The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Four years of leftist rule have not rid Chile of social inequalities, but worries about a crime wave blamed on immigrants appear to give a right-wing presidential candidate an edge in Sunday's election. Also: today's stories, including how Syria is facing new tension with Israel, how Boston's struggling subway system got back on track, and how one Monitor writer learned the power of kindness through helping a stranger buy bread. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

As the COP30 climate conference gathers in Brazil, Beijing and Washington have taken opposing positions on climate change. Donald Trump calls it a “con.” Xi Jinping has invested billions this year on green tech. Whose view will prove more prescient? Also: today's stories, including how one digital initiative in Kashmir expands nomadic children's sense of their own possibilities; how a female soccer coach has become an unlikely savior for boys caught up in gang violence in the Nigerian city of Kano; and our Monitor film critic's review of Richard Linklater's “Nouvelle Vague.” Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

With the U.S. government shutdown drawing to a close, the next steps come into view: Turning the federal government back on after six weeks may not be easy. Or instantaneous. The shutdown was felt across the country, from airport delays to missed paychecks from America's largest employer. And politically, Washington may find itself more divided than before the shutdown. Also: today's stories, including how Ukrainians are staying motivated after more than 3.5 years of war with Russia; how California is reconsidering its oil reserves and policies; and how scholars at Howard University are fighting to preserve Black newspapers. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

With the U.S. government shutdown drawing to a close, the next steps come into view: Turning the federal government back on after six weeks may not be easy. Or instantaneous. The shutdown was felt across the country, from airport delays to missed paychecks from America's largest employer. And politically, Washington may find itself more divided than before the shutdown. Also: today's stories, including how Ukrainians are staying motivated after more than 3.5 years of war with Russia; how California is reconsidering its oil reserves and policies; and how scholars at Howard University are fighting to preserve Black newspapers. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

After eight senators crossed the aisle to break the shutdown impasse, the House is poised to vote Wednesday to reopen the federal government. Also: today's stories, including why many experts remain skeptical of the Trump administration's killings of alleged “narcoterrorists”; a look at protests in the Philippines over the government's alleged misuse of money meant for flood-control efforts; and how an increase of Bible sales in the U.S. are leaving many faith leaders and communities hopeful for a religious revival. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

As South Africa gets ready to host the first Group of 20 gathering on African soil, it is struggling to reclaim the world-inspiring ideals of its post-apartheid founding. In this essay, a longtime resident observer in Johannesburg traces what went wrong. Also: today's stories, including how Hamas is drawing closer to rival Palestinian factions; how U.S. football is becoming big overseas; and how the Insurrection Act, meant to stifle rebellions, gives the president greater leeway but comes with restrictions, and its use could draw lawsuits. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

Some Republicans might grow wary of creating pickup opportunities that make some GOP seats slightly less safe; others might feel more motivated now to redraw lines. Democrats could feel emboldened to push for redistricting in states beyond California, or perhaps conclude they can win without it. Also: today's stories, including why the Monitor visited Michigan to gauge the economic climate 9 months into the Trump Administration, how President Trump's conduct of foreign policy echoes ancient Athens' behavior, and why Head Start is important to rural communities. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Some Republicans might grow wary of creating pickup opportunities that make some GOP seats slightly less safe; others might feel more motivated now to redraw lines. Democrats could feel emboldened to push for redistricting in states beyond California, or perhaps conclude they can win without it. Also: today's stories, including why the Monitor visited Michigan to gauge the economic climate 9 months into the Trump Administration, how President Trump's conduct of foreign policy echoes ancient Athens' behavior, and why Head Start is important to rural communities. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

How will Democrats' success in U.S. elections this week affect the politics of the government shutdown? Tuesday's results have set off alarm bells for President Donald Trump and could strengthen Democrats' resolve in seeking leverage, even as both parties seek an off-ramp from the weekslong shutdown. Also: today's stories, including how federal subsidies in the Affordable Care Act have changed and their effects, what the fall of El Fasher in western Sudan means to the ongoing civil war, and how one Monitor writer learns to cook authentic handmade noodles, deep in rural China.

Independent journalism is under grave threat in the Sahel region of Africa. In Mali, one community radio station shows the lengths to which local reporters go in order to keep their communities informed. Also: today's stories, including how new curriculum in Ukraine prepares students for war; a look at U.S. programs designed to educate teachers on the “science of reading”; and whether local control could help preserve Gullah heritage on one South Carolina island. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

After lower courts struck down the legal argument for the Trump administration's most sweeping tariffs, the Supreme Court now takes up the matter. The case is important not only for the economic policy of the United States, but for the Constitution's separation of powers. Also: today's stories, including how one biologist in Libya plans to protect critically endangered Mediterranean angel sharks, how 2025 election results in the U.S. will be closely watched for signs of growing or waning political support for Republicans and Democrats, and how Israelis are grappling with the notion of trusting an international force to preserve the fragile Gaza ceasefire. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Workarounds have shielded most Americans from the government shutdown's effects, but program interruptions might soon test public patience and political will. Also: today's stories, including how consent laws in France have now changed, how one Colorado Christian remains grounded in her church community amidst a trend of women leaving churches, and why activists and diplomats are talking reform on climate conferences like COP. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Beijing and Washington have been locked in a costly trade war for six months. In South Korea on Thursday, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping called a truce and pledged to work more closely together in the future. Also: today's stories, including how building more units could help Califonia's affordability gap in housing, how the Trump administration's pursuit of a "new economic Monroe Doctrine" is raising suspicions in Argentina, and why the World Series holds extra meaning for Toronto and Canada. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

A rising U.S. military presence near Venezuela has stirred questions around whether the goal is a drug crackdown or regime change. An effort to oust the regime of Nicolás Maduro would carry risks – with or without U.S. troops on the ground. Also: today's stories, including a look at how and why food benefits are ending for millions in the U.S.; how residents of a Black Chicago neighborhood are reacting to a recent federal immigration enforcement campaign; and how South Korea utilizes K-pop as a form of soft power. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

A trade war with Canada might be less visible to Americans than one with China. But it has big impacts on both sides of the border, felt by U.S. households as prices for materials from metals to lumber jump. Also: today's stories, including how Russia may require graduates to do national service in exchange for student loans, how analysts say Tehran is trying to change the narrative about its regional posture by painting Israel as the real threat, how one teen in Nigeria's most populous city is determined to prove that even in the most crowded corners, children can have fun. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

A dozen states are drawing new congressional district maps, or thinking about it, as Republicans and Democrats maneuver for control of the U.S. House after the 2026 midterm elections. The efforts could diminish the importance of individual voters. Also: today's stories, including how the populist campaign of Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor has energized the growing number of democratic socialists across the U.S., how two side-by-side restaurants in Detroit have been embroiled in a (mostly) friendly hot dog rivalry, and how Syria's new school year, the first since the fall of the Assad regime, has a revised look at history and increased emphasis on religion. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

This episode of the Daily is a little different. Listen as Monitor editor Christa Case Bryant and Middle East correspondent Taylor Luck discuss  the importance of fairness in news coverage, the Monitor approach to journalism, and covering the Middle East with nuance and objectivity. They also take a look behind-the-scenes of Taylor's reporting process.

Argentina votes Sunday in midterm legislative elections that serve as a report card for President Javier Milei's economic policies. He tamed inflation, but now the economy is stalled, many are worse off, and corruption has emerged as an issue. Also: today's stories, including why the daylight robbery of jewelry from the Louvre has shocked Paris, a look at how one woman affected by the LA wildfires is shaping her future, and how the new movie “Springsteen,” portrays a more subdued Bruce. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

U.S. sanctions on Russia's largest oil companies place new pressure on President Vladimir Putin. But, evidenced by President Donald Trump's frequently shifting positions, it's still unclear where he will land on how to end the war in Ukraine. Also: today's stories, including why one U.S. Representative-Elect has yet to be sworn in after a month, why youth voter apathy in Ivory Coast isn't a rejection of democracy, and our review of film director Richard Linklater's poignant portrait of legendary lyricist Larry Hart. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The world's second-largest economy, China, is deciding its economic strategy for the next five years, a decision with high global stakes. Also: today's stories, including how a ceasefire could help Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban lessen the tension; a look at the challenges facing those seeking to reestablish democracy in Venezuela; and commentary on how the murders of civil rights activists have been lost in the current conversation about the Voting Rights Act at the Supreme Court. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

