Podcast appearances and mentions of sean carter

In the first year of his second term, President Donald Trump has focused his attention on foreign policy and made numerous trips abroad – with an eye toward the Nobel Peace Prize. But as he discusses peace deals with foreign leaders, his ratings domestically have fallen. Critics say that he isn't doing enough to ease American's economic concerns. So, this week, Trump returned his attention stateside and kicked off his affordability tour in Pennsylvania, while simultaneously branding “affordability” as a democratic “hoax.”Today on the politics roundtable, we discuss why Trump's tour signals the administration's concerns about the politics of affordability, and how some Democrats could use this as a way to gain an edge during the 2026 midterms. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Dan Merica, the co-anchor of our politics newsletter, The Early Brief, and White House Bureau Chief Matt Viser. Today's episode was produced by Josh Carroll and Thomas Lu. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Reena Flores. Thanks also to our Politics editors. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. Watch this episode on YouTube here.

The historic movie and television company now known as Warner Bros. Discovery is in high demand. Last week, Netflix announced it would buy some of the company's most valuable media portfolio for $83 billion. But Paramount Skydance then launched a hostile bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery mere days later.Host Martine Powers speaks with media reporter Scott Nover about why these major media companies want Warner Bros., what a deal could mean for how we watch TV and movies, and how President Donald Trump could become involved in the negotiations.Today's show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to James Graff.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

To many Americans, the idea of banning a party that has support from a significant portion of voters might seem undemocratic. But Germany, guided by its determination to avoid a repeat of Nazism, included a provision in its post-World War II constitution to allow banning parties that aim to subvert the constitutional order.Now, as Germany's far-right party – Alternative for Germany (AfD) – surges in popularity, the country is in a heated debate over whether to ban it. “Post Reports” producer and reporter Emma Talkoff speaks with host Colby Itkowitz about how Germany is wrestling with the question of how to fight political extremism.Today's show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Aaron Weiner and David Herszenhorn. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The 2026 World Cup is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Before the tournament selection took place Friday in Washington D.C., FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented President Donald Trump with an inaugural Peace Prize from soccer's global governing body. Celebrities from the worlds of sports and entertainment were also included in the programming lineup. On today's episode of “Post Reports” host Ava Wallace is joined by Washington Post sports journalists Thomas Floyd and Rick Maese. They break down what happened at last week's World Cup draw and how it will shape the tournament this coming summer.Then, why some human rights groups are raising questions about the relationship between President Trump and FIFA.Today's episode was produced by Lucas Trevor with help from Josh Carroll. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Thomas Lu and Reena Flores. Thanks to Sarah Laramier and Joe Tone.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In September, the U.S. military began striking boats suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean. Since then, questions about the legality of these strikes have swirled. Last week, The Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a spoken order to kill everyone before a Sept. 2 attack, according to officials. The commander of the mission later made the decision to strike two survivors of the attack who had been clinging to the wreckage. Today on the politics roundtable, we'll discuss the fallout, and why both Republicans and Democrats are increasing their scrutiny of Hegseth's leadership at the Department of Defense.And, after brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October, President Trump hoped to do the same for Russia and Ukraine. But his efforts have fallen short.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Matthew Choi, the co-anchor of our politics newsletter, The Early Brief, and White House reporter Michael Birnbaum. Today's episode was produced by Laura Benshoff, Josh Carroll, and Thomas Lu. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Reena Flores. Thanks also to our politics editors. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. Watch this episode on YouTube here.

Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection usually police the frontier. But since the summer, the Trump administration has deployed these agents, along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, to Democratic-led cities, often with combustive results. Leading these urban operations is Gregory Bovino, who has become the face of the aggressive crackdown.Host Elahe Izadi speaks with immigration reporter Marianne LeVine about the deep reporting she and other Post reporters did in Chicago, what they uncovered about who is being arrested, and what Operation Midway Blitz can tell us about this new era of immigration enforcement.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Elana Gordon with help from Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to national correspondent Arelis Hernández and immigration editor Christine Armario. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

When the U.S. first struck a suspected drug-smuggling boat off the Trinidad coast on Sept. 2, two survivors were left clinging to the wreckage. In order to comply with the commands he'd been given by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Special Operations commander ordered a second strike, according to two people familiar with the matter. It killed the two survivors.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national security reporter Alex Horton about what this new information reveals about the Trump administration's campaign against suspected drug smugglers.Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Sabby Robinson and Reena Flores. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Ben Pauker.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Feeling a sense of awe can make us feel less stressed, less lonely and more connected to each other. It's good for our bodies and our minds. So how do we feel more of it? Today's show was produced by Joshua Carroll, Rennie Svirnovskiy and Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Allison Klein and Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter.Subscribe to The Optimist's newsletter here and subscribe to The Washington Post here.

You can read today's edition of The 7 newsletter here. While The 7 podcast takes a break today, we wanted to share this Post Reports episode from earlier this month. It's about the movie, “A House of Dynamite,” a new thriller on Netflix about nuclear war. Kathryn Bigelow has been thinking about the threat of nuclear war ever since she was a kid. “I come from the era of duck and cover,” she says, “where when I was very little, we had to hide under the desk in the event of an atomic bomb blast.”Over the last 40 years, she's been directing tightly-paced thrillers such as “The Hurt Locker” (which won her the Academy Award for best director) and “Zero Dark Thirty.” Her latest film, “A House of Dynamite,” takes on a question that has been on her mind for decades: What would happen if the U.S. were targeted by a nuclear missile? The film, which is out on Netflix, has struck a nerve with audiences, becoming the streamer's most-watched movie in the world and igniting conversation about the accuracy of its depiction of the U.S. missile defense system. Today on Post Reports, Elahe Izadi speaks with Kathryn Bigelow and with the film's screenwriter, Noah Oppenheim, about why they chose to make this film in this moment, and about how they responded when they saw news that the U.S. could restart nuclear testing for the first time in decades. Today's show was produced by Peter Bresnan and Josh Carroll, with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch us on YouTube here.

It's the most wonderful time of the year and, if you're not careful, it could be the most expensive. The day after Thanksgiving has historically been the official start of the holiday shopping season, but we've been seeing Black Friday deals advertised earlier each year.Moreover, Americans are increasingly concerned about the rising costs of food, housing and health care. Throw in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and recession-level layoffs in the private sector and money might be tight for many households this holiday season.Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary joins host Colby Itkowitz and explains how you can avoid overspending on gifts and holiday celebrations. Singletary gives us permission to scale back for the holidays and prioritize togetherness over consumerism.Today's show was produced by Charla Freeland. It was edited by Reena Flores and Ted Muldoon and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

After months of buildup, Congress voted to release the Epstein files on Tuesday. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. But language in that legislation leaves wiggle room for the Justice Department to hold back some of the files, and questions remain about how much transparency the measure secures.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Justice Department reporter Jeremy Roebuck and Dan Merica, co-anchor of The Washington Post's flagship politics newsletter, The Early Brief. They talk about this latest step in the Epstein saga and also unpack some recent setbacks facing the second Trump administration. And they answer a question from an Early Brief reader about gerrymandering in Texas.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Josh Carroll. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Alec Dent and David Lauter.Subscribe to The Washington Post here. Watch this episode on YouTube here.

This week, President Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At a grand White House dinner, an investment summit at the Kennedy Center and a sit-down in the Oval Office, the leaders appeared to be in lockstep.It was a stark contrast to 2018, when the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Mohammed had approved the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Lawmakers condemned the crown prince and withdrew support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. Today, Elahe Izadi speaks to White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about how the crown prince was welcomed back into the fold — and why the U.S. refuses to cut ties with Saudi Arabia. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Annah Aschbrenner.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Ever felt like you couldn't believe in God because you still have questions? In this episode, we sit down with Sean Carter from our Minooka Campus to hear his story of coming to faith by discovering that God isn't intimidated by our questions — He meets us in them. Whether you're searching, skeptical, or just curious about faith, this conversation is an open invitation to explore what belief can look like when you don't have it all figured out.Find out more about The Village https://www.thevillagechristianchurch.com FOLLOW US Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thevillagechristianchurch Instagram https://www.instagram.com/villagechristianchurch/

When the conservative organization Blexit announced it was going to visit HBCU campuses this fall, it received backlash from students, administrators and alumni. But when it made a stop at Howard University – during the university's celebratory homecoming weekend – the reception felt mixed.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Features reporter Samantha Chery about Blexit's strategy and how people reacted to its visit to Howard. Then, national politics reporter Sabrina Rodriguez speaks with Itkowitz about where the Black vote stands nationally.Today's show was produced by Zoe Cummings, Sabby Robinson and Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The House Oversight Committee released a tranche of emails from the estate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that give us more information about his relationship to President Donald Trump. Today on the politics roundtable, we'll unpack what these emails say and how the White House has responded.And, after 43 days, the federal government is back open for business. As the dust settles on the longest shutdown in history, we'll talk about what lawmakers learned – and whether another shutdown could be right around the corner.Colby speaks with Dan Merica and Matthew Choi, who are co-anchors of our politics newsletter The Early Brief. Today's show was produced by Emma Talkoff and Josh Carroll. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch us on YouTube here.

