U.S. Strikes Inside Venezuela, Iran Protests, Flu Cases Surge

President Trump confirms the first known U.S. strike inside Venezuela, saying it targets drug trafficking as critics warn it risks escalation.
Iranian authorities shut down cities and security forces move in to contain growing protests as anger over inflation and sanctions boils over.
And the flu is spreading fast across the U.S., with a new strain driving cases higher just as vaccination rates slip and hospitals brace for what’s next.

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p class=”readrate”>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, James Hider, Rebecca Davis, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

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p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

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p class=”readrate”>(0:00) Introduction
(03:30) U.S. Strikes Inside Venezuela
(07:25) Iran Protests
(11:22) Flu Cases Surge

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Hegseth Scrutiny, Jan 6th Pipe Bomb Suspect, Texas Redistricting Ruling

A Pentagon watchdog report and video of a deadly boat strike in the Caribbean deepen scrutiny of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions.
Federal agents arrested a Virginia man accused of planting the Jan. 6 pipe bombs after a years-long investigation that uncovered new forensic leads.
And the Supreme Court cleared Texas to use a Republican-drawn congressional map that could shift multiple House seats and reshape the 2026 midterms.

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p class=”readrate”>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Anna Yukhananov, Ben Swasey, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

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p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

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p class=”readrate”>We get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

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Trump’s Racist Somali Remarks, Signalgate Report, CDC Vaccine Meeting

Trump
US President Donald Trump

President Trump leans into a familiar political strategy of attacking immigrant communities as he intensifies racist comments about Minnesota’s Somali population and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
A Pentagon watchdog report finds Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endangered U.S. troops by sharing classified strike plans over Signal, directly undercutting the White House’s claim that no harm was done.
And a CDC advisory panel appointed by the Trump administration prepares to revisit long-standing vaccine recommendations, including whether to scale back protections for newborns and young children.

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p class=”readrate”>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Andrew Sussman, Scott Hensley, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

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p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

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p class=”readrate” data-rr=”17″ data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>We get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

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p class=”readrate”>Our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

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Hegseth Boat Strikes, Witkoff To Moscow, National Guard Shooting Suspect

A U.S. official contradicts the White House account of who ordered the deadly boat strike in the Caribbean, while President Trump considers his next moves with Venezuela.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Moscow for high-stakes talks after revising the peace agreement with Ukrainian negotiators.
And new details about the Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers point to a long-running mental health crisis rather than radicalization.

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p class=”readrate”>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebecca Metzler, Miguel Macias, Alina Hartounian, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

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p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

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p class=”readrate”>We get engineering support from Damian Herring. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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p class=”readrate”>Our Senior Supervising Producer is Vince Pearson.

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