Episodes

  • Lockdown lessons: How COVID-19 reshaped the country

    Lockdown lessons: How COVID-19 reshaped the country
    Mar 14 2025
    It's been 5 years since COVID-19 began rapidly spreading around the world. A Pew Research study surveyed almost 10,000 Americans, and 72% of respondents said the pandemic drove the country apart. Pew Research Center's Alec Tyson shares the impact of this political divide. And, millions of people lost loved ones to COVID-19. One of the first to die in Connecticut was 35-year-old Michael O'Brien. His father Bill O'Brien discusses grief, keeping memories alive and moving forward. Then, mutual aid helped a lot of folks through the pandemic. What are those community aid networks doing now? Whitney Hu, the co-founder of South Brooklyn Mutual Aid, explains the work her organization is doing, and S. Mitra Kalita of Epicenter-NYC details the future of mutual aid in New York City.

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    29 mins
  • Government shutdown looms as Democrats unite against GOP spending bill

    Government shutdown looms as Democrats unite against GOP spending bill
    Mar 13 2025
    Senate Democrats say they will not provide the support needed to pass a funding bill that House Republicans muscled through their chamber. If the bill fails, the government could shut down this weekend. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) joins us Robin Young to explain his party's strategy. Then, Stephanie Hoopes, the national director of United For ALICE, explains how stock market swings affect the 29% of Americans who fall above the poverty line but still struggle to make ends meet. And, just in time for spring, a new children's book celebrates a blind girl's joy in identifying birds on a nature walk with her aunt. Co-author Anita Sanchez talks about "A Sky That Sings."

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    19 mins
  • What mass firings at the Education Department mean for students

    What mass firings at the Education Department mean for students
    Mar 12 2025
    The Department of Education is cutting nearly half of its staff as part of President Trump's plan to reduce the federal government's role in education. Chalkbeat's Kalyn Belsha explains how this could impact schools, students and the future of education. And, federal employees were ordered to remove pronouns from their email signatures. Some states followed suit, including Texas. Frank Zamora, a former Texas state employee, refused to comply and was promptly fired. Zamora shares his story. Then, Southwest Airlines is dropping one of its most popular policies: free checked bags. Transportation analyst Seth Kaplan explains why.

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    18 mins
  • Philippines ex-President Duterte arrested for alleged crimes against humanity

    Philippines ex-President Duterte arrested for alleged crimes against humanity
    Mar 11 2025
    Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court, charging him with crimes against humanity for the thousands killed in a drug war that Duterte waged across his political career. We get the latest from The New York Times' Sui-Lee Wee. Then, Lt. Cmdr. Geirid Morgan, a transgender Navy officer and former rescue diver, talks about President Trump's executive order banning transgender troops from serving in the military. Morgan is one of several plaintiffs in a lawsuit that is challenging the constitutionality of the order. And, music can have profound benefits for humans. Neuroscientist and musician Daniel J. Levitin talks about his latest book, "I Heard There Was A Secret Chord: Music as Medicine," which explains how our brains process music and lays out the evidence for the therapeutic benefits music can have.

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    24 mins
  • Republicans control Congress. Why can't they easily pass a spending bill?

    Republicans control Congress. Why can't they easily pass a spending bill?
    Mar 10 2025
    Republican and Democrats in Congress must agree on a short-term spending bill before the government runs out of money on Friday night NBC's Scott Wong gives us the latest on negotiations. And, as people remember Roberta Flack, we meet the songwriter who wrote the lyrics to "Killing Me Softly": Lori Lieberman. Then, Mississippi mother Brandy Moore used crystal meth during her pregnancy. After being spared from a prison sentence, she found her purpose in sharing her story to help others dealing with addiction.

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    29 mins
  • The loneliness cure: How to cope with isolation at work

    The loneliness cure: How to cope with isolation at work
    Mar 7 2025
    A recent report from Gallup found that one in five people across the world said they felt lonely on a daily basis. People are lonely in every aspect of their lives — at home, in social settings, and at work. Researcher Constance Hadley joins us to discuss isolation at work. Then, losing your job can be devastating and overwhelming. Career coach Eliana Goldstein shares some advice for what to do after you've lost your job. And, when you're feeling anxious, reach for glimmers— the tiny things in your day that bring you joy. It could be as simple as holding beach stones, listening to birds or snuggling with a pet. Author and licensed clinical social worker Deb Dana tells us more.

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    30 mins
  • Trump takes aim at Social Security

    Trump takes aim at Social Security
    Mar 6 2025
    The Social Security Administration is facing a "significant workforce reduction" amid President Trump's government cuts. Martin O'Malley, commissioner of the Social Security Administration under former President Joe Biden, explains the impact of these cuts. And, Randy Carr, the CEO of a company that manufactures patches for uniforms, shares how Trump's trade is affecting his business. Then, Bloomberg investigative reporter Zeke Faux details Trump's plan for a strategic cryptocurrency reserve.

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    23 mins
  • Supreme Court rejects Trump's foreign aid freeze

    Supreme Court rejects Trump's foreign aid freeze
    Mar 5 2025
    In a 5-4 ruling on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's push to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments for work that has already been completed. Georgetown Law professor Mary McCord joins us to explain what the decision means. Then, it's the height of tax season, but the Internal Revenue Service is down thousands of agents, thanks to recent cuts by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. One team gutted by Musk's DOGE specialized in making sure the super-rich and big corporations paid their taxes. ProPublica's Andy Kroll tells us more. And, state lawmakers in Oklahoma are now trying to add some professionalism — via a licensing program — to storm chasing in an effort to keep the general public more aware of severe weather in their area. Oklahoma lawmaker Rep. Scott Fetgatter explains.

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    22 mins