Good morning and Happy New Year. You're reading a special edition of the Up First newsletter. Our team is taking a break for the holiday. We’ll see you tomorrow with more of the news you need to start your day, plus a little joy and wonder.
A journey catered to you
Whatever your New Year’s resolution looks like, NPR has a newsletter journey that will help you smash your goals this month. These limited-run newsletter series offer expert strategies and best practices for a wide range of goals, from improving sleep to paying off debt. Sign up to join one or more of these journeys, and you'll receive a series of emails on your chosen topic. You can start at any time. So, whether you are ready to begin your resolution today or need more time to decide on your goals, you can proceed at your own pace.
LA Johnson/NPR
Life Kit just launched its latest newsletter journey to help readers build muscle and get stronger. No matter if you already have a workout routine or are just starting your fitness journey, the team wants to show you that resistance training requires neither complex moves nor endless hours of effort. Life Kit's Guide to Building Strength will include expert advice on how to get started with gaining muscle, strength exercises to practice, assumptions that may hold us back but shouldn’t, and strategies to keep you going beyond the month and more.
If strength is not your focus for 2026 or you're an overachiever who wants to tackle more than one resolution, we have options. Check out these newsletter series and all they have to offer to assist in your resolutions:
➡️ Managing stress can be the key to thriving, which is why NPR went on a quest to help you reclaim your calm. There are a few simple strategies that can help you reduce stress and increase positive feelings. The Stress Less guideoffers skills that you can practice and improve upon, which can help you cope better during challenging times.
➡️ Looking to go alcohol-free this month for Dry January? It can be a challenging task, both personally and socially. But taking a short break from alcohol can help you improve your sleep, clear up your skin and more. Take on the challenge with these expert tips in Life Kit’s Guide to Zero-Alcohol Month.
➡️ Getting a good night's rest is critical to your well-being, though it isn't always easy to go to bed on time or sleep through the night. But 2026 is the year to put an end to bad sleep habits and get the optimal rest you need with Life Kit's Guide to Better Sleep.
➡️ Kick your credit card debt to the curb! Try Life Kit’s Guide to Paying Off Credit Card Debt to master expert strategies that slash your spending and supercharge your savings.
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Looking ahead to 2026
Annelise Capossela for NPR
The Trump administration and Congress are currently overhauling student loan borrowing limits and repayment timelines. In early December 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced it had reached a settlement to end the popular Biden-era student loan repayment plan known as SAVE. Now, roughly 7 million SAVE borrowers will need to adjust their plans, as repayment options will undergo significant changes this year. Here’s what you need to know.
Since 1979, Toast of the Nation has celebrated the new year by showcasing premier live performances from around the world. To ring in 2026, the program is highlighting a variety of world-class sets, including Nicole Zuraitis in Las Vegas, Kassa Overall in New York and Sofia Rei in Croatia. The broadcast also features one of the late Jack DeJohnette's final performances.
Last year, the Trump administration and politicians across the political spectrum brought in a wave of changes. To catch up as the new year begins, the NPR Politics Podcast takes a look at what lawmakers were and weren't able to achieve. The podcast will also examine how those changes may influence politicians’ agendas for 2026.
What awaits us in the world of pop culture this year? The Pop Culture Happy Hour team presents their annual predictions, tackling everything from the rise of AI and the future of RuPaul's Drag Race to the next chapters of the Law & Order universe. Plus, they look back at their predictions for 2025 and see how things worked out.
The Trump administration disrupted much of the federal funding for research in 2025, significantly impacting U.S. science. Administration officials say the changes invigorated federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, but experts disagree. NPR correspondents Rob Stein and Katia Riddle discuss the future of science discovery with Short Wave host Emily Kwong.
Looking to try something other than a New Year’s resolution this year? Try asking yourself an open-ended question that you can sit with for the year. Krista Tippett, host and creator of the On Being radio show, shared on NPR's TED Radio Hour that a question can help shape you in important ways. She also expressed that rushing toward an answer can minimize the uncertainty you could be feeling about a topic. Here are examples of questions you could ask yourself and how you can develop your own question for 2026.
Swap mindless browsing for meaningful listening. From live local radio to personalized playlists and podcasts, the NPR app delivers the clarity you need without the clutter you don’t. It’s the smartest way to stay connected to your world in 2026.
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