Love the mission and set up of this podcast that it is a quick listen but I HATE the intro/transition little piano riff sound.

I listen every morning. It is quick hit of the news you need to know about. Hosts enjoy each other’s company and really know their stuff!

Every morning

I really like to start my day with up first! I love your format, the top three stories of the day! It will help to keep me informed. One day it wasn’t in my feed. So I thought something must have happened. I needed to go in and re-download the podcast. So I did and now I feel informed again. Please tell others if happened to them. Thank you again Alison Schuback

Usually the briefs episodes can be informative and allows the listeners to form their own opinion without any influence. However, some topics are clearly presented with information that leans one way. Please be objective.

This is a daily go to for me, but only during the week. I find weekend host, Ayesha Roscoe, to be absolutely terrible, from her poor grammar to simply sounding utterly unprepared when she interviews people. For a long time, I tried to let it go, partly because the subject matter of the Sunday Story is typically interesting, but there are too many options out there to waste time on a bad podcast host.

I'm a new listener who looked forward to listen to the Illinois counties that want to secede from the state. But man the host pulled me out of it. She's got a voice for print.

I used to donate to my local NPR station and used to listen to “Up First” podcast daily. But recently “Up First” has become too left leaning and it’s become hard to trust that their journalists personal views and opinions are not the source of news. I wish they would stay center and publish the news as it happened versus making this podcast about the “anti-Trump” agenda. We get it you hate him. Just give us the news, not your opinions. I just unfollowed this podcast. And not a nickel more from me!

It is disappointing but not a surprise that neither the Illinois General Assembly nor the reporter are listening to the complaints of constituents outside of the center of power. Rather than attempting to redress the complaints, all that is said is ‘they receive twice the money that the city receives’, yet never give examples. And the reporter takes the claim at face value.

Can you find anything positive to say on the 250th 4th of July? All negative stories. Is there anything you are happy about on this momentous occasion?

Great info first thing in the morning- however- this podcast could use younger perspectives, voices, etc.

Interesting and informative content provided by knowledgeable journalists. The best place for morning news!

Up first is one of the most important parts of my morning routine. It keeps me informed on the biggest stories of the day in a way that’s clear, balanced and easy to follow, even when life gets busy. One of the things I look forward to most is the day A finally says “good morning” on the show, I know it’s probably not happening, but I’ll keep listening and hoping. Thanks for making such an informative and enjoyable show every morning.

Years ago I wanted some sort of podcast that provided me information on the big news items of the day. Up First delivered that and I have not gone a day without listening to the excellent reporting. I’m still too young to have the W.C. nostalgia, but this is what I imagine listening to the news used to be like.

You guys are doing great. Thank you.

I listen to Up First every morning, including the Sunday story. One of my fave parts is the outtakes and conversations they have before the show starts, so funny. Also I love how they are always teasing Carly Strange, the technical director!

I was a long time listener and I trying to come back but it’s so hard. I love news and politics but they make it so boring I find it putting me to sleep.

I’ve been an Up First listener for years now. It is the perfect way to stay informed without getting sucked into the 24 hour news cycle. I am happily a NPR plus subscriber. Lately, I have been randomly getting ads. Can you please ensure that this doesn’t happens?

Steve is wonderful, but Ayesha Rascoe is horrible. Ayesha is a joke. She is overly expressive. She exaggerates her annunciation it is unnecessary. Her jokes don’t land. Her delivery is very slow ( even for radio / podcast ). She uses way too much first person ( she says “I” in nearly every single interview). Finally, she has a horrible stutter / audible repetition. She has ruined this program. I can no longer listen to it. Steve is still amazing. Steve gets five stars. Ayesha gets zero.

Long time listener. I listen to news -knowingly- from both sides of the political spectrum to find out what both sides find important. The recent interview with Dana White, UFC was clearly not excited to be badgered constantly by the extremely left sides questions. Even I thought “this is excessive”.. the interviewer kept trying to get a dig on Trump and each time the guy signed and then answered the question insightfully from his perspective working with so many fighters of different backgrounds. I bet he probably wanted to talk about the sport he was there to talk about. But also, this is a NEWS podcast. What are these interviews doing on this broadcast.

I am a long time NPR listener, and contributor, of shows like up first and the Diane Rehm but am finding it increasingly difficult to stay loyal. Today’s up first was confusing. As it seemed to focus more on whether republicans were breaking with the White House or not, I am unclear as to what was actually passed. Please get back to the facts and less analysis.

I just want the news, not opinions. I’d like to make my own determinations without all the pretense. Very biased and melodramatic.

Absolutely fabulous, and the reason I initially subscribed to NPR+ (but boy did I get lucky with that subscription….no ads on my morning news ‘coffee’ but all the other now musts!

Up First has been my go-to morning routine because it quickly breaks down the top stories in just over 10 minutes. However, my primary concern with the show lately is its news balance. I have found their coverage of Israel to be very one-sided and biased against Israel. While I appreciate the concise storytelling format and the excellent production quality, the lack of objective, balanced reporting on this specific issue makes it harder to fully trust as a primary news source.

