Post Reports

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Post Reports is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you’ve come to expect from the newsroom of The Post, for your ears. Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi are your hosts, asking the questions you didn’t know you wanted answered. Published weekdays around 5 p.m. Eastern time.

The law firms cutting deals with Trump

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has used his office to threaten or punish people he says have wronged him in the past. That includes prominent law firms that have represented Democratic causes or hired attorneys who have investigated him, such as former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. To get back on Trump’s good side, some law firms are now pledging to do pro bono work for causes the administration supports. As of late last week, some law firms Trump has pressur

Apr 16, • 19:23

The mistaken deportation of Kilmar Abrego García

For the past few weeks, one man has become a focal point for President Donald Trump’s war on immigration. Kilmar Abrego García was mistakenly deported and sent to a Salvadoran prison last month. Abrego García’s deportation has become a legal battle over the rights of immigrants and the boundaries of executive power.Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with immigration reporter Maria Sacchetti about how Abrego García became collateral damage in Trump’s immigration fight.Today’s show was produced by Ariel P

Apr 15, • 27:49

Measles is spreading. Here’s how to stay safe.

The United States is experiencing a rise in measles, the most contagious virus in the world. Many of us have questions: Is my child protected? Do I need another vaccine? What about taking vitamin A?  Infectious disease experts worry that the Trump administration’s handling of the outbreak centered in West Texas is creating confusion and hindering an effective response. Today on “Post Reports,” host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Lena Sun, a national reporter focused on public health and infectious d

Apr 14, • 24:07

Deep Reads: A beloved skier, an audacious jump and the complex grief left behind

Dallas LeBeau had worked for years to make it to a top professional tour in skiing, only to stall in the standings last winter. He felt desperate to win respect. One of the last chances of the year to make some noise was by submitting a video of a jump to GoPro for a contest.In January 2024, on the drive back after a long day on the mountain, he snapped a photo of the turn before Highway 40 crests Berthoud Pass in Colorado — a 40-foot-wide stretch of asphalt. With the GoPro contest in mind, he t

Apr 12, • 26:29

Why this Republican is challenging Trump on tariffs

Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colorado) speaks with host Colby Itkowitz about why he's seeking to rein in Trump's tariffs authority and restore that power to Congress.This episode was produced by Sam Bair, with help from Peter Bresnan and Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Maggie Penman, Reena Flores and Renita Jablonski. Thank you to Emily Anderson and Meryl Kornfield.

Apr 11, • 23:11

What Trump’s tariff whiplash unleashed

Unpacking the political fallout from President Donald Trump’s pause on tariffs.Tariffs are on. Tariffs are paused. Tariffs are making stock markets go wild. Where do we go from here?Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with The Post’s global economics correspondent, David Lynch, and White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski about Trump’s mixed messaging on tariffs, whether the administration’s tariff pause is strategic, and where the policy whiplash leaves Wall Street and American small-busines

Apr 10, • 31:45

Long waits, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down

President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk have vowed to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse they say is rampant in the Social Security Administration, a federal program that provides more than 70 million Americans with retirement or disability income. But evidence of widespread fraud and abuse is scant, and cost-cutting at the agency has driven out experienced staff. As a result, the website is crashing, phone lines are clogged, and seniors are reporting difficulty getting the help they need to

Apr 9, • 24:11

How to manage your money amid turbulent tariffs

After President Donald Trump announced far-reaching tariffs last week, the stock markets immediately reacted, taking the biggest plunge since 2020. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary about how to weather the economic storm, from whether to pause on big purchases like cars to how to handle your retirement savings. Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff, with help from Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also

Apr 8, • 24:21

The global fight against HIV/AIDS, in chaos

Within hours of taking office in January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order freezing nearly all foreign aid. While exemptions were later given for some life-saving services, the move has sent the global fight against HIV/AIDS into chaos. In Kenya, clinics have closed, HIV medication is being rationed and condom dispensers are empty, according to The Washington Post’s Nairobi correspondent, Katharine Houreld. She spoke with host Colby Itkowitz about a woman named Mary’s story, and

Apr 7, • 31:14

GOP tariff woes, Musk's unforced error, Booker's speech

With the stock market roiling following the announcement of new tariffs, Republicans are confronting a challenge. Will they support President Donald Trump’s economic plans, even if they don’t believe in them? Or will they seek to temper his moves and draw criticism from a president who hates disloyalty?Senior reporter Aaron Blake talks with Post congressional correspondent Liz Goodwin and Senate reporter Theodoric Meyer about the mixed reactions to this week’s bombshell economic news. They also

Apr 4, • 33:16

How Trump's new tariffs could tank the economy

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the largest increase in tariffs in modern U.S. history, unveiling import taxes that he said would revive domestic manufacturing and amount to a national “Declaration of Economic Independence.”Today on “Post Reports,” financial writer David Lynch joins host Colby Itkowitz to discuss the impact of these tariffs on the American economy, and on your wallet. Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson and Ariel Plotnick, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy.

Apr 3, • 26:19

Trump’s plan to take over Greenland

President Donald Trump has wanted to make Greenland a part of the United States since his first term, citing its strategic location and valuable mineral resources. Now, the White House is drawing up scenarios for how the U.S. could take control of Greenland from Denmark, which currently governs the island. But those in Greenland and Denmark have been alarmed by the Trump administration’s strategy and rhetoric.White House reporter Michael Birnbaum reports on this effort and the challenges that th

Apr 2, • 21:18

Know your rights: Protesting and traveling in the U.S. as a noncitizen

From New York to Boston to Washington, we've seen arrests of noncitizens by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing ties to Hamas and Hezbollah. The evidence seems to be their participation in protests of the Israel-Gaza war, or social media posts.Civil liberties groups say the legal justifications are tenuous and potentially unconstitutional. The First Amendment protects the right to speak, protest and publish views, regardless of citizenship status. But experts say that deportation is an a

Apr 1, • 25:55

Why Elon Musk cares so much about a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat

Conservative judicial candidate Brad Schimel and Democratic-backed judge Susan Crawford are the ones on the ballot in Tuesday’s election. But it’s Elon Musk who’s drawing outsized attention in the race for an open seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court.That’s because the billionaire and his super PAC are pumping money into a race that Republicans claim could decide the fate of the country. Democrats, meanwhile, are also spending millions, hoping that painting Musk as the ultimate villain of the race

Mar 31, • 23:07

Why Bob Woodward worries about Trump's America

What does Bob Woodward think of all this? Colby Itkowitz poses that question to the renowned Washington Post journalist in his first sit-down interview about President Donald Trump since Trump’s second inauguration. Over 50 years ago, Woodward’s reporting of the break-in at the Watergate with his colleague Carl Bernstein exposed the Nixon administration’s plan to spy on and sabotage his political adversaries and the cover-up that followed. After President Richard Nixon’s resignation, Congress wo

Mar 28, • 24:12

Will the Dodgers break baseball? And other Opening Day questions.

Baseball is back – and so are the sport’s existential questions, both on and off the field. Coming off a dominant 2024 season, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to become the first team since the 2000 New York Yankees to capture back-to-back World Series championships. Standing in their way is a changing game, the increasingly pervasive threat of elbow injuries across the majors, and the 29 other MLB teams set on beating them. Today on “Post Reports,” guest host Ava Wallace i

Mar 27, • 22:45

The IRS is in turmoil. Taxpayers are taking notice.

With just a few weeks to go until Tax Day, Treasury Department and IRS officials are predicting a decrease of more than 10 percent in tax receipts by the April 15 deadline compared with 2024. That would amount to more than $500 billion in lost federal revenue. The prediction, officials told congressional economic correspondent Jacob Bogage, is directly tied to changing taxpayer behavior and President Donald Trump’s rapid demolition of parts of the IRS. On “Post Reports,” Jacob joins host Colby I

Mar 26, • 24:08

The fallout from the Signal leak

A Tuesday hearing had been previously scheduled for senior Trump administration officials to share an annual global threat assessment with the Senate Intelligence Committee. Instead, Democratic senators spent much of the time grilling them about their involvement in a Signal group chat in which Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of the Atlantic, had been erroneously included. Screenshots shared by Goldberg showed top officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegs

Mar 25, • 28:29

Why is Trump so obsessed with Canada?

