Search and Rescue in Venezuela, Election Security, Free Childcare

Up First from NPR

This episode of Up First covers three major stories: the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela following a devastating earthquake, President Trump's push for the Save America Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and New Mexico's rollout of universal free childcare. Each segment highlights urgent challenges and policy debates across international disaster response, election integrity, and

Key takeaways

• Venezuela's earthquake has killed over 900 people, with rescue efforts hampered by damaged infrastructure and lack of heavy equipment.
• International aid is arriving, but local volunteers are often the only ones able to search through rubble due to government resource shortages.
• President Trump's Save America Act, though stalled in Congress, may be a strategic move to challenge election results if he loses in November.

Transcript preview

Countries around the world are rushing aid to Venezuela. Individuals are too. The earthquake was another blow to a country that was already straining under multiple crises. I'm Scott Simon. I'm Aye Sharasco and this is up first from NPR News. Firefighters hospitals and rescue crews are overwhelmed. Volunteers are pouring into help. Also President Trump wants everyone to provide proof of citizenship before voting. His bill isn't passing and that might be a way for him to contest election results this fall. Democratic socialists are on a roll in New York City but what's the appetite for progressive policies and the rest of America? Look at New Mexico where child care is now free for everyone. So stay with us, we have the news you need to start your weekend. Three days after a powerful double earthquake struck Venezuela, the country struggles to cope with the aftermath. The quakes hit within a minute of each other causing widespread destruction near the capital Caracas. The government says more than 900 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured. Thousands more people are missing. International search and rescue teams are arriving. But limited equipment and an overstretched health system are slowing them down. In some areas, residents are using. their bare hands to dig for survivors. John Otis has just arrived in Caracas. John, thanks for being with us. Thanks for having me, Scott. You have been to Caracas many times before. What were your first impressions as you came in this time? Yeah, well, the fact is we had to drive in all the way from the Colombian border into Caracas, and that's quite telling because the international airport just outside of the city was badly damaged in the earthquake and it remains close. We really had no other. way to get here. And as for Caracas, many areas were spared, but parts of some neighborhoods like Altamita were devastated. Now that's the sound of rescue workers using a chainsaw to cut a tunnel through the remains of this high-rise apartment building that collapsed nearby were piles of mangled rebar and a crushed car. For their part, many survivors of quake damaged buildings are too scared to sleep indoors and so they're camping in the Altamira Park. I saw one couple curled up in blankets sleeping with their pet poodle next to a sculpture in the park. For me this is an especially surreal site. Altamira is this beautiful upscale neighborhood. I've stayed here on previous reporting trips and it's just really sad to see. John, that critical window of 48 to 72 hours to find survivors is obviously closing. Aid is arriving from abroad and locally, but is it enough. While we were driving into Caracas, we passed convoy after convoy of aid trucks trying to get to the disaster zone. But one problem is that the government lacks heavy equipment like bulldozers and backhose. That's partly why you see a lot of average folks taking matters into their own hands. One of them is Carlos, a lawyer whose aunt and cousin were in that high-rise that collapsed. yellow helmet and gloves and he's saying that he's been here for the past three days helping to remove debris and also praying that his loved ones somehow survive. John what's the government's response been so far? Acting President Delce you Rodriguez and her team appear to be doing what they can with very limited resources but these limitations are also the government's own fault. Remember Rodriguez took power after US troops ousted President Nicolas Maduro back in January. And she was Maduro's vice president as well as a big cheerleader for his authoritarian regime for many years and that regime