On Sunday, Syrian rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) made its final march on the Syrian capital of Damascus. The rebels had already claimed the major cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs. In a matter of hours and with little violence, Syrian government forces abandoned their posts and HTS claimed victory. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled the country and has been granted asylum in Russia. After more than five decades, Syria is no longer under the rule of the Assad dynasty. And the region is...
Dec 09, 2024•23 min
Before Kelly Bishop found her way into our hearts as Emily Gilmore, she danced her way into history in Broadway's "A Chorus Line" and the movie "Dirty Dancing." Most recently, you might have seen her as Mrs. Ivey in Hulu's "The Watchful Eye." But chances are you probably recognize the Tony-Award winner from her role as the matriarch of Stars Hollow. She joins us to talk about her new memoir, "The Third Gilmore Girl." Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to th...
Dec 08, 2024•33 min
A manhunt is underway in New York City for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He was shot and killed on a busy Midtown Manhattan street in a targeted early morning attack. And despite saying that he wouldn't do so, President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, this week for federal crimes. Also this week, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The move was rejected by the parliament and reversed by the president six hours later. His political future hangs in ...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 23 min
Bananas are the world's most popular and most consumed fruit. They are also one of the most important agricultural commodities and food staples for hundreds of millions of people around the world. The fruit is also in danger of going extinct. The Panama Disease or TR-4 is threatening the most widely exported variety of the banana, the Cavendish. It makes up 99 percent of global banana exports, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. But it's vulnerable to an aggressive fungal disea...
Dec 06, 2024•36 min
The start of December brings holiday cheer. And... the flu. Peak season is from December to February. So are we ready? We talk about vaccine hesitancy this flu season. We also get into what we know about the public health policies of the incoming Trump administration. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a . Learn more about sponsor message ch...
Dec 05, 2024•30 min
President-elect Donald Trump hasn't been shy about his love for tariffs. And now, he hopes to make good on campaign promises to implement them. In practice, these tariffs could raise the prices of a variety of everyday goods including groceries. Economic issues like inflation led many voters to Trump. However, economists have raised concerns that this strategy could lead to another bump in inflation. We unpack what these tariffs could mean for consumers and businesses and talk about how they'll ...
Dec 04, 2024•36 min
Giving season is upon us. And some may say today , Giving Tuesday, kicks it off. And the U.S. is certainly on the generous side. Last year, giving between corporations, foundations, and individuals amounted to more than $500 billion. However, those numbers are on a decline when you compare them to what people gave in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. But when you look at the long view, giving has increased by billions. Between 1954 and 2016, total giving went from $54 billion to $390 bill...
Dec 03, 2024•34 min
It's a huge development in a war that had seemed to be at a standstill. In a matter of days, rebel groups in Syria took control of most of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. It had been in the hands of the autocratic Syrian government since 2016. The Syrian regime, led by President Bashar al-Assad, now stands on questionable footing for the first time in years. We discuss what's next for the country. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Hav...
Dec 03, 2024•11 min
A bill to protect journalists in their work has long had strong bipartisan support. The "Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act," or PRESS Act, would shield journalists from government surveillance and from being forced to reveal confidential sources. It was first introduced in June 2021 and was reintroduced in 2023. It's passed the House twice but languished in the Senate. President-elect Donald Trump has of course had a tumultuous relationship with journalists. Last month, Trump ...
Dec 02, 2024•34 min
Music has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions. It can make us feel melancholy. Or it can fill us with hope. Music is often tangled up with memories and experiences, too. There's probably a playlist you associate with every stage of life — from the music that helped you through high school, to the song that reminds you of a lost loved one. Music doesn't just sound good. It can also help us be more empathetic. It's even being used to treat medical conditions like dementia, Parkinson's, and...
