Here & Now

As Russia and Ukraine enter their fifth year of war, we check in with NPR's Joanna Kakissis for a snapshot of the key developments throughout these past four years and what the future of the war looks like. Then, Toma Istomina, deputy chief editor of The Kyiv Independent, joins us to discuss where the war in Ukraine goes from here as the country marks four years since Russia's full-scale invasion. And we hear from Dmytro Vezelov, who joined us four years ago when the Russian invasion began. Since then, he's gone from a desk job to coordinating drones to fight Russian invaders.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In cities across the country, the Department of Homeland Security is buying up huge warehouses, some that can house more than 8,000 people each. Rudy Cruz Jr., the mayor of Socorro, Texas, explains how a warehouse purchase in his community would impact local residents.Then, President Trump imposed 15% tariffs this weekend after the Supreme Court on Friday struck down his sweeping global import fees. NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben breaks down how he was able to do it.And, Mexico's army killed the leader of one of the country's fastest-growing drug cartels. NPR international correspondent Eyder Peralta details the Trump administration's praise for Mexico's government in the aftermath.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Althea Gibson was a pioneer in women's sports. She broke the color barrier in tennis and golf, winning at the U.S. Open, French Open and Wimbledon in the late '50s. Smithsonian curator Eric Jentsch talks about her legacy through the lens of one of her outfits and tennis rackets. And, nearly 30 years ago, Muhammad Ali held a torch and lit a cauldron to kick off the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Damion Thomas, curator of sports for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, talks about why that moment was so emotional at the time and why it still resonates today.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

U.K. authorities on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of "misconduct in public office." Police had previously said they were investigating whether the former prince sent confidential trade documents to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Liz Stein, a survivor of Epstein's abuse and an anti-trafficking advocate, joins us.Then, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg appeared in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday to defend his company against a lawsuit that alleges social media harms children. LA Times reporter Sonja Sharp breaks down the trial so far.And, GLP-1 medications could help treat alcohol and drug addiction, experts say. Addiction specialist Dr. Mark S. Gold explains how medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are prompting "a reconceptualization of addiction itself."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nearly 1,000 people in South Carolina have been infected in a measles outbreak that started in a largely unvaccinated community in October. Dr. Martha Edwards, president of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, explains how this outbreak has spread so quickly.And, social justice groups are remembering the Rev. Jesse Jackson. We look at how his civil rights leadership led to some of the activism we see today with Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Rev. Jesse Jackson had a long career fighting for racial justice, from founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition to running for president twice. He died on Tuesday at age 84. Bishop William Barber II, who knew Jackson, shares a remembrance.Then, Dorris Wright is one of the original Greenville Eight. She worked with Jackson to desegregate the Greenville, S.C., public library in 1960, and details her time with him.And, Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall died Sunday at the age of 95. We revisit his 2021 conversation with Here & Now's Robin Young about his long career in film.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On Presidents' Day, chef and author Bennett Rea teaches us how to eat like a president, from former President Barack Obama's crustless coconut pie to former President Richard Nixon's ham mousse.And, the line between politician and celebrity can be fuzzy. Purdue University's Kathryn Brownell explains the implications of presidents gaining celebrity status.Then, the U.S. is reportedly preparing for the possibility of sustained military operations against Iran. Security analyst Jim Walsh breaks down what would be necessary to de-escalate mounting tensions.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Marriage rates in the U.S. are falling, but relationship coach Allison Raskin doesn't necessarily see that as a bad thing. She and her husband, John Blakeslee, explain how millennials are approaching modern marriage differently.Then, our resident chef has some ideas for what to give your sweetie, even if you have no interest in exchanging vows. Kathy Gunst shares her recipes for chocolate chip cookies, pudding pie and chocolate Bundt cake.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Border czar Tom Homan said the Trump administration's controversial months-long immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota that led to the deaths of two American citizens and widespread outrage across the country will conclude. Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bakst explains what the drawdown might look like.Then, the Trump administration has locked up hundreds of children in its mass deportation campaign in conditions their parents describe as cold, crowded and unsanitary. ProPublica reporter Mica Rosenberg received letters and videos from dozens of detainees — half of them kids — at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas, and shares more.And, this week, the airspace over El Paso, Texas, shut down briefly. Was a party balloon sighting the cause? And did border officials shoot it down with a Pentagon-supplied laser without first coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration? The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe breaks down what happened.