Here & Now Anytime
The news you need to know today — and the stories that will stick with you tomorrow. Plus, special series and behind-the-scenes extras from Here & Now hosts Robin Young and Scott Tong with help from Producer Chris Bentley and the team at NPR and WBUR.
Episodes
Lizzo reclaims sexist insult on new album
Grammy-winning musician Lizzo's new album "Bitch" is out. She talks with Robin Young about her music and reclaiming and owning the word. Then, we kick off summer with music picks from Miguel Perez, producer for NPR's World Cafe. And, "Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet" is a string of text that's become ubiquitous. Designed as a placeholder for work-in-progress documents, those quasi-Latin words now appea
Controversial spy program set to expire
A key part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is set to expire after the House on Thursday failed to extend it. The program allows U.S. intelligence agents to spy on terrorist suspects abroad without a warrant, but some Democrats and Republicans in Congress are concerned that President Trump's pick for acting director of national intelligence will abuse his power and spy on Trump opponen
Why the Fed is trapped by inflation
Prices are rising at their fastest clip in three years, according to new data out Wednesday. What does this mean for interest rates? Loretta Mester, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, explains the likely economic impact.Then, a new government report out this week found that unless Congress passes new laws soon, Social Security will not be able to pay out full benefi
New rules could kick sick people off Medicaid
New rules released by the Trump administration earlier this month will require Medicaid recipients with cancer and other conditions to prove they're too sick to work. The rule is part of new Medicaid eligibility requirements that take effect next year. Colorado Medicaid director Adela Flores-Brennan explains how his state is preparing. Then, after decades of containment in the Central American tr
Is the White House UFC fight legal?
A new lawsuit argues that the White House UFC fighting event scheduled for next Saturday on President Trump's birthday violates the law. Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer, weighs in.And, as Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference gets underway, it’s expected to focus on artificial intelligence, new products and partnerships. Ina Fried, Axios chief technology correspondent,
Tips for navigating a tough job market
Need help finding a job? We get career advice from career coach Judi Umali-Rajkumar and hear from listeners who share their stories about trying to find a post-graduation job.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
What one senator saw inside Delaney Hall
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) visited immigrants detained at Delaney Hall in Newark, N.J. Some detainees are alleging poor conditions and outside, protestors are clashing with police. Kim joins us to share what he saw inside the center.And, on Wednesday night, four Republican voted with House Democrats to limit President Trump's ability to wage war in Iran, exposing a rift between Trump and his own party
Is FEMA ready for hurricane season?
This year's hurricane season begins with concerns that there are staffing issues at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency that President Trump has targeted for overhaul. William Ray, the North Carolina director of emergency management, talks about his state's preparedness this year following widespread damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024. We also spoke with acting FEMA administrator
The former judge who helped block Trump's allies fund
A federal judge’s order temporarily halts President Trump’s $1.8 billion fund to pay people who say they were unfairly prosecuted by former President Joe Biden’s administration. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner is one of the judges who challenged the fund and pushed the courts to reopen the settlement that established it.And, protests continue outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention cent
Why bright-red Iowa may now be a toss-up
President Trump's standing in the polls has dipped in Iowa, a state he won three times. During primary voting, Democrats hope to pick up an open Senate seat and other Congressional seats. Radio Iowa news director Kay Henderson shares what’s at stake.Then, roughly 60 candidates are on the ballot to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom, but with primary voting ending Tuesday, there is no clear front
How Route 66 got its kicks
Route 66, known as “America’s Main Street” is not the longest or most-travelled American highway. Fully paved in the 1930s, it became a Depression-era migration route for poor farming families fleeing the Dust Bowl for a new start in California. It’s been featured in popular media for decades. Kathleen Franz, lead curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, unpacks more of th
The bipartisan plan to ease the nation's housing crisis
Congressional lawmakers are trying to pass a bill to address a shortage of affordable. The would limit the number of rental homes large investors can own and make it easier to build and buy homes made in factories. The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Picciotto explains more.Then, CNN reports that President Trump’s Department of Justice is investigating whether E. Jean Carroll committed perjury in he
The evolution of Marco Rubio
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is at the center of the Trump administration. He's helping to lead negotiations over the war in Iran, the pressure campaign on Cuba's communist regime, and U.S. efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. It wasn't always this way. Journalist and author Manuel Roig-Franzia breaks down how Rubio went from Trump critic to his chief booster, and whether it's all in service
Immigration lawyers report 'chaos' over Trump’s new green card rules
The Trump administration put out new rules last Friday that require people to apply for green cards from abroad instead of from inside the U.S., which has been custom for immigrants seeking permanent residency status. Immigration attorney Richard Herman explains what he’s hearing from his clients and what remains unclear.Then, protests continue outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facili
What the Queen of Salsa's red satin heels say about America
A pair of red, satin, sky-high heels that Celia Cruz, or the “queen of salsa” wore on stage is part of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Ranald Woodaman, exhibitions and public programs director at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, shares more about the exhibit and Cruz’s lasting legacy.And, throughout the early 20th century, East Coast m
Reverse Course: Sheep meet solar, AI detects wildfires
When farmer Bryant Parker noticed solar farms popping up in his area, he spotted an opportunity. Now, Parker brings his flock of sheep to several solar farms to chow down on grass. Here & Now’s Chris Bentley reports from central Illinois about the practice called agrivoltaics, or the combination of solar power and farming, where both industries benefit.And, as a historic drought desiccates the Wes
Why Jan. 6 officers are suing to stop Trump's $1.8 billion allies fund
President Trump's administration has created a nearly $1.8 billion fund designed to pay out people who say the government unfairly investigated or prosecuted them, including people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Two police officers who defended the Capitol that day are suing, calling the fund a way for Trump to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violen
Trump administration says the IRS can't audit Trump
A last-minute addendum to a Department of Justice deal with President Trump says the Internal Revenue Service is “forever barred” from auditing Trump, his family members and his businesses. The deal also created a $1.8 billion fund to pay out Trump allies who say they were unfairly investigated. Law professor Mary McCord explains the implications.Then, Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican
Who gets the money in Trump‘s new ‘weaponization’ fund?
The Trump administration announced a new Justice Department fund of more than $1.7 billion to compensate people it says were harmed by “weaponization” under the Biden administration. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter talks about the legal and ethical questions surrounding the move. Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are getting quicker at finding people to arrest, than
What to know about a new Ebola outbreak
The World Health Organization has declared an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to be a global health emergency. We hear from Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician with experience in Ebola outbreak response. And, on Saturday, one prominent critic of President Trump, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, lost his primary, and on Tuesday, another Republican Trum
Introducing "The Midnight Rebellion," a new climate fiction podcast
From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. The Midnight Rebellion is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It is fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family.You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight Re
What life in China looks like
Host Scott Tong checks in with us from Beijing, China, where he's been reporting from all week. Then, Melinda Liu moved to Beijing in 1980. Scott talks with her in a historic neighborhood about the ways China has transformed since the 1980s and the rural poverty that remains despite the modern leaps forward. And, Tong never met his grandfather, who was a political prisoner and died in a labor camp
What do American businesses want from China?
Thursday's meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded with a banquet. Seated at tables in the ballroom were more than a dozen CEOs, among them SpaceX's Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. It was also attended by Trump's son Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, and his wife, Fox News host Lara Trump. The Financial Times' Joe Miller tells us mo
How to keep your chatbot from stealing your money
While artificial intelligence can be helpful for synthesizing complicated information, financial analysts urge consumers to avoid sharing personal financial information with chatbots. Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary outlines the risks.And, amid an unpopular war in Iran and states pushing to redraw congressional maps, midterm elections are approaching. Republican analyst Charlie Dent
Why consumer prices are rising fast
The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that consumer prices increased by 3.8% in April compared to a year ago. That's the fastest pace of price increases in around three years. Wailin Wong, host of the Indicator from NPR’s Planet Money, joins us. Then, the subject of Taiwan is one of the main priorities for Beijing in the upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. H
When 'America First' meets 'China First'
Host Scott Tong is reporting from China this week as President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a high-profile summit in Beijing. He joins us from Shanghai to share his first impressions of the country since the last time he was there.Then, the summit is set for later this week. Senior research fellow Yu Jie from Chatham House explains the power dynamic going into the meeting.And
Virginia's top court deals huge blow to Democrats
The Virginia Supreme Court has thrown out a voter-approved redistricting referendum that could have helped Democrats pick up several U.S. House seats this fall. NPR’s Larry Kaplow explains more about the fight over congressional maps ahead of midterm elections.And, Alabama is one of many states moving forward with redistricting after the Supreme Court’s decision last week dealt a blow to the Votin
The rare bats that helped spark a conservation movement
