Post Reports

Puerto Rican music superstar Bad Bunny is having a phenomenal year. His seventh album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” came out in January and spent weeks at the top of the charts. He sold out a musical residency in Puerto Rico. And now, he's set to headline one of the biggest stages for a musical artist: the Super Bowl halftime show. But that performance has ignited a political firestorm on the right. MAGA influencers are criticizing the choice because Bad Bunny, born Benito Ocasio Martinez Ocasio, sings in Spanish, and because he expressed fears this year that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could pursue fans at his shows. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national politics reporter Sabrina Rodriguez about this right-wing backlash and how it fits into ongoing culture war battles.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Tensions have been escalating in Chicago since the Trump administration began a widespread immigration enforcement operation across the city in early September. Officers have ransacked homes and detained children during raids. Local and state officials have loudly denounced the move and are pushing back against the effort, while residents have banded together to keep neighbors safe. But over the weekend a woman was shot by a Border Patrol agent, and after protests flared the president authorized National Guard troops to go into Illinois.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with reporter and Chicago resident Kim Bellware about what it's felt like to be there and how the city has been responding.Today's show was produced by Sabby Robinson with help from Rennie Svirnovsky. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

It is now Day 2 of peace talks in the region, with delegations from Israel and Hamas meeting in Egypt in an attempt to end the conflict. The peace deal – which was originally proposed by President Trump – would look to end fighting, secure the release of all remaining hostages and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. After two years of deadly assault on the Palestinian enclave, the two sides will also look to negotiate Gaza's security and political future. Today on “Post Reports,” host Colby Itkowitz is joined by Washington Post foreign policy reporter Michael Birnbaum. He discusses who will be at the table for both sides, what the future of Gaza could look like and why these talks look to be developing differently than ones in the past.Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Lucas Trevor and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

A single Q&A session with a large language model can consume more than a half-liter of fresh water to cool servers. Asking ChatGPT one question reportedly consumes 10 times as much electricity as a conventional Google search. And generating an image is equivalent to charging a smartphone.Should we be worried about that?Climate advice columnist Michael J. Coren doesn't think so – or, at least, we shouldn't lose sleep over it. Today on “Post Reports,” he joins host Colby Itkowitz to dispel myths around AI's energy consumption, explain how to use AI chatbots responsibly, and break down our other energy-intensive digital habits. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Ted Muldoon and Reena Flores, and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Marisa Bellack. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

After a two-month trial this summer, Sean “Diddy” Combs was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – but acquitted on sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. Combs's defense attorneys argued he should either get a new trial or be released in under two years, while the prosecution pushed for him to serve over a decade in prison. On Friday, the judge decided that he would spend 50 months in prison. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with style reporter Anne Branigin about Combs's appeal to the judge and how he is already starting his rebrand.Today's show was produced by Sabby Robinson and Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Follow our coverage of the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs on Spotify here.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In a cold muddy pond in Cape Cod, a group of self-proclaimed “old ladies” dives for garbage — and unexpectedly finds joy.This is a story from The Optimist, The Washington Post's section about the best of humanity. If you want more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter. If you love hearing these stories on “Post Reports,” please send us an email at podcasts@washpost.com. You can reach Maggie Penman directly at maggie.penman@washpost.com.Today's show was produced by Maggie Penman. It was edited and mixed by Ted Muldoon. Thank you to Allison Klein. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Democrats are making a gamble that voting against a Republican plan to fund the government will be worth the pain of the current shutdown.New Jersey's senior Democratic senator Cory Booker voted against a similar Republican plan to fund the government back in March. And he's been one of the most visible critics of the second Trump administration in the Senate. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Booker about the stakes of the current government shutdown, how long it could go on, and why he says Democrats must “do something” to try to reduce looming hikes in health care costs or risk further alienating their base.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Josh Carroll, with help from Zoe Cummings. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair.Subscribe to The Washington Post here. Check out Post Reports on YouTube here.

The effects of the government shutdown – which started early Wednesday morning – are already being felt. Some national parks are closed, federal job training is suspended, and large swaths of the federal workforce have been furloughed. One major debate led to the shutdown: a fundamental disagreement over health care policy.Today on Post Reports, national health reporter Paige Winfield Cunningham joins host Elahe Izadi to break down the ins and outs of the health care policy fight that Democrats used to force a government shutdown. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. with help from Lucas Trevor. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Fenit Nirappil.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

During confirmation hearings to become secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned that “highly chemical-intensive processed foods” are “poisoning the American people.” A striking report from the federal government has since found that Americans on average get about half their calories from ultra-processed foods, which have been linked in studies to increased rates of obesity and chronic disease. A central part of the Make America Healthy Again movement's food agenda is going after some common ingredients in packaged foods: seed oils, corn syrup and food dyes. But what kind of dent will these efforts make in America's health? Today, host Elahe Izadi brings in nutrition columnist Anahad O'Connor and national health reporter Rachel Roubein to discuss MAHA's popular food policies, what the science says about the threat of these ingredients and some simple steps we can all take to improve our diets. Read More: Coke confirms cane sugar change. RFK Jr. calls it a MAHA win. Is it?What science says about artificial food dyes amid RFK Jr.'s push to ban themWhich oil do you cook with? The answer can impact your health.Why additives are so common in America's foodWhich breakfast is highest in sugar? Test your knowledge with our quiz.We analyzed dozens of ultra-processed foods. Here are the healthiest options.Today's show was produced by Elana Gordon. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks also to Emily Codik and Fenit Nirappil.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

On Tuesday, the top U.S. generals will meet at Quantico for an audience with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump. Hegseth's order for the gathering comes on the heels of the firing of top military officers. It also lands in the middle of Hegseth's attempts to purge the military of DEI initiatives and programs that he sees as not aligned with the military's core mission of “lethality.” President Trump is expected to address the group. His speech comes after his recent order to send the National Guard into “war ravaged” Portland, Oregon, over the objection of local officials. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe about how The Post broke the story of the generals' meeting, the logistics of gathering so many senior military officials in one place, and the optics of the president and defense secretary speeches to the top brass.Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Cater. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

David Weiner is washing dishes. It's the 21st of the month, which means his D.C. rowhouse is full of people. Some are friends he's known for decades, others are people he's never met. There's a jazz band playing standards downstairs, and the music is floating up through the house. Some of the musicians are professionals, others are amateurs who showed up with an instrument and enough courage — liquid or otherwise — to join in.The price of admission is a $21 suggested donation to cover costs and pay the house band. A bottle of wine or food to share is welcome, too. Weiner always makes salmon and provides a big salad, as well as some snacks. Nearly everything else on the crowded table of food is brought by guests.The monthly party happens rain or shine, whether the 21st falls on a Monday or a Tuesday or a Friday. There was a hiatus during the pandemic, but otherwise it's happened almost every month for 15 years, drawing anywhere from 40 to a hundred people of all ages each time.The question I had for Weiner is: How does he keep this going?You can read more about Wiener's jazz party here.If you're looking for more surprising, delightful stories about the best of humanity, check out The Optimist from The Washington Post. We also have a newsletter: Subscribe to get stories from The Optimist in your inbox every Sunday morning.Today's show was reported and produced by Maggie Penman and Ted Muldoon, who also mixed the show. The Optimist's editor is Allison Klein. If you liked hearing this story on “Post Reports,” send us an email at podcasts@washpost.com. You can email Maggie directly at maggie.penman@washpost.com.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Potential government shutdowns seem to happen every few months. But this time, the stakes feel especially high. Democrats are getting pressure from their base to stand up to President Donald Trump; in exchange for voting with Republicans to keep the federal government funded, Democrats hope to extract money for health care premiums. Meanwhile, White House officials are promising mass firings of federal workers if the government shuts down.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with the Post's White House economic policy correspondent Jacob Bogage and Early Brief newsletter writer Dan Merica about the optics and politics heading into next week's Oct. 1 government funding deadline.Today's show was produced by Josh Carroll and Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. You can watch this podcast episode on YouTube here.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The request for five stars — from airport parking lots, orthopedists or even your local liquor store — seems to be filling our inboxes more and more every single day. But do our reviews and ratings even matter? Host Elahe Izadi chats with feature reporter Ashley Fetters Maloy about review culture, how our feedback can transform businesses big and small, and why our ratings are reshaping our relationship to companies and ourselves. So, if you've read this far, make sure to listen to our show then rate and review it wherever you get your podcasts. Today's show was produced by Thomas Lu with help from Peter Bresnan and Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was mixed by Sean Carter. And edited by Ted Muldoon with help from Maggie Penman. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Check out The Washington Post's Letterboxd here.

