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Episodes

What to know about Trump and Musk’s epic breakup

Trump and Elon Musk traded blows in an extraordinary public row. Politico has the blow-by-blow. Afghanistan has a complex set of migration exemptions owing to the war. The travel ban could complicate that. The Washington Post ’s Kabul bureau chief, Rick Noack, joins to explain. The deported Venezuelan migrants were said by Trump aides to be the “worst of the worst.” ProPublica ’s Melissa Sanchez and colleagues have been digging to reveal a more complicated picture. Plus, Trump and Xi Jinping spo...

Jun 06, 2025•15 min

How Trump’s travel ban expands on his first-term efforts

Trump announced a new travel ban. The Wall Street Journal breaks it down. As Canada’s wildfires continue to rage, dangerous air is sweeping across the U.S. PBS explores conditions in the worst-hit states. The NBA Finals begin tonight between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. The Ringer ’s Michael Pina tells us what to watch for. Plus, how Columbia University could lose its accreditation , the small Republican town that rallied to help an ICE detainee , and a mass evacuation after...

Jun 05, 2025•14 min

Musk rages at GOP as he returns to an uncertain business empire

Elon Musk attacked the GOP tax bill, calling it an “abomination.” As he leaves government, the Wall Street Journal ’s Becky Peterson explains how he is returning to an uncertain future for Tesla. Israel announced that its controversial aid center will be closed for a day, after death and chaos continued to surround the distribution sites. Amid the confusion, the BBC explores what we know and don’t know. The Trump administration is increasingly turning to a specific tactic for deporting migrants ...

Jun 04, 2025•15 min

Inside the unlikely alliance to make childbirth free in the U.S.

There is unlikely bipartisan support in Congress around an effort to make childbirth free in America. Vox ’s Rachel Cohen discusses the plan and how it would work. The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is in its fourth week. CNN ’s Elizabeth Wagmeister, who’s been reporting from the courtroom, tells us the latest. There’s been an international series of brazen, violent crimes against crypto executives and their families. The Wall Street Journal ’s Sam Schechner explains what’s been happening. Plus, wh...

Jun 03, 2025•14 min

Marchers for Israeli hostages attacked in Colorado. Here’s what to know.

A man in Colorado has been arrested after setting fire to people marching for the release of Israeli hostages. The FBI are treating it as a terror attack. The Colorado Sun has the latest. Dozens were reported dead or severely injured in southern Gaza, reportedly near the controversial U.S.-Israeli aid sites. CNN has been following the conflicting reports. With Russia-Ukraine talks set to begin, a Ukraine drone attack took Putin by surprise. The Wall Street Journal ’s Thomas Grove explains how Ru...

Jun 02, 2025•13 min

Elon Musk’s legacy on the federal workforce

Elon Musk has left the government building, but DOGE remains. The Washington Post ’s William Wan reports on what he learned speaking to federal-government employees who lost their jobs amid cuts. Some Republican senators have concerns about elements of the GOP megabill, such as what cuts to Medicaid could mean for election prospects in 2026. NBC’s Sahil Kapur breaks their objections down. David Armstrong with ProPublica speaks to In Conversation about how a life-saving pill’s eye-popping price t...

May 30, 2025•14 min

Why a court just struck down Trump’s sweeping tariffs

A court struck down the bulk of Trump’s tariffs, in a major setback to his economic agenda. Bloomberg has the latest. Harvard has its universitywide commencement today, as it’s facing more funding threats. Its president speaks out in an interview with NPR . Trump has recently issued a number of pardons . Reporting from the Wall Street Journal provides a look at how politics factored into those decisions. Plus, Elon Musk announced that he’s leaving government , Israel said it has killed the leade...

May 29, 2025•14 min

The deals pushing the Trump family’s wealth to new heights

Trump’s family empire is dramatically expanding its wealth during his presidency. Bloomberg News ’s Max Abelson joins to discuss the deals that are powering this growth and the questions they spark. The controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed aid effort got off to a tumultuous start. CBS reports. The Assad regime’s surveillance state relied on civilians to inform on their neighbors and colleagues. Now Syrians are reckoning with who among them quietly contributed to the tyranny. The Washington Pos...

May 28, 2025•14 min

Trump says Putin has gone “CRAZY.” What next for the war in Ukraine?

Trump said in a social-media post that Putin has “gone absolutely CRAZY,” after Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine. Reuters reports . Police in New Orleans relied for years upon a live-facial-recognition program, an unprecedented surveillance method in the United States. The Washington Post ’s Doug MacMillan explains how it worked and the controversy around it. For some 2025 grads, commencement ceremonies have become a place to protest the war in Gaza. CNN and The Guardian have the story. Plus, a...

May 27, 2025•15 min

Explaining Trump’s latest move against Harvard

The Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. Reuters breaks down the impact of the move. Trump held a behind-closed-doors gala for top investors of his cryptocurrency coin. Declan Harty from Politico discusses the ethical ramifications. It’s nearly five years since the murder of George Floyd. The Marshall Project ’s Jamiles Lartey joins to assess where police reform is in the country. Plus, the Supreme Court in a split decision blocked an effort...

May 23, 2025•15 min

Update: Two Israeli Embassy staffers were killed in D.C. What to know.

Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were shot and killed outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., last night. The man and woman — a couple — had been attending a reception for young diplomats. CBS has the latest. The FDA announced a change in its framework for approving new COVID vaccines for healthy individuals under 65. Usha Lee McFarling, a national science correspondent with Stat , discusses the impact of the move, while NPR reports on how some of the CDC’s mai...

May 22, 2025•15 min

A brain-dead pregnant woman is being kept alive, raising ethical questions

A pregnant woman in Georgia is being kept alive as a hospital navigates the state’s abortion laws. The family is speaking out. The Guardian has the story. Kentucky is still grappling with the aftermath of intense tornadoes, as well as dealing with more storm systems. USA Today reports on how cuts to the National Weather Service have led to scrambles to cover important shifts. And PBS Newshour also highlights the impact of cuts on the service. New Oklahoma school standards include a requirement t...

May 21, 2025•15 min

The GOP’s tug-of-war over spending cuts

Mark Chiusano writes for New York magazine about a mother who took her sons to a routine ICE check-in. They were scheduled for deportation and she hasn’t seen them since. House Republicans want to extend tax cuts and lower the deficit. The Wall Street Journal ’s Richard Rubin describes why doing both at the same time might be impossible. Are incidents involving air-traffic-controller communications happening more frequently? USA Today ’s Zach Wichter explains what might be causing them and how w...

May 20, 2025•15 min

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