Here & Now

President Trump has proposed scaling back federal funding for low-income renters as part of his budget for the next fiscal year that starts in October. Developers are already responding by scaling back projects that rent to people who depend on that aid to pay their rent. Denice Wint of EAH Housing, a low-income housing developer, explains more.And, Gov. Kim Reynolds explains why she went around the legislature to overhaul the state's child care system.Then, rising costs, tariffs and funding cuts to public education are heightening the debate over who should be paying for school supplies — parents or teachers? Chabeli Carrazana, an economy and child care reporter for The 19th, joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India on Wednesday, threatening to raise tensions with a major trading partner and destabilize global markets. NPR's Diaa Hadid explains.And, EarthQuaker Devices, based in Akron, Ohio, makes guitar pedals for musicians who want to create distortion effects in both live and recorded performances. But the ever-changing tariff policies are making it difficult to manufacture the company's products and plan for the future. Ideastream Public Media's J. Nungesser reports.Then, five years after the pandemic changed the way we work, people are facing less pressure to be at work for eight hours a day. Wall Street Journal columnist Callum Borchers explains what that means for ourselves and how others perceive us. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

One year ago, during the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched the Make America Healthy Again movement. Now as the head of Health and Human Services, Kennedy is trying to push through changes to policies around vaccines and food safety, and end the chronic disease epidemic. STAT reporter Isabella Cueto explains how much progress the movement has made.And, when 19-year-old Viraj Dhanda starts his first year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he'll be the first student with non-speaking autism. Viraj Dhanda and his father, Sumit Dhanda, join us to detail his journey to MIT.Then, hundreds of thousands of Chinese students are studying in the U.S., but only 1,200 U.S. students are studying in China. Linguistics professor and author David Moser explains why.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump is using the full force of the presidency to go after critics and people he believes are criminals. Law professor Kim Wehle talks about the implications of Trump's push to use the attorney general as his own personal lawyer. Then, Trump has suggested that Chicago could be the next U.S. city where he deploys National Guard troops after doing so in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The Chicago Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles gives more context. And, an undocumented teen is trying to get an education at a Bronx school for immigrants as the Trump administration amps up ICE actions. Chalkbeat reporter Michael Elsen-Rooney tells us more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Research shows that developing a daily routine can positively impact mental health by creating a structure that helps reduce stress and anxiety. Mental health counselor Samantha Zhu explains how to create and stick to a routine.And, exercise improves not only physical health, but mental health too. It can be hard to start a fitness regimen, but fitness instructor Aubre Winters shares some tips for working regular exercise into your life.Then, according to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 30% of Americans say their sleep quality is poor, or they aren't getting enough sleep each night. Psychologist Shelby Harris details how to create morning and bedtime routines that can help you get more restful sleep.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New data shows the Democratic Party is hemorrhaging voters. New York Times national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher broke the story and joins us to explain what the numbers mean as Democrats try to find their way out of the political wilderness.And, with voter enrollment numbers down, Democrats are working on new strategies to win elections again. Democratic strategists Rebecca Kirszner Katz and Jamal Simmons explain what they think the party needs to do to connect with voters.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

After the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion rights in 2022, voters in Ohio and Missouri approved state abortion protections. Now, conservatives in the states are working to roll those rights back. Reporters Karen Kasler and Jason Rosenbaum break down those efforts.And, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised "a massive testing and research effort" to determine what he calls environmental causes of autism. But now, the government is ending funding for some of those studies. ProPublica's Sharon Lerner shares more.Then, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a set of vaccine recommendations that strays from the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AAP president Dr. Susan Kressly explains why. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Kremlin is demanding that Ukraine give up the entire Donetsk Oblast as part of any ceasefire agreement. Russia analyst Kateryna Stepanenko explains why Donetsk is so important to Ukraine and why Russia wants control of it. Then, Brennan Center for Justice CEO Michael Waldman talks about President Trump's push to end mail-in voting, baselessly claiming it is "corrupt." And, Trump kicked off a nationwide race to redraw political maps after he urged Texas Republicans to draw five more GOP-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Author David Daley writes that the "true architect" of the gerrymandering fight is Chief Justice John Roberts and the conservative Supreme Court.