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Daycare Fraud Claims Fallout, Epstein Files Mess, Swiss Nightclub Fire Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

Somali-run day care centers in Minnesota report threats and vandalism after a viral right-wing video accusing them of fraud prompts federal action with nationwide consequences.
The Justice Department misses its deadline to release the Epstein files, fueling confusion and conspiracy theories as heavily redacted and unreliable documents trickle out.
And Switzerland begins days of mourning after a deadly New Year’s Eve fire rips through a crowded nightclub at a ski resort, killing dozens and injuring many more.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Luis Clemens, Dana Farrington, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Kaity Kline and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is David Greenburg..

Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:54) Daycare Fraud Claims Fallout
(05:31) Epstein Files Mess
(09:27) Swiss Nightclub Fire
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Healthcare Subsides Expire, Trump and Minnesota, Mamdani Takes Office In NYC Jan 01, 2026

Show notes

Health insurance costs jump for millions after pandemic-era Affordable Care Act subsidies expired overnight.
The Trump administration freezes child care funding nationwide after targeting Minnesota over unproven fraud claims tied to Somali-run day care centers.
And New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is sworn in at midnight as he prepares to take office.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Carrie Feibel, Cheryl Corley, Andrea De Leon, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

(0:00) Introduction
(02:33) Health care Subsidies Expire
(05:53) Trump and Minnesota
(10:06) Mamdani Takes Office in NYC
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U.S. Strikes Inside Venezuela, Iran Protests, Flu Cases Surge Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

President Trump confirms the first known U.S. strike inside Venezuela, saying it targets drug trafficking as critics warn it risks escalation.
Iranian authorities shut down cities and security forces move in to contain growing protests as anger over inflation and sanctions boils over.
And the flu is spreading fast across the U.S., with a new strain driving cases higher just as vaccination rates slip and hospitals brace for what’s next.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, James Hider, Rebecca Davis, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

(0:00) Introduction
(03:30) U.S. Strikes Inside Venezuela
(07:25) Iran Protests
(11:22) Flu Cases Surge
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Trump Pushes Hamas Disarmament, Ukraine Peace Talks, A Year Of DOGE Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

President Trump doubles down on demanding Hamas disarm after meeting with Israel’s prime minister, and warned Iran not to rebuild its nuclear program.
Ukraine’s president presses the White House for decades-long U.S. security guarantees as part of a proposed peace deal with Russia.
And a year after DOGE’s push to shrink government, agencies are smaller, spending is higher, and millions of Americans’ data remains in play.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Ruth Sherlock, Anna Yukhananov, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.

(0:00) Introduction
(03:13) Trump Pushes Hamas Disarmament
(07:25) Ukraine Peace Talks
(10:45) A Year Of DOGE
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Trump Zelensky Meeting, Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting, Rough Year For Poverty Aid Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

President Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy signal momentum on peace talks, but fighting continues and key disputes remain.
Israel’s prime minister is in Mar-a-Lago today as pressure mounts over Gaza, Iran, and what comes next in Trump's ceasefire deal.
And anti-poverty groups warn funding chaos is forcing cuts just as more Americans need help.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Miguel Macias, Catherine Laidlaw, Mohamad ElBardicy, Adriana Gallardo.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Simon-Laslow Jansen. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

(00:00) Introduction
(03:26) Trump Zelensky Meeting
(07:17) Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting
(10:53) Rough Year For Poverty Aid
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A New Chapter, Later in Life Dec 28, 2025

Show notes

At the end of every year, many of us resolve to make small changes in our lives. But what would it take to make a radical change–and can it still be done if you’ve reached retirement age? Today on The Sunday Story, WBUR reporter Anthony Brooks shares stories about people he’s met who’ve done just that.
To hear more of Anthony’s reporting on people who reinvented themselves late in life, check out his series "The Third Act."
This interview originally aired on January 19, 2025.
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The Second Trump Administration, South America Shifts Right, Time For Sports Dec 27, 2025

Show notes

NPR’s Ron Elving has been thinking about the state of U.S. politics since President Donald Trump returned to power. Also, several countries in South America elected conservative and even far right leaders in 2025, marking a political and ideological shift in the region. And, we’ll have the highlight reel from the year in sports.
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U.S. Strikes ISIS In Nigeria, The Year In Congress, Holiday Spending Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

President Trump has announced the U.S. launched a number of strikes against Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria. Congress started 2025 with an ambitious legislative agenda, but 12 months later has ceded much of its power to President Trump and has passed a record low number of bills. And, shoppers spent a record amount of money this holiday season even as polling finds Americans are feeling glum about the economy.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Gerry Holmes, Jason Breslow, Emily Kopp, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from David Greenberg. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

(00:00) Introduction
(02:00) U.S. Strikes ISIS In Nigeria
(05:40) The Year In Congress
(09:28) Holiday Spending
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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Christmas In Bethlehem, Honduras Election Result, Immigration Crackdown Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

After two years of not celebrating because of the war in nearby Gaza, Christmas festivities have returned to Bethlehem. Election officials in Honduras have named the winner of the country’s presidential election, after more than three weeks of counting the votes. And, in a year of record breaking immigration enforcement, deportations and detentions are separating families and in some cases that means the oldest children become the family breadwinner.

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, Didi Schanche, Eric Westervelt and Lisa Thomson.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. Our technical director is David Greenburg.

And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(00:00) Introduction
(03:11) Christmas In Bethlehem
(06:58) Honduras Election Result
(10:40) Immigration Crackdown
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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New Epstein Documents, SCOTUS National Guard, GDP Growth Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

The Justice Department released about 30,000 pages of new documents related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the Trump administration to block the deployment of National Guard troops to the Chicago area. And, the U.S. economy grew faster than economists had predicted, in July through September.

(00:00) Introduction
(02:17) New Epstein Documents
(06:15) SCOTUS National Guard
(10:00) GDP Growth

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, Alina Hartounian, Rafael Nam, Lisa Thomson and Arezou Rezvani.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from David Greenburg. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

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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