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The Human Egg Sellers Mar 08, 2026

Show notes

For years, India was thought of as the Wild West of the fertility industry. But in 2021, a new law in India made it illegal for women to sell their eggs or serve as paid surrogates. That law clashed with a growing demand for human eggs within the country. The result: a thriving black market for human eggs.
Today, some of the most marginalized Indian women and girls are supplying reproductive material, often with little compensation and at great personal risk. This week on The Sunday Story, NPR correspondent Diaa Hadid and co-reporter Shweta Desai investigate the supply chain of human eggs in India, from fertility clinics catering to the wealthy to the slums of Mumbai and Chennai. And we meet women who have given up some of the most intimate parts of themselves—to survive.
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Iran One Week On, Oil Prices Spike, Latin America Meeting Mar 07, 2026

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More countries in the Middle East reported incoming fire from Iran over the week. Oil prices spike as shippers avoid the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump is attending a summit for Latin American leaders.
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Trump Fires Kristi Noem, Middle East War Latest, Venezuela-US Diplomacy Mar 06, 2026

Show notes

President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and named Senator Markwayne Mullin as his pick to take over, in the first cabinet shakeup of his second term.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is widening again, with Israel striking Beirut’s southern suburbs as Lebanon says tens of thousands have been displaced.
And two months after U.S. forces seized Venezuela’s president, Washington and Caracas are suddenly cutting deals on oil and critical minerals and moving to restore diplomatic relations.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Hannah Bloch, Tara Neill, 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. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:53) Trump Fires Kristi Noem
(05:50) Middle East War Latest
(09:44) Venezuela-US Diplomacy
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Iran War Expanding, Khamenei Successor, China Mediates Middle East War Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Iranians are fleeing as Israel and the U.S. keep striking Iran, the fighting continues in Lebanon, and the war’s spillover is rattling Gulf countries.
President Trump is offering shifting explanations for why the U.S. struck Iran, as the White House tries to line up its message and Americans remain wary about what the war is meant to achieve.
And China says it will send a special envoy to the Middle East as Beijing’s annual “Two Sessions” get underway, with leaders warning the world is getting more volatile even as growth slows at home.
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 Hannah Bloch, Miguel Macias, James Hider, 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. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:10) Iran War Expanding
(06:13) Khamenei Successor
(09:49) China Mediates Middle East War
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Middle East War Intensifies, Trump's Rational For War, First Midterm Primaries Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

The Middle East war is in its fifth day as the U.S. and Israel keep striking targets across Iran and Lebanon, Iran retaliates into the Gulf, and funeral preparations begin for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
President Trump is offering shifting explanations for why the U.S. struck Iran, as the White House tries to unify its message and Americans remain wary about what the war is meant to achieve.
And the first midterm primary results are in, with Democrats in Texas choosing James Talarico and early races in North Carolina and Arkansas offering a first read on where both parties are headed.
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 Hannah Bloch, Rebekah Metzler, Dana Farrington, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ana Perez 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
(01:55) Middle East War Intensifies
(05:58) Trump's Rational For War
(09:36) First Midterm Primaries
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Middle East At War, Congress Briefed On War, Texas and North Carolina Primaries Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

The State Department is urging Americans in the Middle East to leave as Iranian attacks continue, including a drone strike on the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed Congress on the war and lawmakers walked out split, as both chambers prepare to vote on measures that would curb the president’s war powers.
And voters in Texas and North Carolina are casting ballots in two expensive Senate primaries that could offer an early read on where both parties are headed in November’s midterm elections.
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 Miguel Macias, Kelsey Snell, Padma Rama, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ana Perez and Nia Dumas

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) Middle East At War
(5:51) Congress Briefed On War
(09:35) Texas and North Carolina Primaries
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US Israeli War With Iran, Trump's War Address, Gulf Countries Bear The Brunt Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

It is day three of the U.S. Israeli war with Iran as the fighting widens with Tehran launching retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, and Israel trading fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
President Trump says the strikes will continue “at full force” and warns Americans there will likely be more U.S. casualties, as the White House still hasn’t spelled out the war's objectives or how long it could last.
And Iran’s retaliation is hitting America’s Gulf partners hard, with missiles and drones turning places like Doha, Bahrain and Dubai into battle zones.
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, Tina Kraya, Andrew Sussman, Miguel Macias, Olivia Hampton, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ana Perez, and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:20) Pentagon Update on Iran
(07:18) US Israeli War With Iran
(10:39) Gulf Countries Bear The Brunt
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Bet on Anything, Everywhere, All at Once Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

The rise of prediction markets means you can now bet on just about anything, right from your phone. Apps like Kalshi and Polymarket have grown exponentially in President Trump’s second term, as his administration has rolled back regulations designed to keep the industry in check. Billions of dollars have flooded in, and users are placing bets on everything from whether it will rain in Seattle today to whether the US will take over control of Greenland. Who’s winning big on these apps? And who is losing? NPR correspondent Bobby Allyn joins The Sunday Story to explain how these markets came to be and where they are going.
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US/Israeli Strikes Iran, Iran Retaliates on Israel and other Middle East Countries Feb 28, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. and Israel launch a joint attack on Iran. Iran responds with a missile attack on Israel, Bahrain, the U.A.E. and Qatar. Iran says a girls elementary school suffered a direct hit.
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US-Iran Tension, Clinton Deposition, Paramount Wins Warner Bros. Bid Feb 27, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. may be on the cusp of striking Iran, even as President Trump has not laid out clear objectives, asked Congress for authorization, or made a full public case for military action.
Hillary Clinton sat for a six-hour, closed-door deposition in the House Oversight Committee’s Epstein investigation, and now Bill Clinton is set to testify as Republicans say they still have unanswered questions.
And Warner Bros. Discovery abruptly walked away from a deal with Netflix for a sweeter bid from Paramount, setting up a major media merger fight that now heads to antitrust regulators.
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, Megan Pratz, Gerry Holmes, 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. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor

(0:00) Introduction
(01:57) US-Iran Tension
(05:47) Clinton Deposition
(09:30) Paramount Wins Warner Bros. Bid
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