Good morning. This is the Up First newsletter—your quick read to start the day.
Today’s top stories
The Supreme Court blocked a lower-court ruling that would have restricted access to the abortion medication mifepristone by mail. The high court’s order keeps telehealth and mail access intact while the Louisiana case proceeds through the lower courts. The decision stayed a May 1 opinion from the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that would have affected access nationwide.
In the courts below, the Food and Drug Administration had asked for time to conduct a new safety review of mifepristone after pressure from Republican lawmakers; the 5th Circuit refused that pause. The FDA’s response to the appeals court’s ruling was notable for its absence, raising broader questions about whether judges should be able to alter access to FDA-approved medicines or whether those choices belong to agency scientists. Former FDA officials and public health experts urged the justices to preserve telemedicine access and maintain a stable regulatory framework.
President Trump is back in the U.S. after a two-day state visit to China. The White House and Chinese officials touted prospective purchases—soybeans and Boeing jets among them—but no firm, signed deals were immediately produced. Observers note that China has made trade pledges before that did not materialize. The trip followed a year of tense trade relations and last fall’s political truce between Trump and Xi Jinping; this visit appears to deepen that détente. Trump said he and Xi discussed the Middle East, including keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, but there was little sign that China committed to pressuring Iran on those matters.
In the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing internal pressure after a poor showing for his Labour Party in recent local and regional elections. Several figures have indicated interest in challenging his leadership following a week of political upheaval and cabinet resignations. Starmer’s popularity has been dented by a faltering economy, controversy over a diplomatic appointment tied to Jeffrey Epstein, and concerns about antisemitism that the government has labeled a national emergency. Polls suggest many voters feel his government has not delivered promised improvements in services or reduced the cost of living; party insiders say potential successors would likely be longtime allies, though none have formally launched bids.
New York state investigators have found that staff in the Salmon River Central School District used wooden “timeout” boxes to confine students with disabilities. The boxes were reportedly used in late 2025, and many of the affected children are Akwesasne Mohawk, who make up about two-thirds of the district’s enrollment. The probe found at least five elementary-age students were placed in the boxes and that parents were not notified, violating state rules. Families compared the practice to historical abuses in government-run schools that harmed Native communities. The state education department has since ordered broad reforms for the district.
What’s Eating America
A federal overhaul of national dietary guidance is raising concerns among school nutrition directors about rising cafeteria costs. The administration’s guidance emphasizes high-quality, nutrient-dense proteins and steering away from highly processed foods—changes that could increase the price of school meals. Protein remains the most expensive component of school lunches, and many districts rely on processed, premade items because of tight budgets, limited kitchen staff and equipment, and insufficient federal reimbursement rates. The Agriculture Department is still updating nutrition standards for the School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs, which together feed tens of millions of children. Nutrition experts note that replacing ubiquitous processed options—like chicken nuggets with dozens of ingredients—with scratch-made meals is possible but requires more funding, labor and planning than many districts have.
Weekend picks
Movies: A new documentary on Martin Short, exploring his long comedy career and personal losses, is getting attention.
TV: A limited series reimagining the life and rivalry of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart offers a fictionalized, dramatic portrait of the composer and his era.
Books: Eve J. Chung’s novel The Young Will Remember follows a Chinese American war correspondent who must navigate unfamiliar, hostile territory and depend on strangers to survive.
Music: The Eurovision Grand Final will stream for U.S. viewers; NPR has selections of top contenders to watch.
Theater: At the Metropolitan Opera, Gabriela Lena Frank’s El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego interprets Frida Kahlo’s journey from the underworld to reunite with Diego Rivera; performances run into June, with a live-theater broadcast option coming up.
Quiz: This week’s news quiz includes a fill-in-the-blank question tied to a recent Neanderthal discovery.
3 things to know before you go
1) Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, reached a plea deal after admitting to acting as an illegal foreign agent on behalf of the Chinese government.
2) In travel features, NPR’s Far-Flung Postcards visits Seville during snail season, where local caracoles are a seasonal delicacy and eaten straight from the shell.
3) Adidas revealed a World Cup ball design that nods to the three host nations with distinct graphics: a U.S. star, a Canadian maple leaf and a Mexican eagle.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen. If you’d like the Up First podcast and daily briefing in your inbox, consider subscribing or giving the podcast a listen.