Here & Now

Route 66, known as “America's Main Street” is not the longest or most-travelled American highway. Fully paved in the 1930s, it became a Depression-era migration route for poor farming families fleeing the Dust Bowl for a new start in California. It's been featured in popular media for decades. Kathleen Franz, lead curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, unpacks more of the road's history.And, the 1973 album “A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle of Asians in America” was one of the first recognized musical albums expressing Asian American identity. It's often considered a blend of political statements within a collective art project. Sojin Kim, curator of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, details the album's legacy.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Congressional lawmakers are trying to pass a bill to address a shortage of affordable. The would limit the number of rental homes large investors can own and make it easier to build and buy homes made in factories. The Wall Street Journal's Rebecca Picciotto explains more.Then, CNN reports that President Trump's Department of Justice is investigating whether E. Jean Carroll committed perjury in her two civil lawsuits against the president, one alleging sexual abuse and another for defamation. Carroll was awarded millions in damages, but Trump is appealing those judgements. CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz shares more from the reporting.And, Trump's family has their own cryptocurrency startup and also ties to prediction markets. Investigative reporter Sharon LaFraniere from the New York Times gives more details on reporting showing that the Trump administration dialed back enforcement of those industries.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is at the center of the Trump administration. He's helping to lead negotiations over the war in Iran, the pressure campaign on Cuba's communist regime, and U.S. efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. It wasn't always this way. Journalist and author Manuel Roig-Franzia breaks down how Rubio went from Trump critic to his chief booster, and whether it's all in service of a potential presidential run in 2028.And, in a sharp and rare rebuke of President Trump, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell slammed the administration's $1.776 billion so-called 'anti-weaponization' fund, calling it "utterly stupid" and "morally wrong." Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer explains McConnell's reaction and why it should be viewed through the lens of McConnell's decision not to convict Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration put out new rules last Friday that require people to apply for green cards from abroad instead of from inside the U.S., which has been custom for immigrants seeking permanent residency status. Immigration attorney Richard Herman explains what he's hearing from his clients and what remains unclear.Then, protests continue outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in New Jersey as detainees inside stage a hunger strike over poor conditions. Bergen Record reporter Ricardo Kaulessar shares more.And, a new report from the Brookings Institution found about 145,000 children have been separated from their families during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Author Tara Watson details the impact of separation on those families.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

A pair of red, satin, sky-high heels that Celia Cruz, or the “queen of salsa” wore on stage is part of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Ranald Woodaman, exhibitions and public programs director at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, shares more about the exhibit and Cruz's lasting legacy.And, throughout the early 20th century, East Coast musicians developed a finger-picking, ragtime-style called the Piedmont blues. Singer and guitarist John Cephas and harmonica player Phil Wiggins were modern ambassadors of the genre. Smithsonian Folkways director Maureen Loughran details their influence in American music.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

When farmer Bryant Parker noticed solar farms popping up in his area, he spotted an opportunity. Now, Parker brings his flock of sheep to several solar farms to chow down on grass. Here & Now's Chris Bentley reports from central Illinois about the practice called agrivoltaics, or the combination of solar power and farming, where both industries benefit.And, as a historic drought desiccates the West, artificial intelligence has proved beneficial for detecting wildfires long before humans can. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd visits facilities in Arizona, Colorado and California to report on the effectiveness and the potential risks of using AI cameras and satellite footage to track wildfires.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump's administration has created a nearly $1.8 billion fund designed to pay out people who say the government unfairly investigated or prosecuted them, including people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Two police officers who defended the Capitol that day are suing, calling the fund a way for Trump to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence” in his name. Brendan Ballou, who is representing the officers, explains more.Then, the U.S. continues to put pressure on Cuba, indicting former president Raúl Castro and sending an aircraft carrier to the southern Caribbean. Associated Press reporter Cristiana Mesquita shares the reactions she's hearing from Cubans.And, on May 22, 1856, tensions over slavery boiled over on the Senate floor when a slave-owning representative from South Carolina used a cane to beat Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, an outspoken opponent of slavery. David Freudberg talks about his new radio documentary which explains how Sumner was “ahead of his time.”See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