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As many as 5,000 migrants may soon be detained at a new facility at Fort Bliss in Texas. The center opened on Sunday. KTEP's Angela Kocherga joins us to explain more.And, just seven months into President Trump's second term, nearly half of the goals outlined in Project 2025 have been achieved. During the 2024 campaign, Trump distanced himself from the conservative Heritage Foundation's governing blueprint. Law professor Kim Wehle details what's left on the checklist.Then, Elon Musk's The Boring Company is moving forward with its planned tunnel under Nashville. The tunnel, called the Music City Loop, has faced questions about its environmental impacts. Environmental reporter Caroline Eggers at WPLN joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Spike Lee's latest film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” is his reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film, “High and Low.” Denzel Washington stars as a music mogul faced with a moral dilemma: Should he fork over $17 million to save his driver and friend's son? Lee joins us to talk more about the film as it hits theaters Friday.And, radio legend Bruce Morrow, known as Cousin Brucie, reminisces about helping to introduce The Beatles 60 years ago when they kicked off a new era in rock 'n' roll by headlining at Shea Stadium in 1965.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A voter-approved mandate in Missouri for employers to provide paid sick leave is set to go away later this month after Republican lawmakers repealed it. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum. Then, this week, a glacial outburst sent millions of gallons of water surging down the Mendenhall River that runs through Juneau, Alaska. Public Safety manager Sabrina Grubitz joins us. And, dermatologists are stunned by a new movement that falsely claims that sunscreen — one of the proven ways to prevent skin cancer — is ineffective and even dangerous. Dr. Susan Taylor explains the science.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Increased immigration enforcement is playing out across the U.S., and Boston is no exception. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been spotted in neighborhoods across the city, and the detainment of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk made headlines across the country.WBUR reporter Simón Rios, who has extensively covered immigration in Boston, joins Here & Now's Chris Bentley to explain more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump put Washington, D.C. police under federal control, vowing to fight crime in the country's capital. What does the move mean for mayors across the country as they try to keep their cities safe? Van Johnson, president of the African American Mayors Association, joins us.And, despite fears around crime, data shows that violent crime and property crime rates fell to a 20-year low in 2024. Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, explains more about the data.Then, as electric vehicle sales flatten, Ford announced a line of smaller, cheaper electric vehicles. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast "Full Disclosure," details the rollout.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israel targeted a journalist tent in Gaza City, killing five Al Jazeera journalists Sunday, including prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 192 journalists have been killed since the start of the war nearly two years ago. Mohamed Moawad, Al Jazeera's managing editor, joins us to talk about the loss of his colleagues.And, President Trump took the unprecedented move on Monday of placing the Washington, D.C. police department under federal control and sending in National Guard troops to fight crime in the nation's capital, despite statistics showing violent crime declining 26% since last year. WAMU's Alex Koma details White House plans to use federal forces in D.C.Then, Chipmakers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices are selling advanced artificial intelligence chips to China, and national security experts have major concerns. The deal requires the two companies to pay 15% of chip sales revenue to the U.S. government. The Jamestown Foundation's Peter Mattis explains more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On a recent reporting trip, Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd and Chris Bentley stopped in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a town known as the birthplace of the blues. They speak with Mayor Orlando Paden, who runs the blues club Red's, and Shelley Ritter, executive director of the Delta Blues Museum. Then, music journalist Betto Arcos goes to Bentonia, Mississippi, to get a music and history lesson from a storied musician and owner of one of the region's remaining juke joints.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found Americans consume more than half of their calories from ultra-processed food. Cleveland Clinic dietitian Julia Zumpano explains the health implications.And, President Trump's new round of tariffs took effect Thursday, with more on the way. MSNBC's Ali Velshi unpacks what this means for global trade.Then, a new alert system in Arizona, called Turquoise Alerts, works to address a crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the state. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio shares what this means for tribal communities.