Up First

The number of Covid-19 infections in the U.S. surpasses 5 million. Tens of millions of Americans could be evicted with the eviction ban lapsing. Plus, Hong Kong Publisher Jimmy Lai is arrested under China's new national security law.

Lawmakers have failed again to agree on a coronavirus relief deal so President Trump threatens to sign a series of executive orders. If the government funded the research, how much should a vaccine cost? In Beirut, protests are breaking out against the country's leaders.

Negotiations over a new COVID-19 stimulus bill are at a standstill. Trump issues Executive Orders going after TikTok and WeChat. And, contact tracing is not growing with U.S. case counts.

Investigations continue in the Beirut explosion. Twitter and Facebook go after Trump for sharing coronavirus misinformation. And, the pandemic is changing the National Conventions.

The death toll is rising from yesterday's explosions in Beirut. A longtime incumbent loses in Missouri's Democratic Primary. And, some U.S COVID-19 relief checks were sent to non-American workers overseas.

Tropical Storm Isaias hits the East Coast. NPR and IPSOS release poll findings on the national response to the pandemic. Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok's U.S. operations.

With cases and deaths rising nationwide, Dr. Deborah Birx says the coronavirus has entered a "new phase." Presumptive democratic nominee Joe Biden is close to naming a running mate. Plus, what the successful SpaceX landing means for space exploration.

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which is considered to be the most important civil rights act since the 1960s. This bonus episode of Up First is brought to you by NPR's history podcast Throughline. Hosts Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdellfatah look back at the making of this movement, the history of how disability came to be seen as a civil rights issue, and what the disability community is still fighting for 30 years later.

Coronavirus economic aid talks continue through the weekend. The U.S. and countries emerging from poverty have the most COVID-19 cases. Hurricane Isaias passes the Bahamas and heads for the U.S.

As millions of Americans watch their supplemental unemployment checks disappear, we take stock of economic wins and losses this week. The Trump administration is sending COVID-19 data to a new place, and there are major glitches. And finally, the Census Bureau is ending its canvassing program a month early. Will that change its count?

The Commerce Department released an economic report for the last quarter. It details the sharpest economic contraction in modern American history. After weeks of standoffs with protesters, federal agents are stepping back in Portland. And finally, after almost 6 hours testifying in front of Congress, what more do we know about big tech and antitrust?

Executives from Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google testify before Congress, Attorney General William P. Barr visited the Capitol on Tuesday to deliver his first congressional testimony in more than a year. And Steve Inskeep reports from Ashtabula County, Ohio.

The Republicans have reached a deal on coronavirus relief, but it could mean much less unemployment money for Americans. Can they convince Democrats? Major League Baseball is already postponing games due to COVID-19 infections. And do we need another lockdown to beat COVID-19?

Republicans unveil their relief plan, protesters and federal agents continue to clash in Portland, Oregon, and the country remembers John Lewis, a civil rights icon.

For decades, Democrats and Republicans competed to be tougher on crime. And few places were "tougher" than Republican-dominated Oklahoma. But that's changing. Politicians across the U.S. are starting to re-examine — and to some extent, reverse — how they think about long sentences and prisons. It all might be about morals ... but it's definitely about money. On this bonus episode of Up First, NPR's economics podcast Planet Money takes us to Oklahoma, to watch a state change its mind about prison sentences.

Courts are boosting police and Trump administration efforts to shut down protests in Portland, Ore, and Seattle. Federal pandemic aid measures are ending and lawmakers have yet to agree on what comes next. After the number of COVID-19 cases skyrocketed, Arizona is seeing a small but steady decline.

As the United States crashes past its four millionth coronavirus case, President Trump cancels the Jacksonville part of the Republican National Convention. Following a decision to close the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas, the Chinese government will close a U.S. consulate in Chengdu, China. The DOJ will charge four Chinese researchers with visa fraud.

President Trump has announced a new initiative to send federal agents and money to support state and local police in cities like Chicago and Albuquerque. Republicans reach an agreement on the relief package, what's next for the package? And finally, California has now reported more COVID-19 cases than any other state.

With cases up and approval ratings down, Trump changes course on the pandemic. Meanwhile, many universities are revising their pandemic opening plans as well. And finally, are federal agents in Portland, Oregon and elsewhere acting legally?

150 federal agents are deploying to Chicago as a part of President Trump's plan to quell violence and unrest in U.S. cities. Two new coronavirus vaccines are closer to large scale trials. And Florida teachers head to court, saying an order mandating them to teach five days a week in classrooms goes against the State Constitution.