It's an improbable path, from al-Qaeda to the West Wing. The U.S. had once designated Ahmed al-Sharaa a terrorist. He fought U.S. forces in Iraq and was even imprisoned. Sharaa spent years in northwest Syria leading an Islamic militant group that was affiliated with al-Qaeda until he cut those ties. Last year, al-Sharaa led rebel forces that took down Syria's dictator Bashar al-Assad, ending decades of repression. As Sharaa looks to gain international favor and trust while rebuilding the country and its security, the 43-year-old met with President Trump on Monday, in the first visit by a Syrian head of state to the White House. Afterward, Sharaa sat down with The Washington Post for an exclusive interview to discuss the historic meeting, the future of Syria and his plans to work with Americans he once fought. Today on “Post Reports,” Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with the Post's international correspondent Susannah George about Syria, al-Sharaa and their conversation. Today's show was produced by Elana Gordon with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Alan Sipress. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Kathryn Bigelow has been thinking about the threat of nuclear war ever since she was a kid. “I come from the era of duck and cover,” she says, “where when I was very little, we had to hide under the desk in the event of an atomic bomb blast.”Over the last 40 years, she's been directing tightly-paced thrillers such as “The Hurt Locker” (which won her the Academy Award for best director) and “Zero Dark Thirty.” Her latest film, “A House of Dynamite,” takes on a question that has been on her mind for decades: What would happen if the U.S. were targeted by a nuclear missile? The film, which is out on Netflix, has struck a nerve with audiences, becoming the streamer's most-watched movie in the world and igniting conversation about the accuracy of its depiction of the U.S. missile defense system. Today on Post Reports, Elahe Izadi speaks with Kathryn Bigelow and with the film's screenwriter, Noah Oppenheim, about why they chose to make this film in this moment, and about how they responded when they saw news that the U.S. could restart nuclear testing for the first time in decades. Today's show was produced by Peter Bresnan and Josh Carroll, with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch us on YouTube here.

After weeks of holding out, a small group of Senate Democrats voted with Republicans over the weekend to start the process of reopening the government. Since the U.S. government closed its doors on Nov. 1, services like federal food assistance have suffered, and Social Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service help lines have paused as those workers face furloughs. But Democrats had maintained that the pain was worth it, in order to extract more money from Republicans to fund health care subsidies for people who access insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Now, that demand has fallen by the wayside.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national political reporter and Senate expert Liz Goodwin about what it will still take to reopen the government, and why this funding compromise has further divided Democrats.Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Laura Benshoff with help from Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Kate Barr ran for state Senate in North Carolina's 37th District as a Democrat last year, expecting to lose. She even branded her campaign with the words “Kate Barr can't win.” She ran the unconventional campaign to make an argument against gerrymandering — a tactic used in her state and across the country by politicians who have redrawn congressional maps to favor their party. But now she is switching tactics and running for U.S. Congress as a Republican. Host Colby Itkowitz sits down with Barr to talk about her chances this time around and what she thinks of redistricting efforts around the country that are making congressional elections even less competitive.Today's show was produced by Reena Flores, Josh Carroll and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch us on YouTube here.

As a college student, Sean Carter was in a car crash and sustained a traumatic brain injury. His mother, Jenny, became his full-time caregiver.In three recordings over 10 years, Sean— with his mother and his twin brother, Todd— reflected on making peace with the sudden turn in their lives, and the prospect of an uncertain future.Leave us a voicemail at 702-706-TALK, or email us at podcast@storycorps.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

An estimated 42 million Americans use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP – also known as food stamps – to feed themselves and their families. The program ran out of funding over the weekend amid the government shutdown. While the Trump administration agreed to release enough funds to pay for half of November's SNAP benefits, many SNAP users are worried about what the rest of the month – and beyond – might look like.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks to technology reporter Heather Kelly about the current state of SNAP and how people are looking to online content creators for practical advice about how to stretch their food budgets.Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Mariana Alfaro, Jen Liberto and Yun-Hee Kim.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump spent several days this week in Asia, dining with world leaders and hammering out the details of trade agreements. The visit culminated with a face-to-face meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. While both sides agreed to back off of their most aggressive trade positions, the visit was overshadowed by Trump's directive that the United States would resume nuclear weapons testing.Back at home, the federal government shutdown has created a cliff for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, which 42 million Americans rely on for food assistance. With that benefit slated to run out at the end of October, how are Democrats and Republicans in Congress reacting?Host Elahe Izadi speaks with White House economic policy correspondent Jacob Bogage and David J. Lynch, who covers trade for The Post. You can purchase David's latest book, “The World's Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (and What Would Make It Right),” here.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Josh Carroll. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch us on YouTube here.

As consumers are doing more shopping online, and as President Donald Trump's tariffs have been driving the price of goods up, many toy and mall brands have been struggling. But Build-a-Bear Workshop is thriving – the company's stock has grown by nearly 1,200% over the past five years, outpacing growth by tech giants like Microsoft and Apple. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with retail reporter Jackie Peiser about how this toy company has managed to thrive in a challenging economic moment.Today's show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Peter Bresnan and mixed by Sean Carter and Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Former presidents usually leave the big political battles to their successors. Up until this year, that was largely the case for former president Barack Obama. In his retirement from politics, he founded an award-winning production company, wrote a memoir, and worked to cultivate new political leaders through the Obama Foundation. But a second Trump presidency has tested Obama and put him back in the national spotlight as the Democratic Party looks to him for answers on how to respond to Trump's most unprecedented policies, including partisan redistricting. Today on “Post Reports,” host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national politics reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb about how Obama is confronting Trump and why his voice continues to hold sway over Democrats.Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

This week, construction crews knocked down the East Wing of the White House to make way for the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. This demolition surprised many in D.C., as President Donald Trump had previously said his proposed addition would not significantly alter the existing structure.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with White House reporter Dan Diamond and Dan Merica, the co-anchor of the Early Brief newsletter, about why this construction is unlikely to be derailed and what we know about the ballroom plans. And, they discuss how past comments by Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner and onetime Trump nominee Paul Ingrassia have come back to haunt them.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Josh Carroll. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

One of the hottest events in San Francisco over the past couple of months was a lecture series by tech billionaire Peter Thiel – in which he preached about those he thinks are “legionnaires of the Antichrist.” Thiel has shared his Christian viewpoints publicly and is a longtime supporter of conservative politicians. But in these talks, he asserts that those who are pro-regulation are also against God. The lectures were off the record, but Gerrit De Vynck and other reporters at The Post obtained leaked recordings of them. Today on “Post Reports,” Gerrit shares these recordings with host Colby Itkowitz and unpacks what Thiel's argument says about tech's growing power and ambition during the second Trump administration.Today's show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Can the Oklahoma City Thunder defend its championship? How will all the player injuries affect the dynamics in the Eastern Conference? And if fewer people are watching the games … how does the NBA grow? “Post Reports” tackles the important questions at the heart of this year's NBA season, which began Tuesday. And we're bringing in the experts: The Sports Moment writer Ava Wallace joins NBA reporter Ben Golliver in a special sports takeover of the show. Today's episode was produced by Lucas Trevor. It was edited by Ted Muldoon and Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And sign up for The Sports Moment newsletter here.

Are you happy? How would you answer that question if a stranger with a camera asked?Five years ago, filmmaker Atdhe Trepca quit his job and drove across the country with a camera, asking hundreds of people that question.His videos reach millions on TikTok and Instagram, and now he's made a documentary.Today, Optimist reporter Maggie Penman shares what Trepca has learned – and the research that backs up his observations.If you want to hear more stories like this, please let us know. You can reach the whole team at podcasts@washpost.com or email Maggie at maggie.penman@washpost.com.Today's episode was reported and produced by Maggie Penman, with help from Ted Muldoon, Emma Talkoff, Reena Flores, and Sean Carter, who also mixed the show. It was edited by Allison Klein. The Optimist has a newsletter! Subscribe here.And, subscribe to The Washington Post here.

As the federal government shutdown stretches on, Republicans and Democrats are still far apart on a path to reopening. One major sticking point is the Democrats' demand to include renewed health care subsidies for ACA marketplace enrollees as a part of any vote to end the shutdown.Host Colby Itkowitz sits with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) to ask about how Republicans view that demand, how the politics of health care are playing in this moment, and the White House's moves to fire federal workers during a shutdown.Today's show was produced by Josh Carroll, Laura Benshoff and Elana Gordon. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch the video on YouTube here.