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is cutting nearly $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines that are used to fight COVID-19 and the flu. Dr. Paul Offit joins us to discuss what the move could mean for vaccine research and development. Then, the Department of Transportation is raising concerns about airlines using artificial intelligence to set ticket prices based on customers' personal information. Transportation analyst Seth Kaplan talks about how AI could show up in ticket prices. And, Microsoft watches over the data of government agencies like the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. Last month, Microsoft announced a Chinese state-sponsored hack on those accounts. ProPublica's Renee Dudley tells us more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Democratic lawmakers in Texas left the state to prevent a vote on redrawing the state's congressional maps. The redrawn maps would create five more winnable U.S. House districts for Republicans. Democratic Texas state Rep. Armando Walle talks about where Democrats go from here.And, as the school year is about to start back up, Michigan's education budget and federal funding changes are creating uncertainty for districts in the state. Katy Xenakis-Makowski, superintendent of Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools, shares more about how uncertainty is impacting her district.Then, Martha Barnette — co-host of “A Way with Words” — joins us to talk about her new book “Friends with Words,” where she explores word origins and her own love of language.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Texas House Democrats fled the state in a bid to block a new congressional district map. The proposed redistricting would create five new Republican-leaning seats in the House. Texas Newsroom's Lauren McGaughy tells us more. Then, on Friday, President Trump fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, after the July jobs report showed job growth had stagnated. We speak with former BLS Commissioner under Trump's first term, William Beach, who believes the move undermines credibility in the government's economic statistics. And, the first several seasons of "The Simpsons" revolutionized primetime TV, blazed a trail for animated comedy. Alan Siegel talks about his new book, "Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television — and America — Forever."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

AI is fueling the stock market, sending the value of tech companies like Nvidia and Microsoft into the stratosphere. This week, Microsoft's market valuation surged past $4 trillion. That's nearly the GDP of India. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast "Full Disclosure," explains Microsoft's role in the competition. And, Nvidia — which makes microchips for AI — recently hit the same valuation milestone of $4 trillion. Chris Miller, author of the book "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology," explains why Nvidia is gaining so much traction so fast and what it says about the value of chips.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Commerce Department reported on Wednesday that the U.S. economy grew at a 3% annual rate last quarter. That growth is smaller than it was last year. The Financial Times' Rana Foroohar joins us to put things in perspective. Then, former pardon attorney Liz Oyer explains why she thinks it would be "unprecedented" for President Trump to pardon convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell for her crimes, as Trump continues to downplay his one-time friendship with her accomplice Jeffrey Epstein. And, conventional wisdom says a one-page resume is the best bet for job seekers, but that may no longer be the case thanks to AI. Wall Street Journal columnist Callum Borchers explains.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A recent executive order from President Trump calls for sending some mentally ill or addicted homeless people to involuntary treatment, known as civil commitment. Los Angeles homelessness expert John Maceri explains more. And, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling for Trump to address the hunger crisis in Gaza. Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent with Politico, unpacks how the U.S. attitude toward Israel's war in Gaza is shifting. Then, after Harvard University freshman Sarah Silverman's mezuzah went missing from her dorm doorway, the police investigated the incident as a "bias crime," and Trump cited it as a civil rights law violation. Silverman joins us to explain why she thinks Trump's crackdown on Harvard and other universities does not curb antisemitism.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration is trying to overturn the EPA's endangerment finding, which determined that greenhouse gas emissions can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Lisa Heinzerling, former senior climate policy counsel to the EPA administrator, joins us to discuss what this could mean for the U.S. government's efforts to fight climate change. Then, some of the homes still standing after fires tore through Southern California earlier this year are too toxic to live in. We speak with two Altadena homeowners about their experiences. And, the semicolon has been described as a "graceful pause" in writing. But this graceful punctuation mark is being forgotten. The Washington Post's Mark Lasswell talks about what the semicolon is for and what it means that it's fading away.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump announced a new trade deal with the European Union that places a 15% tariff on most exports to the U.S. Bloomberg's Lionel Laurent explains why the EU backed down from a looming trade war. And, humanitarian organizations warn of an impending famine in Gaza if the situation on the ground continues, with little aid allowed into the region by Israel. Alex de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University, breaks down what it would take for a famine to be declared. Then, President Trump has received a significant amount of support from Evangelical Christians. But not all Christians are on board with Trump's policies. Pastor Derwin Gray of the Transformation Church describes how he's working to lead his church through political division.