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A visit to the remote Pacific island ecosystem losing protections
A thousand miles south of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a series of tiny islands form an atoll, called Palmyra. Palmyra Atoll is part of four protected U.S. marine monuments, forming the country’s largest environmental conservation area. It is also home to a thriving ecosystem of birds, marine life, and one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.
No people live on Palmyra full time, and it is rare for journalists to be granted access. But the Trump administration is now trying to roll back longstanding protections by opening nearby waters to commercial fishing. NPR’s Lauren Sommer was given access to visit Palmyra Atoll. Newly back from her trip, she tells host Ayesha Rascoe about everything she saw. They talk about the wildlife, the ocean, the reefs, and what the islands and offshore waters mean to native Hawaiians, conservationists, and commercial fishers.
If you are interested in seeing photos from Lauren’s trip to Palmyra Atoll, you can find them here (https://apps.npr.org/troubled-waters/).
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22 Aug 2026
IndyCar in DC; Fresh Tariffs on Canadian Goods; National Debt Hits $40 Trillion
The IndyCar Grand Prix comes to the nation's capital. And, Canada's prime minister suspended trade talks with the U.S., bringing new 50 percent tariffs on a host of Canadian imports. Plus, we'll look at the national debt, which hit $40 trillion earlier this week.
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21 Aug 2026
Economic Warfare On Iran, White House Ballroom, Bond Market Warning Signs
President Trump is doubling down on economic pressure against Iran, threatening consequences for any country that provides a lifeline as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepares to detail the plan next week.
The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on President Trump’s White House ballroom project, which a lawsuit argues needed congressional approval and the administration is now framing the ballroom as a military complex.
Investors sold off both stocks and bonds as the yield on government debt hit its highest level in nearly two decades, despite efforts by the Treasury to calm the market.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Emily Kopp, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Paige Waterhouse and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Kaity Kline.
We get engineering support from Carleigh Strange. Our technical director is Eowyn <> Fain.
And our executive producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(1:54) Economic Warfare on Iran
(5:47) White House Ballroom
(9:44) Bond Market Warning Signs
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