Whether you consider it an odd joke, a national security threat or a negotiating tactic, Trump’s mentions of the United States annexing Canada have become a sticking point for the president, and a mystery to everyone else.And, check out The Post’s coverage of second lady Usha Vance’s trip to Greenland, which comes as Trump vows to acquire the island “one way or another.”Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sean Carte

Mar 24, • 21:30

Uzo Aduba on creating a White House murder mystery

White House reporter Cleve Wootson interviews Uzo Aduba today on “Post Reports” about the new Netflix show “The Residence,” and the real dynamics the fictional show reveals. Read Sonia Rao’s story about “The Residence.” She says it's “Clue,” set on Pennsylvania Avenue, with a Shondaland touch. You can also read our TV critic Lili Loofbourow’s review.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Maggie Penman. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Mar 21, • 17:41

Trump's biggest clash with the courts yet

President Donald Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act last week kicked off a battle with the courts that’s getting more heated by the day. On Tuesday, he called U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg “crooked” and a “radical left lunatic” and suggested he should be impeached. Then, Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. issued a rare public rebuke of the president, saying impeachment is “not an appropriate response” to a judicial decision. Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake spea

Mar 20, • 28:36

The influencer administration

Since Trump’s second inauguration, there has been a firehose of news out of the White House – and longtime adviser Steve Bannon says that’s all part of the plan. “It looks like chaos, but there's certain internal logic to it,” Bannon told Sarah Ellison, media and democracy reporter for The Post. “It's amazingly compelling content.”Sarah and tech reporter Drew Harwell have been reporting on the White House’s new aggressive approach to messaging. Host Colby Itkowitz talks with Sarah abo

Mar 19, • 29:20

Israel shatters the ceasefire with Hamas

More than 400 people were killed and hundreds more wounded in Tuesday’s attacks, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, making it one of the deadliest days of the 17-month war.Host Colby Itkowitz talks with Miriam Berger, who has been covering the conflict for The Post, about what it’s like in Gaza right now and what this means for the possibility of a ceasefire in the future. Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Bishop Sand. It was edited by Lucy Perkins with help from R

Mar 18, • 16:12

Trump used the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants. Was it legal?

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump invoked a seldom-used wartime powers act to deport suspected gang members without due process. Though a federal judge blocked the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, more than a hundred migrants accused by U.S. officials of being part of the gang Tren de Aragua were flown to a prison in El Salvador on Saturday. It was the first time the Alien Enemies Act had been invoked since World War II, when it was used to incarcerate Japa

Mar 17, • 16:16

Dems' shutdown discord, a tariff backlash and Elon Musk

Democrats are bristling at the decision by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to vote for a GOP bill averting a government shutdown. Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake speaks with congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor to get a behind-the-scenes look at the politics of the shutdown vote. He also breaks down the latest tariff news and Elon Musk drama with David Lynch, a financial writer for The Washington Post, and Trisha Thadani, a Post technology reporter. Today’s show was produced and m

Mar 14, • 35:58

Dr. Oz goes to Washington

Mehmet Oz is President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a massive agency that oversees health coverage for more than 100 million Americans, including older adults, those with low incomes and children. Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon and former professor at Columbia University who became a household name when he started appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2004 and then hosted his own show, “The Dr. Oz Show,” from 2009 to 2022. On Friday, Oz will face

Mar 13, • 18:51

DOGE’s PR crisis

For weeks, Americans have watched as Elon Musk and the U.S. DOGE Service have slashed at the federal bureaucracy, making drastic cuts to agency budgets and the federal workforce. And while President Donald Trump has made clear that he supports Musk, DOGE’s efforts have sparked concern among many senior Trump advisers, civil servants and everyday Americans. That has left DOGE, which stands for Department of Government Efficiency, hunting for wins.Today on “Post Reports,” The Post’s DOGE reporter

Mar 12, • 16:23

The ICE arrest of student activist Mahmoud Khalil

Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil helped organize protests at the university against the Israel-Gaza war last spring. Khalil, who is a legal permanent resident of the United States, according to his lawyers, was detained over the weekend by immigration officers was detained by immigration officers and accused by the Trump administration of sympathizing with Hamas terrorists. So far no evidence of this has been reported.Immigration reporter Maria Sacchetti speaks with host Colby Itkowitz a

Mar 11, • 15:57

Is Trump leading us into a recession?

In an interview broadcast on Sunday, President Donald Trump declined to rule out that Americans could see a recession this year as the economy stutters from his efforts to impose tariffs and cut down the size of the federal government. He told Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, “I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big. We’re bringing wealth back to America. That’s a big thing.”Today on “Post Reports,” economics correspondent Abha Bh

Mar 10, • 20:23

A message from Martine

Our beloved senior host, Martine Powers, is stepping away from the microphone for a bit to cover the White House and then take on a longer-term assignment. Tune in to today’s bonus episode to hear more, and get to know our guest co-host for the next few months, Colby Itkowitz. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Mar 8, • 5:59

So… are we going to Mars?

As Elon Musk leads a project to drastically remake the federal government, one goal might be fueling it all: getting to Mars. It’s an objective that President Donald Trump seems to share. In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, Trump promised that the U.S. would “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”But what are the obstacles to get to the Red Planet? Host Martine Powers speaks with space reporter Christian Dave

Mar 7, • 31:17

Trump's chilling effect on medical research

The National Institutes of Health is a sprawling and complex institution that supports the work of hundreds of thousands of scientists at universities and labs across the country.Since Trump’s inauguration that work has been stymied by confusion and uncertainty – potentially delaying or even preventing important medical research. The Post’s science reporter Carolyn Johnson has been reporting on the turmoil at NIH and talks to Martine about how it could impact a generation of scientists. Today’s

Mar 6, • 20:15

Trump’s defiant speech to Congress

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down the speech with senior White House correspondent Naftali Bendavid and Democracy reporter Colby Itkowitz. They fact-check Trump’s DOGE claims and explain the political consequences Trump could face for his tariffs. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins with help from Rachel Van Dongen and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.This episode has been updated to clarify that the Trump administrat

Mar 5, • 28:47

Inside Texas’s growing measles outbreak

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. It was eliminated in the United States 25 years ago because of an effective vaccine. While cases periodically pop up, a growing wave of vaccine skepticism is giving this old virus new traction.Health reporter Fenit Nirappil and “Post Reports” producer Elana Gordon recently traveled to the heart of this growing outbreak, which officials say may take months to get under control.  Today, Martine Powers speaks with Fenit about the state of

Mar 4, • 31:55

What happened after Trump kicked Zelensky out of the Oval Office

On Friday, Zelensky and Trump met for what was expected to be a tense but uneventful meeting before signing a natural resources agreement that was seen as the first step to a peace deal with Russia. Instead, cameras captured a blow-up – Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful and said he was “gambling with the lives of millions of people.”  Since then, European leaders have redoubled support for Ukraine – while the Kremlin proclaimed that the Trump administration i

Mar 3, • 29:04

A Trump-Zelensky blow up, a spending bill, anger at Musk

Some House Republicans are getting nervous. They’re worried that passing President Donald Trump’s budget proposal could mean cuts to popular programs like Medicaid. They’ve also gotten an earful from voters angry at Elon Musk who are packing congressional town halls. Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake unpacks the drama with congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor and congressional economics correspondent Jacob Bogage. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lu

Feb 28, • 37:43

The Oscars movies worth watching

This year’s Oscar contenders are all over the place, ranging from the adaptation of the popular musical “Wicked” to the Brazilian historical drama “I’m Still Here.” Film and TV reporter Sonia Rao and arts editor Janice Page sit down with host Martine Powers to share which films are rising to the top and explain why some actors may be favored more by the academy than others. Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff, with help from Sabby Robinson and Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Maggie Penman

Feb 27, • 23:59

The gutting of the federal workforce

Gregg Bafundo worked as a lead wilderness ranger in Washington state and used his basic firefighting training to help contain fires in the parks he worked in. Erin Williamson traveled to rural communities to help them get financing for essential services as part of her job with the U.S. Agriculture Department. Veteran Jared Blockus worked for a VA hospital in North Carolina ordering critical equipment. All of them were probationary workers fired a couple of weeks ago as part of the Trump adminis

Feb 26, • 30:43

A straight, White person sued for discrimination. Her case is before the Supreme Court.

