Here & Now Anytime

Why Utah is taking on Kalshi

21 oct 2026, 19:00 · 18 min

Utah is suing Kalshi, the prediction market company, accusing the platform of gambling, which is illegal in the state. Utah's Attorney General Derek Brown tells us about the lawsuit. <br/><br/>Then, New York Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by Israeli defense forces Wednesday morning while picking olives in a pro-Palestinian protest in the West Bank. Lander joins us.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The history of the 'October surprise'

20 oct 2026, 19:00 · 24 min

An ‘October surprise’ is a scandal or newsmaking event that can influence voters just weeks before Election Day. Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer looks back at historic October surprises since the term was coined in the 1980s and before.<br/><br/>Then, the number of people receiving federal food assistance has hit its lowest point in nearly 20 years. Food policy journalist Helena Bottemiller Evich explains how need for assistance is still there, but policy changes have made it harder to access.<br/><br/>And, do you know the origins of phrases like “seize the day” and “let them eat cake”? Author Eli Burnstein shares more from his book, “Phrased & Confused.”<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

What matters most to midterm voters?

19 oct 2026, 19:00 · 16 min

The economy is a leading issue for voters this November, but other top issues vary compared to previous midterm elections, according to Pew Research Center. Pew's director of research Jocelyn Kiley tells us more. <br/><br/>Then, AI is everywhere in the news, but the jargon can be hard to follow. Boston Globe columnist Larry Edelman joins us to define some of the most common AI terms and explain their significance.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

'The Muppets' turn 50

16 oct 2026, 16:32 · 29 min

"The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," Kiran Desai's 2025 novel, is a sprawling, multi-generational family saga that plays out across four continents in the late 1990s. Desai talks about her epic second novel and the power of solitude. <br/><br/>Then, "The Muppets Show" is turning 50. We speak with Bonnie Erickson, the creator of the Miss Piggy puppet, and Dave Goelz, the only human who has played Gonzo.<br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Does Ukraine still trust the U.S.?

15 oct 2026, 19:25 · 22 min

A U.S.-provided Starlink satellite has been a critical tool in Ukraine’s war against Russia. But, Ukrainian drone operator Dmytro Veselov says disruption in that system has caused an "irreversible" breach of Ukraine’s trust in the U.S.<br/><br/>Then, the latest analysis by the Cook Political Report finds more and more House races shifting toward Democrats. Erin Covey, editor with the Cook Political Report, breaks down the potential for Democrats to win control of the House.<br/><br/>And, in the aftermath of a high-profile sexual assault case at Cornell University, the school suspended all fraternity parties through the end of the school year. Nicholas L. Syrett from University of Wisconsin-Madison weighs in on whether fraternities can be reformed.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Michael Lewis on the ‘Blockers’ who fought DOGE

14 oct 2026, 19:00 · 15 min

The Department of Government Efficiency lasted just a few months in 2025, but its impact will last for years. That's not because it made the government more efficient — it failed to meaningfully reduce federal spending — but because it hollowed out several government agencies and demonized federal workers. A new book tells the story of DOGE through the eyes of career civil servants who fought back. It’s called “Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State,” by Michael Lewis. He speaks to host Scott Tong.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Where Republicans are spending their energy — and money — before midterms

13 oct 2026, 19:00 · 27 min

Midterm elections are three weeks away, and recent polls show more excitement from Democratic voters than Republicans. The Boston Globe’s James Pindell weighs in on if that matters, what Republicans want from elections and where big donors like Elon Musk are putting their money.<br/><br/>Then, in India, Gen Z protesters are fighting for free and fair elections after more than 130 million people were removed from the country’s voter roll. New Delhi-based reporter Suhasini Raj of the New York Times explains what protesters are demanding and the violent crackdown from the state.<br/><br/>And, Grammy-winning singer and musician Laufey is using her platform to encourage fans to go to their local library and sign up for library cards. She talks about the importance of libraries as a third space and how reading has inspired her songwriting. <br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Author Tommy Orange confronts the phenomenon of 'pretendians'

12 oct 2026, 19:00 · 26 min

Cheyenne author Tommy Orange found out that one of his favorite Indigenous writers wasn't actually Indigenous. Then, he interviewed him. Orange shares what he learned and the long history of "pretendians," non-Indigenous people claiming to be Indigenous.  <br/><br/>Then, Brian Frange, who calls apples the "greatest fruit to grace the earth," has made it his calling to rank and re-rank at least 100 varieties of the fruit, based on 10 criteria, including density, skin, flesh, crispness, beauty and, of course, taste. Frange joins us to talk about his rankings, the unlikely origins of the apple, and the fact that planting the seeds from any variety of apple will produce a new species, making grafting the only way to produce known apple types.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Is universal child care working in New Mexico?

