Up First

Authorities are still trying to piece together the events of the Uvalde, Texas, shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. Also, just days after the deadly shooting, the annual NRA Convention returns after a three-year hiatus because of the pandemic. And the number of COVID cases are much higher than you think they are, according to new data.

Local authorities contradict themselves on the details of how the Uvalde school shooting unfolded, leading a U.S. lawmaker to call for the FBI to step in. The NRA holds its annual convention a few hours east of Uvalde. And Russia makes new inroads in eastern Ukraine.

Law enforcement officers investigating the Uvalde school shooting uncover more about the gunman's activity leading up to the massacre. The town's tight-knit community mourns the loss of 19 children and two of their teachers. And researchers, safety experts — and even the US Secret Service — share tips on how to prevent the next tragedy.

The U.S. reels from its second-deadliest school shooting on record. President Biden says there's no reason that the US should have so many mass shootings — other than a failure to stand up to gun makers. And Georgia Governor Brian Kemp wins the Republican nomination for a second term, in a rebuke of former president Donald Trump, who had backed a primary challenger.

In this bonus episode of Up First, Steve Inskeep visits two suburban Atlanta counties. One is blue, one is red and both are changing. As the state's primary wraps up today, we hear from voters.

It's primary day in Georgia, once more a central battleground state. President Biden meets with leaders from the Quad informal group of countries to counter China's regional might. And the war in Ukraine is locked in a stalemate after three bloody months of battles.

President Biden says the US would get involved militarily if China invaded Taiwan. Epidemiologists are investigating a potential US outbreak of monkeypox — a rare viral infection. And three months into the Ukraine war, long lines are stretching for miles as refugees and trade return to the country.

As the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. ticked past one million, it was another milestone in a pandemic full of staggering milestones. Eric Boynton, philosopher and dean of Beloit College, discusses the limitations we all have in comprehending such loss and what it feels like to experience individual grief while others are grieving around you.

President Biden is meeting with leaders of South Korea and Japan on his Asian trip. The first funeral for victims of the mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., occurred Friday. Investors are unhappy higher costs are eating into profits at big box stores.

Russia says more than 1,700 Ukrainian fighters have surrendered from their stronghold at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, as international concerns mount over the soldiers' fate in Russian hands. US President Joe Biden makes his first presidential trip to Asia, where China's growing influence looms large. And disinformation expert Nina Jankowicz steps down from her post at the helm of a newly formed government board after becoming a target of... disinformation.

A new poll finds that two-thirds of Americans oppose reversing abortion rights. The white 18-year old accused of a racist shooting rampage in Buffalo, New York appears in court today in a first glimpse of the evidence against him. And a Russian soldier pleads guilty in a Kyiv courtroom to killing an unarmed Ukrainian a few days after the war began.

Results are in from primary elections in five states, including heated contests in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. And Elon Musk is expressing doubts about his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter. Shell-shocked residents of Buffalo, New York are reeling from the killings and still grappling with how to feel safe again, even after President Biden's visit during which he called for unity.

Ukrainian fighters are evacuated from a steel plant to Russian-controlled areas, where they may be subjected to a prisoner exchange with Russia. Families of the Buffalo shooting victims mourn the dead as President Biden and the first lady visit the city. And major U.S. infant formula manufacturer Abbott has clinched a deal with the FDA to get a Michigan factory up and running again in order to stem a nationwide shortage.

The city of Buffalo is reeling from a racist attack that left 10 people dead at a grocery store. The shooter posted writing online that puts a spotlight on racist talking points embraced by many people on the mainstream right. And nearly one million people have died from COVID in the U.S.

The acclaimed podcast School Colors is back with a new season. In their quest to understand how race, class and power shape American cities and schools, hosts Max Freedman and Mark Winston Griffith head to Queens, N.Y. and dive into a fierce debate over a "diversity plan." The fight that ensues exposes hidden inequities and invisible dividing lines in one of the most diverse places in the world. Listen to the rest of the series on School Colors, in the Code Switch feed.

The U.S. is facing a death toll of one million so far in the pandemic while infections again surge. Ukraine is prosecuting a Russian soldier for killing an unarmed civilian. Supporters of abortion rights are gathering across the country.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tells NPR that Democrats and Republicans are united in helping Ukraine fight Russia. The Congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol has subpoenaed five House Republicans, including top GOP leader Kevin McCarthy. And worries over inflation and fears of a recession have triggered a sell-off on Wall Street.

Finland wants to join NATO; the country has a long border with Russia and has remained neutral in wartime since WWII. The White House faces pressure to protect abortion rights nationwide after legislation failed in the US Senate. And Las Vegas faces a series of violent school incidents involving both students and parents.

Russia fails to control one of Ukraine's largest cities and the air space, despite having an air force that's 10 times larger. U.S. senators prepare to vote on a bill to protect abortion rights under federal law. And firefighters in New Mexico struggle to contain a massive wildfire.

Republican leaders want to restrict abortions nationwide, but they lack wide public support. Voters in Nebraska cast ballots today to decide who will be their Republican candidate for governor in a race seen as the latest test of former President Trump's influence in the party. And the prime minister of Sri Lanka is resigning after weeks of protest against his government.

Russia is marking Victory Day, which celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany, just as Russian troops are fighting and dying in Ukraine. Doctors who provide abortion services in Illinois are bracing for a possible influx of patients from neighboring states expected to ban abortion. And votes are being counted to see who will become the next leader of the Philippines, where polls show the son of a brutal dictator locked in a tight race against a runner-up who promises to fight corruption.

A leaked opinion from the Supreme Court signaled that a majority of the justices may be ready to end constitutional abortion-rights protections. Many states are preparing to restrict access to abortion in a post-Roe v. Wade world. One state provides a glimpse of what that world could look like. NPR correspondent Sarah McCammon reports from Texas, where most abortions have been banned since last September. A previous version of this episode aired on NPR's Consider This podcast.

Most patients in the U.S. who get abortions are in their 20s, are already parents, and are early in pregnancy. Despite good economic news, Wall Street traders are focused on inflation and the Federal Reserve. Voters go to the polls Monday in the Philippines and may elect another Marcos as president.

Abortion access could become illegal or restricted in about half of all US states if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. The US jobs report shows labor demands are high and people looking for work have many openings available to them. And, Sinn Fein seeks to become the first Irish nationalist party to lead Northern Ireland's government.

Democrats say the leaked draft Supreme Court decision could have an impact far beyond abortion access. Abortion is a major campaign issue in the swing state of Georgia ahead of May 24 primaries. And the war in Ukraine has had a devastating toll on children, with more than 500 killed or wounded.

Politicians on both side of the aisle are plotting their next moves after a leak suggests the Supreme Court could reverse the constitutional right to abortion for the first time in half a century. Congressman Tim Ryan wins the Democratic primary in Ohio, where he'll face an uphill battle against Republican nominee J.D. Vance. And evacuees from a bombed-out steel plant reach a Ukrainian-held city as Russian forces fire a new round of rockets at the Mariupol site where hundreds are still sheltering.

The US Supreme Court appears ready to strike down Roe v. Wade, according to a leaked draft opinion published by Politico. Primaries kick off in Ohio and Indiana as the 2022 midterm election season heats up. And South Asia faces a punishing heatwave that could be a warning to the rest of the world about global warming.

Russia intensified its assault a day after one hundred Ukrainians were evacuated from a steel plant in the port city of Mariupol. To mixed reception, Russian troops are also active in other former Soviet Republics. And US scientists are looking for people to take part in a major study on Long COVID.

2021 was a good year for Dua Lipa. Her most recent album "Future Nostalgia" won a Grammy for best pop vocal album and was the second most streamed album on Spotify. But while she's grateful, Dua Lipa doesn't seem very surprised. It's almost like this was meant to happen. In this conversation, the 26-year-old pop star opens up about where her confidence comes from and the moments when it has been shaken. Dua Lipa also discusses her new newsletter Service95 and the accompanying podcast "At Your Service" where she discusses weighty issues like addiction and identity with guests she admires.

Inflation and consumer practices spell big trouble for big tech. Civilians in Mariupol are fast running out of food and water, and suffering is immense. And NPR's Scott Simon talks with Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov about Putin's plot to expand Russia.

Russian missiles struck Ukraine's capital Kyiv during a visit by the UN Secretary General to negotiate a humanitarian corridor. President Biden is asking Congress for $33 billion in aid to Ukraine. He says they have almost used up all the money the U.S. already sent. And, a large majority of parents reported being happy with what's being taught in their children's schools, including issues of racism, slavery, gender and sexuality.

Russia cut off all energy supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, warning other European countries that they could suffer the same fate for their support of Ukraine. The Biden Administration was hoping for an easy win with the upcoming expiration of Title 42, a Trump era immigration policy. But Republican led states are arguing it should remain in place. And, U.S. GDP numbers show a sharp slowdown in economic growth, but experts are optimistic about the spring and summer months.

Russia is pushing back against Europe for its support of Ukraine, meanwhile the head of the UN met with Vladimir Putin to negotiate humanitarian corridors as attacks continue in the east and south. Pfizer and BioNTech are requesting FDA authorization for the first booster shot for kids ages 5 to 11. And, North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn was cited for having a fully loaded handgun in the Charlotte airport.

Elon Musk is buying Twitter for $44 billion and taking the company private, saying he wants to "unlock" the company's potential. The White House announces a new push to inform people about Pfizer's life saving anti-viral pill for Covid. And, former President Donald Trump is being held in contempt of court for failing to turn over subpoenaed documents to the New York Attorney General.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, promising to gradually re-establish a diplomatic presence in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron won a second term, beating far right candidate Marine Le Pen with 58 percent of the vote. And, workers at an Amazon sorting facility in Staten Island begin voting on unionization today.

In honor of Earth Day, a look back at an award-winning Planet Money episode about how big oil misled the public into believing plastic would be recycled. NPR investigative correspondent Laura Sullivan tracks down retired industry lobbyists to expose a decades-long marketing scam to convince consumers that plastic products are far more recyclable than they really are.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy claims he did not support President Trump resigning after the January 6 attacks, but recordings of him prove otherwise. After a week of unrest at a site holy to Muslims and Jews, a quiet morning in Jerusalem. The Biden administration was slow to respond to a federal judge's ruling that ended the transportation mask mandate, and some legal experts have a theory.

The U.S. announces more aid for Ukraine as reports surface of new mass graves outside the battered city of Mariupol. A group of voters are fighting to remove Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from the ballot, alleging that she helped facilitate the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. And, Florida is considering stripping Disney of it's self-governing status after the company publicly opposed Governor Ron DeSantis.

Russian attacks are intensifying in Eastern Ukraine as Putin looks to control the Donbas region. The White House released a new plan to deal with surging drug overdose deaths in the US. And, the Department of Justice is appealing a federal court's decision to overturn a mask mandate on public transportation, but the CDC is encouraging people to keep masking.

The CDC considers whether striking down a transportation mask mandate is a public health risk. After an NPR investigation and years of complaints, lawmakers pressured the Education Department to reform student loan programs. And, French President Emmanuel Macron faces his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen, in a pivotal debate ahead of a run-off election.

Ukraine's president says Russia's major offensive in the Donbas region has begun, but US officials say the worst is yet to come as Russian troops mass on Eastern Ukraine. A Florida judge struck down a federal mask mandate on travel, calling it unlawful. And, more than 40 cities in China have some kind of lockdown policy in place to contain another Covid 19 wave.

Ukrainian forces in Mariupol continue to defy demands to surrender as Russian missiles also bombard Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. Israel and the West Bank are seeing renewed bloodshed, with a Jerusalem holy site revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians as the focal point of tensions. Today, Philadelphia becomes the first major city in the nation to reinstate an indoor mask mandate, even as most of the US has seen a decline in COVID.

As Russian forces have retreated from towns north of Kyiv, the world has watched the death and destruction left in their wake. NPR correspondent Scott Detrow visited one of those towns and heard the harrowing stories of the people who survived. Meanwhile, hoping to avoid that kind of devastation, more than four million Ukrainians have fled their country. We'll hear from one family who landed safely in America but are still haunted by what they see happening back home.

Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, as Ukraine's military prepares for heavier fighting in the east. On Friday, Twitter introduced a corporate strategy to ward off Elon Musk's bid to buy the company. And in Pakistan, political turbulence continues in the wake of Prime Minister Imran Khan's ouster.

Russia's flagship cruiser, the Moskva, sank in the Black Sea after an explosion on the vessel. Russian President Vladimir Putin says Western sanctions aimed at punishing Russia over its actions in Ukraine have failed. And, Elon Musk is offering to buy Twitter for $43 billion dollars.

Governor Gretchen Witmer is promising a "transparent, independent investigation" into a police shooting of a Black man in Grand Rapids, Michigan. New York City police arrested a suspect in Tuesday's subway shooting in Brooklyn. And, the Biden administration says it's assisting Ukraine in its investigation into war crimes.

Multiple people were injured during a chaotic shooting in a Brooklyn subway station, police are still looking for the "person of interest" in the attack. President Biden accuses Putin of genocide as the Eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv endures heavy shelling by Russia. And, the Russian military is focusing its war efforts on Eastern and Southern Ukraine.

The White House blames rising prices on the war in Ukraine as new inflation numbers are expected to be released. President Biden held a virtual meeting with his Indian counterpart to persuade him to join Western pressure on Russia. And, Elon Musk purchased enough Twitter stock to become the company's largest individual shareholder.

President Vladimir Putin has put General Aleksandr Dvornikov in command of Russia's war in Ukraine, a general known for his brutality in war. France's President Emmanuel Macron will face a run-off election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, following Sunday's balloting. And, President Biden is set to announce tough rules against so-called "ghost guns" on Monday. Thanks for waking up with Up First. You hear from us every morning and now we need to hear from you. Please take our short survey at NPR.org/UpFirstSurvey to share your feedback.

On the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Naira Davlashyan called her parents back home in Russia. Naira lives in France, and she was looking for words of comfort, but she was devastated by her family's reaction. In this episode of NPR's Rough Translation, Naira finds the words to break through the wall of Russian propaganda—with help from an anti-war message disguised as a chain letter.

A missile attack on a crowded Ukrainian train station platform that killed at least 52, including children, is condemned as "heinous." A jury acquitted two men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer in 2020, while failing to reach a verdict in the cases of two others. And COVID cases are on the rise in the nation's capital, with many high-profile reports from Capitol Hill.