Up First from NPR

By: NPR
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  • Summary

  • 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 NPR's reporting by subscribing to Up First+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/upfirst
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Episodes
  • The Luckiest of the Unlucky

    The Luckiest of the Unlucky
    Dec 22 2024
    In part two of our story about Ben Spencer, a man sentenced to life in prison for a crime he said he didn't commit, former NPR correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty begins her own investigation. She returns to the scene of the crime and reinterviews witnesses. Hagerty finds new evidence of Spencer's innocence. And yet, the courts refuse to release him.

    In this episode of The Sunday Story from Up First, a look at what finally happens to a man who pinned his hopes on the idea that the truth would eventually set him free.

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    29 mins
  • The Anatomy of a Wrongful Conviction

    The Anatomy of a Wrongful Conviction
    Dec 22 2024
    In 1987, Ben Spencer, a young black man from Dallas, Texas was convicted in the killing of a white businessman. He was sentenced to life in prison by an all-white jury. There was no physical evidence linking him to the crime and he had an alibi. Over the years, eyewitnesses recanted their testimony and a judge, after reviewing all the prior evidence, declared Spencer to be an innocent man. Nonetheless, Spencer remained in prison for more than three decades. For seven of those years, former NPR correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty follows and followed the twists and turns of this case. Her dissection of wrongful convictions and the criminal justice system is at the heart of her new book, Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction And The Fight to Redeem American Justice.

    Today on The Sunday Story from Up First, part one of a two-part series looking at why it is so hard to get a conviction overturned even when evidence of innocence is overwhelming. Part two is also available now on the Up First podcast feed.

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    27 mins
  • Government Shutdown Averted, German Christmas Market Attack, Netflix And The NFL

    Government Shutdown Averted, German Christmas Market Attack, Netflix And The NFL
    Dec 21 2024
    Congress approved a short-term spending deal to keep government running until mid-March. A man drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing at least five. Netflix again plans to stream major sporting events live, after a rocky first attempt last month.

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    16 mins

Featured Article: Stay Up to Date and Informed with the Best News Podcasts of All Time


In a world where breaking news headlines change hourly and we're inundated with constant notifications, articles, news blasts, and think pieces, it can be difficult to simply keep up with what's going on in the world—let alone make sense of it. That’s where podcasts come in. Ranging from global and breaking news to politics, art, and finance, these shows are hosted by experts in their fields. No matter what your interests, there's a podcast for you.

Featured Article Stay Up to Date and Informed with the Best News Podcasts of All Time

What listeners say about Up First from NPR

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Morning ride choice!

Definitely one of my favorites! Not too much not too little the perfect snapshots of the news; also professional journalism.

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Actual news not talking heads

So much of what people think of as news is just talking heads who try to appease their followers with whatever will make them angry or excited so that they continue to watch. This then feeds the talking head more money and power. There are not many true news channels left. This is one of them. It actually gathers the information and does its research And lets the listener decide.

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needed to hear this

I loved this episode. it really speaks to those of us that have anxiety or have loved ones that suffer from it. it also speaks to loving our family members on the spectrum. thank you.

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Yay! Ayesha’s here!

I am so glad to hear Ayesha Roscoe hosting this show. I have been a fan of her reporting for some time. Up First is my favorite morning news podcast and it is great to hear her as a host.

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Well produced, in-depth news for commuters

NPR offers this well produced, in-depth news for commuters. Their network of independent informed reporters do a great job explaining both domestic and international news.

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Great!


I am really like this podcast. nice content. fantastic and excellent narration in this content.

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could have been an interesting Sunday Story

I was interested to listen to this topic. Unfortunately, I the tired "imperialistic male" narrative made listening such a bore. Glacial melt is an important issue but such a presentation turns audiences away. Sadly, some people never seem to realize that.

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Best Daily News

This is perfect to start your day with a cup of coffee
short and informative!

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6 people found this helpful

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Content great but no showing up on time.

Daily episodes consistently not available during my morning commute despite being well past the stated service.

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Since New York Times ended

This is keeping me afloat and very well indeed! Thank you NPR! This is more international (rather than NYT’s typical American focus) but excellent nonetheless.

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