This is a good good show and I particularly like the banter between the co-hosts. The May 30, 2026 episode has some weird glitchy edits that pulled me out of the narrative. I expect more from NPR.

A great, issues-oriented interview w Graham Platner, but your headline is all about gossipy controversy. Do better, please!

Hey I have paid for annual upfirst plus and ads have started playing in my episodes as of yesterday? What can I do? Idk how to fix this

Love that Up First keeps me informed on what's going on in the world, without me getting sucked into the doom and gloom of the 24/7 news cycle. Saves my sanity while also keeping me from being totally ignorant to current events. Perfect way to start the day.

Great way to start on top of world events without getting bogged down! Update- just some feedback, and it looks like I’m not alone in this- it’s not that I’m opposed to the bonus interviews. It’s not that I don’t like a balanced approach. But guys- why are we platforming Dana White and the MMA fight at the WH? Please, please read the room. I’ve almost skipped some of the others but finished them. This? Unlistenable. Please turn this trend around.

EDIT-I am updating my review from 5 to 1 star (I wish I could do zero). Stop with the interview segments. This is not why I listen to Up First. If you want to do interviews - go start a new podcast (of which I won’t listen to). I want news from Up First, not celebrities. Also - the Sunday segment is not Up First worthy either. Was-Up First helps me set the direction for news stories that require further understanding

This is how I start my day. I appreciate how you prioritize three stories, unpacking the stories with professionalism and ethics. Hearing you every day, it feels like I know you. A source I can trust!

I really disliked Steve’s interview with Dana White. Dana portrayed the UFC as a sport that has all types of people but Steve kept trying to focus on how two of the fighters are a former refugee and miner. It came off like he was trying to suggest those people have an affinity for violence

I love listening to your show every morning. Keeps me updated on all the crazy that’s going on with the moron president. I have to say, I could not finish listening to the interview with Dana White and how he defended Trump and spoke negatively about immigrants. He clearly has no clue as to hard it is to get legal documentation to be in this country. And he is clearly lying about how Trump only went after criminals. Those are false statements. Trump was going after children and families . People who have no criminal record. Please don’t interview the MAGA cult people.

Note to Steven I. Your disdain for trump makes it hard for you to report the news without bias and skews your questions into trying to catch people of guard or tries to Lead them down a path that you believe is accurate. Please help us keep not an unbiased news source that’s ask great questions and brings “facts to listeners” so We can decide how we stand on issues

This is my core news information show. I listen every day. A great way to be in the know.

There’s a lot going on in the country that doesn’t involve Trump, but scroll through recent episodes - it’s all Trump. I really love the short format and had subscribed for years. Too much of the recent content is just repeating drama with little news value. I’ll check in again in a few months.

Good source of news first thing in the morning. The tone often feels forcedly and inappropriately lighthearted especially when reporting heavy news like ice kidnappings and the bombing of Iranian civilians. Also incomplete reporting on the ongoing gen-o-cide in G-za.

Not authorized to speak publicly 🟰 not a reliable source. No other shows report this way. Follow rule one of ethical journalism, and verify your sources before reporting them. Or else you’re just reporting opinions. Classify this show as politics not news. When have you heard an episode that contained an actual news story?

The news is so depressing these days, it’s a small relief to hear your voices in the morning. I listen to you guys every day while getting ready for work! Thank you for keeping it short & light, and always giving me a chuckle or two!

I listen on my commute to work. It helps keep me up to date with national and world events. Simple and straight to the point with headlines under 15-minutes is what keeps me coming back.

Disgusting Mother’s Day program. Cheering on a whole generation of children to be raised without fathers. You people are sick in the head.

I really liked the episode that brought a couple of faith leaders into the political conversation to unpack their views. More helpful would have been if one of those leaders had been from a white evangelical church. That was a view clearly absent and would have, if done respectfully, really brought out and clarified some disagreements.

I love this show. It’s my first listen in the morning on my walks. Except when Ayesha Rascoe hosts. I can’t bear her voice. Like chalk on a blackboard. Otherwise, awesome.

I like Up First because of the length, the unbiased and clear reporting. Especially in the cultural and political climate we are in now, this is refreshing. There is no cussing, no inappropriate name calling, lying or gaslighting. Just the facts in a short digestible bite. Well done, keep up the good work!

I like the short summaries of what’s going on while I drive to work. It’s direct, unbiased and informative and starts my day feeling like I know what’s happening.

I listen to Up First on morning walks and even though I know all things Trump get daily coverage, how about covering economic issues of the country. Things like inflation affordability issues etc. In depth analysis of the issues that impact most people. Thanks for accurately and fairly informative reporting.

I start every morning with the team to learn what has happened in the last day. NPR’s reporting is well reasoned and fair. In a world full of crazy, it’s nice to have a trusted source for major news.

I listen to Up First every morning on my dog walk. Because of this habit, I always feel in the loop and can intelligibly talk about what’s going on in the world

Up First is truly my lighthouse in a sea of biased and corrupt media. In an age where I’m trying to avoid social media, I can always trust Up First to be my news source to stay informed.

It’s an ok daily news show. Wish there was more info less characters. Sorry Ayesha, I just want the news.