In Alabama, the push that led to Voting Rights Act of 1965 intersects with the recent weakening of the statute and redistricting. Three generations of activists reflect on what it means for midterms.

This episode was produced by Jeff Pierre, Matt Ozug, and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Robert Rodriguez. Jonas Adams is our director. It was edited by Ashley Brown, Tinbete Ermyas, Ben Swasey, and Larry Kaplow. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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President Trump has made immigration enforcement a key part of his second term. Part of that plan included purchasing warehouses across the country. The idea was to house immigrants there and eventually deport them. But the plan soon faced legal challenges. In Roxbury, New Jersey, the Trump administration has been told to halt their plans until environmental assessments can be done. But exclusive NPR reporting shows that’s not the case.

This episode was produced by Erika Ryan, with audio engineering by Peter Ellena.

Jonas Adams is our director. 

It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas and Alina Hartounian.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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A former student’s accusation that she was drugged and gang raped by seven men in 2024 has sparked protests at Cornell University. New York  Attorney General Letitia James is leading a new criminal investigation into this case. But pursuing prosecutions could be complicated by New York law.


This episode was produced by Linah Mohammad and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. Jonas Adams is our director. 

It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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It's four weeks until midterm Election Day. Polls put the chances of a Democratic takeover of both chambers of Congress much higher than they were a few months ago. President Trump is focusing his efforts on rallying his base in states he won big in 2024, like Nebraska. But will that persuade voters unhappy with the state of the economy and deeply dissatisfied with Trump?

This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, Tyler Bartlam and Jason Fuller, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Megan Pratz, Kara Platoni, Tinbete Ermyas, Sarah Handel and Jeanette Woods.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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The Supreme Court began a new term on Monday. The signature feature of the Trump presidency has been an effort to expand his own power as the executive and test his constitutional limits. So, it's not surprising that a lot of his agenda has wound up before the Supreme Court.


This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, Jason Fuller and Brianna Scott, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Dana Farrington, Anna Yukhananov, Christopher Intagliata, Patrick Jarenwattananon, and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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In Brazil, conservative Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro - who is under house arrest for staging a coup - came in ahead of the leftist incumbent, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, in the first round of Brazil's presidential election. President Trump has been watching Brazil's presidential vote very closely. At stake: the direction of one of the world’s top ten global economies and the future of U.S. involvement in Latin America, at a time when several countries in the region have moved to the right.

This episode was produced by Daniel Ofman and Henry Larson. Our director is Elena Burnett.

It was edited by Sarah Robbins and Tara Neill.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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For centuries people have sought out saunas and hot springs for their supposed healing properties. But the science behind those claims can be quite vague. So NPR science correspondent Will Stone headed to the International Sauna Congress in Norway to find out just what we know about the health benefits of saunas. 


This episode was produced by Gabriel Sanchez, with engineering by Eowyn Fain. Our director is Elena Burnett.

It was edited by Adam Raney.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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NY Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed the state's attorney general, Letita James, to oversee the investigation into an alleged gang rape that took place at Cornell University in 2024. Gov. Hochul said "new information has raised serious questions about how this case was handled, and I’ve lost faith in the Tompkins County D.A.’s ability to fairly oversee it." 

The story feels depressingly familiar to many women across the country. How are they living through this moment?

This episode was produced by Sophia Paliza-Carre, Mia Venkat and Connor Donevan with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Sarah Handel, Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Christa Pike is on death row in Tennessee for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Pike was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday night, but she was still alive after receiving two doses of a lethal injection. Now Pike is in critical condition, according to her attorneys. What do we know about what happened, and what comes next?


This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Susanna Capelouto, Gigi Douban, Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Meta has a vision for the future. It’s launched an AI agent that can act like your own personal assistant, called Muse. The idea is that you can give Muse access to your accounts and apps, and it will start assisting. But the autonomy that gives the app its power has the potential to backfire.


This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Josephine Nyounai. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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In New York, prosecutors have reopened an investigation into allegations that a student was gang raped by seven fraternity members at Cornell University in 2024. The incident has reignited debates about how to keep students safe on campus. Can federal law make things safer? NY Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand shares her thoughts.


This episode was produced by Vincent Acovino and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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New York prosecutors say they are reopening an investigation into an alleged rape case from 2024 that involved Cornell University students. What do we know about the new allegations - and how is it being felt on campus?

This episode was produced by Gurjit Kaur, Mia Venkat and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Sarah Handel, Gigi Douban and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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U.S. forces are withdrawing from Iraq after a two-decade long military presence. Yet, Iraq is still central to the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran - and is caught in the crossfire. 

What does the troop withdrawal mean for U.S. influence in the region and does it present an opportunity for other nations to fill the vacuum?

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This episode was produced by Daniel Ofman, Linah Mohammad and Jeff Pierre, with audio engineering by Becky Brown. Our director is Vincent Acovino.

