Episodes

  • On the Iranian Border, More Military on the Way, Warm Western Winter

    On the Iranian Border, More Military on the Way, Warm Western Winter
    Mar 21 2026
    As the war in Iran enters its fourth week, Iranian civilians remain in the crossfire and the Pentagon is sending at least two Marine units to the region. In the American West, states reported their hottest and driest winter on record.

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    16 mins
  • Israel and Iran Trade Airstrikes, Trump Meets Japan PM, Kharg Island Future

    Israel and Iran Trade Airstrikes, Trump Meets Japan PM, Kharg Island Future
    Mar 20 2026
    Iran and Israel are trading airstrikes as the Israeli prime minister pushed back against claims he forced the U.S. into the war with Iran. Japan’s prime minister visited President Trump at the White House, where they talked about Iran and China, and 2,200 Marines are on their way to the Persian Gulf.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Hannah Bloch, Rebekah Metzler, Andrew Sussman, HJ Mai and Alice Woelfle.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Ava Pukatch.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

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

    And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:53) Israel and Iran Trade Airstrikes
    (05:51) Trump Meets Japan PM
    (09:08) Kharg Island Future

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    13 mins
  • Iran Attacks Energy Targets, DHS Confirmation Hearing, Cesar Chavez Abuse Allegations

    Iran Attacks Energy Targets, DHS Confirmation Hearing, Cesar Chavez Abuse Allegations
    Mar 19 2026
    Iran attacked energy targets around the Persian Gulf in response to an Israeli strike as the war escalates. President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), faced a tense confirmation hearing. Allegations that the late labor leader Cesar Chavez sexually abused girls are leading to a re-examination of his legacy.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Hannah Bloch, Kelsey Snell, Eric Whitney, HJ Mai and Alice Woelfle.

    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 Carleigh Strange.

    Our deputy executive producer is Kelley Dickens.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:58) Iran Attacks Energy Targets
    (06:15) DHS Confirmation Hearing
    (10:41) Cesar Chavez Abuse Allegations

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    14 mins
  • Life Inside Iran, Trump and Cuba, Fed Interest Rates

    Life Inside Iran, Trump and Cuba, Fed Interest Rates
    Mar 18 2026
    Iran is retaliating for the killing of its top security chief with strikes across the region overnight, and Iranian are crossing into Iraq just to buy food they can no longer afford at home.
    Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Cuba needs new people in charge, raising questions about what the Trump administration is actually planning for the island.
    And the Federal Reserve meets today facing a scrambled economic outlook with energy prices are soaring because of the war and the job market is weakening.

    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 Hannah Block, Rebekah Metzler, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

    Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:55) Life Inside Iran
    (06:15) Trump and Cuba
    (10:10) Fed Interest Rates

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    14 mins
  • Israel's Incursion Into Lebanon, NATO and Strait Of Hormuz, Cuba's Blackout and Trump

    Israel's Incursion Into Lebanon, NATO and Strait Of Hormuz, Cuba's Blackout and Trump
    Mar 17 2026
    Israel intensified its air and ground operations in Lebanon overnight, with airstrikes hitting southern Beirut and millions displaced as the war shows no signs of letting up.
    President Trump is scolding NATO allies for not doing more to protect the Strait of Hormuz — as European leaders remain hesitant to get involved in the war with Iran.
    And Trump says he expects to "take Cuba" just as the island suffers another catastrophic blackout, with nearly 11 million people left in the dark amid a U.S. oil blockade.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Hannah Block, Tina Kraja, Tara Neill, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

    It was produced by Iman Maani and Nia Dumas.

    Our Director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

    Our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.


    (0:00) Introduction
    (1:57) Iran Lebanon
    (5:50) NATO and Hormuz
    (9:53) Cuba Grid Collapse

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    13 mins
  • Middle East War Week 3, Trump Messaging 'Winning', Voting Act

    Middle East War Week 3, Trump Messaging 'Winning', Voting Act
    Mar 16 2026
    Israeli officials say the man who attacked a Michigan synagogue last week had family killed in an airstrike in Lebanon, Israel says they targeted a Hezbollah commander in the home.
    President Trump is repeating one message as the war enters its third week 'the U.S. is winning', even as gas prices soar and Americans grow more skeptical of the Middle East war.
    And Senate Republicans are pushing a bill to require proof of citizenship to register to vote, but it may not have the votes to clear the Senate.

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    Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Hannah Block, Dana Farrington, Ben Swasey, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai.

    It was produced by Iman Maani and Nia Dumas.

    Our Director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Neisha Heiniss. Our technical director is Stacy Abbott.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (1:52) Middle East War Week 3
    (5:53) Trump's Message of Winning
    (9:37) Voting Act in Senate

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    13 mins
  • Emotional Abuse in College Sports

    Emotional Abuse in College Sports
    Mar 15 2026
    March Madness is here. The high-stakes, sudden-death college basketball tournament is a beloved tradition in American sports. For the players, it’s a chance to showcase the skills they’ve developed through years of hard training of the body and mind. In many cases, that push produces incredible feats of athletic performance. But an investigation by reporters Julia Haney and Elizabeth Santos has found instances in which athletes allege that the push from coaches goes too far. Emotional abuse by coaches, some athletes maintain, can cause lasting, even irreparable damage. On this episode of The Sunday Story, we hear from athletes who fought back.
    *A warning that today’s story includes mentions of sexual and emotional abuse, suicide, bullying and includes explicit language.

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    45 mins
  • Iran War, Political Violence in US, New Action on Housing Affordability

    Iran War, Political Violence in US, New Action on Housing Affordability
    Mar 14 2026
    More strikes against Iran, including an island crucial to the country’s oil exports. Three separate domestic attacks in the U.S. do not appear to have direct links to Iran. President Trump signs two executive orders geared toward making housing more affordable, as Congress works on legislation.

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    15 mins