As soon as he lost the presidential election in 2020, Donald Trump vowed he would go after his perceived political opponents. Now that he's president again, he's escalated his calls for criminal charges to be brought against some of those people — New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI director James B. Comey, and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California). He claimed that all three were “guilty as hell;” all three have denied wrongdoing. Earlier, a U.S. attorney general resigned under White House pressure after declining to seek indictments against Comey and James. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with reporter Jeremy Roebuck about the orders by the president and what they could mean for the future of law enforcement.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump has made the search for finding a “cure” for autism a centerpiece of his public health agenda. This week he shared major developments in that effort.On Monday, the Trump administration announced that the Food and Drug Administration would be adding a warning label to Tylenol and similar drugs that contain acetaminophen. Trump has suggested a connection between the widely used medication and autism. The president also promoted the drug leucovorin as a potential treatment for autism.The announcement has led to confusion among many people about autism and the safety of Tylenol during pregnancy. Joining “Post Reports” today to sift through this confusion is Washington Post White House reporter Dan Diamond. He and host Elahe Izadi also discuss what led to this announcement, what the Trump administration could do next and who pregnant patients should be turning to for health care. Today's episode was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Lucas Trevor. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Elana Gordon. Thanks to Sabrina Malhi, Akilah Johnson, Ariana Eunjung Cha and Lynh Bui.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

After the abrupt suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last week over comments host Jimmy Kimmel made following the killing of Charlie Kirk, many credited one person for getting Kimmel off the air: Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Hours before the suspension was announced, Carr seemed to threaten FCC action against networks, saying “we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” and advising Disney and other media companies to “find ways to change conduct.” Carr denies playing a direct role in the Kimmel suspension, but critics say Carr has emerged as Trump's top enforcer in the president's war against the media. Host Elahe Izadi talks to media reporter Scott Nover about Carr's background, his role in the Jimmy Kimmel drama and how he may be trying to expand the power of the FCC. Today's show was produced by Peter Bresnan, with help from Elana Gordon. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sam Bair. Special thanks to James Graff. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

