1A

For the first time in the franchise's 21-year history, ABC's "The Bachelor" is surprising viewers with "The Golden Bachelor", where all the contestants are over 60. And the bachelor himself is 72. Whether you're a fan of the show or not, the series is airing at a time when many older Americans are finding themselves single. According to a new analysis by Bowling Green State University's National Center for Family and Marriage Research, divorce rates among people 65 and older tripled between 1990 and 2021. And roughly half of women over 65 are un-partnered. That's according to a Pew Research survey from 2020. We discuss what it's like to try and find love in your later years.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

WeWork – the shared office space company – was once hailed as a revolutionary way to work, with a $47 billion valuation to match.But earlier this month, the company filed for bankruptcy. WeWork reported more than $18 billion in debt and around $100 million in unpaid rent.And while the bankruptcy may be the final nail in WeWork's proverbial coffin, many other coworking spaces have cropped up all around the country.We discuss what the future of remote work will look like and how coworking spaces fit into that future.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

In June 2015, nine people died at Charleston's Emanuel A.M.E. Church, victims of a racist shooter's rampage.Some of the victims' relatives publicly forgave the murderer, including Chris Singleton, whose mother, Sharonda Coleman Singleton, was killed. Philosopher Myisha Cherry was struck by the story and its response. Some, she says, paid more attention to the inspirational story of forgiveness than the racial hatred behind the shooting.In her new book, Professor Cherry seeks to understand what forgiveness means and why we venerate it. Sometimes, she argues, forgiveness can do more harm than good, especially if it lets the perpetrator of wrongdoing off the hook – whether that be a person, system or anything else.We discuss forgiveness – what it means and its effect. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Marcus du Sautoy is a mathematician who loves games, travel, and, unsurprisingly, math. His new book is titled "Around the World in 80 Games: A Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the Greatest Games." In it, du Sautoy tours the world's games, exploring how they are built around (and can be won using) mathematics.We discuss how math and games are interwoven worldwide, and learn the history of some of our favorite games. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Whether it's high-speed rail or highway reconstruction, infrastructure projects in the U.S. are often associated with high price tags and lengthy timelines. Perhaps no project captures this better than Boston's Central Artery Tunnel project, more commonly known as the Big Dig. It's the nation's most expensive highway project. And it took more than two decades to plan and build.Ian Coss, host of GBH News' "The Big Dig" joins us to discuss the lessons we can take away from projects like Boston's.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Dolly Parton's resume is as big as her hair. And at age 77 she's adding another title to it: "Rockstar."Her new album was released on Nov. 17. It's a mix of covers of classic rock songs, featuring collaborations with a whopping list of who's who in Rock-n-Roll. And there are almost 30 tracks – give or take a few – depending on the version of the album that you buy. With 9 new singles, "Rockstar" is Dolly's most significant foray into Rock and Roll music.While Dolly has fully embraced a new "Rockstar" persona – down to the black studded outfits – glimmers of rockstar have existed in Dolly's previous eras. Over the past fifty years, Dolly has won plenty of awards and accolades for her songwriting, becoming one of music's most prolific songwriters.Sit back and grab yourself a cup of ambition. For this edition of the 1A Record Club – Dolly Parton's new album "Rockstar" and what her latest musical evolution represents.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

The wildly popular webcomic "Strange Planet" has attracted millions of followers by pointing out absurdities in everyday life.Beings on Strange Planet live in a place very similar to Earth and behave very similarly to humans. They just talk about it differently. On Strange Planet, coffee is "jitter liquid," socks are "foot tubes," alcohol is "mild poison," kissing is "mouth pushing," and raccoons are "greyscale finger bandits."The successful webcomic is expanding to books, merchandise, and now a new show on Apple TV+, co-created by "Strange Planet" creator Nathan W. Pyle and "Rick and Morty" co-creator Dan Harmon.We talk to Pyle about the show and his inspiration. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Hip-hop is many things – unapologetic, lyrical, rhythmic, and above all, ubiquitous.Since its nebulous "creation" at a party in the Bronx in 1973, hip-hop has become one of the world's most popular genres and cultural expressions.It's also evolved drastically. It's given way to various subgenres – like gangsta rap and drill – and provided the means for talented emcees to be heard around the world.But hip-hop doesn't exist without its controversy. The genre has been seen by many since its inception as a tool to further misogyny, violence and capitalist exploitation.We celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th birthday by discussing the history of the genre and what its future could look like. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Chances are you uses spices everyday. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, spice consumption per capita among Americans has more than tripled since 1966. But spices aren't just about taste. They can also be beneficial to our health. One 2019 study from the Journal of A.O.A.C. International found that certain spices can lower the risk of chronic disease and help fight inflammation. We talk about how can you incorporate spices into your dishes at home with a spice shop owner, a professional chef, and a doctor.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Complaints against U.S. airlines hit a record high in 2022. And it's not getting any better. Consumer complaints nearly doubled in the first three months of this year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.With only four major airlines in the U.S., there's little choice for consumers in the market. And with air travel expected to reach a record high this holiday season, many will be subjected to the worst of travel: long lines, high prices, and of course, awful airplane food.But why does our time in flight have to be riddled with anguish? And what can be done to make the skies friendly again?For that, we're turning to Ganesh Sitaraman, a professor at Vanderbilt University Law School and director of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator. He's also out with the new book, "Why Flying is Miserable: And How to Fix It."Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

