Up First from NPR
Biden Cancer Diagnosis, Escalation In Gaza, Kentucky Storm Recovery
Mon, 19 May 2025
The diagnosis of prostate cancer for the former president comes just days ahead of the release of a book detailing questions about his mental fitness as president. Israel's military says troops are now operating in multiple points throughout Gaza strip, in an operation dubbed Gideon's Chariots. More than two dozen people are dead in Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia after tornadoes and storms over the weekend. 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 Kevin Drew, Carrie Kahn, Anna Yukhananov, Ally Schweitzer, and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Zac Coleman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What is President Biden's cancer diagnosis?
President Biden once championed an effort to cut cancer deaths in half.
Now his office says he received his own cancer diagnosis. The news comes amid a widespread discussion of his fitness during his years in office.
I'm Steve Inskeep with Leila Fadal, and this is Up First from NPR News. Israel has expanded its ground offensive in Gaza in an operation called Gideon's Chariots, forcing Palestinians to flee again. Why now amid ceasefire talks?
And recovery is underway after storms killed more than two dozen people in three states over the weekend. Kentucky's governor says there's been an outpouring of help.
And to each of those individuals looking at what used to be their home that are wondering where they start, there's going to be a bunch of people that show up and say, start with me.
Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.
This is Ira Glass, the host of This American Life. So much is changing so rapidly right now with President Trump in office. It feels good to pause for a moment sometimes and look around at what's what.
To try and do that, we've been finding these incredible stories about right now that are funny and have feeling and you get to see people everywhere making sense of this new America that we find ourselves in. This American Life, wherever you get your podcasts.
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Chapter 2: How is the situation in Gaza escalating?
And the former president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physician's. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in elderly men, and Biden is 82 years old. He was the oldest president in U.S.
history, and there has been this intense focus on his health for years now, but especially after the disastrous debate performance less than a year ago, that performance that ultimately led to him dropping out of the race for president.
And I want to talk more about that. But before we get to that, I mean, reactions have been pouring in to this diagnosis or the news of this diagnosis. Any of them stand out to you?
President Trump, who spends a lot of time trashing Biden, was quite gracious, writing on social media that he and the first lady were saddened to hear about his diagnosis and wish Biden a fast and successful recovery.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris posted, quote, I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.
Now, Tam, you talked about his decline while in office and the focus of that. And this is all happening in a week where there was already going to be a focus on the former president because of the release of a book about his health while in office, right?
Yeah, the book is called Original Sin, written by CNN's Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson from Axios. And it alleges that Biden experienced both a physical and cognitive decline while in office and that those closest to him covered it up.
In an interview with NPR's Scott Detrow that will air on All Things Considered later today, Tapper said everyone loses their train of thought or forgets a name from time to time, but this was different.
We're talking about to the point of you are not able to have a conversation. You are not able to come up with data, information, knowledge, names that you should have at the ready.
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Chapter 3: What is the current status of storm recovery in Kentucky?
NPR's Daniel Estrin is covering the story, and he joins us now. Good morning, Daniel.
Good morning, Leila.
So a lot of big developments this weekend. And so let's just break them down one at a time. And let's start with the ground offensive. What do we know there?
Israel had been threatening to expand the war if a deal with Hamas was not reached by the time President Trump left the region late last week. And now that officially has begun. The operation is called Gideon's Chariots. It began Sunday. Just in the last few days, more than 100 people have been killed on average every day, according to Gaza health officials. NPR's Anas Baba is in Gaza City.
He's been watching Palestinians flee this heavy bombardment from northern Gaza. They're fleeing by donkey cart and by foot. The people here, they look desperate, pale.
Some of them, they cannot even walk. You can see the children in front of me at the meantime. They are carrying pots and empty cans and roaming the streets.
Anas spoke with one man who was fleeing, Wael al-Kilani. And that man described intense bombing and shelling. He said he was fleeing planes who were striking, artillery fire, tanks, Israeli military dropping flyers ordering evacuations from the area. The Israeli military spokesman says that unlike earlier in the war where troops were going in and out of areas in Gaza...
He says that any territory captured by Israel this time is going to remain under its control. Israel is threatening to gradually expand this new offensive until they reach a deal with Hamas to release hostages.
So as you describe this intensifying of attacks, there's also news of ceasefire negotiations that began this weekend. Is there any hope these will be successful?
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