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Trump's Economic D-Day For Iran, Gulf Allies React To US Plan, SCOTUS Mail-in Voting Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

The Trump administration rolled out what it calls the biggest economic offensive ever aimed at a country, naming 60 targets while warning others to cut ties with Iran or face U.S. sanctions of their own, though the toughest measures are still being held in reserve.
In the Gulf, the UAE has already cut all trade with Iran while other neighbors remain in a difficult position, and China continues to buy the bulk of Iranian oil even as it criticizes the new pressure campaign.
The Supreme Court handed President Trump a temporary win on his effort to restrict mail-in voting weeks before midterm ballots go out, though the legal fight is far from settled and voting by mail still remains an option for now.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by James Hider, Kate Bartlett, Ben Swasey, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Julie Depenbrock 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
(01:56) Trump's Economic D-Day For Iran
(05:35) Gulf Allies React To US Plan
(09:07) SCOTUS Mail-in Voting
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New Economic Pressure On Iran, Iran Warns Neighbors, Tariff War With Canada Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to unveil new economic pressure measures on Iran today as President Trump pushes an “Economic D-Day” aimed at cutting off any country that still provides Tehran a lifeline.
Iran is vowing to neutralize the United States' economic war and warning neighbors not to get involved, cautioning it could stop oil from leaving the region altogether.
Trade tensions with Canada boiled over this weekend after the U.S. imposed a new 50% tariff when talks broke down, prompting Ottawa to threaten retaliation.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Tina Kraja, Emily Kopp, Mohamad ElBardicy and Taylor Haney.
It was produced by Julie Depenbrock and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Milton Guevara.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:02) New Economic Pressure on Iran
(05:36) Iran Warns Neighbors
(09:13) Tariff War With Canada
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A visit to the remote Pacific island ecosystem losing protections Aug 23, 2026

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A thousand miles south of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a series of tiny islands form an atoll, called Palmyra. Palmyra Atoll is part of four protected U.S. marine monuments, forming the country’s largest environmental conservation area. It is also home to a thriving ecosystem of birds, marine life, and one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.
No people live on Palmyra full time, and it is rare for journalists to be granted access. But the Trump administration is now trying to roll back longstanding protections by opening nearby waters to commercial fishing. NPR’s Lauren Sommer was given access to visit Palmyra Atoll. Newly back from her trip, she tells host Ayesha Rascoe about everything she saw. They talk about the wildlife, the ocean, the reefs, and what the islands and offshore waters mean to native Hawaiians, conservationists, and commercial fishers.
If you are interested in seeing photos from Lauren’s trip to Palmyra Atoll, you can find them here.
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IndyCar in DC; Fresh Tariffs on Canadian Goods; National Debt Hits $40 Trillion Aug 22, 2026

Show notes

The IndyCar Grand Prix comes to the nation's capital. And, Canada's prime minister suspended trade talks with the U.S., bringing new 50 percent tariffs on a host of Canadian imports. Plus, we'll look at the national debt, which hit $40 trillion earlier this week.
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Economic Warfare On Iran, White House Ballroom, Bond Market Warning Signs Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

President Trump is doubling down on economic pressure against Iran, threatening consequences for any country that provides a lifeline as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepares to detail the plan next week.
The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on President Trump’s White House ballroom project, which a lawsuit argues needed congressional approval and the administration is now framing the ballroom as a military complex.
Investors sold off both stocks and bonds as the yield on government debt hit its highest level in nearly two decades, despite efforts by the Treasury to calm the market.
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Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Emily Kopp, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Paige Waterhouse and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. Our technical director is Eowyn > Fain.
And our executive producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(1:54) Economic Warfare on Iran
(5:47) White House Ballroom
(9:44) Bond Market Warning Signs
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Trump Warns Economic Warfare For Aiding Iran, Federal Debt Grows, Venezuela Oil Deals Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

President Trump is warning of economic consequences for any country that supports Iran as he tries to wind down the war, leaving Gulf allies worried about their future with their powerful neighbor.
The U.S. national debt has topped 40 trillion dollars, with the government now spending more on interest than on defense and driving up the cost of everything from mortgages to small business loans.
U.S. oil companies are signing deals in Venezuela for the first time in nearly two decades, eight months after American forces captured Nicolás Maduro, even as the country’s politics remain unsettled.
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Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Tina Kraja, Rafael Nam, Alfredo Carbajal, Mohamad ElBardicy and Taylor Haney.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange and our technical director is Eowyn Fain.
And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) Trump Warns Economic Warfare For Aiding Iran
(06:13) Federal Debt Grows
(10:06) Venezuela Oil Deals
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Florida Primary Results, US-Canada Tariffs, Meta Trial Begins Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming held primaries last night, with a mixed showing for progressives in Florida, including a surprise win in the Democratic Senate primary.
President Trump pushed back new tariffs on Canada by three days after saying the two countries may restart a controversial oil pipeline, though the bigger North American trade deal is still up in the air.
A major trial against Meta began in California, with states accusing the company of designing its platforms to be addictive for young users and of misrepresenting the risks.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Padma Rama, Kara Platoni, Rebekah Metzler, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and our technical director is Eowyn Fain.
And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:58) Florida Primary Results
(05:51) US-Canada Tariffs
(09:38) Meta Trial Begins
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Kushner Netanyahu Gaza Meeting, Iran War Depleting US Military, FL, AK, WY Primaries Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Jared Kushner and Prime Minister Netanyahu met for hours in Jerusalem over the future of Gaza and came out sounding hopeful, though Israel still hasn't committed to the U.S. peace plan that Hamas has already agreed to, with an Israeli withdrawal the main sticking point.
The war with Iran is draining America's military and it's being felt across the world, as the U.S. runs low on warships and interceptor missiles and no American aircraft carrier in the Pacific for the first time in years.
It's primary day in Alaska, Florida and Wyoming, with a high-stakes Senate race in Alaska that could help decide control of the chamber, millions in outside money has been pouring into the contest.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Tina Kraja, Rebekah Metzler, Padma Rama, 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 and our technical director is Eowyn Fain.
And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:50) Kushner Netanyahu Gaza Meeting
(05:32) Iran War Depleting US Military
(09:13) Florida, Alaska and Wyoming Primaries
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Relief En Route To USS Lincoln, Ukraine's Drone Barrage On Russia, Kushner Gaza Talks Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier is on its way to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at the center of concerns over crew mental health and a lack of fresh food and supplies on the ship.
Ukraine launched one of its largest attacks on Russia since the war began, sending more than 800 drones toward Moscow and other areas. At least 20 people have been killed in the fire between both sides.
President Trump's Middle East negotiator, Jared Kushner, is in Israel for talks on the future of Gaza, right after a rare face-to-face with Hamas in Egypt, as the two sides remain far apart on disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Brett Neely, Tina Kraja, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Adriana Gallardo.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and our technical director is Stacey Abbott.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) Relief En Route To USS Abraham Lincoln
(05:46) Ukraine's Drone Barrage On Russia
(09:31) Kushner Gaza Talks
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Hot Dam: Why beavers are Britain’s new climate heroes Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

Four hundred years ago, the last of Britain’s native beavers were hunted to extinction. But in 2009, scientists began a grand experiment to bring the furry, buck-toothed rodents back. They relocated a pair of Norwegian beavers to a remote rainforest in Scotland, hoping they’d become the Adam and Eve of a new line of British beavers. Today on The Sunday Story, NPR’s Lauren Frayer travels from the wilds of Scotland to a tube station in London, to explore how these animals – beloved by some humans and loathed by others – are transforming the British landscape.
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
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