Up First from NPR

Up First is NPR's answer to the question: what if you could get caught up on the news before your coffee even kicks in? Clocking in at roughly 10 to 15 minutes, this daily podcast distills the three biggest stories of the day into something compact and digestible. It's hosted on a rotating basis by Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin, and A Martinez on weekdays, with Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon handling weekends. Each episode typically covers three to four segments, moving briskly from one story to the next with just enough context that you feel informed without being overwhelmed. The reporting draws on NPR's deep bench of correspondents, so you're getting voices from the field rather than just studio commentary. Episodes land by 6:30 a.m. ET on weekdays, making it genuinely useful for early commuters. On Sundays, there's a bonus: The Sunday Story with Ayesha Rascoe, which takes a longer look behind a single headline. It's a nice complement to the rapid-fire weekday format. What makes Up First ideal for driving is its brevity. You can finish an entire episode during a short commute and actually retain what you heard. There's no filler, no rambling tangents. The hosts are professional without being stiff, and the transitions between stories feel natural. It won't replace deeper reporting, but it's the best quick-hit news podcast out there for people who want to know what's happening without committing to a full hour.