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, D.C., to weigh in on President Trump's negotiations with Iran. Jake Sullivan, former President Joe Biden's national security advisor, explains more.Then, the Environmental Protection Agency is rescinding a scientific finding that allows the federal government to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Science and sustainability professor Michael Mann details what this means for the fight against climate change.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Department of Justice unredacted some names in the released Epstein files after some Congress members accused the DOJ of protecting convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's alleged co-conspirators. Spencer Kuvin, an attorney representing several Epstein survivors, talks about why he thinks the DOJ has engaged in a "misguided approach" to reviewing the files. Then, in Haiti, a presidential council that was meant to promote stability and move the country towards elections has ended, and the country is still plagued by violence, instability and hunger. The Miami Herald's Jacqueline Charles joins us. And, we hear from Andrew Athias, a content creator from Philadelphia who is sharing his experience about performing as dancing grass during Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On Monday, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's convicted co-conspirator, invoked her Fifth Amendment rights during a virtual deposition before the House Oversight Committee. Investigative journalist Vicky Ward talks about what that means and explains how the release of files related to the Epstein investigation threatens to take down UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.And, pro-democracy advocate and former media mogul Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison after he was convicted in a Hong Kong court last year on charges of endangering national security and conspiracy to publish seditious articles. His daughter Claire Lai joins us.Then, Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show took viewers on a musical tour of Puerto Rico. Alana Casanova-Burgess of the podcast “La Brega” dissects his performance.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Smithsonian Institution is restoring a gunboat that sank in a 1776 Revolutionary War battle. As part of a series with the Smithsonian Institution presenting 25 objects that tell the story of America, Jennifer Jones, a curator at the National Museum of American History, talks about the story of the vessel, its recovery and its restoration. Then, Young People's Records was a popular mail-order subscription club in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. Smithsonian Folkways director and curator Maureen Loughran talks about why the music became such a hit, how the record club works and why it's important for telling the story of America.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New Mexico's Department of Justice says Meta has knowingly allowed the social media platforms Instagram and Facebook to become the "largest online marketplace for predators seeking to exploit children." NM Attorney General Raúl Torrez tells us about the "shocking" evidence he says his office has uncovered as opening arguments in the state's lawsuit against Meta begin next week. Then, the last remaining nuclear arms deal between U.S. and Russia expired today. Here & Now security analyst Jim Walsh explains what comes next. And, UNICEF spokesperson Jonathan Crickx is on his sixth mission to Gaza. He talks about the state of the ceasefire, the impact of recent heavy rains in the area, and the effort to bring children back to schools and learning centers.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Representatives from the U.S., Ukraine and Russia met in Abu Dhabi for a second round of peace talks as Russia continues to bomb Ukraine. The Financial Times' Christopher Miller of the Financial Times talks about the latest developments from Kyiv. Then, a judge blocked the Trump Administration from ending Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. Rose-Thamar Joseph, co-founder of the nonprofit Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio, joins us. And, seven fishermen aboard their vessel called the Lily Jean are presumed dead after it sank in the Atlantic Ocean last Friday. WBUR's Anthony Brooks reports on how it's hitting the Gloucester community, the anchor of the country's oldest fishing port.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Department of Justice released 3.5 million documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. Liz Stein, a survivor of Epstein's abuse, said she and other survivors will not stop fighting for the other 3 million files to be made public.Then, the FBI seized records from the 2020 election from an election center in Georgia this week. And the Justice Department is also creating a database of voter information and trying to make it easier for states to reject mail-in ballots. Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows talks about election integrity ahead of 2026.And, a number of people, including journalists, have been arrested in connection with a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, last month. Reporter Georgia Fort is one of them. She shares more about her experience.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland Security official John Sandweg talks about what it means if the DHS remains shut down in a dispute over reforming tactics used by ICE agents. Then, ICE agents have an array of surveillance technologies at their fingertips, including facial recognition software, cellphone tracking devices and drones. WIRED reporter Caroline Haskins reports that the agency has been utilizing these tools in its immigration crackdown. She joins us. And, evidence shows that singing is not just a natural and enjoyable human activity, but it also has real health benefits. It can lower blood pressure, improve oxygen flow, and lower stress. We hear from lecturer in dance Elinor Harrison.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On Jan. 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff. All seven crew members on board were killed. The disaster was one of the most significant events in NASA history, watched live by millions of people around the world. It grounded all space shuttle missions for almost three years. Adam Higginbotham, author of the book "Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space," talks about what happened, the lives lost, and what NASA learned from the disaster. Then, Christa McAuliffe, a 37-year-old high school teacher from New Hampshire, was one of those crew members. She was set to become the first teacher in space. NHPR's Patrick McNameeKing discusses McAuliffe's life and legacy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In one suburban school district outside Minneapolis, at least four students have been picked up by federal immigration agents over the last few weeks. Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik talks about the mood in her district. Then, White House border czar Tom Homan says he will "draw down" the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota if state officials cooperate with the Trump administration on their immigration crackdown. Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bakst explains how Homan's message is being received in Minnesota. And, the Brennan Center's Lauren-Brooke Eisen discusses how a huge increase in ICE spending in the past year is fueling what she calls the "detention-industrial complex" for migrants arrested in the United States.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alex Pretti was legally carrying a gun when a federal agent shot and killed him in Minneapolis last weekend. President Trump and other federal officials blamed his death on the fact that he had a gun, but Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus chair Bryan Strawser explains why he disagrees.And, after leading immigration operations in Minneapolis, Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino has returned to his previous job in California. CalMatters investigative reporter Sergio Olmos talks about Bovino's record in California.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sergio Amezcua is a pastor from Minnesota who voted for President Trump in 2024. He's now speaking out against the Trump administration's immigration policies. We speak with him about how his congregation is responding to ICE in the Twin Cities. Then, Legal Rights Center community defense attorney Anna Hall shares the advice she and her group give to people monitoring federal agents conducting immigration raids in Minneapolis. And, the killing of two people at the hands of federal officials has Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer thinking back to May 4, 1970, when National Guard troops opened fire and killed four students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University in Ohio. He joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump said on Monday that border czar Tom Homan will head to Minnesota following the shooting death of Alex Pretti over the weekend by a federal immigration agent. Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bakst shares more.Then, the budget for ICE is part of a package of spending bills that must pass in the Senate on Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) explains why she's urging lawmakers to vote no on ICE funding.And, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C., traveled to Minneapolis last week with other faith leaders. She shares why she's speaking out against the surge of immigration agents in Minneapolis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

As part of a series with the Smithsonian Institution presenting 25 objects that tell the story of America, Daniel Piazza, chief curator of philately at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, talks about the significance of the first stamps issued by the federal government. Plus, few people know the real story of "The Star-Spangled Banner," or that the massive flag that inspired it still exists. Jennifer Jones, a curator of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, shares the history of the banner.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former special counsel Jack Smith said in front of the House Judiciary Committee that, if the Justice Department was able to investigate President Trump's push to overturn the 2020 election results, a jury would have found him guilty. Politico's Kyle Cheney shares more from Smith's testimony.Then, Kaohly Her, mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, explains what she's seeing in her city as brutal Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations continue. Her has been subpoenaed by the Justice Department.And, Russian officials have been responding cheerfully to the growing rift between the U.S. and its NATO allies in Europe. The American Enterprise Institute's Angela Stent details how Trump's push to control Greenland affects Russia's geopolitical strategy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In a highly awaited speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump said he's seeking immediate negotiations for the ownership of Greenland. Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, joins us to discuss Trump's speech.Then, the Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday in a case about President Trump's efforts to fire Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. We speak with Mark Chenoweth, president of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, and Ty Cobb, former special counsel to Trump in his first administration.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

President Trump is escalating his pressure campaign to acquire Greenland from Denmark and threatening more tariffs against Europe. Liana Fix from the Council on Foreign Relations explains how European nations are responding.Then, the Department of Homeland Security claims to have arrested 3,000 criminal migrants in Minnesota over the last six weeks. But, as Minnesota Public Radio's Matt Sepic reports, that number is misleading, and U.S. citizens are getting caught up in immigration operations too.And, Tuesday marks one year of Trump's second term. Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer says Trump has expanded presidential power to advance his agenda, something Republicans have been trying to do for decades, despite claims of favoring a limited federal government.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey discusses ongoing unrest in Minnesota following a surge of immigration enforcement, a killing by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and protests. Then, removing MLK Day as a national holiday altogether would require an act of Congress, but some conservatives are calling for that. Journalist Andrew Lawrence joins us to discuss how Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is being degraded and what that means for how we understand the history of race and racism in the U.S. And, President Trump is inviting world leaders to join his 'Board of Peace' to rehabilitate Gaza. The Guardian's Julian Borger explains how this entity might work.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Texas A&M University adopted a rule last November banning the teaching of “race and gender ideology,” which includes Plato's 2,400-year-old “Symposium.” Professor Martin Peterson explains how he thinks the move will hurt his philosophy students.Then, Bob Weir, a founding member of and guitarist for the Grateful Dead, died this month. Music journalist Alan Paul unpacks Weir's rhythm guitar playing style and how it defined rock & roll music.And, in California, three people have died, and dozens more are sick after eating death cap mushrooms. Interim health officer for Sonoma County, Dr. Michael Stacey, explains more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week the Oglala Sioux Tribe said tribal members were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after raids in Minnesota. AP's Graham Lee Brewer tells us more.Then, President Trump is threatening to send the military to Minneapolis after another tense night there. Habon Abdulle, the executive director of the nonprofit Ayada Leads in Minneapolis, explains the toll on the Somali community there. And, Wyoming lawmakers are proposing sweeping budget cuts to the state's health care system, economic development council, and only four-year public university, even though the state has a budget surplus. WyoFile reporter Maggie Mullen talks about why lawmakers are proposing these cuts and what they would mean for residents.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Justice Department pushed federal prosecutors in Minnesota to investigate the widow of Renee Macklin Good rather than the immigration agent who killed her. Georgetown Law professor Mary McCord explains the pressure campaign and the subsequent resignation of six prosecutors.And, historian Julian Zelizer said videos “once provided a powerful counterweight to official narratives.” But in the age of misinformation, the role of video has been eroded. He unpacks the role of video footage in Macklin Good's killing in Minneapolis and the aftermath.Then, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Grist's Jake Bittle details this dramatic move against global climate action.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

After an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis last week, there's widespread outrage over the use of force by federal immigration officers across the country. That includes chokeholds, even though that tactic was banned in most cases after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. ProPublica's Nicole Foy tells us more. Then, Phil Gunson, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, gives an update from Caracas on the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration is threatening criminal charges against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Powell said it's part of a pressure campaign from the administration to lower interest rates. Economist Jason Furman explains more.And, in Iran, more than 500 people have been killed during anti-government protests since they started in late December, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Alireza Nader, former researcher at RAND and the U.S. Treasury, joins us.Then, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have unveiled a plan to offer free child care for 2-year-olds. Citizens Unions' Grace Rauh details what this could mean for families.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Golden Globes are this weekend, and the hit movie KPop Demon Hunters is up for three awards, including one for best original song. The movie has become a global sensation for Netflix in part because of its catchy soundtrack. Ian Eisendrath is the man behind the music. As executive music producer of the film, he worked from the story's conception to make the music stand out and tell a story. Eisendrath talks about working with top K-pop performers and producers to create the film's history-making, chart topping soundtrack. And, America's Test Kitchen's senior book editor Joe Gitter shares his advice and tips for how to make and experience excellent mocktails for Dry January.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the agent acted in self-defense, but witnesses and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey dispute that claim. Minnesota Public Radio's Matt Sepic shares more details.And, Minnesota State Sen. Scott Dibble's district is next to where Good was killed. He details what he's seen in the aftermath of the shooting, including the investigation into the killing and community vigils for Good.Then, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is set to shut down in May. It's the oldest continuously-running newspaper in the United States. Andrew Conte from the Center for Media Innovation explains the impact.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Venezuelan investigative journalist Roberto Deniz discusses concerns that forces loyal to the new regime in Venezuela are cracking down against critics of the U.S. ouster of President Nicolás Maduro. Then, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that President Trump wants to buy Greenland, not invade it, according to the New York Times. Security analyst Jim Walsh looks at the administration's goals. And, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's ouster came as a surprise to most, a better on the Polymarket cryptocurrency platform made $400,000 in profits in a series of wagers, the last coming just hours before the U.S. operation began. The bets are raising red flags among market watchers who say the winner likely relied on insider information. NPR's Bobby Allyn explains.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Police officer Brian Sicknick died after being assaulted while defending the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. His brother, Craig Sicknick, explains his anger and frustration over false narratives about that day and President Trump's sweeping pardons of people charged or convicted of participating in the attack.And, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire is one of the lawmakers demanding more information about U.S. operations in Venezuela. She lays out the questions she still has about the removal of President Nicolás Maduro.Then, Douglas Farah, president of IBI Consultants, breaks down what could happen in Venezuela following Maduro's arrest, and NPR's Joe Hernandez details what we know about the criminal prosecution of Maduro at a New York City court.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

When President Trump spoke about Venezuela's future on Saturday, after the U.S. military action and arrest of its president, Nicolás Maduro, he said that the country's decimated oil infrastructure will be rebuilt and start making money again. Rice University's Francisco Monaldi talks about the major challenges of rebuilding the Venezuelan oil industry and how it will require many years and tens of billions of dollars. Then, Adelys Ferro, an immigration activist in Doral, Florida, the American city with the most Venezuelans, talks about how her community is feeling after Maduro's capture. And, Texas Tech University Law School's Geoffrey Corn talks about the legal issues surrounding Maduro's capture.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Protests in Iran have stretched on for six days, sparked by rising prices and the collapse of the country's currency, the rial. Johns Hopkins University professor Vali Nasr joins us.And, Israel will soon ban more than three dozen aid organizations operating in Gaza. The American Friends Service Committee is one of those groups. AFSC's Kerri Kennedy explains why she thinks complying with Israel's demands would put workers at risk.Then, a group that tracks conflicts around the world says in a new report that "high levels of conflict are the new normal." Clionadh Raleigh details what her organization's report found.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New laws are taking effect across the country on Jan. 1. In Hawai'i, there is now a new tax on tourists that will fund efforts to fight climate change. And in Utah, a new law took effect that restricts some people with drunk driving convictions from purchasing alcohol. The Associated Press' David Lieb breaks down some trends in state laws.And, Zohran Mamdani is now officially the mayor of New York City. He took the oath of office shortly after midnight on Jan. 1. Vox host Astead Herndon interviewed Mamdani days before his inauguration, and joins us to talk about Mamdani's policies and how he may influence the Democratic Party.Then, piano bar pianist Jesse Rifkin explains what popularly requested songs say about the state of our politics.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire as the new year begins, and some states are trying to take action. In Georgia, Democrats are pushing for the state to cover the subsidies, but many Republicans there are opposed. Georgia Democratic State Representative Sam Park and Georgia Republican State Senator Ben Watson join us to discuss the state of the debate.And, counting down the last few seconds before the clock strikes midnight is a New Year's Eve tradition. But did you know it's a modern phenomenon? Historian Alexis McCrossen explains how it came to be.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The new hit science fiction show “Pluribus” takes place in a world where a hive mind links everyone's thoughts and actions in the name of collective good. Karolina Wydra plays Zosia and joins us to talk about the show's popularity and what it says about society.Then, writer-director-producer Rian Johnson and his cousin, composer Nathan Johnson, talk about merging mystery and faith in their newest addition to the “Knives Out” franchise: “Wake Up Dead Man.”Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Next year, the Supreme Court is expected to issue consequential rulings on President Trump's most controversial policies, including his ability to issue tariffs without congressional approval and fire a member of the Federal Reserve. Law professor Barbara McQuade explains more.Then, the Trump administration is suing 21 states and Washington, D.C., to hand over detailed voter data, citing efforts to ensure election security. Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt details the implications.And, we catalogue NPR staff recommendations from their annual “Books We Love” list, which, this year, contains mainly fiction picks.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy