The Sunday Story: Video Game Economics (It's Not Play Money)

Deadly protests over Kenya tax hikes. U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich stands trial for espionage in Russia. And Republican vice presidential candidates make their final pitch to Donald Trump.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 Tara Neill, Kevin Drew, John Helton, Megan Pratz, Olivia Hampton and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas and Nina Kravinsky.Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Hannah Gluvna.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange strikes a plea deal. A Florida court weighs whether special counsel Jack Smith can prosecute former President Donald Trump. And the Upper Midwest grapples with devastating river flooding linked to climate change.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 Krishnadev Calamur, Ally Schweitzer, Neela Banerjee, Olivia Hampton and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas and Nina Kravinsky.Our technical director is Stacey Abbott, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel's defense chief meets with senior U.S. officials over the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, gunmen kill more than 19 police officers and civilians in southern Russia, abortions up two years since the Supreme Court revoked federal abortion protections.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 Kevin Drew, Catherine Laidlaw, John Helton, Olivia Hampton and Lisa Thomson. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas and Nina Kravinsky.Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Stacey Abbott.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A few hours north of Seattle, Washington, there's a kind of ghost town dotted with decaying barns and milking sheds, an old cemetery, and once-stately buildings that housed thousands. It was never an actual town, it was a psychiatric facility, Northern State Hospital—a place that contained deep contradictions. The gardens and farm fields were designed to provide residents work and fulfillment in a bucolic setting. But the medical treatments were often harsh.Northern State closed in 1973. It was a time when states across the nation were shutting down their own mental institutions in favor of a new model of community care.Today on The Sunday Story, a look at the move towards deinstitutionalization—what it's meant for people with mental illness and for the entire society.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What the Supreme Court decision on guns means for domestic violence victims. How extreme heat affects bodies when they are not used to it. Why the French National Rally party is gaining Jewish supporters.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Tiktok submitted its first court filings, offering a glimpse into how the popular social media company plans to argue against a looming ban on the app in the US. The Los Angeles school board, the country's second largest school district, voted to ban cellphones and social media during school hours. And, travelers purchasing carbon offset promises on their tickets may not be getting their money's worth.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 Gabriel Spitzer, Ally Schweitzer, Neela Banerjee, Mohamad ElBardicy and Lisa Thomson.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas and Taylor Haney.Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Our Executive Producer is Erika Aguilar. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is expected to announce new financial sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in fentanyl trafficking. Amid heightened cross border attacks, the leader of Hezbollah threatens all out war if Israel conducts military operations in Lebanon. And a growing number of teens in America, especially young boys, are falling victim to sexual extortion online.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 Catherine Laidlaw, Tara Neill, Hannah Block, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas, Claire Murashima and Taylor Haney.Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun apologized to families of 737 Max victims during a Senate hearing and admitted that the company retaliated against whistleblowers in the company. Tribal, state and federal officials in New Mexico are scrambling to save homes and lives as two rapidly growing fires threaten the village of Ruidoso. And Ascension hospitals, one of the country's largest health systems, is still recovering from a massive ransomware attack that caused dangerous mix ups and serious complications with patient care.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, Eric Whitney, Diane Webber, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas and Taylor Haney.Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Biden is set to announce a plan to protect hundreds of thousands of undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation. A coalition of environmental, labor and health professionals are petitioning the Federal Emergency Management Agency to treat extreme heat as a "major disaster." And Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a rare trip to North Korea for a two-day state visit. 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 Alfredo Carbajal, Nick Spicer, Sadie Babits, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Chris Thomas and Taylor Haney. We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. And our technical director is Zac Coleman. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Cross border fighting intensifies between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon as the Israeli military pauses daytime military operations in Southern Gaza's Rafah city. 80 of the 90 countries at a peace summit in Switzerland called on Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity. And, An NPR Ivestigation finds that 50% of US military bases are located in areas where healthcare is hard to find.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 Hannah Block, Nick Spicer, Andrew Sussman, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas and Taylor Haney.Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy