Episodes

  • Alternate Realities

    Alternate Realities
    Feb 23 2025
    Conspiracy theories are all over social media. For some, that's as far as they go. But for reporter Zach Mack, conspiracy theories have infiltrated his family. After Mack's father became obsessed with conspiracy thinking, family relationships began to fray. Today on The Sunday Story, a look at what happens to a family when the people in it can't agree on what's true and what isn't.

    To hear more of Mack's story about the impact conspiracy theories have had on his family check out his three-part series called Alternate Realities on NPR's Embedded podcast.

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    22 mins
  • Pentagon Upheaval, Hamas Releases More Hostages, NY State Prisons

    Pentagon Upheaval, Hamas Releases More Hostages, NY State Prisons
    Feb 22 2025
    President Donald Trump fires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, plus the Defense Department is set to lose more than 5 thousand personnel. Hamas releases 6 more living hostages as part of its ceasefire agreement with Israel. Corrections officers in NY protest working conditions and some walk off the job, prompting the governor to send in National Guard troops to secure some state prisons.

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    15 mins
  • Migrants Leave Guantanamo, Israeli Hostages Update, Changes at FEMA

    Migrants Leave Guantanamo, Israeli Hostages Update, Changes at FEMA
    Feb 21 2025
    Nearly all migrants held at Guantánamo Bay have been released, with over 170 Venezuelans flown to their home country. Israeli authorities say a hostage body returned by Hamas is not who the militants claimed it to be. And the impact of job cuts at FEMA.

    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 Eric Westervelt, Didi Schanche, Neela Banerjee, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.


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    13 mins
  • Trump and Zelenskyy Feud, DOGE Savings Claims, Hamas Releases Four Hostage Bodies

    Trump and Zelenskyy Feud, DOGE Savings Claims, Hamas Releases Four Hostage Bodies
    Feb 20 2025
    A look at the roots of the difficult relationship between President Trump and President Zelenskyy. DOGE says its saved taxpayers billions of dollars. How do these claims stack up against the evidence? And Hamas returns the bodies of four Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack.

    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, Padmananda Rama, Didi Schanche, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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    13 mins
  • Measles Outbreak, Foreign Aid Cuts, Bolsonaro Charges

    Measles Outbreak, Foreign Aid Cuts, Bolsonaro Charges
    Feb 19 2025
    Health officials are warning about a measles outbreak in Texas. Trump administration efforts to shrink the federal government have temporarily cut off funding to pro-democracy groups abroad. And Brazil's former leader Jair Bolsonaro is charged with participating in a coup.

    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, Padmananda Rama, Tara Neill, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Simon-Laslo Janssen and our technical director is Stacey Abbott. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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    14 mins
  • Ukraine Talks, U.S. Health Agency Cuts, NYC Mayor Eric Adams Fallout

    Ukraine Talks, U.S. Health Agency Cuts, NYC Mayor Eric Adams Fallout
    Feb 18 2025
    American and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. The Trump administration has started making broad cuts to federal health agencies. Days after the Justice Department moved to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, four of his top aides and deputy mayors announced their resignations.
    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 Ryland Barton, Jane Greenhalgh, Denice Rios, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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    12 mins
  • Paris Emergency Summit, Marco Rubio in the Middle East, Trump's First Month

    Paris Emergency Summit, Marco Rubio in the Middle East, Trump's First Month
    Feb 17 2025
    European leaders meet in Paris to discuss an emerging transatlantic chasm over security and the war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in the Middle East amplifying President Trump's vision for Gaza. And a review of Trump's first four weeks reshaping the U.S. government.

    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 Ryland Barton, Didi Schanche, Krishnadev Calamur Reena Advani and Adriana Gallardo. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Carleigh Strange. Our Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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    13 mins
  • A Home But Not A Cure

    A Home But Not A Cure
    Feb 16 2025
    Thirty years ago, housing activists began an unusual experiment to help people struggling with homelessness and chronic addiction. They decided to get people into housing first and then try to help their clients with their addictions. This idea, called "Housing First," is now the central strategy guiding homeless services in America. But the concept is facing new scrutiny and growing criticism from conservative lawmakers. Today on The Sunday Story, we look at the controversy around Housing First and consider if the strategy is working as it was designed.

    You can listen to Will James's full documentary on KUOW's Soundside podcast.

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    29 mins