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The burden of finding the right birth control method typically falls to the person who can get pregnant. Some 90 percent of females have taken a contraceptive at some point in their lives, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.Currently, there are just two birth control options for people who produce sperm: a vasectomy or condoms. That could change soon. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College discovered that a drug used to treat eye disease temporarily stopped sperm production in mice – hours later, fertility was restored. The researchers think they've taken a step toward developing a potential non-hormonal birth control drug that can be taken in the hours before sex to stop sperm from swimming. We discuss why it's taken so long to develop a birth control pill for sperm and how birth control for men could change reproductive politics.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Hollywood's biggest night has come and gone. And it was a memorable one, even in the run-up.Excluding Michelle Yeoh of "Everything Everywhere All At Once", this year's slate of best actor nominees were entirely white. That's three years after the academy announced new diversity guidelines in response to 2015's Oscars-so-white campaign. We discuss where the Oscars go from here and what they tell us about the state of movie-going. Later, we revisit our conversation with Best Actor winner Ke Huy Quan, and Best Director Winners Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert from 2022. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Silicon Valley Bank collapsed this week, sending shockwaves through the financial world. A judge in Texas heard arguments in a lawsuit against a widely-used abortion medication. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine filed the suit to overturn the FDA's approval of pills that account for more than half of abortions in the U.S.The Biden administration approved a drilling project in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve that would supposedly produce 180,000 barrels of oil a day. Environmental activists said this approval would violate the president's climate goals.Also this week, the Biden administration is demanding that the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok be sold. Otherwise, it risks a nationwide ban.And Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said this week that his country is safer than the U.S. This was his response to critics after four Americans were attacked by cartel gunmen, leaving two dead.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The NCAA College Basketball tournament kicks off Tuesday. Millions of Americans are expected to watch and bet on the NCAA College Basketball tournament that kicked off this week. According to a new survey from the American Gaming Association, 68 million Americans are expected to place over $15 billion in bets on the tournament this year. As sports gambling becomes increasingly popular on mobile platforms, colleges and universities are getting in on the action through multi-million dollar partnerships that allow companies to advertise on campuses.Investigations from The New York Times and the PBS Newshour found at least five major colleges (Michigan State, LSU, Maryland, University of Denver, and the University of Colorado) have partnered with companies like Caesar's Sports Book and PointsBet.We discuss what responsible gambling practices look like and what reporters found in their investigations.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Madera Community Hospital closed in December and has now filed for bankruptcy. The emergency room now sits empty, and labor and delivery services have stopped. The hospital's three rural clinics are also closed. Some 136 rural hospitals closed between 2010 and 2021, according to the American Hospital Association. According to a January report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, about 600 hospitals are currently at risk of closing in the U.S.We traveled to Fresno as part of our Remaking America collaboration with six partner stations across the country, including KVPR in California's Central Valley. Earlier this month, we brought the community together to talk about the hospital closure, which has left more than 150,000 residents without an emergency room within 30 miles and has put a strain on emergency room departments in Fresno and Merced. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations, including KVPR in Fresno, California. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This month, the USDA is implementing stronger oversight of organic products in order to reduce fraud. For a growing number of Americans buying organic, that's good news. The industry reached $63 billion in sales between 2020 and 2021.We discuss what the organic label actually means and the kind of benefits you can expect. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Some Americans are turning to a group of diabetes medications for something other than relief from the disease. Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are making headlines for their ability to stimulate weight loss. This is a problem for diabetes patients who need the medication and can't get it. A rise in demand for these medications has led to shortages. But should potentially life-saving medication be available to those whose lives aren't at risk? We speak to two doctors getting at the heart of these questions and a woman who's been using these medications to improve her health.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Dozens of Democratic senators voted alongside their Republican counterparts last week on the issue of crime and safety in our nation's capital. The Senate voted 81-14 to block a criminal code rewrite that was unanimously approved by the D.C. City Council.The criminal code overhaul included major changes to criminal sentencing – including reducing maximum sentences for carjacking and eliminating mandatory minimums.We discuss the intersection of politics and criminal justice policy and what say Congress should have over D.C.'s affairs.This show was part of 1A's Remaking America collaboration with six partner stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

We partnered with our friends at WIRED to bring you a special episode of their podcast Gadget Lab. For this episode of Gadget Lab, the team takes a look at recommendation algorithms. The modern internet is powered by recommendation algorithms. But some of these algorithms can lead to some weird places, occasionally taking users down dark internet rabbit holes or showing harmful content. Lawmakers and researchers have criticized recommendation systems before, but these methods are under renewed scrutiny now that Google and Twitter are going before the US Supreme Court to defend their algorithmic practices.We hear how recommendation algorithms work, how they're studied, and how they can be both abused and restrained.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In domestic headlines, the Biden administration is considering reviving a policy that would detain families of migrants who enter the country outside conventional channels.In Texas, five women are filing a lawsuit against the state claiming the abortion ban put their lives, and well-being, at risk by denying them necessary medical procedures.Meanwhile overseas, reports from U.S. intelligence officials suggest that a pro-Ukraine group was responsible for blowing up the Russian-controlled Nord Stream pipelines. Ukraine, has denied any involvement in the matter.Four Americans were attacked in Mexico after traveling to the country for cheaper medicine. Two are dead and two are injured after being kidnapped by members of a drug cartel.We cover some of the biggest headlines during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been over a year since Russia's launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Cyber weapons have continued to play a major role in the war.Both countries have leveraged 21st-century technologies like smartphones, artificial intelligence, and drones to aid their war efforts.Now, experts are saying Russia plans to scale up its cyber threats, into attacks capable of crippling Ukraine's digital infrastructure and impacting NATO allies.We discuss how we can better understand the cyber tools and tactics Russia is using in this war and what can we do to limit their effects.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced on March 1 that it would cut the cost of its insulin at retail pharmacies by 70 percent. That's for patients with or without insurance. Eli Lilly is one of three pharmaceutical companies that supply insulin in the U.S. For years, people in the U.S. who are insulin-dependent have had to ration their insulin or drive to Canada or Mexico to afford it. The patent to insulin was initially sold for $1. We discuss insulin prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed over the years and how much Eli Lilly's decision affect people across the country.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has become a leading voice in the American left during his 30 years in Congress. He's been staunchly opposed to increases in military defense spending, has been a strong advocate for gay marriage, and has called on Congress to invest trillions more to combat climate change.But the signature issue that drove two presidential campaigns and garnered millions of followers on social media is his fight against economic inequality and the power of America's billionaire class.It's the focus of his new book, "It's Ok to Be Angry About Capitalism." Sanders details the ways in which our country's current state of capitalism is endangering our healthcare system, our environment, our media ecosystem, our politics, and America's working class.We speak with him about the book, social security, Medicare, ageism in politics, and more.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Children are working some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. according to a new investigation by The New York Times.Child labor violations have nearly quadrupled since 2015, according to data from the Labor Department. This includes some migrant children who are working throughout the manufacturing industry. Interviews with 60 caseworkers found that two-thirds of unaccompanied migrant children end up working full-time. Even with those statistics, some states are still looking to loosen child labor restrictions to meet hiring needs.We discuss how we got here and what needs to be done to address child labor violations.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

On Wednesday, Eli Lilly, one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, announced it was slashing the price of its most widely prescribed insulin by 70 percent.The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments this week related to President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan. Meanwhile, tempers did not calm in the West Bank this week. Following settler attacks on Palestinian villages, the violence has continued, causing Israeli officials to appeal for calm.And President Biden welcomed a new trade deal on Monday, between the European Union and the United Kingdom, saying that its implementation would be vital in maintaining the Good Friday Agreement.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The American West is experiencing its worst drought in over 1,000 years. That's making a lot of farmers rethink their sustainability practices and reimagine land that has become infertile.One way to innovate is via solar energy. Solar panels can make use of depleted land and help offset a farm's energy costs. They also preserve groundwater and help with crop growth.But the transition isn't always cheap. Could expanding solar on farmland make it harder and more expensive to feed America?We go to California where there's plenty of sun and an appetite to reach aggressive climate goals to hear about the possibilities.This show was part of 1A's Remaking America collaboration with six partner stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In the wake of the pandemic, many people are struggling with their mental health regardless of their age.But recently published data from the CDC is shedding light on how teens are faring.The numbers show that 4 in 10 U.S. high schoolers experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021. Nearly a quarter seriously considered attempting suicide.We discuss how parents can help teens navigate this tumultuous period. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Hospice care in the United States began as a social movement in the 1960s and '70s. What was once provided mainly by nonprofits, is now a $22.4 billion industry. Now, more than 70 percent of hospice clinics are for-profit businesses.And the rate of Americans choosing hospice is only going up. More than half of Americans will spend their final days in hospice. We check in on the hospice care industry — what it is, how it works, and what you need to know to prepare end-of-life services.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Cities across the country are using green space to combat the effects of climate change. Many are going beyond tree planting by rezoning abandoned infrastructure — like railroads and suspended highways — to create expansive, vibrant urban parks.But new data shows that this environmental revitalization is driving gentrification and displacing people in low-income communities.How can cities balance the impact of green gentrification with the need to adopt more climate-resilient developments?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Joe Biden was in Europe this week, prompting commentary from his critics. Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs says he wants future funding to Ukraine pulled and disagrees that it's America's job to defend the country's sovereign borders.While in Europe, President Biden crossed into Kyiv by train on Monday, aboard what's been dubbed "Rail Force One." The surprise trip lasted less than a day. But it sent a big message. It's the first time the president has visited Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country a year ago.At least 11 Palestinians were killed Wednesday in a raid by Israeli military forces in the occupied West Bank. More than 100 people were injured.And Nigerians head to the polls. More than 90 million voters will have a say in who next leads Africa's most populous country. President Muhammadu Buhari is term-limited. There are 18 people on the ballot to replace him.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

What do you do when a train carrying toxic chemicals crashes in your town?East Palestine, Ohio, is finding out the hard way. A train derailed earlier this month, but the mess still hasn't been cleaned up. Now officials are playing the blame game, with East Palestine residents stuck in the middle. Trains roll through America's small towns every day. So who's responsible when things go so wrong? We discuss what's next for East Palestine residents. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Today, artificial intelligence is being used by law enforcement for facial recognition and even predictive policing. It can help solve and prevent crimes, but it's not foolproof. That's resulted in wrongful arrests and continued racial profiling in policing. Outside the U.S., so-called "safe cities" use AI and big data for "Big Brother" surveillance systems.We ask how much these technologies can curb crime, and at what cost to our freedom.This show is part of our series in collaboration with WIRED; "Know It All: 1A and WIRED's Guide to AI." Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

AI is being used for all kinds of tasks in health care — whether it's administrative ones like taking notes, parsing through patient data, or providing some extra help with reading images. Some AI platforms like Bayesian Health are helping filter through loads of data that get put into a health system. And some clinicians are testing out what AI can and can't do quite yet, like a team at Emory University who found out an AI system could detect a patient's self-reported race based on a chest scan. For this episode of "Know It All: 1A and WIRED's Guide to A.I.", we're exploring what AI in health care looks like today and its potential.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

ChatGPT is incredibly popular online, boasting more than 100 million monthly active users within just two months of its launch last November.The program is powered by a language model that is programmed to produce human dialogue. Users can feed it a prompt, and ChatGPT will predict how it should respond. This makes teachers nervous. Educators are concerned the application will fundamentally change how writing is taught and will impact students' abilities to craft ideas on their own. Meanwhile, other teachers are getting creative with the technology. We assemble a panel of guests to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on our schools. It's part of our series Know It All: 1A and WIRED's Guide to AI.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

We've partnered with our friends at WIRED for a series all about AI; "Know It All: 1A and WIRED's Guide to A.I." We'll be exploring how AI is transforming education, healthcare, and national security.In this first conversation, we unpack how AI works and how we can get ready for the future it's shaping.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden broke his silence on the recent downings of UFOs in U.S. airspace. He said U.S. intelligence has no indication that three objects shot down in recent days were surveillance craft from China.Earlier this month, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing toxic materials into the town. Last week, some of the chemicals were burned in what officials called a "controlled explosion." Meanwhile, it's been 10 days since twin earthquakes and several aftershocks hit Syria and Turkey. Recovery and aid groups are still working around the clock to get immediate supplies, medicine, and shelter to survivors.And as the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, the U.S. is expecting Ukraine to launch a spring offensive. Russia has been stepping up its offensive in eastern Ukraine – battling, unsuccessfully, for the city of Vuhledar.We discuss all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Over two years ago, the death of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests and prompted renewed calls for police reform. Some even came from police unions themselves. But just last month, another Black man died at the hands of American law enforcement. Tyre Nichols was beaten by Memphis police officers during a traffic stop and later died from his injuries. Six police officers have been fired from the department for their actions. Five of the former Memphis police officers charged in the beating are set to be arraigned in court this Friday.As the officers await their trial, the city of Memphis is moving forward with ordinances that address police brutality and officer accountability.We discuss how police reform can actually take place, and how unions can be involved in accountability.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, traffic deaths have surged in cities across America. 2021 shaped up to be the deadliest for pedestrians in four decades.Data from the Governors Highway Safety Association estimates that drivers hit and killed more than 7,000 pedestrians in 2021, an average of 20 deaths per day.While data from 2022 isn't out yet, estimates indicate that the pedestrian safety crisis has only worsened.To help address the surge, the U.S. Department of Transportation released $800 million dollars in grants as a part of its Safe Streets for All program in February.We discuss the impact this federal investment will have on traffic deaths and how we can make communities safer for pedestrians. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

He wears a tie without a suit. His chiseled abs make women melt in their seats. And his hips, well, they don't lie. We're talking, of course, about Magic Mike.It's been just over a decade since the first installment in the series was released. The franchise has grown to include live shows all around the world. Now, the third and final film, "Magic Mike's Last Dance," has been released. It opened in theaters on Friday to mixed critical reviews but the film enjoyed a successful weekend at the box office nonetheless. For this episode of the 1A Movie Club, we unpack the magic of 'Magic Mike' and talk about whether his last dance still has the spark.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The perennial debate over school choice is ramping up once again in state legislatures across the country. At least 11 states are considering or have passed legislation this year that would allow public funds to go toward private school tuition or homeschooling, according to EdWeek. But critics of school vouchers worry they divert money from public schools and that there's little to no oversight of how the money is spent. We take a look at which states have school choice programs, which students they work for, and who they leave behind. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. The series explores Americans' trust in institutions and the health of our democracy. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Joe Biden delivered his second State of the Union. Intrusions by Republicans and ad-libs by the former Delaware senator made for a feisty address.A Neo-Nazi has been charged by the FBI for attacking power stations in Maryland as part of a plot to wipe out the state's power grid.Meanwhile, a devastating earthquake shook southern Turkey and northern Syria this week causing widespread destruction and death. Rescue efforts are underway, but international politics and regional conflicts have made responding to the disaster complicated.Following a rash of drug overdose deaths, the Canadian province of British Columbia will no longer criminally charge people for possessing small amounts of hard drugsWe cover all this and more during the the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southern Turkey has left rescue teams and civilians scrambling to save lives. Since Monday morning, the Turkish, Kurdish, and Syrian people have walked among collapsed buildings looking for loved ones in the rubble. "The needs are very high in northwestern Syria as this [earthquake] adds a dramatic layer for vulnerable [people] who are still struggling after many years of war," said Sebastien Gay, MSF head of mission in Syria.We discuss the destruction caused by the quake and what will come next with journalists, aid organizations, and Middle East experts. .Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Joe Biden gave his second State of the Union speech Tuesday night. It was his first since Republicans have taken control of the House of Representatives.The State of the Union is a chance for the U.S. president to address a large and wide television audience. Last year, Biden's speech amassed more than 38 million viewers.We discuss key takeaways from the address. Later, we take a look at the behind-the-scenes of what goes into writing a presidential speech.How do you craft the perfect speech? And in an increasingly polarized political landscape, how is the role of speech shifting?We pose your questions to a panel of political speechwriters.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Tax season is here and a new study is shedding light on inequalities in our tax system. Black taxpayers are at least three times more likely to be audited by the I.R.S than other taxpayers.The study, which was a collaboration between the University of Michigan, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and the U.S Treasury Department, is one of the most detailed ever on race and the tax system. The reason for this racial disparity isn't what you'd expect. The IRS isn't targeting Black taxpayers — the agency doesn't keep data on race. But the outdated algorithms it's using are. Lack of funding is another problem. We speak with a co-author of the study and a leading expert on race and the tax system later in the hour. First, we talk about funding. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Schools have spent decades trying to prevent teens from using drugs and alcohol. The Office of National Drug Control Policy spent $2.9 billion on drug prevention last year alone, but the success rates of prevention programs remains in question. As part of our "Remaking America" collaboration, we highlight reporting from partner station KUNC on kids facing mental health and substance abuse issues. One possible solution is recovery high schools. There are at least 45 recovery schools across the U.S. dedicated to students with addiction problems.We discuss the unique challenges young people face when seeking treatment, and how schools can do a better job of supporting them.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Addiction is treatment is available. For help, please call the free and confidential treatment referral hotline (1-800-662-HELP) or visit findtreatment.gov.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Memphis on Wednesday to remember Tyre Nichols. The 29-year-old died days after he was beaten by five Memphis police officers, who were later arrested and charged with his murder.At least 9 people are dead and more than 300,000 homes lost power in Texas after a powerful ice storm swept through the state. And the Federal Reserve raised interest rates yet again.Last week, the U.S. agreed to send tanks to Ukraine. But sending air support is a fighter jet too far.President Biden has ruled out sending F-16s to the war with Russia. The U.K. has followed his lead, calling the request "not practical."And on the two-year anniversary of seizing power, the military junta in Myanmar pushes back a general election yet again — extending its emergency powers for six more months.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Navigating the American healthcare system can be a challenge.Every year, insurance companies reject millions of claims by patients seeking many types of treatment — everything from MRIs and surgeries to medications. And appealing those denials can be challenging. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that patients under the Affordable Care Act only appeal about 0.1 percent of claims that are rejected. A new investigation by ProPublica and Capitol Forum looks into the world of health insurance denials, and what that appeal process looks like. We discuss what that investigation found and hear your stories. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This week, the College Board released the updated framework for its advanced African American Studies course amid backlash from conservative lawmakers over the curriculum.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education banned the course from being taught in the state's public schools.In a statement, the FDOE called the course a violation of state law and lacking in historical value, a claim that many experts and historians refute.Critics say it's a further attempt by conservative politicians to limit what and how history – particularly racial history – is taught.We discuss the role of politics in determining school curriculum.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

