Words matter, particularly for journalists, wheN a simple word choice or missing context can change the meaning of a story. We have a good example of this today: A mysterious attack on an Iranian consulate in Syria, with many news reports not mentioning the terrorist designations belonging to the groups involved. Why? Jenna provides one reason in this quick SmartHER Take. Thoughts? Hello@SmartHERNews.com Consider supporting our quick, concise, nonpartisan news through becoming an insider or shop...
Apr 03, 2024•12 min
Whether it's a live raccoon at the White House ... What to consider about "Transgender Day of Visibility" and Easter. .. Or a startling question: Are we already at war "Context Is Key" said our SCOOP Insider Barbara during our broadcast. . Here's your rundown: . 0:00: Why all journalists fear April 1 (also the day Google launched Gmail to doubters and deniers). . 2:00: The Easter Egg Roll - a dash of history and a White House pet. . 5:30: Why D.C. is "quiet" this week. Lawmakers on "Spring Break...
Apr 01, 2024•44 min
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his running mate in Oakland, California - a tech lawyer, entrepreneur and mother, Nicole Shanahan. You can listen to Nicole's speech during this podcast with a short introduction by Jenna. Key SmartHER Fact To Remember : For an independent candidate like RFK Jr. to appear on the ballot in all 50 states, he needs to meet certain qualifications specific to each state. In several states, one of those qualifications is having a running mate. With so much media clutter...
Mar 26, 2024•33 min
The SCOOP from the U.S. border to a New York courthouse. Plus ~ how to strategically share your story and why authenticity always wins. 2:00: The stakes: reflections on the rise and fall of civilization by Elon Musk. 10:00: What is ISIS-K? 12:35: The Wall Street Journal on " ‘A Ticking Time Bomb’: In Syrian Camps, Fears of an Islamic State Revival. " 15:00: What's actually happening at the U.S. borders – NEW DATA. 20:00: The Chief of Border Patrol on what's actually happening to his team on the ...
Mar 25, 2024•49 min
Fmr. President Trump ignites a flurry of headlines over comments on the campaign trail. We share what he said (and the context) so you can make up your own mind on what matters (and what doesn't). Plus~ the story that the media is missing. 0:00: Spring launches Tuesday - the backstory on the Japanese Cherry Trees in DC, the end of "Stumpy", and what "peak bloom" is all about. 5:00: Marking four years since "Slow The Spread." 10:00: The political face-off solidifies between President Biden and fo...
Mar 18, 2024•43 min
It will be a historic first. The maker of the first over-the-counter birth control pill says to expect their product (Opill) on store shelves in the next few weeks. The Food and Drug Administration approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the United States last summer. We discussed this news with practicing clinician Dr. Sara Gottfried, a New York Times best-selling author who has focused primarily on women's health and hormones. Our conversation spans not just what to consider ...
Mar 12, 2024•50 min
A SmartHER take: What lessons can we learn from the State of the Union and the Republican response to help our own public speaking? Plus ~ the inside SCOOP on the week ahead from the U.S. border to the Middle East. 0:00: Spring Break! 3:00: An unique argument IN FAVOR of Daylight Saving Time – Less "road kill" ? 8:55: Royal Drama: A photo at the center of controversy. 15:00: Ramadan: Why a holy month raises concerns about more conflict in the Middle East and beyond. 21:00: An important voice fro...
Mar 11, 2024•48 min
Three key takeaways of President Biden's 2024 State of the Union and why they matter. Plus ~ Join us on SCOOP on Monday for further coverage on the State of the Union, when Jenna will use President Biden's address and the Republican response as a way to discuss key tips on how to improve your public speaking. Become an insider and receive this report in your inbox while supporting a free press! Link to the Pesident's SOTU (state of the union): TEXT Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/br...
Mar 08, 2024•16 min
Monday morning, the Supreme Court handed down a decision on a simmering case – answering a key question once and for all: Can a state, citing the U.S. Constitution, keep a presidential candidate off a state's ballot? The Supremes said, "No!", deciding AGAINST Colorado in a unanimous decision – reversing the Colorado's Supreme Court decision that argued the 14th amendment empowered the state to keep former Pres. Donald Trump off the state's ballot. 0:00: The big headline out of the Supreme Court....
Mar 04, 2024•42 min
Expelled journalist David Satter crystallizes the stakes of our current times when he shares with us his concerns about a "coalition of criminal regimes trying to set the rules for the world." We use THIS as the backdrop to your inside SCOOP for the week ahead. Your Rundown: 0:00: NEW MUSIC! Many thanks to andrewlinnmusic.com 4:00: What's going on with the potential partial government shutdown? 8:00: The latest on the presidential elections. We hear from candidates former President Donald Trump ...
