Special Series Up First Newsletter All Up First Stories Up First Podcast Morning Edition LISTEN & FOLLOW NPR App Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeart Radio YouTube Music RSS link Sign up for the [TITLE] Newsletter Get perks with [Podcast Title]+ Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.
By
Brittney Melton
Good morning. You're 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.
President Trump convenes the first-ever meeting of the Board of Peace today at the Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington. The president says he created the group to oversee his Gaza ceasefire plan and that member states have already pledged $5 billion for Gaza's reconstruction. At today's event, Trump will address heads of state and top diplomats from around 40 countries, including the European Union.
People snap photos outside the United States Peace Institute, with the recently added name of President Trump. Allison Robbert/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
U.K. police have arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of "misconduct in public office." U.K. media reports that this man is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew. Police have investigated whether Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential government information with his late friend, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while he was U.K.'s trade envoy. Mountbatten-Windsor admits to ties to Epstein and settled a lawsuit with one of Epstein's underage victims, but denies wrongdoing. The media spotted several vehicles at the royals' Sandringham estate this morning, NPR's Lauren Frayer, who is in London, confirms. Mountbatten-Windsor turns 66 today. He has been living at the estate since being evicted from his royal cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The U.S. has concluded another round of talks in an effort to end the war in Ukraine. While the White House pressures Kyiv to make concessions, it is negotiating with Moscow. Today, Russia's negotiator offered $14 trillion in deals if the U.S. drops its sanctions.
Trump is demanding billions of dollars from his own government by filing multiple claims against the Justice Department. He argues that past investigations and the leak of his tax returns years ago hurt him. Now, he has forced his own political appointees to decide whether to pay their boss with taxpayer funds. These claims amount to unfinished business for the president, says a White House official, who was not authorized to speak on the record.
President Trump talks with reporters on his walk to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Feb. 6. Heather Diehl/Getty Images hide caption
President Trump's Truth Social account recently posted an image depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. The action prompted outcry over the racist trope. The White House deleted the post, and Trump deflected the blame to an aide. Scholars and civil rights advocates, steeped in the language and aesthetics of white nationalism, find the post to be part of an overtly racist trope. They say it fits a year-long pattern where extremist rhetoric, visual material and other media have found their way into public messaging from federal agencies.
Marcus Mumford performs during the SiriusXM Built With Audio event at Storied NYC on Oct. 6, 2025, in New York City. Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM hide caption
After a seven-year hiatus between albums, British folk-rock band Mumford & Sons is back. Lead singer Marcus Mumford was in denial about his identity as a songwriter when he received a pep talk from Oasis' Noel Gallagher. He told Mumford he should be writing songs every day. Their conversation lit a fire under him. Now, Mumford & Sons are about to release Prizefighter, their second album in just seven months. The album includes several guest appearances, including Hozier on a track called "Rubber Band Man." Listen to snippets of the new music and hear Mumford discuss the musical decisions he made for the band's latest album.
Sweden's Mika Zibanejad (93) and United States' JT Miller (10) chase the puck during the third period of a men's ice hockey quarterfinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Hassan Ammar/AP/AP hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Sponsor Message
Become an NPR sponsor