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Steve Oney, author of "On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR," joins us to explain the ups and downs NPR has faced since the early 1970s and what recent federal funding cuts mean for the network.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Vlodomyr Zelenskky appears to have backtracked on an anti-corruption law he approved earlier this week after protesters accused him of stripping anti-corruption agencies of their independence. The Washington Post's Siobhan O'Grady tells us more. Then, Columbia University has reached a deal with the Trump administration. In return for a $200 million payment and other changes Columbia agreed to make, the government will restore $400 million in research funding it canceled in March. The Chronicle of Higher Education's Francie Diep joins us to explain what the deal means for colleges and universities across the country. And, music therapy can benefit patients with stress, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease. Nicole Altimier, a music therapist with Cincinnati Children's Hospital, joins us to discuss how music therapy works.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A new investigation from ProPublica sheds light on some of the Venezuelan men President Trump sent to an infamous prison in El Salvador. Melissa Sanchez, a member of the team that reported on the prison, explains why the men are now being set free. And, the Associated Press' Eric Tucker shares the latest on the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. House Speaker Mike Johnson this week abruptly sent lawmakers home as they pressed for a vote on a measure that would compel the Trump administration to release details about the investigation into Epstein. Then, NASA's Parker Solar Probe passed into the outer atmosphere of the sun and took incredible images of the sun's corona. Nour Rawafi, astrophysicist and Parker Solar Probe project scientist, explains what scientists can learn from the probe.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

CBS is canceling "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Parent company Paramount is in the middle of a multibillion-dollar merger with the studio Skydance. The deal needs approval from the Trump administration, and Colbert has been a harsh critic of the president. CNN's Brian Stelter joins us why CBS canceled the show. Then, historian Julian Zelizer says there was a time when voter unrest could move Congress. He recalls the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of the 1980s, which passed with bipartisan support. But when voters revolted, Congress repealed the law. And, President Trump has signaled frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he pushes for a regional cease-fire. Michael Koplow, chief policy officer at the Israel Policy Forum, tells us more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As the Trump administration moves to dismantle the Department of Education, parents, students and teachers are wondering what it all means for them. Chalkbeat's Erica Meltzer explains how layoffs and funding changes could affect the new school year. And, with a median wage of $14 per hour, child care workers struggle to make ends meet as the cost of basics outpaces inflation. Here & Now's Ashley Locke discusses new data with researcher Ashley Anglin, with the group United for ALICE. She also talks with child care business owner Jocelyn Tomaszewski about how she's able to make ends meet. Then, 100 years ago, teacher John Scopes was convicted and fined $100 for violating a Tennessee law that banned the teaching of evolution because it contradicted the Bible. Professors Alexander Gouzoules and Harold Gouzoules join us to talk about their new book, "The Hundred Years' Trial."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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Tony Hawk's "Pro Skater" video games helped define the skateboarding world. Now, with "Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4," the franchise is getting an update. Hawk joins us to share the evolution of skateboarding over the past two decades and how the games are updated to reflect that.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Senate voted to claw back $1.1 billion that Congress allocated for public broadcasting. That is expected to decimate particularly rural public radio stations. We hear from Scott Smith, general manager for Allegheny Mountain Radio. Then, reporter and author Zeke Faux talks about how Republicans in Congress and the White House want to regulate cryptocurrency, in particular, a form called stablecoin, as the cryptocurrency industry becomes a force in big money donations. And, as pressure builds on President Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein files, Trump is now lashing out at his own supporters who have criticized his handling of the affair. Jared Holt, senior research analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nearly every county in the U.S. experiences flooding, yet few homeowners have flood insurance policies. The Insurance Information Institution's Mark Friedlander explains the market. And, fires in the Grand Canyon have scorched more than 60,000 acres along the North Rim, and dozens of National Park Service facilities burned to the ground. Michel Marizco at KJZZ in Phoenix explains the impact. Then, Sayfollah Musallet, a U.S. citizen from Tampa, Florida, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers while he was visiting family in the West Bank. His father, Kamel Musallet, joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that mass layoffs at the Department of Education can move forward for now. Law professor Kate Shaw joins us to discuss what this means for President Trump's plan to dismantle the department. Then, Florida lawmaker Anna Eskamani talks about her recent visit to 'Alligator Alcatraz,' a controversial detention center in the Everglades holding hundreds of migrants. And, Texas is weighing a controversial plan to draw new congressional maps ahead of next year's midterm elections. Carnegie Mellon University's Jonathan Cervas explains the possible implications.