Here & Now

Breaking news. Supreme Court rulings. Thoughtful interviews. Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it’s happening in the middle of the day, with timely, smart and in-depth news, interviews and conversation.

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Robin Young brings more than 25 years of broadcast experience to her role as host of Here & Now. She is a Peabody Award-winning documentary filmmaker who has also reported for NBC, CBS and ABC television and for several years was substitute host and correspondent for “The Today Show.” Learn more

Here & Now co-host Jeremy Hobson started telling stories on the radio when he was a kid and hasn’t stopped since. After joining Here & Now in 2013, he’s helped grow the program into public radio’s indispensable midday news magazine, nearly tripling the audience in just a few years. Learn more

Tonya Mosley is the third co-host of Here & Now, based in Los Angeles. Mosley has been the Silicon Valley bureau chief for KQED, the public radio station based in San Francisco. She is also the host of the new podcast Truth Be Told. As an Emmy and Murrow award-winning television, radio and print journalist, Mosley creatively uses her curiosity and tenacity to find and expose truths for the greater good of society. Learn more

Here & Now is a co-production between NPR and WBUR.

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AMC's new movie ticket strategy; Pastor and professor leads nation's psychologists

February 7, 2023

An earthquake in Turkey left more than 5,000 people there and in Syria dead. The region sits in a very active seismic region. Mustafa Erdik, professor emeritus of earthquake engineering, joins us to explain the science and geology behind the disaster. Then, in an effort to recoup lost profits during the earlier days of COVID-19, AMC Theatres released a plan to charge different fares based on where customers choose to sit. Movie-lover and host of public radio's "Full Disclosure" Roben Farzad joins us. And, despite a history of conflict between faith and mental health, there's some evolution in recent years. Thema Bryant is a pastor, professor and the new president of the American Psychological Association. She says that mental health professionals are acknowledging spirituality in their practice more recently. Bryant joins us.

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Earthquake kills thousands in Turkey, Syria; This teacher challenged book bans

February 6, 2023

Residents and officials in southeastern Turkey and northwest Syria are assessing the damage from a devastating earthquake that struck the area Sunday, killing more than 2,300 people. NPR's Peter Kenyon joins us from Istanbul. Then, locals in northeastern Ohio are being urged to evacuate the area due to fears of a potential explosion caused by a train derailment. Julie Grant, managing editor for The Allegheny Front, shares the latest. And, Summer Boismier was an Oklahoma high school English teacher who gave her students a QR code that led to the Brooklyn Public Library's page on banned books. Controversy ensued, leading her to quit her job ultimately. She talks about the "brain drain" these state regulations result in, as aspiring educators avoid areas where lessons are strictly regulated.

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Remembering David Crosby: A good friend shares their decades of music and banter

February 3, 2023

For the last 30 years, writer Steve Silberman and late rock legend David Crosby remained in constant contact. Now, the author is still in shock after the loss of his dear friend. In this bonus episode, Silberman remembers Crosby's hope, humor and impact on music.

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Humpback whale strandings in the Northeast; Video game soundtrack composer

February 3, 2023

China is now saying that a suspected spy balloon spotted over Montana is actually a civilian weather balloon that strayed off course. The Pentagon said Thursday that it was tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon. Here & Now security analyst Jim Walsh joins us. And, scientist Jooke Robbins talks about the recent humpback whale beaching on the East Coast. Then, for the first time ever, video game soundtracks have their own category in the Grammys. Stephanie Economou talks about her nomination for the score to "Assassins' Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok."

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The state of police reform; Businesses to hire more people with criminal records

February 2, 2023

Tyre Nichols' death from injuries caused by Memphis police officers has reignited nationwide calls for police reform and federal action. Harvard University Professor Yanilda Gonzalez explains what can be done. Then, experts recommend that people with increased risk for ovarian cancer have their fallopian tubes removed in some circumstances. New York Times reporter Roni Rabin joins us. And, for people in the U.S. who have criminal records, finding housing or a job can be a struggle. But, some businesses are making deliberate efforts to hire ex-offenders to lower that barrier to work. Dane Linn, senior vice president at Business Roundtable, joins us.

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Skate shop owner reflects on Tyre Nichols; How much dark chocolate is safe to eat?

