Plus: The White House defends Steve Witkoff over reports he advised a Russian official on how to approach President Trump over a Ukraine peace plan. And shares of Kohl’s and Abercrombie & Fitch trade higher after both retailers posted strong earnings. Daniel Bach hosts.
A federal judge throws out criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James after ruling the prosecutor was illegally appointed, prompting an immediate DOJ appeal. The White House faces escalating questions over potential military action in Venezuela as U.S. forces build up near the region and new terrorism allegations target President Maduro. Thanksgiving travel reaches record levels, with airlines and the FAA preparing for the busiest holiday rush in years. In business, fast-food chains are losing low-income customers as prices rise and families struggle with higher living costs, and fire survivors in California gain access to a new AI-powered rebuilding portal designed to streamline construction and reduce costs.
Hannah Quay-de la Vallee, senior technologist at the Center for Democracy and Technology, coauthored a recent report that recommends more transparency on what artificial intelligence education technologies can and cannot do.
The country’s Communist Party leadership continues to cling to old ideals amid on-again, off-again diplomacy with America—and the people’s suffering only deepens. Britain is making the most of its advantages in the burgeoning industry of quantum technology. And why conservationists’ concern about a wood beloved of classical musicians may be misplaced.
Leaked transcripts of a call between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and an advisor of Russian President Vladimir Putin detail how President Trump’s 28-point peace proposal came about. The president dismisses the leak, saying it shows standard negotiating tactics.
Trump, who once campaigned on ending the war within 24 hours, is now thought to care more about reaching a deal than what’s in it.
Andmillions of Americans will take to the skies this week. The FAA says this year’s Thanksgiving could be the busiest in more than a decade.
Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kate Bartlett, Rebekah Metzler, Russell Lewis, HJ Mai and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
When President Trump’s peace plan to end the war in Ukraine was leaked last week, many felt as though Russia had written the proposal, and to a large degree, it reflected the Kremlin’s demands. The plan set off a global outcry that has forced American officials to revise their approach in the days since.
Kim Barker and David E. Sanger explain the process that led to the contentious plan and why it comes at a vulnerable moment for Ukrainian leadership.
Guest:
Kim Barker, a reporter for The New York Times covering the war in Ukraine.
David E. Sanger, the White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.
The FBI reaches out to Congress, asking to speak with lawmakers behind a video to military servicemembers. Public health experts are concerned about a flu variant spreading that is “mismatched” to the current vaccine. And record numbers of Americans are expected to hit the road this Thanksgiving.
Dr. Jenessa Seymour is on to teach us more about the brain! What do hallucinations, ear-worms, and phantom limbs have in common? And is "hallucinating" really a good term for what AI does when it makes something up?