Trump says U.S. won't attack Iran before midterms. And, ICE agent shoots man in NYC
✓Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Hurricane Isaias is set to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast as early as tonight, marking the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The National Hurricane Center warns of potentially dangerous winds over 100 miles per hour and life-threatening storm surges of five to seven feet. People along the coastlines of Mississippi, Alabama and northwest Florida are preparing for impact.
Brian Brunick (C) and other residents fill sandbags that were provided by the city of Orange Beach as they prepare for the possible arrival of Hurricane Isaias on Oct. 8, 2026, in Orange Beach, Alabama. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Ukraine has launched a new offensive against Russian invaders that employs advanced technology. Operation Vivaldi involves Ukrainian soldiers using electronic warfare and aerial drones to blind Russian reconnaissance and eliminate their firepower and supply routes. They then deploy unmanned land robots to weaken Russian positions. Ukrainians say they have reclaimed around 68 square miles — an area about three times the size of Manhattan.
President Trump announced on social media that the U.S. will not attack Iran before the midterm elections on Nov. 3. He is aiming to counter reports suggesting the White House is considering airstrikes against Iran before election day.
At least one U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired seven rounds during an immigration enforcement operation in New York City yesterday. The officer struck a 28-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic in the neck, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The man, identified by Tisch as Oscar Belgal, was shot below his left ear and arrived at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in stable condition. A 5-year-old boy, believed to be Belgal's son, was inside Belgal's vehicle during the incident. Police later located the child safe and in the care of a family member. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Belgal was the target of the operation, but did not explain why the officer fired his weapon. (via Gothamist)
Youngmoo Kim (left) leads members of The Tonics a cappella group in singing an arrangement of the song "Everything" by Michael Bublé at their weekly rehearsal in Bryn Mawr, Pa. on September 17, 2026. Rachel Wisniewski for NPR hide caption
Rachel Wisniewski for NPR
An amateur Philadelphia-based a cappella group filled with suburban dads and grandfathers is taking social media by storm with their style and vocal arrangements. The Tonics are nearing 100,000 Instagram followers, up from 500 last year. Their rise is largely due to Emilie Hagen, a millennial influencer and "comedic journalist," who promoted their videos to her 130,000 followers. Hagen tells NPR she believes the group resonates with audiences because they feel authentic and wholesome, and they showcase a different side of how men interact beyond activities like sports. Listen to The Tonics sing and read more about why they are gaining such a following.
Florence Pugh in East of Eden. Geoffrey Short/Netflix hide caption
Geoffrey Short/Netflix
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney spent four years researching tech billionaire Elon Musk by reviewing extensive documents and interviewing people close to him. The nearly four-hour film, Musk, is in theaters today ahead of its HBO release.
📺 TV: Netflix's East of Eden, starring Florence Pugh, offers an epic retelling of an American classic that provides a fresh perspective, Pop Culture Happy Hour says.
📚 Books: It's time to say goodbye to beach reads and welcome cozy autumn books. NPR's Book of the Day host Andrew Limbong shares 10 exciting books coming this fall, featuring titles from Barbara Kingsolver, Chad Harbach, Jasmine Guillory and more.
🎵 Music: Troye Sivan's She's The Best explores darker feelings with a mix of gloom and bright, bombastic moments, all while continuing to honor the legacy of queer dance floors in his music videos, NPR Music's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento says.
🎭 Theater: In the Broadway play School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, the ladies at Aburi Girls' Boarding School navigate difficult lessons through their friendships, conflicts and the upcoming Miss Ghana 1986 beauty pageant. Playwright Jocelyn Bioh and director Whitney White join It's Been A Minute host Brittany Luse to discuss the story's significance.
❓ Quiz: This week's quiz will test your knowledge on protests, Nobels and even a K-pop superstar. While I may not have a prize for you upon completion, I can provide a hint: at least two of the answers were featured in the "Today's top stories" section of this newsletter this week.
