Up First from NPR

Iran Ceasefire Deadline, Labor Secretary Out, Hearing For New Fed Chair

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran expires soon as President Trump calls an extension highly unlikely and Vice President JD Vance heads to Pakistan for talks Iran won't publicly confirm it will attend. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned amid allegations of an affair with her bodyguard, drinking on the job, and using taxpayer money for personal travel, becoming the third cabinet member to leave in less than two months. And President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve faces his confirmation hearing today, but Republican Senator Thom Tillis is threatening to block it until the Justice Department drops its investigation of current Fed Chair Jerome Powell. A previous version of the story "Iran Ceasefire Deadline" incorrectly said the ceasefire between the US, Iran and Israel expires today. It expires on Wednesday. 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 Ruth Sherlock, Emily Kopp, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai. It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson. (0:00) Introduction (01:58) Iran Ceasefire Deadline (05:59) Labor Secretary Out (09:33) Hearing For New Fed Chair 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]

Trump and Iran Talks, Iran Reacts to Ship Seized, Tariff Refunds

The U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to break through the naval blockade. Iran calls it piracy and vows to retaliate with the ceasefire set to expire Wednesday. Iran is back to blocking the Strait of Hormuz as both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire and a new round of talks in Pakistan have yet to be confirmed by Tehran. And businesses can finally start applying today for refunds on $166 billion in tariffs the Supreme Court ruled were collected illegally, in what could be a scramble for hundreds of thousands of importers. Correction: A previous version of the story "Iran reacts to ship seized" incorrectly said the death toll in Lebanon was more than 1,000. It is more than 2,000. 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 Anna Yukhananov, Ruth Sherlock, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Lindsay Totty. It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas. Our director is Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange. (0:00) Introduction (01:55) Trump and Iran Talks (05:34) Iran Reacts to Ship Seized (09:30) Tariff Refunds 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]

In one Iowa city, public schools compete in the free market. Are students better off?

Public education used to enjoy strong bipartisan support, but across the country, there’s a growing push to offer students alternatives to traditional public schools. The idea behind “school choice” is that competition improves education. President Trump and Republicans have attacked public education for failing students and for being too “woke,” while Democrats who strongly oppose school choice often dismiss valid criticism of public schools. Today on The Sunday Story, NPR education correspondent Cory Turner travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to understand how school choice can change a city's education landscape. Are students better served when schools compete in a free market? You can find more of Cory's reporting from Cedar Rapids here [https://www.npr.org/2026/04/17/nx-s1-5683199/education-school-choice-iowa-students-charter-school-cedar-rapids]. 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]

Hormuz Latest, Trump Rallies Amid Sinking Approval, Tariff Refunds

Iran says it is clamping back down on the Strait of Hormuz, putting the ceasefire at risk. President Trump appeared at a rally at an Arizona megachurch. Businesses are preparing for Monday's launch of an online portal for tariff refunds. 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]

Zohran Mamdani on NYC as a blueprint for Democrats | NPR's Newsmakers

In this special episode of Up First, we’re sharing the latest episode of NPR’s Newsmakers, featuring New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Through his first 100 days in office, Mamdani has focused on “pothole politics” — a blend of high-level legislative wins and intense focus on everyday essential services that keep the city running. The 34-year-old mayor has delivered on progressive campaign promises, from more funding for child care to new taxes on the ultrawealthy. He views his government as a model for how Democrats can deliver on policies that benefit the working class. Mamdani sat down with host Leila Fadel at City Hall to discuss how he views his accomplishments so far, his approach to working with President Trump and the message he believes Democrats should deliver during this year’s midterm elections. NPR's Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts.  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]