Good morning. You are 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.
Today’s top stories
Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney is not running for reelection in 2024. In a video, he cited his age and the state of the Republican Party as reasons for his exit. “
On September 6, Sen. Mitt Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and other senators arrived at the U.S. Capitol chamber to vote.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and other Senators arrive in the U.S. Capitol Chamber for voting on September 6, 201
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
- On Up first, NPR’s Domenico Montanaro said Romney believes in bipartisanship, and that it is important to work with other sides to achieve goals. This belief is uncommon, especially for Republicans. Anita Dunn is a Biden advisor who has a conflicted interest. Newly released evidence from a federal trial in Chicago
revealed this. In 2018, Dunn’s public relations firm SKDK partnered up with the anti-harassment legal defense fund Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund to support Alaina Hammam, who had sued former Democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan after he retaliated against her for reporting harassment. At the same time, her firm was also providing “crisis communications” for Madigan.NPR’s Tom Dreisbach spoke to Hampton,
- who said she never would have worked with Dunn’s firm if she knew it was also advising Madigan. SKDK initially defended their work, but apologized later to Hampton. However, Hampton told Dreisbach the apology doesn’t repair the damage done to her and the #MeToo movement.Hurricane Lee heading toward the Atlantic Coast. The storm will cause high winds and flooding in New England, and possibly parts of Canada through the weekend.
New Englishers are used winter nor’easters which bring feet of snow, not hurricanes. Tovia Smith, NPR’s Boston correspondent reports that the conditions will be difficult because the summer has been the wettest New England’s ever experienced. This means the ground has already become saturated. Hurricanes can also bring a new danger
- , which is often overlooked: riptides. What you need to know. According to a recent estimate from the Census Bureau, the immigrant population of the U.S. reached a record-high last year. The pandemic, and Trump’s policies, have slowed growth in recent years. The renewed growth coincides with a gradual reboot of legal immigration like vetting refugees and processing visas, experts say.Washington’s reaction will depend on which side of the debate you’re on, NPR’s Joel Rose says on Morning Edition
. Hardliners will view this as further evidence that immigration has gotten out of hand and is straining resources. Immigration is seen as a positive for the economy by advocates. Today’s listen
Everything in Nicaragua is normal. The bars and restaurants on this lakefront pier fill up at weekends. The sign illuminated reads “Nicaragua Loves Peace.”
Eyder Peralta
hide captiontoggle caption
Eyder Peralta
Everything in Nicaragua is normal. The bars and restaurants on this lakefront pier fill up at weekends. “Nicaragua Loves Peace” is written on the illuminated sign. “

Eyder Peralta
Nicaragua has a reputation as one of the authoritarian countries in the Western Hemisphere. Since a few years, the country has prohibited foreign journalists from entering. NPR’s Eyder Paralta, who has a Nicaraguan passport, entered the country through a rural border. He describes a “country soaked in fear.” He attended a celebration of the 44th anniversary of President Daniel Ortega’s revolution against the military and spoke to locals.
Life advice
Hurricanes can intensify very rapidly,
giving residents very little time to prepare. It’s never too early to prepare for a hurricane. What you can do is:
Know your vulnerability
– are you living in an area prone to flooding? Plan accordingly.
Choose a destination for evacuation. Going to family and friends is ideal.
Prepare

a go-to kit with essentials like nonperishable food, medications, and cash. – and plan accordingly.Choose a destination for evacuation.
- Going to family and friends is ideal.Prepare
- a go-to kit with essentials like nonperishable food, medications and cash.Have a checklist
- so you don’t forget anything when you’re stressed.3 things to know before you go
The remains of an allegedly nonhuman being were displayed at a briefing about unidentified flying object held Tuesday in Mexico City’s San Lazaro Legislative Palace.
Henry Romero /Reuters
hide caption

toggle caption
Henry Romero /Reuters
The remains of a supposedly “nonhuman being” are displayed at a briefing about unidentified flying object, held Tuesday, in Mexico City’s San Lazaro Legislative Palace.
Henry Romero /Reuters
A Mexican congressional hearing on extraterrestrials began with a surprise Tuesday. San Francisco may raise
the historic waterfront Ferry Building to protect it from rising sea level. This story contains references to suicide.
Trieste had one of her darkest days
of 2014. In 2014, Trieste Belmont had one of the darkest days of her life
. This unsung hero saved her life and inspired to seek help. This newsletter was edited and written by
- Majd Al Waheidi.
- Anandita Bhalerao contributed.