Host Martine Powers speaks with Supreme Court reporter Justin Jouvenal about Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, which will be heard before the country’s highest court on Wednesday. Ames and her attorneys say she was held back at her job because she is straight and White. Her case was rejected by lower courts, in part because reverse discrimination claims require a higher burden of proof than anti-minority discrimination in many parts of the country. But Ames’s attorneys argue that t

Feb 25, • 22:49

How to reverse an opioid overdose

Opioid overdoses don’t have to be fatal if the person gets help in time.In recent years naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, has become more widely available in the United States. Narcan, a nasal spray version of naloxone, became available without prescription in pharmacies in 2023. That means more people can help reverse overdoses. Despite showing signs of decline, the  number of people dying nationwide from overdoses eclipsed 100,000 annually from 2020 to 2023, according to n

Feb 24, • 28:52

Deep Reads: Children joked about school shootings. Then the sheriff sent them to jail.

An analysis of news reports by The Washington Post found that at least 477 people — 90 percent of them students — were arrested in the two weeks after the Apalachee High massacre in Georgia. That’s nearly 100 more than in the aftermath of the three previous mass school shootings combined.In Volusia County, Florida, the elected sheriff, Mike Chitwood, a registered Independent and brash Philadelphia native, decided he’d had enough. In September 2024, he deployed dozens of deputies and spent an ext

Feb 22, • 37:43

The Trump honeymoon is ending

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Post congressional reporter Liz Goodwin and Dan Lamothe, who covers the Pentagon and the U.S. military, about the week’s political news. They dig into Trump’s sharp turn against Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. They also talk about new polling that shows Trump’s sweeping federal policy decisions are largely unpopular. Plus, why GOP lawmakers are quietly begging Trump to spare their distric

Feb 21, • 32:44

The rise of the conservative wellness influencer

Alex Clark stands out on mic and on camera. The 31-year-old wellness influencer and podcaster has nearly half a million followers on YouTube and ranks among the top 10 wellness podcasts on Apple. While wellness has long been associated with liberal hippies, Clark hails from a conservative background. She’s part of the new “Make America Healthy Again” movement questioning modern medicine, backing President Donald Trump and supporting anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has start

Feb 20, • 35:24

Trump turns on Ukraine

The United States and Russia have begun talks to end the war in Ukraine. But Ukraine wasn’t there.The United States and Russia just completed their first round of diplomatic talks to end the war in Ukraine since the start of Russian invasion in 2022. The exclusion of Ukraine representatives from the talks signals a new approach and new U.S. interests in the region.Host Martine Powers talks with White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about Trump’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir

Feb 19, • 21:41

DOGE wants access to your tax data. Why?

Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service sparked alarm over the weekend, when a senior DOGE official requested access to the Internal Revenue System’s detailed database featuring financial information about every taxpayer, business and nonprofit in the country.Host Martine Powers speaks with economics correspondent Jacob Bogage about how this could affect millions of American taxpayers.Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by

Feb 18, • 20:53

Want to live longer? Try fartleks.

Fartlek is a Swedish term for “speed play.” This informal version of interval training is simple, effective and dare we say … enjoyable? And not just because "fartlek" is fun to say.Exercise columnist Gretchen Reynolds is here to vouch for this often-overlooked, decades-old practice. Reynolds, who helped popularize the 7-minute workout, has found that a growing body of research points to the benefits of this approach, even in small doses. According to exercise scientists, it can improve strength

Feb 17, • 22:03

Can you be a good person at the White Lotus?

Belinda is one of the few decent people on “The White Lotus,” the sharp satire populated with miserable rich people on vacation. Belinda is back for Season 3, and host Martine Powers knew she wanted to talk to the actress who plays her. Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sam Bair.

Feb 15, • 25:36

Trump versus the courts

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Supreme Court reporter Justin Jouvenal and Democracy reporter Colby Itkowitz about how President Donald Trump is testing the power of the courts — and trying to expand his own authority in the process. They break down the cases facing the executive branch right now, what Trump and his allies are saying about them, and why some experts say Trump’s actions run afoul of the constitution.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Re

Feb 14, • 34:34

Ronny Chieng on why America needs satire

Ronny Chieng’s approach to comedy, along with his expanding TV and film portfolio, have put him on The Washington Post’s first-ever “Post Next 50” list – 50 people shaping our society this year. In this conversation with Elahe Izadi, he reflects on why he works to write jokes for his stand-up in a way that anyone can appreciate, even if they’re coming from a different perspective, and why the work of “The Daily Show” is crucial. By the way, Martine Powers interviewed another name on the “Post Ne

Feb 13, • 24:59

The battle over USAID

Today on “Post Reports,” how USAID entered President Donald Trump’s crosshairs. And, how his freeze on foreign aid has affected vulnerable people around the world.Read more: On the first day of his second term in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order freezing foreign aid for 90 days. The suspension was part of the president’s effort to slash public spending, remake the federal government and align foreign policy more closely with his “America First” agenda. And it had near-imm

Feb 12, • 28:51

Rep. Sarah McBride on what Democrats can still get done

Sarah McBride was elected to the House of Representatives in 2024, representing Delaware's lone congressional district — and becoming the first openly transgender member of Congress. She’s become a target for her conservative colleagues — but she’s also determined to work with Republicans. She joins Martine Powers to talk about how she makes that work and what she thinks Democrats can do now.Rep. Sarah McBride is part of “Post Next 50,” The Post’s project profiling 50 people shaping our society

Feb 11, • 28:14

What’s up with egg prices?

Host Martine Powers talks with health reporter Lena Sun about the connection between bird flu and egg prices. She also explains what consumers should know about how bird flu spreads and whether the cost of eggs will drop any time soon. Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks also to Lynh Bui. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Feb 10, • 21:18

The Chiefs, the Eagles and villainy in the Super Bowl

Over the last five years Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the NFL and the national sports spotlight. They are looking for a historic third straight Super Bowl win this weekend in New Orleans. On the other side of the ball is the Philadelphia Eagles. Led by star running back Saquon Barkley, they are seeking their first championship since 2018. Today on the show, host Ava Wallace is joined by national sports reporter Adam Kilgore and sports columnist Candace

Feb 7, • 21:46

Gaza ‘take over,’ tariffs and Trump’s free reign

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid and national politics reporter Hannah Knowles about President Donald Trump's proposal to “take over” Gaza, displace Palestinians and remake it as the “riviera” of the Middle East. They also dig into Trump's use of tariffs as bargaining chips and the lack of resistance to Trump policies from both parties.Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van

Feb 6, • 29:54

Inside Trump’s immigration crackdown

As the Trump administration ramps up immigration arrests, it’s promoting a simple story: They are getting the dangerous criminals out. But to get to the massive numbers of deportations that President Donald Trump has promised, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also arresting people without violent or criminal offenses on their records. Those arrests have spread fear among undocumented immigrants and their family members.Today, a look inside two recent ICE arrests. First, host Martine P

Feb 5, • 37:04

The unchecked power of Musk and DOGE

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency – a team of 20 or so engineers – now has influence in a number of departments, working to deplete the civil service. But is this legal?Read more: Elon Musk and other unelected officials are working to remake the U.S. government. Faiz Siddiqui has been covering the world’s richest man for years, and he says Musk’s playbook at DOGE is similar to what he did at X, formerly known as Twitter: Cut first, ask questions later.There are still questions abou

Feb 4, • 16:57

The Trump tariff flip-flop

Over the weekend President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would be putting an import tax on goods coming from Mexico, Canada and China. He said he wanted to stop people from bringing fentanyl into the country and prevent migrants from crossing the borders. The leaders of the other countries are working to find alternative solutions with Trump, and on Monday the tariffs against Mexico and Canada were delayed for a month after he had conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Feb 3, • 21:04

Deep Reads: A Columbia professor criticized Israeli students. It put her job at risk.

Franke spoke out during the spring student protests on the Columbia University campus. She had watched as mostly Republican lawmakers grilled the presidents of MIT, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard on live television. Soon after, the latter two women resigned — followed months later by Columbia’s Minouche Shafik. Franke read about professors at colleges in other states, from Arizona to California to Pennsylvania, who said they were fired or punished for speaking out about the Gaza war.

Feb 1, • 31:33

“The vibes have been immaculate” for Trump. Until now.

Trump’s extraordinary news conference on the plane crash near Reagan National Airport, his administration’s freeze and unfreeze of all federal funds, and the Senate hearings for three more of his controversial Cabinet picks.Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks through another chaotic week of political news with Congress reporter Liz Goodwin and White House economics reporter Jeff Stein. They break down Trump’s baseless claims that DEI could be the cause of the fatal plane crash in the Pot

Jan 31, • 32:39

Crowded airspace and D.C.'s deadly plane crash

“It was probably out in the middle of the river. I just saw a fireball, and then it was gone.” Today on “Post Reports,” unpacking a deadly collision in the nation’s capital.Read more:On Wednesday night, an American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair near Reagan National Airport. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River in Washington. D.C. officials believe the three soldiers in the helicopter and all 64 passengers and crew aboard the airplane were killed. Tod

Jan 30, • 22:05

Is China winning the AI race?

The stock market plummeted this week after a Chinese company showed it could do more with less. Today, we talk about the new AI chatbot DeepSeek, and why people are freaking out about it – from Silicon Valley to Wall Street to Washington.Read more:For two years, American artificial intelligence companies looked unstoppable. Then came DeepSeek. Today on Post Reports, we talk to tech policy reporter Eva Dou about how a scrappy startup became so dominant, and what it means for the AI arms race

Jan 29, • 24:24

Measles, polio, HPV: Uncovering RFK Jr.'s false vaccine claims

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s selection has raised red flags among medical experts and public health officials, especially because of his stance on vaccines. Health reporter Lauren Weber and data reporter Caitlin Gilbert examined hundreds of appearances that RFK Jr. has made to understand the extent of his disparaging claims about vaccines. Today on “Post Reports,” Weber discusses what they exclusively unearthed and what it all means for the contentious confirmation battle ahead. Read more:&

Jan 28, • 22:48

Trump's deportation campaign has begun

Over the weekend, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials received instructions from the White House to ramp up deportations, from a few hundred per day to at least 1,200. This came after President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with the results of his mass deportation campaign so far, according to people with knowledge of the briefings.The orders significantly increase the chance that officers will engage in more indiscriminate enforcement tactics or face accusations of civil

Jan 27, • 25:32

Debora Cahn on ‘The Diplomat’ and “using your words”

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, scores of career diplomats at the State Department were asked by Trump aides to resign. Trump campaigned on dismantling what he has called the “deep state” of federal bureaucrats, who he views as lacking loyalty to him and undermining his agenda. The forced departures were seen as confirmation of this plan – and a step toward changing the tone of the department.

Jan 25, • 43:13

Trump’s busy first week in office

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with senior White House reporter Isaac Arnsdorf and national political reporter Marianne LeVine about how Trump’s executive actions are already having a tangible impact. They also talk about how Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 rioters was

Jan 24, • 29:44

The future of work is female — and older

Historically, many women dropped out of the labor force because of family obligations. Today, women are working longer — in some cases because they feel like they’ve finally hit their stride in their careers. In other cases, they feel they can’t afford to retire. Hannah Ziegler is a business reporter for The Post, and she talks to host Martine Powers about this Big Shift as the workforce becomes older — and more female.

Jan 23, • 17:59

Prince Harry's tabloid saga

On Wednesday, Rupert Murdoch’s British media group agreed to pay “substantial damages” and apologized to Prince Harry as part of a settlement agreement over claims that the paper illegally intruded into the prince’s life. Harry is one of many celebrities and politicians who have sued Murdoch’s p

Jan 22, • 21:29

How Trump resurrected TikTok

It’s not over for TikTok. Or is it? Today on “Post Reports,” why the app went dark in the United States, how it came back and who controls its fate. Read more:Last week, the Supreme Court upheld a federal law banning TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sold to an American buyer.

Jan 21, • 26:24

Trump returns

Crowds of Trump supporters in Washington were supposed to watch the inauguration on the National Mall. But when plans changed last-minute because of freezing temperatures, the president’s fans crowded instead into indoor space at Capital One Arena and nearby bars. At the same time, Trump was getting sworn in at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, flanked by tech billionaires and members of his proposed Cabinet. On today’s episode, host Martine Powers talks with chief correspondent Dan Balz about th

Jan 21, • 27:36

Retropolis: The presidential inauguration that made everyone sick

In this special episode of “Post Reports,” columnist Petula Dvorak reads her first installment of The Post’s revealing history column, Retropolis. James Buchanan barely won the presidency. The nation was roiling in the debate over slavery. So when Buchanan became gravely ill before his inaugural address, it wasn’t a stretch to suspect an assassination attempt. The presidential entourage all stayed at the posh National Hotel on Capitol Hill and they fell ill, too. It hit more than 400 guests of t

Jan 18, • 10:36

The Campaign Moment: Hegseth and Bondi go to Washington

Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of The Campaign Moment newsletter talks with national security reporter Abby Hauslohner and national politics reporter Hannah Knowles about the most heated exchanges that Trump’s picks for defense secretary and attorney general, Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, faced during their Senate confirmation hearings. They also talk about what to expect if the historic

Jan 17, • 26:26

A ceasefire hangs in the balance

After months of negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement. But its fate is already in doubt. If the agreement takes effect as planned Sunday, an initial 42-day ceasefire would bring Gaza’s residents some relief from Israeli attacks that have killed more than 46,700 people there, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry’s toll does not distinguish between civilians and militants.

Jan 16, • 24:24

How to reset your relationship with your phone

The 2024 election pushed some people to put down their phones more and tune out of the news. But author Catherine Price started thinking about breaking up with her phone years ago, after realizing she was focusing on it instead of her newborn daughter. “Our devices and their apps are designed to fragment our attention, whether it is taking us out of our real-life experience and getting us to focus our attention even momentarily on the phone itself or it's what we do within apps where we are look

Jan 15, • 23:24

Arrested by AI

After two men brutally assaulted a security guard on a train platform in St. Louis, police detectives faced a daunting challenge: identifying the attackers. Police turned to facial recognition technology, feeding a blurry image from a small surveillance camera into the software.The software gave them the mugshot of a man who says he had nothing to do with the crime. Christopher Gatlin spent over a year in jail awaiting trial before the case was dropped.Gatlin is one of at least eight people in t

Jan 14, • 31:36

Grief (and love) in L.A.

Today, when disaster hits home. Weather editor Paulina Firozi and Brianna Sacks, an extreme weather and disaster reporter, are Post colleagues. We'll hear how they and others are grappling with the devastation in L.A. Read more:When several wildfires began ripping through parts of Los Angeles County on Jan. 7, The Post’s Brianna Sacks, an extreme weather and disaster reporter, began documenting the destruction. Then the story turne

Jan 13, • 23:39

The Campaign Moment: Trump, the unpunished felon

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with The Post’s White House editor, Naftali Bendavid, and national political reporter Maeve Reston about the politics of Trump’s sentencing in the New York hush money case. They also dig into how Trump is trying to pin the Los Angeles wildfires on Democrats and look ahead to next week’s Senate confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Ra

Jan 10, • 29:10

How Justin Trudeau lost Canada

After 10 years on the job, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced earlier this week that he is stepping down. Today, The Washington Post’s Amanda Coletta and host Elahe Izadi break down Trudeau’s career, where this leaves Canadian politics and what this could mean for U.S.-Canada relations.Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick with help from Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Reena Flores with help from Monica Campbell. It was mixed by Sam Bair. Thanks to Reem Akkad.Subscribe

Jan 9, • 23:06

Los Angeles is burning

Early Tuesday, wildfires started burning across Los Angeles County. The scale of the destruction is massive; entire neighborhoods are in flames, with longtime businesses, schools and houses of worship burnt to the ground.Today, guest host Rachel Siegel speaks with extreme weather and natural disaster reporter Brianna Sacks about what Los Angeles looks like as the wildfires rage, and the struggle to contain the flames. Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Ariel Plot

Jan 8, • 19:59

Will I get cancer from drinking alcohol?

The country’s top doctor is calling for cancer risk warning labels on alcohol. On “Post Reports,” why, and what that could mean for you.Read more:Last week, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in an advisory that studies suggest alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer, contributing to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 related deaths each year. For that reason, he says health warning labels on bottles of alcohol should be updated to include a cancer risk warning and that recom

Jan 7, • 21:19

How ISIS became ‘the easiest club’ to join

On New Year’s Day in New Orleans, a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people, killing 14 and leaving many others injured. In the aftermath law enforcement found an Islamic State flag in the truck, and evidence that shows the man was inspired by the extremist group. This wasn’t the only Islamic State-inspired incident in recent months.Today on “Post Reports,” guest host Rachel Siegel speaks with national security reporter Joby Warrick about how people become radicalized

Jan 6, • 28:06

The Campaign Moment: How Mike Johnson won the speaker fight

On Friday, Republicans once again selected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to be speaker of the House — but not before there was a little bit of drama.Earlier this week, President-elect Donald Trump took to social media to link the New Year’s Day vehicular attack in New Orleans to weak border policies, even though the attacker was an American citizen born in Texas. In the hours following, the message became a popular Republican talking point. Reporters Marianna Sotomayor, Marianne LeVine and Lei

Jan 3, • 25:52

What we know about the attack in New Orleans

Early in the morning on New Year’s Day, a man drove a truck into a crowd of people celebrating on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. In the hours since, law enforcement has discovered key details that point to a possible motive, including an Islamic State flag in the attacker’s car. Guest host Rachel Siegel and Justice Department reporter Perry Stein break down what we know about the terrorist attack in New Orleans.We also talk about the investigation into a possible attack in Las V

Jan 2, • 12:47

How to choose joy: ‘Try This’

Happiness, it turns out, comes down to a science — even though what makes each of us happy can vary widely. Host Cristina Quinn talks to happiness scientist Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director at UC-Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, about exactly what makes us happy and how much our sense of joy is within our control. Drawing from the science of happiness, Emiliana explains that happiness isn’t about chasing fleeting positive emotions, but rather about fostering an overarching sense of

Dec 31, 2024 • 13:50

How Jimmy Carter redefined his legacy

Carter, a peanut farmer, Navy veteran and Georgia governor, served just four years in the White House. But his time in office was only part of his legacy. Later in life, he would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his pursuit of peace and human rights.Elahe Izadi speaks with national political correspondent Dan Balz about the life and legacy of the former president.Today’s show was produced by Ted Muldoon and Arjun Singh. It was edited by Maggie Penman, w

Dec 30, 2024 • 31:26

Deep Reads: The man who drives prisoners home

It had been five years since Frankie Nole came out from behind prison doors. Now at age 72, Nole shakes his head. He had spent 49 years fighting to get out. He struggled to find work. Managers unfailingly loved his attitude. Then — as always — came the background check and email. “Unfortunately, we have decided to move forward with other candidates …”At a loss for a purpose, two years ago, he started picking up other prisoners on the day they were released. He put out the word to friends on the

Dec 28, 2024 • 21:37

'Erin Brockovich' made their town famous. They still don’t have clean water.

In 2000, the movie “Erin Brockovich” helped put the small town of Hinkley, California, on the map. The movie stars Julia Roberts as a determined law clerk who takes on the massive utility company Pacific Gas & Electric, which had been dumping chromium-6, the dangerous chemical, in Hinkley's groundwater. Brockovich is depicted gathering evidence and building a legal case against the utility. And she prevails: The movie concludes with a landmark settlement awarded to residents. But that Hollywood

Dec 27, 2024 • 30:36

Hunting an owl to save an ecosystem

Biologist Daniel Hofstadter and a tiny band of researchers have been carrying out the most expansive barred owl removal effort to date. It’s a project that has killed more than 1,000 owls in Northern California since 2019 across nearly 10 million acres. The biologists believe that their work protecting

Dec 26, 2024 • 24:28

Dinner with The Post’s food critic

Tom Sietsema has been The Post’s food critic for 25 years. Over a quarter of a century, Sietsema has eaten at and reviewed thousands of restaurants. Even after all these years, he’s not sick of it. In fact, Sietsema loves the theater of dining out, and he takes great pride in guiding readers toward truly delicious food.Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here, or give someone a gift subscription.

Dec 24, 2024 • 26:57

Saving “Sesame Street”

“Sesame Street” is an American institution. It began airing in 1969 as an educational program intended to help toddlers prepare for kindergarten. It has grown into a cultural staple and become one of the longest-running shows in TV history. Back in 2022, Laura Meckler learned that Season 55 of “Sesame Street,” which will start airing next year, will focus heavily on the emotional well-being of young kids. She spent almost two years following the cast and creatives behind the show as they researc

Dec 23, 2024 • 32:19

College football now has more money - and more problems

This weekend, the 2024 College Football Playoff kicks off, featuring more teams, more storylines and a lot more money than ever before. Today on the show, how we got to this moment in college sports, and what could be next.Read more:In 2021, amateur athletes won the right to profit off sponsorships using their name, image and likeness or NIL). Now, some college football players are able to ink million-dollar endorsement deals with shoe brands and insurance companies. This has led to sweeping cha

Dec 20, 2024 • 22:17

Musk and Trump bring shutdown chaos to Congress

Today on “Post Reports,” Washington scrambles to avoid a government shutdown. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have fanned the flames. Read more:On Wednesday, Republicans scrapped House Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial bipartisan plan to avoid a government shutdown.

Dec 19, 2024 • 20:05

Club raids, influencers: How Putin’s playbook is pushing young Russians toward ultranationalism

When Francesca Ebel, a Russia correspondent for The Post, returned to one of Moscow’s most popular nightclubs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, she noticed differences. The physical structure was there, but there were fewer young artists. Something had changed.What Ebel noticed that night was just one example of a bigger shift. Her reporting has since found that young Russians are increasingly embracing a culture of ultranationalist patriotism and Orthodox Christian values. Online influe

Dec 18, 2024 • 38:34

Trump’s new businesses — and new potential conflicts of interest

Since he last held office, President-elect Donald Trump’s business interests have evolved. The real estate mogul launched the social media company Truth Social, and — in the height of this year’s presidential campaign — he announced a cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial. Both of these industries could be targeted with efforts at regulation during Trump’s second term. So what could it mean for Trump to oversee an administration that also plays a role in these regulations? This dynamic

Dec 17, 2024 • 23:18

A stunning two weeks in South Korea

Hundreds of thousands of protestors celebrated in Seoul over the weekend as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the National Parliament. Yoon, who was elected by a narrow margin in 2022, oversaw deepening political divisions and a population increasingly frustrated by income inequality. His tenure was marked by scandals and unpopular choices. But his administration reached a breaking point when Yoon declared martial law in early December, outraging many Koreans who saw the

Dec 16, 2024 • 28:12

Deep Reads: Guns. Knives. Bats. Hammers. Hatchets. Spears.

Dean DeSoto has been teaching his driving class for aggressive drivers over the past 26 years. During that time, he has come to believe several things. One is that what goes on in the country will play out on its roadways. Another is that anger on the roads is getting worse. Across the country, the number of people injured or killed in road rage incidents involving a gun has doubled since 2018, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group. There is no uniform defin

Dec 14, 2024 • 23:59

The Campaign Moment: Biden races to protect his legacy

Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of The Campaign Moment newsletter, sits down with senior congressional correspondent Paul Kane and White House reporter Matt Viser to talk about what Biden is trying to do with his last few weeks in office. They also talk about Time magazine’s person of the year interview with Trump and what two GOP Senate appointments could mean for Trump’s ability to get his agenda through Congress.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by L

Dec 13, 2024 • 28:09

The ‘FBI’ called. Then she got scammed.

Americans are being conned every day by increasingly sophisticated scams. Today, we hear the story of one woman who lost her life's savings to a government impersonation scam.Read more:According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans were scammed out of more than $10 billion in 2023. And that’s just what’s been reported.Most scam victims never report the crime because they feel

Dec 12, 2024 • 38:24

Can Biden's climate law survive Trump?

Two years ago, President Biden and congressional Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at stimulating clean energy production and reducing carbon emissions. Since then, hundreds of thousands of jobs have been created and Americans have claimed over $8 billion in tax credits to spend on climate-friendly technologies for their homes. The biggest winners have been more conservative areas, where more investments have been made because of lower tax barriers and more incentives for compa

Dec 11, 2024 • 24:32

The killing of a CEO

After a five-day manhunt, authorities have arrested and charged a man with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Today on “Post Reports,” we bring you the latest in the case — and a look at why some on the internet cheered the killing.Read more:Authorities have charged 26-year-old Luigi Magione with murder in the shooting of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare chief executive who was killed in New York City last week. New York police say Mangione killed Thompson, 50, with a fatal s

Dec 10, 2024 • 28:46

What’s next for Syria

After more than a decade of destructive civil war in Syria, it was widely assumed that the Assad regime would keep its grip on power. Instead, lightly armed rebels were able to launch an offensive that succeeded in toppling the regime in less than two weeks. Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow.Louisa Loveluck spoke with Martine Powers as she prepared to cross into Syria.Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson, with help from Ted Muldoon, Emma Talkoff and Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Justin Ger

Dec 9, 2024 • 26:41

The Campaign Moment: Will Biden issue more pardons?

On Capitol Hill, Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct, which he denies. So this week, the veteran and former Fox News host spent time with lawmakers, publicly and privately making the case for his leadership of the Defense Department. But some Republican senators are skeptical, and Trump is reportedly lining up other options. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down the latest Cabinet controversies with White House editor Naftal

Dec 6, 2024 • 30:18

What’s up with all these food recalls?

Last month, organic carrots were recalled after they were linked to an E. coli outbreak across 18 states that left one dead. This week, cucumbers available in 19 states have been recalled after regulators fielded reports of at least 68 people falling ill from salmonella. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a massive E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions in McDonald’s Quarter Pounders to be over this week. Earlier this year, a Boar’s Head plant shut down and ce

Dec 5, 2024 • 25:46

A surprising turn in Syria's civil war

In the past week, the civil war in Syria reignited. Islamist rebels seized control of Aleppo, triggering a new phase in a years-long civil war. The Post’s Middle East bureau chief, Kareem Fahim, talks with host Elahe Izadi about why this moment matters.Read more: Last weekend’s assault on Aleppo, Syria’s economic capital, poses the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad in years. Government forces, supported by Russia and Iran, have controlled the majority of territory in Syria. Now

Dec 4, 2024 • 19:37

A trans teen takes her case to the Supreme Court

The case the Supreme Court will hear Wednesday is brought by a doctor and three transgender teens with their families – including L.W. and her parents, Brian and Samantha Williams. Their suit challenges a law in Tennessee, but nearly half of states have banned certain treatments for minors with gender dysphoria, so the implications of the Supreme Court case could be wide-ranging.  When the Williams family first sought out hormone treatment for their daughter, it wasn’t illegal in any state, but

Dec 3, 2024 • 34:40

Why many people on death row will never be executed

Today, why so many people on death row will likely never be executed and what this says about the American justice system.Read more:Today, more than 2,000 people sit on American death rows. But some may never see an execution chamber. Between moratoriums, court orders and other official edicts, many people on death row are left in a state of indefinite limbo.Host Martine Powers speaks with criminal justice reporter Mark Berman about the state of the death penalty in America

Dec 2, 2024 • 27:44

Impromptu: The real reason Americans are having fewer kids

On this episode of “Impromptu,” Opinions columnists Shadi Hamid and Heather Long talk with Style columnist Monica Hesse about what’s really behind the baby bust and whether we just need to prepare for a lower fertility future. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Nov 29, 2024 • 30:23

Bacon: The best-kept secret in Washington

Shane Harris first tasted “Vangie’s bacon” 10 years ago, and he hasn’t stopped thinking about it since. But learning her secret recipe turns out to be harder than Shane’s day job covering national security for The Washington Post. Today on the show, Shane goes on a quest to unlock the bacon mystery – and a time in Washington when Republicans, Democrats, spies, diplomats and journalists used to set their differences aside and gather around a dinner table.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted

Nov 27, 2024 • 45:43

Everyone loves rooftop solar. But there’s a problem.

Today, host Martine Powers talks with The Post’s climate zeitgeist reporter Shannon Osaka about the benefits and challenges of rooftop solar panels, and why rooftop solar is more expensive than solar farms. Shannon also shares advice about how to take advantage of solar tax credits before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan and Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Lucy Perkins with help from Reena Flores and mixed by Justin Gerrish

Nov 26, 2024 • 24:01

Can RFK Jr. make America healthy again?

Today on “Post Reports,” we unpack President-elect Donald Trump’s seemingly contradictory picks for the top positions in public health – in particular, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Read more:Public health experts have been alarmed by the idea that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime

Nov 25, 2024 • 26:49

The Campaign Moment: Gaetz’s downfall, Trump’s mandate

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell, who co-authors the Early Brief politics newsletter for The Post, about why Gaetz’s bid for attorney general lasted just eight days. Aaron breaks down why Trump’s electoral mandate is actually weaker than he claims. Plus, answers to listeners’ and readers’ lingering questions about the 2024 election. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and M

Nov 22, 2024 • 32:31

Where RFK Jr.'s fluoride-free dream is already a reality

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to have an influential role in the next Trump administration as the president-elect's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Recently, Kennedy told news outlets that a top priority will be directing communities to take fluoride out of their drinking water. Fluoride has been a pillar of public health for decades, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes it as one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th centur

Nov 21, 2024 • 39:02

Behind the boom in U.S. women's pro soccer

Just a few years ago, the National Women’s Soccer League was a relatively small business. Now, it’s becoming a financial juggernaut with multimillion-dollar investments, a big TV deal and huge attendance. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to tune in this weekend for the big game: the championship match between the Washington Spirit and the Orlando Pride.Guest host and sports writer Ava Wallace speaks with soccer reporter Steve Goff and sports editor Ella Brockway about how the NWSL em

Nov 20, 2024 • 18:17

Trump’s pledge to shut down the Education Department

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to make sweeping changes to federal agencies, including doing away with the Education Department.This is not a new threat. Closing the department has been an off-and-on Republican goal since it was created in 1979. It is also difficult to

Nov 19, 2024 • 22:59

Can Trump really deport millions of people?

Today on “Post Reports,” how President-elect Donald Trump plans to make good on his campaign promise of mass deportations.  Read more: President-elect Donald Trump has taken steps to fulfill his pledge to deport undocumented immigrants on a massive scale by naming top officials to lead the effort: Stephen Miller

Nov 18, 2024 • 27:32

The Campaign Moment: Trump’s controversial Cabinet

There’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to head up the Justice Department. Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence. Trump has chosen some eyebrow-raising names to staff his Cabinet. But are there any Republicans in the Senate that would choose to block them? Congress reporter Liz Goodwin joins hosts Aaron Blake and Elahe Izadi to dig into Trump’s Cabinet appoint

Nov 15, 2024 • 32:52

Matt Gaetz: Trump’s bombshell pick for attorney general

Gaetz has been under investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and accepting improper gifts. The choice of Gaetz for attorney general stunned senators and even some of Trump’s own advisors and set up a test of loyalty for a Republican Senate that might be loath to confirm Gaetz. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor about why Trump would choose Gaetz – and

Nov 14, 2024 • 25:55

What does Elon Musk want?

Elon Musk invested millions of dollars to help Donald Trump’s reelection campaign through the political action committee America PAC. The result was a massive door-knocking campaign in critical swing states and million-dollar giveaways to voters who signed a petition. Musk held rallies and town halls across Pennsylvania, spoke at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, and was alongside the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on election night.Now Musk has been picked to help lead a new Department of Gov

Nov 13, 2024 • 23:52

How the election changed abortion access

When it comes to abortion, the results of last week’s election were decidedly mixed. Abortion protections passed in New York, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Missouri but failed in Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota. This means that 2 million more women now have access to abortion se

Nov 12, 2024 • 26:57

What Trump's win means for the rest of the world

On today’s “Post Reports,” how foreign leaders are reacting to Trump’s victory, and how they are preparing for a second Trump presidency.Read more: For months, foreign leaders have been anxiously awaiting the results of the United States’ presidential election. Now, with Donald Trump’s decisive victory, politicians and policymakers abroad are wondering what a second Trump presidency will mean for them, and for

Nov 11, 2024 • 27:10

The Campaign Moment: What do Democrats do now?

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers, senior political reporter Aaron Blake and White House reporter Cleve Wootson break down the questions many Democrats are asking right now about why Harris lost: Should Biden have dropped out earlier? Did Harris run a bad campaign? Does America hate women?Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy.Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here. Subscribe to The Washington Post he

Nov 8, 2024 • 34:38

Trump's Day 1 to-do list

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to do a variety of things on “Day 1” should he win the presidency: mass deportations, tariffs on all U.S. imports, cutting federal funding for schools that discuss race and much more. Today, host Martine Powers speaks with White House reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb about what Trump’s second term could mean for America.Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff, with help from Ariel Plotnick and Bishop Sand. It was mixed by R

Nov 7, 2024 • 32:11

The Campaign Moment: How Trump won

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and senior national political correspondent Ashley Parker about how Donald Trump won over a broad swath of voters to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris. Plus, how Democrats are reacting to their election losses and what this defeat means for the party’s future.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to Aa

Nov 6, 2024 • 27:17

Trump wins. Again.

Former president Trump is projected to win the White House – again. Martine Powers takes you through what we know about the results of a historic election.Read more:Very early Wednesday morning, former president Donald Trump stepped on stage in south Florida and claimed victory. Sounding surprised about how the election had gone, the former president promised to “fix everything” and praised his supporters, saying this was “the greatest political movement of all time.” This morning on Post Report

Nov 6, 2024 • 11:38

Mapping how Harris or Trump might win

After an unprecedented campaign season, Election Day in America is finally here. Today, host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter and host of “The Campaign Moment” podcast Aaron Blake about what to pay attention to as results start to come in this evening, including downballot races and

Nov 5, 2024 • 30:18

The reluctant voters who could decide the election

It’s the day before the presidential election, and a lot of people have already voted – or at least made up their minds. But there are still undecided voters in key swing states who may or may not turn out. Last week, “Post Reports” producers interviewed some of these voters – whom we’re calling “The Deciders” – a key voting bloc that The Washington Post has been following all year. We’re bringing you their thoughts today.Host Martine Powers also speaks with

Nov 4, 2024 • 29:41

The Campaign Moment: What the final polls tell us

What the early voting numbers and final polling say in the last days of the 2024 campaign.“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Amy Gardner, who covers early voting for The Post, about what early voting data can and can’t tell us right now about the election results. They also talk about whether looking at polls this weekend is helpful, and what to make of burned ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington. Today’s show was produced by Eliza Den

Nov 1, 2024 • 31:34

Dispatches from the final days of the campaigns

In the final days of a presidential election that polls show as extremely close, we wanted to know how supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are feeling. Our host Martine Powers and producer Emma Talkoff went to Harris’s rally on the Ellipse in D.C. while producer Elana Gordon went to a Trump rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Today, we bring you dispatches from these two rallies that happened on the same day a week before the election. Also, we’re

Oct 31, 2024 • 30:51

The border city where Trump is gaining Latino voters

San Luis, Arizona, has a population of around 40,000 people. Most still vote for Democrats, if they vote. But in the 2020 presidential election, Democrats saw their advantage drop by 36 percentage points here since 2016. This swing is one indicator of the inroads Republicans have made in recent years in traditional Democratic strongholds, gains that former president Donald Trump hopes will propel him back into the White House. That strategy relies on winning over young, non-college-educated men.

Oct 30, 2024 • 34:55

She said she miscarried. Then she was arrested.

Patience Frazier said she had a miscarriage in April 2018. A month later, police were at her door, asking about a Facebook post and a cross in her backyard. Today, the story of Frazier, and what happens when someone is prosecuted under an abortion law. Read more:Patience Frazier was charged with manslaughter under an abortion law from 1911. It was a rare instance of a woman who sought an abortion facing prosecution. Host Martine Powers is joined by reporter Caroline Kitchener to talk about Frazi

Oct 29, 2024 • 49:41

What Harris and Trump plan to do about housing costs

Former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have made vastly different proposals to address the housing shortage. Harris says that her administration will provide incentives to get millions of homes built while helping first-time homebuyers with their down payments. Trump says that deporting large numbers of undocumented immigrants will free up more housing for Americans, an idea that has been widely debunked by economists.Host Elahe Izadi speaks with housing reporter Rachel S

Oct 28, 2024 • 25:09

Presidential: The presidents who’ve tried to win back the White House

In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, host Lillian Cunningham created the “Presidential” podcast, with one episode dedicated to each of the (at the time) 44 U.S. presidents. Now, in the thick of the 2024 election, Lillian is back. This is the second of two special “Presidential” podcast episodes released in advance of the presidential election on Nov. 5. The episodes examine how the candidates, former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, could make history if they

Oct 26, 2024 • 44:53

The Campaign Moment: The Elon Musk effect

Over the past few months, Elon Musk has heavily invested in the Trump campaign. Musk is hosting rallies in swing states, giving out million-dollar checks to registered voters in those states and organizing canvassers. Billionaires donating to presidential campaigns is nothing new, but Musk is putting much more than money into the race. Elahe Izadi speaks with technology reporter Trisha Thadani and national political reporter Michael Scherer about Musk’s political influence.Today’s show was

Oct 25, 2024 • 36:34

How Trump would fight a 2024 election loss

The morning after the 2020 election, then-president Donald Trump prematurely declared victory and claimed that a “fraud” was being perpetrated on the American public. He would go on to wage a campaign against the 2020 results, which culminated in rioters storming the U.S. Capitol. Now, with Trump back on the ballot, experts are concerned that Trump and his allies may use the same playbook they did in 2020 to challenge the 2024 results. Trump has already suggested that the 2024 election woul

Oct 24, 2024 • 25:24

The union workers who could determine the election

This year, several large unions withheld their endorsements for a presidential candidate – a move that upset Democrats, because the majority of unions have always endorsed Democratic candidates. This was reflective of a shift that’s been happening since the 2016 election, with more and more union members moving to the right.This division was on display when labor reporter Lauren Kaori Gurley visited the Ford auto plant in Wayne, Michigan, a factory in a critical swing state. Workers told her tha

Oct 23, 2024 • 33:26

This podcast was made by humans

In recent months, rapid advances in AI audio technology have made it possible to clone any voice, chat with artificial versions of celebrities like Judi Dench, and make a podcast on any topic in minutes. Those developments have raised ethical questions, opening the door for election disinformation and scams. And they’ve also raised philosophical questions about what complex constellation of qualities allows us to relate to a voice.Martine Powers speaks with technology columnist Geoffr

Oct 22, 2024 • 31:39

Hamas's top leader is dead. What happens now?

Hamas’s leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces last week. The Israeli government had been searching for Sinwar ever since he helped orchestrate the deadly Oct. 7 terror attacks last year. While some celebrated Sinwar’s death – and see this moment as a potential catalyst for a ceasefire – Sinwar’s supporters see him as a martyr, Today, host Martine Powers speaks with The Post’s Jerusalem bureau chief, Steve Hendrix, about who Sinwar was, the fallout from his death, and whether it change

Oct 21, 2024 • 26:21

The Campaign Moment: On the bizarre Trump campaign trail

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with national political reporter Marianne LeVine about the peculiar moments that she’s observed on the campaign trail this week with former president Donald Trump. From a music listening session on stage, to some eyebrow-raising interviews with both candidates, “The Campaign Moment” crew digs into the Trump and Harris campaigns’ final sprints before Election Day. Today’s show was produced by Eliza Dennis. I

Oct 18, 2024 • 32:18

Senate control may rest on a lone Montana Democrat

Jon Tester is one of the last Senate Democrats standing in a red state. First elected in 2006, he pitches his bipartisan record and his Montana roots as an antidote to national political warfare. He still farms the land his grandparents settled in the state and has a personal relationship with voters. But the state he represents is changing. The Republican candidate, businessman and veteran Tim Sheehy, has accused Tester of being too liberal for Montana, a state that voted for Trump by more than

Oct 17, 2024 • 34:34

A voyage into the world’s most contested waterway

Just 140 miles off the coast of the Philippines’ largest island is a sparkling blue lagoon that is rich with fish and minerals. This ring of reefs and rocks is called Scarborough Shoal. For centuries, it has been a place of open passageway and connection, drawing fishermen from all over the region. It’s a place that captain Jory Aguian, student activist Mathew Silverio and the rest of a small Philippine flotilla of wooden boats are determined to reach. They hope to follow in the steps of ge

Oct 16, 2024 • 43:38

The deal reopening Three Mile Island to power AI

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, site of the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history, could reopen in 2028. The plant’s owner, Constellation Energy, signed a deal with Microsoft that would allocate 100% of the plant’s power output to the tech company. Constellation is seeking a $1.6 billion federal loan guarantee to get the plant up and running. Microsoft hopes the power generated by the facility will help fuel  the increasing energy needs of  AI. It’s estimated that by 2030, 17% of the

Oct 15, 2024 • 25:25

Selling America: The Army’s fight for recruits

This summer, at a small recruiting station in Toms River, New Jersey, Sgt. 1st Class Dane Beaston met with a team of Army recruiters to offer some encouragement.“Let's change the places we're looking,” Beaston told his colleagues. “Let's change our messaging. Let's change what we're doing if it's not working, right? But the potential's out there.”Beaston has given a lot of talks like these lately. While his team has gotten closer to meeting its goals since he joined a couple years ago, it f

Oct 14, 2024 • 36:14

Presidential: Women and the White House

In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, host Lillian Cunningham created the “Presidential” podcast, with one episode dedicated to each of the (at the time) 44 U.S. presidents. Now, in the thick of the 2024 election, Lillian is back. This is the first of two special “Presidential” podcast episodes that will be released in advance of the election on Nov. 5. The episodes examine how the two major party candidates, former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, could make

Oct 12, 2024 • 37:23

The Campaign Moment: Can Democrats flip the House?

