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Middle East War Negotiations, War And The Global Economy, New Swalwell Allegations Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

President Trump says new talks with Iran could happen in the next two days, and negotiations with Israel, Lebanon and Hamas all unfold simultaneously across the region.
The Iran war is pushing up prices on everything from gas to groceries, with fuel protests spreading across Europe and the IMF warning of a global recession.
And a second woman has accused Eric Swalwell of rape, saying she was drugged in a West Hollywood hotel room, as Swalwell resigned from Congress and faces potential criminal investigations in three cities.
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 Ruth Sherlock, Tina Kraja , Padma Rama, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Supervising Producer is Reena Advani.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:51) Middle East War Negotiations
(05:25) War And The Global Economy
(09:06) New Swalwell Allegations
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Swalwell Resignation, Strait Of Hormuz Standoff, Trump Feuds with Pope Leo Apr 14, 2026

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Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell is resigning after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, just one week after he was seen as a frontrunner in California's governor's race.
The U.S. and Iran are both blocking the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices are surging, and virtually every country on earth is feeling the pain.
And President Trump is feuding with the first American-born pope, calling him weak on crime for opposing the war, the pope says he has no fear of the Trump administration.

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 Jason Breslow, Andrew Sussman, Rebekah Metzler, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
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
(01:57) Swalwell Resignation
(05:45) Strait Of Hormuz Standoff
(09:38) Trump Feuds with Pope Leo
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Trump's Blockade, Israel-Lebanon Talks, Hungary's Orbán Out Apr 13, 2026

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President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks with Iran collapsed, as Iran warns any warship approaching the waterway will face a severe response.
Israel continues striking Lebanon despite the ceasefire, killing more than 100 people over the weekend including a Red Cross paramedic, even as ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon prepare to meet in Washington on Tuesday with Hezbollah telling NPR they have no intention of disarming.
And Hungary's Viktor Orbán is out after 16 years in power, with voters turning out in record numbers to oust the Trump ally and hand his challenger a landslide victory.
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, Ruth Sherlock, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:54) Trump's Blockade
(05:32) Israel-Lebanon Talks
(09:25) Hungary's Orbán Out
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Dozens of Black pilots disappeared during WWII. Who are the men still lost? Apr 12, 2026

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Dozens of Tuskegee Airmen went missing in action during World War II. Most of them have not been found. Who were these men and what happened to them? In her book, "Forgotten Souls," NPR investigative correspondent Cheryl W. Thompson tells their stories.
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US/Iran Peace Talks, Hungary Election Preview, Congress Returns Monday Apr 11, 2026

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Delegations from the US and Iran are in Pakistan to negotiate an end to the six-week-old war. Voters in Hungary weigh in ahead of tomorrow’s national election where polls signal trouble for Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Congressional lawmakers have a big to-do list when they return to Washington next week.
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Vance Iran Negotiations, Israel-Lebanon Talks, Artemis II Return To Earth Apr 10, 2026

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Vice President JD Vance is heading to Pakistan this weekend to lead peace talks with Iran, as the ceasefire is already under enormous stress.
More than 300 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's massive offensive Wednesday, with Netanyahu telling Israelis the strikes will not stop even as he says he'll open direct talks with Lebanon for the first time in history.
And the Artemis II crew splashes down near California tonight after a record-breaking trip around the moon.
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, Gerry Holmes, Amina Khan, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Taylor Haney.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:58) Vance Iran Negotiations
(05:30) Israel-Lebanon Talks
(09:23) Artemis II Return To Earth
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Trump and NATO, Shaky Ceasefire In Middle East, Lebanon's Day Of Mourning Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

President Trump met with NATO's Secretary-General at the White House and blasted the alliance afterward for not helping during the war, as the ceasefire is already showing cracks less than 24 hours after it was announced.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it has started blocking ships in the Strait of Hormuz again, as Iran warns the U.S. it must choose between a ceasefire and continued war via Israel.
And Lebanon declared a national day of mourning after Israeli strikes killed more than 250 people in a single day, with Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel this morning despite the ceasefire.
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, Gerry Holmes, Mohamad ElBardicy and Taylor Haney.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:53) Trump and NATO
(05:22) Shaky Ceasefire In Middle East
(09:04) Lebanon's Day Of Mourning
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Trump-Iran Ceasefire, Iran On Trump's Reversal, Markets React To Reopening Of Hormuz Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

President Trump reached a last-minute ceasefire with Iran just before his deadline to bomb the country's bridges and power plants, with Iran agreeing to open the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks while negotiations continue over a 10-point peace proposal.
Iran and the U.S. are both claiming victory, but the terms are murky and Israel says the deal does not include Lebanon, even as Hezbollah says it is abiding by the ceasefire.
And global markets are surging on the news, but analysts warn the damage done to oil infrastructure will keep prices high for a long time to come.
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, Gerry Holmes, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:58) Trump-Iran Ceasefire
(05:41) Iran On Trump's Reversal
(09:51) Markets React To Reopening Of Hormuz
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Jamie Dimon on Iran, Trump and why he’s optimistic about AI | NPR’s Newsmakers Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode of Up First, we’re sharing the latest episode of NPR’s Newsmakers, featuring Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorganChase, the nation’s largest bank. JPMorgan has a stake in almost everything. But unlike many CEOs, Dimon says it’s his job to speak out on many things.
This week, Dimon released his annual letter to shareholders — a document that comments on banking issues and also assesses risks to the economy, from inflation to the war in Iran. The letter asserts his company is ready for anything — noting, among other things, that it has profited during economic booms and also during recessions.
In this episode of NPR’s Newsmakers, Dimon tells host Steve Inskeep he didn’t worry much about the way President Trump’s contradictory statements tend to send financial markets sliding and soaring again, saying, “I have to deal with the world I got.”
NPR's Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. Follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts or subscribe and watch on NPR’s YouTube channel.
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Iran Deadline, Middle East War Escalation, Artemis II Trip Home Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

President Trump's deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz is tonight, with threats to bomb every bridge and power plant if the deal falls through.
Israel is already battering Iran's economy and warned Iranians this morning not to take the trains, with heavy bombing of the railway system expected today.
And the Artemis Two crew is heading home after a record-breaking trip around the moon.
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, Gerry Holmes, Amina Khan, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:00) Iran Deadline
(04:30) Middle East War Escalation
(09:16) Artemis II Trip Home
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

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