NPR's Up First is the news you need to start your day. The three biggest stories of the day, with reporting and analysis from NPR News — in 10 minutes. Available weekdays at 6:30 a.m. ET, with hosts Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin and A Martinez. Also available on Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET, with Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon. On Sundays, hear a longer exploration behind the headlines with Ayesha Rascoe on "The Sunday Story," available by 8 a.m. ET. Subscribe and listen, then support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for Up First, NPR News Now, and more.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Democratic Surrogates Campaign, US & Israel Plan Iran Strikes, Tesla SpaceX Merger
#2 trending · All Podcasts
Democrats are sending former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris into competitive Senate races to help the party win in Republican territory.
N
Oct 22 12 min
Zelenskyy Mending Ties, Trump In North Carolina, Saudi Arabia Gets British Support
#26 trending · Daily News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to repair ties with Washington as President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff carries new peace proposals to Russia.
President
Oct 21 12 min
Pushback On Trump's Russia Policy, Competitive Midterm Races, DOJ Noncitizen Voting
1Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is taking his concerns about delayed U.S. weapons and intelligence directly to Congress as lawmakers in both parties question Pre
Oct 20 13 min
Trump Eases Russia Sanctions, Midterm Campaign Money, Violent Protests In France
President Trump is easing pressure on Russia by waiving new sanctions as Ukraine continues striking Russian energy targets and tensions deepen between Trump and Ukrainian
Oct 19 13 min
Israelis have changed. Will they change their leader?
Israelis will vote in national elections next week. It’s the first vote since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and the Gaza war. Many Israelis call it the most important vote in
Oct 18 38 min
School Shooting in Bend, Elon Musk's Power, MN Senate Race
Authorities say the 16-year-old suspect in a school shooting that killed three children and one teacher at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon was once a student there.
Oct 17 17 min
Oregon School Shooting, Russia's View On US-Ukraine Split, DOJ Sues California
At least three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, where police say a 16-year-old gunman was killed by an armed comm
Oct 16 12 min
Hasan Piker on his rise as a voice of the 'insurgent left' | NPR's Newsmakers
President Donald Trump recently called Hasan Piker a “terrible liability” and a “communist.”
The California-based streamer — who describes himself as a socialist — has b
President Donald Trump is campaigning across traditionally Republican states as his party tries to turn out voters in an increasingly competitive midterm map.
Ukraine say
Oct 15 13 min
Ukraine's President Sits With NPR, Pope Leo Cancer, Ambassador Guilfoyle Forced Out
In a sit-down interview with NPR, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the U.S. warned it could cut intelligence sharing over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil ref
Oct 14 13 min
Trump Midterm Campaigning, Rep. Omar Home Searched, Europe Pushes Back on Russia Deal
President Trump is ramping up campaign travel and putting himself at the center of the midterms as Republicans fight increasingly competitive races in states he won easil
Oct 13 13 min
Trump Pressures Ukraine, Trump's Midterm Priorities, Saudi Arabia Airport Attacks
President Trump is increasing pressure on Ukraine over its strikes on Russian oil refineries while again calling on Ukrainians to hold wartime elections and threatening t
Oct 12 13 min
The women who fought back when their jailers assaulted them
Aliksandria Prout had only been at the Central California Women’s Facility for a few days when a male officer stopped her at a checkpoint. “You have beautiful lips and be
Oct 11 28 min
Hurricane Isaias Floods the Panhandle, A Russian Oil Deal, ICE Shooting in New York
The first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season strikes the Florida panhandle and drenches the southeast. Trump agrees to import Russian diesel, in the hopes of lowe
Oct 10 15 min
Bracing For Hurricane Isaias, Ukraine Pushes Russia Back, Iran War Impact On Midterms
Hurricane Isaias is expected to strike near the Alabama-Florida state line as communities prepare for dangerous winds, flooding and a life-threatening storm surge.
Ukrain
Oct 9 13 min
Hurricane Isaias Prep, Competitive Midterm Races, Trump's Media Ban In Court
Communities along the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast are preparing for Hurricane Isaias as officials warn of flooding, damaging winds and disruptions to weekend events.
D
Oct 8 13 min
Threats On US Bases Overseas, France Student Protest, German Spy Arrest
The U.S. pulled a dozen bombers out of Britain after officials identified a credible Iran-linked threat, raising new questions about how exposed American forces are to dr
Oct 7 12 min
Democrats Lead In Midterm Polls, Yemen War Front, Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger
With four weeks until the midterms, Democrats have the advantage in the polls and are increasingly competitive in Senate races that once looked safe for Republican.
Saudi
Oct 6 14 min
FlyDubai Pilot Investigation, SCOTUS Climate Change Case, Brazil Runoff Election
Investigators now believe the Flydubai co-pilot who attacked the captain intended to crash the plane into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, raising new questions about how he
Oct 5 12 min
Fox News wanted war images in Ukraine - their journalists died
Fox News Correspondent Benjamin Hall had been accused by a colleague of taking unnecessary risks when reporting in Syria. Later, Fox News assigned Hall to cover the war i
Oct 4 35 min
Chart trend
Position in the overall Apple Podcasts chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#6#11JulAugSepOct
#3
all-time peak
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days in the top 3 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Up First from NPR ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 23, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Up First is a great title since the podcast is literally the first thing I try to listen to when I get up in the morning. I appreciate the thoughtful summary of the most important events, the brevity, and the little bit of lighthearted banter at the start. Thank you.
ItaboRosa8 · Aug 2026
Great podcast that breaks down the biggest news events of the day in an easily digestible time.
yert1976 · Jul 2026
I’ve been listening to NPR since college and have always felt they can be a trusted news source, providing not just the news but multiple perspectives of the world and what is shaping it. I’ve come to love Up First, especially A’s snarky banter w Leila, Ayesha’s infectious laugh & even Steve’s singing.
Roxygurlie · Apr 2026
I love everything about this podcast. It’s digestible, informative, entertaining, and a perfect start to my morning! Huge shoutout to the entire crew that makes this podcast come to life— NPR rocks :)
Hcrowley99 · Apr 2026
UPDATE: tried you again recently and am SO DISAPPOINTED all over again. Only Kamala coverage this morning…. You do know there were other headlines, right?????
I have listened to NPR regularly for 20 years and have appreciated having Up First to listen to... HOWEVER, I’m giving this podcast one star because of its total neglect of featuring important LGBTQ news stories. For example, yesterday the Trump administration erased transgender civil rights protection in healthcare!!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?!? This is HUGELY impactful in the most negative, hurtful, debilitating way. This president is stripping away trans rights right under our noses and Up First keeps silent about it. ALSO, this last week two transgender women of color were murdered, Riah Milton & Dominique Rem’mie Fells. Up First has nothing to say about it. I am wildly disappointed in you Up First.
purpleliontree · Jul 2024
I have listened to this show for multiple years and I try to have an open mind on every topic. The show has become so biased that it will completely skip important stories because they think it may shed a negative light on the left. I’m not sure how our country has gotten to a point that this is acceptable for a reputable news agency. I will continue a search for an unbiased news recap to give me the facts and let me decide for myself where my opinion lies.
PRog34 · Apr 2024
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Up First from NPR, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
