Podcast appearances and mentions of The Christian Science Monitor

Bolton Indicted. Retribution Continues. Is Adam Schiff Next? Putin Trump Summit-Again. Will Gaza Deal Hold? Shutdown Continues. SCOTUS vs Voting Rights Act. GOP's Racist “Kids.” No Kings Protest. With Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief of CQ-Roll Call, S. V. Date, Senior White House Correspondent for HuffPost and Cameron Joseph, Senior Washington Reporter for the Christian Science Monitor. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

Rachael's so excited to have Lorena on the show today! Lorena Hughes is the award-winning author of The Night We Became Strangers, The Queen of the Valley, The Spanish Daughter, and The Sisters of Alameda Street. Born and raised in Ecuador, she moved to the United States when she was eighteen to study fine arts and mass communication & journalism. Her novels have earned acclaim from outlets such as The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Woman's World, The Christian Science Monitor, BuzzFeed, PopSugar, and Bustle. The Spanish Daughter is an Amazon Editors' Pick, an Amazon Unforgettable Reads book club selection, and one of Reading Group Choices Most Popular Books of 2022. Her latest novel is The Night We Became Strangers. When she's not writing, she draws inspiration from her work as a family photographer.

Kim Crooks Korinek, CSB, from St. Paul, Minnesota, USAYou can read Kim's article in The Christian Science Monitor.

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.

The Government Shuts Down. It's About Healthcare. Who Leads the Democrats? Blue State Spending Cancelled. AI Meme Wars. Hegseth's Embarrassment. Trump's Unhinged Speech to the Generals. No Nobel for Trump. With Linda Feldmann, White House Correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief for The Christian Science Monitor, Philip Bump, former Columnist for The Washington Post and Arthur Delaney, Senior Reporter at Huff Post. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Government Employees. More information at AFGE.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amy Richmond, CSB, from Boston, Massachusetts, USAYou can read Amy's article in The Christian Science Monitor.

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.

“The first draft is absolute torture,” says historical nonfiction writer David Baron. And yet, he persists and his newest book, The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America has garnered rave reviews from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker and more. The Christian Science Monitor says, “The Martians is a fascinating tale that's beautifully told.” We speak with Baron about the joys of research, the agony of writing, the delight in rewriting, how imagination cuts both ways, and how Truman Capote's work has influenced his own. David Baron is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author of The Beast in the Garden, American Eclipse and his latest book The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America. A former science correspondent for NPR, he has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, and other publications. David recently served as the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation. He lives in Boulder, Colorado. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emergingform.substack.com/subscribe

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.

We're revisiting one of the episodes from our “Changing your world” series that first aired in 2023. Intern Canon Church gained some new insights as he listened to guest Francine Kiefer, who was a longtime journalist for The Christian Science Monitor. Her work as a journalist and her practice of Christian Science have helped her learn that there is a remedy for relationship conflict. What is it? Join Francine and host David Brown to find out.

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.

Der Krieg der US-Regierung gegen herausragende Universitäten und Forschungsstätten des Landes ist ein Kernstück der Zerstörungsstrategie von Donald Trump. Was das für die Entwicklung des Landes bedeutet und wie Wissenschaft im Sinne des US-Präsidenten aussieht, diskutieren Linda Feldmann (Washington DC, Christian Science Monitor), Christian Grose (Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger Institut) und Reinhard Heinisch (Universität Salzburg) im Bruno Kreisky Forum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

David Sterritt is a film critic, author, teacher and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until... Read More ›

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.

“Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao’s drama about William Shakespeare’s marriage and the death of their 11-year-old son, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, putting it on an enviable track to Academy Awards contention. This might’ve been the biggest headline for the festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Joining us this morning to help round up the festivities is Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Karen Neff, CS, from Mystic, Connecticut, USAYou can read Karen's article in The Christian Science Monitor.

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.

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Susan Glimore about her wonderful novel, The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush (Blair, 2025).  Young Leonard Bush buries his lost leg and saves his whole East Tennessee town in this winsome and miracle-making novel. When twelve-year-old Leonard Bush loses his leg in a freak accident, he decides to give his leg a proper burial in the hilltop cemetery of his East Tennessee town. This event somehow sets off a chain of miraculous and catastrophic events--upending the lives of Leonard's rigidly God-fearing mother, June; his deeply conflicted father, Emmett; and his best friend, Azalea, and her mother, Rose, who is also the town prostitute. While the local Baptist minister passes judgment on events and promises dire consequences, the people of this small community on the banks of Big Sugar move together toward awakening. Susan Gilmore's love of storytelling flows naturally from her Tennessee roots. She's the daughter of a revival preacher's son, brought up on the land and streams that populate this novel that is, as Appalachian novelist Lee Smith says, a "homespun Pilgrim's Progress." Susan Gregg Gilmore is the author of the novels The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, and The Funeral Dress. She has written for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Los Angeles Times, and the Christian Science Monitor. Born in Nashville, she lives in Tennessee with her husband. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Susan Glimore about her wonderful novel, The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush (Blair, 2025).  Young Leonard Bush buries his lost leg and saves his whole East Tennessee town in this winsome and miracle-making novel. When twelve-year-old Leonard Bush loses his leg in a freak accident, he decides to give his leg a proper burial in the hilltop cemetery of his East Tennessee town. This event somehow sets off a chain of miraculous and catastrophic events--upending the lives of Leonard's rigidly God-fearing mother, June; his deeply conflicted father, Emmett; and his best friend, Azalea, and her mother, Rose, who is also the town prostitute. While the local Baptist minister passes judgment on events and promises dire consequences, the people of this small community on the banks of Big Sugar move together toward awakening. Susan Gilmore's love of storytelling flows naturally from her Tennessee roots. She's the daughter of a revival preacher's son, brought up on the land and streams that populate this novel that is, as Appalachian novelist Lee Smith says, a "homespun Pilgrim's Progress." Susan Gregg Gilmore is the author of the novels The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, and The Funeral Dress. She has written for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Los Angeles Times, and the Christian Science Monitor. Born in Nashville, she lives in Tennessee with her husband. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

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.

Rather than replacing workers, AI is making humans more productive, the evidence so far suggests. In today's stories, we look at the Trump administration's plan to downsize the State Department, the potential U.S. government shutdown, and how New England states are dealing with a Canadian travel boycott. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Reading and math skills among U.S. high school seniors have fallen to their lowest levels on record, according to an upcoming report. “If we are serious about helping kids to learn … we need to carve out the time for it,” an advocate of science and math learning tells the Monitor. In today's stories, we also look into the U.S. missile attack against an alleged crime boat, the lives of Ukraine's front-line medics, and the horror film boom in Indonesia. Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

A sizable number of teens and young adults in the U.S. are not in school, employed, or in job training. Civic leaders want to reconnect them to a path toward productive adulthood. Also: today's stories, including how grand juries in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, are pushing back against indictments; how a vote of confidence in French Prime Minister François Bayrou reveal a nation at political loggerheads; and how young Americans are seeking more in-person connection through team sports from softball to kickball. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Both parties agree in principle that health policy should be driven by facts and science, not by politics. But translating science into policy involves human judgments. And an uproar this week around vaccines shows rising tension over public health. Also: today's stories, including how some Latin Americans are embracing U.S. intervention amid record violence; whether current laws designed to stop potential gun violence by people deemed a threat to themselves or others could have prevented a recent shooting in Minnesota; and how Lebanon's government is facing a new test in disarming a weakened Hezbollah. Join the Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news.

Liz Butterfield Wallingford, from Chesterfield, Missouri, USAYou can read Liz's article in The Christian Science Monitor.We'd love to hear your inspiration. To submit your Daily Lift, go to christianscience.com/dailylift.

Vladimir Putin and other world leaders alienated by the West gathered in China this week – first for an economic summit in Tianjin and then a military parade in Beijing. The meetings offer a glimpse of what Chinese leader Xi Jinping's New World Order might look like. Also: today's stories, including how U.S. President Donald Trump's normalizing armed troops patrolling Washington absent a security crisis could impact how Americans are governed in years to come; concerns over President Trump's executive order to create a “quick reaction force” using National Guard units; and how one grassroots organization in India is fighting for women's legal rights against human traffickers. Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

Funding for the federal government runs out at month's end. To prevent a shutdown, bipartisanship will be required. The good news is that talks might be in the offing. Also, today's stories: how the National Guard court ruling affects President Trump's plans for other cities; whether President Trump's gains among Latinos will stick; and how a new statue aims to revitalize Massachusetts' oldest neighborhood. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The tragic shooting of children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota comes after the assassination of a state legislator earlier this summer. The incidents have revealed divides over how to reduce gun violence – as well as a universal desire to emerge from the turbulence stronger. Also: today's stories, including how some religious leaders and volunteers are standing with immigrants at court hearings; how the U.S. and China are racing to build humanoid robots capable of performing many daily tasks; and how the end of tax exemptions for small parcels entering the U.S. is affecting the Indian diaspora. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis was the third such tragedy involving a Christian school in as many years. Security has long been top of mind at Jewish and Muslim schools; now there are growing efforts within Christian school communities to fortify their institutions. Also: today's stories, including how sending a U.S. naval force off the coast of Venezuela has revived regional anxiety over U.S. militarism, how laws protecting asylum-seekers in Europe are under fire from the public, and what changes Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill' will bring to colleges and students. Join the Monitor's Harry Bruinius for today's news.