February 1, 2023

Sac Ramp Skate Shop owner Christopher Dean reflects on the life of Tyre Nichols, who will be buried in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday. Skateboarders in Sacramento, California, where Nichols grew up, will remember him at a "homegoing celebration" on Saturday. Then, meteorologist Mark Elliot talks about the freezing rain and brutal cold that is causing power outages across Texas, Arkansas and other states in the region. And, a new study by Consumer Reports confirms that most dark chocolate is contaminated by heavy metals lead and cadmium. So what does that mean for consumers? And how did the metals get there in the first place? James Rogers, director of food and safety research at Consumer Reports, joins us.

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Surgeon general calls gun violence an 'epidemic'; How Waco reverberates today

January 31, 2023

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has long called gun violence in America an epidemic. He's pushing for more research into gun violence and what the government can do to prevent it. Then, a federal appeals court ended Johnsons & Johnson's attempt to sidestep lawsuits over its baby powder Monday. The company tried to use a bankruptcy filing to block the nearly 40,000 lawsuits from people alleging its baby powder contains asbestos. NPR's Scott Horsley joins us. And, author Kevin Cook talks about his new book, "Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias."

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Coping with racial trauma from Tyre Nichols' death; VA school reopens after shooting

January 30, 2023

The Memphis Police Department has disbanded its SCORPION unit. The acronym stood for "Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods," and the specialized unit of five officers was charged in the death of Tyre Nichols. Keith Taylor, an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, joins us. And, Tyre Nichols' death shocked the nation, but many weren't surprised as more information about police brutality came to light. How does the Black and Brown community — in Memphis and around the country — move forward from this racial trauma? Trauma therapist Resmaa Menakem joins us. Then, earlier this month, a 6-year-old shot his teacher in a Virginia classroom. Monday, the Richneck Elementary School in Newport News reopens for the first time since. Thomas Britton has a 6-year-old in the same class as the shooter and joins us.

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Tyre Nichols' family lawyer on charges; Breaking barriers to Asian mental health care

January 27, 2023

Tyre Nichols died at the hands of Memphis police officers earlier this month at what should have been a routine traffic stop. One of the attorneys representing Nichols' family, Antonio Romanucci, joins us. And, the Biden administration is proposing changes to the U.S. census and federal surveys that research shows will make data on Latinos and people of Middle Eastern or North African descent more accurate. NPR correspondent Hansi Lo Wang joins us. Then, the Asian Mental Health Collective started during the pandemic to provide free therapy and work toward erasing the stigma around mental healthcare. The group is rallying counselors across the country amid shootings targeting Asian communities. Jeanie Chang, board president of the Asian Mental Health Collective joins us.

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Economy expands in Q4, but fear of recession looms; 'The Persian Version' at Sundance

January 26, 2023

U.S. GDP rose 2.9% in the final quarter of 2022. It beat expectations, but fears of a recession still loom large among economists. MSNBC's Ali Velshi breaks down the latest numbers. And, we check back with Isom, Kentucky, grocery store owner Gwen Christon, six months after flood waters ruined her store, the only grocery store within miles in her small, rural town. Then, the Sundance Film Festival is underway in Park City, Utah. Director Maryam Keshavarz talks about "The Persian Version," a sweeping family dramedy about three generations of Iranian women.

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'My Selma' details growing up Black in 1960's South; Can Congress fix Ticketmaster?

January 25, 2023

Two mass shootings occurred in California during Lunar New Year celebrations, leaving Asian communities in the surrounding areas reeling. They came at a time of increased anti-Asian violence. Anh Do of the Los Angeles Times and Cecilia Lei of the San Francisco Chronicle join us. And, Willie Mae Brown was 12 years old when Martin Luther King Jr. first visited the church in her town. Her new book is "My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement," and Brown joins us. Then, it'll be a cruel summer for Taylor Swift fans who couldn't score tickets to the pop star's tour. After the chaos and Ticketmaster site shutdown, Swifties know there's a problem with Ticketmaster all too well, but now Congress is weighing in. The New Republic's Pablo Manríquez joins us to recap Tuesday's hearing.

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Earth's inner core appears to be slowing; Asian American elders process shootings

January 24, 2023

The nation is now processing a second mass shooting involving Asian Americans in California in the midst of the Lunar New Year. Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, talks about the community impact. Then, Elizabeth Day, a senior teaching fellow in geophysics at Imperial College London, talks about new research that shows the Earth's core is spinning at a rate slightly slower than the rest of the planet. And, the Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning. "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" led the way with 11 nominations, including Best Picture. KPCC's John Horn runs down some of the top nominees.

