Special Series Up First Newsletter All Up First Stories Up First Podcast Morning Edition LISTEN & FOLLOW NPR App Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeart Radio YouTube Music RSS link Sign up for the [TITLE] Newsletter Get perks with [Podcast Title]+ Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.
By
Brittney Melton
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.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced his resignation from Congress yesterday amid growing backlash over sexual assault and misconduct allegations. In a statement on social media, he acknowledged the increasing calls among lawmakers for his expulsion from the House of Representatives. Swalwell's decision comes a day after he suspended his gubernatorial campaign in California, where many people considered him a frontrunner. Swalwell has been embroiled in controversy since last week, when rumors began to circulate online about his alleged abusive behavior toward women.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 08, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption
The U.S. and Iran are both actively blocking oil exports through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The standoff is hitting economies in many countries as oil is unable to reach global markets.
Trump drew criticism from even his loyal supporters this week when he shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure. The president has attempted to explain the now-deleted post, telling reporters that he didn't think it was an image of him as Jesus, but as a doctor making people feel better. Trump posted the image after prominently attacking Pope Leo XIV on social media. Leo, the first American-born pope, has spoken out against the war in Iran.
A key tool of the U.S. spy community is set to expire on April 20 unless Congress votes to renew it. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA 702) aligns with the majority of the articles in the president's daily intelligence briefing and is essential to counterterrorism efforts and to combat trafficking, according to the government. But lawmakers from both parties are concerned that FISA 702 allows for the federal government to spy on American citizens' communications without a warrant, violating their constitutional right to privacy. In the looming fight to bolster the law's civil liberties protections, advocates warn that weakening the provision could threaten national security.
A music score sheet is pictured in a rehearsal room on December 2, 2022, in Regensburg, southern Germany. Christof Stache/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A dementia diagnosis can feel isolating. People may pull back from beloved activities like singing. The Second Verse Choir in Denver helps people with dementia stay involved. The founders say they want the activity to be as accessible as possible for everyone. They help highlight sheet music for singers and offer large-print lyrics. Cofounder Anne Rigley insists that caregivers and loved ones participate, too. Cofounder Kris Boggs says music helps enhance people's moods. For people living with dementia, music memory can be deeper in the brain than language. Second Verse's first performance is on April 18. Listen to some of the singers practice ahead of the big day and learn more about why the choir is significant.
Women install a series of barricades to fix the shifting dunes that threaten to swamp their local oasis oiutside the village of Kaou, Chad. The oasis provides their only source of farmland, but oases in the region have been shrinking steadily, elders say, in the face of hotter temperatures and stronger winds. The dune fixing is part of a broader intervention by SOS Sahel to support farming in the oasis as part of its contributiuon to the Great Green Wall Initiative. Tommy Trenchard for NPR hide caption
In 2007, the African Union launched Africa's Great Green Wall project. The plan was to plant a "wall" of trees spanning the entire width of Africa. The multi-billion-dollar project aimed to regreen nearly 250 million acres across 11 countries, from Senegal to Djibouti. In doing so, the project would sequester 250 million tons of carbon, create 10 million green jobs and alleviate poverty and food insecurity. But 18 years later and after spending vast amounts of money, much of the area remains barren, turning what was once a hopeful initiative into a cautionary tale of poor planning. Take a look at where the project currently stands.
Phil Collins, who is already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the prog rock group Genesis, had a string of hits in the 1980s that turned him into one of the most successful acts of the decade. This fall, he will be inducted into the Rock Hall for his solo career. Christian Rose/Getty Images hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Sponsor Message
Become an NPR sponsor