President Richard Nixon has a plan: He wants to go to China. The only problem? The U.S. and China have had zero contact since the Communist Party took over China two decades before. In this episode of The Great Wager from NPR and WBUR's Here & Now , host Jane Perlez digs into the beginning of Nixon's improbable diplomatic mission. Listen to the rest of The Great Wager here. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your po...
Mar 06, 2022•14 min
There's a battle raging over the telling and teaching of Black history in the United States. Much of that fight has been playing out in schools. School board meetings erupt into fights as critics attack the teaching of what they call critical race theory or charge that teaching about racism is too upsetting to white children or casts students either as oppressors or the oppressed. At the heart of these arguments is a much larger issue - whether or not the country can face the truth about its pai...
Mar 05, 2022•17 min
Just one week into his presidency, Donald Trump announced an executive order banning people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S., the so-called "Muslim Ban". This ban shut out travelers who were already on their way to the U.S. Visas were canceled, people were detained and sent back home, and protests ensued. Lawsuits were filed, but the Supreme Court upheld the policy. On his first day in office, President Biden reversed the ban. But five years later, hundreds of famili...
Mar 04, 2022•11 min
It's been exactly one week since Russia invaded Ukraine, which means one week since Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, became a wartime president. So far, he has mastered his message and has garnered praised from around the world, but there's a lot more to winning a war than videos and viral tweets. Emily Harding with the Center for Strategic and International Studies explains why Zelenskyy has been such an effective communicator and what challenges lie ahead. And Angela Stent of the Broo...
Mar 03, 2022•15 min
Doctors in Texas have been warning that the state's abortion law known as SB 8 would make it harder for them to treat medical crises and would endanger their patients. Six months in, those predictions appear to be coming true. NPR correspondent Sarah McCammon reports from central Texas where some women have faced medical issues made more dangerous by SB 8. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community. Email us at cons...
Mar 02, 2022•11 min
The latest CDC guidance puts nearly 70% of the U.S. population in low or medium risk areas, and residents are no longer expected to wear a mask. In response, the vast majority of states in the U.S. have lifted or plan to lift mask mandates. While many Americans welcome the loosening of pandemic-era safety rules, people who are higher risk feel forgotten and left behind. Johnnie Jae is an Indigenous journalist and public speaker; Charis Hill is a disability activist; and Cass Condray is a univers...
Mar 01, 2022•15 min
Russia's war against Ukraine rages on, but for now Russian troops appear to have been met with a level of resistance they were not prepared for. While the U.S. and its allies have pulled together in an attempt to cripple Russia's economy. NPR's Chief Economic Correspondent Scott Horsley reports on sanctions have led to Russia's currency falling, which will mean higher prices for Russians. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in...
Feb 28, 2022•12 min
America's child care system is in crisis. Experts say it's a failed business model. Parents can't afford it, and yet, daycare providers are some of the lowest paid workers in the country. The problem is an old one - but there's new energy in the debate over solutions. In part, because of the proposed funding for childcare outlined in President Biden's signature Build Back Better legislation, currently facing roadblocks. But also because the pandemic highlighted how broken the system is. Brenda H...
Feb 26, 2022•15 min
Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court fulfills a promise President Biden made while running for office: to nominate the first Black woman for the highest court. Critics said he was prioritizing identity over qualifications, but many have praised Jackson for being well equipped for what could be a historic appointment. Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, wrote a book about the first Black woman to ever become a federal judge, Constance Baker Motley....
Feb 25, 2022•15 min
Russia has launched an all-out, unprovoked invasion into Ukraine, the largest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II. There have been missile strikes throughout the country, including in the capital city, Kyiv. President Biden said this escalation means even more economic sanctions against Russia, but reiterated that U.S. forces won't fight the battle in Ukraine. NPR Correspondent Eleanor Beardsley is covering the invasion from within Ukraine. And Democratic Senator fro...
Feb 24, 2022•16 min
As winter begins to fade, COVID-19 maps are changing colors from those ominous dark shades to a more hopeful outlook. Infections are down dramatically in the past few weeks and death and hospitalization rates are dropping too. But there's also reason for caution. NPR correspondent Rob Stein reports on a new version of the Omicron variant referred to as BA.2. It's been the dominant strain in some countries and it's showing up in the U.S. too. And NPR correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff discusses wh...
Feb 23, 2022•10 min
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing two breakaway republics in Eastern Ukraine and sent troops to the region. On Tuesday, President Biden called the move "the beginning of a Russian invasion" and announced a new set of sanctions. While Russia's actions reverberate throughout the world, no area has more at stake than Eastern Ukraine. That's where NPR correspondent Eleanor Beardsley has been reporting. And despite the escalation this week, U.S. diplomats are hop...
Feb 22, 2022•14 min
The U.S. is becoming more geographically polarized. Red zip codes are getting redder and blue zip codes are getting bluer. And this is because people are purposefully moving to places that reflect their views. Which is a trend that comes with consequences. NPR correspondent John Burnett spoke with some Texan transplants about how their politics impacted their choice of community. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your com...
Feb 21, 2022•9 min
During the Super Bowl, clever ads from cryptocurrency companies urged a mainstream audience of 101 million viewers to buy now or regret it later. But besides high-minded rhetoric, what exactly were these ads selling? And why are some critics warning against investing? To understand the arguments for and against investing in cryptocurrency, you have to get a bit technical. YouTuber, Dan Olson helps us understand these digital currencies, how they function, what you can buy with them and the ideol...
Feb 19, 2022•15 min
Three weeks ago, semi trucks flooded the streets of Canada's capital city. Drivers were protesting a vaccine mandate at the U.S. border. But since then, the demonstration in Ottawa has evolved to be about much more and is spreading to other cities throughout the world. NPR correspondents Shannon Bond and Odette Youseff have been following this story and explain how the movement began and what has kept it going. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sens...
Feb 18, 2022•11 min
Just under three dozen of China's athletes competing at the Olympics this year were born in other countries. Most famously, ski prodigy Eileen Gu, who has dozens of brand sponsorships and is praised on Chinese social media. That's in contrast to skater Zhu Yi, who has been called a "disgrace" after she fell during her short program. And the rhetoric appears on both sides. Some U.S. commentators have criticized Gu for her decision to compete for China. Jules Boykoff is a political science profess...
Feb 17, 2022•11 min
Despite reports that Russia may have withdrawn some troops from the Ukraine border, NATO says there's no evidence of de-escalation and forces remain ready to attack. But it's not just the border that is at risk. NPR correspondent Frank Langfitt reports on hybrid war tactics like cyberattacks that Russia can, and may already be using to spark unrest in Ukraine. And Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Russian journalist Vladimir Pozner about how the crisis feels in his country. In participating regions,...
Feb 16, 2022•15 min
More and more states are loosening their mask mandates as COVID-19 cases fall throughout the country. But the CDC says there isn't enough of a drop with deaths and hospitalizations to warrant this change. This muddled messaging can make it difficult to navigate this current phase of the pandemic. NPR correspondent Mara Liasson explains that while politics have played a role in public health decision making from the beginning of the pandemic, the divide between Republic and Democratic states is s...
Feb 15, 2022•12 min
Fans of the Cincinnati Bengals may be licking their wounds after Sunday's Super Bowl loss, but every sports fan can relate to the pain that follows a big game not going their way. And while it's normal to be upset, those feelings of disappointment can occasionally turn into grief and even depression. Dr. Eric Zillmer , a professor of Neuropsychology at Drexel University, explains how the pandemic and brief pause on professional sports helped him understand just how strongly we rely on those game...
Feb 14, 2022•10 min
We're still learning how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting us emotionally and socially. Experts believe we will be seeing and analyzing its effects for years to come. But, thanks to popular online platforms, we do have some data on single people, their dating preferences and how those preferences changed during the pandemic. Helen Fisher , a biological anthropologist and chief science advisor for the online dating company Match, shares the latest trends from the 11th annual Singles In Americ...
