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National Guard Powers, Marking October 7th, SCOTUS: Conversion Therapy Oct 07, 2025

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Texas deploys National Guard troops under President Trump’s orders as legal battles intensify over his authority to send them into Democratic-led cities. As the war in Gaza enters its third year, hopes rise over a new U.S.-backed plan aimed at ending the fighting. And the Supreme Court hears a case on state bans of conversion therapy, weighing free speech rights against protections for the LGBTQ community.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Alina Hartounian, Miguel Macias, Krishnadev Calamur, 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.

Join us again tomorrow
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National Guard Portland, Gaza Talks In Egypt, SCOTUS Term Begins Oct 06, 2025

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A federal judge issues a late night order to stop President Trump’s latest attempt to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, warning the administration against efforts to get around court orders and the rule of law. In Egypt, Hamas and Israeli officials begin high-stakes talks that could end the war in Gaza and free dozens of hostages. And as the Supreme Court opens a new term, justices will take on major cases testing presidential power, birthright citizenship, and voting rights.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Alina Hartounian, Kate Bartlett, Krishnadev Calamur, 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.
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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National Security, Unlocked Oct 05, 2025

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Mary Louise Kelly, host of NPR's All Things Considered, is no stranger to tough conversations with important people. In her new national security podcast, NPR’s Sources and Methods, Kelly brings you inside the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community to help you understand America's shifting role in the world, and how events in faraway places matter here at home.
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Hamas Agrees to Trump Plan, Shutdown Day 4, Medicaid Cuts Oct 04, 2025

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Hamas says it will release all hostages remaining in Gaza, as part of President Trump’s ceasefire deal, as long as its conditions are met. Fourth day of the shutdown as Democrats did not budge in a Senate vote. State governments are making cuts to their Medicaid programs affecting people in nursing home care all over the country.
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Shutdown Day 3, No Jobs Report, Trump Pressures Universities Oct 03, 2025

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Senators are set to vote again on competing spending bills to fund the government, with neither side budging and looming consequences of a prolonged shutdown. The shutdown is also blinding businesses and policymakers by halting the release of the closely watched monthly jobs report. And the White House is pressuring top universities to sign an agreement tying federal funding to Trump’s policy demands on free speech, tuition, and diversity.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Rafael Nam, Steve Drummond, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay Totty

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

And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor
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Kentucky’s governor on the shutdown and political divisions Oct 02, 2025

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Andy Beshear is widely popular in red state Kentucky and he's considering a run for president. The Democratic governor sat for an interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep and talked about the federal government shutdown, political divisions, tariffs and a lot more.
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This bonus episode of Up First was edited by Reena Advani. It was produced by Adam Bearne and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Jay Czys. Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
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White House Shutdown Cuts, Government Services Interrupted, Gaza City Evacuation Oct 02, 2025

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President Trump’s budget director is canceling billions in projects and threatening mass layoffs as the White House uses the government shutdown to push for deeper spending cuts. The shutdown’s ripple effects are spreading nationwide, with key federal services slowing or stopping. And in Gaza, Israel has issued a final evacuation order, warning that anyone who remains in Gaza City will be treated as a militant as Hamas considers changes to Trump’s ceasefire plan.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay Totty

Government Shutdown Begins, Impact Of Shutdown, Trump Hegseth Military Meeting Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

The federal government has shut down for the first time since 2019, with President Trump threatening mass layoffs and facing criticism for using government resources to blame Democrats. More than two million federal workers are bracing for uncertainty as the shutdown drags on, with some agencies warning employees they may not be brought back once it ends. And President Trump told top military commanders he wants to use troops against “enemies within” and plans to deploy National Guard forces to Democratic-led cities.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Emily Kopp, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay Totty

Shutdown Deadline, Gaza Deal Reaction, Top Military Leaders Meeting Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Federal agencies will run out of money tonight unless Congress reaches a last-minute deal, with both parties still deadlocked over health care funding. President Trump unveiled a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war — including a ceasefire, hostage release, and new governance for the enclave — but Hamas has yet to respond. And hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals are gathering for a rare closed-door meeting where Trump is expected to address them directly, the Pentagon isn't saying why it summoned military leaders from around the world.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Miguel Macias, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay Totty

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott . 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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Michigan Church Shooting, Government Shutdown Negotiations, Trump Netanyahu Meeting Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

A gunman was killed in a shootout with police after he drove his truck into a Michigan church during Sunday services, opened fire inside, and set the building on fire, the FBI is still search for answers about his motive. President Trump is set to meet with Democratic leaders at the White House as a government shutdown looms and health care funding remains a key sticking point. And President Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to discuss a new U.S.-backed ceasefire plan for the war in Gaza.
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And for more content from everything NPR makes and the work of our member stations all around the country, join the POD CLUB newsletter at NPR.org

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Russell Lewis, Dana Farrington, Kate Bartlett, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay Totty

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.
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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