Up First from NPR

Episode: The Second Trump Administration, South America Shifts Right, Time For Sports
Date: December 27, 2025
Hosts: Scott Simon, Daniel Estrin
Key Contributors: Ron Elving, Kerry Kahn, Howard Bryant, Marco Rubio

Overview

This episode looks back at 2025 and ahead to 2026, focusing on three major stories:

• The first year of Donald Trump’s second administration, its impact on American politics, and future challenges.
• The dramatic rightward political shift in South America, driven by rising crime and security concerns—and the influence of U.S. policy.
• A lively review of the year in sports, dominated by gambling scandals, a historic World Series, and shifting NFL fortunes.

The Second Trump Administration: Reflection and Future Outlook

Key Points & Insights

• Trump’s Second Term Distinct from the First ([03:43]–[06:55])

  • The administration is now staffed by Trump loyalists—“dedicated enablers” in both the cabinet and White House, in contrast to his first term’s more traditional figures.
    • Ron Elving (04:58): “This time around, we have a cabinet and White House staff dominated by dedicated enablers willing to carry out orders the way Trump has always thought all his employees should.”
  • Elving expects Trump to be even less restrained, unconcerned with previous or potential consequences.
  • Policy shifts of the year include new tariffs, a deportation drive, and military strikes executed without congressional approval.
  • The administration has engaged in “personal retribution”—e.g., partial demolition of the White House and rebranding major institutions with Trump’s name.

• Challenges and Party Divisions ([04:58]–[07:36])

  • There are growing rifts within the Republican Party, especially as the 2026 midterms approach.
  • Areas of division: U.S. policy on Ukraine, economic issues, and high-profile controversies (“the Epstein files”).
  • Particularly notable is infighting among non-office-holding Trump supporters, especially cultural activists and media figures, fighting over the “MAGA megaphone.”
    • Ron Elving (06:05): “There are tremendous divisions among some of his supporters who are not office holders… They’re at odds with each other over Israel, over Epstein, over Venezuela, and they’re battling over who gets the MAGA megaphone when Trump begins to fade.”

• The Rule of Law and Political Norms

  • The administration has shown willingness to “test the boundaries” of legal and institutional norms, challenging both the spirit and letter of the law.
    • Ron Elving (06:14): “In all of this, we see a willingness to test the boundaries, try the locks on the doors, see what's open, see what happens, and ultimately to see who will step up to enforce the law.”

• What to Watch in 2026

  • Media and political attention will heavily scrutinize Trump’s personal health and public image as he turns 80 in June.
  • Once the midterms conclude, focus will shift to the question of succession—who could lead the movement after Trump.

South America Shifts Right: Security, Crime, and U.S. Influence

Key Points & Insights

• Region-wide Rightward Shift ([07:49]–[13:32])

  • Multiple South American countries, including Bolivia and Chile, saw historic victories for conservatives and even far-right candidates.
  • The Trump administration in the U.S. bolstered this swing, increasing both military involvement and political support for right-wing allies.
    • Secretary of State Marco Rubio (08:11): “The goal here is to bring security and stability to the hemisphere, to the region we live in.”

• Driving Forces: Crime, Security, and Populism ([08:29]–[10:32])

  • Voters’ concerns have sharply shifted from economic inequality and social issues to crime, violence, and security.
    • Kerry Kahn (08:59): “Overwhelmingly voters are concerned about crime, violence, and security… That's the significant shift in the landscape here when the left took power.”
  • Policies modeled after El Salvador’s mano dura (“iron fist”) are popular—military in the streets, harsher sentences, new prisons, and restrictions on civil rights in the name of order.
  • Harsh anti-immigration measures (e.g., border fences, ditches, mass deportations) are taking prominence, as voters connect migration with crime.

• U.S. Influence Strong and Explicit ([10:35]–[11:27])

  • Trump’s aggressive interventions and vocal backing of right-wing leaders inspire copycat policies—and deliver material support, such as a massive bailout to Argentina’s President Xavier Milei ahead of elections.
  • The term “security populism” is taking hold, describing the trend of using tough-on-crime rhetoric to win elections.

• Crime, Corruption, and New Threats ([11:32]–[12:44])

  • Organized crime groups are richer and more powerful, with huge revenues not just from drugs but also from migrant and gold trafficking.
  • These groups can overwhelm even once-strong institutions, such as in Uruguay and Chile.
    • Kerry Kahn (11:32): “We're seeing countries like Uruguay and Chile that had relatively strong institutions just falter in the face of these crime gangs.”
  • A poignant moment: Kahn recounts a banana farmer in Ecuador confronting European friends about the impact of cocaine demand on his country—a personal story that underscores the global connections.

• Ahead in 2026

  • Major elections in Brazil and Colombia expected, with security likely to remain the top concern.
  • Structural problems—high commodity prices, rising drug demand—suggest the trend toward the right will continue.

2025 in Sports: Scandals, Triumphs, and Transition

Key Points & Insights

• Gambling Scandals Rock Sports ([13:41]–[15:45])

  • 2025 saw an unprecedented wave of gambling-related suspensions: NBA, MLB, college basketball, and more.
  • High-profile player bans—Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase (MLB), Jontay Porter (NBA), and others.
  • As legal sports betting explodes, fans and leagues now grapple with the fallout and the trustworthiness of competitions.
    • Howard Bryant (14:13): “The more you watch these games with your high definition televisions and the controversial calls… the more you begin to wonder, are you watching a legitimate contest? And that is the death knell for sports.”

• A World Series for the Ages ([15:45]–[16:29])

  • The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic, record-breaking 7-game showdown.
  • Despite scandals, moments of great play still have the power to captivate.
    • Howard Bryant (15:58): “That Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series was one of the greatest things you've ever seen… It is that reminder of the power of what sports brings for us.”

• Stars and Dynasties: Ohtani and the Chiefs ([16:29]–[18:01])

  • Shohei Ohtani, again, takes center stage as a generational talent and marvel.
  • NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs experience a harsh decline, missing playoffs for the first time since 2014—sparking debate about the end of their dynasty.
    • Bryant (17:25): “I don't think so yet… The Patriots had down years, they thought the dynasty was over in 2009. And then they came back… I wouldn't count [the Chiefs] out yet.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Trump’s Second Term:
  “There’s little chance he’s going to be cowed by threats of consequences this time around.”
  – Ron Elving ([04:10])

• On Right-Wing Surge in South America:
  “The right has really straightforward tough on crime plans... and they are resonating better with voters.”
  – Kerry Kahn ([09:41])

• On Sports Betting’s Growing Shadow:
  “Are you going to trust what you’re watching or are we simply going to watch these athletes be the ones who individually get bounced out of the game and the game maintains its legitimacy? I think it’s a very, very difficult balance.”
  – Howard Bryant ([15:32])

• Personal Story from South America:
  “He told them, don’t you know what that has done—your consumption has done to my country? And the people at the party just could not connect the dots.”
  – Kerry Kahn ([12:30])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Trump Second Administration Analysis: [03:35]–[07:40]
• South America Rightward Shift: [07:49]–[13:32]
• Year in Sports Recap: [13:41]–[18:07]

This summary covers the episode’s core reporting, omitting promotional messages and production credits. The original NPR conversational tone is preserved throughout, with direct speaker attribution for all quotes and major insights.