Podcast appearances and mentions of clay collins

A new regional alignment of in the Middle East, signalling a shift in power away from Iran's weakened Axis of Resistance. Moderate Sunnis now have friendly governments in Beirut, Damascus, and Baghdad, creating an “Axis of Cooperation.” Also: today's stories, including a look at current strains on and shortages faced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); how USAID cuts have affected governments in Central America; and why some teachers are once again turning to blue books in the classroom. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Previous presidents have called the military to the southern border of the United States to support immigration agencies. The Monitor's Sarah Matusek and Riley Robinson report on how the Trump administration's expansion of the military's role at the border raises a mixture of hope, distrust, and uncertainty. Also: today's stories, including what could emerge from foreign influence as frustration rises in Syria's Daraa Province, Bangladesh's efforts to protect minority rights amid sectarian divides, and an exploration of Malcolm X's legacy of inspiration ahead of his 100th birthday commemoration. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

A lot of technology, including some that ultimately makes us “greener,” calls for extractive practices and carries upfront costs. Its use slurps resources. But it also makes us productive and provides essential support for modern lives. Climate writer Stephanie Hanes joins host Clay Collins for a conversation about data centers and rare earths – and about being intentional and aware of the tradeoffs that modern life puts in front of us.

Amid commemorations this week of the 80-year anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, polls show a growing desire among Germans to feel less burdened by the past. The path Germany takes will have profound consequences, from how it leads in a militarizing Europe to whether right-wing extremism might rekindle the kind of nationalism the country has scrupulously avoided. Also: today's stories, including a look at how the effects of President Trump's tariffs may impact U.S. consumers and an already disrupted supply chain; a growing effort to fix the U.S. critical mineral deficit through “biomining”; and how Indonesia's national “Green Islam” movement calls on citizens to become environmental stewards. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Our story on a dispute over eminent domain in Rhode Island is, at its root, about something deeper – two very different definitions of the American dream. Also: today's stories, including why the European Union isn't more competitive, what USAID cuts mean for coca and gold trafficking in Peru, and local activists refusing to look away from Congo's rape crisis. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Rare earth minerals might be the biggest story you haven't heard enough about. An extractive industry with the usual nasty environmental knock-ons, it's also one that feeds green technology. Also: today's stories, including Trump and courts squaring off over fundamental democratic ideals, the value China places on “face,” and how dim sum became a national treasure in Panama. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

More than a decade after Syria's war began, and months after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, small investments – in homes, in businesses – signal hope. Also: today's stories, including President Trump's controversial use of already existing, but rarely used, legislation to enforce immigration actions; a look at Kenya's satellite cities; and how resettlement organizations are operating under the Trump administration's immigration guidelines. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Months after a failed martial law attempt rattled South Korea, a top court unanimously decided last week to remove the president. With new elections coming up in June, the united court verdict and its acceptance by South Korea's two major political parties stirred hope that the young democracy can turn the page on the martial law fiasco. Also: today's stories, including what clues the vagaries of past trade policy could offer us by way of lessons for today; how the Trump administration has financial ethics watchdogs on alert; and how one wildlife sanctuary in Colorado is helping formerly captive exotic and endangered animals. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Syria's Alawite ethnic minority consider March 7 the start of a genocidal campaign. To the Sunni majority, it marked operations to quash a coup. While regaining trust won't be easy, preventing more violence will be a key test for the new Syria. Also: today's stories, including whether Democrats can make inroads in Florida amidst increasing polarization; a look at mass protests and mounting arrests in Turkey's main cities after the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, an opposition leader and a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; and how one volcanic island may save an at-risk banana crop. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Senior Trump administration officials used a commercial messaging app to discuss secret military attacks, including sensitive information that could have threatened the lives of troops abroad. Calls for accountability are coming from both sides of the aisle. Also: today's stories, including Israeli protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; the rights of animals and the environment, from Mexico to Nepal; and a look into a New York restaurant staffed by a rotating cast of “Nonnas of the World.” Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are drawing crowds on Mr. Sanders' Fighting Oligarchy tour. His message may not resonate with everyone, and many Americans still view achieving wealth as part of the American dream. But with much of the Democratic Party grasping for a strategy and a message, it's telling that Mr. Sanders is stepping up, and striking a chord. Also: today's stories, including a look ahead at former president Jair Bolsonaro's legal battle in Brazil after being charged with plotting a coup; the legacy of Voice of America in the former Soviet Union; and how one library and opera house straddling the U.S.-Canada border is coping with tense U.S.-Canada relations. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are drawing crowds on Mr. Sanders' Fighting Oligarchy tour. His message may not resonate with everyone, and many Americans still view achieving wealth as part of the American dream. But with much of the Democratic Party grasping for a strategy and a message, it's telling that Mr. Sanders is stepping up, and striking a chord. Also: today's stories, including a look ahead at former president Jair Bolsonaro's legal battle in Brazil after being charged with plotting a coup; the legacy of Voice of America in the former Soviet Union; and how one library and opera house straddling the U.S.-Canada border is coping with tense U.S.-Canada relations. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