Nov 29, 2024•31 min
It's winter. You throw on your coat and favorite scarf and head outside to put up some last-minute decorations. Stepping out onto your porch, you gaze into the sky just as wispy flakes begin to fall. You smile to yourself because there's no such thing as too much snow for Christmas. You grab the roll of garland you left propped up on your front porch and begin winding it around the railing. Now, there's one tricky corner of the porch and you need to climb on the outside of the railing to get the...
Nov 28, 2024•32 min
Imagine you're on a date with someone new. So far, you find them funny, intelligent, and easy to talk to. But 20 minutes in, the conversation turns to politics. It becomes clear that you don't share the same views. Do you stay on the date? Or do you leave? Nearly 80 percent of Americans would likely make an excuse and find their way home. Only 21 percent of U.S. marriages are between individuals who don't share the same political party, according to the Institute for Family Studies. That's a 10-...
Nov 27, 2024•35 min
"Wicked: Part 1" follows the origin story of Elphaba, known in the original "Wizard of Oz" movie as the Wicked Witch of the West. And it follows her friend, Galinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch. The movie is based on the Broadway musical which debuted in 2003. Last year, it became the fourth-longest running musical in Broadway history. And that musical comes from a 1995 novel of the same name. The new Wicked movie stars singer-actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the witches El...
Nov 26, 2024•32 min
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire businessman Elon Musk are heading the president-elect's new Department of Government Efficiency – a non-governmental agency that they say will reduce waste and streamline the U.S. federal agencies. But the so–called DOGE is only one tool the president has in mind for slashing the federal workforce. And as more details emerge, the futures of the nation's career civil servants are in the balance. We discuss what these plans mean, not ju...
Nov 25, 2024•35 min
Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz announced Thursday he is withdrawing from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. And the Senate isn't paving the way for Trump to fill his administration with loyalists. Reporting indicates New York prosecutors are open to the possibility of pushing Trump's sentencing in his hush money case to 2029 when his second term in the White House will end. Meanwhile this week marked 1,000 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This week...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Leaders from nearly 200 countries are in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29 to talk about the state of global climate change mitigation efforts. As many nations flesh out their plans to reduce emissions, they're looking to secure new funding at this summit for their solutions — trillions of dollars' worth. Noticeably absent from the talks in Azerbaijan are some of the world's most influential voices on the subject — from President Joe Biden to the leaders of China, India, Brazil, Britain, Germany and F...
Nov 21, 2024•38 min
After President-elect Donald Trump's win on Nov. 5, those in the LGBTQ community have expressed worry and fear. The Trevor Project's crisis hotline saw a 700 percent spike in calls following the election. And The Rainbow Youth Project surpassed its monthly average of calls in just six days after Trump's win. Couples are also rushing to get married before Trump takes office. Trump spent millions on anti-trans ads during his campaign. Like his first term, he's promised to continue rolling back pro...
Nov 20, 2024•34 min
This week marks 1,000 days since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A lot has happened in that time. This morning, the U.S. shuttered its embassy in Kyiv due to specific information about a possible air attack. Recently, Ukraine fired American-made ballistic missiles into Russia. To use these missiles, Ukraine needed permission from the Biden administration. We discuss what the closure of the American Embassy in the country's capital mean. Want to support 1A? Give to your local publi...
Nov 20, 2024•11 min
For many people, how you work now might seem unusual to your 2019 self, with hours spent in online meetings. Or maybe it's back to exactly how 2019 was, in an office cubicle. Or maybe, you never had the ability to work remotely during the pandemic. At companies across the country with employees who still work remotely some or most of the time, executives are slowly falling in line and sending the same message to their workforces: return to the office — sometimes for a few more days per week, som...
Nov 19, 2024•35 min
U.S. flights to Haiti are grounded for the next 30 days. Three U.S. airline flights were fired on last Monday as they attempted to land in Haiti. That led to the closure of Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration has suspended all U.S. flights to Haiti for the next 30 days. Last week's gunfire came from gangs operating out of Haiti's capital city. It's the latest example of the extent of gang control in the country. Haiti has...
Nov 19, 2024•11 min
Last week, we started talking about the finer points of what Donald Trump's second presidency will look like — key policies he says he will implement, how much he can get done, and how quickly. Now, with another week of big cabinet picks behind us, and confirmation that Republicans will hold majorities in both the Senate and House, we dive into one goal Trump is already making good on: radically changing the shape of the U.S. government in Washington. We talk about what his choices mean for the ...
Nov 18, 2024•37 min
Many of those in the federal government are often depicted as a distant and part of a deep state that seeks to uphold a bureaucracy over the needs of everyday Americans. But the work these people do improves our lives and often goes unnoticed. The annual Arthur S. Flemming awards honor the work done by those behind the scenes in government TenaVel Thomas, executive director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection field academy, is one of this year's winners. "To be a public servant, there is a...
Nov 17, 2024•26 min
President-elect Donald Trump has had a busy week floating his picks for his upcoming cabinet. Trump's team is also considering drafting an order that will create a board of retired military officials whose mandate will be to investigate generals it identifies as unfit for leadership. Trump and President Joe Biden met in the Oval Office after the former's election victory. Meanwhile, Donald Trump made his pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel this week, tapping former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Hu...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Over the years, Donald Trump has not been shy expressing his disdain for our nation's capital. And in this year's campaign, he made Washington D.C. — which votes overwhelmingly for Democrats — a target in his reelection campaign. We discuss how much of his rhetoric will translate into action, and what the roughly 679,000 people who call the city home can expect. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1...
Nov 15, 2024•16 min
President Biden has a little more than 2 months until his term is up. The time between administrations is called a "lame duck period" for a reason. So what bread crumbs could that Delaware duck look to finish off before exiting the pond? Well, Biden officials are working on rushing out the last bits of aid to Ukraine before the end of his term. In the meantime, President-elect Donald Trump is building what will be his team for the next four years. We discuss what the next few months will look li...
Nov 14, 2024•35 min
Abortion was on the ballot this past election, not just in the country's choice of president, but in the form of state initiatives. Missouri is one of the seven states where abortion rights measures prevailed. Amendment 3 passed with 51.7 percent of the vote. The measure establishes a right to reproductive freedom in the Missouri constitution. That paves the way for advocates to ask courts to knock down the current near total abortion ban. Six other states including Arizona, Colorado, New York, ...
Nov 13, 2024•38 min
The election results are in, and Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. Responses to the outcome have been mixed. Some Americans are devastated while some are jubilant. An October survey by the American Psychological Association found that 77 percent of U.S. adults report the future of the nation as a significant source of stress in their lives. Some 69 percent said the 2024 election in particular was a source of significant stress. We discuss how we can cope with stress a...
Nov 12, 2024•35 min
With Election Day behind us, the past week has consisted of a lot of analysis — of what happened and how. But we're looking ahead. President-elect Trump has big plans right out of the gate come January: mass deportations, hefty new tariffs on foreign goods, and more he promises to make good on. We discuss how much of Trump's plans are possible and what headwinds he may face in Washington compared to his first term. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this...
Nov 11, 2024•35 min
Every presidential term, the chief executive is charged with appointing a cabinet to serve as their most trusted advisors. As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to enter the White House once more, we're learning more about who he plans to appoint to his inner circle. He's already selected one of the most important positions in his cabinet: the chief of staff. Last week he tapped his campaign manager, Susie Wiles. She'll become the first woman chief of staff. We discuss how the choice in chief...
Nov 11, 2024•12 min
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Tuesday. His victory saw big shifts in voting demographics, with one in three people of color voting for the GOP candidate. The dollar, Bitcoin, the global stock market, and Wall Street all saw monumental jumps in value at the announcement of a Trump presidency. As congratulations for the president-elect rolled in this week, officials and analysts from around the world are trying to figure out what a Trump presidency means for i...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 22 min
