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American Voices on Trump Sep 28, 2025

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The Trump administration has moved fast to chart a new course for American policy both here at home as well as internationally. But how are those changes impacting Americans across the country?
This week on The Sunday Story, we take a road trip to find out how people are feeling about the policy changes coming out of the White House. From wheat farmers in Washington state to Forest Service workers in Montana to business leaders in Mississippi, average Americans offer their thoughts on where the country is headed.
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Comey And Beyond, Costs Of TikTok Deal, Dreamers Amid Deportations Sep 27, 2025

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President Trump claims not to have a list of people for the government to punish but he has already specified some individuals alongside now-indicted former FBI Director James Comey. Experts question the fees investors are paying the U.S. government to buy TikTok from its Chinese owners. Though they are supposed to be protected from deportation, some DACA recipients have been detained.
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Comey Indictment, Hegseth Summons Military Leaders, Impending Shutdown Sep 26, 2025

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Former FBI Director James Comey is indicted on obstruction and false statement charges after President Trump pressured the Justice Department to pursue a case. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders an unprecedented global meeting of top U.S. military commanders, raising questions about what changes are coming. And Democrats accuse the White House of “mafia-style blackmail” as the shutdown fight intensifies over health care funding and the threat of mass federal layoffs.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Krishnadev Calamur, Andrew Sussman, Kelsey Snell, 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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ICE Shooting In Texas, UNGA: Ukraine Warning, Government Shutdown Standoff Sep 25, 2025

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A deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE office leaves one detainee dead and highlights rising violence around immigration enforcement. Ukraine's president warns that Russia’s war is fueling a dangerous new arms race as President Trump signals support for Ukraine reclaiming its territory. And a White House memo orders agencies to prepare mass firings if the government shuts down, with health care premiums still at the center of the standoff.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Alfredo Carbajal, Miguel Macias, Diane Webber, 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.

Join us again tomorrow
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Government Shutdown Looms, UNGA: Trump Slams Russia, Jimmy Kimmel Returns Sep 24, 2025

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President Trump cancels a meeting with Democratic leaders as a government shutdown looms, with both sides refusing to budge on health care demands. At the U.N., Trump calls Russia a “paper tiger” and signals Ukraine could reclaim its territory with European help. And Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC after nearly a week off the air, using an emotional monologue to defend free speech and respond to critics of his comments on Charlie Kirk’s killing.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Tara Neill, Kevin Drew, Matteen Mokalla, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

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

We get engineering support from Damian Herring. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
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Autism and Tylenol, Jimmy Kimmel Returns, Trump At The UN Sep 23, 2025

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President Trump promotes unproven links between Tylenol, vaccines, and autism, and moves to change drug labels despite scientists warning the evidence isn’t there. ABC reverses course and reinstates Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after suspending him over comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. And Trump heads to the U.N. General Assembly, where growing recognition of Palestine is testing U.S. diplomacy.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Amina Khan, Kevin Drew, Roberta Rampton, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ana Perez and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Zac Coleman. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
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Charlie Kirk Memorial, Trump Pressures DOJ, Palestinian State Recognition Sep 22, 2025

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President Trump and top officials turned Charlie Kirk’s memorial into both a tribute and a political rally, with Trump calling him a martyr and vowing to continue his fight. The president is also pressuring Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue prosecutions of his political enemies, while forcing out a U.S. attorney who resisted. And several countries just recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, but in the West Bank many Palestinians say recognition without change on the ground means little.
Want more comprehensive 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 Krishnadev Calamur, Kevin Drew, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ana Perez 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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Casualties of Trump’s War on Higher Ed Sep 21, 2025

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President Trump has a long list of grievances against many U.S. colleges and universities. He’s complained about antisemitism on campuses, of gender- and race-based course offerings, even communist indoctrination. To force change, the government has increasingly used the power of money. It’s withheld billions in research funding and clamped down on international student visas. This week on The Sunday Story, NPR Correspondent Elissa Nadworny explores what the disruption means for the future of higher education in America.
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The Week In Politics, The Week In Free Speech, The Week In Vaccines Sep 20, 2025

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Congress leaves for recess without an agreement on government funding, making an October shutdown more likely than not. The First Amendment's free speech protections were tested in the courts and on late-night TV. A vaccine advisory panel wrapped up a week of contentious meetings in Atlanta.
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Trump And Free Speech, CDC On Childhood Vaccines, Antifa Terror Designation Sep 19, 2025

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President Trump is pressuring the FCC to target broadcasters that criticize him, raising new questions about free speech and government power. A CDC vaccine panel, reshaped by RFK Jr.’s appointees, rolls back long-standing childhood vaccine guidance. And the president is moving to label Antifa a terrorist organization after the Charlie Kirk assassination.
Want more comprehensive 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 Roberta Rampton, Jane Greenhalgh, Andrew Sussman, Mohamad ElBardicy and Olivia Hampton.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ana Perez and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is David Greenburg.

And our executive producer is Jay Shaylor.
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