Trump Zelensky Meeting, Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting, Rough Year For Poverty Aid
Up First from NPR
NPR
4.5 • 52.8K Ratings
🗓️ 29 December 2025
⏱️ 15 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Israel’s prime minister is in Mar-a-Lago today as pressure mounts over Gaza, Iran, and what comes next in Trump's ceasefire deal.
And anti-poverty groups warn funding chaos is forcing cuts just as more Americans need help.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Miguel Macias, Catherine Laidlaw, Mohamad ElBardicy, Adriana Gallardo.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Simon-Laslow Jansen. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
(00:00) Introduction
(03:26) Trump Zelensky Meeting
(07:17) Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting
(10:53) Rough Year For Poverty Aid
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Good morning, Leila. |
| 0:00.9 | Good morning. How was your Christmas? |
| 0:02.8 | It was great. Exhausting. So we're almost at the end of 2025. Hard to believe, right? |
| 0:08.7 | Yeah, I mean, it feels like it passed so quickly because it's been a tough year, busy year in the news, a tough year for NPR and local stations. |
| 0:16.1 | You know, but despite that loss of federal funding for public media, despite continued attacks on the free press, we are still here, and we are here for you. |
| 0:25.1 | Up first, and NPR will keep reporting the news without fear or favor. |
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| 0:36.4 | And right now, before the end of the year, it's the best time to make your gift. |
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| 0:46.1 | That includes Sarah in Georgia, who says up first is a great start to the day. |
| 0:50.6 | I even smile at A's jokes, even though it's too early for them. |
| 0:53.8 | I know. We feel her pain. |
| 0:55.9 | Whoops. My headphones fell out. Oh, no. Ouch. |
| 0:58.8 | Reacting to Sarah. I agree with you, Sarah. Too early for them, but he's on specific |
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| 1:29.8 | President Trump met with Ukraine's president on Sunday after he had spoken with the Russian leader. |
| 1:35.2 | Trump insisted Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed, but Russia kept up attacks over the weekend, |
| 1:40.0 | so is Moscow really willing to make peace? |
... |
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