Up First

Investigating the destruction of a hydroelectric dam in a war zone proves difficult. Former Vice President Mike Pence set to join a growing pool of 2024 GOP presidential candidates. An unexpected merger of two competing golf tournaments has huge implications for the game, and for the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.

A hydroelectric dam in Russian-occupied Ukraine collapsed causing those downstream to flee. Chris Christie is set to announce his 2024 run, and isn't afraid to take on Trump. Regulators unveiled thirteen charges against cryptocurrency firm Binance, as they seek to regulate the industry.

A signal error appears to be the reason for the train crash that killed 275 people in India. Hundreds of journalists strike as their employer guts newsrooms across the country. GOP election deniers are pushing states to withdraw from a system that helps voter roll accuracy.

For nearly a decade, the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, quietly helped to clean up voter databases and catch fraud. It was a rare bipartisan success story, with Democrats praising it and Republicans calling it a "godsend."

But recently, it has become the target of a Trump-allied lawyer and the far right. NPR Voting Correspondent Miles Parks and NPR's Investigations Team trace how conspiracy theories, secret meetings, and grassroots pressure are dismantling this obscure elections tool and giving election deniers their biggest policy victory yet.

A train derailment in India leaves more than 200 dead and many more injured. Biden delivers an Oval Office speech praising the bipartisan debt ceiling legislation. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin addresses a security conference in Singapore amid rising tensions with China.

The Senate has passed the debt ceiling bill that will prevent the country from defaulting, but it comes with some changes to work requirements. A Wisconsin mom is taking on YouTube shareholders after her son died of what is called a "Blackout Challenge" he found on the platform. Global defense leaders meet at the international defense summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore today.

The House of Representatives passed the debt ceiling bill and now the legislation heads to the Senate. Former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie are set to enter the Republican presidential race next week. And, the Atlantic hurricane season starts today, but climate change could be making the effects of these storms much worse.

The House of Representatives is set to vote on the deal to suspend the nation's debt limit. A federal appeals court ruled that the Sackler family be sheltered from opioid lawsuits linked to their company Purdue Pharma and Oxycontin painkillers. And, a trial is underway in the case of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting which left eleven worshippers dead.

Officials in Moscow blamed Kyiv for the drone attacks the Russian capital faced on Tuesday. China's Shenzhou-16 spacecraft took off with the first civilian astronaut on board. And, Republican presidential hopefuls will be campaigning in Iowa this week.

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have reached a deal to raise the debt ceiling. Turkey's President Recep Tayyib Erdogan won the runoff election on Sunday, and is set to extend his two decade rule. And Kyiv is under Russian attack as Ukraine prepares for a counter-offensive.

When Stephanie Foo turned 30, she learned she had complex PTSD. Her efforts to heal from an abusive childhood and intergenerational trauma drove her to write What My Bones Know, a book that combines memoir with the rigorous reporting she'd honed as a journalist.

Stephanie talks with producer Justine Yan about the initial shame upon hearing her diagnosis, lessons she learned when she went home to San Jose, California, and the fierce love she's practicing as she expects her first child.

If the US government defaults, the world's financial system would be affected, but some experts say that would actually increase demand for US government debt. An obstacle in the debt ceiling negotiations is tougher work requirements for social safety-net programs. New data shows the US is doing well in preventing new HIV infections, but the gains are happening unevenly across racial and ethnic groups.

Indiana doctor Caitlin Bernard, who spoke out publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old girl from Ohio, faces disciplinary action for violating privacy laws. Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton might be impeached in a vote by members of his own party for allegedly abusing his power. And, voters will head to the polls in Turkey this weekend to decided if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will continue his 20-year rule.

Ukraine has been preparing for months to launch a counteroffensive against Russia's invasion, but the high stakes operation has seen many delays. Scientists are using a new method known as in vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, that could revolutionize the way babies are made. And if the government defaults on its debt, people will have a harder time borrowing money.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to announce his bid for the Republican nomination live on Twitter with CEO Elon Musk. Relations between Washington and Beijing have been tense lately, but China's new ambassador to the U.S. says he wants to get the two sides back on track. And, the United States is at risk of downgrading its AAA credit rating as debt ceiling negotiations drag on.

