Analysis of the first data from the CUORE $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay search*

CUORE---the Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events---is an experiment based at the Gran Sasso National Laboratories in Italy, searching for the neutrinoless double beta ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay of $^{130}$Te. A ton-scale bolometer consisting of 988 5$\times$5$\times$5 cm$^3$ TeO$_2$ crystals operated at $\sim$10 mK temperatures, CUORE began taking physics data in the spring of 2017. It is expected to achieve a $9\times$10$^{25}$ year $^{130}$Te half life sensitivity (90$\%$ C.L.) after a 5 year live time. We present an analysis of early data from the experiment, focusing on spectral line shape, resolution and background performance, as well as preliminary $0\nu\beta\beta$ results.