South African human rights lawyer Navi Pillay, 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, arrives for a news conference in Geneva on June 18, 2025. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗ · NPR ↗
Trump announced that the U.S. will not attack Iran ahead of the midterms. And, a 28-year-old man is receiving treatment at the hospital after an ICE agent shot him in the neck
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Hurricane Isaias is set to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast as early as tonight, marking the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The National Hurricane Center warns of potentially dangerous winds over 100 miles per hour and life-threatening storm surges of five to seven feet. People along the coastlines of Mississippi, Alabama and northwest Florida are preparing for impact.
Brian Brunick (C) and other residents fill sandbags that were provided by the city of Orange Beach as they prepare for the possible arrival of Hurricane Isaias on Oct. 8, 2026, in Orange Beach, Alabama. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Ukraine has launched a new offensive against Russian invaders that employs advanced technology. Operation Vivaldi involves Ukrainian soldiers using electronic warfare and aerial drones to blind Russian reconnaissance and eliminate their firepower and supply routes. They then deploy unmanned land robots to weaken Russian positions. Ukrainians say they have reclaimed around 68 square miles — an area about three times the size of Manhattan.
President Trump announced on social media that the U.S. will not attack Iran before the midterm elections on Nov. 3. He is aiming to counter reports suggesting the White House is considering airstrikes against Iran before election day.
At least one U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired seven rounds during an immigration enforcement operation in New York City yesterday. The officer struck a 28-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic in the neck, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The man, identified by Tisch as Oscar Belgal, was shot below his left ear and arrived at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in stable condition. A 5-year-old boy, believed to be Belgal's son, was inside Belgal's vehicle during the incident. Police later located the child safe and in the care of a family member. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Belgal was the target of the operation, but did not explain why the officer fired his weapon. (via Gothamist)
Youngmoo Kim (left) leads members of The Tonics a cappella group in singing an arrangement of the song "Everything" by Michael Bublé at their weekly rehearsal in Bryn Mawr, Pa. on September 17, 2026. Rachel Wisniewski for NPR hide caption
Rachel Wisniewski for NPR
An amateur Philadelphia-based a cappella group filled with suburban dads and grandfathers is taking social media by storm with their style and vocal arrangements. The Tonics are nearing 100,000 Instagram followers, up from 500 last year. Their rise is largely due to Emilie Hagen, a millennial influencer and "comedic journalist," who promoted their videos to her 130,000 followers. Hagen tells NPR she believes the group resonates with audiences because they feel authentic and wholesome, and they showcase a different side of how men interact beyond activities like sports. Listen to The Tonics sing and read more about why they are gaining such a following.
Florence Pugh in East of Eden. Geoffrey Short/Netflix hide caption
Geoffrey Short/Netflix
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney spent four years researching tech billionaire Elon Musk by reviewing extensive documents and interviewing people close to him. The nearly four-hour film, Musk, is in theaters today ahead of its HBO release.
📺 TV: Netflix's East of Eden, starring Florence Pugh, offers an epic retelling of an American classic that provides a fresh perspective, Pop Culture Happy Hour says.
📚 Books: It's time to say goodbye to beach reads and welcome cozy autumn books. NPR's Book of the Day host Andrew Limbong shares 10 exciting books coming this fall, featuring titles from Barbara Kingsolver, Chad Harbach, Jasmine Guillory and more.
🎵 Music: Troye Sivan's She's The Best explores darker feelings with a mix of gloom and bright, bombastic moments, all while continuing to honor the legacy of queer dance floors in his music videos, NPR Music's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento says.
🎭 Theater: In the Broadway play School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, the ladies at Aburi Girls' Boarding School navigate difficult lessons through their friendships, conflicts and the upcoming Miss Ghana 1986 beauty pageant. Playwright Jocelyn Bioh and director Whitney White join It's Been A Minute host Brittany Luse to discuss the story's significance.
❓ Quiz: This week's quiz will test your knowledge on protests, Nobels and even a K-pop superstar. While I may not have a prize for you upon completion, I can provide a hint: at least two of the answers were featured in the "Today's top stories" section of this newsletter this week.