The Treasury department is preparing for the possibility of a national default by deciding which bills to pay first if President Joe Biden fails to strike a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on raising the debt limit. California, Arizona and Nevada are proposing new cutbacks to their use of the drought-stricken Colorado River to keep it from running dry. And, TikTok is suing the state of Montana to block a law that would put an outright ban on the popular video-sharing app.

President Joe Biden spoke with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on his way back from Japan as they prepare to meet at the White House today to discuss the debt ceiling. Senator Tim Scott is announcing his bid for the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 race. And while gun regulations are being argued in court, the mayor of Columbus, Ohio is instating a curfew after a deadly month in the city.

The Colorado River has more dams on it than any other river in the United States. They were built to harness water high in the mountains and across the arid desert so people could build cities, industries and farms. But the visionaries of the past didn't account for the kind of population growth the southwest has experienced, and they didn't make a plan for what to do if there wasn't enough water to go around. Now, as the region suffers through a second decade of a mega drought, residents are scrambling to find solutions that will preserve their way of life. Today on The Sunday Story from Up First, we head to Las Vegas, where water conservation has a new starring role. This episode comes from a new podcast from Colorado Public Radio and reporter Michael Elizabeth Sakas. It's called Parched.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Hiroshima, Japan. Markets don't seem very concerned about political wrangling over the debt ceiling. Greek voters head to the polls Sunday for elections clouded by a deadly train crash.

Ukraine's president is planning on attending the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan in an effort to convince world leaders to offer more support against Russia. After a 12-year ban for his brutal civil war in Syria, President Bashar Al Assad is being welcomed back to the Arab League meeting in Saudi Arabia. And, Disney is canceling a $1 billion investment plan in Florida amid an ongoing feud with Governor Ron DeSantis.

New court filings show 21-year-old National Guard Airman Jack Teixeira, who leaked classified information on a game chat platform, was previously red flagged for improperly accessing top secret documents. Pakistani security forces have surrounded the home of the former prime minister Imran Khan, claiming he is sheltering rioters from recent protests. And, Montana has become the first state to push for a complete ban on TikTok.

President Joe Biden is in Japan for the G7 summit but he's cutting his Asia trip short to settle the debt ceiling debate with lawmakers. The commonly used abortion pill, Mifepristone, could soon be removed from the U.S. market completely. And, Russian strikes on Kiyv damaged a U.S. Patriot missile defense system as the war in Ukraine intensifies.

The CEO of the company behind ChatGPT will testify before Congress as lawmakers eye regulations on AI technology. New research from the Public Religion Research Institute finds that religion is declining in the lives of Americans. And, the mayoral race in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is putting a spotlight on major issues is many big cities in America.

Turkey's presidential election appears to be headed for a runoff between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu. For the first time, the UN is holding a Nakba Day event to commemorate the displacement of Palestinians 75 years ago in Israel's founding war. And, the Republican supermajority in North Carolina vowed to override the governor's veto on a bill that would ban abortions after 12-weeks.

Exactly one year ago, on May 14, 2022, a young white man walked into a Buffalo, New York grocery store and shot thirteen people. The ten who died were all black. The shooter acknowledged that he was specifically targeting black people that day, trying to kill as many as possible.

The shooting happened a few blocks from a gym, where members of a black competitive cheer team were practicing. Some of the girls at the gym lost family and friends in the shooting. Some did not. But all felt fear and grief and the weight of racism, many for the first time. Today on the Sunday Story, we bring you the first episode of "Buffalo Extreme" from NPR's Embedded podcast. In the series, the girls, their moms and coaches tell us their story of the past year and what it takes to try to recover from a brutal act of racial violence.

Billionaire Elon Musk names former NBCUniversal executive Linda Yaccarino as the new Twitter CEO. Pakistan's former prime minister, Imran Khan, is released on bail after his arrest on corruption charges. Lawmakers in Texas are trying to slow the growth of renewable energy, even though the state's already a leader in wind and solar.

The American Civil Liberties union is suing the Biden Administration over strict new border rules aimed at deterring migrants from crossing the border illegally. Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan is facing his toughest presidential challenge yet as voters head to the polls this weekend. And new research, covering nearly 8,000 school districts, shows that many students in the US suffered significant learning loss during pandemic.

The Biden Administration is implementing strict new rules to deter migrants from overwhelming the border as Title 42 comes to an end. New York Representative George Santos is being charged with 13 federal crimes, including money laundering, theft of public funds and lying to the U.S. House. And, The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new rules to lower emissions from power plants.

Former President Donald Trump is fighting back against a guilty verdict in the sexual assault and defamation case of writer E. Jean Carroll. Anger is growing in Pakistan as supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan face off against the country's powerful military. And, President Joe Biden will meet again with Congressional leaders on Friday after stalled progress in debt ceiling negotiations.

President Joe Biden will meet with the top four Congressional leaders at the White House to discuss how to avoid a federal debt default. Russia's annual Victory Day celebration takes on new symbolism with Putin's invasion of Ukraine. And, the American Psychological Association is issuing recommendations for teenagers' use of social media after evidence of its harmful side effects.

A motive is still unknown for the gunman in Texas who killed eight people and wounded seven others on Saturday at an outdoor mall north of Dallas, Texas. Tile 42 is set to expire, and tensions are running high at the U.S.-Mexico border after a car hit people outside a migrant center in southern Texas. Closing arguments begin today in former President Donald Trump's sexual assault trial.

The word influencer wasn't added to some dictionaries until 2019, and yet, according to at least one survey, a quarter of all Gen Zers say they plan to become social media influencers. A whole industry has developed to serve them. There are now training courses, influencer agents and conferences. So, how did a generation of people get the idea that they could make money filming themselves? And is it really a viable career path?

Today on The Sunday Story, Wailin Wong, a reporter and co-host of NPR's The Indicator from Planet Moneypodcast, helps us unravel the intricacies of the influencer economy and what it takes to succeed.

The coronation of King Charles III takes place in London's Westminster Abbey. Businesses are shedding excess office space, which could destabilize regional banks. Utah's age verification requirement for adult content websites is the subject of a lawsuit.

Four members of the far-right group Proud Boys were convicted of sedition conspiracy to overthrow the government of the United States. Outrage is growing over the chokehold homicide of a mentally ill homeless man during a violent episode on a New York subway train. And, England prepares to welcome King Charles III as the new King of England.

Ukraine is denying involvement in two alleged assassination drones that Russia says were brought down above the Kremlin in Moscow. Mediators say a seven day ceasefire was agreed upon by the warring sides in Sudan after multiple failed truces to allow desperately needed humanitarian aid. And, a new poll shows Americans are losing faith in the Supreme Court especially after reports revealing several justices had questionable business dealings.

After a four-day search, police say they've arrested a suspect in last week's massacre in Texas that left five people dead including a mother and her 9-year-old child. Findings by the National Assessment for Educational Progress show that most students in the US are struggling in subjects like civics and history. And the Federal Reserve is expected to make its tenth interest rate hike as it struggles to rein in inflation.

The Writers Guild of America called on their members to stage a strike after failed negotiations over updates to compensation agreements in the streaming era. President Joe Biden has invited lawmakers to the White House for talks to settle the debt ceiling debate after a deadline was set for default. And, The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing today on Supreme Court Ethics after findings that several justices hadn't disclosed questionable business dealings and gifts.

After taking over the ailing First Republic Bank, federal regulators have sold it to JPMorgan Chase & Co. A fragile ceasefire is extended as thousands of people flee the fighting between Sudan's Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). And Hollywood writers are demanding updated contacts or they'll strike.

How much time in prison is enough for a brutal crime? And how do we decide when a prisoner is rehabilitated and deserves to be free?

In 2016, after 30 years of incarceration and seven hearings before an Arizona parole board, Jacob Wideman was finally released from prison. Within months, after a minor violation, Wideman's parole was revoked and he was again put behind bars.

In this episode of The Sunday Story from Up First, we speak to journalist Beth Schwartzapfel about her new podcast Violation from WBUR and The Marshall Project. Schwartzapfel spent years reporting on Wideman's case and the questions it raises about punishment, forgiveness and the American parole system.

Violationis a new podcast byWBUR and The Marshall Project. For more information about Jake's case, including additional documents, photos, and related stories, go to themarshallproject.org/violation and WBUR.org/violation.

The deadliest Russian attacks in months leave more than 20 dead in Ukraine. Venezuela's political situation could push more people to flee the country. California braces for potentially devastating floods as an expected heat wave begins to melt record snow pack.

The Biden administration is planning out new measures to deter migrant influx on the U.S.-Mexico border, as one of the current policies, Title 42, is set to expire in May. Writer E. Jean Carroll testified in her civil suit against former President Donald Trump alleging that he raped her in a New York department store in the 1990s. And Fox News is losing ratings following the departure of their biggest star Tucker Carlson.

The House voted to pass the debt ceiling bill on Wednesday, but it is not expected to pass the Senate and President Biden has threatened to veto it. Disney sued Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis alleging that he has overseen a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" against the company. Montana Republicans barred a transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from the House floor over her opposition to a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for trans youth.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is meeting President Biden in Washington D.C. to discuss defense and business ties, as the two countries mark 70 years of alliance this year. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is gathering votes to try to pass his proposed debt ceiling bill. And as the Sudan conflict drags on, it may threaten regional stability.

President Joe Biden launched his reelection bid today, four years after declaring his 2020 candidacy. A civil trial is set to begin in New York involving former President Trump who is accused of sexually assaulting magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll. And Fox News Media announced that they have agreed to part ways with their most popular host, Tucker Carlson.

Foreign diplomats start evacuating Sudan as fighting intensifies, but thousands of American citizens remain in the country. Jury selection begins today in the trial of a man accused of killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018. A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows that a majority of Americans don't have much confidence in the Supreme Court.

The war in Ukraine has forever changed the young students of one kindergarten classroom, who are now scattered all around the world. For the past year, NPR's Elissa Nadworny has been following a group of six-year-olds from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. After the city came under attack by Russian forces, the children's school abruptly closed and many families fled. In this episode of The Sunday Story from Up First, Nadworny helps us understand the ripple effects of war through the eyes of children who lost the world they knew.

The Supreme Court overturned restrictions a lower court placed on the abortion medication mifespristone. U.S. embassy staff are preparing to flee violence in Sudan. Russia says it accidentally bombed a Russian city near its border with Ukraine.

The Supreme Court is set to decide by midnight tonight whether to allow an abortion pill to remain widely available or restrict its access. The U.S. is sending additional troops to its base in Djibouti in case of a possible evacuation from Sudan, as violence escalates in the country. U.S. officials have launched a new effort to arrest operatives of the Mexican cartel smuggling most of the fentanyl that reaches Americans.

The White House says it is prepared to fight for reproductive rights, as abortion access lingers in the hands of the courts for now. President Biden rejected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's plan to raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion. UNICEF says 67 million children worldwide missed out on immunizations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fox News averted a major trial by settling a defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on access to mifepristone, which is the most commonly used abortion pill. And Jack Teixeira, the Air National Guardsman accused of leaking top-secret documents, will appear in federal court in Boston.

A US diplomatic convoy came under fire as clashes in Sudan continue between rival military factions. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Republicans will vote to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts. And the deadline to file taxes is today, and it comes as the IRS is embarking on a makeover to improve the agency.

Rival military factions are fighting in Sudan for the control of the country after a dispute over transition to civilian rule. A shooting at a birthday party in Dadeville, Ala. left four dead and 28 wounded. And after a delay by one day, the trial in Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit against Fox News over 2020 election lies starts on Tuesday.

Last December, a jury convicted rapper Tory Lanez of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet. The high profile trial shined a light on the misogyny directed towards Black women and femmes in hip-hop. In this episode of The Sunday Story from Up First, Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael, the co-hosts of the podcast Louder Than A Riot, help us understand and unpack the oppressive, unspoken rules of rap that they say have held the entire culture back.

President Biden directs the intelligence and military communities to tighten the security of sensitive information. The Supreme Court temporarily blocks a lower court ruling limiting access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Inflation has eased and grocery prices are down, but recession worries still loom.

21-year-old Air National Guardsman, Jack Teixeira will appear in court on charges of leaking classified documents. Some doctors are saying the back-and-forth legal battles over abortion rights are complicating medical care for patients. And, North Korea says it tested a new powerful type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could be a game changer for the country's military.

A federal appeals court has put a partial hold on the controversial ruling from a Texas Court that bans the widely used abortion pill mifepristone. Calls for California, Senator Dianne Feinstein to resign are growing louder after months of absence from Congress. And, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is in China this week and is expected to meet with president Xi Jingping to discuss economic ties.

The Biden Administration wants to push Americans to buy more electric cars by increasing regulation on auto pollution. The White House is calling on Congress to act swiftly to stop the spread of a dangerous cocktail drug that's killing Americans. And, Inflation numbers are getting better but the Fed might still raise interest rates.

Just days after being expelled from the Tennessee House by Republicans, state Representative Justin Jones was reinstated at the state Capitol House. A bank employee in Louisville, Kentucky live streamed a shooting spree at his job before being gunned down by police. President Joe Biden is in Ireland for business and pleasure as he revisits his Irish Catholic roots on the anniversary of the Good Friday agreement.

As former President Trump prepares for court appearance, some Republicans say the indictment is politically motivated. President Biden is in Minnesota promoting his economic agenda as part of the "Investing in America" tour. Louisiana State University's women's basketball team win their first NCAA title.

Access to an abortion pill remains uncertain after two federal judges issued opposing rulings last week. Pentagon and DOJ are investigating dozens of classified documents that have leaked on the internet showing details on the state of war in Ukraine. And some of the leaked documents include assessments on Kyiv's fighting capability that could have an impact on the course of the war.

In the fall of 2003, Felipe Santos, a 23-year-old undocumented migrant worker from Mexico went missing after a minor fender bender in Naples, Florida. Three months later, 27-year-old Terrance Williams disappeared from the same stretch of road. Both were men of color and both were last sighted in the back of a police car, driven by the same white Sheriff's deputy. Today, we bring you the first episode of "The Last Ride," an investigative series exploring why, nearly 20 years later, these disappearances remain unsolved.

Two federal judges issue rulings that could drastically affect access to abortion pills across America. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas says he was told he didn't need to disclose trips paid for by a conservative billionaire. There seems to be some regional calm after a series of Israeli raids on Palestinians in Jerusalem, air strikes on Gaza and Lebanon, and two attacks on Israelis yesterday.

Republican controlled Tennessee House expelled two Democratic members over protests for tighter gun control. Classified war documents detailing secret U.S. and NATO plans for the Ukrainian military have leaked on social media platforms. And the Biden administration proposed a rule that would forbid schools from broadly banning transgender students from sports teams that align with their gender identity

Iran and Saudi Arabia hold high level talks in Beijing for the first time in seven years following a deal brokered by China last month. Tensions rise in Jerusalem after Israeli police raids in Al Aqsa Mosque. Tennessee House will vote today on removing three Democratic Lawmakers who led chants in support of tighter gun control on the Chamber floor last week.

Former President Donald Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts for falsifying business records, but hours after leaving the court he defended himself in a prime-time speech to his supporters. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen will meet with the House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. And two European leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, are in Beijing.

Former President Donald Trump will arraigned on criminal charges at the Manhattan Criminal Court. Could this indictment affect Trump's presidential bid and political future? And Wisconsin voters are deciding on who they want to control the state Supreme Court.