Feb 26, 2024•49 min
From poisoning those who oppose him to encouraging what our guest calls a "cult of death" Vladimir Putin leads the country with the largest nuclear arsenal in the world —Russia. The controversial Russian president finds himself in the center of three storylines during this news cycle: 1. This week marks two years since Russia invaded Ukraine under Putin's direction, and ten years since Russia annexed Crimea (an area in southern Ukraine). 2. Last week, we learned of the murder Alexey Navalny, a h...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 14 min
The power of President George Washington's parting words. Wait until you hear what President Washington had to say about patriotism, partisanship, and America's role in the world. In 1796, President Washington faced a difficult decision: He knew he did not want to serve another term as president. He felt both confident in the foundation of the new United States of America, yet concerned about the future. So, Pres. Washington used the press to speak directly to the people - announcing his retirem...
Feb 19, 2024•31 min
New legislation in the state of Tennessee lobbies for replacing Columbus Day with "Super Bowl Monday" – Should other states follow suit? Do we all need a "late start" after the Super Bowl? We report. You relax! We got your covered for the week ahead. Your cheat sheet on big events that happened while millions watched the "Big Game": The SecDef returns to the hospital; Deputy takes lead. (5:00) The Senate advances foreign aid legislation; border details remain absent. (6:30) "Victory is within re...
Feb 12, 2024•47 min
Special Coupon For SCOOP listeners Use Jenna20 for 20% off of designs at Liz James Designs - an Austin-based, American-made jewelry designer. Coupon good through Wednesday February 7th for delivery before Valentine's Day! ------ What did the leader of an Iranian-backed militia tell war correspondent Hollie McKay over lunch? Hollie joins us with her reflections on what she learned meeting the baseball-cap wearing man in a Baghdad restaurant (hint: he described one of the militia's goals as reveng...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 12 min
What new eyes do we need on old challenges to create solutions? We ask this question as we look at two of the biggest developing headlines this week - American service members killed in action in the Middle East by Iranian-backed militants and the ongoing coverage of the U.S. borders. A few highlights: 2:45: A former Air Force Intel officer says he may have discovered Amelia Earthart's plane 11:15: Why do we use the term "Iranian-backed" militants? 19:40: Our guest tells us that the UN nuclear w...
Jan 29, 2024•44 min
Why does New Hampshire matter in American politics (and particularly this election season)? What's missing from our reporting on the Middle East? How should you approach LONG Covid? We tackle news on each topic, but first Jenna shares a personal story that inspired this broadcast ~ a conversation with her 9 year-old son about football reminds us all why "curiosity over commentary" matters. PLUS: 10:00: Who will sing the Star-Spangled Banner? 13:00: Why does New Hampshire matter in American polit...
Jan 22, 2024•46 min
We’re joined by author, political commentator, and self-described “center right disaffected” journalist, Mary Katharine Ham to break down the Iowa caucuses. 2:30: Vivek Ramaswamy leaves the race for the nomination 5:00: Mary Katharine Ham joins us with analysis about Iowa and what to watch in the future. 7:00: The key takeaways from Iowa. 10:00: What appears to be the main issue for voters. 17:00: Is the 2024 field officially "set"? 24:00 Why you can't rely on "normal" political indicators. (Tha...
Jan 16, 2024•43 min
Did you know an airplane's cockpit recorder only keeps two hours of data before erasing, and starting over? Just one of the many interesting facts we learned today prepping for SCOOP and covering an accident impacting Alaska Airlines (and beyond). We catch-up on: The flu (rising respiratory infections nationwide)! The potential government shutdown (and a potential deal in the works on two fronts). The presidential election (and the first major votes cast next week). The Pentagon and the mysterio...
Jan 08, 2024•50 min
Happy New Year, from your SmartHER News family! Today, we explore three curiosities ... three news items to watch in 2024 – including the election (a twist you may not have considered), a conflict (a seldom talked about nation), and the U.S. border (but not the border that may first come to mind). What stories are you most curious about in 2024? We'd love to hear from you: scoop@SmartHERNews.com We wish you and your loved ones a beautiful start to a new chapter! ... Show Notes: The Economist - "...
Jan 02, 2024•38 min
"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house ..." These lines first appeared in a New York state newspaper on December 23, 1823. The author? Originally ... "Anonymous." 200 years later, many of us can still recite much of this poem from memory, solidifying the image of Santa and "his eight tiny reindeer" for generations. While the mystery over who precisely penned this famous Christmas poem swirled for years, the impact of the lyrical writing remains undeniable. Historian and auth...