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Lunar New Year shooting in Monterey Park; Scientist loses job for climate protest

January 23, 2023

Lunar New Year is supposed to be a time of joy for Asian cultures. But it's off to a somber start for Monterey Park residents after a shooting over the weekend killed at least 10 people and left at least another 10 injured. Josie Huang reports on Asian American communities in Southern California for KPCC and joins us. And, protests abound in Atlanta, Georgia over constructing a police training facility. A protestor and member of the Forest Defenders, a group of activists living in the South River Forest to protest the facility, was shot and killed recently. WABE's Chamian Cruz joins us. Then, an Earth scientist reportedly lost her job after participating in climate activism protests. Rose Abramoff joins us to talk about being let go from her position at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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How to see the green comet; Celebrate the Lunar New Year with these delicacies

January 20, 2023

The Federal Reserve will meet later this month to discuss whether to raise interest rates and by how much, amid high inflation. Susan M. Collins, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, joins us to discuss. And, a bright green comet is streaking across the sky right now. Kelly Beatty, senior editor of Sky & Telescope, tells us how to see it. Then, a key part of Lunar New Year festivities is the food, and many have special symbolic meanings or are special dishes reserved for special occasions. Megan Zhang, senior food culture editor for Saveur Magazine, joins us to taste some of the food and explain the story of each treat.

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One man's fight against deportation; T-Rex may be smarter than we thought

January 19, 2023

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the U.S. will reach its borrowing limit Thursday. But there are some lessons to be learned from 2011 when the U.S. was hurtling towards a default but narrowly averted it. NPR political correspondent Susan Davis joins us. Then, a Massachusetts man is fighting to stay with his family. Fredly Charles is battling against deportation to Haiti. He's one of two people who can take care care of his daughter who has intensive medical needs. Fredly and his wife Tasha Charles join us. And, the T-Rex has always been seen as enormous and terrifying, but not necessarily smart. A new body of research shows that most of us, and "Jurassic Park" may have gotten some things about the dinosaur's intelligence wrong. Suzana Herculano-Houzel, an associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, joins us.

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Gen-Z often isn't seeking out skilled trade careers; Finding paradise with Pico Iyer

January 18, 2023

After Kevin McCarthy stepped into the House Speaker role after a contentious voting process, the new Congress still has many challenges ahead of it. The Associated Press's Lisa Mascaro joins us. Then, if something's broken in your neighborhood, who are you going to call? Probably not Gen-Z. Data shows that the application rate for the younger generation seeking technical jobs dropped by 49% between 2020 and 2022. Paul Iversen, a labor educator with the University of Iowa's Labor Center, joins us. And, travel writer Pico Iyer released a new book called "The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise." He joins us to look back on nearly five decades of travel and finding paradise in unlikely places.

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Losing GOP candidate arrested in relation to shootings; Supporting child caregivers

January 17, 2023

Republican Solomon Peña, a failed New Mexico state House candidate, was arrested Monday, in connection to a string of shootings at the homes of state and local Democratic leaders. KUNM reporter Bryce Dix shares the latest. And, as lawmakers in New Mexico begin their legislative session, we take a look at how they will prioritize the needs of young children this year. Elizabeth Groginsky, cabinet secretary for early childhood education and care, joins us. Then, Beverly White has been a local television news reporter in Los Angeles for just over three decades. Now that she's retiring, she looks back on her career.

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Sculpture represents MLK's love and legacy; Artist with ADHD creates 'Anti-Planner'

January 16, 2023

"The Embrace," a sculpture on the Boston Common that represents the love between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, was unveiled last week. The sculpture depicts the arms of both wrapped around each other. Artist Hank Willis Thomas designed "The Embrace" and joins us to talk about it and King Jr.'s legacy. Then, last year, numerous popular retailers including Walgreens warned about an increase in organized retail theft. Reporters and local police found little evidence of this, though. Rachel Swan, who has been covering this for the San Francisco Chronicle, joins us. And, the average planner just doesn't work for many people diagnosed with ADHD. That's the case for artist Dani Donovan, who created the "Anti-Planner" to keep herself motivated in a way that works for her. She's heard from others who are prone to procrastination that her model works for them, too. Donovan joins us.

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Keenan Anderson body cam footage released; Criminal case unfolds on 'Real Housewives'

January 13, 2023

Police body camera footage released this week shows police trying to detain 31-year-old Keenan Anderson in Venice, California, earlier this month, at one point tasering him for 30 seconds uninterrupted. He died hours later, the police say after suffering cardiac arrest. KPCC's Robert Garrova joins us. And, viewers of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" watched Jennifer Shah plead guilty to charges related to a decade-long telemarketing scheme that stole money from hundreds of people, mainly working-class elderly. Legal analyst Emily D. Baker weighs in on this reality TV first. Then, on Jan. 1, farmers in Pinal County, Arizona, lost the last remaining access they had to Colorado River water due to drought. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd visited a farmer who must come up with a new plan to keep his family farm alive.

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How California storms are impacting people without homes; Gun violence in Milwaukee

January 12, 2023

A string of storms in California has left at least 17 people dead since late last month. Joe Smith, program director at the Hope Cooperative, joins us to talk about the dangerous situation many people without homes are in right now. And, half of Alaska's Kodiak Alutiiq language speakers died in the past two years. But new speakers are learning the language and passing along the Sun'aq Tribes' culture and worldview to the new generations. Claire Stremple of KTOO reports. Then, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, broke its homicide record for the third year in a row in 2022. De'Shawn Ewing of the City of Milwaukee Health Department talks about what prevention methods and actions local leaders like him want to see happen.

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Dressing like Bella Hadid as a plus-size person; How cyclists can stay safe

January 11, 2023

Utah's Great Salt Lake will disappear in five years unless drastic conservation efforts are made in the next two years. Brigham Young University ecologist Benjamin Abbott co-authored a study that suggests water consumption from the lake be cut in half. Abbott joins us to talk about his findings. Then, we heard from a guest prior who suggested that cyclists use a full car lane instead of hugging the curb. Some other cyclists disagreed. DashCam for your Bike founder Armin Samii joins us to share his point of view. And, is Bella Hadid really a style icon, or is she just skinny? Teen Vogue's Aiyana Ishmael spent a week dressing like the supermodel and joins us to discuss whether Hadid's style is plus-size friendly.

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Human composting offers an environmentally friendly alternative; Gas stoves emissions

January 10, 2023

At least 14 people are dead after torrential rain in California caused flash flooding across the state. KQED's Dan Brekke joins us. And, Drexel University professor Josiah Kephart talks about the potential federal ban on gas stoves. Then, New York is the latest state to give residents the option of composting their loved ones instead of using the standard burial or cremation. Katrina Spade, founder and CEO of Seattle's Recompose, offers what she calls "ecological death care." Software manager Nina Schoen says her end-of-life plan includes human composting.

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How to safely ride a bike in the city; Global energy relations are in flux

January 9, 2023

Brazil is facing anti-democracy threats as former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in the Brazilian capital of Brasília on Sunday to protest what they believe was a stolen election. Gustavo Ribeiro, founder and editor-in-chief of The Brazilian Report, joins us. Then, riding a bike for transportation is energy-efficient and a lot of commuters lean on it, but safety is a large issue. Host Scott Tong knows that firsthand; on a commute home a few months ago, he swerved to avoid getting "doored" and ended up a few broken ribs. John Schubert, bicycle safety instructor and writer and editor at Cycling Savvy, joins us to offer some safety tips. And, relations regarding energy between nations are changing in the new year. Europe is pulling away from Russian oil amid the war in Ukraine and Russia is seeking new nations in need. Dan Yergin is vice chairman of S&P Global and joins us.

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Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest rattled the NFL; New tech unveiled at CES 2023

January 6, 2023

This week in politics saw Biden stepping up immigration efforts and far-right Republicans sowing chaos around the 2020 election results. NPR's Franco Ordonez and Enrique Acevedo of CBS News join us. Then, when Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during Monday night's game, it left the whole NFL rattled. ESPN's Mina Kimes joins us to discuss how coaches and players reacted before the football season's end. And, from EVs to urine sensors, the latest and greatest technology is on display at this year's Consumer Electronic Show. The Verge's Alex Cranz joins us.