There's been a lot of buzz about alcohol lately. Last year, more than a third of U.S. adults of legal drinking age decided to go sober for an entire month as part of a challenge known as "dry January."That's an increase from the 21 percent of people who took part in 2019, according to food and drink research firm CGA. We discuss Americans' relationship with alcohol. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

What comes to mind when you think of Disney? Princesses searching for love? Talking animals saving the day? Theme parks with fireworks lighting the sky? The answer is different depending on who you ask.The company will enter its 100th year as the largest entertainment firm in the world. Disney is worth $180 billion and had four of the ten highest-grossing films of 2022. But the company's journey hasn't been a fairytale. From accusations of poor employee pay and a lack of diversity in their content, even at hundred Disney has a lot of growing to do. We discuss the past, present, and future of Disney. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

California is still reeling after three mass shootings – including two that happened within three days. Five former Memphis police officers were indicted on murder charges in the death of Tyree Nichols on Thursday. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis fired the five Black officers for violating department policy after Nichols' arrest earlier this month.Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that the U.S. will send 31 M-1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine for its fight against Russia. This was a U-turn by the federal government after months of saying it would not send tanks.And some 80 percent of China's population has supposedly contracted COVID-19, that's according to a prominent Chinese government scientist. For context, that's more than one billion people. Last weekend there were 13,000 COVID deaths in less than a week, in addition to the 60,000 deaths that have been reported since December.We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Sundance Film Festival is returning to Park City, Utah, with a slate of more than 120 independent films making their debut to an in-person crowd for the first time in two years. The festival attracts filmmakers and actors from around the globe hoping to become the next "Little Miss Sunshine" or "Get Out."The festival also features a variety of films centering the female experience, including "The Pod Generation." It's set in the future where couples can give birth through a detached artificial womb or pod. We discuss this year's notable films, and the state of independent films in 2023. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Approximately two dozen American diplomats in Havana, Cuba, first heard piercing, metallic hissing in 2016. They began experiencing nausea, vertigo, headaches, and other cognitive ailments, but doctors haven't been able to figure out what could be making them sick.Theories include the use of sonic weapons launched by hostile foreign actors like Russia. But the CIA has dismissed that idea, saying most cases of "Havana Syndrome" actually stem from other pre-existing medical conditions. Still, they acknowledge that some cases are unexplainable.The new investigative podcast "The Sound: Mystery of Havana Syndrome" explores what we know about this mysterious illness – and what questions remain.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

There are growing efforts to ban the popular social media app TikTok by some U.S. lawmakers.Negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on how to keep TikTok in the U.S. are ongoing; but some legislators are still trying to ban Tik Tok's parent company ByteDance from doing business in the country entirely.How is this different from former President Donald Trump's efforts in 2020? Is there a way to keep TikTok in the U.S. while addressing national security concerns?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In the new mystery series "Poker Face", the protagonist possesses an uncanny ability to tell when anyone is lying.This gift lands the main character – Charlie Cale, played by Natasha Lyonne – in a sticky situation with a casino manager looking to exploit her talents. It forces Charlie on the run and sparks a murder-solving spree as she travels to new towns in each episode.We discuss Lyonne's role in "Poker Face," how the show fits into modern streaming dramas, and Lyonne's career spanning more than three decades.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Conservatives who initially blocked McCarthy from the speaker's gavel have walked away with key committee assignment roles. President Biden travels to California to visit areas hit by extreme weather. And the tech layoffs continue, with Microsoft's announcement that 10,000 workers will be let go.The world's elite meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The British foreign secretary encourages the US to step up its own weapons supply to Ukraine. And China deals with surging COVID-19 cases.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The government has reached its "debt limit:" the cap on borrowing that, if breached, could send the U.S. and global financial markets into a tailspin.To avert such a crisis, Congress must vote to raise the debt ceiling and increase the amount the government is able to borrow.But despite urgent pleas from Democrats, House Republicans are stalling on the vote and using their narrow majority to demand spending cuts.How soon can we expect Congress to negotiate and pass a debt limit increase? What will our country's financial future look like if the stalemate drags on?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

By now, you've probably seen the headlines – and memes – about the revelations Prince Harry includes in his new memoir, "Spare."Overall, the book is a revealing look into the invisible machine that operates the royal family and a condemnation of the British tabloid press.And it's been incredibly popular. Libraries here in the U.S. are struggling to meet the demand, with months-long wait times for a copy.We talk about the enduring fascination Americans have with the royal family, and the future of the British monarchy.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Millions of Americans are recovering from travel chaos.Southwest canceled more than 16,000 flights between Christmas and the New Year. Then, it was deja-vu for travelers last Wednesday after a technical glitch in the Federal Aviation Authority's computer system forced all flights to be grounded.We look at the airline industry – what's working, what isn't, and what these meltdowns reveal about the future of flying.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Who can vote and how they can cast their ballot are questions as important today as they were almost 60 years ago when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped lead the fight for voting rights.This show is a special program honoring the legacy of Dr. King with a contemporary focus on voting access and democracy.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The House finally has its new speaker. A Federal Aviation Administration glitch grounded every flight in the U.S. And Elon Musk now holds the record for the most amount of money ever lost.More than 1,200 people have been charged in Brazil for storming the government buildings in protests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the audience at the Golden Globes this week that there would be "no World War III." Scientists have found that Earth's ozone layer is on track to be fully repaired within decades.We cover these headlines and more during the domestic and international segments of our News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Over 2.6 million dogs in the U.S. originate from commercial breeders, more commonly known as puppy mills. There are countless stories of animals being kept in miserable conditions, small cages, and with little medical care.States have slowly been putting policies in place to protect pups, but some say federal protections don't go far enough and many breeders go under the radar.Today, we talk about the ethics of dog breeding, and what can be done to ensure the welfare of man's best friend.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Power utilities are moving away from coal and natural gas power plants and embracing renewable energy sources like hydro, wind, and solar.But it's a slow turnaround. In the meantime, as floods, droughts, freezes, and heatwaves become more prevalent in the face of climate change, they're adding further stress to the already-fragile power grid.What does the power grid of the future look like?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This week, President Biden made his first presidential trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, stopping in El Paso, Texas before heading to a summit in Mexico City.He announced that his Administration will accept up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua each month, and allow them to work in the U.S. for up to 2 years. They will also begin to send unauthorized migrants to Mexico.So how far do the White House's latest immigration policies go? And what impact could they have on our fragile immigration system?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Around 25,000 kids age out of the foster care system every year in the U.S. What happens when they do?In the years immediately following their 18th or 21st birthday (depending on the state), these young adults are likely to struggle in poverty.The effects of growing up in the system last decades into adulthood, too. We heard from one of our listeners, Priscilla Molina, who told us growing up in foster care has affected how she relates to others and herself. We talk to a panel of former foster youth about what happens when foster kids become adults.This episode is part of our Listener Picks series. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

California Rep. Kevin McCarthy has had better weeks. The Republican expected to get his party's nod to become speaker of the House this week as the new representatives were supposed to be sworn in. However, a holdout wing of the GOP has stalled McCarthy's ascent. McCarthy has been unable to win the absolute majority of votes required to become House speaker for days.Damar Hamlin's health is reportedly improving despite being in critical condition. The Buffalo Bill was hospitalized following a tackle in his team's game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday.Meanwhile, overseas, the Kremlin is facing unprecedented criticism from inside Russia after one of the deadliest attacks on its troops since the Ukraine war began. It took place on New Year's Day. Kyiv, and Russian bloggers, claim the death toll is very likely in the hundreds.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Who is allowed to profit from marijuana legalization?In New York, the law specifically carves out provisions for those who've been disproportionately impacted by drug laws. It's the latest example of a growing nationwide trend called "restorative justice."But many state legislatures have come under fire for not prioritizing equitable access to the marijuana market or for falling short in their efforts.How can social equity and legalization coexist?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

From chronic pain to emergency room visits, women's medical concerns are often dismissed at higher rates than those of men.One study shows that middle-aged women with chest pain were twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness than their male counterparts. Another study found that women and people of color who visited emergency rooms with chest pain waited longer to be seen by a doctor. America's gynecological practice has been traced back to slavery. Today, gender and racial bias still affect the way people are diagnosed and receive care.We talk about why this still happens and what can be done about it. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The 2022 midterm elections saw the Democrats break records on the federal and state levels.Both Republican and Democratic parties will be facing busy legislative sessions this year, with access to abortion, spiking gas prices, an opioid epidemic, and parental choice all expected to be on the docket.We assemble a panel of reporters from Washington, Texas, and California to better understand the key issues in state government this year and how they could influence national politics.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

We live a lot of our lives on autopilot, moving through daily routines, obligations, or habits.But with a new year comes a new opportunity to pause, reset, and make a change.Once we decide what changes, or resolutions we want to make in the new year, how do we stick with them?We discuss our habits and how we can be successful at sticking to those New Year's resolutions. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been 25 years since the release of The Spice Girls' second album, "Spiceworld." The record, released on November 1, 1997, went five times platinum. The group that popularized the phrase "Girl Power," the Spice Girls are the best-selling girl group of all time. But before the Spice Girls, there were many others. From The Andrew Sisters to The Supremes, we can trace the evolution of the girl group throughout music's history. In this episode the 1A Record Club takes a look at the influence of "Spiceworld" and the cultural phenomenon of girl groups. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The end of the year is a fertile time for reflection to look back on where we've been. The books we've read and loved in a year can tell us all kinds of things—what we've learned, how we've felt, and how we were changed when the story was over.We round up some of the best books of the year and more with Andrew Limbong, reporter for NPR's Arts and Culture desk and host of the Book of the Day podcast; and book influencer Hunter McLendon.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In the 1979 novel "Kindred," author Octavia Butler sent her main character – a Black woman – back to the antebellum south of the 1800s. The sci-fi book is a modern classic – a cornerstone of afro-futurism that made waves in a genre dominated by white men. "Kindred" is still being discovered by new readers today – and by viewers. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins adapted "Kindred" into a new FX series of the same name on Hulu.We speak with Jacobs-Jenkins about making the first on-screen adaptation of the late, and pioneering Octavia Butler's work and why it still resonates with readers, and now viewers, decades later.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Multigenerational living is by no means a new arrangement. But it has become more common in recent years. The number of Americans living in multigenerational households has quadrupled since 1971, according to Pew Research Center. Financial issues were cited as the top reason people chose to live in multigenerational households. It can also benefit older adults who need assistance, parents in need of childcare, and young adults not yet ready to strike out on their own.We talk about the joys, pains, and economic gains of multigenerational households.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

You might know him from the television program "Downtown Abbey" Or the film adaptation of the beloved children's story Paddington. Or maybe from the time he played Robert DeNiro's leg.Well, however you know Hugh Bonneville, chances are you're a fan.He's had a long and successful career as an actor. And now, he's sharing memories from life in a new book titled "Playing Under the Piano: From Downtown to Darkest Peru."Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The House Jan. 6 committee investigating the attack on the Capitol released its final report this week, recommending that Donald Trump be prosecuted by the Justice Department on four criminal counts.A massive winter storm is moving its way through the country and affecting holiday travel for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, also this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the U.S. this week to address a special joint session of Congress asking for continued support in his country's war against Russia.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Biden Administration announced plans to reduce homelessness in the U.S. by 25 percent by 2025.Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a state of emergency on homelessness as her first act in office. She also announced a program launching next week that will move people off the street and into hotels and motels.Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams began allowing officials to involuntarily hospitalize people they deemed to be in a psychiatric crisis. We discuss the best way to address unhoused populations, and dig into the administration's plan. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than 100,000 people died last year in America from a drug overdose, most of which involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.Fentanyl is deadly and it's winding up in street drugs of all kinds: heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit Adderall. We discuss the dangers of fentanyl and harm reduction solutions, like naloxone and fentanyl testing strips, that can keep everyone safer.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Since inflation first spiked 18 months ago, Americans have been spending consistently. But it seems like that is beginning to change.Retail numbers fell 0.6 percent in November according to a report by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to fight inflation, but that hasn't helped to keep prices low. We get into the reasons why and check in on the state of the economy.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The 2022 men's World Cup in Qatar is over. Between human rights abuses, half-filled stadiums, surprise quarter-final runs, the tragic death of a soccer journalism icon, and Lionel Messi's last hurrah, there's been lots to talk about.We discuss what future tournaments will look like, and how can we avoid the pitfalls that have marred the 2022 tournament. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

As COVID infections rise this winter, the White House is restarting its free home COVID test program as part of its new winter plan to head off infections during the holidays and beyond.China is racing to prepare its citizens for another wave of COVID-19. Authorities are moving to vaccinate the country's most vulnerable.And Iran is sentencing 400 people involved with the demonstrations against the government to jail terms of up to 10 years for participating in the protests.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The overturn of Roe v. Wade in June brought the idea of "fetal personhood" into state legislatures. Fetal personhood would grant a fetus' or embryo the same rights as a person. That idea — which is already a provision in Georgia's abortion ban — has opened the door to discussions about if fertility treatment could be subject to regulation next.Some states like West Virginia have specifically carved out exceptions in their abortion laws for fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization or IVF.We discuss where fertility treatments and contraception legally stand. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Cinema fans are talking about "The Whale" for a lot of reasons. One is its director, Darren Aronofsky, who is best known for his intense films like "Black Swan" and "Requiem for a Dream." Another cause for conversation is the comeback of Brendan Fraser, who has been out of the spotlight for some years after saying he was blacklisted from Hollywood.We sit down with the screenwriter Samuel Hunter to discuss the movie's subject matter, which has drawn the ire of some critics.But there's more to discuss than just one film. We roundup our panel and talk about some of the best (and most disappointing) films of the year. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Maria Ressa is no stranger to protesting authoritarian regimes.The international journalist and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner is widely recognized for challenging government corruption in the Philippines, her native country.Her book, "How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future," unpacks how social media disinformation has given rise to authoritarian regimes around the globe and sounds the alarm for those hoping to preserve democracy.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock won reelection to Congress this week, defeating Republican rival and former football star Herschel Walker in a run-off. The House passed legislation protecting same-sex and interracial marriage this week. It doesn't legalize same-sex marriage in all states, but does require a state to recognize a marriage from another state.Meanwhile, Russia released WNBA star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap for arms dealer Victor Bout. And the German government arrested dozens, including a former judge, connected to a far-right group that were plotting to overthrow the German government. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Hospitals around the country are straining to manage an influx of patients, many of whom are battling respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.RSV is a common seasonal infection among children and poses the greatest threat to newborns and those over 65.The virus peaked in early November and data from the CDC shows that nationally, cases are trending downward. But in many states, cases are on the upswing, causing children's hospitals to reach capacity.Many experts warn that travel and gatherings this holiday season may lead to another surge in RSV cases, alongside increases in flu and COVID-19 cases.We convene a panel to discuss the phenomenon and unpack the data on RSV.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been 10 years since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, when 20 students and six educators were killed.Davis Dunavin, who covered the Sandy Hook shooting in December 2012 as a young reporter, is behind a new podcast looking at the community a decade since the shooting."Still Newtown" leads with a question: How does a community come out the other side of tragedy? We visit Newtown and those close to the story for answers.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Sweeping layoffs and hiring freezes have hit the tech industry hard this year. According to Layoffs.fyi, over 50,000 jobs were lost in November alone.The pandemic was good for the tech industry. But as life offline comes back, companies are struggling to retain the employees they hired during the pandemic.Outside of tech, layoffs are at a historic low. We discuss what the tech industry's economic wobbles mean for the economy as a whole. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Semiconductor chips are expected to make a huge economic impact – one with geopolitical implications. They're found in popular electronics like smartphones and gaming consoles and also in cars and military weapons. During the pandemic, disruption to global supply chains created an alarming shortage of them in the U.S. To reduce reliance on China's manufacturing, the Biden Administration passed the CHIPS Act. It allocates $52 billion dollars to build up America's semiconductor industry.We discuss the CHIPS Act, and how the money will be used. With all the layoffs in the tech industry, will the investment actually be worth it?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

the House approved legislation on Wednesday that would institute a labor agreement between rail workers and their employers.Now that control of the House has flipped to the Republicans, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is asking the House January 6 committee to preserve all its records.Chinese officials are cracking down on protests against the country's zero-COVID policy.And a senior aide to King Charles resigned this week following "unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments" she made to a guest at a reception at Buckingham Palace.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The pandemic has spread healthcare workers thin over the last few years. With staffing shortages and wave after wave of COVID cases, that wear has become increasingly apparent. But burnout is not new to the healthcare field. "For the most part, we don't talk about this stuff, because we were told we're not supposed to," says Dr. Jessica Gold who joins us for the conversation. We talk to doctors about their experiences dealing with mental illness while practicing medicine, and we hear your stories. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Indian Child Welfare Act is before the Supreme Court once again, almost a decade after Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl. Earlier this month, the Court heard oral arguments in the case Haaland v. Brackeen, the legal action about who gets precedence when it comes to adopting Native children. We discuss what the Indian Child Welfare Act does and if struck down, what it could mean for tribal law and Native Americans.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been 25 years since the release of The Spice Girls' second album, "Spiceworld." The record, released on November 1, 1997, went five times platinum. The group that popularized the phrase "Girl Power," the Spice Girls are the best-selling girl group of all time. But before the Spice Girls, there were many others. From The Andrew Sisters to The Supremes, we can trace the evolution of the girl group throughout music's history. In this episode the 1A Record Club takes a look at the influence of "Spiceworld" and the cultural phenomenon of girl groups. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A record number of bills targeting trans people in the U.S. have passed this year. In February, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive, classifying gender-affirming care as child abuse. 1A recently traveled to Austin to speak with trans kids and their families as part of the Remaking America Series. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The world's eyes are on the 32 national soccer teams hoping to win big at this year's FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar.It's the first time the competition is being hosted in the Middle East. And while fans from across the globe descend on the tiny host country to cheer on their favorite teams, controversy has taken center stage.We'll hear more from experts about the mess and get the latest on the tournament.We'll also chat about Lionel Messi's legacy and more as we preview NPR's new bilingual sports podcast, "The Last Cup."Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In 2019, Tembi Locke published her memoir titled "From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home." In it, she tells the story of how she pieced her life back together after losing her husband, Saro, to cancer.The book is also a celebration of their love story. And that love story is now the center of a Netflix series also titled "From Scratch." Tembi and her sister Attica act as writers, showrunners, and producers on the show.They join us to talk about bringing their story to the screen.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In February, Haiti declared that after more than a decade of battling cholera, it had fully eliminated the disease.Less than a year later – cholera is back, and it's devastating the already-beleaguered country.Armed gangs, a fuel blockade, and widespread hunger all have contributed to the outbreak.We discuss how Haitians are dealing with the situation and what countries like the U.S. are doing to help.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Multigenerational living is by no means a new arrangement. But it has become more common in recent years. The number of Americans living in multigenerational households has quadrupled since 1971, according to Pew Research Center. Financial issues were cited as the top reason people chose to live in multigenerational households. It can also benefit older adults who need assistance, parents in need of childcare, and young adults not yet ready to strike out on their own.We talk about the joys, pains, and economic gains of multigenerational households.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Many popular artists take advantage of a pricing system used by live events company Ticketmaster that sets prices based on demand. The more people waiting in line for tickets, the higher the prices go. But many fans aren't happy with the ballooning costs. Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, owns concert venues, promotes tours, and sells tickets. Some say that leaves little room for competition, hurting fans, artists, and the industry at large. We discuss Live Nation as a monopoly, who it hurts, and what's being done to address the lack of competition. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Almost half of eligible voters cast a ballot in the most recent election, according to the U.S. Elections Project.Still, voters can feel like our centuries-old voting system isn't working for us today.1A spent election week in Wichita, Kansas, after voters decided to change how they elect their city school board.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Results from the 2022 midterm elections continued to trickle in this week. The GOP took control of the House of Representatives and the Democrats managed to hold onto the Senate. Meanwhile, in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his military's reclamation of the city of Kherson is "the beginning of the end" of the conflict. U.S. President Joe Biden has asked Congress to approve $37 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine.In sports news, the World Cup has not yet officially started but controversy is already percolating. Players and government officials are publicly criticizing host nation Qatar over well-documented human rights abuses. Qatari officials are in turn calling their critics racist.We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Every ten years, election maps are re-evaluated and redrawn to reflect states' populations. But how the maps are drawn differs from state to state. So was the outcome of the midterms determined before voters even cast their ballots? We gather a panel of experts to discuss how redistricting can advantage one party over another. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

As the largest minority group in the United States, Latino voters have a huge say in how elections shake out. While most Latino voters have traditionally leaned into the Democratic Party, both political parties have been largely unsuccessful in solidifying the voting bloc's support in the past four decades. We convene a panel of experts to discuss what's driving the shift in Latino voting patterns, and what it might mean for future elections. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

We've heard a lot about candidates and parties, 132 measures were also on ballots across the U.S. last week.From decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms to prohibiting slavery, to implementing new rules around how and where we vote, Americans made a ton of local decisions with national implications this November.We discuss some of the midterm results you might have missed and what they mean for American attitudes on important issues.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The majority of GOP candidates on the ballot this midterm have denied or challenged the results of the 2020 presidential election.So far, election-denying candidates have performed slightly worse than expected. But this doesn't mean the threat of election denialism is gone.We discuss what this midterm reveals about the future—or lack thereof—of election denialism.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The midterms are largely over, but the nation is still waiting for some key results. The "red wave" Republicans predicted failed to materialize and Democrats managed to hang on to contested seats and even flip a few districts. Elon Musk's Twitter is trying to clear new self-imposed hurdles. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Silicon Valley, Facebook's parent company Meta announced it's laying off 11,000 of its employees.Overseas, Russia has announced the withdrawal of its troops from the key Ukrainian city of Kherson. In private conversations, U.S. authorities have asked Ukrainian leaders to show they are open to negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.And in sports, Qatar attempts to navigate criticism over its human rights record in the run-up to the Fifa World Cup. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Results are still being declared in the U.S. midterm elections. Control of Congress hangs in the balance. Republicans seem poised to take control of the House of Representatives. But the Senate fight is on a knife's edge. We discuss the latest in Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona. We also take a look at how the U.S. voted down the ballot. Millions weighed in on a range of measures from recreational drugs, to abortion rights, to sports betting, and the climate crisis. We discuss what was approved, what was rejected, and what we can expect to see put to the test in 2024. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

For weeks, Republicans have been predicting a "red wave" would wash over the U.S. this midterm cycle. But that wave did not materialize. Control of Congress is still up in the air, with both the Senate and the House still too close to call. We'll check in on Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and others throughout the show today. And we'll hear live calls from voters across the United States. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

For many, voting is a chance to make sure their voices are heard. But full and fair representation can feel out of reach depending on where you live and the party that dominates your district. We're camping out on so-called "political islands." These are cities or counties whose political demographics don't align with the states in which they're located. We discuss why living in these political islands can be frustrating but important for democracy. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than 35 million people have already voted in this year's midterm election, that's according to the United States Elections Project. But poll workers and voters alike are getting ready for Election Day and for some, that means dealing with threats of violence. U.S. security agencies like the Department of Homeland Security have issued threat advisories, warning against violence towards political figures and election officials. We discuss what all of that means for voters and answer your questions about what is and isn't allowed at the polling place.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The first days of Elon Musk's Twitter have been full of controversy. The Tesla co-founder fired the company's board of directors and is planning to lay off about half the existing workforce in an attempt to cut costs. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week, including those in a case involving the future of affirmative action at U.S. universities.Meanwhile in Africa, the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces have agreed to end a two-year conflict at peace talks in South Africa this week. The war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands since it began two years ago. Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro lost the presidential election this week to former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has signaled he will hand over the country's reins without issue. We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Political spending is at an all-time high. Campaigns will spend almost $10 billion this year on advertising, according to AdImpact.But what are the rules? And in a world where every digital step we take is tracked, how much should we care? We get into who's behind this spending and how far down the ballot it goes.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. The series explores Americans' trust in institutions and the health of our democracy. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Affirmative action is once again on the Supreme Court docket. Two separate cases have been filed that argue against Affirmative Action and court watchers believe the policy could be doomed under the current conservative supermajority.We discuss the history of Affirmative Action, its legal background, and the potential impact a Supreme Court ruling could have on hiring practices.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than 22 million people have already voted in the 2022 midterm election, that's according to the United States Elections Project. The way we vote radically changed in 2020 because of the pandemic and these days more people are opting to vote by mail and in person before polls open on Election Day. We discuss what early voting numbers tell us about overall turnout and what you can expect if you head to the polls on November 8. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's Halloween—a day for adrenaline, heart-pumping terror. And this year's best horror films are sure to terrify you. Our guest panel discusses what movies are worth the nightmares, and where the genre may be heading next. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Early and absentee voting for the 2022 midterm elections is well underway.President Joe Biden is making last-minute trips around the country to bolster Democrats candidates, talking to constituents about inflation and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's plans for Congress.Meanwhile, Russian courts upheld WNBA star Brittney Griner's sentence for traveling with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. She's been sentenced to nine years in prison.On Sunday's Brazilian voters go to the polls to vote in a face-off between incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, better known as Lula.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.

Teenagers under 18 years old don't have a vote, but they do have a voice. According to PEW research, Gen Z – those born between 1996 and 2012 — are the most racially diverse generation. They're also the first generation of so-called "digital natives" to grow up with smartphones. These same young people can also be those most vulnerable to society's most pressing issues, like gun violence, poverty, sexual assault, and addiction. We hear from high schoolers across Louisville, Kentucky and their concerns as we near the midterm elections. We also discuss the recent school shooting in St. Louis, Missouri. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Darién Gap is a roadless stretch of treacherous jungle that connects Panama and Colombia. It is increasingly crowded with migrants who are risking their lives to make it to the United States."People will go to great extents to improve their lives or get away from danger. Even the greatest natural deterrents in the world won't stop them from seeking a better life," says Migration Policy Institute's Andrew Selee.We discuss what it's like to trek through the Darien Gap and why so many more migrants choosing to make the perilous, week-long journey.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Haiti is in crisis.Violent gangs have grown in number and power over the last few years. Hospitals have closed their doors or reduced capacity during a cholera outbreak. And the costs of basic goods like food and gas have skyrocketed, at least half the country is facing acute hunger."Right now, [Jimmy Chérizier] is the most powerful gang leader that Haiti has ever known. He decided to block the place where 70 percent of fuel comes from and since then the country plunged into further problems," says journalist Widlore Mérancourt.We discuss the situation in Haiti and how the country can move forward. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Young voters had record turnout in 2020 and 2018. With midterms just around the corner will they show up again in 2022?We discuss young voters, what drives them to the polls and what first time voters should expect. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Millions of Americans are applying for student loan forgiveness this week as the online applications site goes live.And coming to a quarter near you, the actress Anna Mae Wong makes history. The celebrated Hollywood icon will become the first Asian American featured on US currency.Meanwhile, overseas, Britain's newest prime minister prepares for life as an old one. Liz Truss moves on from her role as Prime Minister of the UK after just 45 days in office.In Ukraine, drone attacks leave millions in the dark. Russia's new military commander warns of 'difficult decisions' ahead as thousands leave a key city in the south.And the United Nations warns that Haiti is on the verge of collapse.We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Rising food and energy costs are hurting Americans' pockets, especially for those earning lower wages. Wages haven't kept up with inflation. But low-income workers have seen some of the largest percent increases in pay since the pandemic.But how long will those reported gains last? How do we fix a system that asks millions to work hard, but doesn't earn them enough to live on?We partnered with WFPL in Louisville, Kentucky and talk to small business owners, consumers and workers impacted by inflation. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Nearly five million American seniors across the U.S. are living below or at the poverty line. The Social Security administration recently announced that benefits for the 2023 calendar year will increase by 8.7% to adjust for the surging cost of inflation. Medicaid premiums are set to decrease by a similar amount as well. How much will that help? We explore the challenges facing many older Americans. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Child poverty has dramatically decreased in the U.S. over the past 25 years. The now-defunct Child Tax Credit helped bring those numbers down even further by roughly 30 percent. We discuss child poverty across the United States and what lessons can be learned from the decrease. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In 2020, more than 37 million Americans lived in poverty according to new data from the U.S Census Bureau. That number doesn't include those who are above the poverty line and struggling to make a living.We discuss what it means to be poor and how people fall below the poverty line, and the difficulties associated with it. This is the first part of our discussion of poverty in America for our series "The Price of Poverty."Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Jan. 6 hearings resumed on Thursday, a week after members of the U.S. House Select Committee interviewed Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. She's a proponent of the disproven theory that the 2020 election was fraudulent and was in contact with several Trump surrogates after the former president lost the race.Russia has arrested eight individuals it claims are connected to the bombing of a key bridge connecting Ukraine's Donbas region and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces are now responding by targeting civilian locales, including a major park in Kyiv.Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to be confirmed to his office for another term when the country's major party congress meets this weekend.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Protests in Iran have been growing for four weeks. The movement has attracted widespread support.Protests against Iran's supreme leader were prompted by the death of a young Kurdish woman while in police custody.Over the past dozen or so years, Iranians have pushed back against their government, only for demonstrations to fizzle out, suppressed by a well-practiced system. We discuss the situation in Iran, get a look at life inside the country, and talk about how this uprising is different from previous ones. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Biden surprised the nation when he announced he would pardon all simple marijuana convictions at the federal level. It's a decision that echoes policy at the state level. Thirty-one states and D.C. no longer prosecute or criminalize a person for possessing small amounts of cannabis. Experts say the bigger move was his request for the government to review marijuana's classification as a Schedule 1 drug – a category reserved for dangerous narcotics like heroin. We discuss what it would mean if marijuana is rescheduled and national drug policy. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Kansas voters surprised the country when they overwhelmingly voted against a constitutional amendment that would have banned abortion in the state. But several more states are now set to vote on the issue next month. According to a recent NPR and PBS poll, abortion is the second most important issue for voters after inflation. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has altered the political landscape in the run-up to the midterms. We talk about how and take a look at what we can expect when Kentuckians head to the polls. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The midterms are less than thirty days away and a new poll from AARP has found that women over 50 may be a deciding factor in this year's elections. More than half of the 800 women surveyed across the US are still unclear on which Congressional candidate they will vote for in the next five week. Women over the age of 50 are among one of the most reliable voting blocs in midterm elections."We see this group of voters as incredibly diverse," says Christine Matthews, president of Bellwether Research and Consulting, who worked with AARP to conduct the nationwide survey. "The one thing they all have in common is they will show up to vote."We discuss the study's findings and what to expect from these voters bloc during the midterms. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker found himself in hot water this week after it was reported the former football star paid for a partner of his to have an abortion. This week, President Joe Biden visited Puerto Rico and Florida after Hurricane Ian left both areas devastated. A new term for the Supreme Court has begun. The court is set to hear new cases at a time in its history when many are questioning its legitimacy in light of its right-wing turn.Meanwhile, the White House is accusing the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of siding with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. But experts say the Biden administration probably won't take any action against Saudi Arabia.We get into all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This week we discussed protests in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini's death after she was detained by morality police in the country. Iran's Supreme Leader broke his silence after more than 2 weeks of massive protests across the country.Dozens of demonstrators have died. Hundreds more have been arrested over the past two weeks, and the protests show no end in sight. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

According to the CDC, the teenage birth rate has dropped dramatically over the last two decades. Advocates say comprehensive sex education and access to contraception are two reasons for that decline. But, in a post-Roe world, some states are rethinking their sex ed requirements. Parents are getting involved too, voicing their concerns about what sex ed classes now cover.Curricula vary wildly across the country. In some states, like Indiana, educators are reporting online threats and harassment over these classes.We hear from teachers, parents and students from around the country on changes they want to see. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Putin's military mobilization effort – a forced conscription of between 300-thousand and a million Russian men to join the war in Ukraine has prompted an exodus of Russians. "There are 190 different ethnic minorities in Russia," says President of the Free Russia Foundation Natalia Arno, "These groups are the ones being targeted by the Russian military for conscription." Our guests take us inside Russia, and discuss with us what kind of toll the conflict is taking on everyday life. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Supreme Court's new term gets underway, but the country is still dealing with the fallout from the last one. Particularly the decision that led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.The docket includes cases surrounding election integrity, gerrymandering, climate change, and affirmative action. According to a Gallup poll, the Supreme Court's approval is at a historic low. We discuss some of the big cases and talk about what we can expect from the Supreme Court over the next few months.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in the contiguous United States this week, devastating southwest Florida after it blew its way through Puerto Rico, knocking out the island's power grid. Meanwhile, protests in Iran continue. The death of a woman being held in custody over laws about wearing the hijab in public inspired these demonstrations. The government has responded with force and the death toll has now risen to 76 as protests enter their second week. And Italy is set to welcome its first-ever female prime minister to office. Giorgia Meloni is a far-right, neo-fascist politician whose party supports anti-immigrant policies and focuses on "traditional" families. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Salimata, her husband Moussa, and their baby son, Ibrahim, fled violence in their home country of Ivory Coast. They arrived in Texas this year, seeking asylum in the United States. After a day at a shelter, they were put on a bus and dropped off in Washington, D.C.In D.C. they found a home with Sue Kenney-Pfalzer, an immigration attorney looking for a way to help. 1A producer Avery J.C. Kleinman talked to Salimata and Sue as part of a conversation on 1A about what's happening to migrants being bussed north. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Hurricane Ian reached Florida on Wednesday. This week, about 2.5 million Floridians were asked to leave their homes and move inland or to higher ground to avoid the winds and flooding. Many people didn't leave, braving the storm at home even as local emergency services were temporarily suspended. We discuss the damage caused by Ian and what happens next. We also check in on how Puerto Rico is dealing with the aftermath of hurricane Fiona. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The American Library Association has reported 681 challenges to more than 1,600 titles this year. That puts 2022 on track to see the highest number of book challenges in decades. This summer, a library in Lafayette, Louisiana, was forced to remove a Pride Month display. In Iowa, a proposed bill would give city councils the power to overturn librarians' decisions about what books to buy and where they're displayed. And these are just a couple of examples. We discuss the future of public libraries and library workers in this climate of unprecedented censorship. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

California's two initiatives concerning online gambling regulations are set to be the most expensive ballot campaign in U.S. history. The measures would make sports betting in the state legal both in person and online. Currently, the U.S. is a patchwork of regulations on betting. One gray area that's grown in the past several years is the popular online streaming platform Twitch. Gambling content on the platform has received a lot of attention recently, to which Twitch responded with a partial gambling ban. We talk about California's gambling initiatives, Twitch's new gambling policy, and the future of betting online. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Thousands of migrants have been bussed to northern cities from Texas, Arizona, and Florida. Republican governors say blue states should share in the responsibility of taking care of the record number of migrants coming over the border.Sue Kenney-Pfalzer, is an immigration attorney who was looking for a way to help migrants in Washington, D.C. She provided a room in her home for a family before her move to San Diego. We hear from Sue and the family she housed and talk to immigration experts experts about the situation at large. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Actor Danny Trejo has over 380 acting credits to his name, from playing an action star in the Machete series a drug cartel boss in Breaking Bad.Trejo has become one of Hollywood's go-to badasses and bad guys. It could be because his life experiences aren't too far away from those of many of his characters.Growing up, Danny was in and out of the most notorious prisons in California, enmeshed in crime and struggling with substance use.He's written about it in his memoir, Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood, which is out in both English and Spanish.This conversation was recorded in 2021.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The lights went out in Puerto Rico this week after Hurricane Fiona devastated the island. The already fragile electric infrastructure crumbled, invoking memories of the 11-month blackout the island suffered after Hurricane Maria. A Texas sheriff opened a criminal investigation into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after he arranged for 50 Venezuelan migrants to be flown to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, in a political stunt. Russia's defense minister announced this week that 300,000 men will be drafted in the next phase of its invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities are also planning to hold referendums on separation in Russian-controlled portions of Ukraine in a potential effort to dissuade counter-offensives by Ukrainian troops. Protests continue in Iran over the killing of a woman who was in custody for breaking laws pertaining to wearing the hijab in public. Authorities have cracked down, leading to the deaths of at least 9 people involved in the demonstrations. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The pandemic changed the 2020 election. Voters turned out in record numbers. Many Americans took advantage of mail-in and early voting.Since 2020, pro-democracy groups say states have enacted 50 laws that make voting harder or undermine the election process.We discuss a case that could drastically change how federal elections are run. We also ask law experts what legal standing this theory has and what it could mean for your vote. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

During an appearance on 60 Minutes, President Joe Biden declared that the pandemic is over.But the pandemic isn't a thing of the past yet—something Biden should know well. His comments come as his administration asks Congress for an additional $22 billion to fight the pandemic. Some 400 to 500 Americans die each day from COVID-19. We discuss what the data tells us about this stage of the pandemic, and who gets to decide if the pandemic is over. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The British Commonwealth is a political organization of 56 countries across the globe. It accounts for 2.5 billion people, with India making up more than half of that number.But its future following the queen's death remains uncertain. Barbados left the organization last year and both Jamaica and Belize are considering departures.The history of British colonial rule in the Caribbean and the possibility of reparations are hot topics of discussion among regional advocates and leaders.We discuss the Commonwealth's history, why countries join, and why they leave.

The Senate recently confirmed TSA administrator David Pekoske for a second term. His reappointment comes as the Transportation Security Administration marks its 21st year in existence, having been created just two months after 9/11. Its two decades in operation haven't always been smooth sailing. The TSA has one of the highest turnover rates of any federal agency with one in five new hires quitting in their first six months. Public complaints about the agency are also high. Long lines, liquid limits, and random pat-downs plague many travelers. We sit down to assess our nation's aviation security and discuss whether the TSA is accomplishing what it was created to do. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Cristela Alonzo is one of only a few Latinos with a Netflix comedy special. When her first premiered in 2017, she didn't hold back on her dislike for former President Donald Trump or her identity as a Mexican-American in South Texas. Now, she's back for her second special, "Middle Classy." And she's bringing her activism with her, opening up the special with cameos from civil rights leader Dolores Huerta and Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro.She shares with us what it's like being able to finally afford to take care of herself and the importance of therapy despite the stigma among her Latino family.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Just as the Biden administration was set to celebrate the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, stocks plummeted in their greatest daily drop since 2020 due to a searing inflation report.Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have gained significant ground in the country. Russian forces are pulling back. Moscow is claiming its forces are regrouping.The United Kingdom prepares for the late queen's funeral. Mourners line up for miles and world leaders fly in to pay their respects. President Joe Biden is planning his visit. Russia's Vladimir Putin is not invited.Putin instead sat down with China's Xi Jinping and India's Narendra Modi at a meeting between the leaders of major eastern governments. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In November, voters will pick their elected officials in the midterm elections. But some of those voters have also been hand-picked by political parties.This year judges in four states – Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, and Alabama ruled that congressional maps were illegally drawn around partisan or racial lines to favor Republicans.With four months to go before Alabama's primary, the Supreme Court said it was too close to an election to order new maps. That set a precedent allowing all four states to use illegally gerrymandered maps this fall.We discuss what this means for future elections and voting rights if states can use illegally drawn maps. We also get into how close is too close to an election to change things.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Lamenting the death of R&B has become a meme by now – something said by those in the industry and fans alike. But despite pop and hip-hop dominating the charts, R&B is kept alive by artists like Jasmine Sullivan, Summer Walker, and Brent Faiyaz. One of the genre's biggest stars is Ari Lennox, a 31-year-old D.C. native signed to rapper J. Cole's Dreamville record label. Her latest album is called "age/sex/location." She's been compared to R&B divas like Erykah Badu and Mariah Carey.We talk about Ari Lennox and the future of R&B. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The National Education Association estimates there's a shortage of roughly 300,000 teachers and staff across the U.S. The teacher shortage is particularly pronounced in rural school districts, where the need for special education teachers and STEM teachers is high.We hear from current and former teachers about the challenges of the profession.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Primary season is wrapping up and we're two months away from the November midterm elections that will decide which party will take control of the House and Senate.This year's primaries have featured both the surprising and the expected. In Kansas, voters voted against an amendment that would make abortion illegal in the state. Wyoming, Rep. Liz Cheney — a Republican and member of the Jan. 6 committee — lost her race without much fanfare. And so far, according to a recent tally from NPR, 91 percent of Trump-backed candidates have won their open primaries. We discuss what this means for the fate of the parties in November. We also look at what this political moment can tell us about the future of the country.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Best estimates suggest there are around 140,000 African-American Jewish people living in the United States. James Beard award-winning writer and historian Michael Twitty uses the term "border-crossers" to describe the community, which includes himself."We are people who have always existed but have never really had a voice," he writes in his new book, "Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew."We sit down with Twitty to talk about food, tradition, and identity.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Temperatures remain high out west as the record-breaking heat wave ravaging the region shows no signs of letting up. So far, California has avoided rolling blackouts, but the heat has led to more wildfires throughout the state.Senate Democrats are preparing to vote on protecting same-sex marriage, capping insulin costs, and antitrust legislation before the midterm elections.Meanwhile, the U.K.'s new prime minister, Liz Truss, has her hands full at the beginning of her time at 10 Downing. The queen died Thursday, surrounded by her family. We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Throughout this episode, we discuss suicide which may be distressing to some listeners and may not be suitable for young listeners. If you or anyone you know needs to talk to someone, you can call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.Millions of people enter jail in the U.S. every year. Carceral centers have become a revolving door for those with mental health issues or substance-abuse disorders.The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that inmates are entitled to life-saving medical care, but that isn't quite guaranteed.Jail deaths rose 11 percent since 2000 when the U.S. Department of Justice began tallying these deaths. Suicides are the leading cause of jail deaths. Fatal drug overdoses are the fastest growing cause of death.We look at why jail can be so harmful. And we talk about what mental health and substance abuse resources are available to inmates.This show is part of 1A's "Remaking America" project. We begin the program by looking at a string of recent jail deaths in Louisville, Kentucky, with help from our partner station WFPL.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

When President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, he allocated $80 billion for the Internal Revenue Service.The IRS says the money will help close the yearly deficit of $600 billion between the taxes the IRS collects and the taxes owed.The agency plans to spend the money on hiring new enforcement agents, modernizing technology, auditing the wealthiest Americans, and improving the taxpayer experience. But the plan has attracted partisan pushback.We discuss the obstacles the IRS has historically faced. We also talk about how far the new money will go to help the agency. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

California's state senate passed a bill last week that could revolutionize the west coast and U.S. fast-food industry. The bill aims to create a council that would set wages and working conditions for the industry.According to a study by UCLA and UC-Berkley, nearly two-thirds of fast-food workers in Los Angeles said they'd experienced wage theft. Nearly half experienced injuries or faced health and safety hazards on the job. This legislation would be the first of its kind in the country. We discuss the bill and what impacts it could have on the fast-food industry and across the U.S.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than a century ago, physicist Albert Einstein predicted the existence of black holes—points in space where gravity is so powerful nothing, not even light, can escape their pull. Since then, black holes have become fixtures in science fiction. They're potent symbols of mystery in part because we know so little about them. But a lot has changed in the past decade. We now understand more about these cosmic phenomena than ever before, including what they sound like. We speak to the scientist who led the project to capture the sound and two astrophysicists to better understand black holes—points where the laws of physics don't apply. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The fallout from the FBI investigation into what classified documents former President Donald Trump kept at Mar-a-Lago continues to unfold. A Department of Justice court filing says classified documents were likely "moved and hidden." That filing also noted that FBI agents found twice as many documents as had been initially turned over by Trump. The FDA authorized additional Pfizer and Moderna booster shots. The approvals have many Americans wondering how many booster shots citizens will need to be safe, and what the next wave of COVID vaccines will look like. Meanwhile, Asian countries are feeling the effects of climate change. Flooding in south Pakistan has claimed the lives of at least 1,191 people. China is trying to stay cool amid its longest heat wave on record. In Russia-related news, the European Union suspended a visa program with Russia, but hasn't banned Russian visas altogether. Former USSR politician Mikhail Gorbachev died at the age of 91. We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Elections officials across the country are reporting an increase in poll watchers and poll observers in the lead up to the midterms. But what happens when those keeping an eye on the democratic process are trained by groups promoting election disinformation? A survey of elections directors in North Carolina found violations in 15 counties. Officials there observed poll watchers harassing voters and attempting to enter restricted areas to view confidential voting records, according to the Associated Press. We speak with elections officials about the role of observers at voting sites, and who's watching the poll watchers as they show up at polling places. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Bruce Springsteen built his reputation on being a man of the people. That's part of why some of his fans were especially aghast at the ticket prices for his upcoming tour. Some cost upwards of thousands of dollars each. Many popular artists take advantage of a pricing system used by live events company Ticketmaster that sets prices based on demand. The more people waiting in line for tickets, the higher the prices go. But many fans aren't happy with the ballooning costs. Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, owns concert venues, promotes tours, and sells tickets. Some say that leaves little room for competition, hurting fans, artists, and the industry at large. We discuss Live Nation as a monopoly, who it hurts, and what's being done to address the lack of competition. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Department of Education estimates that 45 million Americans have borrowed $1.6 trillion dollars in debt.Tens of millions of those borrowers are getting a break. President Joe Biden announced a plan last week to forgive some student loans.The plan will do more for some than it will for others. A breakdown of who holds the most student debt shows a clear disparity in how much of the financial burden has fallen on women and people of color. As higher education has become essential for upward social mobility, student loan debt has slowed that trajectory for many people of color.We discuss which parts of Biden's plan will benefit those who have taken on the most financial burden. We also discuss how less student debt can increase economic opportunities for people of color. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This year's midterm election spending is set to break records. Super PACs and other groups have dropped over $53 million in Democratic House primaries so far, according to OpenSecrets. In the 2018 and 2020 elections, that number was closer to $30 million. We talk about these megadonors and how much influence they have on policy decisions. We also look at a report from The New York Times about a little-known conservative nonprofit and the $1.6 billion donation they received to distribute to campaigns and causes.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Joe Biden unveiled a plan to forgive some student debt and change the repayment structure for some loans this week. Americans making under $125,000 can receive $10,000 in forgiveness, while Pell grants recipients can receive $20,000. The plan also caps interest at 5 percent and sets a 20-year maximum repayment schedule.Dr. Anthony Fauci is stepping down from his post as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases this December. He will also leave his role as chief medical advisor to President Biden.Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced an additional $3 billion in military aid to Ukraine as it continues to fight back against Russian invaders. The conflict has raged for six months.Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin was the subject of a sexist "scandal" after footage of her partying with friends at a private residence began circulating on social media.We cover the stories that made headlines around the world on the international portion of the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

New abortion restrictions are going into effect this week in Idaho, Texas, and Tennessee. More than 20 million women have lost access to abortion in their home state, according to reporting from The Washington Post.So how will this affect women? Reporting shows many states that have enacted abortion bans are less likely to offer expanded Medicaid coverage and guaranteed paid family leave. Just a few Republican lawmakers are pushing for more support at the federal level.We discuss America's social safety net for parents in the post-Roe era. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. The series explores Americans' trust in institutions and the health of our democracy. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The first polio case in the U.S. in nearly a decade was recorded in Rockland County, New York, this spring. Now, authorities believe there could be hundreds of unreported cases in the area.Polio was one of the most feared diseases in the U.S. in the early 1950s, causing more than 15,000 cases of paralysis a year.The U.S has been considered polio-free since 1979. But this latest outbreak could threaten that status.We discuss how we can prevent polio from returning to the U.S. and how you can protect yourself and loved ones. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S.Over the last 10 years, it's killed an average of 135 people per year. That's more than floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.Today, more than 13 million Americans are under an extreme heat warning, according to Heat.gov. On Aug. 3, it was 124 million. That's more than a third of the people in the U.S. We discuss how we can adapt to a hotter future and what we can expect in the years to come. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Florida students are going to return to schools facing a firehose of challenges; from a massive teacher shortage to new limits on how topics like race and sexual orientation can be taught.Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has been heavily involved in races that aren't his own. He's spending his own campaign money to support his preferred candidates for school boards across the state. And Florida Democrats have their own roster of candidates, too.We discuss why school board races are getting so much attention. We also talk about the candidates' stances on issues that will come up this school year. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A new book by author T.J. English, who's made a career writing about organized crime, examines the close relationship between jazz and the mob.Featuring characters like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Al Capone, "Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld" traces the popularity of the genre through the 20th century and how gangsters helped the genre flourish.We sit down with English to talk about jazz music and the mob's shared sordid and spectacular history.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Wyoming's lone member of Congress, Liz Cheney, lost her seat to Trump-backed candidate Harriet Hageman this week – and she didn't seem surprised at the outcome.President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act Tuesday. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced the organization was hitting reset after falling short in its response to COVID-19. The CDC also announced a new strategy for distributing monkeypox vaccine.Meanwhile, Ukraine's president is calling on the United Nations to "ensure the security" of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. It's Europe's largest nuclear power station and has been occupied by Russia since March.The head of the World Health Organization spoke out this week about the crisis in Ethiopia's blockaded Tigray region. The 6 million people living in the area have been cut off from the world since violence erupted there in late 2020.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Wildfires are a growing threat in the American West, with climate change making them more intense and more frequent.Boulder County, Colorado, is still recovering from the Marshall Fire of December 2021. The blaze destroyed more than 1,000 homes and buildings. It was the most destructive wildfire in the state's history.As part of our "Remaking America" collaboration with KUNC, 1A visited Colorado for a live discussion to hear how the community is still recovering from the Marshall fire, and what state and local governments can do to become more resilient against climate threats. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Migrants seeking asylum no longer have to wait in Mexico for a court hearing in the US.The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also referred to as "Remain in Mexico," was introduced in 2019 by the Trump administration. A Supreme Court decision was issued in June that allowed the Biden administration to legally terminate the program. But the process will take some time and migrants continue to be at risk and in danger.We discuss what the next steps will look like and what kind of impression the policy has left onthe issue of immigration in the U.S.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Dialing for help in a mental health crisis just got shorter. Now, Americans can dial 988 for assistance in an emergency instead of a previous 10-digit number directing them to the national suicide prevention hotline.However, some concerns emerged during the service's rollout. There are questions about how local call centers will continue to fund these efforts long-term after the initial funding runs dry.And questions about police intervention have spurred fears, especially in the queer and Black communities.We talk about the new hotline and how leaders and call centers are addressing these concerns.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been a year since the United States departed Afghanistan and the Taliban took over. After two decades of war and occupation, the scenes on the ground were chaotic. However, President Joe Biden insists it was the right time to end America's longest war.We discuss what the fall of Kabul meant for those who had to flee Afghanistan and the impacts for those who stayed. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Federal authorities searched former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, following a tip that he was keeping classified records at his home. The Inflation Reduction Act passed the House this week. The piece of legislation comes after reports there was no inflation in the month of July.And tennis superstar Serena Williams announced her intention to retire from the sport after the US Open.Meanwhile, Ukraine's nuclear operator says Russian forces are going to use the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant as a source of power and a base for Russian forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces are moving against Russia, beginning their long-awaited southern counteroffensive.The U.S. is accusing Beijing of "provocative" and "irresponsible" actions after China rehearsed an attack on Taiwan. The drills are likely motivated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island nation, a move that angered Chinese officials who feel their government should be consulted over foreign visits to the country's claimed territory.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Greeley, Colorado, is a farm town closer to the Wyoming border than it is to Denver.The western U.S. is in the middle of a 22-year-long mega drought and Greeley is just one of the towns where farmers are facing tough decisions over how to keep us fed when there's less water to go around. We discuss innovative solutions farmers have come up with and how the drought is changing the way we think about agriculture.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The death toll of last month's disastrous floods in Kentucky continues to rise.President Joe Biden toured areas of the state this week to survey the devastation. He announced the federal government will cover 100 percent of the costs of recovery over the next 30 days.The number of extreme flooding events across the United States has more than doubled in the last 20 years compared to the previous 20 years. And according to Nicholas Pinter, a professor of applied geo-sciences at U.C. Davis, inland communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to intense rainfall as climate change exacerbates the problem.We discuss the impact of flooding on inland communities and solutions to its devastation, including the future of managed retreat.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In early July, a large chunk of the Marmolada Glacier detached, causing an avalanche. At least seven died.The tragedy is a direct effect of quickening glacier loss. Glaciers are melting twice as fast as they did two decades ago. About 20 percent of global sea level rise can be attributed to melting glaciers.Sea level rises threatens coastal communities in the U.S., but also entire island nations. Pacific island nations, which contribute relatively little to climate change, are the most affected.We talk about the domino effect climate change has on glaciers and sea levels.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Human beings start their days with water. A warm shower. Brushing teeth. Washing faces. The more than two million Americans who live without running water, however, aren't afforded this luxury. More than 25 million Americans don't drink water that meets federal health standards according to a study conducted by The Guardian. Native American households are 19 times more likely to lack indoor plumbing than white households. We hear from one of the people trying to address the problem. We start the conversation in Navajo Nation where one in three homes don't have running water.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins recounts his 50-year career in his new memoir, "Still Alright." Its publication came just weeks after the new 'Top Gun' movie hit theaters in June, which featured Loggins' hit song "Danger Zone."He was known as "The King of the Soundtrack" in part thanks to "Danger Zone." But tunes like "Footloose" and "I'm Alright" from "Caddyshack" helped too.We sit down with Loggins to talk music, family, and relationships. We even enjoy hearing from a furry surprise guest.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Voters headed to the polls on Tuesday for midterm election primaries in five states: Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and Washington. Kansas voters rejected a ballot measure that would have stripped abortion rights from the state's constitution. Rescue workers are facing more rain in eastern Kentucky this weekend as the region continues to recover from devastating floods.Meanwhile, China has imposed undefined sanctions on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her immediate family. The move comes after her visit to Taiwan earlier this week. It was the first time a speaker has visited the self-ruled island in 25 years. WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on charges of drug smuggling. It's been nearly six months since her arrest at a Moscow airport after cannabis vape cartridges were found in her luggage.Politico's Anita Kumar, Kaiser Health News' Julie Rovner, and NPR's Ron Elving join us for the discussion of domestic headlines. Axios' David Lawler, Politico's Lara Seligman, and Feature Story News' Nina-Maria Potts join us for the global edition of the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In May, Congress held its first hearing on UFOs in over 50 years.Now, the Pentagon has created an office to track what they call UAPs, or unidentified aerial phenomena. And NASA has begun its own investigation.We discuss what's behind Americans' obsession with UFOs and what role can — and should — the government play in tracking them. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Voters in five states decided who will lead their parties in the 2024 general election.In Arizona, election denialism was regularly discussed by the state's GOP candidates for governor. In Michigan, we're learning more about Democratic spending meant to bolster right-of-center candidates. The idea is to prop up an easier target for Democratic candidates to take on in the purple state. Meanwhile, in Kansas voters weighed in on whether to uphold or dismantle the abortion rights that the state constitution protects.We talk about primary election results with reporters in Michigan, Arizona, and Kansas as part of 1A's "Remaking America" project.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Beyoncé is back.Queen Bey's seventh album, "Renaissance," was released last week. It's her first studio album since 2016's "Lemonade."In 16 tracks, the album takes listeners on a dance music odyssey, paying homage to '90s house music, bounce music, Afrobeats, and the ballroom scene. It features samples from artists like Donna Summer and Grace Jones and pays tribute to Black LGBTQ music and culture.The 1A Record Club dives into Beyoncé's "Renaissance."Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The latest omicron variant, BA.5, is now the dominant COVID strain in the U.S. It's also the most transmissible yet.And as much of the country went maskless this summer, COVID surged. President Joe Biden tested positive twice in July.As cities and states cope with another spike, the Biden administration is also responding to an outbreak of monkeypox. The WHO said the outbreak of the disease is a global health emergency. The CDC has identified more than 5,000 known cases of monkeypox in the U.S., the highest number of cases globally. Some cities and states have declared their own public health emergencies as they wait for the federal government's response. The first U.S. case was identified in May and the caseload is now outpacing the rollout of vaccines. We discuss the latest on the BA.5 variant. We also discuss the spread of monkeypox and what can be done to limit the spread. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Close your eyes and imagine for a moment that you're on the beach in an outfit that Diane Keaton would wear, looking through a book of Ina Garten recipes with a cashmere sweater tied across your shoulders.If any of this appeals to you, you might be what's known on TikTok as a "coastal grandmother."It's a term coined by 26-year-old TikTok creator Lex Nicoleta to describe a beachy, romantic aesthetic.We discuss the coastal grandmother vibe and what it can tell us about how trends circulate online. We also get into how trends like these encourage consumerism. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Republican politicians are embracing the term "Christian nationalist." Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for the GOP to promote the ideology multiple times in recent weeks. The Washington Post reports the Justice Department is investigating former President Donald Trump as part of its criminal probe into the Jan. 6 insurrection. Attorney General Merrick Garland told NBC this probe is "the most wide-ranging investigation in [department] history."President Joe Biden tested negative for COVID this week. He used his recovery as an opportunity to promote vaccines, citing the mildness of his illness compared to that of his predecessor, Donald Trump.Meanwhile, the matter of where the COVID-19 pandemic began has been settled: the virus' origin has been pinpointed to a wet market in Wuhan, China.Pope Francis apologized to indigenous communities in Canada over the church's past abuses of Native people. However, the Pope's decision to don a headdress on the trip has raised eyebrows in the communities to whom he and the Church are trying to apologize.We cover the most important stories from the week during the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A handful of high-profile election deniers are taking their conspiracy theories on the road. It has election officials from both parties worried.Since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, NPR documented hundreds of events around the country where speakers pedaled false information about the 2020 Election before an in-person audience.Now, election workers say they're seeing an uptick in disinformation around election security. Poll workers are also facing increased threats ahead of the midterms.We look at what happens when disinformation leaves the Twittersphere and the effect this has on the health of our democracy.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than 2 million high school and middle students reported using e-cigarettes in 2021. A quarter of them say they vape daily. Now, the Food and Drug Administration is trying to do something about it.Last month, the agency ordered one of the largest vaping companies in the country, Juul, to pull its products from the market so it could conduct a sweeping review. But a day later, an appeals court blocked the FDA's plan. The temporary stay suspends the ban on marketing Juul products, but it doesn't rescind it.We discuss the role of federal agencies in regulating e-cigarettes and vaping products and what restrictions—if any—should be placed on them. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A new bill is making its way through Congress that would protect the right to same-sex marriage on the federal level. The Respect for Marriage Act passed the House with the support of 47 Republicans.The push in Congress comes after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurring opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health decision suggesting that the court should reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges. The right to same-sex marriage has been protected under the Obergefell decision since 2015.We discuss what's in the bill and whether it has a chance to pass a gridlocked Senate.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Recent congressional action on climate change stalled after Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin pulled his support from a bill that would have created $300 billion in new subsidies for alternative energy and electric cars. Manchin pointed to country-wide inflation and the bill's high price tag to justify his decision.Unable to push his climate policy through Congress, President Joe Biden instead took executive action, though he fell short of declaring a full-on "climate emergency."The politicking comes as America and the world suffer through the deadly effects of climate change, including sweltering heat waves and devastating droughts.We look at the politics at play as the federal government fights over environmental policy, then zoom out for a global picture.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It took 30 years for "Dark Winds" to be adapted for television. The Tony Hillerman series revolves around the Navajo Nation and two tribal policemen trying to solve the murder of a Navajo woman.The show has already made history for its predominant Native cast and crew, already cinching up a second season. All episodes of the first season are available for streaming on AMC+.But this series isn't alone this summer in presenting Native Americans in a more authentic way. "Rutherford Falls" and "Reservation Dogs" are both returning for second seasons.Last year, UCLA's Hollywood Diversity Report found that indigenous people made up less than one percent of acting roles. They were virtually nonexistent in creative roles behind the camera.We talk about the evolution of the representation of Native people in movies and TV. We also discuss what the future of Native stories on screen looks like.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms on Thursday.The U.S. House of Representatives voted to protect same-sex and interracial marriage. It comes after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote an opinion suggesting the high court should reconsider its rulings on same-sex marriage and contraception.Heat waves driven by climate change are ravaging the U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled a plan to keep Americans cool as temperatures climb. Record-breaking heat is also ravaging Europe, killing 1,900 in Spain and Portugal so far.Meanwhile, Russia is signaling its intentions to annex southern parts of Ukraine following military victories in the country.China is warning that it would be forced to take "strong and resolute measures" if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan during a trip planned for this August.We cover the most important stories from around the globe on the international portion of the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

So-called "trigger" laws in 13 states were on the books when Roe v. Wade was overturned. But abortion is still legal in some of these places due to legal battles playing out in state courts.But weekly changes in legality are wearing down both patients seeking this care and those who provide it.Some district attorneys in urban areas in these states say they won't prosecute abortion crimes in their jurisdiction, though that reassurance has not been enough to keep clinics open.We talk about legal liabilities, abortion providers, OBGYNs, and patients in these two states.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Close your eyes and imagine for a moment that you're on the beach in an outfit that Diane Keaton would wear, looking through a book of Ina Garten recipes with a cashmere sweater tied across your shoulders.If any of this appeals to you, you might be what's known on TikTok as a "coastal grandmother."It's a term coined by 26-year-old TikTok creator Lex Nicoleta to describe a beachy, romantic aesthetic.We discuss the coastal grandmother vibe and what it can tell us about how trends circulate online. We also get into how trends like these encourage consumerism. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

In late June, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that expands the states' authority over Native land. The conservative court ruled 5-4 in favor of Oklahoma in the case, allowing states to charge non-Indians who commit crimes against Indians on tribal land.According to Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the dissent, the ruling in Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta is "an embarrassing new entry into the anti-canon of Indian law ... Truly, a more ahistorical and mistaken statement of Indian law would be hard to fathom."We discuss how the ruling changes how crimes will be prosecuted and by whom. We also talk about the larger implications for the meaning of Indigenous sovereignty.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Joe Biden is back in Washington this week after his first trip to the Middle East while in office. He now faces backlash after visiting Saudi Arabia and sitting down with Prince Mohammed bin Salman.During a presidential debate in 2019, Biden said he would crack down on Saudi leaders for their human rights abuses. That was candidate Biden in 2019. But in 2022, President Biden made the trip to what he calls a more secure and integrated Middle East.We discuss what's changed and more details of the trip.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Meet the Castelli's. They are a family from the Dominican Republic who move to Miami in pursuit of the "American Dream." Only on their arrival, America is not what they imagined.The LA Times is calling the series is the 'sitcom of the summer.' Set in 1985, it tackles themes tied to opportunity, resilience as well as growing up a "gordita" or "little chubby."We chat with show creator Claudia Forestieri and showrunner Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz. Both champion the importance of a lead character like Cucu and her immigrant family. It is a story, they say, based loosely on their own lives.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Once again, a phone call lands Donald Trump in hot water. Inflation hits a new high.Also this week, leaked CCTV footage add to Uvalde's pain. Leaked audio from before the last election, puts attention back on Steve Bannon, and a federal judge said Bannon's criminal contempt trial can start as scheduled next week. Meanwhile, President Biden is in the Middle East. It's his first trip as president to the region. Friday is perhaps the trickiest part of his visit, when he meets Saudi Arabia's controversial Crown Prince.And a deal to move grain stockpiled in Ukrainian ports moves forward. The UN's Secretary General says it offers a 'ray of hope' in a bleak time of crisis.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Last month, a synagogue in south Florida sued the state over its abortion ban, citing a violation of Jewish people's religious freedom.Experts say this is just the beginning of what could be a wave of lawsuits from religious groups.Professor Asifa Quraishi-Landes writes in The San Francisco Chronicle that the Florida ban and the reversal of Roe v. Wade "is also an infringement on [Muslims'] religious freedom."We discuss whether or not religious freedom protects a right to an abortion with a rabbi and an imamWe talk with a rabbi and an imam in states with restrictive abortion bans.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Next month, Kansas will be the first state to vote on abortion rights following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Three years ago, the Kansas Supreme Court found that the state's constitution guarantees the right to an abortion. It was a 6-to-1 decision that prompted anti-abortion rights groups to campaign to change the state constitution.On the August 2nd ballot is a proposed amendment revoking abortion rights protections. It's one of five states with ballot measures on abortion rights this election cycle.We take a closer look at the amendment and discuss where abortion rights stand in state constitutions. This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country, including KMUW in Wichita, Kansas. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Federal Reserve estimates there are more than sixty million Americans who are either unbanked or underbanked.That means around one in five adults in the U.S. rely on services like money orders, payday loans, or check cashing to manage their finances. They often avoid banks because of short-term fees, but other services can be even more expensive over time. Many also avoid traditional banking because of distrust for financial institutions. As part of this year's Aspen Ideas Festival, we recently spoke to three guests who are all deeply invested in rebuilding that trust and changing a financial system that excludes too many.We discuss why traditional banking is failing so many Americans and how the system can be fixed. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Sociologist Andrew Whitehead defines Christian nationalism as "a cultural framework that is all about trying to advocate for a fusion between Christianity — as they define it — and American civic life." Christian nationalists played a role in electing Donald Trump as president in 2016, believing he was their only hope to keep America Christian, NPR reported. And symbols of Christian nationalism could be seen all over the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. Investigative journalist Katherine Stewart has called this ideology "one of Trump's most powerful weapons." She and other experts warn that Christian nationalism is only getting more mainstream and dangerous. We discuss the influence of Christian nationalism on American politics. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