Dec 22, 2023•38 min
Your Questions ... Answered! (Along with the news you need to know.) Plus ~ We share one of our most important stories of the year. We cover the election ( Where does political money come from? ), polling ( Who can we trust? ), the economy ( Why are prices so high? ), and even SmartHER News ( Who is on the team and what is it REALLY like to work with Jenna? )! And a special story about Grace , a member of our community and a hero, who we will keep in our hearts this season and never forget. Show...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Have you heard of Santa Claus, Indiana? Founded in 1856, this town serves as one of the main destinations for "Dear Santa" letters from all over the world . And this happened, in many ways, because one family took the reins (no reindeer jokes ... yet). Meet 92-year-old Mrs. Koch (pronounced "Cook"). She holds many titles – including Santa's daughter, Chief Elf, and founder of the Santa Claus Museum – preserving the stories of the past that she now shares with us, including: How Santa Claus, IN g...
Dec 13, 2023•39 min
The presidents at several of America's top universities ignite a firestorm over their comments in front of Congress on the topic of antisemitism. We take a dive into the now-viral moment that led to the resignation of one university president and raised questions about what we value as an American society. Plus – how the Republican race for the White House has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. And – do you feel like you have bad cell phone service? You aren't alone! Show Notes: Biden goes in...
Dec 11, 2023•35 min
A serious attack off the coast of Yemen kicks off our coverage: commercial ships bombed, a U.S. navy ship targeted, and questions about what's next. Meanwhile, Congress tackles the following in the final workdays of the year: whether to extend a highly controversial post 9/11 law, Section 702 of The Foreign Surveiliance Act, and whether to extend more money to national security priorities like Ukraine, Israel and the border. What happens next may set the stage for not only the rest of December b...
Dec 04, 2023•26 min
It starts out like the common cold - with a cough, maybe a sneeze - but can suddenly turn into a serious illness unaffected by "normal" treatments, that can linger for weeks. Sound familiar? But this illness impacts DOGS! And no, it's not COVID. So what is it? And why have we heard about cases in at least 14 U.S. states, if not more? Veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller, clinical professor at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, joins us with her take on what ...
Nov 30, 2023•25 min
New Attacks on U.S. forces ... and the impact of Rudolph's Red Nose on Your Gas Mileage (how DO those antlers on your car slow you down? We have the data!). The World Health Organization releases a bulletin on an "upsurge" in respiratory illnesses in China, specifically among children. Flu and COVID prevalance in the United States. A salmonella outbreak leading to deaths and infections across 30+ states. The continued "pause" in fighting between Israel and Hamas. What's the controversey over the...
Nov 27, 2023•40 min
Did you know .... the author of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" played a role in making Thanksgiving a national holiday? the Mayflower ship spanned only a third of a football field and carried more than 100 people? a famous Founding Father refused to officially proclaim Thanksgiving as a national holiday? What was definitely not part of the first Thanksgiving feast ...vs. what was probably present in 1621 (that few of us likely serve)... And how this holiday that pre-dates the founding of the United St...
Nov 20, 2023•25 min
A full serving of SCOOP before the holiday week! Congressman Nehls of Texas gives us his assessment of the challenge that lies before House Republican leadership this week: “I don’t think the Lord Jesus himself could manage this group.” He said this while smoking a cigar near the U.S. Capitol. We'll take that as a tone setter for the week ahead: Onward! Here's our show: What to know about the latest in the war between Israel and Hamas. What to watch as the week starts with repeated, strategic re...
Nov 13, 2023•35 min
A quick look at the third Republican debate as five candidates fight for voters and the favor of the party. Did any contenders stand out? Jenna breaks down three things to know about this debate , and three moments that matter. Hear: Ramaswamy's kinetic opening, the context for the "scum" heard around the world, and a thoughtful response from a candidate looking to create momentum. Plus - the five minutes that will summarize the debate and each candidates position in one swoop: 25:00-30:00. Lett...
Nov 09, 2023•30 min
144. The number of local time zones in North America before railroads helped move us towards uniform time zones. Just one interesting tidbits from this week's SCOOP! We cover: The origins of daylight savings time & standard time. The legislation that would change it permanently and the argument for and against it.* The origins of election day in November - and what to watch for on Tuesday. The latest on the economy - a lower than expected jobs report sparking mixed reviews. Congress has 20 d...
Nov 06, 2023•36 min