It's hard to age gracefully. Social isolation, physical immobility, mental decline — these are all problems that most people struggle with as they get older. But one group of people prove that it's possible to thrive into your 80s and 90s. Researchers call them “super agers.” And one of them lives just down my block.Ednajane Truax, who is known to friends and neighbors as “E.J.,” can often be found on her hands and knees in the dirt, working in the garden at the Sherwood Recreation Center in Northeast Washington. She also has an impressive garden of her own and helps out with other neighbors' gardens. She works out several times a week, sometimes while wearing a shirt that says, “You don't stop lifting when you get old — you get old when you stop lifting.” She can bench press 55 pounds and leg press 250.Truax has never married — “just lucky, I guess,” she jokes when I ask her about that — but she has remained social her entire life. She volunteers, goes to the gym, throws parties, knows her neighbors and their children by name. Truax says her secret to thriving as she ages is simple: Be active.It turns out that research backs her up.If you're looking for more surprising, delightful stories about the best of humanity, check out The Optimist from The Washington Post. We also have a newsletter: Subscribe to get stories from The Optimist in your inbox every Sunday morning.Today's show was produced by Maggie Penman with help from Ted Muldoon, who also mixed the show. The Optimist's editor is Allison Klein. If you liked hearing this story on “Post Reports,” send us an email at podcasts@washpost.com. You can email Maggie directly at maggie.penman@washpost.com.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In the week since Charlie Kirk's death, public officials including Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi have called for Kirk's critics to face consequences. People seen as celebrating his killing online have lost their jobs or faced harassment. That crackdown has extended to media figures, with ABC deciding to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air “indefinitely” over Kirk commentary, shortly after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr called out the show on a conservative podcast. In response, public figures and elected officials on both sides of the aisle have voiced concerns about whether the government is encroaching on the First Amendment. Some conservatives are even quoting Kirk's own words to advocate for the protection of free speech. Host Colby Itkowitz sits down with Washington Post chief political correspondent Karen Tumulty and Dan Merica, co-anchor of The Post's Early Brief politics newsletter, to unpack all the latest developments in the case against Kirk's alleged shooter, the efforts to pursue Kirk's critics and his upcoming memorial service.If you like watching podcasts, you can also find this episode on YouTube.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In fan fiction, nothing is off limits. Writers create stories about popular media like “Twilight,” while others envision romantic relationships between world leaders. Until recently, this type of fiction wasn't taken seriously by the publishing world. But now, major deals are being made — like a reportedly seven-figure movie rights deal paid for a book that began as Harry Potter fan fiction. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with lifestyle reporter and fan fiction reader Rachel Kurzius about what distinguishes fan fiction and why the genre has become so appealing.Today's episode was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Peter Bresnan, and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

FBI Director Kash Patel had a tough week. He'd already been slated to appear before both the House and Senate judiciary committees – hearings at which he was sure to be peppered with questions about his leadership of the FBI, his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, and allegations that the FBI had fired people over their political preferences.But his handling of the FBI investigation into the killing of Charlie Kirk has led even some in the conservative base to question his competence.Today on “Post Reports,” Jeremy Roebuck takes us through how Patel handled himself in the week's congressional hearings – which more than once erupted into shouting matches. And he shares his reporting on how Patel came to be President Donald Trump's pick to head the FBI in the first place. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Thank you to Ted Muldoon and James Martinez. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, the United States economy has been in flux. While high inflation has slowly cooled off in recent years, consumers are still feeling the pressures of a weak job market and rising prices at the grocery store. Now the Federal Reserve looks to be taking matters into its own hands; Fed watchers expect the United States' central bank to cut interest rates tomorrow. A cut could make it easier for consumers and businesses looking to borrow money and purchase goods. President Donald Trump has also been pressuring the Fed to cut rates for months.Washington Post financial writer David J. Lynch joins “Post Reports” to discuss the economic headwinds that the Federal Reserve is attempting to weather by cutting interest rates and how this is connected to Trump's efforts to revitalize American manufacturing. You can find David's new book, “The World's Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (And What Would Make It Right),” here.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff with help from Lucas Trevor. It was mixed by Sam Bair. And edited by Ariel Plotnick. Thanks to Jen Liberto.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump recently celebrated the destruction of a boat that was allegedly carrying illegal narcotics from Venezuela to the United States. The 11 people on board were killed, according to the White House. Trump released a video on social media showing the boat going up in flames, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that more attacks like this could be coming. Members of Congress have yet to gain more details or evidence into the unusual strike, which did not follow typical maritime protocols. The administration has claimed those on board were “narco-terrorists” and members of the criminal group Tren de Aragua, while Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro has called in thousands of reservists over concerns that this could be the opening shot in a broader conflict between the U.S. and Venezuela. These and other developments, including a rebranding of the Department of Defense and a visit by Pete Hegseth to Puerto Rico, have many wondering: Have we entered a new era in the nearly quarter-century war on terror? Today, host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national security reporter Tara Copp about the details of the attack and how Trump is making it a military priority to go after drug cartels. Today's show was produced by Elana Gordon with help from Lucas Trevor. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sean Carter. Special thanks to Andy deGrandpre. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The Eaton Fire tore through the Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, part of a storm that killed 19 people. It became one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, but the ultimate cost won't be tallied in dollars and cents. That will be calculated on a different ledger: the number of residents who return to this block of West Las Flores Drive and the countless others like it.This story follows these residents. The Washington Post has spent months with three families from this Altadena street, the epicenter of the wildfire's destructive path, following their separate journeys as they asked themselves excruciating questions and struggled to imagine their futures in a place they fear will never again feel like home.Reis Thebault, Nick Kirkpatrick, Melina Mara and Alice Li reported the piece. Thebault wrote and narrated it. Bishop Sand composed music and produced audio.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Charlie Kirk's shooting has left both Republicans and Democrats worried about more political violence. How are prominent leaders in both parties responding to the tragedy?

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday at Utah Valley University. As officials seek details on the identity and motive of the shooter, Americans are beginning to process Kirk's death and what this might mean for a new era of political violence and fear in the United States. In a video posted online on Wednesday night, President Donald Trump blamed the killing, without evidence, on “radical left political violence.” On today's episode, host Colby Itkowitz speaks with democracy reporter Yvonne WIngett Sanchez, who has covered Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA, for years. They delve into this difficult moment and Kirk's lasting legacy as the fiery leader of a powerful conservative youth movement. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy and Elana Gordon, with help from Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and Reena Flores, with help from Renita Jablonski and Elahe Izadi. It was mixed by Sean Carter. Special thanks to Noah Bierman. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In Arlington, Texas, thousands waited in line at a career fair in the hopes of getting hired as an ICE officer. Criminal justice reporter Robert Klemko was there and met a diverse mix of people – a former MMA fighter, a community college student and a former Marine.President Donald Trump has pushed to deport a million people during the first year of his second term. To do this big immigration crackdown, ICE is expanding its recruiting efforts and incentivizing people to join through large signing bonuses and a pitch to “defend the homeland.”Host Elahe Izadi speaks with Robert about what he heard from those who signed up and what the potential risks of ramping up hiring and training efforts.Today's show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Since taking over as health and human services secretary earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired members of a key vaccine panel, signaled shifts to the childhood immunization schedule and changed guidelines about who should receive the coronavirus vaccine. Now there are questions about which pharmacies will offer shots and whether insurance companies will cover the cost.“Post Reports” host Elahe Izadi is joined by Lena Sun, a national health reporter for The Washington Post, to wade through the confusion and answer listener questions about vaccines this fall. They discuss how to find a covid shot, when might be the best time to receive your flu vaccine, and how Kennedy and the Trump administration could continue to reshape vaccine guidance and public health in the United States. Today's episode was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Lucas Trevor. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Elana Gordon with help from Reena Flores. Thanks to Fenit Nirappil.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Montgomery County is a small, rural area in the middle of North Carolina. The county has struggled financially for years, and its school district depends on government grants to survive. This year, the Trump administration cut $600 million in grants to teacher-training programs across the country, and Montgomery County's $21 million grant was included. The Trump administration says the grants were cut because they were used to train teachers and agencies on diversity, equity and inclusion practices.Host Elahe Izadi speaks with national reporter Ben Brasch about his reporting on Montgomery County's schools. He shares why some parents and teachers are frustrated by the Trump administration's seemingly indiscriminate cuts, and why the elimination of the county's grant affects the school district's ability to retain and train quality teachers.Today's show was produced by Thomas Lu. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick with help from Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The songwriter was unconscious, but his voice filled the operating room. Mike Frazier's dirty-blond locks had been partially shaved and his head sanitized. The surgeon standing over him slid his blade in a crescent over Frazier's right ear and tugged his scalp into position. Then he began opening a window into the musician's brain.The task that day was to reach and remove the cause of the grievous pain that had besieged and mystified Frazier for years. After almost a decade as a folk-rock singer with a rollicking vibe and a knack for storytelling, piercing stomach pain had stymied his songwriting and drawn him into a dangerous depression before he turned 30.This story explores Frazier's condition, diagnosis and recovery through the songs he would write about the experience. Michael Laris reported, wrote and narrated the piece. Bishop Sand composed music and produced audio.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Congress has less than a month to figure out how to fund the government. But instead of that pressing business, calls for greater government transparency over allegations against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein dominated Capitol Hill this week. On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 documents related to the investigation, most of which are already publicly available.. But other lawmakers say this effort doesn't go far enough. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Ro Khanna (D-California) continued to push a competing effort that could force the Justice Department to release more files. Host Colby Itkowitz sits down with Post congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor and senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid to discuss this news as well as the looming government funding deadline and how Democrats are thinking about flipping the House in the 2026 midterms. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The sparks flew in Thursday's Senate Finance Committee hearing. Senators – Republicans and Democrats alike – grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his handling of vaccines and the shakeup at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy, for his part, doubled down on his ouster of CDC director Susan Monarez, claiming she was not “trustworthy.” He insisted that Americans would still be able to access coronavirus vaccines, despite his overhauling of a key vaccine panel. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with health reporter David Ovalle about the fireworks at Kennedy's hearing before the Senate. Plus, they discuss what's happening with diverging school vaccine policies in red and blue states. Today's show was produced by Elana Gordon with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Character.AI became one of the world's most popular artificial intelligence apps by letting tens of millions of users, many in their teens, text and talk to chatbot versions of celebrities and fictional characters. But conversation with these seemingly friendly chatbots can easily veer into topics unsafe for minors.Host Colby Itkowitz talks to tech culture reporter Nitasha Tiku about this new world of AI chatbots, and why parents and advocates are raising concerns. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In March, as part of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, the United States sent more than 250 migrants, the majority being Venezuelan nationals, to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, a megaprison often referred to by its Spanish acronym, CECOT. In July, four months later, the men from Venezuela were released to Venezuela as part of an international prisoner swap. U.S. officials acknowledged in court that many of those sent to CECOT had no criminal record. The Washington Post interviewed 16 of the men, providing the fullest account yet of the treatment and conditions inside CECOT. That includes Roger Molina, a food delivery driver and aspiring soccer player who had been conditionally accepted into a State Department resettlement program for refugees.Today, Samantha Schmidt, The Post's Bogotá bureau chief, shares Molina's story and what she and her colleagues learned about the difficult conditions inside CECOT, a secretive prison where inmates are denied access to lawyers and almost all contact with the outside world. Today's show was produced by Elana Gordon. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks also to Helena Carpio, Christine Armario, Maria Paul and Teo Armus. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Labubus — small plush toys that look like mischievous monsters — have taken the world by storm. Chinese toymaker and retailer Pop Mart has sold millions of dollars' worth of Labubus. There's even a booming resale market, on top of a thriving operation of counterfeits called Lafufus.Host Elahe Izadi speaks with reporter Kelly Kasulis Cho about how Labubus became the latest trend, and why these little toys have become a symbol of China's developing economic strategy.Today's show was produced by Thomas Lu. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Susan Monarez says she refused to restrict access to vaccines as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It wasn't long until Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided she needed to go. Monarez's firing led to the resignations of some of the CDC's top scientists. It comes on the heels of President Donald Trump's attempted firing of Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor. Now, Trump's efforts to clamp down on traditionally independent agency officials could have major consequences for the nation's economy and public health.Today on the weekly “Post Reports” politics roundtable, Colby Itkowitz sits down with White House reporter Dan Diamond and political reporter Dan Merica to discuss how the Trump administration's recent moves will be felt by most Americans. Today's show was produced by Arjun Singh and mixed by Rennie Svirnovsky. It was edited by Laura Benshoff. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce announced their engagement Tuesday. Fans mobilized, groups chats lit up, and social media posts of Swifties celebrating went viral. “Post Reports” host Elahe Izadi speaks with pop culture reporter Emily Yahr about this announcement, why it was an unusual move for Swift, and what it could mean for Swift's music career and business. Plus, we hear from personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary on whether a pre-nup is worth it. Today's show was produced by Thomas Lu. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