A last-minute addendum to a Department of Justice deal with President Trump says the Internal Revenue Service is “forever barred” from auditing Trump, his family members and his businesses. The deal also created a $1.8 billion fund to pay out Trump allies who say they were unfairly investigated. Law professor Mary McCord explains the implications.Then, Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, lost his primary on Tuesday. The president on Tuesday also endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn ahead of Texas Senate runoff elections. Republican pollster Whit Ayres discusses Trump's power over his party.And, the Trump administration is using the Pentagon and concerns about national security to stall wind energy projects across the nation. David Carroll, CEO of ENGIE North America, details the state of the wind energy industry.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration announced a new Justice Department fund of more than $1.7 billion to compensate people it says were harmed by “weaponization” under the Biden administration. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter talks about the legal and ethical questions surrounding the move. Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are getting quicker at finding people to arrest, thanks to tools provided by the tech company Palantir. Investigative journalist Joseph Cox tells us more. And, giant utility rivals NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy are planning to merge. Why now, and what could this mean for your energy costs? We learn more from Roben Farzad, host of the podcast Full Disclosure.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The World Health Organization has declared an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to be a global health emergency. We hear from Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician with experience in Ebola outbreak response. And, on Saturday, one prominent critic of President Trump, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, lost his primary, and on Tuesday, another Republican Trump critic, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, will see if he can survive Trump's wrath in what's being called the most expensive primary race in the country. ABC News Washington bureau chief Rick Klein talks about expectations for primaries in six states tomorrow, and the prospects for Republicans who criticize President Trump and want to win re-election. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. The Midnight Rebellion is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It is fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family.You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight Rebellion. Each chapter ends with a choice. YOU decide what's next. Choose wisely.If you like what you heard, listen to the rest and follow The Midnight Rebellion wherever you get your podcasts.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Host Scott Tong checks in with us from Beijing, China, where he's been reporting from all week. Then, Melinda Liu moved to Beijing in 1980. Scott talks with her in a historic neighborhood about the ways China has transformed since the 1980s and the rural poverty that remains despite the modern leaps forward. And, Tong never met his grandfather, who was a political prisoner and died in a labor camp. It was seen as a shameful chapter in his family's history and was never talked about, but 70 years later, Scott tells the story.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Thursday's meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded with a banquet. Seated at tables in the ballroom were more than a dozen CEOs, among them SpaceX's Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. It was also attended by Trump's son Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, and his wife, Fox News host Lara Trump. The Financial Times' Joe Miller tells us more.Then, during the summit, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have focused on trade, security, and stability.NPR China correspondent Jennifer Pak in Beijing shares the latest from the summit. And, Scott Tong reports from China on a podcast called StoryFM, modeled after This American Life. He speaks with Kou Aizhe, the show's creator, about being inspired by American podcasts and how he's able to get Chinese people to tell frank, honest stories that might be embarrassing or shameful, in a culture that is conformist where private things stay private.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