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Attorney General Pam Bondi released a two-page memo stating that convicted sex offender Jefferey Epstein did not have an incriminating "client list." After Epstein's death in 2019, he became the subject of conspiracy theories, bolstered by conservative leaders including Trump himself. CNN's Donie O'Sullivan explains more. And, a U.S. citizen was killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday. The family of Sayfollah Musallet say Israeli settlers beat Musallet to death. NPR's Daniel Estrin shares more. Then, employees are using artificial intelligence tools to streamline their work. That can save a lot of time, but many companies want people to use that time to do more work. Wall Street Journal columnist Callum Borchers explains more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In her novel "Demon Copperhead," author Barbara Kingsolver tells the story of poverty and addiction in contemporary Appalachia. Here & Now's Scott Tong spoke with her back in 2022 when the book came out. Tong caught up with Kingsolver in western Virginia to talk about the power of home, poverty and addiction.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Prominent evangelical Christian thinker Ed Stetzer talks about a legal settlement reached this week between the Internal Revenue Service and the National Religious Broadcasters organization that allows houses of worship and other nonprofits to endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status. Then, Ricky Pruitt of the Kerrville Church of Christ in Texas spoke at a vigil on Wednesday night to remember the more than 120 people who were killed during last week's floods. He shares how the community is helping one another. And, Russia's hours-long assault on Ukraine overnight left at least two people dead. We get the latest from NPR's Joanna Kakissis and hear about Trump's changing policies from NPR's Tom Bowman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Flooding in central Texas turned deadly in a matter of minutes. Erik Nielsen, assistant professor at Texas A&M University, explains how warning systems can make a difference in extreme weather events. And, the Trump administration's new spending bill includes changes to Medicaid that will play out over the next few years. Todd Eppler, the CEO of a rural hospital in Louisiana, explains how they are preparing for possible changes. Then, the debate over whether listening to audiobooks counts as reading draws a lot of hot takes. NPR's "Book of the Day" podcast host Andrew Limbong weighs in.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Katie Wagner, the supply chain director of an Iowa-based computer hardware maker, talks about how her company expects its bottom line to be affected if the U.S. follows through on threats to impose retaliatory tariffs on trading partners starting Aug. 1. Then, we speak with NPR's Anthony Kuhn about what the leaders of Asian nations are saying about the deadline. And, Amazon's Prime Days are running into unease about trade and tariffs. "Full Disclosure" host Roben Farzad talks about how tariffs may affect the sale.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Guadalupe River in Central Texas rose more than two feet in less than an hour, according to state officials. We speak to Rice University professor Avantika Gori about why the storm was so intense and what can be done to better warn people ahead of such intense weather. And, the sweeping domestic policy bill that President Trump signed into law last week ends incentives for wind and solar energy. Reporter Matthew Daly unpacks the future of U.S. energy. Then, government statistics show the number of people taking second jobs is almost as high as it was during the Great Recession. Wall Street Journal columnist Callum Borchers explains why.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Being an American means something different to everyone. We hear from listeners across the U.S. on what patriotism means to them. And, ALS hasn't stopped John Driskell Hopkins from making or performing music. Hopkins — a founding member of the Zac Brown Band — explains why singing is like breathing. Then, this year's Poetry Out Loud winner, Isavel Mendoza, a high school senior from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, shares what he loves about performing and his dreams for the future.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

House Republicans approved President Trump's tax and spending bill. It now heads to Trump's desk. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Republican representing Colorado's 8th District, joins us to explain why he supports it. Then, KFF's Larry Levitt talks about how the bill will result in the biggest rollback in federal support for health coverage ever. And, the Trump administration is withholding $7 billion in funding for schools that was approved by Congress and set to be distributed this week. The Washington Post's Justine McDaniel tells us more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy