House Votes On Epstein Files, MAGA Coalition Cracks, Saudi Leader Visits White House

Up First from NPR

NPR

Daily News, News

4.5 • 52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2025

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The House votes today on whether to force the release of long-awaited Epstein files, a move pushed by a bipartisan coalition despite President Trump’s earlier efforts to stop it. A widening feud between Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene exposes growing cracks inside the MAGA movement over foreign policy and the “America First” agenda. And President Trump welcomes Saudi Arabia’s crown prince to the White House as both sides seek deeper security and economic ties.

Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Megan Pratz, Rebecca Rossman, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	The House votes on releasing the Epstein files today.
0:05.4	People on hand include women who accuse Jeffrey Epstein of abusing them as minors.
0:10.2	This idea that, no, there's nothing more to see here. We don't buy it.
0:13.4	I'ma Martinez with Steve Inskeep, and this is up first from NPR News.
0:20.9	Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Green asked if the president has lost sight of his own
0:25.6	agenda.
0:26.3	I think that the American people deserve to be put first.
0:29.1	That's what make America great again meant to me.
0:32.4	The president has disowned a lawmaker who was one of his loudest allies.
0:36.9	What does this divide mean for the Maga
0:38.5	Movement? Also, President Trump welcomes the ruler of Saudi Arabia to the White House today.
0:43.0	What does the president want from the Saudis? And what do they want from him? Stay with us.
0:47.8	We've got the news you need to start your day.
0:59.9	This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe.
1:05.9	When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees.
1:09.4	Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com.
1:10.6	T's and Cs Apply. This message comes from TED Talks Daily, a podcast from TED, bringing you new ideas every day through TED Talks and conversations.
1:18.6	Learn about the ideas shaping humanity, from connecting with your inner monologue to finding out of aliens exist.
1:25.6	Listen to TED Talks Daily.
1:30.1	On the next through line from NPR,
1:32.2	the mother of Thanksgiving.
1:35.8	If every state should join in Union Thanksgiving on the 24th of this month,
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 3 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.