Up First from NPR

Daniel Estrin, NPR’s Tel Aviv correspondent, tracks Iran’s rejection of a U.S. peace proposal, Tehran’s counteroffer, and Israel’s war aims. Jackie Northam, an international affairs reporter, explains troop deployment and why Karg Island matters. Bobby Allen, a tech correspondent, takes listeners inside a landmark trial over Meta and Google’s addictive app design.

Quill Lawrence, NPR national security reporter, tracks the 82nd Airborne heading to the Middle East and the uncertainty around its mission. Lauren Frayer, NPR correspondent in Beirut, follows Israeli strikes, mass displacement, and invasion threats in Lebanon. Barbara Sprunt, NPR Capitol Hill reporter, covers the messy DHS funding talks, ICE tensions, and Trump stirring up the endgame.

Aya Batrawy, NPR’s Dubai-based Middle East reporter, tracks secret diplomacy with Iran and the fragile push to cool tensions. Franco Ordoñez, an NPR White House correspondent, follows Trump’s deal talk, political timing, and gas price pressure. Sophie Gratas, a Georgia Public Broadcasting reporter, heads to Atlanta’s airport, where ICE is visible but long security lines still snarl travel.

Emily Fang, NPR international correspondent, reports from Turkey near Iran's border as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz raise fears of wider conflict and energy shock. Claudia Grisales, NPR Capitol Hill reporter, unpacks the DHS funding standoff and voting demands. Luke Garrett, NPR homeland security reporter, follows ICE agents at airports, mixed messaging, and growing travel chaos.

Lauren Hodges, an NPR producer and reporter on transgender service members, follows how military policy turned medical paperwork into a tool for removing trained troops. She traces the shift from open service to forced separations. She also looks at secrecy, lost benefits, legal fights, and fears that the purge could hurt military readiness.

Emily Fang, NPR international correspondent, reports from the Turkish border as Iranians flee with conflicted feelings and daily life grows more dangerous. Greg Myre, NPR national security reporter, tracks Marines heading to the region, air power shifts, and Strait of Hormuz fears. Kirk Siegler, NPR Western correspondent, looks at a record warm winter, weak snowpack, rising fire risk, and Colorado River strain.

Carrie Kahn, NPR’s Tel Aviv based international correspondent covering Israel and the broader Middle East, joins the conversation on intensifying Israel-Iran airstrikes. She tracks disputed claims about U.S. coordination, rising tensions from Jerusalem to Lebanon, and why Kharg Island and a Marine deployment could reshape what comes next.

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.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 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 AllegationsTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Arzu Rezvani, an NPR correspondent reporting from Iraq, follows life near the Iran border as fear, shortages, blackouts, and widening regional attacks reshape daily life. Franco Ordoñez, NPR’s White House correspondent, tracks Trump’s shifting signals on Cuba and the politics behind them. Scott Horsley, NPR’s chief economics correspondent, looks at the Fed’s rate dilemma as war-driven energy prices jump and the job market softens.

Hadil al-Shelchi, Beirut-based NPR correspondent, tracks Israel’s expanding operations in Lebanon, mass displacement, and rising diplomatic pressure. Terry Schultz, Brussels journalist, unpacks Europe’s resistance to U.S. calls on the Strait of Hormuz and NATO strains. Ada Peralta, NPR Latin America correspondent, follows Cuba’s sweeping blackout, oil blockade pressures, unrest, and Trump’s escalating rhetoric.