The news you need to know today — and the stories that will stick with you tomorrow. Plus, special series and behind-the-scenes extras from Here & Now hosts Robin Young and Scott Tong with help from Producer Chris Bentley and the team at NPR and WBUR.
Modern workplace culture pressures us to multitask even though research shows multitasking makes most people less productive, more stressed out and worse at their jobs. Journalist and author David Epstein joins us talk about why we need to prioritize monotasking over multitasking. His latest book is called “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.” Marsha Battle Philpot calls herself a…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to spend up to $20 million to equip its officers with gloves that can deliver electric shocks. The agency says the new tools can help with de-escalation, but critics aren't so sure. Former officer trainer and ICE attorney Ryan Schwank discusses what the new devices say about ICE's policing tactics . Then, Haitians in Ohio who lost Temporary Protected…
The Democratic Party is fracturing over how best to combat President Trump. Tuesday night’s primaries underscore the divide between mainstream Democrats and progressives. Strategist Katrina Gamble joins us. Then, former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman is in frail condition after his release this week from a Russian prison. Kieran Ramsey of Global Reach tells Gilman's story as Gilman gets medical…
Lawmakers are calling for more details after The Washington Post reported that an Iranian assassination threat against President Trump prompted the Secret Service to use a catering truck and a secret plane to smuggle President Trump out of Turkey. Paul Eckloff, former supervisor of the Presidential Protective Division of the Secret Service, joins us. Then, Trump signed an executive order Monday…
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she will be freezing her eggs and will be taking followers along with her on social media. For more on why this matters and the state of egg freezing, we hear from journalist and author Emi Nietfeld. Then, oldest siblings tend to have higher educational achievement and lifetime earnings than their younger siblings. A new study shows that germs…
After Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, it began intercepting slave ships on the Atlantic Ocean and taking the Africans aboard to the remote island of St. Helena, where thousands died of disease and were buried in mass graves. A new study published in the journal Science , featuring lead author Hannes Schroeder, reveals new insights into the origins of some of those buried on the island,…
The Trump administration released plans to give local governments more control over Head Start early education programs. Tommy Sheridan, deputy director at the National Head Start Association, explains the implications. Then, the Food and Drug Administration approved an mRNA-based flu vaccine for older adults. Virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen details what to know about the vaccine which uses the…
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has told contractors building the border wall in New Mexico to stop drilling new wells for groundwater. We get the latest from Here & Now 's Peter O'Dowd, who reported on the unpermitted wells when drilling started in July. Then, we speak with a family in Spokane, Washington, who evacuated less than half an hour before their home caught fire. And, one reason…
This primary season has left many Democrats wondering which way the party will go: moderate or progressive. But Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer explains why that’s the wrong question to ask. And, President Trump’s second term has been drastically different from his first. New York Times reporter and “Regime Change” author Maggie Haberman shares what she found about the inner workings…
As wildfires continue to burn in northeast Washington near Spokane, Gov. Bob Ferguson tells us how the state is managing the disaster. Then, Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche has won the support of two Republican holdouts after he agreed in writing to rescind a controversial plan to create a fund that would compensate President Trump's allies. The Wall Street Journal's Sadie Gurman tells us…
Osprey populations are falling across the East Coast. In the past year, the number of chicks documented is at its lowest since 2014. One cause is overfishing, meaning less food for the birds to eat. Miley Bull and Matt Joyce from the Connecticut Audubon Society share more of their concerns. Then, like many artists, James Cook focuses his work around portraits of notable people, iconic landscapes…
A majority of states are demanding more regulation of the billion-dollar prediction market industry, while federal regulators have sided with the companies in their lawsuits against state regulation laws. MS NOW's Ali Velshi shares the latest. Then, men are more scarce in HEAL careers, short for health care, education, administration, and literacy, than women are in STEM. Darby Saxbe argues that…
Senators are questioning Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert for decades, about how he handled the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Atlantic staff writer Katherine J. Wu unpacks the hearing, including Fauci’s repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment. Then, the Department of Homeland Security’s top lawyer is publicly condemning district court judges at a time when threats…
Immigration and customs enforcement agents could begin deportations at any time as Temporary Protected Status ends for Haitians and Syrians. We get the latest from CBS News' Camilo Montoya-Galvez. Then, a new rule proposed by the White House would give political appointees veto power over scientific research. ProPublica's Lisa Song tells us more. And, despite President Trump's resolve to repeal…
In Michigan, two races are getting national attention. One is for governor, and the other is for U.S. Senate. Host Scott Tong reports from Michigan on the two Democrats competing in the primary for Senate and the gubernatorial candidate endorsed by President Trump. Then, AJ Jones, a reporter with WCMU in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, breaks down what swing voters are thinking ahead of midterm…
Fifth thousand years ago, a meteor slammed into the Earth outside of modern-day Flagstaff, Arizona. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd recently hiked into the mile-wide hole that was left behind to learn how NASA used the iconic crater to train astronauts before the Apollo moon mission. Then, Mexican artist Diego Rivera came to Detroit in 1932 to paint a monumental series of murals dedicated to Detroit's…