South African human rights lawyer Navi Pillay, 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, arrives for a news conference in Geneva on June 18, 2025. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗ · NPR ↗
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Hurricane Isaias is set to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast as early as tonight, marking the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The National Hurricane Center warns of potentially dangerous winds over 100 miles per hour and life-threatening storm surges of five to seven feet. People along the coastlines of Mississippi, Alabama and northwest Florida are preparing for impact.
Brian Brunick (C) and other residents fill sandbags that were provided by the city of Orange Beach as they prepare for the possible arrival of Hurricane Isaias on Oct. 8, 2026, in Orange Beach, Alabama. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Ukraine has launched a new offensive against Russian invaders that employs advanced technology. Operation Vivaldi involves Ukrainian soldiers using electronic warfare and aerial drones to blind Russian reconnaissance and eliminate their firepower and supply routes. They then deploy unmanned land robots to weaken Russian positions. Ukrainians say they have reclaimed around 68 square miles — an area about three times the size of Manhattan.
President Trump announced on social media that the U.S. will not attack Iran before the midterm elections on Nov. 3. He is aiming to counter reports suggesting the White House is considering airstrikes against Iran before election day.
At least one U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired seven rounds during an immigration enforcement operation in New York City yesterday. The officer struck a 28-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic in the neck, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The man, identified by Tisch as Oscar Belgal, was shot below his left ear and arrived at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in stable condition. A 5-year-old boy, believed to be Belgal's son, was inside Belgal's vehicle during the incident. Police later located the child safe and in the care of a family member. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Belgal was the target of the operation, but did not explain why the officer fired his weapon. (via Gothamist)
Youngmoo Kim (left) leads members of The Tonics a cappella group in singing an arrangement of the song "Everything" by Michael Bublé at their weekly rehearsal in Bryn Mawr, Pa. on September 17, 2026. Rachel Wisniewski for NPR hide caption
Rachel Wisniewski for NPR
An amateur Philadelphia-based a cappella group filled with suburban dads and grandfathers is taking social media by storm with their style and vocal arrangements. The Tonics are nearing 100,000 Instagram followers, up from 500 last year. Their rise is largely due to Emilie Hagen, a millennial influencer and "comedic journalist," who promoted their videos to her 130,000 followers. Hagen tells NPR she believes the group resonates with audiences because they feel authentic and wholesome, and they showcase a different side of how men interact beyond activities like sports. Listen to The Tonics sing and read more about why they are gaining such a following.
Florence Pugh in East of Eden. Geoffrey Short/Netflix hide caption
Geoffrey Short/Netflix
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney spent four years researching tech billionaire Elon Musk by reviewing extensive documents and interviewing people close to him. The nearly four-hour film, Musk, is in theaters today ahead of its HBO release.
📺 TV: Netflix's East of Eden, starring Florence Pugh, offers an epic retelling of an American classic that provides a fresh perspective, Pop Culture Happy Hour says.
📚 Books: It's time to say goodbye to beach reads and welcome cozy autumn books. NPR's Book of the Day host Andrew Limbong shares 10 exciting books coming this fall, featuring titles from Barbara Kingsolver, Chad Harbach, Jasmine Guillory and more.
🎵 Music: Troye Sivan's She's The Best explores darker feelings with a mix of gloom and bright, bombastic moments, all while continuing to honor the legacy of queer dance floors in his music videos, NPR Music's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento says.
🎭 Theater: In the Broadway play School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, the ladies at Aburi Girls' Boarding School navigate difficult lessons through their friendships, conflicts and the upcoming Miss Ghana 1986 beauty pageant. Playwright Jocelyn Bioh and director Whitney White join It's Been A Minute host Brittany Luse to discuss the story's significance.
❓ Quiz: This week's quiz will test your knowledge on protests, Nobels and even a K-pop superstar. While I may not have a prize for you upon completion, I can provide a hint: at least two of the answers were featured in the "Today's top stories" section of this newsletter this week.
South African human rights lawyer Navi Pillay, 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, arrives for a news conference in Geneva on June 18, 2025. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗ · NPR ↗
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
- Trump announced that the U.S.
- will not attack Iran ahead of the midterms.
- And, a 28-year-old man is receiving treatment at the hospital after an ICE agent shot him in the neck