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Trump Issues Profane Threats, Trump's War Politics, Artemis II Lunar Flyby Apr 06, 2026

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Missiles struck across the Middle East overnight as President Trump's deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz nears.
Trump posted a profane threat to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges if it doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz.
And the Artemis II crew makes its closest approach to the moon today, sending humans farther into space than at any point in the last 50 years.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Gerry Holmes, Dana Farrington, Russell Lewis, 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.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:12) Trump Issues Profane Threats
(05:26) Trump's War Politics
(09:32) Artemis II Lunar Flyby
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The Americans caught in ICE’s web of surveillance Apr 05, 2026

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Since taking office last year, the Trump administration has pushed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ramp up deportations. This increase in enforcement operations has meant that American citizens and lawful residents have increasingly been entangled in ICE’s activities. Today on The Sunday Story, we talk to NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf and Meg Anderson about the growing trend of Americans getting caught up in ICE’s growing web of tracking and surveillance.
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Jet Down in Iran, Voter Privacy, Dietary Guidelines Apr 04, 2026

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A U.S. fighter jet went down in Iran and there's been a shakeup of Army leadership. The retirement of a privacy officer at the Department of Justice shines a light on the Trump Administration's interest in voter information.
And, the American Heart Association releases its guidance on the pattern of eating that promotes good health and helps fend off disease.
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Pam Bondi Out, Iran Charges Strait Tolls, International Meeting on Hormuz Apr 03, 2026

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Attorney General Pam Bondi is out after facing backlash for the Justice Department's mishandling of the Epstein files and failing to deliver the prosecutions of President Trump's enemies.
Iran is formalizing a toll system for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, charging up to two million dollars per vessel, as the energy crisis deepens and critical goods remain stuck at sea.
And more than 40 countries met to discuss reopening the strait, but neither Iran nor the U.S. were at the table.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, James Hider, Nick Spicer, 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 Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:18) Pam Bondi Out
(05:59) Iran Charges Strait Tolls
(09:45) International Meeting on Hormuz
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Trump's Speech On Iran, Reactions To Trump's Remarks, SCOTUS Birthright Case Apr 02, 2026

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President Trump says the war in Iran will end shortly, promising to hit Iran extremely hard over the next two to three weeks but offering few specifics on how the Strait of Hormuz will reopen.
The UK is hosting talks today on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran keeps a stranglehold on the waterway and threatens U.S. tech companies in the Gulf.
And Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Supreme Court hearing, watching as his lawyers faced tough questions from even conservative justices over his challenge to birthright citizenship.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Gerry Holmes, Domenico Montanaro, 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 deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:12) Trump's Speech On Iran
(06:04) Reactions To Trump's Remarks
(09:42) SCOTUS Birthright Case
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Trump's Iran Endgame, War Economy, SCOTUS Birthright Citizenship Case Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

President Trump says the U.S. mission in Iran is almost over, walking back his demands on the Strait of Hormuz and saying other countries can deal with it themselves.
Iran's closure of the strait has sent gas prices to their highest level in years, with U.S. truck drivers, farmers and brewers all feeling the ripple effects on their bottom line.
And the Supreme Court hears President Trump's challenge to birthright citizenship today, a right that has been guaranteed to every child born in the United States for more than 150 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 Rebekah Metzler, Rafael Nam, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:59) Trump's Iran Endgame
(05:46) War Economy
(09:33) SCOTUS Birthright Citizenship Case
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Iran War Week 5, Trump's Mixed Messages, TSA Back Pay Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Pakistan says it is ready to host U.S.-Iran talks in the coming days, but Iran is still attacking U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia and other targets across the Gulf as the war enters its fifth week.
President Trump is sending mixed messages on the war, claiming Iran agreed to most of his demands while threatening to obliterate its energy infrastructure if a deal isn't reached soon.
And TSA workers are finally getting paychecks after more than 40 days without pay, but Congress still hasn't reached a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
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 Gerry Holmes, Rebekah Metzler, Russell Lewis, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Adriana Gallardo.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
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
(01:51) Iran War Week 5
(05:23) Trump's Mixed Messages
(09:15) TSA Back Pay
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Lebanese Warfront, US Troops Deployed To Middle East, TSA and Travel Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Israeli airstrikes killed three journalists in southern Lebanon this weekend, as Netanyahu orders the military to expand its offensive as millions are displaced by the war.
Iran agreed to let 20 Pakistani-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz as a diplomatic gesture, but thousands more U.S. troops are arriving in the region, raising questions about whether a deal is close or the war is widening.
And TSA workers are now past 40 days without pay, as President Trump says he has a plan to pay them but it is not clear how it will work.
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 Gerry Holmes, Andrew Sussman, Alfredo Carbajal, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Adriana Gallardo.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) Lebanese Warfront
(05:37) U.S. Troops Deployed To Middle East
(09:54) TSA and Travel
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RFK Jr lauds Italy's addiction treatment. Can it work here? Mar 29, 2026

Show notes

As many as 50 million people in the United States are thought to struggle with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. The majority don’t get treatment for it, and of those who do seek treatment, about half relapse within the first year.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his own story of addiction and credits Alcoholics Anonymous with keeping him sober. But Secretary Kennedy has said that a treatment program in Italy that has shown great success in keeping people sober should serve as the vision for what addiction treatment could be here in the US. On this episode of The Sunday Story, WBUR’s Deborah Becker travels to Italy to see firsthand how a treatment program at an Italian vineyard has created so many success stories.
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Iran War, TSA Funding, No Kings Marches Mar 28, 2026

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The Iran War enters its second month with no clear ceasefire talks. Gas prices and airport chaos weigh down President Trump's approval numbers. Protesters against the president gather around the country for a third No Kings march.
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