What does justice look like? Today, a Salvadoran writer looks at the president of El Salvador's consolidated approach, including having the power to arrest and detain suspected criminals without warrants or evidence. Also: today's stories, including how Israelis are far less unified in support of war nearly a year and a half after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, an Indonesian foundation's work keeping alive their diverse textile traditions, and how President Donald Trump is providing a real-time test of whether courts can actually rein in the executive branch. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

What does justice look like? Today, a Salvadoran writer looks at the president of El Salvador's consolidated approach, including having the power to arrest and detain suspected criminals without warrants or evidence. Also: today's stories, including how Israelis are far less unified in support of war nearly a year and a half after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, an Indonesian foundation's work keeping alive their diverse textile traditions, and how President Donald Trump is providing a real-time test of whether courts can actually rein in the executive branch. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Moscow says it agrees with the U.S. proposal for a Ukraine ceasefire, but wants to know the details of the plan. The kicker: it's not clear whether those exist. More discussions will be needed to clarify whether President Vladimir Putin's slow-walking approach is an attempt to bury the U.S. plan, or just evidence of an abundance of caution. Also: today's stories, including our interview with Marissa Resa, a longtime critic of former Philippines President Michael Duterte, in the wake of Duterte's trial at the Hague; a five-year plan to reconstruct Gaza, organized by leaders of the Arab world; and a review of two books focused on America's post-Civil War era. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Moscow says it agrees with the U.S. proposal for a Ukraine ceasefire, but wants to know the details of the plan. The kicker: it's not clear whether those exist. More discussions will be needed to clarify whether President Vladimir Putin's slow-walking approach is an attempt to bury the U.S. plan, or just evidence of an abundance of caution. Also: today's stories, including our interview with Marissa Resa, a longtime critic of former Philippines President Michael Duterte, in the wake of Duterte's trial at the Hague; a five-year plan to reconstruct Gaza, organized by leaders of the Arab world; and a review of two books focused on America's post-Civil War era. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Less than a week after immigration officials in New York arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist and a green-card holder, much remains unclear about the government's specific accusations against him. Some immigration advocates are wary of government retaliation against First Amendment-protected speech; others see Mr. Khalil's case as part of a broader crackdown on dissent. Also: today's stories, including what cuts to the U.S. Department of Education may mean for U.S. education; investigations into Israeli intelligence failures after the Oct. 7th, 2023 Hamas attacks; and whether European businesses are following U.S. companies in scrapping DEI programs. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Less than a week after immigration officials in New York arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist and a green-card holder, much remains unclear about the government's specific accusations against him. Some immigration advocates are wary of government retaliation against First Amendment-protected speech; others see Mr. Khalil's case as part of a broader crackdown on dissent. Also: today's stories, including what cuts to the U.S. Department of Education may mean for U.S. education; investigations into Israeli intelligence failures after the Oct. 7th, 2023 Hamas attacks; and whether European businesses are following U.S. companies in scrapping DEI programs. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

President Donald Trump's proposal to create a strategic reserve using the cryptocurrency bitcoin, an idea discussed at a crypto “summit” March 7, represents a bold idea with a host of details to address. The move could be a breakthrough for the U.S. to lead in developing and establishing the next generation of money; but besides crypto's boom-and-crash performance, there are legal and ethical concerns. Also: today's stories, including how a tariff spat with the United States adds to economic headwinds in China; how doubts over security promises in Haiti have caused neighborhoods to form vigilante groups; and a preview of the new six-part sequel series to “Eyes on the Prize.” Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Since President Trump's inauguration, Moscow has experienced a dramatic return from the diplomatic wilderness. The Monitor's Fred Weir looks at how the challenge for Russia is to figure out how to exploit the opportunities that have opened up. Also: today's stories, including an online columnist who skewers hypocrisy and absurdity on both sides of the aisle, a film showcasing an all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan, and how severe sanctions stand in the way as Syrians are trying to rebuild homes and communities after years of civil war. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Israeli communities near Gaza still bear the marks, physical and spiritual, of Oct. 7. But they are rebuilding, and shifting toward rebirth. Today's stories also include why America is considering a sovereign wealth fund, a family grappling with a young son's hunger to learn amid war's ruins, and why rich oil reserves are a mixed blessing for Ugandans. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

James Madison called it “the extent and proper structure” of the United States. The Monitor's Linda Feldmann looks at how now, a U.S. president is upending the country's centuries-old balance of power. Also: today's stories, including how German centrists barely fended off the populist tide, how the legacy of the Greensboro sit-ins are carried on today, and how theater troupe in Ukraine is finding that puppets have a special ability to comfort and inspire, even to rehabilitate. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

While Americans differ on how taxpayer dollars should be spent, you might expect them to rally around keeping those dollars away from fraudsters. But what if an unconventional anti-fraud effort – entrepreneurial and fast – fails to gain public trust by pursuing partisan goals? Also: today's stories, including worries over press freedom during the Trump administration; what may come next from the Israeli government in the Gaza ceasefire; and acts of everyday defiance in Ukraine against Russian advancement. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

A wave of Justice Department resignations in recent days, prompted by the president's demand to dismiss a pending case against New York City's mayor, may signal that politics is creeping into the justice system. Today's stories also include USAID cuts threatening America's most successful global health campaign, Trump calling Mexican cartels ‘terrorists,' and how our essayist kindles the light within during the dark days of winter. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

From Ukraine's battle zones to its cities, war fatigue is real, three years after Russia's incursion. So is resilience, our reporter found. Also: today's stories, including Trump “border czar” Tom Homan's outlook on immigration; a look at Nova Scotia's Black community, then and now; and one Monitor writer's thoughts on “Captain America: Brave New World,” which introduces a Black Captain America to the big screen. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

From Ukraine's battle zones to its cities, war fatigue is real, three years after Russia's incursion. So is resilience, our reporter found. Also: today's stories, including Trump “border czar” Tom Homan's outlook on immigration; a look at Nova Scotia's Black community, then and now; and one Monitor writer's thoughts on “Captain America: Brave New World,” which introduces a Black Captain America to the big screen. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

As courts weigh the legality of actions taken by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the response from American voters is also starting to take shape. Will the same people who support pruning a bloated federal government, in the abstract, feel differently as those cuts ripple through their own communities? Also: today's stories, including Indian-U.S. immigration amid recent deportations from the U.S.; how the Justice Department will define anti-Christian bias; and worries in Europe over Russia's “shadow fleet” of aging oil tankers. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

As courts weigh the legality of actions taken by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the response from American voters is also starting to take shape. Will the same people who support pruning a bloated federal government, in the abstract, feel differently as those cuts ripple through their own communities? Also: today's stories, including Indian-U.S. immigration amid recent deportations from the U.S.; how the Justice Department will define anti-Christian bias; and worries in Europe over Russia's “shadow fleet” of aging oil tankers. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Do police and protesters have to see each other as the enemy? How do you police crowds – sports fans, protesters – in a way that calms, rather than provokes? Simon Montlake sits down with Clay Collins and discusses ‘dialogue policemen.' Also; today's stories, including how President Donald Trump compares with the famous proponent of tariffs and expansionism, President William McKinley, how the Arab world is responding to President Donald Trump's proposal to take over Gaza and resettle the Palestinians there, and how Donald Trump reinvigorated Canadian national pride. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield for today's news.