While artificial intelligence can be helpful for synthesizing complicated information, financial analysts urge consumers to avoid sharing personal financial information with chatbots. Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary outlines the risks.And, amid an unpopular war in Iran and states pushing to redraw congressional maps, midterm elections are approaching. Republican analyst Charlie Dent and Democratic analyst Jamal Simmons weigh in on what it's going to take for their party's candidates to win.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that consumer prices increased by 3.8% in April compared to a year ago. That's the fastest pace of price increases in around three years. Wailin Wong, host of the Indicator from NPR's Planet Money, joins us. Then, the subject of Taiwan is one of the main priorities for Beijing in the upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. How will Trump approach the topic of Taiwan? We hear from Eyck Freymann, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford and the author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China."See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Host Scott Tong is reporting from China this week as President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a high-profile summit in Beijing. He joins us from Shanghai to share his first impressions of the country since the last time he was there.Then, the summit is set for later this week. Senior research fellow Yu Jie from Chatham House explains the power dynamic going into the meeting.And, Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on Saturday. It was scaled back compared to previous years, with the country's military might displayed not in person but on giant TV screens, out of fear of a possible attack from Ukraine. Nina Khrushcheva, New School professor and great-granddaughter of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, details Russian President Vladimir Putin's hold on power.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Virginia Supreme Court has thrown out a voter-approved redistricting referendum that could have helped Democrats pick up several U.S. House seats this fall. NPR's Larry Kaplow explains more about the fight over congressional maps ahead of midterm elections.And, Alabama is one of many states moving forward with redistricting after the Supreme Court's decision last week dealt a blow to the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, joins us.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Ten years ago, Iroro Tanshi found something incredible in a cave in Nigeria: a colony of short-tailed roundleaf bats, a species that hadn't been seen there in almost 50 years. We learn how her discovery helped kickstart a conservation movement in West Africa to protect rare species of bats from threats like poaching and wildfires. Then, North America has lost billions of birds since 1970, but some species are actually bucking this concerning trend and returning to places where humans hadn't seen them in decades. Ornithologist Scott Weidensaul shares some global success stories of bird recovery. And, Mark Kurlansky has been fishing for as long as he can remember, and writing about it almost as long. He tells us about his essay collection on why people fish. (Hint: It's not for sustenance.)See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary wants to build a huge data center north of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The project was greenlit, but still needs to obtain water usage rights as lake water supply is nearing a new low. KUER reporter Macy Lipkin shares more.Then, New Orleans may have crossed a “point of no return,” according to new analysis. Report co-author Jesse Keenan explains how rising seas, sinking land and stronger storms could point to a catastrophic environmental future.And, ahead of the year's biggest day for birders, host Robin Young visits the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to learn how the lab is helping birds as they face new challenges.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Ohio and Indiana voters offered an early glimpse at the political mood heading into the midterms. NPR's Stephen Fowler joins us to talk about the results. Then, the Trump administration says it is investigating Smith College, the women's school in Massachusetts, over its policy of admitting transgender students. The 19th's LGBTQ+ beat reporter Kate Sosin tells us more. And, Melanie Turner, a special education teacher in Oakland, Calif., shares how a nonprofit is helping her pay for housing closer to work amid an affordability crisis.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Food and Drug Administration says it is offering an “ultra-fast review” of two psychedelic drugs intended to treat serious mental health disorders. This follows a White House executive order directing the FDA to speed up research on psychedelics, which right now are illegal under federal law. Dr. Gail Saltz talks about the latest news surrounding psychedelics. Then, what happens when we open our eyes? Is consciousness something that can be pinpointed and studied? These are the questions science author Michael Pollan explores in his new book. He talks about "A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness."See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

On Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily restored mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone. It puts aside a lower court ruling in Louisiana on Friday that ended national telemedicine access to the pill. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, an OB-GYN based in New Orleans, explains what this means for nationwide abortion access.And, after talks for a government bailout fell through, Spirit Airlines shut down on Saturday morning. CNBC's Leslie Josephs details the ramifications for Spirit's customers, employees and equipment.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

A new exhibit called “Water's Edge” at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian showcases work by late artist Truman Lowe of the Ho-Chunk nation. Exhibit curator Rebecca Trautmann details how a sculpture titled “Feather Canoe” represents Lowe's work and what his artistic style contributes to the story of America.And, how did you check the weather this morning? Back in the late 1800s and 1900s, people traveled to their local post office to see the forecast in a Farmers' Bulletin. Smithsonian National Postal Museum curator Lynn Heidelbaugh explains how the Farmers' Bulletin system first developed and why it was so critical for a growing nation.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The average price of gas in the U.S. hit a wartime high of $4.30 on Thursday, according to AAA. Bloomberg's Michael Regan breaks down the latest numbers. And, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent global energy prices skyrocketing and led to oil and gas shortages in parts of the world. Economic historian, author and S&P Global vice chairman Daniel Yergin says the Hormuz oil shock will lead to a new global balance of power. He joins us.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court axed a 2024 voting map from Louisiana that created a new majority-Black congressional district, calling the district an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” Law professor Spencer Overton explains what the ruling could mean for Black political power.Then, former FBI director James Comey surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday on charges he threatened President Trump's life when he posted an image of seashells on the beach spelling out “86 47.” Former federal prosecutor Paul Butler shares more about the merits of the indictment.And, House Democrats grilled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the war on Iran, President Trump's behavior and the ongoing Straight of Hormuz closure. The Washington Post's Tara Copp explains more.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

A man has been charged with trying to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. But threats against public officials are rising across parties. Political violence researcher Jacob Ware explains the deeper forces shaping modern violence.Then, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a new plan this week to redraw the state's congressional map to give Republicans four extra seats. Tampa Bay Times reporter Romy Ellenbogen shares what this would mean for voters.And, a CNN investigation exposed a vast underground network of virtual Telegram group chats teaching men how to drug and rape their wives and partners. CNN Paris correspondent Saskya Vandoorne was part of the investigative team and shares more details from the report.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

On Saturday night, a gunman gained access to the ballroom where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held and President Trump and top administration officials were present. MSNOW reporter Carol Leonnig explains whether there were holes in event security that night.Then, the Supreme Court is hearing a case about Monsanto's powerful weedkiller, Roundup, which has lost lawsuits from people who say the product's ingredients caused their cancer. John Wesley Boyd Jr. from the National Black Farmers Association and Ben Riensche from Crop Life America weigh in from different sides of the issue.And, lawmakers are divided on extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before it expires Thursday. Former intelligence analyst Javed Ali explains the provision, which allows intelligence agents to surveil terrorism suspects abroad without warrants, even though some information about Americans is captured in the process.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The rise of violence against Jews around the world has made armed security guards a common sight at synagogues. Rabbi Andy Green of Congregation Or Tzion in Scottsdale, Ariz., reflects.And, a recent analysis has found a sharp spike in anti-Muslim content online after the United States and Israel started a war with Iran. Bigotry and misinformation about Muslims has been promoted by senior Trump administration officials and members of Congress. Imam Omar Suleiman, Islamic scholar and president of Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research in Texas, talks about fighting back against Islamophobia.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

About 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf as the U.S. and Iran remain in a standoff over the control of the Strait of Hormuz. John Canias of the International Transport Workers' Federation explains the conditions these workers are facing.And, a revolutionary new drug could prolong and improve the quality of life for those suffering from pancreatic cancer. STAT News reporter Angus Chen shares more about the breakthrough.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Voters in Virginia narrowly gave the thumbs up to new congressional maps that could allow Democrats to pick up four seats in the House after President Trump aggressively pushed red states to redistrict to help Republicans. Semafor reporter David Weigel tells us more. Then, a wave of political controversies is back in the headlines, but not all scandals land the same way. Political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus talks about how politicians survive controversy. And, the Women's Suffrage National Monument will be the first standalone monument on the National Mall dedicated to American women's history. Patricia Taft, an ambassador for the Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation and great-granddaughter of former President William Howard Taft, explains how you can be a part of it.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh is arguing the Federal Reserve should stay independent on interest rates and step back from roles that go beyond its core mission. Marketplace's Kimberly Adams details the heightened political pressure on the central bank and what Warsh's hearing has entailed.Then, Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role in September, and John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take his place. Technology writer and podcaster Kara Swisher explains more.And, a newly discovered fossil from 250 million years ago offers proof that our mammal ancestors laid eggs. Paleobiologist Caroline Abbott shares more about the discovery.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Oil prices were up again on Monday after Iran once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for President Trump's decision to extend a blockade of Iranian ships. Foreign affairs columnist Ishaan Tharoor says Trump's current headache echoes one of history's most revealing strategic failures. He joins us. Then, the federal government just launched a portal where small businesses can apply for refunds from tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down earlier this year. Emily Ley, the owner of a small stationery business, talks about what the refund process may be like for her.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has a new exhibit tracing the rise, near extinction and recovery of the bison. Museum director Kirk Johnson talks about a prehistoric skull at the centerpiece of the story and why it's important for American history. And, NASA's Artemis II mission made history this month by sending four astronauts farther from Earth than any other humans have been before. But moments like this echo the earliest days of American spaceflight in 1962, when John Glenn orbited the planet three times in a cramped capsule called the Mercury Friendship 7. Mike Neufeld, curator emeritus at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, discusses the history and modern significance of the Friendship 7See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Amid a shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, six Americans detained in Iran are in danger, advocates say. Former U.S. hostage envoy Roger Carstens explains what it will take to bring them home.Then, stock traders are remaining optimistic about a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. The S&P 500 hit a record high this week. MS NOW's Ali Velshi offers an analysis of the market.And, living costs are rising across the board, and saving for retirement or emergencies is becoming increasingly hard for many Americans. Labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards details what the government could do to create a nation of savers.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Rumors about former Rep. Eric Swalwell's behavior had been reportedly circulating for years. We talk with former Rep. Jackie Speier about the rumors and what Congress can do to better police its members. Speier was involved in 2018 in rewriting the way Congress handles sexual misconduct accusations. Politico's Melanie Mason explains how a group of social media influencers brought attention to the sexual harassment and assault they say Swalwell committed. Then, the Pentagon is sending more troops to the Middle East, and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues, in an attempt to pressure Iran into making a deal to end the war. Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe shares the latest. And, Dr. Kathleen May explains why the allergy season may have you sneezing a bit longer this yearSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