It's been a busy week for the GOP in Congress. Lawmakers managed to avoid another government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson's grace period in his new role seems to be over. US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for the first time in a year at a summit in San Francisco. The two leaders spent time together as after many months of tensions between the two nations.New polling indicates that there's a significant gap in politician rhetoric and public sentiment on Israel's war on Gaza, with a growing number of Americans believing the IDF has gone too far in its efforts to fight Hamas.Meanwhile, Israeli military strikes on the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City continued this week, as they focus in on what the IDF claim are Hamas operation centers in medical facilities. Palestinians working in Gaza's main hospital are burying their dead in a mass grave. We cover the most important stories this week during the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

William Shakespeare once said that the eyes are the window to the soul. We make eye contact with others to show that we're listening, to connect, or simply as a way of saying, "I see you."Cultures around the world have understood the power of eyes for centuries. If you travel to India, Chad, Japan, Iran, or just around the corner from your house, you'll probably see the same thing around the eyes of the people who live there: eyeliner. In her new book, "Eyeliner: A Cultural History," Lebanese-British journalist Zahra Hankir explores beauty, power, identity, and resistance through the lens of the iconic cosmetic. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

It's been over three years since "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" was released. It became one of the best-selling video games of the year — moving over 42 million copies, almost four times as much as the previous edition of the game.It also renewed interest in a video game trend known for finding magic in mundane tasks: cozy gaming. Games like "Stardew Valley," "Harvest Moon," and "Unpacking," where the objective is less about shooting, fighting, or space colonization and more about gentle verbs — tending, farming, and homemaking.And the video game industry is taking notice. We discuss the impact and popularity of cozy gaming. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Guns, and who gets to have access to them, is one of the most hotly debated issues in our country. The Supreme Court will weigh in on gun rights once more in the coming months in the case of a 23-year-old Texas man named Zackey Rahimi.His case challenges a federal law that's been around for nearly two decades that strips gun ownership rights from people under domestic violence protection orders.How should the high court regulate who gets access to guns? And how might the outcome of the case shape gun rights as we know them?Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

The first photographs of a major military conflict were taken during the Crimean War of the 1850s. Nearly 175 years later, photojournalists are on the ground, on the frontlines of conflicts around the world, documenting history.They do so at great risk to themselves. So far, at least five photojournalists have died during the Israel-Hamas War, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists."You see the spirit of human beings when everything else is stripped away," says photojournalist Lynsey Addario. "That's what drives me to keep going back. At the end of the day, people can be horrible, but they can also be extraordinary and wonderful."We discuss how photojournalists in conflict zones do their work and the impact of witnessing the atrocities of war first-hand.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

This was an off-year election week to remember. In Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear retained control of his office after making abortion a central issue of his campaign.Five GOP candidates took the debate stage in Miami this week, all doing their best to grab the attention of Republican primary voters. WeWork, the office-sharing giant, filed for bankruptcy this week. In 2019, the company was valued at $47 billion.We cover the most important stories from around the country in the domestic hour of the News Roundup.Meanwhile, the U.S. is signaling its desire for more Palestinian governance over Gaza and the West Bank once the war ends. And worldwide, October is being recorded as the hottest-ever month, meaning 2023 is on track to be the hottest-ever year.We cover all these stories 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 out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Five Republican presidential hopefuls faced off in Miami on Wednesday night for the third GOP debate, the last one of 2023.Former President Donald Trump will, once again, not be on the stage. Instead, he'll be at a rally in a suburb of Miami nearby.The debate comes as many states went to the polls – Kentucky re-elected their Democratic governor, Democrats flipped Virginia's state house and Ohio voted to enshrine the right to abortion in its Constitution. Foreign policy is expected to dominate the debate as Israel's war on Gaza enters the fourth week. We recap the night and discuss what the candidates said about issues like abortion, the economy and foreign policy.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

By 2030, the Census Bureau estimates that the nation's population will consist of more adults over 65 than children.As the youngest of the baby boomers enter their sixties, and younger adults are having children later in life, many Americans – from Gen Z to Gen X – are finding themselves sandwiched between taking care of elderly parents and young kids at the same time.Today's 65-year-olds have a 70 percent likelihood of needing long-term care in the future, all while the supply of home health aides is dwindling. Nursing homes are also increasingly costly and inaccessible for families of low and moderate incomes.We discuss what it's like to balance caring for young kids and aging adults simultaneously and managing your money or time as a family caregiver.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

If you live near a bustling downtown or shopping center, you may have noticed an increase in private security during the last couple of years. Even places like hospitals, jails, or the occasional Walgreens and gas station have turned to hiring their own security. According to The New York Times, most major cities now have at least three times as many security guards as police officers on their streets. In the past couple of weeks, private security guards began patrolling areas in Austin, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina. This uptick comes as police departments across the country are struggling to find recruits. As private security replaces its public counterpart, questions about training, regulation, and accountability echo through American communities. Especially considering it's easier for some communities to afford it than it is for others.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

War is inherently difficult to cover in real-time. The war between Israel and Hamas is no different. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called the death toll among journalists in the conflict unprecedented with at least 36 journalists killed since the war began last month. What kind of challenges are reporters met with? How do those challenges affect the coverage you're getting as a consumer of news?We discuss what it looks like to cover one of the most complicated conflicts. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

House Republicans are set to put forward a bill to send aid to Israel to the tune of $14.3 billion. Idaho made its first "abortion trafficking" arrest this week. A mother and son were arrested and charged with kidnapping for taking an underage girl across state lines for an abortion without her parents' knowledge. Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency is losing its aid workers as Israel continues to bomb Gaza. At least 70 of those workers have died in the attacks. International leaders are looking to begin a peace process as the violence and humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens. The Panama Canal is cutting down on the number of ships allowed to pass through. The El Niño weather pattern is contributing to a drought in the country.We cover the most important stories during the News Roundup.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Pharmacists say they're overworked and understaffed and have been for years. So they planned a "Pharmageddon" – three days of nationwide walkouts at CVS and Walgreens. The walkouts come after protests from pharmacy workers at Walgreens last month, and multiple walkouts at CVS stores in Kansas City. Although complaints have been ongoing, the scale of the walkouts was difficult to confirm. And change has been hard to come by. Pharmacy worker complaints come as big box retailers face other struggles. Last month, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy. CVS, RiteAid, and Walgreens locations have been closing stores across the country.We discuss the state of retail pharmacies today, and what these shakeups mean for the communities relying on them.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

It's easy to mistake Día de los Muertos for Halloween. Skeletons and marigolds, like the vivid orange macabre of jack-o-lanterns, are synonymous with the tradition. So are the food and treats prepared for loved ones who have passed away. While both traditions evolved from a complicated intertwining of pagan and Christian beliefs and traditions, the push to keep Día de los Muertos a separate tradition from Halloween and faithful to its indigenous roots is as complex as the history of the holiday itself. Introduced in the U.S. as part of the Chicano Movement in the 1960s and '70s, Día de los Muertos celebrations have become a part of fall festivities in towns and cities around the country. We take a closer look at the history and evolution of Día de los Muertos stateside.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Different kinds of horror stories can be scary, dreadful, terrifying, and even gross. But they can also be rich with meaning. There's no lack of horror subjects and subgenres to venture into, whether it's slashers, zombies, monsters, ghosts, or vampires. And more niches like highway horror or found footage.The number of jump scares per horror movie is the lowest it's ever been since 2014, according to The Washington Post.We discuss the meaning behind different types of horror stories and different tropes.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

All 220 House Republicans present voted for Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson as the body's next speaker. He was the fourth candidate put forward by the GOP in the three weeks since they ousted former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump's legal issues continue to mount. His daughter, Ivanka, as well as his sons, Eric and Donald Jr., will soon have to testify in a New York civil case concerning financial fraud.This is one of several cases Trump is facing, including allegations that he sought to interfere with the 2020 election results in Georgia and that he mishandled classified documents at his club in Florida.We discuss all the latest and take a closer look at what's on the new speaker's agenda in terms of legislation. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

After three weeks of a vacancy, and multiple failed candidates, House Republicans finally named their speaker: Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson.Also this week, Ford and the United Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative deal that would see an end to the strike end and a pay raise for the union members.Meanwhile, Israel prepares for a ground war as the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows worse by the day. Palestinians in Gaza are quickly running out of food and water, and the healthcare system has collapsed.And Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was removed from his position two months after he was last seen in public.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

For this month's Movie Club, we're discussing "Killers of the Flower Moon," a new film by director Martin Scorsese that some say could be his last. The film is based on a book by the same name by journalist David Grann. Set in the 1920s, it tells the story of the mysterious murders of more than 60 wealthy Osage Native Americans. The murders were brutal and went largely unchecked by local and state police in Oklahoma. The movie stars Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro. We discuss the movie, what it gets right about Native American culture, and what it means for the future of films featuring Indigenous characters.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Benjamin Netanyahu campaigned to be Israel's prime minister on the promise that he'd keep Israel safe.Now, as the leader of one of the most right-wing governments in the country's history, he's tasked with shepherding Israel through a crisis after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas — the militant and political group that rules Gaza — killed more than 1,400 people.A poll in the Ma'ariv newspaper suggests up to 80% of Israelis believe Netanyahu must take responsibility for the security failures that led to the October 7th attack.The country was already facing internal upheaval as Netanyahu's government pushed to overhaul the judiciary system.We discuss the latest updates on Israeli domestic politics.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Since Hamas's deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, a lot has been said about the militant and political group and whether or not they represent the Palestinian people.Hamas has been declared a terrorist group by dozens of countries, including the United States. And many Palestinians in Gaza think the political party is corrupt. The Palestinian Liberation Organization, which controls the West Bank and is led by Mahmoud Abbas, has condemned Hamas's violence.It's been over 15 years since the last parliamentary election that brought Hamas to power, one that many Palestinians weren't old enough to vote in. We discuss how Palestinian leadership and how war and displacement has shaped the lives of Palestinians. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Cultivated meat is green-lit in the U.S. That's meat grown in a lab.Two food technology companies — UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat — are letting people try their cultivated meat. But you can't grab any off grocery shelves quite yet. For now, it's available to the public at Bar Crenn in San Francisco and China Chilcano in Washington D.C. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service approved their labels and the Food and Drug Administration left with no questions after they did a pre-market consultation with the companies on their product.We discuss how this meat is grown and its potential impact on the meat industry.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

President Joe Biden flew to Israel this week for a brief visit amid the country's preparation for a ground invasion of Gaza. During his brief, 7-hour stay, he managed to help push through a deal for humanitarian aid trucks to travel through Egypt to Gaza.Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense has ordered some 2,000 troops to prepare to deploy to the Middle East to support the Israeli military in its siege of Gaza. India's Supreme Court refused to legalize same-sex marriage this week, disappointing millions of LGBTQ+ couples, activists, and allies.And Poland's election finished with major losses for the country's nationalist right. 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 out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Whether it's an ale, lager, stout, or sour, people all over the U.S. are trying their own craft beer recipes at home. Some turn them into businesses.The number of craft breweries in the U.S. is at an all-time high according to the Brewers Association, with more than 9,500 across the country. But the industry is changing. Organizations like Beer Kulture and The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling are funding technical scholarships for people of color interested in the business. Films like "One Pint at a Time" highlight the lack of diversity in the industry.We discuss what it takes to be in the brewing business these days and how people in the industry are trying to diversify it. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

An air strike has hit the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City where thousands were seeking safety and treatment.Hamas has blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military said the hospital was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants. The health ministry said at least 500 people had been killed.Hundreds of Palestinians had taken refuge in al-Ahli, other hospitals, and United Nations buildings in Gaza City, hoping they would be spared bombardment after Israel ordered all residents of the city and surrounding areas to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip.The attack spurred protests in Ramallah in the Occupied West Bank and condemnation. Egypt's foreign minister said that Cairo considers this "deliberate bombing of civilians to be a serious violation of international, humanitarian law and of the most basic values of humanity."We discuss the latest humanitarian situation in Gaza and ask whether the rules of war were breached.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website

