Start Here

Start Here from ABC News is hosted by Brad Mielke, and the pitch is simple: a straightforward look at the day's top stories in about 20 minutes. In practice, episodes tend to run closer to 25-28 minutes, but the pacing is brisk enough that it never feels padded. Mielke's style is conversational without being casual -- he sounds like a well-informed colleague catching you up over coffee rather than a news anchor reading a teleprompter. Each episode typically covers three to four stories, with ABC News correspondents calling in from wherever the news is happening. The segments are tightly edited, moving efficiently from setup to reporting to analysis. What makes Start Here stand out in a crowded field is Mielke's ability to contextualize stories quickly. He won't just tell you about a Supreme Court decision; he'll spend 30 seconds on why it matters in plain language before handing off to the legal correspondent. That bridging work makes complex stories approachable. Running since 2018 with a 4.5-star rating from over 6,200 reviews, it has quietly built a strong following. The ABC News brand gives it access to a wide correspondent network, which means you're getting reports from people who are actually at the border, in the courtroom, or on Capitol Hill. It doesn't have the massive audience of The Daily or Up First, but listeners who stick with it tend to become regulars. A solid, reliable morning news podcast that doesn't waste your time.