The administration says the nuclear deal signed with Saudi Arabia would allow American companies to run commercial nuclear plants in Saudi Arabia and supply nuclear reactors and fuel. But less than 24-hours after the administration signed it, Trump suggested he would call it off unless Saudi Arabia normalized relations with Israel. Here & Now security analyst Jim Walsh explains what's in the deal…
A buzzy Michigan startup is betting that bringing down the price will expand the market for electric vehicles in the United States. Slate Auto is planning to release a bare-bones electric truck for just under $25,000. We hear from Slate CEO Peter Faricy and longtime auto writer Paul Eisenstein about the EV market. Then, OpenAI says two of its artificial intelligence models acted on their own and…
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar lays out what his office is doing to protect voters ahead of the midterm elections. Nevada is one of the states Trump is targeting as he pushes false claims about the 2020 election. And, the Food and Drug Administration said that a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms turned up a false positive for the cyclospora parasite. We talk with attorney and food safety…
Dozens of Democratic senators are demanding immediate, independent and transparent investigations into two fatal shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We talk about what accountability would look like with John Sandweg, former ICE acting director who served from 2013 to 2014 under then-President Barack Obama. Then, scientists say human-caused climate change is driving longer fire…
Emery, Utah, rancher Kirk Christiansen says the lack of water in his town is changing how he does his job raising cattle. He joins us. And, amid a blistering drought, the federal government is drilling unpermitted water wells in New Mexico for use in border wall construction, according to the Office of the State Engineer. Customs and Border Protection says it doesn't need permission to tap the…
The U.S. and Iran are exchanging strikes for the sixth day in a row, as the two countries battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, joins us with the latest. Then, nearly half of House Democrats voted Wednesday to end billions of dollars in aid to Israel. The vote marks a major shift in the Democratic Party's long support for…
America’s data center revolt shows no signs of slowing down. Data center construction is broadly unpopular across political divides, but approaches to its construction vary by city and state. We hear from two communities, one that stridently opposes data centers, and another that's open to them. Then, dozens of data centers have been canceled in the past year due to local opposition. Heatmap…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will pause non-urgent vehicle stops after two deadly shootings in less than a week, according to Maine Sen. Angus King's office. The most recent shooting occurred Monday morning, just 20 miles south of Portland, where an ICE agent shot and killed a Colombian man. Maine Public reporter Ari Snider shares more about the investigation. Then, on July 24,…
The demand for power is growing, but the grid can't handle it. Now, the governors of 11 Western states are trying to move forward with a $60 billion plan to upgrade transmission lines. Joel Ferry, Utah’s commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, joins us to explain what the plan would do. Then, many teachers say performance pay unfairly pits teachers against one another. But two new…
NBA and two-time Olympic champion Jayson Tatum talks about "Baby Dunks-A-Lot: The Day the Basketballs Stopped Bouncing," his new children's picture book. Then, the razorback sucker has been swimming in the Colorado River for an estimated 5 million years before humans nearly fished them out of existence. Now, high schoolers are teaming up with a local baseball team and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife…
Reuters reporter Michelle Conlin details how President Trump and his family have made billions off the cryptocurrency industry, while most ordinary investors have lost money. And, Ai Weiwei, an acclaimed artist and activist, has faced censorship and surveillance throughout his career. He joins us to talk about his short book, “On Censorship.” See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our…
Former Biden administration deputy national security adviser Jon Finer talks about the latest from the NATO summit in Turkey, where President Trump vowed to escalate military strikes against Iran. Trump also offered new security guarantees to Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Then, of the 48 teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, only eight are left.…
Democratic Socialists have had a string of primary wins across the country, and Megan Romer, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, weighs in on how the Democratic Party is reacting to the rise of the left. Then, millions of people in the U.S. are affected by harmful levels of air pollution. Harvard University professor Mary Rice explains how hotter temperatures can make air quality…
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended U.S. World Cup team member Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year. The suspended suspension means the striker can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium. Reporter Steve Futterman joins us. Then, in Tehran on Monday, Iranians thronged the funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali…
As America turns 250 this year, the American flag has become more than just a symbol of the country. Some see it as a totem of freedom, power and patriotism. Others see it as an emblem of politics and far-right ideology. We heard from listeners across the country about what the flag means to them. Here & Now producers Ashley Locke and Chris Bentley discuss the responses they received and the…
George Washington could have stayed president for a third term, yet in his famous Farewell Address, he wrote that he would “decline being considered." He penned that address by candlelight in 1796, and curator Lisa Kathleen Graddy explains why the brass stand that held those candles is a significant part of American history. Then, Ethel Payne was the first Black American woman to become an…
Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democratic Socialist, won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, in Denver, over 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette. KUSA politics reporter Kyle Clark breaks down more primary takeaways. Then, a large part of the U.S. is under extreme heat warnings as temperatures are expected to hit triple digits this week. Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at the…