While President Trump has ridiculed past U.S. military deployments and nation-building efforts, he has consistently been drawn to Mideast diplomacy. But his proposal to “own” and develop the Gaza Strip and displace its population has many questioning how serious he is. Also: today's stories, including a check-in with a Venezuelan family on what President Trump's second term means to them; how America's youth are moving away from alcohol; and the vintners in France making nonalcoholic wine. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

What does good policing looks like when it comes to managing sometimes bristly human interactions at street protests or in rowdy sports stadiums? Writer Simon Montlake and photographer Alfredo Sosa learned in Columbus, Ohio, how police dialogue units can play a role. But is it sustainable, and transferable? How far might it extend in an era when violence and fear seem sometimes seem more prevalent than an openness to discourse? Hosted by Clay Collins.

What does good policing looks like when it comes to managing sometimes bristly human interactions at street protests or in rowdy sports stadiums? Writer Simon Montlake and photographer Alfredo Sosa learned in Columbus, Ohio, how police dialogue units can play a role. But is it sustainable, and transferable? How far might it extend in an era when violence and fear seem sometimes seem more prevalent than an openness to discourse? Hosted by Clay Collins.

American “soft power” takes many forms. Howard LaFranchi explores the possible effects of a federal foreign-aid funding freeze on America's place in the world. Also in today's package, Syrians emerging to breathe free air are beginning to expose the mechanisms of the control used by the Assad regime, a presidential push to involve the U.S. military with border security and use Guantánamo Bay, and a contemporary troupe in East Africa transcending stigma surrounding disabilities and finding joy. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

A key aim of Israel's war against Hamas was to eliminate the militant group. But with the ceasefire, Hamas has reasserted its rule over Gaza, emerging from its tunnels to stage rallies and parades. Also: today's stories, including how US students are slipping further behind, how the Navy is trying to focus more on the spiritual needs of its sailors, and how one artist is lifting her city ‘from blight to bright' Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Organized religion provides space for worship and spiritual study. But in the case of the Los Angeles fires, organized religion can also provide a built-in system of caring and an active faith. Also: today's stories, including commentary on whether Trump's second administration is the end of western liberalism; a boon in Ukraine's book publishing amidst war; and how the head of the Los Angeles Public Library System is responding to both wildfires and book challenges. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Ira Porter for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

As talks of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas sweep through Israel and Gaza, Israelis and Palestinians are taking to the streets to celebrate. But a deal may only bring momentary pause in fighting — not long sought-after peace. Also: today's stories, including how presidential scholars believe President Joe Biden's legacy will be remembered; how refugee groups are preparing for President-elect Donald Trump's second term; and a new Pew study on America's loneliness epidemic. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and April Austin for today's news. You can also visit CSMonitor.com/Daily for more information.

When it comes to humanity's relationship to Earth's other creatures, does “dominion” really mean “stewardship”? Monitor writer Stephanie Hanes joins host Clay Collins for a look behind the reporting of her recent deep dive into what new research suggests about the richness of animals' inner lives – and what that might mean for humans' relationship to them.

When it comes to humanity's relationship to Earth's other creatures, does “dominion” really mean “stewardship”? Monitor writer Stephanie Hanes joins host Clay Collins for a look behind the reporting of her recent deep dive into what new research suggests about the richness of animals' inner lives – and what that might mean for humans' relationship to them.

On Friday, the Supreme Court will weigh in on a controversial law that would ban the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok — and the outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for First Amendment rights. Our reporter Henry Gass explains. Also: today's stories, including Monitor West Coast Bureau Chief Francine Kiefer's firsthand account of escaping the Eaton fire in California; looming questions over Venezuela's contested 2024 election; and how foreign leaders are courting the incoming Trump administration. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and JJ Wahlberg for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The New Year's Day attacks in both New Orleans and Las Vegas confirmed the gravity of official warnings that risks from political violence are rising. Patrik Jonsson and Henry Gass examine the diversification of terror threats for American cities. Also in today's lineup, black radio icons in the era of podcasts and TikTok, the history of Ukrainian cuisine as a form of cultural defiance, and the tight margins that the GOP must work with in the House of Representatives. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Ira Porter for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

