) SCOTUS Third Country Deportations
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UK Terror Plot Investigation, Trump's Fuel Efficiency Rollback, Cornell Rape Case Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Five men arrested near a U.S.-used air base in Britain have been released on bail but remain under investigation, as police say they have not determined whether a foreign state was involved.
The Trump administration is rolling back fuel efficiency standards for new cars, saying the change will lower sticker prices even as critics warn drivers could pay more over time in fuel and other costs.
And a 2024 sexual assault case at Cornell University is now under criminal investigation as the school faces growing scrutiny over how it handled the allegations.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Tina Kraja, Kara Platoni, Gigi Douban, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and Patrick Murray.
Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:58) UK Terror Plot Investigation
(05:43) Trump's Fuel Efficiency Rollback
(09:43) Cornell Rape Case
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Trump Rejects Iran's Ceasefire, UK Foiled Plot Near US Base, Trump Press Corps Fight Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

President Trump rejected Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal but says he remains open to talks, as questions grow over whether there is any realistic path toward ending the war.
British police arrested five men on suspicion of preparing an attack near a military base used by the U.S. Air Force, as investigators work to determine whether a foreign government was involved.
And President Trump’s fight with the press continues even after a judge restored White House access to three banned outlets, raising questions about whether the battle is costing him the media coverage he normally seeks.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Tina Kraja, Kelsey Snell, Mohamad ElBardicy and Ally Schweitzer.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ben Abrams.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and Patrick Murray.
Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:57) Trump Rejects Iran's Ceasefire
(05:35) UK Foiled Plot On US Base
(09:19) Trump Press Corps Fight
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Can clergy candidates help Democrats win in red states? Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

This November, a notable number of Democrats are running for Congress who all have one thing in common: they are members of the clergy. In a moment when the party is counting on every seat it can flip, will these clergy members be able to win over the party’s secular base? NPR’s religion correspondent Jason DeRose followed four of the candidates who are running competitive races in Texas and Iowa.
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Powerful storms hit the US, Supreme Court Rejects Missouri Maps, Mortgage Rates Rise Sep 26, 2026

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A weekend of wild weather as a couple of power storms are set to hit Hawaii and the Northeastern United States. The Supreme Court rejects the new congressional maps in Missouri that favored republicans. Mortgage rates and bond yields continue to rise, raising borrowing costs for both consumers and the government.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
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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Trump-Xi Summit, White House Media Ban Update, Netanyahu's UN Speech Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

President Trump hosts China's leader Xi Jinping. While their differences abound on many issues, they extend their truce on tariffs by two months. CNN and MS NOW are denied access to Trump's State dinner with Xi. And diplomats walk out during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's blistering speech at the U.N.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today's episode of Up First was edited by Emily Kopp, Rebekah Metzler, James Hider, Tina Kraja, Alice Woelfle, and Reena Advani.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Chris Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis . Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:51) Trump-Xi Summit
(05:40) White House Media Ban Update
(09:08) Netanyahu's UN Speech
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Tucker Carlson on his MAGA split and Trump's 'nihilism' | NPR's Newsmakers Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Tucker Carlson is talking about what happened behind closed doors in his very public break with President Trump.
In this episode of NPR's Newsmakers, Carlson told host Steve Inskeep about a meeting with Trump in which, he says, Trump dismissed his concerns about the Iran war by saying, "We'll all die anyway."
Carlson has taken the view not only that Israel influenced Trump to launch the war, but that Israel gave Trump no choice, and in fact that outside forces control both American political parties, which he described as the "uniparty," a single organization. Carlson's theories have raised questions about antisemitism — a charge he denied before being asked. Carlson also revisits his years as a cable-TV partisan, talks about a possible third party and explains why he believes both major parties have failed Americans.
In response to a request for comment from NPR, the White House did not address Carlson's claims specifically, instead sending along a social media post by the president that describes Carlson and others as "stupid people" who want Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. Follow or subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you watch or listen to podcasts to get new episodes as soon as possible. You can also find Newsmakers on the NPR app.
Newsmakers relies on supporters who value independent journalism and a free press. Join NPR+ today to support our work and get perks from the podcasts you trust. Go to plus.npr.org.
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