From its origin, women pioneered the sound of gospel music.Artists like Mahalia Jackson and Rosetta Tharpe elevated the popularity of the genre in the mid-1900s, treading the path for gospel singers with crossover, secular appeal, like Aretha Franklin. Sisters often banded together to create the faith-based music too, including the Clark and Davis sisters.Despite their successes, women in the genre didn't always get the same opportunities as men. They also made contributions to the genre off-stage that have gone unacknowledged.We discuss the women who shaped gospel music and the singers making waves today.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A man confessed to attacking a July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois, firing more than 80 rounds into a crowd of people. Seven were killed and dozens more injured.The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Arizona this week. The DOJ is targeting the state's recent elections law that requires voters to provide proof of citizenship. Meanwhile, mass resignations in parliament prompted embattled U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to announce his resignation.WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty in a Russian court to drug possession on Thursday. She's been detained since February after she was caught with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil at a Moscow airport.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Kids as young as six months are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. But millions of Americans are worried about the future of both now that Roe's been overturned. More than half of all U.S. abortions are medically induced through a two-pill regimen that doesn't involve surgery.The legal landscape around that process already involved a patchwork of different state and local policies. But now? It's more confusing than ever.And that confusion extends to the future of birth control, particularly Plan B and IUDs. There's evidence some Americans are stockpiling both abortion pills and emergency contraception. Meanwhile, demand has surged for overseas abortion pills.We discuss the future of contraception, abortion pills and their efficacy and safety. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Kids as young as six months are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have authorized both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for use in young kids. Meanwhile, the country continues to feel the effects of the omicron and its subvariants. BA.4 and BA.5 now account for over half of new COVID infections. We answer your questions about vaccinating young kids and navigating these new variants in this month's installment of Vaccination Nation.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

America wouldn't be the country it is today without its 27 constitutional amendments.It was these later additions to the founding document that ended slavery in the U.S. and granted Americans the right to bear arms. It also protected the right for a show like ours to exist—and gave us our name—1A, after the First Amendment. But the last time a new one was added was 30 years ago. We hear from the person who got the 27th amendment ratified. And discuss the push to add a 28th.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

America's relationship with its national anthem is complicated. Author Mark Clague says it both "echoes the past and gives voice to our present."Clague is an author and musicologist. His new book on the history of Francis Scott Key's most famous work is called "O Say Can You Hear." But, Joseph Horowitz, our guide for this episode says America's national anthem is controversial today for three main reasons. Davone Tines, who also joins us for the conversation, has proposed one solution: replace it with "Lift Every Voice and Sing." This song was composed around 1900 by the brothers James Weldon and R. Rosamond Johnson. Beginning around World War I, it became known as the "Black national anthem."Whether it is on this day, or those other days when hope and history rhymes, Americans will take to their feet and sing that their flag is still there.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Cristela Alonzo is one of only a few Latinos with a Netflix comedy special. When her first premiered in 2017, she didn't hold back on her dislike for former President Donald Trump or her identity as a Mexican-American in South Texas. Now, she's back for her second special, "Middle Classy." And she's bringing her activism with her, opening up the special with cameos from civil rights leader Dolores Huerta and Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro.She shares with us what it's like being able to finally afford to take care of herself and the importance of therapy despite the stigma among her Latino family.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The movie "ELVIS" tells the life story of Elvis Presley, one of the most famous musicians of the 20th century. Born into poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley rose to stardom as a teenager in the 1950s. His style and sound were modeled largely after the Black musicians he listened to as a kid and adult.Presley is known as 'the King of Rock and Roll,' but his legacy is complicated. He earned fame and fortune by copying those Black artists who couldn't reach the same level of success because of the color of their skin.Along with the new film comes a new soundtrack featuring a bevy of top recording artists. The 1A Record Club listens to the "ELVIS" soundtrack and discusses the rocker's legacy.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that established a constitutional right to abortion. The decision could lead to abortion bans in half of U.S. states.In response, states like California are moving to amend their constitutions to include abortion rights. Now, citizens and lawmakers are thinking about what defines a constitutional right and how different interpretations of the constitutions affect those rights.We talk about changing the Constitution and what comes next after the reversal of Roe.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Come November, voters will likely decide on more than 100 ballot measures across the nation, according to a database from the National Conference of State Legislatures. Ballot measures let citizens bypass their elected officials to make direct change. They decide issues ranging from Medicaid expansion and recreational marijuana in South Dakota to digital privacy in Montana. But so far this year, lawmakers have proposed hundreds of tweaks to the measure processes in their states or cities, according to Ballotpedia. Critics say these changes attempt to reign in the ballot measure and curtail direct democracy. We talk about how the ballot measure furthers democracy, how it's imperfect, and what citizens are pushing for.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Biden signed the most significant bipartisan gun legislation in decades into law over the weekend. It comes after last month's mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.The bill includes funding for mental health services and school security. Lawmakers also say it'll close what's known as "the boyfriend loophole." That means dating partners convicted of domestic abuse will no longer be able to purchase firearms, rather than just spouses and former spouses.We discuss how far the bill goes to close the loophole and what is still left to be done when it comes to intimate partner homicide involving a gun.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Protests erupted Friday in the nation's capital and continued across the country over the weekend due to the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe vs. Wade.The landmark decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization ended a 50-year constitutional right to an abortion.Many states were ready for this decision. So-called trigger laws are in effect in 13 states across the country, effectively making all abortions illegal in the event of the Supreme Court decision against Roe.We explore the impact the decision is having on reproductive health care and take a look at what rights could be targeted next.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Submissive. Chaste. Monogamous.That's how evolutionary biologists have classified female animals for centuries — dating back to Darwin and Aristotle.Zoologist Lucy Cooke says they've got it all wrong.Cooke joins us to talk about her new book, "Bitch: On the Female of the Species". Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Just shy of its 50th anniversary, Roe v. Wade has been overturned.In a 6-to-3 decision, the Supreme Court voted to strike down the precedent this morning. In the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote, "It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives."It's a historic moment – one with massive implications for every American.And there are a lot of questions about what this means for the future of abortion access and health care more broadly. We take your calls and ask a panel of experts about the decision.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, only 1 percent of doctors are trained in treating one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the U.S. — obesity.That lack of education comes with consequences for patients.The condition has been recognized as a disease since 2013. The CDC reports nearly 42 percent of Americans are experiencing obesity. But a longstanding bias against these patients has affected their ability to seek treatment and weight loss medication. To tackle this bias, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is rolling out new standards for diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will address practices in treating patients who are diagnosed as overweight or obese.We discuss the barriers to seeking treatment for obesity and what role do doctors play. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been almost a year since 98 people were killed in an early morning condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida.This week, the South Florida community is commemorating the lives lost and asking what's changed to prevent another tragedy.A federal investigation into the exact cause of the collapse is ongoing. But family members of the victims have reached a nearly $1 billion settlement with developers, engineers, insurance companies, and others.We speak with Martin Langesfeld who lost his sister and brother-in-law as well as the attorney representing victims in the class action lawsuit. We also speak with WLRN reporter Veronica Zaragovia and Florida state Rep. Daniel Perez, who has been pushing for legislative changes to condo inspections and regulations.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Congress is looking to pass a bipartisan gun safety proposal. And if it succeeds, the bill could come with a hefty investment in mental health treatment. Lawmakers have yet to solidify their plans, but they've said a Senate bill would include bolstering school-based mental health services, crisis intervention, substance use disorder services, and suicide prevention.Mental health providers say they'll take all the federal resources they can get, but they aren't convinced it will do much to prevent mass shootings.There's little evidence that people with mental health issues are more likely to assault or kill someone with a gun. In fact, people with mental illnesses are more likely to be the victims of this violence.One area where mental health and guns do collide is suicide, which accounts for thousands more firearm deaths every year than homicides, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.We talk about the connection between mental health and gun violence. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A new report from the nonprofit Zinn Education Project found that 45 states have insufficient or non-existent lesson coverage of Reconstruction in schools.Historians warn that eclipsing the aftermath of the Civil War will lead students to be uninformed about the seeds of racial inequity today.We hear from experts about the legacy of Reconstruction. Plus, we share highlights from our tour of a special exhibit on Reconstruction at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The late writer bell hooks defined queer as "not about who you're having sex with ... but as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it."As LGBTQ+ rights have expanded, so too has the canon of queer literature. According to industry tracker NPD Bookscan, LGBTQ+ fiction book sales sold almost 5 million copies last year, doubling sales between 2020 and 2021.For this installment of our "Writers' Room" series, we talk to authors about using writing as an outlet to express themselves and explore their sexuality and gender identity.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The House committee investigating the events of the Jan. 6 insurrection met twice this week. We learned new details surrounding payments made to Trump surrogates, Ginni Thomas' correspondence on the day, and former President Donald Trump's pressure on his vice president, Mike Pence.The Senate continues to work on a bipartisan framework for a bill on gun control. The plan currently has support from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. However, GOP Sen. John Cornyn says it may need to slim down before it gains more support.The Food and Drug Administration voted to recommend Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for young children. The vaccination plan consists of two shots administered four weeks apart for kids six months through five years old.Meanwhile, leaders from European nations such as France, Germany, and Italy are all in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian officials about aid in the country's continuing conflict with Russia. They're also discussing a path forward for Ukraine to join the European Union.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The senators behind a bipartisan gun legislation proposal hope to have the framework ready for a vote by next week. The outline has the support of 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans – enough to put it over the line for Senate approval. But the current outline is vague – and no price tags are attached. It's unclear whether hammering out the details will lead to a drop in Republican support. For now, the proposal plans to ramp up funding for state red-flag laws, mental health resources, and more school security. Meanwhile, Republicans are pushing for "hardening schools."We talk to experts about what that involves and whether it would prevent shootings. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection — and what led to it — will continue to share its findings later this week.The committee highlighted how former President Donald Trump continued to cast doubt on the 2020 election results, despite being told by his own staff that it was all a lie.We ask election experts what they're watching for in the hearings and what all this means for future elections.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The second day of testimony in the Jan. 6 congressional hearings focused on the lies about the 2020 presidential election that led thousands of rioters to storm the U.S. Capitol.The hearing included testimonies from former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, B.J. Pak, the former U.S. attorney for northern Georgia, and Al Schmidt, the former Philadelphia city commissioner, explaining the various claims of election fraud they investigated and the threats they faced as a result.We talk to a panel of experts and focus on the key takeaways from Monday's hearings.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Bicycles are a symbol of freedom. Women suffragists hopped on bicycles to defy the patriarchy at the turn of the century. A child learning to ride their bike – and finally freeing themselves from their parents' grasp – is an early step towards independence. In 1989, young people streamed into Tiananmen Square on bicycles to protest China's communist government.Bicycles, however, have a complicated history. The early surge in biking's popularity in the late 1800s also meant a surge in demand for rubber. Belgian King Leopold II extracted much of that rubber from Congo, enslaving and killing millions of Africans as he did so.During the pandemic, many people tried to avoid public transportation and get outside. City infrastructure, however, often pits bicyclists against drivers for a place on the road.We explore the history and mystery of the bicycle with Rosen and turn to a bicycle activist for his perspective on the current issues facing cyclists.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

They might have won NPR's Tiny Desk competition in 2017, but Tarriona "Tank" Ball and her bandmates have electrified audiences for more than a decade.Tank and the Bangas were nominated for a best new artist at the Grammys in 2020 and released their third studio album, "Red Balloon," in May.Despite playing music for audiences for a decade, Ball continues to get emotional after every performance. Before she was a musician, Ball was part of a team competing in slam poetry contests across the country, winning a national title in 2012. She released her first book of poetry last year called "Vulnerable AF."We spoke with her about the band's musical journey.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is holding its first public hearings. Members are suggesting new evidence will point toward former President Donald Trump being at the heart of the attack.The House passed a bill raising the age limit for the purchase of certain firearms and banning the sale of high-capacity magazines. The bill, however, is expected to fail in the Senate.Meanwhile, President Biden is hosting leaders from the western hemisphere at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is attending, but only on the condition that the right-wing leader meets with Biden personally.We discuss all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been 50 years since the Watergate break-in precipitated the greatest political scandal of its time.Now, the nation awaits hearings for another major event: the Jan. 6 insurrection.What can we learn from Watergate and other past hearings as those for Jan. 6 begin?We speak with experts about what insight we can gain from the past. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The average U.S. household pays for four streaming services. Those small paycheck chunks that can add up to big revenues.Home of hit shows like "Stranger Things" and "The Circle," Netflix has made a lot of news recently. But not always for the best of reasons.The company has come under fire for transphobic comedy specials. It also saw a drop in subscribers, losing as many as 200,000.In an attempt to steady the ship, the company laid off some 150 employees, announced plans to crack down on password sharing, and is pursuing the idea of offering a lower-tier subscription with ads. We discuss the streaming wars and where Netflix stands in the rankings.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Two weeks ago, a gunman attacked an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers. Since then, there have been at least 33 more mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Mass shootings are far more common in the U.S. than in any other developed nation, but that's not to say they don't happen abroad... just not as often. We discuss how other developed nations faced mass shootings and what the U.S. could learn from their responses.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Many Democrats are resigned to the fact their party's chances of holding onto power are slim.High inflation, record gas prices, and low poll numbers for the president are a drag on their chances of success.But some of the ground is shifting.The debates around gun safety and abortion will likely motivate the party faithful as many Republicans remain fixated on the last election.We look at the opportunities that exist for the Democrats ahead of the midterms.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This week saw America's 233rd mass shooting. On Thursday, a gunman walked into a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and killed four people.On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to introduce legislation to ban assault weapons and a bipartisan group of Senators says it has a framework for a gun control bill. But analysts and experts are skeptical any real progress will be made.Meanwhile, the Kremlin is saying the U.S. is intentionally adding "fuel to the fire" of the conflict in Ukraine by sending aid to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's troops. President Joe Biden announced his intentions to send missiles to the Ukrainian army in an op-ed this week.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

2021 was a record-breaking year for anti-trans legislation. More than 290 bills targeting the LGBTQ + community were introduced in state legislatures – 25 of which were enacted.2022 is already on track to break that record, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The advocacy group is monitoring some 300 proposed bills across 36 states – more than a third of which affect trans youth. Most of this legislation is being pushed by Republican lawmakers and is a galvanizing issue for the GOP base. We discuss how much trans rights matter to conservative voters. We also take a look at how anti-trans legislation gained so much support from Republicans. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Millions of Americans are living with long COVID symptoms.According to a new report by the CDC, one in five COVID survivors under the age of 65 has experienced a health condition that could be considered long COVID. For seniors, that number rises to one in four.We assemble a panel of experts to discuss long COVID and ask listeners to share their experiences.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

