good morning You are reading the Up First newsletter. Subscription 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.
top story of the day
Scorching temperatures took over from the Midwest yesterday. In the next few days, a heat wave is predicted to reach the Great Lakes, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic. Meteorologists say temperatures could break daily records. It could be the longest heat wave experienced in decades for some locations, according to the National Weather Service.
- ☀️ Try to stay indoors as much as possible if you live in heat danger. If you must go out, stay safe by avoiding these eight mistakes.
The Israeli military announced yesterday that it will take a break from fighting from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day. road about seven miles on the southern route in the Rafah area of Gaza. The pause is intended to allow aid trucks to travel safely from the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel deeper into Gaza.
- 🎧 NPR’s Kat Lonsdorf says it’s too early to tell how restful it will be. The UN spokesman for Palestinian affairs said the agency could not take advantage of the first day of the pause because of the “law and order situation” on the ground. During the press tour, an Israeli military spokesman told NPR’s Daniel Estrin that more than 1,000 aid trucks were waiting at the border, but blamed the UN and other aid groups for not doing their part to distribute them effectively.
- 🎧 The pause comes as Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice. Palestinians in Gaza describe a bleak Eid, as food is hard to come by, let alone meat for Eid al-Fitr sacrifices.
Hundreds of thousands of US soldiers and their families cannot find health care off base when the Pentagon ordered them to do so. An NPR investigation found that 50% of US military bases are in federally designated health professional shortage areas — commonly referred to as “health care deserts.”
- 🪖 Some bases have their own military hospitals and clinics, but they’re expensive, NPR’s Quil Lawrence told Go up first. The Pentagon has tried to shrink the health care system in the past decade by outsourcing private civilian care. This is not easy because of the “lack of flexibility in the civilian health care system,” and many hospitals refuse to accept the troops’ Tricare insurance. The Pentagon acknowledged that downsizing has gone too far and needs to reverse course in an internal memo obtained by NPR.
There were some surprises at the 77th annual Tony Awards last night, except for the winner of Best Musical. An outsideran energetic adaptation of SE Hinton’s beloved YA book, took home the final award of the night. Hell’s Kitchen, the musical based on the life of Alicia Keys, won only two awards out of 13 nominations. Below are five events from the ceremony and the full list of winners.
Deep dive
If you spend the weekend binge-watching Bridgerton and then stay up way too late for Dragon House like me, you may know a little something about guilty pleasures. Whether you’re reading “romance” or eating chocolate, here’s what makes a “guilty” pleasure different, why it might be just what you need to get through a tough day, and how to have a balanced cycle of pleasure.
- ❤️ For a long time, neuroscientists thought the brain had a single “pleasure” system driven by dopamine. Many now believe that the brain may have separate pathways for “wanting” and “pleasing.”
- ❤️ Research shows that guilt something can make us happier.
- ❤️ Think about it why you may feel guilty about your interests and consider embracing what brings you joy instead.
- ❤️ You can get stuck wanting something that doesn’t make you happy, like smartphones and video games. Focusing on social pleasures can help you find balance.
Exhibition of pictures
Ben de la Cruz/NPR
Worldwide, women account for three-quarters of all unpaid carers, according to the International Labor Organization. At Bogotá’s Care School for Men, a city-led program, men learn how to take care of their families and their homes and to be able to do housework and take care of children. In addition to hands-on learning, participating men also discussed the importance of challenging the gender norms they were raised with. Ferley Sáenz said the program allowed her to reconnect with her children.
- 📷 See pictures of Sáenz testing his skills at home with family and other participants hard at work.
3 things to know before you go
- Welcome to Westeros. Season 2 of Dragon House premiered yesterday. NPR’s Glen Weldon recounts the bloody incident and offers some parting thoughts. Warning: Spoilers ahead.
- The Kunsthaus Zurich museum in Switzerland will remove five paintings from public view to investigate whether they were looted by the Nazis during World War II.
- The International Olympic Committee replaced the 1900 silver medal in the men’s 25 kilometer cycling race from England to France.
This newsletter is edited by Majd Al-Waheidi. Anandita Bhalerao contribute.