The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Efforts to stop black market oil tankers from entering or leaving Venezuela signal that U.S. goals go beyond the narcotics trade to include pressure on the Maduro regime. Also: today's stories, including how Ukrainians are simultaneously lamenting a corruption scandal among the president's inner circle, but encouraged by anticorruption institutions; how Senegalese women are picking up the pieces after their husbands leave for Europe; and a look at one essayist's fondest Christmas memories. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

The long, emotionally exhausting ordeal of hostages held in Hamas tunnels, and the general trauma of October 7th, has led to a visible rise in religious belief among Jewish Israelis. As one hostage notes: “God will always listen. He does not get tired.” Also: today's stories, including why Latin America's authoritarian leaders are leaning into Christmas; a remembrance of Rob Reiner from our film critic; and which traditions our staff and contributors partake in to tap into the true meaning of Christmas. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

In Boston and other cities, some lawful permanent residents are having their naturalization ceremonies canceled, amid a Trump administration review of applicants from 19 countries identified as posing high security risks. Also: today's stories, including how Europe looking to conscript able-bodied citizens is a big ask after decades of peace and prosperity; how experts say there are ways society can defuse potential acts and reduce the risk of terrorism; and how Europe is fighting to preserve its identity in the teeth of U.S. opposition. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The Trump administration's more aggressive approach to Latin America is welcomed by many in the Cuban diaspora. They see one of their own – Secretary of State Marco Rubio – as an architect of the shift that, for them, has been a long time coming. Also: today's stories, including how Australian Jews are reacting to a mass shooting that targeted Bondi Beach's Jewish community; what's next for U.S.-Syrian relations following an Islamic State attack on U.S. soldiers; and how the fragile peace in Gaza affords an opportunity for Palestinian families whose relatives have gone missing to search for them. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

The Trump administration's more aggressive approach to Latin America is welcomed by many in the Cuban diaspora. They see one of their own – Secretary of State Marco Rubio – as an architect of the shift that, for them, has been a long time coming. Also: today's stories, including how Australian Jews are reacting to a mass shooting that targeted Bondi Beach's Jewish community; what's next for U.S.-Syrian relations following an Islamic State attack on U.S. soldiers; and how the fragile peace in Gaza affords an opportunity for Palestinian families whose relatives have gone missing to search for them. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

A large tropical island off China's southern coast will gain independent customs status on Dec. 18 – a move Chinese leaders hope will jump-start development in Hainan and pioneer new levels of openness for the rest of the country, despite the rise of protectionism. Also: today's stories, including how a charter school in Hawaii offers a paradigm shift around AI's role in education; how beef prices have hit record highs in the United States; and the 10 best movies of 2025, according to our film critic. Join the Monitor's Stephanie Hanes for today's news.

Syria's need to rapidly reconstitute its security forces has left it vulnerable to infiltration by former rebels with jihadist sympathies at the very time that President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been cultivating ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. Also: today's stories, including how a new program in California seeks to involve the public in policymaking decisions, why shifts in workplace policies appear to be creating a tough year for women in the U.S. workforce, and our reviewers' favorite books of December. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

With his approval rating for economic leadership dropping in polls, President Donald Trump has tried to downplay voters' concerns about affordability. The same problem that tripped up President Joe Biden is now dogging Mr. Trump. Also: today's stories, including a look at Texas' Senate race; how some Senegalese say it's time for the country to be less reliant on France; and how “Zootopia 2” is breaking records in China. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

The Trump administration is allowing Nvidia to sell its advanced computer chips in China, a reversal of U.S. policy. The move is prompting concern that China could use the chips to close the gap or even win in the AI race. Also: today's stories, including why Venezuelan citizens are focused on daily survival after the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, why France is considering adopting a five-day school week, and a Q&A with “Knives Out” series writer and director Rian Johnson. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

Russia's Vladimir Putin has vowed to take all of the mostly occupied Donetsk region either through negotiation or militarily. Even as Ukraine resists ceding territory, how is the city of Sloviansk maintaining morale in the face of a forbidding future? Also: today's stories, including how even stable cryptocurrencies still carry some risk to the greater economy; whether Germany is ready to lead the way on European defense; and one author's insight into how the life of Chinese revolutionary Xi Zhongxun sheds light on the actions of his son, Chinese President Xi Jinping. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

Members of Congress have access to information they could use to make money in the stock market. There's a new push to ban members from buying and selling stocks, with the goal of countering possible insider trading. Also: today's stories, including why the Netanyahu government has not stopped West Bank settler attacks, how President Donald Trump's recent dehumanizing remarks about Somali Americans play to stereotypes, and how one support hub fills a critical gap for foster families seeking essentials for their children in eastern Pennsylvania. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Donald Trump's new national security strategy turns history on its head, dismissing a Europe it says faces “civilizational erasure” and praising far-right parties that Moscow supports. How will the United States' transatlantic allies react? Also: today's stories, including how supporters of Australia's social media ban hope other countries follow the country's lead, but critics say legislative bans will be ineffective; how presidential pardons have been used in ways that range from serving the chief executive's own family interests to uniting a torn nation after a war; and how as Syria still faces many challenges, hopes for the future exist one year after rebel forces overthrew its dictatorship. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

With military leaders in the spotlight over drug boat attacks, an important question is surfacing: How do soldiers know when to follow orders and when to push back? Also: today's stories, including why Japan is grappling with the question, “How much work is too much?"; why some retirees are turning to AI chatbots; and our writer's review of ‘The Name on the Wall,' by author Hervé Le Tellier. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

As U.S. and Russian negotiators met, and European leaders scrambled to make a peace deal palatable to Kyiv, Ukrainians were, uncomfortably, bystanders to talks over their future. But their view is firm: Yes to compromise, No to capitulation. Also: today's stories, including how the Supreme Court may overturn a precedent that allows presidents to fire the head of independent federal agencies, how President Donald Trump's bursts of shuttle diplomacy to resolve international conflicts resemble Henry Kissinger, and how an apprenticeship model for youth educators in San Francisco could address a short supply of teachers. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

For political opponents to find common ground on immigration matters seems rare. Yet, in Arizona, a progressive activist and a Republican district party chair are uniting around a detained woman who has been a positive force in her community. Also: today's stories, including a look at what could happen when Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week; how one town in Senegal honors religious diversity; and a Q&A with scholar Bobby Donaldson on how Marshall Thurgood became a Supreme Court icon. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

Though the Trump administration says its strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean are allowed, its tactics are raising questions around potential war crimes and generating support for more congressional oversight. Also: today's stories, including how a year after an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, the Lebanese people are still caught in the middle; how teachers and officials in Europe are trying to combat violence in schools by restricting youth's access to social media; and our essayist writes how his name is a thread that connects him to home. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

President Donald Trump has vowed to attack drug trafficking across Latin America. But in promising to pardon a convicted trafficker from Honduras, he has swayed politics and unsettled policy. Also: today's stories, including how a fragile deal Washington brokered between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebel M23 group shows how economics might lead toward peace; how Boston is building apartments on top of libraries in an experiment with affordable housing; and how one science educator in Pakistan is getting marginalized children excited about learning. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

In New York, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and the city's business leaders have begun a wary rapprochement. The democratic socialist's proposals are anathema to many business leaders, and collaboration will likely require mutual concessions. In today's stories, we also look at the confusion around different Ukraine peace plans, why Xi Jinping praised a former Chinese leader whose death sparked the Tiananmen Square protests, and the new Disney animation “Zootopia 2.” Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

A roller-coaster diplomatic saga, with a mercurial US president at the helm, has left Ukrainians confused about what it will take to end their war with Russia. But could a deal be just around the corner? Also: today's stories, including how Americans are focusing on practicing gratitude this holiday season, how cranberries became a Thanksgiving staple, and why the number of children's cafeterias has exponentially increased across Japan. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Upholding public trust has long been a central tenet of American democracy. But ethical norms have fallen under President Donald Trump even as his net worth has grown. The White House denies conflicts of interest. Ethics experts disagree. Also: today's stories, including how the European Union is impeded by energy needs and foot-dragging member states as it tries to end its dependence on Russian gas; whether the ceasefire in Gaza can go forward if Hamas refuses to disarm; and whether the focus on artificial intelligence should be on unleashing innovation or protecting the people who use it. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

General stores are a lifeline to many rural communities. But in Vermont, towns are fighting to keep their general stores alive. In today's issue, we also look at the EPA's new clean-water rules, the toll of Sudan's civil war on women, and why an Indiana state senator is resisting pressure to redraw the state's congressional map. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

The public falling-out between U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and President Donald Trump has brought splits in the MAGA movement into the open. In Ms. Greene's solidly Republican district, voters are weighing their populist allegiances. Also: today's stories, including how members of traditionally unionist Protestant communities in Northern Ireland are starting to look toward the republic; how realistic a unified Ireland is, both politically and practically; and how, in one of President Donald Trump's most high-profile prosecution efforts against a perceived political enemy, a series of government missteps means the case may collapse. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

Richard Nixon's “war on drugs” has always entailed a degree of U.S. pressure on foreign allies. But the Trump administration's strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats off Venezuela charts a new course of non-cooperation. Also: today's stories, including how a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand is falling apart — and possibly pushing Bangkok closer to China; how gerrymandering in the U.S. has evolved; and our Q&A with Representative Jim Clyburn on his new book, “The First Eight.” Join the Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news.

Despite Israel's war with Hamas and Iran, its economy grew, if modestly, due mostly to its strong tech sector. But calls to boycott Israel over the conduct of its war in Gaza appear to have hit some exports. Will that rage subside if the ceasefire holds? Also: today's stories, including how, after the deadliest fire in 100 years of U.S. history, people of Lahaina are trying to rebuild their buildings and culture; how girls marrying before age 18 was prohibited in Bolivia this year, but the cultural norms and attitudes that drive the practice remain; and how President Donald Trump is pressuring cities and states to end cashless bail. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

The House is set to pass a bill calling to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. President Donald Trump's last-minute support helps mask the first major rebuke of the president in the House since he returned to office in January. This comes amid other challenges facing Mr. Trump and Republicans. Also: today's stories, including a teacher in Gaza and his determination to teach music amidst war, what China's reaction is to Japan's Prime Minister's consideration of an attack on Taiwan, and how the U.S. Border Patrol is taking a leading role in immigration enforcement.

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.

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.