National Security, Unlocked

President Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a 20 point peace deal. More than a week into the government shutdown, the parties are largely digging into the same messages about what should happen next. And ICE continues arrest operations in Chicago while National Guard troops from Texas are positioned outside the city, despite a lawsuit by the state and city to block the deployment.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 Miguel Macias, Kelsey Snell, Cheryl Corley, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, Nia Dumas and Christopher ThomasWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The government shutdown enters its second week with no negotiations underway, as President Trump threatens permanent layoffs. The impact of the shutdown is spreading to the skies, where staffing shortages have forced some air traffic control towers to close and ground flights across the country. And former FBI Director James Comey appears in court to face felony charges, a case driven by pressure from President 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 Kelsey Snell, Russell Lewis, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher ThomasWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Texas deploys National Guard troops under President Trump’s orders as legal battles intensify over his authority to send them into Democratic-led cities. As the war in Gaza enters its third year, hopes rise over a new U.S.-backed plan aimed at ending the fighting. And the Supreme Court hears a case on state bans of conversion therapy, weighing free speech rights against protections for the LGBTQ community.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 Alina Hartounian, Miguel Macias, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher ThomasWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Join us again tomorrowLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A federal judge issues a late night order to stop President Trump’s latest attempt to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, warning the administration against efforts to get around court orders and the rule of law. In Egypt, Hamas and Israeli officials begin high-stakes talks that could end the war in Gaza and free dozens of hostages. And as the Supreme Court opens a new term, justices will take on major cases testing presidential power, birthright citizenship, and voting rights.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 Alina Hartounian, Kate Bartlett, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher ThomasWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mary Louise Kelly, host of NPR's All Things Considered, is no stranger to tough conversations with important people. In her new national security podcast, NPR’s Sources and Methods, Kelly brings you inside the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community to help you understand America's shifting role in the world, and how events in faraway places matter here at home.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hamas says it will release all hostages remaining in Gaza, as part of President Trump’s ceasefire deal, as long as its conditions are met. Fourth day of the shutdown as Democrats did not budge in a Senate vote. State governments are making cuts to their Medicaid programs affecting people in nursing home care all over the country.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Senators are set to vote again on competing spending bills to fund the government, with neither side budging and looming consequences of a prolonged shutdown. The shutdown is also blinding businesses and policymakers by halting the release of the closely watched monthly jobs report. And the White House is pressuring top universities to sign an agreement tying federal funding to Trump’s policy demands on free speech, tuition, and diversity.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 Kelsey Snell, Rafael Nam, Steve Drummond, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay TottyWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our Executive Producer is Jay ShaylorLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Andy Beshear is widely popular in red state Kentucky and he's considering a run for president. The Democratic governor sat for an interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep and talked about the federal government shutdown, political divisions, tariffs and a lot more.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.This bonus episode of Up First was edited by Reena Advani. It was produced by Adam Bearne and Julie Depenbrock. We get engineering support from Jay Czys. Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump’s budget director is canceling billions in projects and threatening mass layoffs as the White House uses the government shutdown to push for deeper spending cuts. The shutdown’s ripple effects are spreading nationwide, with key federal services slowing or stopping. And in Gaza, Israel has issued a final evacuation order, warning that anyone who remains in Gaza City will be treated as a militant as Hamas considers changes to Trump’s ceasefire plan.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 Dana Farrington, Russell Lewis, Miguel Macias, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay TottyWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The federal government has shut down for the first time since 2019, with President Trump threatening mass layoffs and facing criticism for using government resources to blame Democrats. More than two million federal workers are bracing for uncertainty as the shutdown drags on, with some agencies warning employees they may not be brought back once it ends. And President Trump told top military commanders he wants to use troops against “enemies within” and plans to deploy National Guard forces to Democratic-led cities.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 Kelsey Snell, Emily Kopp, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Lindsay TottyWe get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy