Escalating Attacks Between US & Iran, Inflation Hits Three-Year High, World Cup Opens
Up First from NPR
NPR
4.6 • 59K Ratings
🗓️ 11 June 2026
⏱️ 14 minutes
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Summary
Inflation jumped to its highest level in more than three years last month, largely driven by soaring gas prices since the war with Iran began, leaving many families like Emily Inlow in Kentucky struggling as wages fail to keep pace with rising costs.
And the 2026 World Cup kicks off today in Mexico City, the world’s biggest sporting event already shadowed by protests, geopolitical tensions, and disputes over which teams and fans can even enter the United States.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Tina Kraja, Pallavi Gogoi, Tara Neill, Mohamad El-Bardicy and John Stolnis.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.
(0:00) Introduction
(02:23) Escalating Attacks Between US & Iran
(06:12) Inflation Hits Three-Year High
(10:04) World Cup Opens
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Have you watched any of the NBA finals? |
| 0:01.7 | I know you're a big sports fan. |
| 0:03.3 | Huge. |
| 0:04.0 | Huge. |
| 0:04.8 | No, I haven't. |
| 0:07.2 | I've watched little clips of who's in the audience. |
| 0:11.2 | Oh, yeah, who's in the audience? |
| 0:14.5 | I was about to tell you about the game, but never mind. |
| 0:18.5 | Jerry Seinfeld is there. |
| 0:21.6 | Okay. Never mind. Jerry Seinfeld is there. The United States attacked Iran again this time to try to force Iranians to agree to American terms. |
| 0:32.2 | The Secretary of Defense talked of negotiating with bombs, and President Trump promised another strike tonight. |
| 0:37.7 | I'm Steve Inskeep with Layla Faddle, and this is up first from NPR News. |
| 0:44.9 | Families are facing the highest inflation levels in more than three years. |
| 0:49.7 | Even though I'm making the most I've ever made at any job. We're going over what we're bringing in. |
| 0:55.4 | President Trump says he loves that inflation wasn't even higher and promises prices will fall |
| 1:00.7 | when the war he started in Iran is over. And the World Cup kicks off today. The biggest sporting |
| 1:06.0 | event in the world is taking place at a tense moment for the three host countries. We'll get a view |
| 1:10.5 | from Mexico |
| 1:11.2 | City where the first game will be played amid protests and celebrations. Stay with us. We'll give you |
| 1:16.5 | the news you need to start your day. |
| 1:23.2 | The U.S. unleashed another round of airstrikes against Iran Wednesday night. |
| 1:28.1 | President Trump said Iran was taking too long to negotiate, and this morning he has seized |
... |
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