On Wednesday morning, students from Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis were in church for an all-school Mass when a shooter opened fire through the church windows. An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old from the private K-8 school were killed, and the shooter died after shooting himself. More than a dozen people were injured, and several remain in critical condition. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) addressed reporters in a moving news conference about the shooting: “Don't just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church. These are kids that should be learning with their friends. They should be playing on the playground. They should be able to go to school or church in peace, without the fear or risk of violence. And their parents should have the same kind of assurance.”Reporter Kim Bellware joins host Elahe Izadi to walk through what The Post has learned about the suspect and about how the tragic event fits into the nation's history of gun violence. Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff, Rennie Svirnovskiy and Thomas Lu. It was mixed by Sam Bair and edited by Reena Flores and Ariel Plotnick. Thanks to Reis Thebault,. Hannah Knowles, Colby Itkowitz, Elliot Smilowitz and Gina Harkins. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Late last week, President Donald Trump announced the federal government will now own 10 percent of the chipmaker Intel. The move is just one in a pattern of unprecedented deals the Trump administration has struck with tech companies, reshaping the relationship between the federal government and big business. Host Elahe Izadi talks with technology reporter Gerrit De Vynck about how the Intel deal happened, how it compares with past government bailouts and why some free-market conservatives are concerned that the deal signifies government overreach.Today's show was produced by Arjun Singh with help from Lucas Trevor. It was mixed by Sam Bair. And edited by Ariel Plotnick. Thanks to Tom Simonite.Subscribe to The Washington Post here and take advantage of our Labor Day sale for a limited time.

