War in Ukraine leaves scar; Iranian activist wins Nobel Prize

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.

Today’s top stories

A new analysis from NASA’s Harvest program — shared exclusively with NPR — reveals that 6.5-8.5% of Ukraine’s total cropland is unplanted or abandoned due to Russian and Ukrainian troops’ heavy artillery use during the war. It’s left a scar so vast it’s visible from space.

• Despite the vast amount of unused farmland, researchers tell NPR’s Geoff Brumfiel on Up First that Ukrainian farmers were able to maintain production this year because of their resilience and good weather conditions. But Harvest program director Inbal Becker-Reshef tells him that if more shells fall, a hit to production could be inevitable and affect the global food supply. 

Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz angered many in his party this week after he advanced a vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. But the opinion among his constituents is much more supportive.

• NPR’s Greg Allen has been speaking with Republican voters in Gaetz’s district. He says everyone loved Gaetz for removing McCarthy, and many expressed “deep dissatisfaction” that Democrats control the Senate and White House. Still, some expressed concern that Republicans could be hurt in the midterm elections if a new speaker isn’t elected quickly.

The Biden administration announced yesterday that it would restart deportations to Venezuela and resume repatriation flights immediately. The administration is trying to discourage migrants from crossing the U.S-Mexico border illegally. Economic and political turmoil in Venezuela has fueled record levels of migration. This year, 400,000 migrants have crossed the Darién Gap, a treacherous stretch of roadless jungle between South America and Central America, to reach the U.S., according to Panamanian officials.

…