Up First briefing: British base; The schools of France; August Hanning; October 7: NPR
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Today’s best stories
New information reveals that over the weekend the United States withdrew all of its long-range bombers. from the British airbase near where five men were arrested last week in connection with a suspected terrorist plot. A U.S. official who is not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that the decision to abruptly return a dozen B-1 bombers from Royal Air Force Base Fairford was due to a “credible threat” from Iran, which potentially involved a drone attack.
F15 maneuver at RAF Lakenheath on September 28, 2026, Lakenheath, England.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
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Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
- 🎧 The war against Iran has shown that American military basesboth at home and abroad, are now considered more vulnerable, says NPR’s Greg Myre. First. Iranian drones and missiles have targeted American bases in the Middle East since the start of the conflict. Over the past three decades, the United States has established these bases to protect its allies, but the rise of drone threats has changed that perspective. Now the United States must defend a network of military bases – a complicated and expensive task, Myre says.
High school students in France blockade schools todayafter hundreds of thousands of them marched across the country yesterday. They are joined by teachers, parents and union members. The movement, born in a particularly dilapidated high school and faced with teacher absenteeism, aims to improve learning conditions and fight against inequalities in the French education system.
- 🎧 The French school system plays a crucial role in the formation of national identitypromoting the idea that anyone can achieve their goals if they apply themselves the school of the Republicor the republic school, says NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley. She adds that this concept is at the heart of French democracy and its vision of itself as a meritocratic and egalitarian society. Even Paris’s elite public schools are joining the movement. French reports show clashes between young people and police, cars, trash cans and schools set on fire. Initially, the far right condemned the delinquency, but many also saw the police aggression. Critics argue that the government reacted too late and then dismissed the problem as urban violence instead of responding to students’ demands.
Former head of German foreign intelligence to appear before federal judge today to face charges of espionage and attempted treason. Federal prosecutors accuse August Hanning of using classified information to brief a foreign intelligence agency. He headed Germany’s equivalent of the CIA for seven years, from 1998 to 2005. Prosecutors say he shared sensitive political information for 12 years after leaving office. They have not yet revealed who Hanning’s alleged clients were.
- 🎧 NPR’s Esme Nicholson says calling Hanning’s alleged actions a major setback to the German security apparatus, to put it mildly. Prosecutors say a former Hanning aide leaked documents intended for high-level briefings, raising concerns among Germany’s Western allies about the credibility of its intelligence agencies and whether their own agents were compromised. The arrest coincides with a warning from Martin Jaeger, Germany’s new head of foreign intelligence, that Russia is waging a “shadow war” in Germany through sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Nicholson says the consequences of this conflict are not only humiliating but also potentially dangerous.
As Israel marks third anniversary of Hamas surprise attacks on October 7new reports in Israeli and US media indicate that regional allies have warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas is planning to attack. Four people in the Middle East with direct knowledge of the warnings told NPR that Netanyahu was personally informed of the potential attacks and that his security agencies were briefed multiple times in the weeks and days leading up to October 7, 2023. Netanyahu has denied this, calling the reports “fake news” and recently filed a defamation lawsuit against the media outlets that first published the information. He and his defense minister are now warning that Hamas could attempt to attack again on this October 7 Memorial Day and in the run-up to Israeli national elections later this month.
Live better
Malte Mueller/Getty Images
Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.
Parental monitoring plays a key role in protecting children from the dangers of social media and excessive screen time. Parents can empower their children to navigate the digital world confidently and safely by establishing clear boundaries early and having open conversations about their online habits. Here are some ways guardians can help their children use their devices more safely:
- 📱 Put the phone away during meals and at bedtime. This will help protect sleep and reduce the risk of eating disorders.
- 📱 Apply screen time rules to the whole family, including parents and guardians.
- 📱 Ask children open-ended questions about what they do online. Open communication helps children feel comfortable sharing what they are experiencing online.
- 📱 Establish early communication with children about cyberbullying, online scams, Instagram filters and privacy issues to raise awareness.
On the ground
The results of the 2026 midterm elections will shape the final two years of President Trump’s second term and serve as a precursor to the 2028 general election. This month, Morning edition takes stock of six states that could shift the balance of power in Washington.
Morning editionLeila Fadel traveled to the battleground state of Maine to explore the issues that energize voters. Maine residents could play a crucial role in deciding which political party controls the Senate. One of the most important U.S. Senate races features incumbent Republican Susan Collins, who is seeking re-election against Democrat Troy Jackson. The race was closely watched, particularly after Jackson was nominated by the Maine Democratic Party after Graham Platner withdrew due to sexual assault allegations. Listen to what happened in this competition.
Fadel was also on the ground with residents, to determine what interested them. Learn more about:
Follow the report: Coverage from Texas will air on October 13, followed by reports from North Carolina and Georgia, as well as Ohio and Michigan. You can follow Morning editionNPR.org, in the NPR app and in the First bulletin.
3 things to know before you leave
- The 2026 National Book Awards finalists are here, showcasing a wide range of literary works, from nonfiction about the prison system to a novel about a patient navigator at a gender-affirming care center.
- Avengers: Endgame has regained the number one spot at the all-time global box office in Hollywood after its recent re-release in cinemas. It became the highest-grossing film in history for the first time in 2019.
- Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their contributions to optogenetics, a field of neuroscience that examines the links between neuronal activity and specific behaviors. Shortly after learning of his victory, Deisseroth spoke with Here and now. (via WBUR)
This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.
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