Feb 12, 2022•14 min
The fashion world has recently lost three of its greats - Andre Leon Talley, Thierry Mugler and Virgil Abloh. Each man was a pioneer in his own way: Mugler and Abloh pushed boundaries as designers, Talley was a Black editor at a time when they were few and far between. Robin Givhan, the Washington Post's senior critic-at-large, reflects on each man's influence and impact on the industry, and what these losses across the fashion industry mean. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local ne...
Feb 11, 2022•9 min
When President Biden announced that he would nominate a Black woman—the Supreme Court's first—to the seat that will be vacated by retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, criticism from some on the right began almost immediately. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said it was "racist" to consider only Black women for the post, and Biden's decision was "insulting to African-American women." The conversation about identity and qualifications echoes some of the questions that arose when another breakthrough appoin...
Feb 10, 2022•14 min
As the standoff over Ukraine continues, tensions are rising around another old conflict in Europe. Brutal ethnic fighting left at least 100,000 dead in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s. The U.S. brokered peace there, but the fragile, multi-ethnic state is once again in crisis, as NPR's Frank Langfitt saw on a recent trip. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community. Email us at considerthis@npr.org . See pcm.adswi...
Feb 09, 2022•13 min
Russia never wanted NATO to spread east through the former soviet republics. But it especially didn't want it to reach Ukraine. A compromise in 2008 put Ukraine on the path to membership, and Russian President Vladimir Putin is now effectively holding the country hostage in effort to keep that from happening. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports on the history of NATO and how a disagreement over a past proposal is fueling Putin's frustration. Read more about that here. And NPR's European correspondents ...
Feb 08, 2022•12 min
Last Thursday morning, before dawn, U.S. special troops arrived at a house in Syria to capture the ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi alive. Two hours later, he was dead after detonating an explosive that also killed the lives of at least 13 others. The U.S. opted for a ground attack in an effort to protect civilians but the mission didn't go as planned. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby explains some of the complications. And Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Inst...
Feb 07, 2022•10 min
It was an abrupt move that not many could have foreseen. Despite an impressive three-year showing with the Miami Dolphins, Brian Flores was fired from his position as head coach last month in a surprising end to a contract that was supposed to last for two more years. What's followed could be described as a "reckoning" for the NFL: Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the league citing racial discrimination, a move that's prompted a closer look at the NFL's hiring practices and the racial...
Feb 06, 2022•23 min
Firearm-related injuries are among the 5 leading causes of death for people ages 1-64 in the United States, according to the CDC . In 2019, there were 39,707 firearm-related deaths in the United States. That's an average of 109 deaths per day. Firearm-related injuries are harder to quantify, but the Gun Violence Archive reports that there were over 40,000 last year. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has called gun violence a " serious public health threat ." She's the first CDC Director to make...
Feb 05, 2022•14 min
User-generated content specific to TikTok has propelled songs old and new to viral success. Whether it's someone lip-syncing to a song, or participating in a dance or trend using that song, it's made music discovery more participatory. Success on the app can lead to success on the charts, and record labels are looking to TikTok for their next stars. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community. Email us at considerthi...
Feb 04, 2022•11 min
China has been detaining and arresting ethnic Uyghurs in the region of Xinjiang en masse while their children are often sent to state boarding schools. China closely guards information about Xinjiang, including about these forced family separations. But NPR's Beijing correspondent Emily Feng managed to talk to two children who made it out of one such school and are sharing their story for the first time. In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sens...
Feb 03, 2022•11 min
Masks and at-home COVID-19 test kits have become staples of pandemic life. The Biden Administration announced in January that it would distribute 400 million free N95 respirators to pharmacies and grocery stores around the country. The U.S. Postal Service has begun taking orders for free at-home test kits. Supply remains limited, so many are still purchasing masks and tests on their own, and the costs can easily add up. Wendy Edelberg is a Senior Fellow of Economic Studies at the Brookings Insti...
Feb 02, 2022•14 min
