Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Today's top stories
The House may vote this week on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, reintroduced articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors. The eight specific charges include three charges for illegally waging war against Iran, one for ignoring laws to minimize civilian casualties, one for overseeing extrajudicial killings of alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, and one for capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization. Hegseth has called the articles a sham.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), seen here on September 16, 2026 at the U.S. Capitol, filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday. Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption
President Trump has acknowledged that the war he initiated with Iran harmed his party in the midterms. Weeks before the election, the president said he was going to hold off on any strikes in Iran. While campaigning, he hinted at potential actions to proceed with the war and teased a significant move to end it. Now, Trump says there's no need for further strikes if talks are ongoing.
Nvidia's stock slipped around 4.25% after CEO Jensen Huang admitted to an extramarital affair with a woman U.S. intelligence suspects of spying for China. This news sent shockwaves from Wall Street to Capitol Hill. AMD, Nvidia's main AI chip competitor, saw its shares jump more than 13%.
The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday gave the Trump administration the green light to proceed with plans to build hundreds of miles of border barriers and security infrastructure in west Texas. The decision was made despite ongoing court hearings. This plan has faced bipartisan backlash for its involvement of Big Bend National Park, a cherished area known for its stunning canyons and pristine desert landscape. In a five-page decision, the Court asserted that the federal judge who issued an injunction against the construction lacked the authority to intervene.
Deep dive
James Talarico speaks on election night in Austin, Texas. Talarico won his race for U.S. Senate by 12 percentage points overall, but when looking at just Gen Z, he won it by 60 points. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
Democrats did really well with Gen Z voters in last week's midterm election, snagging nearly a 50-point lead among voters under 30. This is a major comeback from 2024, when young voters leaned toward Trump. This year's results signal that the youngest generation of voters are issuing a strong rebuke of Republicans, and they're ready to fight for an American dream that feels just out of reach. Here's how Gen Z voters helped fuel a blue wave:
Picture show
A wild horse grazes on whatever food it can find on Cumberland Island, Ga on Oct 8, 2026. The National Park Service, which has managed the island since 1972, recently proposed a land-swap with the descendants of Thomas Carnegie, the wealthy Gilded Age industrialist who built homes on the island. Malcolm Jackson for NPR hide caption
Visitors, ecologists, park rangers and residents all cherish Cumberland Island, Ga., but they often disagree on the best ways to protect it. Feral horses, hogs and deer roam freely across the 18-mile island. Since 1972, Congress has mandated the preservation of thousands of wilderness acres under National Park Service protection. The island showcases a rich human history, including Native American artifacts, Spanish missions and grand Gilded Age mansions from the Carnegie era. Today, descendants of industrialist Thomas Carnegie still reside on private property. Now, a park service land-swap proposal with the family could greenlight new construction. The new development could ignite a clash among stakeholders over what true island preservation actually looks like.
3 things to know before you go
Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, called Harrison a "a genuinely original thinker, a genre-defying writer who takes ideas seriously." Yuki Sugiura/The Booker Prize Foundation hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.
