Episodes

  • Israel Kills Hezbollah Leader; Helene Floods North Carolina

    Israel Kills Hezbollah Leader; Helene Floods North Carolina
    Sep 28 2024
    Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed on Friday, when a series of blasts targeting Hezbollah rip through Beirut. His killing and the attack on the capital signal a major escalation in the fighting between Israel and Lebanon. Plus, Hurricane Helene might've been downgraded to a tropic storm, but it still managed to drench North Carolina - we'll have the latest on the storm's impact.

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    14 mins
  • Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall, Netanyahu Addresses UN, Sudan Civil War

    Hurricane Helene Makes Landfall, Netanyahu Addresses UN, Sudan Civil War
    Sep 27 2024
    Hurricane Helene has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but when it made landfall late last night as a Category 4 hurricane, it packed a dangerous one-two punch of high winds and a storm surge. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, and the Sudanese army has launched a major offensive to take back the capital.

    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 Russell Lewis, Tara Neill, Donald Clyde, HJ Mai and Ally Schweitzer. It was produced by Iman Maani, Nia Dumas and Mansee Khurana. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange, and our technical director is Andie Huether.

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    13 mins
  • Ukraine's Victory Plan, New York Mayor Indictment, Hurricane Helene

    Ukraine's Victory Plan, New York Mayor Indictment, Hurricane Helene
    Sep 26 2024
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has a plan to defeat Russia. He's in Washington on Thursday to discuss this plan with President Biden. New York Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, according to media reports, and Florida braces for the impact of Hurricane Helene.

    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 Rebecca Rosman, Andrea de Leon, Russell Lewis, HJ Mai and Ally Schweitzer. It was produced by Iman Maani, Nia Dumas, Brianna Joseph and Mansee Khurana. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.

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    13 mins
  • Keeping Iran From Engaging, FAFSA Fiasco, Death Penalty

    Keeping Iran From Engaging, FAFSA Fiasco, Death Penalty
    Sep 25 2024
    As the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah intensifies, concern grows about the potential involvement of Iran. Last year, there were a number of issues with the form to get federal student aid. A new investigation is detailing what went wrong with FAFSA, and Missouri executed a man even though the office that worked to convict him says they made a mistake.

    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 James Hider, Nicole Cohen, Cheryl Corley, HJ Mai and Ally Schweitzer. It was produced by Iman Maani, Nia Dumas and Mansee Khurana. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.

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    14 mins
  • Fleeing From Israeli Attacks, Harris' Policy Priorities, Plastic Recycling Lawsuit

    Fleeing From Israeli Attacks, Harris' Policy Priorities, Plastic Recycling Lawsuit
    Sep 24 2024
    Tens of thousands of people in Lebanon are fleeing from Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah. Vice President Harris wants to make it easier to restore abortion rights. She spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio about her policy priorities, and California is suing ExxonMobil alleging the oil giant knowingly misled the public about the effectiveness of plastic recycling.

    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 Vincent Ni, Padma Rama, Robert Little, HJ Mai and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Iman Maani, Nia Dumas and Mansee Khurana. We get engineering support from Robert Rodriguez, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.

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    13 mins
  • Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalates, UN General Assembly, Alabama Mass Shooting

    Israel-Hezbollah Conflict Escalates, UN General Assembly, Alabama Mass Shooting
    Sep 23 2024
    Israel's military has warned people in southern Lebanon to evacuate homes used to store weapons for Hezbollah. This comes after last week's explosion of Hezbollah communication devices and multiple strikes. World leaders gather in New York this week to discuss the biggest geopolitical issues and crisis, and the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, is calling for action after a mass shooting.

    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 Vincent Ni, Tara Neill, Russell Lewis, HJ Mai and Mohamad ElBardicy. It was produced by Iman Maani, Nia Dumas and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange, and our technical director is Zac Coleman.

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    13 mins
  • When Water Turns to Sand

    When Water Turns to Sand
    Sep 22 2024
    In Central Asia, the world's youngest desert occupies a basin that once held a vast saline lake. The Aral Sea.

    Up until the 1960s, the sea spanned more than 26 thousand square miles across two countries. It supported thriving fishing communities along its shores. But then, in the name of progress and development, much of the river water that fed the sea was diverted for agriculture. Now the Aral Sea has all but disappeared, shrunk to about tenth of its original size. The UN Environment Programme has called the Aral Sea's destruction quote "one of the most staggering disasters of the 20th century."

    On this episode of The Sunday Story, Above The Fray Fellow Valerie Kipnis takes us to the Aral Sea to try to understand what went wrong and whether anything can be done to save the little water that's left.

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    30 mins
  • Latest in U.S. Politics; Escalation in Conflict Between Hezbollah and Israel

    Latest in U.S. Politics; Escalation in Conflict Between Hezbollah and Israel
    Sep 21 2024
    Serious allegations against a Republican gubernatorial candidate in North Carolina and tensions in Georgia over the counting of ballots are just two of this week's top political headlines - we'll bring you the latest. Plus, Israel turned pagers and two-way radios used by Hezbollah and civilians in Lebanon into mini bombs - we'll look at what that move, plus another air strike, could mean in the context of wider regional tensions.

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    14 mins