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 Headlines
Record-breaking funds are being raised for the 2026 midterm elections. Total donations have surpassed $15 billion as both parties vie for control of Congress.
Election workers process ballots for the California state primary at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 5. California’s relatively slow vote count has put “a big target on its back,” as one election expert told NPR.
- 🎧 Democratic candidates in both House and Senate races are seeing substantial fundraising success, despite the party’s unpopularity, according to NPR’s Stephen Fowler. Republicans face similar challenges, exacerbated by issues such as the Iran war, gas prices, and economic concerns. Notably, a few influential donors, including Elon Musk, are supporting super PACs to boost Republican campaigns. In 13 key races identified by the Cook Political Report, Republicans are outmatched by a 5-to-1 fundraising margin. Both parties are heavily investing, suggesting Democrats could win in several regions. Currently, 75% of ad spending targets toss-up or Republican-leaning races.
- ➡️ Many closely contested congressional races may not be decided until days after Election Day. Discover why.
- ➡️ The NPR App offers comprehensive election coverage—featuring major stories nationwide and key local issues. Explore headlines, playlists, podcasts, and videos on the 2026 Election tab.
A significant drone strike by Ukraine resulted in one death and over a dozen injuries in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s former imperial capital. This attack targeted strategic locations, including a major port oil terminal. Over the weekend, Russian missile strikes in Ukraine claimed at least 11 lives. Despite ongoing conflict, President Trump suggests that easing pressure on Russia could end the war.
- 🎧 The recent Saint Petersburg attack is reportedly the largest since Russia’s 2022 invasion, says NPR’s Charles Maynes on Up First. While the number of drones is unclear, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 1,000 drones in various areas that night. Trump appears to be safeguarding Russian oil infrastructure following a deal with President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel, aiming to reduce U.S. gas prices before the midterms. Despite calling previous Ukrainian strikes a “disgrace,” Trump continues to blame President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for attacks that allegedly raise U.S. fuel prices, although economists attribute the price hike mainly to Trump’s war in Iran.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned weekend violence he says overshadowed largely peaceful protests nationwide. Initially a student protest for better conditions, it broadened to include public-sector workers decrying high energy prices, rising living costs, and social inequality. The Interior Ministry reported about 2,300 arrests and nearly 1,000 injured police officers.
- 🎧 NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley, reporting from Paris, witnessed destruction including burned bikes, broken glass, and looted stores with graffiti such as “tax the rich.” She interviewed 23-year-old Sarah Berlia, who views the unrest as stemming from a disillusioned generation facing diminishing rights and opportunities. Beardsley notes that France’s protest culture often attracts “troublemakers,” but the current events are unprecedented in scale. The protests have political consequences, with a presidential election six months away. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has joined the protesters, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen, leading in polls, has denounced the violence and the government.
Living Better
Tony Stepanow, from Finland, attends a sauna during the International Sauna Congress 2026 in Oslo, Norway, Sept. 25, 2026.
Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.
Saunas are gaining renewed attention in the wellness world for their potential to improve mental health. This trend reflects the growing interest in the broader wellness movement and social connection, especially post-pandemic. While scientists understand how saunas affect the cardiovascular system, they are just beginning to explore their impact on mental health. Here’s what they know so far.
- 🥵 When our skin detects heat, it sends signals to a primitive brain area that prompts our body to cool down. This pathway also influences mood and pleasure, which is associated with depression.
- 🥵 Heat triggers an anti-inflammatory response similar to the effects of exercise, which is known to help with depression and other mental health issues.
- 🥵 Heating people up can act like a “thermoregulatory workout,” helping their bodies cool down more efficiently over time.
Picture Show
Jennifer Teresa Villanueva’s aunts, cousins, grandmother and uncle gather around the dining table for an afternoon brunch at home in Chicago in 2018.
Artist Jennifer Teresa Villanueva has captured her family’s everyday life through her lens for eight years, revealing moments of love, care and sacrifice within their Chicago home. The personal project took root in 2018, sparked by her grandmother’s hospitalization. It started as a way to better understand her grandmother’s daily routines, and soon it blossomed into a heartfelt exploration of the immigrant experience. “I am interested in what happens when the camera enters a home where everyone already knows one another,” Villanueva told NPR. “There is no distance between photographer and subject. I am photographing the people who raised me, and I am also photographing the home that raised me.” See photos from the project and read more about Villanueva’s work.
3 Things to Know Before You Go
Noah Adams adjusts his headphones in the National Public Radio studio in Washington Feb.16, 1987.
- Noah Adams, a writer and broadcaster who hosted All Things Considered for 18 years, has died. He was 84 years old.
- Trump announced over the weekend that he plans to close and renovate the East Potomac Golf Links course in Washington, D.C. The golf course is already at the center of a legal battle.
- An Air Force service member died Saturday after a rappelling accident during a pregame ceremony at the Alamodome ahead of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s football game against Navy. (via Texas Public Radio)
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