For the past year, the government of El Salvador has been in the midst of an extraordinary crackdown on gangs. The courts have waived human rights protections, allowing police to detain anyone they suspect of having gang affiliations—even without evidence. So far, they've arrested more than 60-thousand people. Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele has been the force behind the country's "state of exception." His "reforms" have included harsh new sentencing guidelines, which have lowered the point of criminal responsibility from 16 years of age to just 12. The government has also opened a new "mega prison" to house the exploding numbers of detainees, a place where, President Bukele said, "they would live for decades." El Salvador, once a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world, is now safe. But critics of the policies say the human rights costs have been way too high. Today on Up First Sunday, NPR's Eyder Peralta tells us about what he heard and witnessed during his recent reporting trip to the country.

Donald Trump is scheduled to be arraigned in New York City Tuesday. President Biden visits Rolling Fork, Miss., to witness the damage from last week's tornado. Some electric vehicle models will no longer qualify for a tax credit due to new requirements.

Donald Trump becomes the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges, Democratic and Republican lawmakers react to Trump's indictment and Finland could become a member of NATO in the coming days after Turkey cast its vote.

China watches as Taiwan's president visits New York, a federal rule protecting Medicaid coverage is about to expire and Nashville holds a city-wide public vigil for the victims of a school shooting.

A devastated Nashville prays for victims of a mass shooting, longtime Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz faces a grilling from senators over unionization at his company after stepping down from his position and Disney lays off staff as part of a multibillion-dollar cost-saving scheme.

Families grieve after a 28-year-old shooter killed three students and three adults at a Nashville school, Israel delays plans for a judicial overhaul and a U.S. Senate panel examines what went wrong at Silicon Valley Bank.

Mass protests spread across Israel after defense minister Yoav Gallant was sacked, Mississippi cleans up after a devastating tornado kills more than two dozen people and jury selection begins in the federal trial of Fugees founding member Pras Michel.

The worst Marine-on-Marine friendly fire incident in modern history happened during the war in Iraq. In Spring 2004, an explosion rocked a schoolhouse in the city of Fallujah. It left three dead and a dozen wounded. But you won't read about it in the history books. In fact, the event seems to have been scrubbed from the official record. So, why were the families of the deceased lied to? Why did the reports mysteriously disappear? And why do survivors still have to wonder about what happened that day? Today, we begin to uncover the truth. We bring you the first episode of Taking Cover, an investigative series from NPR's Embedded podcast. It's a story of betrayal, brotherhood and what's owed to families, the wounded, and the American public.

Two migrants died, trapped with others inside a shipping container on a train in Texas. Poor pay, pandemic burn-out, and bitter politics are causing teachers to drop out of the profession leading to a shortage in schools. Indian Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is ousted from Parliament, a day after he is found guilty for defamation.

Strikes over French President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plans disrupt transportation, U.S. life expectancy is declining but a group of scientists say it can still be turned around and ex-president Donald Trump kicks off his 2024 campaign with a rally.

U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Canada for talks dominated by illegal immigration and Haiti, TikTok's CEO testifies in Congress and March Madness returns after several upsets in the opening rounds.

President Joe Biden brands the latest banking aid as a lifeline for jobs and small businesses, San Joaquin Valley residents assess storm damage and Imran Khan supporters gather in Lahore, Pakistan.

Republican lawmakers back ex-President Donald Trump ahead of his potential arrest, staff in the nation's second-largest school district plan a walkout in Los Angeles and the Federal Reserve weighs interest rate hikes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President Vladimir Putin, New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg weighs potential charges against former President Donald Trump, and UBS buys rival Credit Suisse in a historic deal to avert a spreading global banking crisis.

On October 2, 1919, then President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke that left him blind in one eye, partially paralyzed and barely able to write his own name. He was in the midst of his second term. For the remainder of his presidency, some 17 months, his wife managed his duties, serving as a kind of de facto president. Today, as we celebrate Women's History Month, Steve Inskeep joins us to share his interview with Rebecca Boggs Roberts, author of Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson.

Could multiple bank failures lead to a recession? President Biden asks Congress to make it easier to punish bank executives. And Iraq, 20 years after the U.S.-led invasion.

Lenders contribute $30 billion to rescue First Republic Bank, French President Emmanuel Macron pushes his pension reform through Parliament and seven Virginia sheriff's deputies face murder charges.

Financial markets are on edge over troubles at Credit Suisse, new CDC data shows the maternal mortality rate jumped over 40% in 2021 and the Biden administration is demanding that TikTok be sold.

Small regional banks face pressure after two such institutions failed, a Texas federal judge hears arguments over a key abortion drug and major storms wreak havoc on both U.S. coasts.

The U.S. releases February inflation numbers, the federal government's move to fully cover depositors at two failed banks triggers debate, and construction for the Willow oil drilling project gets underway in Alaska.

Federal officials seek to restore public confidence in the banking system after Silicon Valley Bank collapses, ex-president Donald Trump campaigns in Iowa, Hollywood elite score trophies at Oscars.

Three years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The virus had spread across the globe, and the WHO announcement triggered unprecedented measures – governments ordered people to quarantine, borders were closed and mandatory masking became commonplace. Today, science reporter Ari Daniel tells us about a new series from NPR: "Hidden Viruses: How Pandemics Really Begin." From bats in Bangladesh to dogs in Malaysia, NPR's Global Health and Development team traveled far and wide to learn how scientists are studying spillovers – when a disease crosses from animals to humans – and what makes some viruses more deadly than others.

Heavy rains in California have flooded roads and caused two deaths. Silicon Valley Bank, which catered to venture capitalists and tech investors, collapsed on Friday. Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a new five-year term with a trusted ally as the country's new Premier.

The U.S. releases February job numbers, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets President Biden in Washington to discuss trade and the war in Ukraine, and California braces for severe weather.

The latest on Russian missiles strikes in Ukraine, President Biden outlines his annual budget blueprint, U.S. intelligence chiefs brief lawmakers on global threats and the U.S. Justice Department says Louisville police violate human rights.

Two Americans kidnapped in Mexico are found dead while two others survive the ordeal, the Senate is set to vote down a D.C. crime bill, and five women denied abortions in Texas sue the state.

Florida's Republican-dominated legislature begins a session during which it is set to pass bills reflecting Governor Ron DeSantis's priorities, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies before the Senate, and French workers strike to protest pension reforms.

Russia seeks to lay siege to remaining Ukrainian forces in the eastern city of Bakhmut; China lays out its economic and policy agenda for the year ahead; and nearly 200 countries reach a landmark deal on the high seas.

The countdown to the 95th Academy Awards Ceremony is upon us. This year's nominees for Best Picture cover a wide range of genres, from the dizzying science fiction adventure film Everything Everywhere All At Once, to a dark Irish tragicomedy The Banshees of Inisherin,to a big-budget fighter jet sequel Top Gun: Maverick. There's a lot riding on these awards, as the film industry and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences fight to remain relevant. This week on Up First Sunday, we turn to our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour for a deep dive into the Best Picture Category and a chat about what's really at stake for Hollywood.

The annual Conservative Political Action Conference wraps up today. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is expected to win elections this weekend thanks in part to her criticism of Vladimir Putin. Shoppers keep spending but big retail stores are fretful.

The leader of Europe's strongest economy is visiting President Biden at the White House. Analysts think German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants the U.S. to back off its confrontation with China. How does Germany see China differently? The House Ethics Committee is investigating Republican Congressman George Santos of New York . Also, survivors of an earthquake in Turkey and Syria are now living in temporary housing.

Israeli police used stun grenades and water cannons on protesters. It marks the first time police have used force on the crowds since they started protesting against government attempts to weaken the judiciary. A new report by the U.S. intelligence community says no foreign adversary is behind the sudden onset of medical symptoms among U.S. officials, known as Havana syndrome. So what's responsible? And jurors in the murder trial of former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh are set to begin deliberations.

U.S. lawmakers seem to agree on a tougher view of China. How does the competition look from China? Nigeria — Africa's largest democracy — has elected a new president. But opposition leaders are contesting the election results and are calling for a new vote. And rescuers in Greece searched all night for survivors of a train accident. More than 30 were killed when a train carrying hundreds of people collided with a freight train head on.