When President Donald Trump hiked the cost of H-1B visas, Indian professionals looked to be the hardest hit. But with the West shunning immigrants, India may also be the beneficiary of the new pool of job seekers. Also: today's stories, including how Pittsburgh wants to be a hub for artificial intelligence that makes a difference in peoples' daily lives, how one solution to chronic absenteeism in schools is gaining traction, and whether boycotts of Israeli academic and artistic institutions further the cause of peace. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Democrats and Republicans are at odds nationally, as the continued government shutdown shows. But in Three Rivers, Michigan, local leaders are setting aside differences for the common goal of real problem-solving. Also: today's stories, including how one scientist is turning marshes around in India, how the docuseries “Mr. Scorsese” probes the innermost thoughts of the Oscar-winning filmmaker, and how market changes and a shifting world order in the last 20 years may be why gold is gaining new ground. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

The volume of U.S. military hardware headed to Puerto Rico suggests an escalation of the Trump administration's military campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The president says land strikes might follow. Also: today's stories, including a look at the state of Indigenous rights in Bolivia; how some French voters still have faith in government despite turmoil; and a review of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's latest movie, “It Was Just an Accident.” Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

As the Justice Department moves to indict people President Donald Trump says have done him wrong, the weaponization of the legal system is pushing the country into uncharted waters. Also: today's stories, including how Donald Trump is trying to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine after his success with a Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal, whether Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan holds the key to peace in the Middle East, and one author's look at how supporters of expanded rights in the U.S have shifted their fight to the courts. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a case asking whether using race as a factor in congressional maps violates the Constitution. If the justices decide it is, the decision could open the door for Republican politicians to redraw maps to eliminate a number of Black and Hispanic districts. Also: today's stories, including whether tungsten mining in Yukon might prove influential in mending the U.S.-Canada relations; how an Altadena family navigates the red tape that is hampering recovery after California's Eaton fire; and how volunteers are reconnecting communities along the Blue Ridge Parkway after mudslides from Hurricane Helene. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

With harvest under way, China's response to President Trump's tariffs has frozen America's soybean farmers out of the huge Chinese market. A soybean deal could lead to a broader agreement on trade. Also: today's stories, including how Estonian women are aiding in their country's defense through volunteer reservist forces, how U.S. immigration enforcement has affected the agriculture industry, and what's at stake in Tanzania's election as authoritarianism rises in East Africa. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

The organization Shakespeare Behind Bars has helped violent offenders rediscover their humanity. In this story, two murderers come to “be wise hereafter / And seek for grace.” Also: today's stories, including how China's new climate pledge marks a modest step forward for one of the most populous countries in the world, whether Europe can retain its welfare systems in the face of competing demands, and how author Susan Orlean's approach to writing involves remaining a perpetual beginner, rather than becoming an expert. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

As Israel and Hamas finalize the first phase of President Donald Trump's Gaza plan, many in the region are focused on what can go wrong after two years of war. Even so, joy is enveloping many Israelis and Palestinians eager for emotional and physical relief. Also: today's stories, including how airport delays have resurfaced this week because of air traffic controller shortages, why students are saying “no” to AI for school work, and why poet laureate Arthur Sze hopes you'll take time to read a poem today. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

California has spent decades trying to extinguish fires. But residents here are embracing the long-held Indigenous practice of coming together to intentionally burn land – to reduce the power of wildfires, help the ecosystem, and to transform fear into healing. Also: today's stories, including how US President Donald Trump is pushing the US as an investor in for-profit companies; how China's new climate pledge marks a modest step forward; and how Ukrainian drones are slowing down Russia's advance in the east. Join the Monitor's Stephanie Hanes for today's news.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland, Oregon, is an epicenter of protests and the legal battle over President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard. At the building, the Monitor finds both law enforcement and protesters grappling with security issues and free speech rights. Also: today's stories, including how one Seoul soup kitchen has been a reliable source of community for more than three decades, how Palestinians are reacting to a new proposed peace deal, and a look at several cases on LGBTQ+ rights that the Supreme Court will hear in its new term. Join the Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news.

On the second anniversary of the massacre that ignited the war in Gaza, Dina Kraft, the Monitor's correspondent in Israel, reflects on how Oct. 7 has exhausted Israelis and changed the society around her, which is experiencing anger, doubts, and concern over internal dissent. Also: today's stories, including how heated rhetoric is escalating the Trump administration's efforts to bend both the judicial branch and blue states to its will, Nigeria's reason for using solar power, and how a new generation of students Tuskegee University rise to the standard of their predecessors. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

Federal workers who have experienced previous government shutdowns say the uncertainty is always stressful. But this one already feels worse, multiple federal employees tell the Monitor, coming after months of interagency upheaval and layoffs from the Trump administration. Many feel uneasy about not only the immediate standoff – but what will happen when it ends. Also: today's stories, including how insurgency has threatened a centuries-old perfume-making tradition in northern Nigeria, how young people have created a wave of social and political protests, and how one family discovers connection through books. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

High-ranking women say they are watching the gains they spent their careers building being erased. Despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's speech on Tuesday, they are determined to keep serving their country. Also: today's stories, including why health care is at the center of the government shutdown, how tough times have led Joseph Arthur to see songwriting as a spiritual practice, and how parallels might be drawn between peace talks in Northern Ireland 30 years ago and the Middle East today. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

High-ranking women say they are watching the gains they spent their careers building being erased. Despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's speech on Tuesday, they are determined to keep serving their country. Also: today's stories, including why health care is at the center of the government shutdown, how tough times have led Joseph Arthur to see songwriting as a spiritual practice, and how parallels might be drawn between peace talks in Northern Ireland 30 years ago and the Middle East today. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

Portland, Oregon, is the latest city where President Donald Trump is activating National Guard troops for novel use in a fight against crime and illegal immigration. Our reporter takes a big-picture look at how the U.S. government has directed the National Guard this year. Also: today's stories, including how Ukrainians are fleeing Russia's scorched-earth tactics on the front lines; a look at the trade offs in Colombian President Gustavo Petro's energy agenda; and how a Haitian businessman is working to build social bridges toward peace in his home country. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

Two recent mass-shooting suspects are decorated U.S. combat veterans. The events renew concerns about how America cares for veterans – including in regard to mental health care and meaningful social connections. Also: today's stories, including why India is investing in its ports, how self-determination remains a major concern for Gazans as “day after” plans are made for Gaza without their input, and how activists in Liberia are working to successfully end female genital mutilation. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had accepted a U.S. plan for Gaza. But prospects for ending the war lean on Arab and Muslim states to deliver Hamas' agreement to disarm. And a U.S. and Israeli threat hangs heavily. Also: today's stories, including how Gen Z women are turning away from motherhood; how a raid by U.S. immigration agents on a Hyundai factory in Georgia amplified South Korean frustration with its American ally; and how tax credits for electric vehicle purchases in the U.S. are changing under the Trump administration. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

The indictment of former FBI director James Comey, which President Donald Trump demanded on social media, comes amid threats of more prosecutorial action. Critics say it could have a chilling effect across government. Mr. Trump says he is seeking justice, not revenge. Also: today's stories, including how repeated incursions of drones and jets into European airspace have reopened debate about how well NATO efforts to deter Moscow are working; a look at North Carolina's recovery efforts in the one year since Hurricane Helene; and whether Bhutan can hold on to its non-materialist Buddhist values and boost economic growth at the same time. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Part of the Trump administration's immigration clampdown involves encouraging unauthorized immigrants to “self-deport” by offering cash and other incentives. A growing number are deciding to leave the U.S. on their own. Also: today's stories, including how a quick look behind the curtain of the United Nations General Assembly finds cooperation, dialogue, and a commitment; how Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy turns to songwriting when faced with a challenging world; and how the effects of more expensive H-1B visas could range from businesses sending jobs offshore to some American workers seeing greater demand for their skills. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

More food is reaching Gaza now but barely enough to stave off famine amid the chaos of forced displacement, which was ordered by the Israeli army. Also: today's stories, including how one Monitor writer's new hometown shows resilience amidst federal government cutbacks and other challenges; how current drama around TV host Jimmy Kimmel being taken off air under government pressure bears resemblance to the case of a political satire show in post-Soviet Russia; and a look at one museum in Kentucky celebrates beloved Louisville Slugger baseball bats. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