It was edited by Sarah Robbins.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Amid low approval ratings, several Republican candidates in competitive races are breaking with President Trump as midterms approach. Will it last?


This episode was produced by Connor Donevan and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams. It was edited by Kelsey Snell, Justine Kenin and Tinbete Ermyas. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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If you're looking for a house to purchase or a place to rent, you're probably feeling squeezed. Mortgage rates have hit seven percent - and a new study shows that renters across the economic spectrum are having trouble paying rent. What's happening in the housing market?


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This episode was produced by Megan Lim, Kai McNamee, and Jason Fuller, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas, Rafael Nam, Justine Kenin, Merrit Kennedy, and Jeanette Woods.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Jensen Huang is the CEO of Nvidia, arguably the world's most important AI company. He also has the ear of President Trump, who is about to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to discuss a number of topics, including AI. Amid the debate about whether rapid AI development is dangerous to humanity, how might Huang's ideas shape President Trump's thoughts?


This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Jimmy Keel. Our director is Jonas Adams. It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Major news outlets, including NPR, have suspended their pool coverage, or are not broadcasting video or audio of President Trump, in solidarity with the news outlets that were banned from the White House. In response, the White House created Trump TV - a YouTube channel, streaming President Trump’s old speeches.


This episode was produced by Megan Lim and Kai McNamee, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Mallory Yu and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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President Trump's battle with the press has escalated. On Friday, he banned three outlets from the White House. Those outlets are suing the Trump administration over the ban. On Monday, the five networks that coordinate television coverage of the president agreed to suspend that coverage.


This episode was produced by Elena Burnett and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Mallory Yu and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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President Trump and Xi Jinping will meet in Washington, D.C. this week as both sides look to gain an advantage in artificial intelligence development and face a reckoning on the risks of AI. In this moment, what does global leadership in AI look like?


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This episode was produced by Daniel Ofman and Henry Larson. Our director is Jason Fuller.

It was edited by Sarah Robbins.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Despite being instrumental in the founding of the United Nations, in recent years, the U.S. has marginalized the organization. For this week's Reporter's Notebook we hear from NPR Diplomacy Correspondent Michele Kelemen about the high stakes drama she has seen play out at the UN General Assembly over the past two decades.

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A number of European leaders have signaled that Russia is provoking nearby NATO countries. NATO’s article 5 is clear: an attack on one is an attack on all. But what counts as an attack? And how will NATO respond?


This episode was produced by Tyler Bartlam and Connor Donevan, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Earlier this year, OpenAI launched a new optional feature on ChatGPT called Trusted Contact. It's meant to help individuals at risk of suicide connect with someone they love and trust for support. But navigating its setup may prove challenging to someone in crisis.


This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse and Kai McNamee, with audio engineering by Eowyn Fain and Hannah Gluvna. 

Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Gisele Grayson, Diane Webber, Justine Kenin, AND Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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The Federal Reserve voted to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time in three years. That means it will cost more to borrow money - at a time when many people are feeling squeezed by high prices. 

How could the Fed's decision affect people's finances and the midterms?


This episode was produced by Gurjit Kaur and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Rafael Nam, Kelsey Snell, Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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AI leaders are warning about the threats posed by further advances of the technology and actively asking it to be regulated. What does Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, think about the future of AI and where it should go?


This episode was produced by Connor Donevan and Erika Ryan with audio engineering by Valentina Rodríguez Sanchez. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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In recent days, warnings and risks surrounding AI have taken an existential turn. A former Anthropic employee stated that "the people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade." And Anthropic's CEO urged AI companies to "pace the frontier" in developing new technologies.

But is there political will to make that happen?


This episode was produced by Sophia Paliza-Carre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Kara Platoni, Brett Neely, Rebekah Metzler, Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Top U.S. lawmakers are calling for talks to begin on Capitol Hill about a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, after the heads of some of the most prominent tech companies called for a slowdown of their own industry’s development of AI.

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This episode was produced by Daniel Ofman.

It was edited by Brett Neely, Michael Levitt and Sarah Robbins.

Our director is Jordan-Marie Smith.

And our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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The 9/11 attacks resulted in thousands of deaths -- and US response was massive, including new wars and surveillance programs. But what about the trial?

More than two decades after the attacks, it's still stuck in limbo. Why?


This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, Michelle Aslam and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna and Eowyn Fain. 

Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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The warning in former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon’s resignation announcement is stark. “The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade,” he writes. “No other human activity poses this level of danger.”

Coxon is urging Anthropic and other big artificial intelligence companies to slow their development of super intelligent agents. 

He says the current race dynamic could threaten human existence.

Coxon talks with NPR's Scott Detrow about why he’s worried and what he hopes will change.

This episode was produced by Connor Donevan and Jeffrey Pierre, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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The Lindsay Clancy case ended in a mistrial last week.

