Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for the news you need to start your day.
Today’s top stories
Ceasefire at risk as deadline arrives
Today is the last full day of the temporary ceasefire negotiated by the U.S., Israel and Iran. Its future — and whether a longer-term pause can be secured — is uncertain. A separate pause in Lebanon has limited fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, but residents and reporters in southern Lebanon say many fear that if U.S.-Iran talks break down, the calm there will collapse too. NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf reports life has not returned to normal: Israel still controls significant border areas to deter Hezbollah attacks, more than a million people remain displaced, and locals question how long any renewed ceasefire would prevent a repeated or prolonged Israeli presence — the last occupation in southern Lebanon lasted nearly two decades.
Labor secretary resigns amid internal probe
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned during an internal department investigation into alleged misconduct, becoming the third cabinet member to leave in President Trump’s second term. The White House communications director praised her work and said she plans to move into the private sector. The investigation, which department officials say has been open for months, has coincided with several senior staff departures. Media reports have alleged a range of misconduct — including an alleged relationship with a subordinate, drinking on the job, taking staff to a strip club, and using taxpayer-funded travel for personal trips — but NPR has not independently verified those claims. Department sources note Chavez-DeRemer spent much of her tenure traveling the country on an “America at Work” listening tour.
Warsh faces grilling over rates and Fed independence
Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, faces a contentious confirmation hearing today before the Senate Banking Committee. Senators are expected to press him on inflation, borrowing costs and whether he will follow the president’s public push to lower interest rates. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis has signaled he may block a confirmation vote until the Justice Department ends its investigation into the Fed — an inquiry that Tillis and others, including current Fed Chair Jerome Powell and a federal judge, characterize as part of pressure from the White House to force rate cuts or to push Powell out. That pressure could have unintended consequences: Powell’s term expires next month, but he could remain in office longer if the confirmation process stalls. Warsh, who on the Fed’s board was once viewed as an inflation hawk, now argues the Fed can reduce rates without reigniting inflation, pointing to potential productivity gains from artificial intelligence; Democrats worry his shift could align the Fed more closely with the White House.
Today’s listen
Tijuca National Park offers city escape
In Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park — the world’s largest urban rainforest — provides a leafy retreat from the city’s bustle. NPR’s Brian Mann rode a crowded tram up Corcovado Mountain and hiked steep, sometimes slippery trails through increasingly wild forest, recording the sounds and scenes along the way. Listen to his report or read more about the trek.
Picture show
Monster trucks draw families and big crowds
Monster truck shows are booming family entertainment. At the Mallet Event Center and Arena in Levelland, Texas, crowds watched massive rigs like “Grave Digger” and “Bigfoot.” Today’s monster trucks can weigh up to six tons, cost as much as $300,000, and feature oversized custom tires and dramatic stunts. The sport has expanded rapidly across the country.
3 things to know before you go
1) The Onion has struck a deal to acquire Alex Jones’ Infowars; if a Texas judge approves, the satirical site could turn the platform into a parody of itself.
2) Apple CEO Tim Cook, 65, has announced he will step down; John Ternus is set to take over in September.
3) Seventeen rare books stolen from John Hay Whitney’s Long Island estate in the 1980s resurfaced last year and will be returned to the family for auction, with proceeds to be donated.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.