As the federal government shutdown stretches into its third week, its effects are starting to ripple across the country. National parks are closed, flights are delayed, and this week, some federal workers will miss their first paychecks. For some of those workers, things are even more stressful: President Donald Trump is making good on his threat to use the shutdown to shutter government programs and offices he disagrees with. Thousands of workers have received notices that they may lose their jobs.The Trump administration has claimed the cuts will help them keep the lights on during the shutdown. But experts say that's not true – and the action may not be legal.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with reporter Hannah Natanson about Trump's attempt to close swaths of the federal government – permanently.Today's show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And tell us a ghost story here!

On Monday, Israelis celebrated the return of all 20 living hostages still held by Hamas. Palestinians welcomed back hundreds of prisoners and detainees held in Israel. For the first time in months, humanitarian aid began to surge into war-torn Gaza.The swap was part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement that President Donald Trump brokered between Israel and Hamas – a step he touted as the beginning of a new era of peace across the region. But many unanswered questions remain about how the fragile peace negotiations will continue to develop.Colby Itkowitz speaks with Middle East reporter Abbie Cheeseman about how this deal came to be – and what questions remain for the future of Gaza.Today's show was produced by Thomas Lu with assistance from Rennie Svirnovskiy and Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Ted Muldoon and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The Senate remains far apart on resolving the ongoing government shutdown. But the battle for public opinion on who's to blame has shifted. Republicans appear split on whether to negotiate on health-care costs, as Democrats are demanding. And polling shows voters blame the GOP just as much as Democrats, if not more, for failing to fund the government.Plus, what Attorney General Pam Bondi's combative hearing before the Senate Oversight Committee this week signals about her place in the Trump administration, the text messages blowing up a statewide race in Virginia and the peace deal for Gaza that President Donald Trump helped broker. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with national politics reporter Liz Goodwin and Dan Merica, the co-anchor of The Post's flagship politics newsletter, The Early Brief.Today's show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Josh Carroll. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here. You can find this episode on YouTube here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

At the end of July, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the presidential fitness test. The test was administered in public schools around the country from 1950 to 2012, when it was ended by President Barack Obama.After health columnist Gretchen Reynolds heard the news, she put out a call to Post readers asking about their memories of the presidential fitness test. Hundreds responded, many of them sharing vivid memories of humiliation and shame associated with the test. Elahe Izadi speaks with Gretchen about the origins of the test, what this new iteration of the test might look like, and what experts say about whether the test actually combats things like obesity and inactivity in young people. Today's show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Ariel Plotnick. Thanks to Emily Codik and Teresa Tamkins.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

A team of “Post Reports” producers join Post reporter Olivia George for a Friday night out on U Street NW, a major hub for nightlight in the nation's capital and an area that has experienced one of the highest number of crimes reported this year. They speak with businesses, partygoers and workers to hear their experience during the first weekend since President Donald Trump's takeover of D.C.'s law enforcement. The changes in the nation's capital are palpable. Trump announced the police takeover last week. He also sent in 800 National Guard troops with at least six Republican-led states agreeing to send hundreds of additional Guard troops. As more federal law enforcement and immigration officers take to the streets, setting up check points, arresting and detaining people, tensions have been growing in the city. Trump has described his federal intervention in D.C. as a crusade against crime. In its first week, the main targets have increasingly been immigrants and those experiencing homelessness. Videos of local detainments have reverberated through group chats and social media.Today's show was produced by Elana Gordon, Reena Flores, Sabby Robinson, Sean Carter and Thomas Lu with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and Renita Jablonski and mixed by Sean Carter. Special thanks to Craig Hudson, John Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dolan, Katie Mettler and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump stunned the international community when he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska for a high-stakes summit on the war in Ukraine. Just hours after Trump greeted Putin on his first visit to the U.S. in a decade, he watched him leave with no ceasefire deal in hand, however. Now, Trump is turning to Ukrainian leader Volodomyr Zelensky and NATO leaders to help strike a negotiated settlement to the war. But Trump's rush for a deal is coming up against stark geopolitical realities, with Ukraine and Russia seeking different concessions in exchange for ending the war. Today on Post Reports, Elahe Izadi speaks with White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about the latest developments from Trump's meetings. Today's show was produced by Arjun Singh with help from Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick, with help from Reena Flores. It was mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to David Lauter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

President Donald Trump began his second term with a playbook in hand for how he might take control of aspects of D.C.'s government, according to Post reporting. Trump's takeover of the city's police department this week was just one possible outcome.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with White House reporter Cleve Wootson and The Post's White House bureau chief, Matt Viser, about how Trump set the stage for deploying the National Guard in D.C. and taking control of the city's police force. They also unpack exclusive Post reporting on a plan to create a federal “reaction force” to deploy in cities across the country, and the stakes for Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday.Today's show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.