With Bashar al-Assad's fall, ket parts of Iran's “Axis of Resistance” are diminished or defeated. Scott Peterson dives into what is left of Tehran's expensive strategy for regional dominance. Also in today's package, Kash Patel's historical comparisons to J. Edgar Hoover, a musical serving as a better informer than the news, and homeowner light displays building human connections in California. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Brooke Holder for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The magnitude of the emotions sweeping Damascus cannot be overstated, as our correspondents are witnessing. Unbridled joy is replacing years of terror and unspeakable loss. But the task of restoring order, and faith in a peaceful future, is enormous. Also: today's stories, including solar panels in space that have the potential to bring power to remote locations or areas hit by natural disaster, Florida voters join states preserving rights of hunters and anglers, and a Washington writer on the Monitor's “Why We Wrote This” podcast shows how adhering to facts and getting information to the public remain the fundamental job of a journalist. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Brooke Holder for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Issues of personal conduct have shadowed President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees. Will these problems become too polarizing or will they follow in Mr. Trump's footsteps? Also: today's stories, including the rebuilding of a beloved cathedral, a changing New England forest, and how political writers anchor their stories. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and JJ Wahlberg for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The Syrian Civil War has reignited, with rebel forces pushing farther into President Bashar al-Assad's territory. Scott Peterson looks at how Iran can help the Syrian president amidst a host of other regional issues. Also in today's package, the powerful and intimate nature of radio to handle Malawian taboos, 2024 being both The Year of Elections and the Bonfire of the Incumbents, and a construction company's next generation modular construction method. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Stephen Humphries for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Fresh cranberries or canned? Northern pumpkin pie or Southern sweet potato pie? An assembling of intergenerational family members, a handful of friends, or a group of strangers? Almost everything about Thanksgiving, from travel to table talk about politics, has the potential to become fraught. Calm can prevail when a simple sense of gratitude gets its place at the table. The Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato joins host Clay Collins to talk turkey and more.

Fresh cranberries or canned? Northern pumpkin pie or Southern sweet potato pie? An assembling of intergenerational family members, a handful of friends, or a group of strangers? Almost everything about Thanksgiving, from travel to table talk about politics, has the potential to become fraught. Calm can prevail when a simple sense of gratitude gets its place at the table. The Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato joins host Clay Collins to talk turkey and more.

Poachers, fires, and illegal logging threaten the forest community of Olum, Nigeria. Contributor Saint Ekpali reports today on a remarkable band of women who choose to protect the forest they love. Other stories in our package include the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu amid Gaza food shortages, whether Trump can bypass the Senate to ram through controversial nominees, and what's dividing nations at a UN climate change conference. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Nate Iglehart for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

United States presidents have taken to signing stacks of executive orders on Day 1. Donald Trump has vowed to take rapid actions affecting border security, energy prices, and what he contends is a biased federal bureaucracy. Also: today's stories, including world leaders preparing for Mr. Trump's arrival on the global security scene, the world gathering for the COP29 climate summit, and Ukrainian writers-turned-soldiers and soldiers-turned-writers. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Nate Iglehart for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Another U.S. election is behind us. Can civility – deep civility, not just politeness – heal divides? Stephen Humphries, the Monitor's chief culture writer, joined host Clay Collins in this encore episode to talk about his expansive view of the culture beat and about how he came to write about Alexandra Hudson's book, “The Soul of Civility.” Ms. Hudson, too, joined the 2023 episode to talk further about how to bridge the empathy gap that reveals itself around so many issues.

You don't need this reminder, but here it is anyway: The U.S. election was seismic in the United States; the wider world felt the reverberations, too. Today, columnist Ned Temko supplies a skilled analysis of what Tuesday's electoral decision projects to allies and adversaries. Our stories also cover whether Trump will face lawsuits, or if he will use the justice department to sue his enemies, U.S. allies bracing for Trump's ‘America First' approach to foreign policy, and how a Sudanese refugee in Uganda is keeping his homeland alive through food. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Ira Porter for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.