Clancy was on trial for killing her three children in 2023.

Neither Clancy nor her attorneys deny that she killed her children – but they argued she was experiencing postpartum psychosis.

And while the jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision on a charge, the jurors now have to live with the facts of the case and the graphic evidence they witnessed.

What kind of support exists for jurors after experiencing a difficult trial?


This episode was produced by Michelle Aslam and Mia Venkat. 

With additional reporting in from Deborah Becker. 

It was edited by Matt Ozug and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, is stepping down from his post at the end of the year.

The Smithsonian, which includes museums, libraries and a zoo, has been a frequent target of criticism by President Trump.

How might the leadership change affect the revered Institution?


This episode was produced by Jeff Pierre and Elena Burnett, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna and Damian Herring. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Matt Ozug and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of a new school year.

Across the country, more than 54 million students have returned to the classrooms.

NPR spoke with students and teachers in different parts of the country to hear how they're feeling as the school year begins.


This episode features reporting by Elizabeth Miller of Oregon Public Broadcasting, Beth Wallis of KOSU, and NPR's Jonaki Mehta.

VPM’s Megan Pauly also contributed reporting to this episode.

This episode was produced by Lauren Migaki and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Marc Rivers.

It was edited by Nirvi Shah, Steven Drummond and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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After the September 11th attacks, both Russia and China saw an opportunity to forge a closer relationship with the United States. 

Then, the U.S. fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and weathered the financial crisis of 2008. 

What did Russia and China learn about the United States along the way? 


This episode was produced by Daniel Ofman and Kathryn Fink.
It was edited by Janaya Williams and Sarah Robbins.
Our director is Alejandra Marquez Janse.
And our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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This week, the popular prediction market known as Kalshi banned former Congressman George Santos for life and fined him more than 70-thousand dollars — after he engaged in insider trading on the site.  


That came as no shock to NPR technology correspondent Bobby Allyn. Earlier this year, Allyn broke the story that Santos was under investigation by the Justice Department for manipulating the market about whether he would or would not attend this year’s State of the Union address.

For Reporter’s Notebook, Allyn talks about how he broke the story and the fallout from it.

This episode was produced by Gabriel Sanchez. 

Our director is Alejandra Marquez Janse.

It was edited by Adam Raney.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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A judge has declared a mistrial in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who faced murder charges for killing her three children in 2023.

The deliberations took nearly seven days - and revealed tension among the jury.

What does the mistrial reveal about where this case may be headed?

This episode was produced by Sophia Paliza-Carre and Elena Burnett, with audio engineering by Eowyn Fain. 

Our director is Alejandra Marquez Janse.

It was edited by Carmel Wroth, Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Gloria Steinem, the trailblazing journalist and women’s rights activist, has died. She was 92. Throughout her life, Steinem challenged gender stereotypes, advocated for women’s equality and founded numerous feminist organizations. What will her legacy be?


This episode was produced by Elena Burnett, Lauren Hodges and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Éowyn Fain and Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Mallory Yu and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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On Monday, Pierre Damas Bel died. His family believes he died by suicide, motivated by the loss of his temporary protected status -- a loss that many Haitian immigrants experienced earlier this summer.

As a result, President Trump’s immigration policies have become a flashpoint in Bel's death. How is it resonating with the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio?


This episode was produced by Erika Ryan and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Becky Brown, Éowyn Fain and Ted Mebane. 

Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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President Trump has touted his agreement with Venezuela as the greatest oil deal in the world.

Behind the deal is a company - and a man - who energy analysts say may not be up for the task of developing Venezuela's vast oil reserves.

What more do we know about the company behind the deal?


This episode was produced by Elena Burnett, Sophia Paliza-Carre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Éowyn Fain and Ted Mebane.

Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Tara Neil, Justine Kenin, Sadie Babits and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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Lindsay Clancy is currently on trial for killing her three children.

Prosecutors say the murders were intentional, but her defense team says she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis -- a condition that does not have a distinct diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

That's the handbook used to identify mental health conditions, so patients often have a hard time getting proper care.

The case has put a spotlight on maternal mental health and how its treated by the public and healthcare professionals. What does it reveal?


WBUR’s Deborah Becker contributed reporting to this episode.

It was produced by Megan Lim and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Éowyn Fain, Hannah Gluvna and Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Justine Kenin and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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President Trump says a new deal with Venezuela would give the U.S. control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves.

NPR's energy and climate correspondent Julia Simon explains the hurdles that remain before the oil can start flowing.


This episode was produced by Henry Larson. 

It was edited by Sarah Robbins and Catherine Laidlaw.

Our director is Jason Fuller.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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In his second term, President Trump has made moves to overhaul how key aspects of elections in the U.S. are run.

This includes signing two executive orders: One is aimed at new registration requirements, the other at voting by mail. Both are being challenged in court.