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Wrongfully convicted deportee returns to the U.S.; Marc-Andre Hamelin's ragtimes

January 5, 2023

President Biden is set to make an announcement regarding immigration on Thursday. NPR White House correspondent Asma Khalid has been following the announcement and joins us. Then, when Gideon Baena was wrongfully convicted of a crime, he was deported to a country he barely knew: the Philippines. After fighting his way through the legal system and having his case declared unconstitutional, Baena is back in the U.S. and starting a new chapter of his life. He joins us with his attorney, Shan Potts. And, ragtime was popularized by African-American composer Scott Joplin, known as "the king of ragtime." Canadian pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin has a new album out, "Wiliam Bolcom: The Complete Rags." Hamelin talks about tunes written in the 1960s and 1970s by composer Bolcom, and how they were inspired by early masters of ragtime. Hamelin joins us.

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The future of American politics; Father-daughter duo works to save sea turtles

January 4, 2023

The future of politics can be gleaned from a few questions, according to Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer. Those questions include whether President Biden will run for reelection, how inflation will continue to develop and what a Republican House majority means for the country. Then, California, Illinois and Florida will all see key state laws go into effect in 2023. Nick Miller from Cap Radio in Sacramento, Mawa Iqbal from WBEZ in Chicago and Cathy Carter from WUSF in Tampa Bay join us. And, between 2010 and 2020, the number of sea turtles illegally harvested was down 30% compared to the prior decade. That's due in part to conservationists like Caludio Quesada-Rodríguez in Missoula, Montana. Quesada-Rodríguez works with his 13-year-old daughter Sara to conserve the species.

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How Blondie's music stood the test of time; Homeless asylum seekers in Buffalo

January 3, 2023

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills is in critical condition after collapsing on the field during a game Monday night. Lindsay Jones, senior editor at The Ringer, tells us the latest on his condition. And, Anna Mongo talks about how homeless asylum seekers are faring after the deadly blizzard. She's the chief program officer at Jericho Road Community Health Center, which runs the VIVE shelter in Buffalo, New York. Then, a new box set from Blondie looks back on decades of hits and reveals dozens of previously unreleased recordings the band made between 1974 and 1982. "Blondie: Against The Odds 1974-1982" is nominated for a Grammy for best historical album. The band's Debbie Harry and Chris Stein join us.

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Looking back at Ukraine's counteroffensive; Pope Benedict XVI's life and legacy

January 2, 2023

Brazil's new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was sworn in on Sunday. This is the third time he's held office in the past 12 years. Gustavo Ribeiro, founder and editor-in-chief of Brazilian Report, joins us. Then, we look back at the counter-offensive that Ukraine launched against Russia. The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan wrote a lengthy examination on how it turned the tide of the war last summer. She joins us. And, Pope Benedict XVI died this weekend. His resignation in 2013 shocked the world. Author and journalist John Allen joins us to talk about the pope emeritus' life and legacy.

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Producer picks: Struggle for racial justice; photographing murmurations

December 30, 2022

Historian Peniel Joseph says there have been three periods of reconstruction in American history. The third period, he says, is happening right now. Associate producer Julia Corcoran introduces this conversation with Joseph. Then, Danish photographer Soren Solkaer first saw mysterious patterns in the sky, technically called murmurations, when he was a child. He started photographing birds flying above the northern stretches of the Wadden Sea, which Denmark residents called the Black Sun. Senior producer Karyn Miller-Medzon introduces Solkaer's conversation with host Robin Young. And, Chicago music venue the Metro Club celebrated 40 years in operation in 2022. In its 4 decades, it's been a haven for punk, rock and metal music, hosting big-name acts like Black Flag and R.E.M. Producer Chris Bentley spoke to the club owner and long-time patrons.

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The year in podcasts, TikTok hits and classical music

December 29, 2022

Vulture critic Nick Quah shares his favorite podcasts of 2022, including "Mother Country Radicals" and "Normal Gossip." Then, New Yorker music critic Alex Ross talks about the year in classical music, highlighting women composers and performers. And, TikTok is a major player in the music industry — and it's "About Damn Time" to recognize it as such. Dan Whately, senior media reporter at Insider covering TikTok and social media, talks about the biggest hits of the year on the app.

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Top web stories of 2022: The problem with outdoor cats; Americans are having less sex

December 28, 2022

In this special episode of Here & Now Anytime, digital producers Allison Hagan and Grace Griffin revisit some of the top web stories of 2022. This year, the Polish Academy of Sciences declared that outdoor cats are dangerous, adding them to its list of "invasive alien species." Scientific American's Laura Helmuth explains why cats are a problem for ecosystems. And, whether they're teenagers or in their 40s, Americans are having less sex. Former host Tonya Mosely explores why. Then, roughly 95% of celebrity memoirs are ghostwritten. But who's writing them? Griffin talks about her reporting into the elusive world of ghostwriting.

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The year in books: Top fiction, non-fiction picks; Why men should read romance

December 27, 2022

Here & Now's Kalyani Saxena reviews the year in books, starting with fiction and non-fiction recommendations from "The Stacks" host Traci Thomas. Then, Saxena talks with author Rebecca F. Kuang speak about her book "Babel: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution," which came out earlier this year. And, to all the men who struggle with talking about sex and pleasure in a meaningful way, have you tried reading romance novels? We explore why reading romance might just be at the heart of what men need.

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Looking back on 2022: The year in global news, scientific breakthroughs

December 26, 2022

From upheaval in Haiti to protests in Iran, we recount the top stories in global news from 2022. Foreign Policy's Jennifer Williams joins us. Then, even though more electric vehicles are hitting the roads, charging stations are still hard to come by. Drivers of electric cars especially have trouble in urban areas. Reporter Jordan Pascale of WAMU joins us. And, 2022 saw some promising developments in science and technology. Staff writer for The Atlantic Derek Thompson joins us to break down the top developments of the year.

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Louis Armstrong comes to life in a new way for the holidays

December 23, 2022

One of the greatest artists of the last century is having a little revival. Louis Armstrong — the gravely voiced singer and maestro of the trumpet — has a new album topping the charts now, more than 50 years after his death. It's a holiday record called "Louis Wishes You A Cool Yule." Also, a new documentary called "Louis Armstrong's Black and Blues" depicts the artist as never before — using his own words, from his own archive of hundreds of hours of recording. Ricky Riccardi, the director of research collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens, joins us.

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NPR's favorite 3 games of the year; Looking back at the top climate stories of 2022

December 22, 2022

In an address to a joint Congress in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would never surrender to Russia and asked for continued support and funding from the U.S. Former Ukraine ambassador and vice president of the U.S. Institute for Peace William Taylor joins us. Then, "Elden Ring" and "Horizon Forbidden West" topped NPR's list of the best games released in 2022, but Here & Now's James Perkins Mastromarino outlines a few other honorable mentions as well. And, floods in Pakistan and the election in Brazil made for some of the top climate-related stories of the year. The numbers on climate change from 2022 don't look great, and climate disasters have cost about $29 billion globally. New York Times science writer David Wallace-Wells joins us.

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Top science stories of 2022; Sen. Angus King reflects on Electoral Count Act

December 21, 2022

Maine Sen. Angus King talks about changes to the vote certification process tucked in a massive spending bill that the Senate is expected to pass this evening, the same evening Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a joint statement to Congress. And, Laura Helmuth, the editor-in-chief of Scientific American, talks about the science stories that stand out to her this year, including the stunning photographs of space from the James Webb Space Telescope. Then, Here & Now listener Laia Vicens Fuste tells host Scott Tong about the Catalan holiday tradition of Tió de Nadal.

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Mountain lion P-22's legacy; Baltimore wants to remove its 'Highway to Nowhere'

December 20, 2022

The House Jan. 6 committee met for the final time Monday and recommended criminal charges for former President Donald Trump. The committee's investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol revealed "the larger, structural weaknesses of American democracy." University of Chicago law professor Aziz Huq joins us. Then, Hollywood's most famous mountain lion, nicknamed P-22, had to be euthanized over the weekend after being hit by a car. Miguel Ordeñana is the wildlife biologist who first discovered the puma 10 years ago, and he joins us to reflect on the legacy P-22 leaves behind. And, a mile of unfinished highway in West Baltimore has been dubbed the "Highway to Nowhere." When it was built in the 1970s, it displaced nearly 1,000 homes and businesses. Baltimore recently applied for funding to remove the highway, but Fight Blight Bmore founder Nneka N'namdi is skeptical of the city's ability to do so equitably. She joins us.

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Argentina wins the World Cup; Lessons from a chaotic year for finances

December 19, 2022

Argentina is the 2022 World Cup champion. They raise the trophy for the third time after beating France on penalties in the final in Qatar. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Andrea Canales unpacks the breathless game. Then, 2022 brought financial chaos for many of us. CBS business analyst and host of "Jill on Money" Jill Schlesinger shares some sage advice from the year. And, for the past two weeks, 17,000 people and delegates from 190 countries have been meeting in Montreal to figure out a way to stop the ongoing decline of wildlife and ecosystems in the biggest conference on biodiversity, ever. Vox's Benji Jones has been covering the conference in Montreal.

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Migrant center braces for surge; Young activists take climate fight to court

December 16, 2022

The Biden administration is expected to lift a controversial policy, Title 42, which allows border agents to expel migrants crossing into the U.S. When it's overturned, a surge in immigrants crossing over to the U.S. is expected, and one migrant resource center in Phoenix is bracing for the influx. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd visited the center. Then, migrants seeking U.S. immigration in Juarez, Mexico have reported mass kidnappings and other dangerous conditions. Andrea Gonzalez with the Innovation Law Lab joins us. And, Montana's state constitution guarantees the right to a clean environment. So, young climate activists are bringing the issue to court. Nate Bellinger, senior staff attorney at Our Children's Trust, and one of the 16 plaintiffs Grace Gibson-Snyder join us.

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Paid internship cuts; The fight to represent descendants of slavery in the census

December 15, 2022

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by half a percentage point. Rates are now at a 15-year high, and the last time they were this high was right before the 2008 financial crisis. MSNBC's Ali Velshi joins us. Then, as NPR and other employers cut back or cancel paid internship programs, students looking for work in their field of study are severely impacted especially with a recession looming. Carlos Mark Vera, co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit Pay Our Interns, joins us. And, racial justice advocates are working to have descendants of slavery counted on the 2030 census. They say accurate data is critical for understanding income, education and health disparities within the Black community. Yvette Carnell, president of the ADOS Advocacy Foundation, joins us.

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Gun-violence prevention, 10 years after Sandy Hook; 'The Myth of Normal'

December 14, 2022

It's been 10 years since a gunman killed 20 first-graders and their six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A decade later, the gun-violence prevention movement has never been stronger. Shannon Watts, founder and CEO of Moms Demand Action and Sylvia Bennett-Stone, director of Voices of Black Mothers United, join us. Then, a special flight out of Houston on Wednesday could mark a milestone for disability inclusion in space. K. Renee Horton, a scientist at NASA and one of the 16 passengers, joins us. She lives with what she calls an invisible disability: hearing loss. And, what we consider normal could actually be traumatic. Dr. Gabor Maté joins us to talk about his new book "The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture."

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LA Mayor Karen Bass on fighting homelessness; Spicy fish curry family recipe

December 13, 2022

On her first day in office, the new Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass talked to us about fighting homelessness, being in a group of Black mayors leading the nation's four biggest cities and going forward after a personal tragedy. And, researchers zapped hydrogen fuel with lasers and generated more energy than the lasers put in. But a future with carbon-free fusion energy is still decades away. Physicist Omar Hurricane tells us more. Then, the holiday season often means family recipes. We hear from Sujata Halarnkar, a listener from Yuma, Arizona, as part of our series sharing your family recipes.

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Do Americans want to go back to the moon?; The chess scandal gripping the world

December 12, 2022

Robert Monetti's son Richard was a Syracuse University student killed on board Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The bombing killed 259 people on board and 11 on the ground nearly 34 years ago. He discusses the news that a Libyan intelligence official is now in U.S. custody. And, 50 years ago this month, the Apollo 17 astronauts left the moon. But with NASA finally preparing to go back, are people still interested in the moon? Here & Now's Gabe Bullard asks visitors at the Air and Space Museum. Then, accusations of cheating, a $100 million lawsuit and profanity-laden tirades are just the tip of the iceberg in this chess scandal that has caught the attention of the wider public. Dylan Loeb McClain, former chess columnist for the New York Times, unpacks this bizarre story and all its twists and turns.