Ten years ago, Iroro Tanshi found something incredible in a cave in Nigeria: a colony of short-tailed roundleaf bats, a species that hadn’t been seen there in almost 50 years. We learn how her discovery helped kickstart a conservation movement in West Africa to protect rare species of bats from threats like poaching and wildfires. Then, North America has lost billions of birds since 1970, but some
Drought fears spur big fight over Utah data center
"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary wants to build a huge data center north of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The project was greenlit, but still needs to obtain water usage rights as lake water supply is nearing a new low. KUER reporter Macy Lipkin shares more.Then, New Orleans may have crossed a “point of no return,” according to new analysis. Report co-author Jesse Keenan explains how rising seas, si
What the Ohio and Indiana primaries hint about November's midterms
Ohio and Indiana voters offered an early glimpse at the political mood heading into the midterms. NPR's Stephen Fowler joins us to talk about the results. Then, the Trump administration says it is investigating Smith College, the women's school in Massachusetts, over its policy of admitting transgender students. The 19th's LGBTQ+ beat reporter Kate Sosin tells us more. And, Melanie Turner, a speci
Psychedelics and the future of medicine
The Food and Drug Administration says it is offering an “ultra-fast review” of two psychedelic drugs intended to treat serious mental health disorders. This follows a White House executive order directing the FDA to speed up research on psychedelics, which right now are illegal under federal law. Dr. Gail Saltz talks about the latest news surrounding psychedelics. Then, what happens when we open o
Mifepristone access is back. But for how long?
On Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily restored mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone. It puts aside a lower court ruling in Louisiana on Friday that ended national telemedicine access to the pill. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, an OB-GYN based in New Orleans, explains what this means for nationwide abortion access.And, after talks for a government bailout fell through, Spirit Airlines shu
The history of America's weather forecasts
A new exhibit called “Water’s Edge” at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian showcases work by late artist Truman Lowe of the Ho-Chunk nation. Exhibit curator Rebecca Trautmann details how a sculpture titled “Feather Canoe” represents Lowe’s work and what his artistic style contributes to the story of America.And, how did you check the weather this morning? Back in the late 1800s
The Iran war and the future of energy
The average price of gas in the U.S. hit a wartime high of $4.30 on Thursday, according to AAA. Bloomberg's Michael Regan breaks down the latest numbers. And, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent global energy prices skyrocketing and led to oil and gas shortages in parts of the world. Economic historian, author and S&P Global vice chairman Daniel Yergin says the Hormuz oil shock will lead
Did the Supreme Court just gut a major civil rights law?
The Supreme Court axed a 2024 voting map from Louisiana that created a new majority-Black congressional district, calling the district an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” Law professor Spencer Overton explains what the ruling could mean for Black political power.Then, former FBI director James Comey surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday on charges he threatened President Trump's life
Why has political violence become so common?
A man has been charged with trying to assassinate President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. But threats against public officials are rising across parties. Political violence researcher Jacob Ware explains the deeper forces shaping modern violence.Then, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a new plan this week to redraw the state’s congressional map to give Republicans four extra se
Why couldn't security stop a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?
On Saturday night, a gunman gained access to the ballroom where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was being held and President Trump and top administration officials were present. MSNOW reporter Carol Leonnig explains whether there were holes in event security that night.Then, the Supreme Court is hearing a case about Monsanto's powerful weedkiller, Roundup, which has lost lawsuits from peopl
A rabbi and an imam reflect on antisemitism and Islamophobia
The rise of violence against Jews around the world has made armed security guards a common sight at synagogues. Rabbi Andy Green of Congregation Or Tzion in Scottsdale, Ariz., reflects.And, a recent analysis has found a sharp spike in anti-Muslim content online after the United States and Israel started a war with Iran. Bigotry and misinformation about Muslims has been promoted by senior Trump adm
Seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz face danger and dwindling rations
About 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf as the U.S. and Iran remain in a standoff over the control of the Strait of Hormuz. John Canias of the International Transport Workers’ Federation explains the conditions these workers are facing.And, a revolutionary new drug could prolong and improve the quality of life for those suffering from pancreatic cancer. STAT News reporter Angus Che
Democrats’ redistricting win could tip midterms in their favor
Voters in Virginia narrowly gave the thumbs up to new congressional maps that could allow Democrats to pick up four seats in the House after President Trump aggressively pushed red states to redistrict to help Republicans. Semafor reporter David Weigel tells us more. Then, a wave of political controversies is back in the headlines, but not all scandals land the same way. Political scientist Brando
Will Trump’s Fed nominee do the president's bidding?
Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh is arguing the Federal Reserve should stay independent on interest rates and step back from roles that go beyond its core mission. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams details the heightened political pressure on the central bank and what Warsh’s hearing has entailed.Then, Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role in September, and John Ternus, senior vice president of
What the 1956 Suez Crisis says about Iran and the limits of U.S. power
Oil prices were up again on Monday after Iran once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for President Trump's decision to extend a blockade of Iranian ships. Foreign affairs columnist Ishaan Tharoor says Trump's current headache echoes one of history’s most revealing strategic failures. He joins us. Then, the federal government just launched a portal where small businesses can apply
25 at 250: A fossilized bison skull and the Friendship 7
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has a new exhibit tracing the rise, near extinction and recovery of the bison. Museum director Kirk Johnson talks about a prehistoric skull at the centerpiece of the story and why it's important for American history. And, NASA's Artemis II mission made history this month by sending four astronauts farther from Earth than any other humans have been
6 Americans detained in Iran face ‘unprecedented danger’
Amid a shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, six Americans detained in Iran are in danger, advocates say. Former U.S. hostage envoy Roger Carstens explains what it will take to bring them home.Then, stock traders are remaining optimistic about a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. The S&P 500 hit a record high this week. MS NOW’s Ali Velshi offers an analysis of the market.And, living costs
Why rumors about Eric Swalwell went unreported
Rumors about former Rep. Eric Swalwell's behavior had been reportedly circulating for years. We talk with former Rep. Jackie Speier about the rumors and what Congress can do to better police its members. Speier was involved in 2018 in rewriting the way Congress handles sexual misconduct accusations. Politico's Melanie Mason explains how a group of social media influencers brought attention to the
Sam Altman, AI and the future tech bros want
In an extensive New Yorker investigation, Ronan Farrow looks into OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and whether one of the most influential AI minds can be trusted.Then, tech billionaires are trying to create autonomous communities, fueled by cryptocurrency and free from governmental oversight. They’ve set their sights on the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevi. Professor and author Douglas Rushkoff brea
Can the U.S. and Iran rescue talks from ‘unrealistic’ expectations?
President Trump has put in place a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. and Iran failed to strike a deal to end the war. We speak with former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who served as lead negotiator on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under former President Barack Obama, about what comes next. And then we talk with Pakistani Sen. Sherry Rehman about how negotiations played
Meet the 'iPod archaeologist' resurrecting forgotten playlists
iPods were all the rage 20 years ago, but Apple discontinued them in 2022. Now, Claire Hughes collects and refurbishes old iPods as a hobby, then shares the playlists she finds on them as time capsules of joy. She tells us about how she’s connecting with strangers through her project Junk Drawer Jukebox. And, friction-maxxing is the idea of putting aside our phones and the convenience they bring i
What does the ceasefire actually say?
The U.S.’s ceasefire with Iran is on shaky ground after Israel launched its deadliest day of strikes on Lebanon so far. Tehran and Islamabad say the strikes violate the two-week agreement. Israel said Thursday it has agreed to talks with Lebanon. The Washington Institute's Holly Dagres explains more ahead of a U.S. delegation’s scheduled visit to Pakistan on Saturday.Then, since Israel began its i
Is Trump really done with his war with Iran?
President Trump is celebrating the two-week ceasefire that the U.S. and Iran agreed to on Tuesday night. The deal includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, but will the U.S. end up walking away without getting much from Iran? Security analyst Jim Walsh discusses the deal. Then, as negotiations continue, we hear from Radin Yad, who was born in Iran and now lives in Europe. And
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