With midterm elections fast approaching, where do things stand?


This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane and Kwesi Lee. 

Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Kelsey Snell, Tinbete Ermyas, and Christopher Intagliata.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

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The flooding in Nepal has left hundreds dead and many more missing. 

Many scientists believe the flooding is the result of a melting glacier.

What do we know about the link between the disaster in Nepal and climate change?


This episode was produced by Henry Larson, Megan Lim and Kai McNamee, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro. 

Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Sadie Babits, Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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The owner of Facebook and Instagram has agreed to change the way its platforms work.  Can those changes be enforced? And are they enough to protect the mental health of young people? 

Major changes are coming to the way young people experience Facebook and Instagram.

They're part of a proposed landmark multi-billion dollar settlement between Meta and several states over claims its social media platforms knowingly hook young people.

Meta has denied the allegations raised in the lawsuit brought by a coalition of states.

This episode was produced by Kai McNamee, Marc Rivers and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning, who edited this episode along with Sarah Handel, Christopher Intagliata and Diane Webber.


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Dolly Parton's singular performing career spanned seven decades and only grew in prominence over that time. 

With that bright crystalline voice and signature twang, Parton was one of country music's most recognizable and universally adored ambassadors to broader popular culture.

Parton died on Tuesday at the age of 80.


This episode was produced by Erika Ryan, Matt Ozug and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.  Our director is Jonas Adams.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning, who also edited this episode.


Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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The United States was scheduled to impose new 50 percent tariffs on Canada, hitting about $20 billion worth of goods.

But then, about a week ago, President Trump took to Truth Social to exclaim — with capital letters and exclamation points — that Canada and the U.S. had reached a trade deal.

That deal, it turned out, was not final. Three days later, Canada walked away from the negotiating table.

Trump then imposed the new tariffs he’d originally promised on many Canadian products. And to threaten even more tariffs on Canadian autos.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada won’t back down — and promised to match U.S. tariffs quote “dollar for dollar.”
But what’s the view from inside his country, and who is going to pay the price?


This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. 

Our director is Jonas Adams.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning, who edited this episode along with Patrick Jarenwattananon.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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For years, President Trump has been openly criticizing multilateral organizations like NATO and the United Nations.

Criticisms like these were once rare from American presidents, since the US had such a prominent role in these organizations and the order they brought to global affairs.

How might this shift affect how countries deal with conflict and one another?


Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

This episode was produced by Christopher Harland-Dunaway. 

Our director is Elena Burnett. 

It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas. 

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.


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As a political correspondent, NPR's Ashley Lopez regularly speaks to voters about their worries, and their dreams. 

But finding swing voters in swing states — the people who can decide elections — can be a difficult assignment. 

For this week’s Reporter’s Notebook, Lopez talks about her larger takeaways from working on NPR’s Swing Voter Project. 


This episode was produced by Kai McNamee.

It was edited by Ben Swasey and Adam Raney.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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Cody and Kaleigh Brendle grew up just inland of the Jersey Shore. The siblings, who both have disabilities, came of age knowing it is their right to live, learn and work in their community.


Not long ago, millions of people like them could have been segregated in institutions. Then in 1999, in a case known as Olmstead, the Supreme Court ruled states must serve adults with disabilities in their communities when possible. Now, the Trump administration is trying to reverse course. 

NPR’s Jonaki Mehta spent time with the Brendles, who share what it means to live as disabled people integrated in their community.


This episode was produced by Janet Woojeong Lee, Erika Ryan and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Steve Drummond, Nirvi Shah and Sarah Handel. 

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.


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The US national debt has soared to $40 trillion - a record high.

How does that figure affect the lives of everyday Americans?


This episode was produced by Megan Lim, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams.

It was edited by Janaya Williams and Tinbete Ermyas.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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For decades, one of the most reliable trends in the American economy has been the growing number of women working.

But lately, government data shows women’s participation in the labor force has been falling.

What's behind this trend - and what does it tell us about the state of the US economy?


This episode was produced by Linah Mohammad and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna and Robert Rodriguez. 

It was edited by Sarah Handel and Tinbete Ermyas. Our director is Alejandra Marquez Janse.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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Concerns about social media have prompted a group of attorneys general to sue Meta. Could their case change the way social media is used?


Meta’s lawyers are in federal court to defend against accusations from four state attorneys general that the company’s social media platforms are designed to hook children.

Meta denies the allegations.

We hear what happened on the first day of court.

This episode was produced by Elena Burnett, Jeffrey Pierre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Robert Rodriguez. Our director is Alejandra Marquez Janse.

Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning, who also edited this episode along with Ravenna Koenig, Kara Platoni, Diane Webber, Janaya Williams and Mallory Yu.

Note: The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a charity founded by Zuckerberg and his wife, is a financial supporter of NPR.


Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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