If you've gone grocery shopping lately, you might've noticed that the bottom line on your receipt is higher than usual. Inflation has affected nearly every corner of life and food is no exception.The price of flour and butter has gone up 14 percent. Meat and fish have risen by 13 percent. And fresh fruits by 10. That's according to a consumer price index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that was released this month. We discuss the rising cost of food, as well as the rising cost of fertilizers needed for farming. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Many people think of history as inevitable. Events lead to outcomes that tumble towards a foregone conclusion.In reality, many monumental moments could have gone down very differently if certain events had or had not occurred.Former presidential speechwriter Jeff Nussbaum became obsessed with undelivered speeches after working on the Al Gore campaign. His new book, "Undelivered: The Never-Heard Speeches That Would Have Rewritten History", explores speeches that were prepared for outcomes that never were. Those primary sources reveal how easily history could have taken a different path. They also offer insight into those moments themselves, including the motivations and feelings of the speech-givers and the people around them.We ask him about history, these speeches, and what they tell us about these moments in time.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

From its origin, women pioneered the sound of gospel music.Artists like Mahalia Jackson and Rosetta Tharpe elevated the popularity of the genre in the mid-1900s, treading the path for gospel singers with crossover, secular appeal, like Aretha Franklin. Sisters often banded together to create the faith-based music too, including the Clark and Davis sisters.Despite their successes, women in the genre didn't always get the same opportunities as men. They also made contributions to the genre off-stage that have gone unacknowledged.We discuss the women who shaped gospel music and the singers making waves today.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Eleven days after a mass shooting in a Buffalo grocery store, a gunman entered a school in Uvalde, Texas and killed 19 students and two adults. Law enforcement reports about the timeline of the shooting have varied. Also this week, five states held their primaries, including Georgia and Alabama. And the Supreme Court ruled that inmates cannot present new evidence to appeal their cases on claims that they were represented by incompetent lawyers.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rebuffed former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and other American officials for suggesting his country should cede control of any territory currently occupied by Russian forces.Airbnb is set to shutter its rentals in China amid lockdowns that are restricting tourism. The company is expected to focus its efforts on Chinese tourists traveling abroad.World authorities are continuing to warn of a global food shortage. The Ukraine war is causing food, energy, and fertilizer prices to skyrocket.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Authorities are still piecing together information about the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. It's the latest tragedy in what is becoming part of an infuriating pattern in modern American history. From the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Florida to the shooting at Virginia Tech that left 33 people dead, Americans are all too familiar with such events.The country looks on in the immediate wake of such an attack. But how are those schools and communities impacted by the tragedies a week, a month, or even a couple of years after a mass shooting event? We look at how the community in Uvalde is processing and take a look back at how other towns and victims are coping with grief.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Voters in Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Texas cast their ballots in key primaries this week.Ongoing political battles are providing a compelling backdrop for this year's contests.Strict voting laws in Alabama and Georgia had Democrats worried about turnout. And Republicans have spent a lot of time this election season vying for the support of Donald Trump's base, shifting their rhetoric further and further right. We discuss what insights we can glean from the results in Alabama and Georgia.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

For many, the pandemic has exposed cracks in our long-term care systems — from staffing shortages to chronic loneliness among residents.What if a robot could fix both?A program at the University of Minnesota-Duluth is using automation technology to find out.The notion of using robots in nursing homes also raises ethical issues about data, privacy, and the importance of human-to-human contact.We talk with Dr. Khan and others about the intersection of technology and geriatric care.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

At least 10 percent of pregnancies end in a miscarriage, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But those are just the ones doctors know about. Some estimates put that number much higher to account for all the times a person didn't realize they were pregnant. The care for a miscarriage is often identical to an induced abortion. With the Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, some doctors are raising the alarm about how that could affect routine miscarriage care. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

From "Turning Red" to "Pachinko" to "After Yang," it's been a big year for stories about the Asian diaspora.Even so, the entertainment industry — and the projects it greenlights — remains overwhelmingly white.A new book chronicles Asian-American contributions to pop culture — from the problematic to the groundbreaking. It's called "Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now."We talk with Yang, sociologist Nancy Wang Yuen, and "Pachinko" director Soo Hugh about telling stories of the Asian diaspora.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The United States passed one million COVID-related deaths this week. It's now the third-leading cause of death in the country.President Joe Biden traveled to Buffalo to visit a community devastated by a racist attack that claimed the lives of ten Black people at a supermarket. Meanwhile, the United Nations is warning that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could cause a global food crisis. Global prices are rising, causing poorer nations to struggle to feed their citizens. Ukraine's ports, once major exporters of cooking oil and cereals, are closed — sparking concerns about the global food supply.The former Somali president, a man relieved of his power in 2017, has been voted back into office by lawmakers in the country amid a lockdown in the capital of Mogadishu.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

On Saturday, a shooter targeted shoppers at the only Black-run grocery store in Buffalo, New York. Ten people were killed and three were injured. Eleven of the victims were African American.The racist attack left residents of Buffalo and America reeling but has especially shaken the city's Black population.As we continue the conversation about the weekend's tragedy, we look at the history of race in Buffalo and America.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

As the nationwide infant formula shortage continues, parents are scrambling to feed their children.43 percent of formula is sold out nationwide as retailers struggle to keep it on the shelves. That's according to Datasembley, which collects real-time data on retail and grocery services. There isn't a substitute for formula and that is especially true for children who require specialty formulas. So where can parents go for help? And what solutions exist to ensure this crisis doesn't happen again?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

With the Supreme Court set to roll back federal protections for abortions, protesters have mobilized across the country. A new report by Reveal looks into the growing number of calls to police from abortion clinics in Florida. It found that reports of harassment, violence, and intimidation doubled between 2016 and 2021, with one clinic reporting a 400 percent jump in calls within that time. Now that Florida's new restrictive abortion measures take effect in July, providers are preparing for an escalation in that violence. Later on, privacy advocates and supporters of the pro-choice movement have raised the alarm about how personal data could be used by law enforcement and anti-abortion activists if Roe vs. Wade is overturned by a Supreme Court decision this summer. There have been several bills sponsored by Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden to limit the information tech companies can collect from individuals and provide to law enforcement.He joins a panel conversation about the role digital privacy plays in reproductive rights.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

There have been nearly 200 mass shootings in the first 5 months of 2022, including a shooting at a Buffalo grocery store that left 10 dead. And incidents near a public school in Washington D.C. and on the New York City subway in April have the public concerned about safety in shared spaces.We discuss the emerging field of research called behavioral threat assessment, which is used to prevent mass shootings before they occur. As well as take a look at the history of mass shootings in America. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

On the Greek island of Lesvos, refugees from the nearby Moria camp gathered in a fish restaurant for lunch. The owners had converted the restaurant to a nonprofit dedicated to feeding refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and elsewhere. Families sat around tables, laughing, chatting, and playing music. In 2020, Moria burned down leaving 13,000 people unsheltered. Before the fire, the camp was often called a living hell by those stuck in it. But for a few hours a week, refugees could forget their political status. They could get lost in the taste of delicious food and be reminded of home. This is one of many stories Yasmin Khan tells about the power of food in her third cookbook, "Ripe Figs: Recipes and Stories from Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus." Khan's food writing is more than just recipes. We speak to her about the stakes of a good meal in the moments you feel you have little else.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Senate Democrats put forward a bill to codify Roe v. Wade after a leaked draft of a majority opinion suggested the Supreme Court was poised to overturn the landmark abortion access case. The effort failed. Elon Musk said that he would reverse President Donald Trump's ban from Twitter. Musk added he thought the ban was morally wrong.Inflation in the U.S. is beginning to come down, although it's still at a 40-year high.Ukrainian troops pushed Russian invaders back from the city of Kharkiv. Russian authorities are calling for the military to cut its losses and annex the Ukrainian territory of Kherson.The Kremlin is also worried about the expansion of NATO. Finland is signaling its intent to submit a bid for membership.Shireen Abu Akleh, journalist for Al Jazeera was shot and killed while reporting on an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), 56 percent of Americans who died in 2020 were cremated.That's more than twice the rate two decades ago.What's behind this surge? And what does it suggest about the way our cultural values have shifted?For families scattered across multiple states, there often seems little point in investing the effort and expense to bury a loved one in a cemetery no one will visit. Like pet food and leisure footwear, cremation is now available through direct-to-consumer websites such as Solace and Tulip.We talk with deathcare experts about the rise of cremation.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Thanks in large part to the pandemic, home prices are soaring. In March, the median hit a record high of over $370,000. One affordable housing option is the mobile home. Around 22 million Americans live in a mobile or manufactured house. It's the largest sector of non-subsidized affordable housing in the country. Unfortunately, they aren't turning out to be the haven many were hoping for. Now, investors are scooping up these parks during the pandemic.New ownership from out of state has meant restrictive rules, price hikes, and sometimes even eviction. Mobile home residents are particularly vulnerable to these buyouts with few rights and protections.We talk about what this means for affordable housing in the U.S. and mobile home parks across the country.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

As abortion gets harder and harder to access in the U.S., Latin America is moving in the opposite direction. In December 2020, Argentina legalized abortion up to 14 weeks and became the largest nation south of the U.S. to do so. Mexico and Colombia's courts did the same shortly after. The feminist movement responsible in part for this change is known as "the green wave" and has gained traction in a region where the Catholic Church has significant influence over politics and social beliefs. Now, activists have their sights set on Chile and Brazil.However, the latest news of the leaked draft opinion on Roe v. Wade is concerning for Colombians. The U.S. Supreme Court's potential decision could sway the South American country's own courts which legalized abortion up to 24 weeks in February.We speak with experts on Latin America about the lessons the U.S. can take away from these movements and what overturning Roe v. Wade could mean for global abortion rights.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

There's one person with the power to end the war in Ukraine in an instant: Russian President Vladimir Putin. He's a powerful figure, and new reporting on the source of his wealth reveals just how powerful he really is.We discuss Putin's personal fortune and why he doesn't want anyone to know where he got it.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

While the term self-care was reimagined in the 1980s by Black civil rights activist and feminist Audre Lorde, the concept has been co-opted and commercialized. Has the pandemic changed how we view self-care? What do we get wrong about it? And what does it take to really take care of ourselves?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A leaked draft of a Supreme Court majority opinion suggesting the justices voted to overturn Roe v. Wade leaked this week, sparking nationwide protests in support of federally-protected abortion rights.The Federal Reserve implemented its first half-point interest rate rise since 2000.Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the U.N. to help evacuate the wounded from his country. Some 300 people were taken out of the contested city of Mariupol. Ukrainian fighters have pushed the Russian forces back from the city of Kharkiv.The U.S. now says WNBA star Britney Griner is wrongfully detained in Russia after the player was held up by authorities as she tried to leave the country following its invasion of Ukraine.We cover the most important news this week on the international portion of the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Midterm elections are six months away and the most recent polling suggests Republicans have an early edge. If they take the House, Rep. Kevin McCarthy is likely to become the majority leader. He garnered attention in the past two weeks when The New York Times released audio of private phone calls and meetings he had with other GOP leaders. They were recorded in the aftermath of the Capitol riot and they tell a very different story than what he said publicly.In the leaked tapes, McCarthy is critical of Donald Trump's role in the insurrection and other members of his caucus. But do Republican voters care?We listen to the sound with one of the reporters who broke the story before heading to McCarthy's district to get a response from his community.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country, including KVPR, NPR for Central California. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion suggests that the justices have voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, eliminating 50 years of federal abortion protections.Whatever the court decides, abortion laws are already changing across the United States. We discuss how the Supreme Court's potential decision could impact what happens at the state level, and the ways abortion providers are preparing for those changes. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Ohio primary kicks off a month of similar contests in vital swing states from Pennsylvania to Georgia. And there's one unofficial candidate on the ballot: former President Donald Trump.According to a New York Times count, the former president has endorsed candidates in at least 40 Republican primaries. We discuss what's at stake for the Republican Party — and for Trump — in these midterms. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

For almost all of us, $44 billion is an amount of money we can't even fathom—let alone access in order to buy one of the largest social media companies in the world. But Elon Musk is poised to do just that. If the deal between Musk and Twitter pans out, it could be the second-largest deal of its kind in American history.Here's the catch. Much of money isn't lying around in his bank accounts. So how does someone—even a billionaire—borrow that much money?We talk about Elon Musk's plans to purchase Twitter—and where he's getting the money to do it.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Her claim to fame came in 2014 with her fourth novel, "Station Eleven" — a post-apocalyptic pandemic survival tale that's garnered new meaning over the last two years. Now, Emily St. John Mandel is back with her latest work of speculative fiction, "Sea of Tranquility." It's a pandemic novel written during a pandemic... about an author who wrote a pandemic novel right before a pandemic — so it also hits close to home.We talk with Emily St. John Mandel about making meaning with speculative fiction.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Moderna has asked U.S. regulators to authorize low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children under six. When can we expect a decision from the F.D.A.?The top infectious disease expert in the U.S., Dr. Anthony Fauci, was forced to clarify remarks he made earlier in the week about the pandemic. On Tuesday, Fauci told the PBS NewsHour "we are out of the pandemic phase". On Wednesday, he told 1A he misspoke and that "the pandemic is not over."United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called war in Ukraine both "evil" and "unacceptable" after seeing for himself the damage done by Russia on the outskirts of Kviv.Also this week, Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the West not to underestimate the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.And President Biden requested another $33 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine during a speech on Thursday.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This week, Twitter accepted a $44 billion buyout offer from Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. As part of the purchase, Musk, who calls himself a "free speech absolutist," will gain total control of the company. And it's raising questions about how his leadership will affect open speech on the platform. We discuss the impact Elon Musk will have on Twitter, and what social media moderation will look like in the future. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

If you've been on a flight or taken public transit recently, you might've seen fewer masks on fewer faces. This is because a Florida judge struck down the federal travel mask mandate last Monday.While companies aren't being forced to drop their mandates many have. All of this while the Omicron subvariant BA.2 accounts for 75 percent of new COVID cases in the U.S.To mask or not to mask continues to be a divisive question. We get into the psychology of why.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The pandemic has prompted a lot of change.One considerable shift? Workers telling bosses they're not gonna take it anymore. The so-called Great Resignation hasn't slowed so far in 2022. In February, over 4 million people quit their jobs. About 74,000 of those who left worked in retail.In addition to quitting, workers are also taking back control via unions. In two recent high-profile moves, employees at Starbucks and Amazon voted to organize despite their respective employers' best efforts.We discuss the movement and what's next. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The shadow docket sounds like a bad movie from the 1940s. In real life, the phrase denotes the Supreme Court's emergency decisions that are usually procedural and come with little explanation. But there's growing concern that the docket is being used more often to make major rulings in private with wide-reaching consequences. We discuss how Justices justify the shadow docket and what a lack of transparency and Americans' waning trust in the court mean for our democracy. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

If you've ever watched Netflix's wildly popular show "Queer Eye," you definitely know Jonathan Van Ness.The show's reboot was a smash hit, catapulting its stars into the spotlight. Recognizable for his hair and effervescent skincare advice, Van Ness became known for his infectiously positive outlook, heartwarming vulnerability, and humor. Since the "Queer Eye" release in 2018, Van Ness hasn't stopped moving. We sit down with Van Ness to talk about his latest book, "Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life" and more.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The federal government's mandate concerning masks on transportation was dropped this week after a judge in Florida overturned it. Airlines announced the change abruptly on social media, in terminals, and in some cases mid-flight. The Justice Department has announced it will appeal the decision.Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced this week a new phase of his country's war in Russia is beginning as fighting continues to rage in Ukraine's Donbas region.Bloomberg is reporting Kremlin insiders are quietly labeling Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a colossal mistake given the toll the conflict and resulting sanctions are taking on the country. They also say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no danger of losing power.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Airports and planes went maskless for the first time in two years the same day that Philadelphia reinstated its indoor mask mandate. A federal judge in Florida struck down a request to extend the deadline for the mandate by two weeks, calling it "unlawful." All of this is happening as more than 30 states report a rise in cases. The Centers for Disease and Control estimates that the omicron subvariant, BA.2, makes up 86 percent of all U.S. COVID cases. So how prepared is the U.S. for another potential wave? And how should we navigate a new maskless world of transportation?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

