Episodes

  • Dana White on Trump, men and UFC at the White House | NPR's Newsmakers

    Dana White on Trump, men and UFC at the White House | NPR's Newsmakers
    May 18 2026
    In this special episode of Up First, we’re sharing the latest episode of NPR’s Newsmakers, featuring UFC president Dana White.

    When Donald Trump celebrated his imminent return to the White House on election night in November 2024, a parade of high-profile supporters joined him on stage. They included White, the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the multibillion-dollar mixed martial arts organization. White calls Trump "a friend." This June 14, UFC will host a fight on the South Lawn of the White House -- commemorating the nation's 250th birthday. That day happens to be President Trump's birthday, too.

    White sat down with Steve Inskeep to discuss the growth and success of UFC, political polarization, and masculinity in the Trump era.

    NPR's Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. New episodes drop as soon as they're available -- any day of the week. To stay caught up, follow the show on Spotify, subscribe on YouTube, or find Newsmakers on the NPR app.


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    25 mins
  • Cassidy Loses Louisiana Primary, Ebola Outbreak, Musk Sues Altman Over OpenAI

    Cassidy Loses Louisiana Primary, Ebola Outbreak, Musk Sues Altman Over OpenAI
    May 18 2026
    Senator Bill Cassidy became the latest Republican casualty in President Trump’s campaign against disloyal members of his party, losing his primary in Louisiana after voting to convict Trump following the January 6th insurrection.
    The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency over a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has already killed more than 80 people and spread to neighboring Uganda.
    A jury in California has begun deliberating in Elon Musk’s high-profile lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, with Musk claiming he was misled when he helped found the company as a nonprofit.

    Want more 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 Anna Yukhananov, Carmel Wroth, Kara Platoni, Mohamad ElBardicy and HJ Mai.

    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
    (01:54) Cassidy Loses Louisiana Primary
    (05:35) Ebola Outbreak
    (09:14) Musk Sues Altman Over OpenAI

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    13 mins
  • The human cost of building the Dubai of Africa

    The human cost of building the Dubai of Africa
    May 17 2026
    For many of the poorest residents in Lagos, Nigeria, the land their families have lived on for generations is now being violently seized by the government to build luxury condos. The communities are fighting back, but even court injunctions haven’t stopped the bulldozers. This week on The Sunday Story, NPR’s Emmanuel Akinwotu goes to these sites of destruction and talks to those who have lost everything in this race to develop one of the world’s fastest-growing megacities.

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    29 mins
  • Cuba Latest, Louisiana Primary, World Cup Travel

    Cuba Latest, Louisiana Primary, World Cup Travel
    May 16 2026
    Cuba experienced blackouts and protests this week, and the CIA director made a visit to Havana. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., faces primary voters today. Trump administration travel restrictions are complicating travel plans for World Cup soccer fans.

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    15 mins
  • Trump's China Visit Wraps, SCOTUS Mifepristone, Keir Starmer Under Pressure To Resign

    Trump's China Visit Wraps, SCOTUS Mifepristone, Keir Starmer Under Pressure To Resign
    May 15 2026
    President Trump is heading home from Beijing claiming he made fantastic trade deals with China, including a commitment for 200 Boeing jets and soybean purchases.
    The Supreme Court kept the abortion pill mifepristone available over telemedicine, putting a hold on an appeals court order that would have required patients to visit a clinic in person to get the medication.
    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion within his own party, with candidates already emerging to replace him after Labour was trounced in local elections and his approval ratings hit historic lows.

    Want more 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 Kate Bartlett, Diane Webber, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy and John Stolnis.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

    Our director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

    And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.


    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:55) Trump's China Visit Wraps
    (05:47) SCOTUS Mifepristone
    (09:42) Keir Starmer Under Pressure To Resign

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    13 mins
  • Trump Meets With China's Xi, Asia's View Of Summit, Trump Targets Law Firms

    Trump Meets With China's Xi, Asia's View Of Summit, Trump Targets Law Firms
    May 14 2026
    President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for more than two hours at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, with the CEOs of Apple, Tesla and NVIDIA in the room as both sides look to stabilize a trade relationship that has been on shaky ground for years.
    China's readout of the meeting between the two leaders emphasized the need for "constructive strategic stability" and warned that mishandling Taiwan could put the entire U.S.-China relationship in jeopardy.
    And President Trump's crackdown on big law firms goes before a federal appeals court today, as firms that once employed lawyers who investigated Trump fight back against executive orders that targeted their security clearances and government contracts.

    Want more 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, Tina Kraja, Anna Yukhananov, Mohamad ElBardicy and John Stolnis.

    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 deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:51) Trump Meets With Xi
    (05:49) China's Readout Of Meeting
    (08:51) Trump Targets Law Firms

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    12 mins
  • Trump In China, Hegseth Requests Wartime Budget, FDA Commissioner Resigns

    Trump In China, Hegseth Requests Wartime Budget, FDA Commissioner Resigns
    May 13 2026
    President Trump is in Beijing today meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, with American manufacturers hoping for tariff relief even as the war in Iran looms over the high-stakes summit.
    The Pentagon told Congress they estimate the war in Iran has cost $29 billion dollars so far. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked for $1.5 trillion dollars for next year’s Pentagon budget.
    FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary has resigned after thirteen months on the job, with the final straw being White House pressure to approve flavored vapes, something he refused to do.

    Want more 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, Jason Breslow, Kris Husted, Mohamad El-Bardicy and John Stolnis.

    It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas Our director is Christopher Thomas.

    We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis.

    And our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

    (0:00) Introduction
    (01:57) Trump In China
    (05:40) Hegseth Requests Wartime Budget
    (09:26) FDA Commissioner Resigns

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    12 mins
  • Stakes of Trump's China Trip, Inflation Report Shows War Impact, Hantavirus Science

    Stakes of Trump's China Trip, Inflation Report Shows War Impact, Hantavirus Science
    May 12 2026
    President Trump leaves for Beijing today for a state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as the ongoing war in Iran casts a long shadow over the high-stakes summit.
    A new inflation report out this morning shows prices rising again, driven heavily by higher gasoline costs from the war in Iran, with ripple effects on airline tickets and other consumer prices.
    Public health officials say the hantavirus outbreak that started on a cruise ship is not the next COVID, but it still has no vaccine or specific treatment and can be fatal in some cases.

    Want more 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 Rebekah Metzler, Rafael Nam, Gisele Grayson, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Olivia Hampton.

    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
    (01:51) Stakes of Trump's China Trip
    (05:31) Inflation Report Shows War Impact
    (09:27) Hantavirus Science

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    13 mins