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Sinema leaves Democratic party; Classical guitarist Berta Rojas on her new album

December 9, 2022

Kyrsten Sinema left the Democratic party this week and registered as an independent. CSPAN's Jesse Holland, the Washington Post's Paul Kane and Alejandra Gomez, co-director of grassroots political organization LUCHA, join us. And, Berta Rojas just won a Latin Grammy for her new album, "Legado." On it, the classical guitarist pays tribute to two early-20th-century musicians Ida Presti and Maria Luisa Anido. Rojas joins us to talk about her work.

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This English professor teaches a class on Taylor Swift songs; Brittney Griner is free

December 8, 2022

WNBA star Brittney Griner was released from Russia Thursday morning. The Washington Post's Missy Ryan talks about the prisoner swap that led to her release. Then, a week after New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a controversial move to stem homelessness, a longtime paramedic who has seen mental health distress on the streets daily is speaking out. Anthony Almojera joins us. And, University of Texas English professor Elizabeth Scala teaches a course that connects Taylor Swift's songwriting to the works of William Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath and other literary greats. She explains the idea behind the class.

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Update on North Carolina power grid; Gerrymandered map at the center of SCOTUS case

December 7, 2022

Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff has been called in favor of incumbent Democrat Rep. Raphael Warnock. Warnock defeated Republican Herschel Walker. Rahul Bali of WABE joins us. Then, after gunfire damaged two electrical substations in Moore County last week, some North Carolina residents are still without power. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper joins us to give an update on the power grid and what's to come. And, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case Wednesday that could have major implications in elections. At the center of the case is a gerrymandered map that was drawn in 2020 by the Republican-controlled state legislature. Steve Harrison, politics and government reporter for WFAE, joins us.

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Decades of abuse in La Luz del Mundo megachurch uncovered; Floating wind farms

December 6, 2022

In California on Tuesday, dozens of energy companies are bidding for the right to build and operate floating wind farms off the coast of Morro Bay. This ambitious project is part of California's effort to create more renewable sources of energy. David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission, joins us. Then, women's tackle football has been taking off in Europe. Michelle de Boer, center for the Dutch Lightning, joins us. And, Jennifer Tiexiera is the director of the new HBO documentary series "Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo," which recounts survivors' stories of sexual abuse in the megachurch La Luz del Mundo. The series premieres Tuesday night on HBO and HBO Max.

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Conflicting reports of Iran's morality police; Early childhood teachers of the year

December 5, 2022

Gunfire on Saturday damaged electrical substations in Moore County, North Carolina, leaving tens of thousands without power. For some, Duke Energy has said the outage could last well into this week. WFAE reporter Nick de la Canal joins us. Then, protests in Iran continue amid mixed reports about whether the country's morality police have been abolished. Borzou Daragahi, international correspondent for the Independent, joins us. And, early childhood teachers rarely get the recognition they deserve. But that's starting to change as Maryland and New Mexico honor two educators with teacher of the year awards. Berol Dewdney, a PreK teacher in Baltimore, and Tara Hughes, a special education teacher in Santa Fe, join us.

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Deshaun Watson returns to NFL field Sunday; Looking for a great read? We got you

December 2, 2022

ABC News political director Rick Klein and NBC senior congressional reporter Scott Wong discuss the latest moves in the lame-duck Congress to avert a rail strike. And, this weekend, one of the NFL's most controversial players will step back onto the field. The Ringer's Lindsay Jones reminds us of the sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and what to expect. Then, Andrew Limbong, host of NPR's "Book of the Day" podcast, talks about NPR's Books We Love site, which has more than 400 suggestions for great reads from the staff at NPR.

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The state of AIDS on World AIDS Day; Millions of Americans have no paid sick time

December 1, 2022

On World AIDS Day, we look at the status of AIDS in the present day. Marnina Miller, community outreach coordinator for the Southern AIDS Coalition, joins us to share what she tells young people about living with HIV and other thoughts. Then, the European Union is set to hold a crucial vote on whether to put a price cap on Russian oil. The aim is to cut Russia's oil revenue, but some people fear that this could adversely affect the energy market that has seen low U.S. gas prices. MSNBC anchor and economics correspondent Ali Velshi joins us. And, rail workers' fight for paid time off sheds light on the millions of Americans who also go without paid sick leave. Joe McCartin, the executive director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University joins us.

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