Up First from NPR

Retail Sales Drop, U.S. Warships in Distress, Accurately Polling the Electorate

Paychecks aren't keeping pace with rising prices, and households are feeling the squeeze. Sailors on the ships deployed to the Middle East are straining without enough clean water and fresh food. In the thick of primary season for the midterms, how reliable is polling? Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Poor Conditions on USS Lincoln, Economic Warfare on Iran, Ukraine's Drone Campaign

Lawmakers want the Pentagon to investigate reports of food shortages, poor sanitation and lack of mental health care for sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been out at sea for nearly 9 months. And the Trump administration says it’s gearing up for economic warfare against Iran. What will it mean for ordinary Iranians already suffocating under high inflation? Plus, Ukraine is using drones to challenge Russia’s grip on Crimea. Can Ukraine win back territory it lost more than a decade ago? Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news] to the Up First newsletter. Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Lindsay Totty, Arezou Rezvani, Andrew Sussman and James Hider. It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Milton Guevara. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Éowyn Fain.  And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. (0:00) Introduction (01:57) Poor Conditions on USS Lincoln (05:47) Economic Warfare on Iran (09:45) Ukraine's Drone Campaign See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Democrat Ro Khanna’s 2028 pitch: tax the rich, regulate tech | NPR's Newsmakers

Congressman Ro Khanna says America needs an “economic realignment.” Fresh off a tour through his birthplace of Pennsylvania, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he is “thinking seriously” about running for president in 2028 — a race he called a “breaking point in America” that could lead to a destructive revolution or a new economic order.  “If we don't do something dramatically different, we may break,” Khanna tells NPR’s Steve Inskeep in this episode of Newsmakers.  “Have you met these folks in their 30s? They want pitchforks and torches. They want your scalps … politically.”  The California lawmaker — who acknowledged he sits around 2% in the Democratic presidential polls — does not have the name recognition of some other contenders, including his fellow Californians: former Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/24/nx-s1-5143015/why-gavin-newsom-refuses-to-be-a-bystander-in-this-political-moment]. He has, however, steadily raised his profile through years of action on issues ranging from the Epstein files [https://www.npr.org/2026/01/02/nx-s1-5664083/rep-ro-khanna-d-calif-talks-about-the-dojs-release-of-the-epstein-files] to a wealth tax [https://www.npr.org/2022/04/28/1094288815/two-democratic-progressives-plot-new-ways-to-fight-back-against-republican-gains]. And his possible bid for president comes as the Democratic Party’s center and left-wing candidates battle over ideological differences within the party. Khanna said Democrats need to nominate a progressive who will usher in “America’s next New Deal” and shouldn’t fear being labeled “communists” by Republican opponents, including President Trump.  “We’ve been calling the guy a fascist for 10 years and he’s won two terms,” Khanna said. “Labels usually don’t matter in American politics.” Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. Follow or subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you watch or listen to podcasts to get new episodes as soon as possible. You can also find Newsmakers on the NPR app.  Newsmakers relies on supporters who value independent journalism and a free press. Join NPR+ today to support our work and get perks from the podcasts you trust. Go to plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Democratic Party Divide, Lettuce is Saving You Green, Colombia Rescue Efforts

Recent primary results were supposed to offer clues on voters’ appetite for progressive candidates. But the results — so far — paint a muddled picture. What does that mean for the party’s midterm strategy? And new inflation numbers are out and lettuce was a highlight. How are the leafy greens impacting the cost of living? Plus, rescue teams in Colombia are racing to find the nearly 500 earthquake victims still buried under rubble. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news] to the Up First newsletter. Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Arezou Rezvani, Alice Woelfle, Jason Breslow, Rafael Nam and Tina Kraja.  It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Milton Guevara.  Our director is Christopher Thomas.  We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. Our technical director is Zac Coleman. And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. (0:00) Introduction (01:51) Democratic Party Divide (05:38) Lettuce is Saving You Green (09:23) Colombia Rescue Efforts See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]

Primary Race Results, Trump's Plane Swap Ruse, Disarming Iraq's Iran-Backed Militias

Results are in from primary races in six states. How did progressive candidates fare against more moderate Democrats in this run-up to the midterm elections? And President Trump has confirmed he secretly swapped planes as he left a NATO summit in Turkey last month. How unusual was this ruse? Plus, Iraq’s new leader wants to disarm the country’s Iran-backed militias that have hit U.S. military installations across the region in recent months. How challenging will that be? Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe [https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news] to the Up First newsletter. Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Alice Woelfle, Arezou Rezvani, Padma Rama, Rebekah Metzler and Tina Kraja. It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Milton Guevara. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Zac Coleman. And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org [http://plus.npr.org/]. (0:00) Introduction (01:54) Primary Race Results (05:35) Trump's Plane Swap Ruse (09:48) Disarming Iraq's Iran-Backed Militias See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy [https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy]