Up First from NPR

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Trump Announces 'Golden Fleet', Judge Rules Deportations Illegal, Heritage Exodus Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

President Trump has announced the Navy will begin building a new class of warship named after himself. A federal judge has ruled the deportations of more than 100 Venezuelan men to El Salvador were illegal. And, a number of staff members have left the think tank behind Project 2025 to join a group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:03) Trump Announces 'Golden Fleet'
(07:50) Judge Rules Deportations Illegal
(11:39) Heritage Foundation Exodus

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Anna Yukhananov, Jason Breslow, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woefle.

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

We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.
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Coast Guard Pursues Tanker, Epstein Files Release, Immigration Court No-Shows Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in the Caribbean that it says has links to Venezuela. The Department of Justice has released a limited number of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And, an analysis by NPR finds thousands of immigrants without legal status aren’t showing up to immigration court, leading to a rise in deportation removals.

(00:00) Cold Open
(01:37) Introduction
(03:43) Coast Guard Pursues Tanker
(08:02) Epstein Files Release
(10:43) Immigration Court No-Shows

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 Tara Neill, Anna Yukhanonov, Lisa Thomson and Adriana Gallardo.

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

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
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Where Kids Play Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

During the holidays, the kids are off from school, so they might be enjoying some extra screentime. It’s a reality many parents begrudgingly accept. But is time spent playing online games always a cause for concern? On The Sunday Story, host Ayesha Rascoe (whose kids are spending a lot of time lately playing Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite) sits down with researcher Eli Stark-Elster to clear up some misconceptions around the harms of screentime.
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Epstein Files Release, Health Care Subsidies, Surviving The Holiday Season Dec 20, 2025

Show notes

The Justice Department releases a vast trove of documents relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also, Congress left Washington D.C. for its holiday break without reaching a deal on health care. Millions of Americans will face price hikes on their insurance premiums. And surviving the holiday season, we’ll have tips on what can be a stressful time of the year.
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Brown University Suspect Found Dead, Epstein Files Deadline, Kennedy Center Renamed Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

The suspected gunman behind the shooting at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor has been found dead. The Justice Department faces a deadline to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And the board of the Kennedy Center has voted to change the name of the cultural hub to the Trump Kennedy Center.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Robbie Griffiths, Megan Pratz, Jay Vanasco, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
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Trump Addresses Nation, Congress ACA Vote, Venezuela Oil Tankers Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

In a nationwide address, President Trump says the U.S. is poised for an economic boom and that high prices are falling rapidly. Four Republicans joined Democrats to force a vote on a three year extension of the enhanced healthcare subsidies. And, President Trump has ordered a ban on all sanctioned oil tankers going to and from Venezuela.
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, Kelsey Snell, Andrew Sussman, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
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Republican Healthcare Vote, Susie Wiles Interview, Nuclear Reactor Regulations Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Congress has two days to take action on health care subsidies, before lawmakers head home for the holiday recess. Vanity Fair has published a story featuring rare interviews conducted over more than a year with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. And, the Trump administration is fast-tracking construction of new nuclear reactor designs.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Rebekah Metzler, Brett Neely, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woefle.

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

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Supervising Editor is Jan Johnson.
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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Nick Reiner Arrested, Brown University Suspect Search, Bondi Beach Aftermath Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

A son of filmmaker Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail. Authorities in Rhode Island are asking for the public’s help in identifying the gunman behind the shooting at Brown University. And, Australian authorities say the two suspected gunmen behind the mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach were inspired by Islamic State.

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 Matteen Mokalla, Andrea DeLeon, Rebecca Rosman, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woefle.

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

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.
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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Bondi Beach Attack, Brown University Latest, Reiner Investigation Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Australian authorities have more detail about who they believe killed at least 15 people in a shooting at a Hanukkah celebration over the weekend. Authorities say they’ll release a “Person of Interest" detained after the Brown University shooting. And, police are investigating the reported deaths of actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner.
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 Rebecca Rosman, Alfredo Carbajal, Matteen Mokalla , Lisa Thomson and Arezou Rezvani.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
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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Best Friends and Life Partners Dec 14, 2025

Show notes

What was the biggest thing that changed for you this year? We’ll go first: our host Ayesha Rascoe bought a house with her best friend! Now the two of them are living together and platonically coparenting five kids under the same roof. The seed of this idea actually came from a conversation Ayesha had last year, when she sat down with NPR producer and editor Rhaina Cohen to talk about her book, "The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center." In the book, Rhaina shares stories about friends who own homes together, raise kids with each other, and care for each other in old age. At the end of the year, when so many of us are reflecting on personal milestones and relationships, we’re sharing Ayesha and Rhaina’s conversation again. Because so much is possible when you choose to put friendship at the center of your life.
This interview originally aired on February 11, 2024.
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