Back in 2015, Schuyler Bailar made headlines for being the first openly transgender athlete to compete on a Division 1 NCAA sports team.Now, he's an advocate for transgender inclusion. His new book is called "He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters."In the years since Schuyler raced as a member of the Harvard men's swim team, the battle over transgender inclusion in sports has become more contentious.Since 2020, 18 states have passed laws restricting participation in sports for trans women and girls and five other states passed laws applying to all trans athletes, according to an ESPN analysis.We discuss why the way we talk about gender matters. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

As Israel's military prepares for a ground war, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has become increasingly dire with water, food, and fuel in dangerously low supply.Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are fleeing south after the Israeli Government told residents to evacuate.Israel cut off fuel, electricity, and water in retaliation for Hamas' surprise attack last Saturday. Israel says more than 1,400 Israelis have been killed and at least 199 taken hostage. Over the weekend, the Palestinian death toll from Israeli airstrikes surpassed 2,750 according to the Gaza Health Ministry.But the enclave is one of the most densely populated places in the world. About half of Gazans are children under 18. And most have nowhere to go.We discuss the mounting humanitarian crisis and what comes next for Gazans and the world as an Israeli ground invasion approaches.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel this week to reaffirm U.S. support for the country's war against Hamas. He told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that America would 'always be there' for Israel at a joint press conference.House Republicans are beginning to coalesce around Majority Leader Steve Scalise as their pick to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy has the chamber's speaker. However, Scalise faces an uphill battle to obtain the 217 votes he'll need to be confirmed in the role.The Gaza Strip is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis after the Israeli government ordered a complete siege of the territory. Israeli authorities are cutting off access to food, power, and water.Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohamed bin-Salman discussed the "need to end war crimes in Palestine" in one of their first calls since restoring diplomatic relations between their two countries.Afghanistan was hit by a large earthquake in its western region mere days after two other quakes killed more than 1,000 people. So far, authorities have announced that 100 are injured and at least one person was killed.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

A report from Common Sense Media found that teens get over 230 of these distracting notifications each day. Some get over four thousand. But teens aren't the only ones inundated.According to market research company Insider Intelligence, American adults spend four and a half hours a day on their phones. Smartphones and social media apps are lauded by their industries for their addictive design.Now, lawmakers in Utah, New Jersey, and North Carolina are taking action to protect kids from the reach of social media. We discuss how our phones' constant presence affects us and what we can do to claim back our focus.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

While Shakespeare is long gone, but theater – and thus playwriting – is very much alive.Theater, in contrast to television or film, offers a unique chance for audiences to come together and experience a one-of-a-kind production. Playwrights, in collaboration with actors, directors, and stage crew work, are chiefly responsible for bringing that magic to life.For this installment of our "Ask A" series – where we talk to interesting people about what they do and why it matters – we speak to a group of playwrights about the power of storytelling on stage. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

It's been over three years since "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" was released. It became one of the best-selling video games of the year — moving over 42 million copies, almost four times as much as the previous edition of the game.It also renewed interest in a video game trend known for finding magic in mundane tasks: cozy gaming. Games like "Stardew Valley," "Harvest Moon," and "Unpacking," where the objective is less about shooting, fighting, or space colonization and more about gentle verbs — tending, farming, and homemaking.And the video game industry is taking notice. We discuss the impact and popularity of cozy gaming. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Israel has not suffered a blow like this in 50 years. Death tolls are hard to verify. But Israeli officials say more than 600 Israelis have been killed in attacks from Gaza since Saturday. As many as 100 Israeli soldiers and civilians were kidnapped when Palestinian militants crossed the border and raided communities. Retaliatory Israeli air strikes have killed more than 400 people in the Gaza Strip, with 2,300 wounded, Palestinian officials say.We get the latest and hear how the U.S. and the world are responding. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy lost his position this week as eight Republicans joined House Democrats in stripping him of his title. The House will now have to vote for a new Speaker. Migrant deaths have more than doubled at the border in El Paso, Texas, this year as scorching heat has made conditions for crossings incredibly dangerous. The toll of 148 deaths is a record high.Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine continues as some analysts suggest global support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy's forces is waning. And U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is calling for continental solutions as migrants continue to make their way to the borders of 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 out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Climate records have been broken non-stop this year.2023 saw the earth's hottest summer on record. The record-breaking heat continued into September. The year also saw extreme weather including the Canadian wildfires that scorched 37 million acres of land, roughly the size of the state of New York.News like this can be disheartening. But we've heard from many of you about springing into action to fight climate change, even if it's cautiously optimistic.We discuss what can be done at home, in your community, and on a larger scale through policy and industry action to fight climate change.This conversation is part of NPR's Climate Week which puts a spotlight on solutions.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.