As the United Nations General Assembly opened in New York, President Donald Trump told member states that immigration and green hoaxes are the key threats to international peace and prosperity. Also: today's stories, including whether the rebranding of the Defense Department comes alongside other interventionist moves, where money from settlement claims brought by the Trump Administration against universities will end up, and how Venezuelans seeking a haven from their country's chaos are turning to Spain for safety. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Gaza's high school graduation exams are seen as far more than an individual academic accomplishment. They are a step into adulthood, carrying both your dreams and your country's. The war has made that transition nearly impossible. Also: today's stories, including how Tamir Rice's mother wants to provide a cultural map for young people; how Chinese laborers have reshaped the Algiers food scene through noodles; and how Roseville, California turned itself into a model of preparedness and hazard mitigation after destructive floods in the 1980s and '90s.

Funding the government is ultimately a must-pass priority for Congress. But with votes from both parties needed, it's also an opportunity for the minority Democrats to seek leverage. And pressure from their base is pushing them toward taking a hard line. Also: today's stories, including Russia's new rival to Eurovision; one Monitor writer's reflection on his first trip to Tokyo; and our Monitor film critic's remembrance of Robert Redford's career and legacy. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

The sidelining of comedian Jimmy Kimmel's late night show could signal a wider chilling effect on free speech, under pressure from President Donald Trump and regulators under him. But the move also comes as media companies are facing a difficult financial environment. Also: today's stories, including how a French-Saudi initiative supporting an independent Palestine keeps discussion alive; what comes next after youth-led protests brought down Nepal's government; and why visiting Canada's Yukon is a privilege — and an adventure. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The Federal Reserve's mission, outlined by Congress, is to spur job growth while keeping inflation under control. Its objectives have grown trickier this year amid political pressure from the White House, a slowing job market, and still-high inflation. Also: today's stories, including how moves to codify religious draft exemptions to Israeli military service have fanned resentments; how Canada and Mexico seek to renew connections with each other; and why California's Governor Gavin Newsom's is a test case for Democratic presidential candidacy. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

Republicans have long railed against “cancel culture” and blamed the left for seeking to curb free speech. Now, they are catching criticism on the same grounds in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination – and potentially going further by having government officials involved. Also: today's stories, including how Charlie Kirk's allies are vowing to continue his political legacy, how some Syrians are taking steps to build a democratic legislature, and our review of “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival," by Stephen Greenblatt. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Republicans have long railed against “cancel culture” and blamed the left for seeking to curb free speech. Now, they are catching criticism on the same grounds in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination – and potentially going further by having government officials involved. Also: today's stories, including how Charlie Kirk's allies are vowing to continue his political legacy, how some Syrians are taking steps to build a democratic legislature, and our review of “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival," by Stephen Greenblatt. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

By 2027, the hard right could govern economies worth roughly half of European GDP, the Economist said earlier this month. “It's about time the government listened to what the British people want,” one hairdresser tells the Monitor. In today's stories, we also look at the new U.S.-China deal on TikTok, a strike by bar advocates in Massachusetts, and a program to train rural and Indigenous filmmakers in India. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

The U.S. has entered a new age of political violence, evidenced by the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Those who work in conflict resolution say Americans need to engage in the hard work of seeing those we disagree with as fully human and worthy of respect. Also: today's stories, including how the U.K. is grappling with the controversial public display of St. George's flag; how Moscow is ignoring war in favor of nonstop celebration this summer; and how one essayist chooses to cherish September. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Inflation posted a 2.9% annual rate in August, up from 2.3% in April. Job creation has slowed sharply. These key indicators put pressure on Republicans as the party in power – even as they push blame toward the Federal Reserve and Democrats. Also: today's stories, including how gruesome footage of the killings of Charlie Kirk and a Ukrainian refugee has renewed debate about safeguards for online content; whether Israel and Syria can find common ground on border issues; and how the U.S. Department of War will differ from the Defense Department. Join the Monitor's Cameron Pugh for today's news.

Chinese students and scholars have long made up the largest foreign scientific community in America, a major talent pool. The Trump administration has not made them feel welcome; can Beijing tempt them to return home? Also: today's stories, including whether Gaza peace talks are possible after a failed Israeli Hamas assassination; how residents of Gaza City are struggling to find places to go after an Israeli evacuation order; and our film critic's guide to the Toronto International Film Festival. Join the Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news.