The Defense Department is outlining plans to send troops to Chicago as soon as September. These plans have been in the works for weeks – long before Trump's declaration Friday that “it won't even be tough” to send troops to the third-largest city in the U.S. Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe uncovered the details of these military plans, which are part of Trump's broader crackdown on American cities. Dan speaks with host Colby Itkowitz about what a troop deployment in Chicago could look like, what legal arguments the administration is making and what we can learn from the military's presence in Los Angeles and D.C. Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff, with help from Thomas Lu. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Reena Flores. Thanks to National Security Editor Andy deGrandpre.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Christopher Kinnison, 46, worked at his own one-man law firm in the central Louisiana city of Alexandria, putting him within a two-hour drive of the state's nine ICE facilities, the highest number of any state other than Texas. Most of his clients were detainees, and his business cards promised “Fervent Representation for Uncertain Times,” because he knew how quickly immigration policy could change with every new administration. But nothing had prepared him for the change that began when President Donald Trump took office in January.Arrests were up in every part of the country compared with the year before. There were reports of people being detained by ICE at courthouses, farms, car washes, a meat production plant in Nebraska, an Italian restaurant in San Diego and outside a church in Oregon, sending the number of people in immigration detention to more than 56,000, well over the budgeted capacity of 41,500.One in every 8 of those detainees ended up in rural Louisiana, becoming some of the most hidden-away people in America. Every week, more calls came into the law office in Alexandria, and now it was half a year into Trump's presidency, and Kinnison hadn't been able to slow down long enough to process what his days at work were becoming.This story follows Kinnison in Louisiana as he counseled clients and triaged their immigration cases in this new reality. Ruby Cramer reported, wrote and narrated the piece. Bishop Sand composed music and produced audio.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

This week, President Donald Trump claimed he's ended six — or maybe even seven — wars. But his efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine, three years after Russia's invasion, appear stalled.Guest host Cleve Wootson speaks with White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski and White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about the latest in the negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, and they fact-check Trump's peacemaking record. Plus, how Trump talks about the success of his federal takeover of the D.C. police force, and why the FBI is searching properties related to the former Trump national security adviser John Bolton.Today's show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

With a vote of 88 ayes and 52 nays, the Texas House passed a controversial new election map on Wednesday night. If approved in the state Senate, the redrawn lines would create five new congressional districts that lean heavily red.The Texas House vote comes a few weeks after Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to stall the GOP effort. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threatened the lawmakers with lawsuits and arrests.So, they returned with a plan. Guest host Ava Wallace talks with politics reporter Maeve Reston about how Texas Republicans were able to gain this advantage – and how blue states are responding with redistricting plans of their own. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks to Thomas Lu, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, and Noah Bierman. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.