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China held large scale live-fire military drills in six zones around Taiwan, while the US Secretary of State met with the ASEAN ministers in Cambodia. Hungary's far-right leader Viktor Orbán is scheduled to speak at a conservative conference in Texas. The Reduce Inflation Act making its way through congress could help lower prescription drug prices.

Hurricane Ida left behind a trail of destruction on its way from the Gulf Coast all the way to New England. At least 46 people have died in the Northeast as the storm system unleashed tornadoes and record rain. In Texas, clinics that provide abortion services are grappling with the new state law that bans most abortions. What are the implications of the law for patients and healthcare providers? And the NRA has faced a series of setbacks.

Russia intensified its assault a day after one hundred Ukrainians were evacuated from a steel plant in the port city of Mariupol. To mixed reception, Russian troops are also active in other former Soviet Republics. And US scientists are looking for people to take part in a major study on Long COVID.

The US put new sanctions on Russia as Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with NATO leaders to discuss a long term plan. The Senate is expected to vote today to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman to sit on the highest court in the land. And, President Biden is making it easier for millions of students to pay back their loans. Thanks for waking up with Up First. You hear from us every morning and now we need to hear from you. Please take our short survey at NPR.org/UpFirstSurvey to share your feedback.

The US Supreme Court appears ready to strike down Roe v. Wade, according to a leaked draft opinion published by Politico. Primaries kick off in Ohio and Indiana as the 2022 midterm election season heats up. And South Asia faces a punishing heatwave that could be a warning to the rest of the world about global warming.