9 oct 2026, 19:06 · 25 min

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller reflects on the state of child care access and affordability in New Mexico, and why he's opening up underused city spaces for child care providers.<br/><br/>Then, three years since Israel’s war in Gaza began, more than 80% of the region’s infrastructure has been damaged, according to the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees. The Middle East Institute’s Jaser AbuMousa explains what it would take to rebuild the region.<br/><br/>And, journalist and Here & Now guest host Celeste Headlee shares more about her book, “Freedom’s Daughters.” In it, she tells the story of her great grandmother, Carrie Still Shepperson, a Black woman who educated and organized former enslaved people and their families following the Civil War.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Data centers are making noise in American politics

8 oct 2026, 19:00 · 20 min

The construction of data centers in Ohio has become a contentious issue in the Senate race there. The issue at the center of several races across the country this November. Ohio Public Media's Karen Kasler tells us more. <br/><br/>Then, in the Ukrainian frontline town of Oleshky, residents can't get out, and food and medical supplies can't get in. Kyiv Independent reporter Yuliia Taradiuk tells us about the dire humanitarian situation. <br/><br/>And, the trillion-dollar longevity industry has attracted nonprofit hospitals, raising questions about lending scientific authority to controversial practices. STAT's Sarah Todd explains why nonprofits are opening longevity clinics. <br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Facebook whistleblower says it's time for AI whistleblowers to speak up

7 oct 2026, 19:00 · 19 min

In 2021, Frances Haugen released tens of thousands of internal Facebook documents showing the company knew its algorithms were promoting extremism and contributing to teen mental health concerns. Her story is now the focus of the upcoming film “The Social Reckoning.” Haugen explains how whistleblowers inside artificial intelligence companies could regulate the technology.<br/><br/>And, 12 B-1 bombers are back in the U.S. after being removed from the UK over security fears. Ret. Navy Adm. Mark Montgomery explains how this will impact the U.S. military's air capability and preparedness.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

What we know about the death of a Russian plague lab worker

6 oct 2026, 19:02 · 21 min

Russian officials have reportedly placed 200 people under medical observation and quarantined the hospital where a 28-year-old lab worker died of a suspected case of plague in Siberia. We learn more about the mysterious illness and the lab it may have originated from with Dr. Ashish Jha. Then, we get the latest on Iowa politics ahead of the midterm elections. Polls show the red state may be leaning blue amid high diesel prices. University of Iowa's Timothy Hagle explains. And, Jake Pearson is a problem gambler, losing thousands of dollars a night betting on sports, and a DraftKings VIP, lavished with special offers for free gambling money. Pearson is also a reporter for ProPublica who says one of the country’s biggest sportsbooks rewarded his recklessness and put profit over protection. He gives an insider's view of what it's like to ride the rollercoaster of problem gambling.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The case that could make big oil pay for climate change

5 oct 2026, 19:00 · 25 min

The Supreme Court is weighing Boulder, Colorado's lawsuit against oil companies over the effects of climate change. We hear from Colorado rancher Kathleen Kelley and Mesa County commissioner Cody Davis. Then, this term, the Supreme Court is also preparing to take on cases involving immigration and religious pre-schools. Georgetown law professor Stephen Vladeck tells us more. Then, the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their work in optogenetics, a field of neuroscience that looks at the activity of individual neurons to link them to specific behaviors. We speak with Deisseroth.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Why some Americans are getting surprise medical-debt relief

2 oct 2026, 19:00 · 25 min

When Brittany Gurney’s son was 14 months old, he had a medical emergency. The bill came out to $15,000. Gurney paid what she could, but it wasn’t enough. Her debt went to collections. But, a surprise letter arrived in the mail: Her debt had been forgiven. <em>Here & Now</em>’s Peter O’Dowd reports on a company that buys up and forgives medical debt, the impact it has on Americans’ lives and how medical debt is a widespread, growing problem in the U.S.<br/><br/>Then, newly constructed homes now cost less than existing homes in many U.S. markets, reversing a years-long trend. Joel Berner, a senior economist for Realtor.com, shares more about the outlook for prospective buyers.<br/><br/>And, climate change brings a number of visible changes, but one artist is trying to capture the sounds that come along with it too. WBUR’s Barbara Moran talks with Nikki Lindt who visits Alaska frequently to capture its audible changes.<br/><br/>See more of our Alaska climate coverage <a href="https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/06/07/reverse-course-climate-change"target="_blank" >here</a>.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Inside Tennessee's botched execution

1 oct 2026, 19:10 · 17 min

Death row inmate Christa Pike survived two injections intended to kill her. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has now paused the state's remaining executions pending an independent review. We get an eyewitness account of the botched execution from WPLN's Catherine Sweeney. <br/><br/>And, newly obtained documents by The New York Times reveal the timeline between the alleged assault and when Jane Doe filed a report with Cornell University campus police. Times reporter Sharon Otterman explains what the documents show.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

ICE raids make a 'ghost town' in Kansas

30 sept 2026, 19:00 · 21 min

The U.S. Supreme Court decided Tuesday the Trump administration can resume deporting immigrants to countries they have no ties to. Michelle Mendez from the National Immigration Project explains the decision and what it means for immigrants who are fighting to stay in the country.<br/><br/>Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are sparking concerns among residents and business owners in the town of Liberal, Kansas. Janeth Vazquez, vice-mayor and the first Latina elected in Liberal, shares what she’s hearing in her community.<br/><br/>And, the U.S. military has now left Iraq, more than 20 years after it invaded the country. Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, who led U.S. and allied forces in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reflects on the war, the withdrawal and what could come next.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Security concerns prompt OpenAI to scrap latest model

29 sept 2026, 19:00 · 21 min

OpenAI says it won’t release its newest model, GPT-6.1 Astra, because it showed high levels of deception during testing. Gregory Allen, founder and CEO of Decision Tree Research, explains the security concerns.<br/><br/>And, a number of artificial intelligence agents have gone rogue lately, notably OpenAI’s agents escaping their testing sandbox and breaching Hugging Face. Author, historian and legal expert Jill Lepore breaks down the concerns about these growing safety risks and why she believes AI is “above the law.”<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

How to navigate the housing crisis

28 sept 2026, 19:00 · 23 min

We’re taking a closer look at the problem of housing affordability. Housing expert Christina Stacy answers questions we received in our inbox, and provides tips on renting and buying in this market. <br/><br/>And, less than a tenth of people diagnosed with glioblastoma survive five years after diagnosis. That might change. German Biotech company CeGaT has developed a promising treatment for the deadly brain cancer by sequencing a unique vaccine from a patient’s cancer cells. We break down the process with Saskia Biskup, co-founder of CeGaT, and American patient Laura Eddington, who was joined by her husband, Jeff Eddington.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Melting glaciers, crumbling mountains, and Alaska's climate crisis

25 sept 2026, 19:00 · 49 min

Across Southeast Alaska, landslides have killed at least a dozen people since August 2015. Landslides happen across the U.S., but geologists say they’re inescapable in Southeast Alaska. In the latest installment of our climate series Reverse Course, <em>Here & Now</em>’s Chris Bentley reports on the role of climate change in landslide risk, and what can be done to mitigate it.<br/><br/>Then, <em>Here & Now</em>’s Peter O’Dowd heads to Juneau right after a glacial lake dumped its annual flood down the Mendenhall River. He talks with people whose homes have been flooded, as well as Eran Hood, an environmental scientist who has studied the glacier for 15 years. The annual floods started off small, but, as the glacier melts more rapidly each year, have become more destructive. Peter learns more about proposals to find a “lasting solution.”<br/><br/>And, Alaska’s shellfish industry is growing, but not without risk. It’s almost impossible to prevent or predict poisonous algal blooms that make clams, oysters, cockles and other shellfish dangerous or deadly to eat. Chris talks with farmers, researchers and residents about how climate change may be raising the threat, and what’s being done to help.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

How foreign aid cuts have sparked a humanitarian crisis

24 sept 2026, 19:02 · 20 min

As wars rage and the United States slashes humanitarian aid, the world finds itself unable to help the people most in need. Former UK foreign secretary and head of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband talks about the implications. <br/><br/>And, for many Palestinians in Gaza, the ceasefire reached last October between Israel and Hamas is only a ceasefire in name. The Ministry of Health in Gaza says more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire agreement last year. We hear from Eyad Amawi, an aid worker with the Gaza Relief Committee, about what life in Gaza looks like today.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

'Godfather of AI': How to create an AI that won't kill us

23 sept 2026, 19:01 · 26 min

Geoffrey Hinton is a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist and cognitive psychologist. He’s helped develop the mathematical engine behind today’s artificial intelligence. But, Hinton is now calling for slowing the development of that technology. He explains how he sees the existential threat of AI and what the future could look like.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

DoorDash driver detained with bullet in back after ICE shooting

22 sept 2026, 19:20 · 17 min

A Venezuelan immigrant still has a bullet in his back, two days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and injured him, according to his lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. Lincoln-Goldfinch says Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is being kept in a regular bed in a detention center and treated with Tylenol and Ibuprofen. We speak with Lincoln-Goldfinch. Then, although required by law, accessible voting remains a challenge for people with disabilities, with the midterms just six weeks out. Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association for People With Disabilities, joins us. And, Juneau's Assembly is considering an ordinance that would cap the number of cruise ships allowed to dock each day in the tourist hot spot. KTOO's Clarise Larson shares the latest.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Why is diesel so much more expensive than gasoline?

21 sept 2026, 19:00 · 21 min

The average price of diesel fuel is at a record high in the United States. This means the cost of transporting goods is also going up, and consumers will feel it. Tom Kloza, chief energy advisor for Gulf Oil, talks about how high prices might get and the factors driving them up. Then, in Michigan, many small businesses are facing rising health care costs. We speak with Brian Calley, head of the Small Business Association of Michigan. And, what looks like a leopard, but is tinier than a house cat? It's leopardus tilcayo, the first new cat species discovered in a hundred years. We talk with biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz about the discovery.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

In 'Mule,' Orville Peck chronicles a year coming back from the brink

18 sept 2026, 19:00 · 32 min

Country musician Orville Peck's new album "Mule" tells the story of a transformative year that began in the summer of 2023, when Peck nearly died of an overdose before a show. He tells us more. Then, Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen says her new album, "Day and Night," stands as the proudest creative achievement of her career. Jepsen discusses the influences behind her new album and the journey it takes listeners on. And, this week, the Macklemore and Ed Sheeran tour debacle highlighted the conflict between music and politics. Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein joins us.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

UN investigators say US likely committed war crimes in Iran

17 sept 2026, 19:00 · 16 min

Experts commissioned by the UN report that they have "reasonable grounds" to believe the U.S. committed war crimes during two airstrikes in Iran, including one that hit a school in February. We speak with Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of "The Iran Podcast." Then, the House of Representatives is heading home and won't be back in session until the midterms. NPR's Sam Gringlas shares the latest. And, someday soon, your doctor may prescribe the psychedelic drug LSD to treat anxiety. STAT's Elaine Chen talks about the latest developments in LSD therapy for anxiety. <br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Why China isn't (as) worried about an AI apocalypse

16 sept 2026, 19:00 · 23 min

China watcher Kevin Xu explains the myths and realities of China's capabilities in artificial intelligence amid concerns in the U.S. that regulating it here would cause the U.S. to fall behind China in AI development. <br/><br/>Then, Jesse Appell describes himself as an independent creative, entrepreneur and intercultural comedian based in Beijing, using comedy to bridge cultural divides. His new memoir, "This Was Funnier in China, An American Comedian's Cross-Cultural Journey," details it all.<br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The Russian oligarch who bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding

15 sept 2026, 19:00 · 19 min

Reporting by ProPublica recently found that Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir Putin, secretly paid for part of — and attended — Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. Experts say he’ll likely want something from the Trumps in return. Joshua Kaplan co-reported the story and explains more of the implications.<br/><br/>And, the Environmental Protection Agency is repealing rules that limit climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas. The agency says this will “unleash” American energy. But Bryan Hubbell from the nonpartisan think tank Econofact says the market dynamics tell a different story.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

AI leaders want to slow development. Can they actually do it?

14 sept 2026, 19:29 · 21 min

Welcome to the next big vibe shift in artificial intelligence. On Monday, Microsoft published a new "Humanist AI" code of conduct that says people should always be in control, after the leaders of OpenAI and Anthropic over the weekend called for a global slowdown in AI research. But President Trump says now is not the time to slow down development. Axios' Ina Fried tells us more. <br/><br/>And as leaders of powerful artificial intelligence companies are calling for slowing down the pace of development, how did we get here, and how would that work? We ask Gregory Allen, founder and CEO of Decision Tree Research.<br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The story behind the photo that captures the horror of 9/11

11 sept 2026, 19:13 · 29 min

In the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, photographer Richard Drew took a now-famous photo of a man falling from the north tower. The photo garnered attention and backlash, with the subject never definitively identified. Drew shares more about experiencing 9/11 and capturing it in photos.<br/><br/>Then, we heard from listeners across the U.S. explaining how the events on 9/11 and the aftermath changed their lives. Some experienced profound loss, some turned to service and all shared unique reflections on the 25th anniversary of the attacks.<br/><br/>And, Lila Nordstrom watched the twin towers fall from Stuyvesant High School, where she was a student. In the years since, she’s advocated for fellow students who became sick due to toxic substances in the air after the buildings fell. She reflects on the past 25 years.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The conservative movement, one year after the killing of Charlie Kirk

10 sept 2026, 19:15 · 18 min

Thursday marks one year since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA. We speak with Michael Knowles, who was a friend of Kirk. Then, as Ukraine strikes Russian gas plants in a grinding war of attrition, Russian drones are suspected of flying over European countries. This week, a drone nearly hit a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Norway, according to the Norwegian prime minister. We discuss the risky strategy with NPR national security correspondent Greg Myre.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

9/11 and the long shadow of Islamophobia

9 sept 2026, 19:44 · 22 min

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called on current Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend an annual ceremony commemorating the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Giuliani also made false claims about Islam, Mamdani’s religion. Mamdani said he will attend the ceremony. Moustafa Bayoumi, professor at Brooklyn College, explains more.<br/><br/>Then, in the months following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack in New York City, officials repeatedly reassured New Yorkers that the air in lower Manhattan was safe to breathe. But this week, 170,000 pages of documents made public by Mamdani show that wasn’t true. Ben Chevat, executive director at the nonprofit 9/11 Health Watch, breaks down the findings.<br/><br/>And, in 1998, terror attacks hit two U.S. embassies and in 2000, the USS Cole was attacked. Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer says these events were warning signs ahead of 9/11 that the government missed.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Israel faces global outrage over West Bank violence

8 sept 2026, 19:00 · 23 min

Britain, France and Canada moved to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. This comes amid the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory and a wave of deadly violence against Palestinian civilians. The U.K. accuses the settlers of "ethnic cleansing." We hear from Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group. <br/><br/>Then, two thieves broke into the Renoir Museum on the French Riviera early Tuesday morning and made off with two paintings worth millions. Art theft expert Anthony Amore tells us more. <br/><br/>And, on the 60th anniversary of the premiere of the iconic "Star Trek," 95-year-old actor William Shatner — aka Captain Kirk — talks about his recent battle with stage 4 melanoma, which he fought alongside his 61-year-old daughter Melanie Shatner Gretsch, who was undergoing treatment for stage 4 breast cancer.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

How eagles, bears and salmon keep Alaska wild

7 sept 2026, 19:00 · 30 min

At Eagle Beach outside of Juneau, Alaska, salmon, bald eagles, dragonflies and signs of bear are everywhere. <em>Here & Now</em>’s Peter O'Dowd and Chris Bentley invite naturalists and wildlife experts along to learn more about the sights and sounds of this special place.<br/><br/>Then, the National Park Service turned 110 this year. Jeff Reinbold, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, explains how the expiration of a fund established to pay for maintenance projects is hurting the park infrastructure.<br/><br/>And, writer Chris Ballard started by just writing about the growing sport of ice swimming. But before long, he was entrenched in the community. He explores it all in his book “The Plunge.”<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

How the soaring coast of diesel is hitting school budgets

4 sept 2026, 16:00 · 23 min

The cost of diesel gas is at record highs as the war in Iran continues. We hear what it means for school districts trying to budget for school bus transportation from Trevor Greene, superintendent for Yakima School District in Yakima, Washington. <br/><br/>Then, homeschooling numbers continue to rise in the U.S. Retired professor Kenny Anthony explains the trend. <br/><br/>And, we’re taught that growing up means putting away childish things. That includes trading the magic of fairy tales for serious adult novels. But what if turning our backs on children's literature is a mistake? Oxford University professor and children’s author Katherine Rundell makes the case for "Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise."<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The legacy Gloria Steinem leaves behind

3 sept 2026, 19:00 · 23 min

Trailblazing journalist and activist Gloria died on Wednesday at age 92. She championed gender equality, fought for abortion rights, and co-founded Ms. Magazine, the first national magazine written for and run by women. Astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen shares a remembrance of Steinem and reflects on the impact she had on the nation.<br/><br/>Then, North Carolina election officials are preparing to send out the first ballots Friday even as a legal fight continues over President Trump’s efforts to curtail mail-in voting. Dawn Hurdle, director of the Board of Elections for Alamance County in North Carolina, joins us.<br/><br/>And, the latest edition of the popular basketball video game NBA 2K comes out this week. Miami Heat power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo appears in the game, which he grew up playing. Antetokounmpo told <em>Here & Now'</em>s Chris Bentley he learned how to shoot fadeaways on the court after first practicing them in video games.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

AI is everywhere. NYC schools want to keep it away from young kids

2 sept 2026, 19:00 · 20 min

New York City is putting a one-year moratorium on the use of artificial intelligence for its youngest students in the city’s public schools. Kids won’t be allowed to use the technology until they enter high school. The Hechinger Report's Jill Barshay joins us to discuss. <br/><br/>Then, plastic industry groups and fossil fuel companies are supplying schools with curricula that portray plastics as safe, affordable and a source of good jobs, according to a new report. Grist reporter Joseph Winters tells us more. <br/><br/>And, 15 years after its launch, Candy Crush Saga is still going strong, grossing around $1 billion in a typical year. We talk about why the mobile game juggernaut's rise and staying power with writer and game designer Alanna Okun.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Arizona AG on the future of Flock

1 sept 2026, 19:00 · 19 min

More and more communities are pushing back against the use of Flock cameras by law enforcement. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is reviewing the automated license plate readers and shares what she hopes to learn.<br/><br/>Then, as the United States Postal Service plans to implement President Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting, an anonymous federal official is blowing the whistle. The report says the implementation plan is “rushed” and “untested.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who sent a letter to the postmaster general raising alarms, explains more.<br/><br/>And, new reporting shows the Trump administration is working to give a small piece of land in Yosemite National Park to a private developer. NOTUS reporter Anna Kramer explains the implications.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

The hidden death toll from extreme heat

31 ago 2026, 19:00 · 21 min

NPR did an investigation with Boston University and found that deaths related to heat are being undercounted in the U.S. BU researcher Quinn Adams tells us more. <br/><br/>Then, at least two people are dead, and more than a dozen are missing in the Grand Canyon after flash flooding along the Colorado River on Saturday, according to the National Park Service. We get the latest from KNAU's Chris Clements. <br/><br/>And, a military judge has ruled that confessions the FBI obtained from accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed cannot be used in his trial, 25 years after nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. We speak with New York Times reporter Carol Rosenberg and Don Arias, who lost his brother Adam on 9/11.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

Flock cameras and chatbots: How AI is reshaping emergency services

28 ago 2026, 16:00 · 27 min

Flock, the company behind automated license plate reading cameras popping up across the U.S., is drawing criticism over reports of police misuse, misidentification and surveillance. Kevin Collier from NBC News explains more.<br/><br/>Then, for emergency call centers facing staff shortages and a high number of non-emergency calls, some are turning to artificial intelligence. Jim Wolfinbarger, former police chief and now vice president at the company behind some of the new technology, breaks down how it works.<br/><br/>And, a new company is offering digital AI personas to police departments across the country. 404 Media co-founder Jason Koebler details the First Amendment issues surfacing about the technology.<br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

New FDA-approved drug offers hope in pancreatic cancer treatment

27 ago 2026, 19:00 · 20 min

The Food and Drug Administration approved a new medication to treat pancreatic cancer. In trials, it extended the survival rate of patients by a median of 13.2 months. Dr. Brian Wolpin from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute explains how the drug works and what it could mean for the future of cancer treatment.<br/><br/>Then, a recent study found that at least a quarter of former NFL players who died had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation shares more about the findings and how they could impact the upcoming football season.<br/><br/>And, in Nepal, first responders are searching for survivors after a massive flash flood killed at least 300 people. Suraj Sigdel, Nepal Country Director for Mercy Corps, describes the work he and others are doing on the ground.<br><br/><br/>See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>