When it comes to women succeeding in the workforce, there's a lot to talk about.The "She-cession," burnout, and, of course, wages.Despite all of that, there is some progress in the way of gender pay parity. New analysis from Pew Research Center found that the wage gap is closing in 22 metropolitan areas. In fact, in some cities, women are out-earning their male counterparts. What's the state of the gender wage gap? And who is it closing for?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Biden administration has unveiled a new rule that regulates "ghost guns" — untraceable firearms that are built privately (sometimes through 3-D printing) and don't have serial numbers.According to White House data, the number of "ghost gun" seizures has increased ten-fold since 2016.Efforts among Senate Republicans to block the measure are already underway.We answer your questions about "ghost guns" with a panel of experts.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

President Joe Biden declared that Russia's actions in Ukraine are a "genocide" this week. The president made this remark just one day before the U.S. promised more aid to Ukraine in the form of military hardware.Biden's pick to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is facing an uphill battle to be confirmed as the administration expects staunch opposition to his confirmation from gun rights groups. Steve Dettelbach previously served as the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio under President Barack Obama.Meanwhile, satellite imaging shows more Russian military deployments in eastern Ukraine. Two bases, likely for resupplying forces near Mariupol, have been established to aid Russian troops in their invasion.According to a New York Times report, former Trump administration officials Jared Kushner and Steve Mnuchin secured billions of dollars in payments from Saudi Arabia in the form of investments in their private equity funds.We cover the most important stories from the week duing the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than a dozen states have drafted or voted on restrictions to critical healthcare for trans youth.But it's not just the 150,000 American kids who identify as transgender trans youth that are being targeted. The livelihoods of doctors and pediatricians who provide this care are at stake too.Across the country doctors in this field are being harassed and threatened, and can even be legally charged. We speak to three doctors about what gender-affirming care is and the toll this legislation is taking on their patients and professions. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This week, the European Union announced it will provide funding and support to prosecutors from the International Criminal Court who are investigating alleged war crimes.The United States has a complicated relationship with the ICC. Neither the U.S. nor Russia are signatories to the Rome Statute, which established the court back in 2002. And the U.S. has long been opposed to allowing the court jurisdiction over citizens of countries that aren't part of the ICC.We discuss the path forward on war crimes in Ukraine with a panel of experts. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

As Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine rages on, authoritarianism is surging.A report from the pro-democracy nonprofit Freedom House found that global democracy has declined for the 16th year in a row.So why is authoritarianism on the rise? And what do we really mean when we say "authoritarianism"?We talk with historians and analysts about Putin and beyond.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The latest report from the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change focuses on how communities can prevent the worst of the climate crisis. It goes well beyond meatless Mondays and driving an electric car. The scientists also make clear what will happen if we don't.According to the report, if we have any hope of a livable world in the future, we need to stop using fossil fuels now. Getting there might be easier than you think. The only question is whether we have the will.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than 50 million Americans each year suffer from neurodegenerative disorders, from Alzheimer's Disease to Huntington's Disease.We speak with University of Pennsylvania neuroscientist Sara Manning Peskin about her new book, A Molecule Away from Madness: Tales of a Hijacked Brain. In it, she unpacks the molecular changes in our brain's chemistry that cause these diseases in Peskin weaves personal stories from her patients and their families into the history of researchers uncovering these illnesses.We also speak with author Sarah Fay about her new book, Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses, which chronicles her uphill battle to find a reliable diagnosis.In the book, Fay explores the limited tools available for pinpointing depression or anxiety. We talk with Fay and a panel of experts about how we diagnose mental health.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed as President Joe Biden's first nomination to the Supreme Court.Lawmakers are headed to Europe. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is leading a bipartisan trip to the region, specifically to Poland and its border with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the town of Bucha to witness the aftermath of gruesome acts perpetuated by Russian troops in the area. Ukrainian officials have concluded that enemy soldiers tortured captured Ukrainians in the area.Pakistan is facing a constitutional crisis. Its courts are set to decide if the country's prime minister, Imran Khan, had the power to dissolve parliament as he was facing a vote of no confidence.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Texas' new law restricting abortion is felt beyond its borders. In neighboring Oklahoma, the governor says he's ready to approve a bill that would make performing an abortion a felony — punishable by up to 10 years in prison. And Idaho's governor signed a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.At the same time, states like Colorado are bracing themselves to become abortion safe havens. This week, the state legislature there signed the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which solidifies the state's abortion laws.We take a look at how two states are handling the question of abortion access and what the state of abortion laws nationally could mean for you.This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The pantheon of classic American parenting techniques is vast. But parenting changes over time, even if its difficulty stays the same. And many families choose to tackle that difficulty differently.A popular trend in child rearing now is "gentle" or "respectful" parenting. Instead of punishing or correcting a behavior, gentle parenting focuses on acknowledging a child's feelings and understanding how those feelings affect their behavior.How much does parenting style affect the outcome of a child's life? And where does "gentle" parenting land on the wide spectrum of approaches?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The war in Ukraine is continuing to affect people living in the country's cities. Bombing in Kiev and Mariupol has left homes, schools, and hospitals destroyed. Comparisons are being drawn between these cities and places like Aleppo and Baghdad. But someday the conflict in Ukraine will cease. How will its cities be rebuilt? We discuss what gets lost when warfare enters urban areas.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

"America has a free speech problem."That New York Times headline recently reignited an ongoing debate over free speech and how it's applied. Critics were swift to debunk that Times' argument online and across national editorial boards, including the Philadelphia Inquirer and Portland Press Herald. So, does America have a free speech problem? And how has "cancel culture" affected people's engagement with free speech? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This year, CODA won three Oscars, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. "CODA" takes us into the world of the close-knit Rossi family. Jackie and Frank are happily married with one adult son and a daughter about to graduate high school. But money is tight where they live, a fishing town on Massachusetts' coast. Finding a way to make ends meet is even harder as a deaf family.So they rely on the only hearing person in their family, their daughter Ruby, to help them for practically everything. Marlee Matlin stars as Jackie Rossi. She received an Academy Award for her role in "Children of a Lesser God" in 1987 and is the only deaf actor to have won an Oscar. Troy Kotsur stars as Frank Rossi. He recently became the first male deaf actor to be nominated for a SAG Award. We revisit our conversation with Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur about authentic representation of deaf culture in Hollywood and why this film breaks barriers. Their interpreters were Jack Jason and Justin Maurer. A transcript is available here. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, and oil prices remain in flux. President Joe Biden has promised to send more aid to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his forces while also releasing barrels from the U.S. oil reserve to soften gas prices.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the so-called "don't say gay" bill into law.Meanwhile, European countries are strategizing to cut dependence on Russian gas. Germany has thrown the switch on a plan to ration gas as the war in Ukraine continues. And security was bolstered across Israel and the occupied territories this week after a Palestinian gunman killed five in what is their fifth attack in less than two weeks. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

From the food wheel, to the food pyramid, to MyPlate, schools in the U.S. have incorporated food education into their curricula. But does the way we learn about nutrition really set us up for a healthy relationship with food and our bodies? With the pandemic moving classrooms to dining room tables, parents have levied criticism against current nutrition lessons, worried that the way educators discuss food and health is missing the mark.For this episode of our In Case You Missed It series, where we've tackled the topics you told us you wished you'd learned about in school, we're tackling nutrition. We're busting the myths you might've heard in your seventh grade health class and breaking down what "healthy" actually means. What do you remember learning, or not learning, about food in school? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

If you could put a grade on your financial wellness, what would it be? When we asked you earlier this year about what you wished you learned in school, many of you said personal finance. And you're not alone: in states across the country, dozens of personal finance education bills are pending. But what makes for an effective financial education course? And how prepared are Americans to take on their own finances? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Each year, the federal government spends roughly $50 per student on STEM education. It spends 5 cents per student per year on civic education.It's no wonder that nearly a quarter of Americans can't name a single branch of the government.What is civic education? And what's at stake when schools don't require it?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Our series, "In Case You Missed It," dives into topics you maybe wish you'd learned in school. We speak with leading experts and educators so we can help catch you up. In this episode, we're getting into all that you didn't learn in school about media literacy and critical thinking. Critical thinking skills are at the heart of media literacy – and there's a movement to make media literacy a requirement in schools across the country. Last year, Illinois became the first state to pass a law requiring it in all high schools.But what exactly is media literacy? How do you teach it? And if you didn't learn it in school, what do you need to know now? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson concluded a week of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, facing aggressive questioning by GOP lawmakers regarding her past as a public defender and her sentencing in child porn cases. A confirmation vote could come as early as Monday.President Joe Biden traveled to Brussels for emergency talks with NATO leaders. The White House announced plans for additional sanctions, and will open the U.S. to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have kept Russian troops out of Kyiv this week. Hundreds of miles away in Mariupol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that more than 100,000 Ukrainians are trapped, facing a devastating attack by Russian forces.The Taliban suddenly reversed its decision to open high schools for girls, just days after announcing plans to reopen all schools — including girls' high schools.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

For the first time since the Supreme Court's founding in 1790, a Black woman may sit on the bench. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden's Supreme Court pick, is expected to be confirmed after four days of testimony before Congress. The hearings have been a marathon during which Jackson has answered a barrage of questions, many of which have had little to do with her or the position she's hoping to fill.We speak to a law professor, a former judge, and a current law student who all know the struggle of trying to break glass ceilings.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than 1,000 Russians and their families have been hit with economic sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine. The list includes Roman Abramovich, the owner of the English Premier League team Chelsea, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.Attorney General Merrick Garland and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced a multi-lateral task force called Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) with representatives from Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. It's part of the Justice Department's Kleptocature task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping economic sanctions against Russian oligarchs. Authorities have already seized hundreds of million dollars in assets including private yachts, jets, and luxury villas.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The Oscars are just around the corner. And Disney's "Encanto" is going for a trio of Academy Awards including best original score, best original song, and best animated feature.But before the awards season began — and people refused to talk about Bruno — two of the women putting the music and film together were already breaking barriers.Germaine Franco is the first woman to ever score a Disney animated feature. And Charise Castro Smith is the first Latina to receive a directing credit on a Disney animated film. They join us to talk about representation, the music of "Encanto," and their careers.Then we speak with Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastián Yatra about his newest album, working on soundtrack and his life as pop-star. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's been more than six months since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. The United Nations refugee agency predicted that by the end of last year, more than half a million people would flee the Taliban-controlled country. Some of those refugees settled in Ukraine, and are once again in the middle of a conflict.The war in Eastern Europe is "potentially apocalyptic" for Afghanistan's growing famine, and for its collapsing economy. So, how is the war on Ukraine weighing on the humanitarian crisis there? And what does it mean for refugees in the US and elsewhere?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Congress in a special session this week, asking the United States to send more aid to his country as they continue to fight off Russian invaders.The White House announced that it will have to wind down a program that pays to test, treat, and vaccinate uninsured people amid the pandemic. The administration says it's run out of money for the program. Meanwhile, the Russian government continues to arrest people protesting against the country's invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin says "pro-Western Russians are scum, need to be removed from society."China is attempting to reopen the city of Shenzhen after a lockdown due to a surge of COVID-19. Authorities enforced a "zero tolerance" policy and paused the lives of millions across the country.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

According to the most recent guidance from the CDC, most of the country no longer needs to mask up in public But those loosened restrictions don't apply to at least 7 million people nationwide who are immunocompromised. Their weakened immune systems put them at much higher risk for severe illness and death from exposure to COVID.With elected officials advocating a so-called "return to normal," what does the present and future hold for the immunocompromised? What can we do to protect the most vulnerable?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

The U.S. produces a lot of oil — currently more than 11 billion barrels a day. It produces so much oil and natural gas that overall, it sells more to other countries than it buys from foreign sources. Yet a war almost 5,000 miles away has pushed U.S. gas prices to record levels – more than $4.30 per gallon, on average. This has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle wondering how the U.S. can become better insulated from global price shocks.But Republicans, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, want to see more drilling on U.S. soil. So what are our options to become more energy secure? And if we produce so much of our own oil, why are gas prices so high anyway? We discuss all that and more. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Sportswashing is the practice of laundering one's reputation through sports; whether that be through team ownership, hosting a major tournament, or sponsorship. A country or politician gets involved with the hope that some of the sport's popularity will improve their image.Sportswashing isn't a new problem. In fact, it's one of the oldest tricks in an autocrat's international relations playbook. Those familiar with European history probably remember Adolf Hitler's reasons for hosting the 1936 Olympic games.Why is sportswashing effective? And what can the international community do to combat it?We discuss all this and more. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

This weekend marked the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. And there's a bill in Congress to make it permanent, which would mean never changing our clocks again.Nineteen states have already made it clear that they'd make the switch if Congress says okay.How did this biannual ritual come about anyway? And what are our other options?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Harvey Fierstein first questioned his gender when he was 7 years old. The Tony-award-winning playwright behind Broadway hits including "Kinky Boots" and "Newsies" recounts the story in his new memoir, "I Was Better Last Night."Fierstein brought queer characters to the stage and screen. He won Tonys for "Torch Song Trilogy" and "La Cage Aux Folles," both of which he wrote. The shows, which premiered in the 1980s, introduced gay relationships and characters to Broadway audiences.Off-stage, Fierstein was living through the AIDS epidemic, a harrowing and tragic experience that led to him turning away from show business and towards substance abuse.We talk to Fierstein about his career and take questions from you.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Despite discussions to the contrary, U.S. authorities at the Pentagon have ruled out sending fighter jets to Ukraine, fearing Russian escalation of the conflict.Governments and companies continue to put the financial squeeze on Russia as it continues to try and push deeper into Ukraine. President Joe Biden announced a ban on Russian oil imports this week. McDonald's announced it would close all 850 of its locations in the country.Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian authorities sent to negotiate with one another failed to agree on the terms of a ceasefire. Russian troops have ramped up shelling against Ukrainian civilians, targeting their evacuation routes.WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia on charges of drug smuggling. U.S. authorities have been quick to condemn her detention and Russian authorities are providing few details on her whereabouts.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A big story has been lurking in the background these last few weeks – climate change. Last week the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest report: "Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability." The report gives example after example of ways climate change is impacting human lives now. The report is concerning, but it also makes one thing clear: it's not too late. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

A new report from the CDC reveals that pregnancy-related death rates are going up. In 2020, pregnancy-related mortality rose by nearly 20 percent compared to the previous year. This is all taking place during a global pandemic that has strained hospital systems and made even routine procedures a difficult and sometimes dangerous task. But pregnancy-related deaths have been going up long before COVID-19, having almost doubled in the past 30 years.How has the pandemic impacted maternal mortality and what is being done to reverse this long-standing trend?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Following the passage of laws in Russia last week, people can now receive up to 15 years in prison for publicly opposing the war in Ukraine—or for even calling it a "war" to begin with. The law doesn't only impact traditional media. Russia blocked access to Facebook and Twitter in retaliation for removing content by Russian-backed media outlets like Russia Today and Sputnik.We dive into the troubling pattern of censorship in Russia.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Truck driving in America remains in crisis. There are 80,000 fewer drivers on the road than needed, according to the American Trucker's Association.This dearth is having a ripple effect on the supply chain crisis. Approximately 71 percent of all freight moved across the United States was carried by trucks last year.What challenges are truck drivers facing today and what does the future of the industry look like?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Marlon James is the author of five books. His 2014 novel, "A Brief History of Seven Killings," won the Man Booker Prize in 2015."Seven Killings" tells the story of post-colonial Jamaica through the voices of twelve narrators and spans decades of contemporary Jamaican history.His latest work is a little different. The Dark Star Trilogy is a series of fantasy novels that take place in a fictionalized version of ancient Africa. There are monsters, violence, and an epic quest. It's been called "an African Game of Thrones."The second book in the series, "Moon Witch, Spider King," was released in February. James joins us to discuss creating a fantasy world and what's next in the series. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

U.S. authorities continue to explore the nation's options in Ukraine. Sanctions continue to be placed on Putin's economy, leading the country's currency to fall in value and many Russians to withdraw their money from banks. At the State of the Union President Joe Biden indicated he supports a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but still spoke against sending American troops to the country.Texas announced that it will investigate the parents of transgender children in the state for possible instances of child abuse.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a reduction in the severity of their mask guidelines. Major cities are dropping vaccine and mask mandates in a variety of settings.Meanwhile, Ukrainian citizens are fleeing the country as Russia continues to attempt to take control. The Ukrainian government announced that 2,000 civilians have died as a result of Russian attacks.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

More than a million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded last week.It's the largest mass exodus in Europe since the Balkan War in the 1990s. The U.N. warns that number could reach four million in the coming month.Where are those who are leaving going? And why are some Ukrainians staying put?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.