The Supreme Court has struck down President Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, explains the decision, which is in line with the longstanding legal interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Then, Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, explains why he still believes…
The president can now fire most independent regulators, ending a nearly century-old precedent. Mark Joseph Stern, who covers the courts and the law for Slate, weighs in on the consequential opinion. Then, Alan Blinder, former vice chair of the Federal Reserve, talks about a separate but related decision that upholds the independence of the Federal Reserve. And, a new bridge between the U.S. and…
Every storyteller has a tool: a notebook, a camera, a microphone. For legendary author Octavia Butler, it was a powder blue typewriter. That typewriter is now in the Smithsonian Institution's Anacostia Community Museum, and acting curator Jennifer Sieck explains Butler’s influence on the country’s history. And, the megalodon was one of the biggest fish that ever lived, with seven-inch-long teeth…
The Supreme Court issued several opinions today that advance the Trump administration's agenda on immigration, gun access and the environment. It ended Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, allowing them to be deported. It overturned a law in Hawaii that required people get permission before bringing a gun on private property. And, it sided with the manufacturer of Roundup…
Groundwater supplies in the Colorado River basin are falling fast as a historic drought continues to punish the West. Now, states like Arizona are considering new laws to regulate pumping from aquifers while keeping growing cities supplied with the water they need to grow in the desert. Here & Now 's Peter O'Dowd reports. And, it's summer gardening season. We hear tips for gardening during a dry…
Affordable housing is top of mind for voters, and lawmakers appear to be listening. The Senate on Monday passed a big housing bill that aims to increase supply and lower costs. But will it? University of Pennsylvania’s Vincent Reina explains. Then, record-breaking heat is hitting Europe. In France, dozens of people have died. The Associated Press’ Sylvia Hui explains how Europe is trying to adapt…
Israel's wars in the Middle East have become a wedge issue in several congressional campaigns, especially in New York, where establishment Democrats are trying to fend off more progressive challengers backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. We discuss the impact Israel's wars are having on these key primary races with The New York Times' Benjamin Oreskes. And, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says…
Our series Reverse Course has explored environmental crises and possible fixes, from water vapor harvesting to electric trucks. At the WBUR Festival in Boston last month, Here & Now's Chris Bentley and Peter O'Dowd discussed climate solutions on stage with Leah Bamberger, global sustainability leader at Textron and former director of sustainability at the City of Providence, and Tik Root, who…
In the new book "America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries," author Eddie Glaude looks at the cycles of American history and how they obscure the dark truth of the country. We speak with him. Then, 10 years ago, a gunman walked into the LGBTQ-friendly Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and opened fire, killing 49 people and injuring 50 more. Trauma surgeon Dr. Joseph Ibrahim…
There’s a preliminary agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war, but experts say energy prices and inflation are not expected to come down quickly. MS NOW’s Ali Velshi explains why. And, housing official Bill Pulte is set to become acting director of national intelligence on Friday. Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat from Virginia and the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence…
Some members of Congress had hoped to fast-track the confirmation of President Trump's pick for director of national intelligence. But early Wednesday morning, Trump threw a wrench in those plans when he posted to social media that his nominee, Jay Clayton, would not be showing up for his confirmation hearing due to Trump's ongoing dispute with lawmakers. Former Director of National Intelligence…
President Trump is asserting that the war with Iran is over, even though a lasting peace is likely months off. Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, offers a view from the Middle East of the tentative deal. Then, Colorado has become the second state to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. Colorado…
President Trump and Iran separately announced an agreement to end more than three months of war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. For more on what could come of the deal, we hear from Jon Finer, a former adviser to President Biden who helped negotiate the Obama administration's deal to restrict Iran's nuclear program. Then, a major Russian attack overnight set fire to a historic monastery complex…
Grammy-winning musician Lizzo's new album "Bitch" is out. She talks with Robin Young about her music and reclaiming and owning the word. Then, we kick off summer with music picks from Miguel Perez, producer for NPR's World Cafe. And, "Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet" is a string of text that's become ubiquitous. Designed as a placeholder for work-in-progress documents, those quasi-Latin words now…
A key part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is set to expire after the House on Thursday failed to extend it. The program allows U.S. intelligence agents to spy on terrorist suspects abroad without a warrant, but some Democrats and Republicans in Congress are concerned that President Trump's pick for acting director of national intelligence will abuse his power and spy on Trump…
Prices are rising at their fastest clip in three years, according to new data out Wednesday. What does this mean for interest rates? Loretta Mester, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, explains the likely economic impact. Then, a new government report out this week found that unless Congress passes new laws soon, Social Security will not be able to pay out full…
New rules released by the Trump administration earlier this month will require Medicaid recipients with cancer and other conditions to prove they're too sick to work. The rule is part of new Medicaid eligibility requirements that take effect next year. Colorado Medicaid director Adela Flores-Brennan explains how his state is preparing. Then, after decades of containment in the Central American…
