Trump's Whiplash Foreign Policy, Iran War Escalates, Graham Platner Drops Out
About this episode
President Trump keeps swinging between threats and flattery, calling Iran's leaders rational and smart three weeks ago and scum this week, and he's a similar tactic with NATO allies, going from freeloaders to friends in a single summit.<br>The U.S. struck Iran for a second straight night, hitting some 90 military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran fired back at American bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, putting Israel's military on full readiness and leaving the region bracing for more. <br>And Graham Platner has suspended his Senate campaign in Maine, still denying the rape allegation that brought him down, and now Democrats have until the end of the month to pick someone new for a race they think they can win.<br/><br/><em>Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news"target="_blank" >Subscribe</a><em> to the Up First newsletter.<br></em><br>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Tina Kraja, Jason Breslow, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle. <br/><br/>It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas<br/><br/>Our director is Christopher Thomas<br/><br/>We get engineering support from Eowyn Fain and our technical director is Damian Herring.<br/><br/>Our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.<br/><br/>(0:00) Introduction<br>(01:58) Trump's Whiplash Foreign Policy<br>(05:31) Iran War Escalates<br>(09:10) Graham Platner Drops Out<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
Listen to this episode in English to learn English
Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. Trump's Whiplash Foreign Policy, Iran War Escalates, Graham Platner Drops Out from Up First from NPR gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
In the Hinto app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.
Episodes to Learn English
- Post-Election Market & Jobs, Why Gas Prices Could Stay High, Trump's Arch Blocked Nov 6, 2026
- Democrats' First 100 Hours, Outstanding Midterm Races, Trump Doubles Down On Policies Nov 5, 2026
- Democrats' Midterm Blowout, Trump Blames Candidates For Losses, Democratic Agenda Nov 4, 2026
- Election Day, Trump's Closing Message, Iran War And The Midterms Nov 3, 2026
- Michigan Democrats Feud, Midterm Map Shifts, US-Iran Diplomacy Efforts Nov 2, 2026
- Who decides the future of America? Nov 1, 2026
- Oil Earnings, Binance Heist, A MAHA Update Oct 31, 2026
- Final Days Of Midterm Campaigning, Alaska Senate Race Controversy, Iran War Plans Oct 30, 2026
- Midterm Spending Blitz, GDP & Inflations Reports, Israel Election Deadlock & Iran War Oct 29, 2026
- Trump Rallies For Republicans, Israel Election Results, Fed Interest Rates Meeting Oct 28, 2026
- Democrats Lead In NPR Poll, Preparations For Election Challenge, Israel Voting Begins Oct 27, 2026
- GOP Redistricting Bust, Lula Wins Brazil Election, Protest Spread In Europe Oct 26, 2026
- Pinching pennies, casting ballots: a midterms dispatch from the Midwest Oct 25, 2026
- Websites Go Offline, Protests in France, Netflix Downsizes Oct 24, 2026
- US Prepares For Possible Strikes, Midterm Early Voting, Trump BBC Deposition Oct 23, 2026
- Democratic Surrogates Campaign, US & Israel Plan Iran Strikes, Tesla SpaceX Merger Oct 22, 2026
- Zelenskyy Mending Ties, Trump In North Carolina, Saudi Arabia Gets British Support Oct 21, 2026
- Pushback On Trump's Russia Policy, Competitive Midterm Races, DOJ Noncitizen Voting Oct 20, 2026
- Trump Eases Russia Sanctions, Midterm Campaign Money, Violent Protests In France Oct 19, 2026
- Israelis have changed. Will they change their leader? Oct 18, 2026
- School Shooting in Bend, Elon Musk's Power, MN Senate Race Oct 17, 2026
- Oregon School Shooting, Russia's View On US-Ukraine Split, DOJ Sues California Oct 16, 2026
- Hasan Piker on his rise as a voice of the 'insurgent left' | NPR's Newsmakers Oct 15, 2026
- Trump's Midterm Travel, Ukraine Starshield Restrictions, Houthis Attack Aramco Oct 15, 2026
- Ukraine's President Sits With NPR, Pope Leo Cancer, Ambassador Guilfoyle Forced Out Oct 14, 2026
- Trump Midterm Campaigning, Rep. Omar Home Searched, Europe Pushes Back on Russia Deal Oct 13, 2026
- Trump Pressures Ukraine, Trump's Midterm Priorities, Saudi Arabia Airport Attacks Oct 12, 2026
- The women who fought back when their jailers assaulted them Oct 11, 2026
- Hurricane Isaias Floods the Panhandle, A Russian Oil Deal, ICE Shooting in New York Oct 10, 2026
- Bracing For Hurricane Isaias, Ukraine Pushes Russia Back, Iran War Impact On Midterms Oct 9, 2026