In an extensive New Yorker investigation, Ronan Farrow looks into OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and whether one of the most influential AI minds can be trusted.Then, tech billionaires are trying to create autonomous communities, fueled by cryptocurrency and free from governmental oversight. They've set their sights on the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevi. Professor and author Douglas Rushkoff breaks down the implications.And, Anthropic's new large language model, Claude Mythos, is said to be a skilled hacker with the ability to reshape cybersecurity. Axios correspondent Ina Fried explains more.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump has put in place a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. and Iran failed to strike a deal to end the war. We speak with former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who served as lead negotiator on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under former President Barack Obama, about what comes next. And then we talk with Pakistani Sen. Sherry Rehman about how negotiations played out in Islamabad.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

iPods were all the rage 20 years ago, but Apple discontinued them in 2022. Now, Claire Hughes collects and refurbishes old iPods as a hobby, then shares the playlists she finds on them as time capsules of joy. She tells us about how she's connecting with strangers through her project Junk Drawer Jukebox. And, friction-maxxing is the idea of putting aside our phones and the convenience they bring in exchange for doing things the way we did before technology entered our lives. New York Magazine columnist Kathryn Jezer-Morton shares more about the new term she coined.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The U.S.'s ceasefire with Iran is on shaky ground after Israel launched its deadliest day of strikes on Lebanon so far. Tehran and Islamabad say the strikes violate the two-week agreement. Israel said Thursday it has agreed to talks with Lebanon. The Washington Institute's Holly Dagres explains more ahead of a U.S. delegation's scheduled visit to Pakistan on Saturday.Then, since Israel began its invasion of Lebanon last month, more than 1 million people have been forced out of their homes. As Israeli airstrikes continue, the southern region of Lebanon is becoming increasingly isolated and unable to access humanitarian aid. Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss has more on the deepening humanitarian crisis.And, MS Now's Ali Velshi details what the ceasefire means for markets, gas prices and the economy at large.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump is celebrating the two-week ceasefire that the U.S. and Iran agreed to on Tuesday night. The deal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, but will the U.S. end up walking away without getting much from Iran? Security analyst Jim Walsh discusses the deal. Then, as negotiations continue, we hear from Radin Yad, who was born in Iran and now lives in Europe. And, the Center on Conscience and War says it's seeing a rise in calls from U.S. military members facing deployment who are seeking to be discharged or reassigned as conscientious objectors. We get more context about the process with Iraq War veteran Mike Prysner, the nonprofit's executive director. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is heading back to Earth after completing a loop around the moon. Jacob Bleacher, NASA's chief exploration scientist, shares more details of the historic lunar flyby.Then, with the crew expected to return on Friday, former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman reacts to new pictures of the moon and explains how Artemis II could influence the future of space missions.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown talks about what's next in the unfinished release of Justice Department files about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, now that Pam Bondi has been forced out as attorney general. Then, Ret. Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery says, "We're not going to get regime change; we need a change in how the regime acts." He talks about Iran's persistent military capabilities, the dramatic rescue of a downed U.S. weapons systems officer and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's firing of U.S. Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George. And, Jessie Diggins is America's most accomplished cross-country skier. She discusses her career, retirement, and her struggles with an eating disorder.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy