Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe 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.
Consumer prices in September were 3.7% higher than they were a year ago, according to a Labor Department report . A spike in energy prices linked to the U.S. war with Iran drove up the cost of living. Excluding energy and food prices, core inflation reached 2.6% in September, up from August. The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% increase in benefits for next year after the release of the inflation report. This annual cost-of-living adjustment is based on prices from July, August and September. Some recipients say the increase is not enough .
Rising gasoline and diesel prices pushed inflation higher in September. The cost of living index was up 3.7%, according to a report Wednesday from the Labor Department. Isabelle Souriment/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will resume attacks on Russian oil refineries, despite President Trump's request to refrain from doing so. Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that he had ordered commanders to stand down earlier this week, but wouldn't anymore. But Ukraine's ability to conduct these long-range attacks may be limited, as it has seen sudden crippling restrictions to Starshield, the satellite communications system provided by the U.S.
A man shot and wounded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in New York last week says he didn't know the men who shot him were ICE agents until after he woke up in the hospital. A new petition filed in Brooklyn federal court says the agents — many of them masked — didn't identify themselves before approaching Oscar Belgal's vehicle with their firearms drawn. The filing contradicts the Trump administration's version of events.
Go face-to-face with the person of the moment. NPR's Newsmakers video podcast brings the biggest names in politics, business, sports, arts, and culture out of the headlines and into the interview chair to discuss the mark they're making on the world. Follow the Newsmakers podcast or subscribe to NPR's YouTube channel to get new episodes as soon as they're available.
California-based Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has emerged as a key target for the GOP ahead of the midterm elections. The president recently labeled him a "terrible liability" and a "communist." In Michigan, political ads attempting to link him to Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayef repeatedly play Piker's most controversial statements, including the infamous "America deserved 9/11." Piker remains confident that he won't hinder Democrats this November. In a conversation with Morning Edition 's Leila Fadel, he reflects on his past remarks, the loneliness young men feel and his critique of Tucker Carlson.
Watch or listen to the interview or read the article about their discussion.
Australian DJ Lenny Pearce performs in Baltimore. KT Kanazawich for NPR hide caption
Australian DJ Lenny Pearce is taking over venues with his toddler rave world tour. Yes, it's is exactly what it sounds like: techno dance parties for families. Most of the dance floor is filled with little ones under the age of five. Around 5 p.m., the speakers blast nursery rhymes like "Bingo" and "The Wheels on the Bus," while the bar offers a refreshing house specialty: apple juice. Pearce kicked off the North American leg of his tour in Baltimore, but has sold-out shows in cities such as New York and Los Angeles and has already captivated audiences in Bahrain, Singapore and India. Take a look at these photos of the young ravers at his events .
At Palmyra Atoll in the remote Pacific Ocean, wildlife refuge manager Paige Mino observes red-footed boobies. Scientists have found a surprising link between the seabirds and the health of the surrounding ocean. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption
NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.