Overview of Up First (NPR)
This episode of Up First (hosts A. Martinez and Leila Fadel) covers three main stories: President Trump’s defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid questions about Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 murder and a string of U.S.–Saudi agreements; Congress passing legislation to force release of Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein; and a new NPR–PBS News/Marist poll showing low presidential approval for Trump and strong voter concern about rising prices.
Key takeaways
- President Trump publicly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when asked about Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, saying “whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it.” The prince expressed regret and said Saudi Arabia investigated and reformed procedures.
- The U.S. and Saudi Arabia announced multiple cooperation agreements (nuclear energy, AI, defense access, potential F‑35 sales) and the U.S. designated Saudi Arabia a “major non‑NATO ally.” Many agreement details remain pending.
- Congress passed bipartisan legislation to force release of unclassified Justice Department/FBI/U.S. attorney materials related to federal investigations of Jeffrey Epstein; the House vote was 427–1 and the Senate agreed to expedite. President Trump said he will sign the bill; materials must be made public within 30 days after signing, subject to DOJ redactions.
- A new NPR–PBS News/Marist poll shows Trump at a 39% job approval (24% among independents), Democrats hold a 14‑point advantage on a 2026 midterm vote test, and 57% of respondents say lowering prices should be the president’s top priority. Confidence in U.S. institutions and mutual trust across parties is very low.
Segments
1) Saudi visit and Khashoggi exchange
- Setting: Oval Office meeting and dinner with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- Key moment: A journalist asked the prince about Khashoggi and 9/11; Trump intervened, defended the prince and minimized Khashoggi’s death. The prince said Saudi Arabia conducted investigations, called the killing “a huge mistake,” and pledged reforms.
- Agreements announced: cooperation on nuclear energy and AI, defense agreement easing U.S. firms’ operations in Saudi Arabia, potential sale of F‑35 jets, a Saudi pledge to invest up to $1 trillion in the U.S., and designation as a “major non‑NATO ally.”
- Open questions: Text/details of many agreements have not been released; the prince’s support for the Abraham Accords is conditional on a two‑state solution, which conflicts with Israeli leadership positions.
2) Epstein files legislation
- What the law covers: Unclassified documents, communications, and investigatory materials held by DOJ, FBI, and U.S. attorneys regarding federal Epstein investigations in New York and Florida.
- Legislative path: Bipartisan push (including pressure from some Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene) led to passage in House (427–1) and expedited Senate action. President Trump said he will sign the bill.
- Timeline & concerns: Materials must be publicly released within 30 days of the president’s signature, but DOJ will redact classified or legally protected material; scope and extent of redactions will be closely watched and may fuel further political conflict.
- Public reaction: Abuse survivors criticized prior resistance to releasing documents; partisan framing persists (some Republicans call it a “hoax,” Democrats demand transparency).
3) NPR–PBS News/Marist poll: approval and public priorities
- Approval: Trump at 39% overall approval — the lowest point in his second term in Marist polling.
- Electoral environment: Democrats lead Republicans by 14 points on a 2026 midterm generic ballot test — a large margin not typically sustained but historically significant.
- Top public priority: 57% say lowering prices/affordability should be the president’s top priority (far ahead of immigration at 16%).
- Political consequences: Low approval and issue salience (affordability) could encourage intra‑party dissent, though GOP voters still largely support Trump (89% approve in the poll).
- Institutional trust: Majorities express little to no confidence in Congress, media, political parties, the Supreme Court, and the presidency; strong mutual distrust between partisans.
Notable quotes
- President Trump on the crown prince and Khashoggi: “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it.”
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Khashoggi: “It’s painful and it’s a huge mistake … we are doing our best that this doesn’t happen again.”
- Survivor Jenna‑Lisa Jones to Trump: “It is not about you, President Trump. I voted for you, but your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment.”
- House vote result: 427–1 in favor of forcing release of Epstein materials.
What’s next / implications
- Saudi agreements: Watch for released texts and implementation details (investment promises, defense deals, any F‑35 sale approvals); diplomatic and human‑rights scrutiny will continue.
- Epstein documents: Expect DOJ redactions and political spin; released materials could implicate or raise questions about public figures, prompting further hearings or investigations.
- Political landscape: Poll signals a challenging environment for Republicans in 2026 if current trends persist, with affordability (inflation/prices) dominant in voter concerns. Internal GOP tensions (e.g., over Epstein file release) may test party cohesion.
- Public trust: Low confidence in institutions suggests continued polarization and skepticism; political actors may prioritize tangible economic relief to address immediate voter priorities.
Who appears / reporting credits
- Hosts: A. Martinez and Leila Fadel
- Reporters/guests: Danielle Kurtzleben (White House correspondent), Sam Greenglass (Congressional reporter), Domenico Montanaro (senior political editor/correspondent)
- Episode production/editing: Dana Farrington, Kelsey Snell, Megan Pratz, Mohamed Elbardisi, Alice Wolfley; producers Zia Butch, Nia Dumas, Christopher Thomas.
If you need a one‑sentence summary: Trump defended the Saudi crown prince amid Khashoggi questions while announcing U.S.–Saudi deals; Congress moved to force public release of Epstein‑related DOJ files; and a new poll shows Trump’s approval at a low point with voters prioritizing lower prices.