Democrats want to retake control of the House of Representatives. Vice President Kamala Harris goes on a media blitz. And elected officials wade through destruction and misinformation after another hurricane made landfall this week.“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor about whether Democrats will succeed in flipping the House and which voters Harris wanted to reach with her flurry of interviews on podc

Oct 11, 2024 • 34:08

What Trump and Harris could do to your health care

From Medicare to Obamacare, health care has long been a powerful and polarizing issue in the race for president. This year, the issue of reproductive health care is dividing Americans. The high cost of prescription drugs and access to affordable health care are also concerns. So how exactly does the ticket of former president Donald Trump and JD Vance compare with Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz when it comes to our health? National health reporter Dan Diamond breaks down what we know

Oct 10, 2024 • 34:15

FEMA’s battle against misinformation

After Hurricane Helene hit the southern United States last month, a wave of conspiracy theories flooded social media about the storm and the response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. Former president Donald Trump promoted one conspiracy theory, falsely suggesting that the Biden administration used FEMA disaster funds to help migrants at the southern border.Now, as Hurricane Milton nears landfall, FEMA and other federal agencies are gearing up to respond to potentially devasta

Oct 9, 2024 • 29:53

The GOP's campaign to throw out mail-in votes

On today’s “Post Reports,” we look into why Republicans are waging legal battles to disqualify mail-in ballots, and why rhetoric against mail voting might actually hurt their presidential candidate. Read more: Since 2020, the Republican Party has waged a nationwide legal campaign to reject mail-in ballots.From Wisconsin to North Carolina to Nevada, Republicans say much of their litigation is aimed at enforcement of election law, down to the letter. But critics see a strategy that has nothing to

Oct 8, 2024 • 33:39

Israel, one year after Oct. 7

Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip awoke on Monday, the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks, in the same way they were roused on Oct. 7, 2023: to the sound of air-raid sirens.At 6:32 a.m. – almost to the minute of the surprise assaults last year – militants in Gaza launched four rockets toward those same towns and kibbutzim, sending Israelis into shelters and highlighting how the battle continues to rage 12 months after that fateful morning. Israeli forces immediately struck targets insi

Oct 7, 2024 • 29:37

The ‘Caitlin Clark’ effect and the rise of the WNBA

The WNBA playoffs are underway, capping a record-breaking season: The league added teams, games saw the highest attendance ever, and television viewership skyrocketed. Many credit rookie player Caitlin Clark for drawing fans to the league after millions tuned in to watch her and rival players compete in this year's college basketball championship. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with sports reporters Kareem Copeland and Ava Wallace about how the “Clark effect” has transformed the WNBA on and off th

Oct 4, 2024 • 29:48

How to make sense of political polls

As Election Day looms, we’re seeing more and more headlines based on poll results. Some declare Trump and Harris neck and neck, while others state one candidate has a small advantage over the other. But how can we make sense of all these polls flooding the news cycle?Today, Martine Powers speaks with The Post’s deputy polling director, Emily Guskin. Emily explains how a poll comes to be, what to look for when trying to understand whether a poll is trustworthy and breaks down once and for all wha

Oct 3, 2024 • 27:33

The Campaign Moment: Walz vs. Vance

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio faced off at what was expected to be the only vice presidential debate on Tuesday night. But it was much less dramatic than the presidential debates. Read more:“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake about Walz’s stumbling performance, Vance’s efforts to soften his image on unpopular issues for the GOP, like abortion, and whether either performance could significantly impact the

Oct 2, 2024 • 25:02

The devastation of Hurricane Helene

Across the southeastern United States, Hurricane Helene destroyed houses, swept up cars and overflowed riverbanks. Now millions of people are without power and clean drinking water; more than 100 people are dead. “It's not really an overstatement to say there are towns that were there and are basically not there anymore,” environment and climate reporter Brady Dennis said. He’s been reporting from North Carolina, where many communities were not prepared for the disaster. On today’s show, Dennis

Oct 1, 2024 • 32:15

Inside Israel’s war strategy against Hezbollah

For months, tensions between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah have increased, with the two sides exchanging cross-border attacks. Yet in recent weeks, Israel has ratcheted up its attacks in Lebanon, including the assassination of Hasan Nasrallah on Friday. The Shiite cleric oversaw Hezbollah for decades and became one of the most powerful and divisive leaders in the Middle East.The impact of Israel’s strikes has also been devastating. The death toll has now surpassed 1,000 people, accordi

Sep 30, 2024 • 29:19

Deep Reads: A small town in Massachusetts grapples with a new shelter for immigrants

Kevin Roche was recently elected to a small governing board in Norfolk, Mass. He had lived in the small town his whole life. Then Roche received the news Haitian migrants were going to be sheltered in Norfolk.The state had opened new shelters in towns across Massachusetts, but none so big in a town so small.This is the story of one town’s reckoning with the national immigration crisis — from inside the auto shop that Kevin operates, to the airport terminal where the migrant families were staying

Sep 28, 2024 • 34:36

The Campaign Moment: The evolving battle for the Senate

“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Senate reporter Liz Goodwin about how Senate Democrats are feeling ahead of the November election. They also dig into the politics of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s indictment and preview what to expect in next week’s first – and likely only – vice presidential debate. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s new

Sep 27, 2024 • 33:40

North Carolina, Democrats' elusive battleground

In 2020, North Carolina was the one that got away for Democrats: Then candidate Joe Biden lost the state by the smallest margin in the presidential election. Now, with the election a little over a month away, Democrats and Republicans are kicking into overdrive, campaigning to win North Carolina, a newly competitive swing state.Elahe Izadi speaks with political reporter Hannah Knowles about why Democrats now think they can win North Carolina and how the state could tip the balance of the electio

Sep 26, 2024 • 30:22

Are Israel and Hezbollah on the cusp of all-out war?

This week, Israel unleashed a wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon, against what it says are Hezbollah targets. At least 569 people have been killed in the attacks this week and more than 1,800 injured, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants but said at least 50 children, 94 women and nine paramedics were among the dead. Thousands of civilians are now fleeing southern Lebanon in search of safety. Also, on Wednesday, Hezbollah f

Sep 25, 2024 • 27:21

The new Georgia rule that could cause election chaos

Last Friday, Georgia’s state election board voted 3-2 to approve a new election rule: before vote totals can be reported, each precinct must confirm the total number of votes cast by three separate hand counts.The move was spearheaded by a pro-Trump majority who say that it will make elections more transparent. But critics – among them many of Georgia’s election administrators – said hand counts would take too long, cost money and almost certainly produce counting errors, opening the door to dou

Sep 24, 2024 • 28:01

Should our snacks have warning labels?

The FDA wants to propose putting labels on the front of food and drink packages in order to flag whether they are high in added sugar, saturated fat or sodium. The effort aims to help people make healthier choices and to address the nation’s exploding rates of diet-related diseases. The proposal could come as early as next month, but a fight with the food industry is already heating up. At the same time, some nutrition experts and lawmakers worry the FDA options under consideration are confusing

Sep 23, 2024 • 28:02

The Campaign Moment: Trump’s security and a GOP problem in N.C.

“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake chat with national political reporter Michael Scherer about all of this week’s political news. They also dig into how last week’s first – and perhaps only – debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump is shaping voters’ perceptions of the candidates.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’

Sep 20, 2024 • 30:57

Exploding pager attacks in Lebanon, and fears of a wider war

Thousands of people were injured across Lebanon this week in back-to-back explosions of electronic devices – pagers, mostly – used by the militant group Hezbollah. Host Martine Powers speaks with Post correspondent Susannah George about what it’s like in Lebanon in the aftermath of these explosions and why they may portend an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.Also, an update on the controversy over the 2024 Olympic medal stripped from Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles after the

Sep 19, 2024 • 29:51

Springfield, Ohio, and the impact of a racist smear

In the past couple weeks, both former president Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), have pushed unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in the small city of Springfield, Ohio. The story got its start with a viral Facebook post and quickly made its way from far-right corners of the internet into the Republican mainstream. Since the presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, during which Trump repeated these claims, the town

Sep 18, 2024 • 34:18

The charges against Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Sean Combs was arrested Monday in New York, and today prosecutors unsealed the criminal indictment. The hip-hop impresario could face years in prison if found guilty. Meanwhile, Combs’s lawyers have called the persecution “unjust.” It all comes less than a year after the first public allegations against Combs emerged.Today on “Post Reports,” Martine Powers speaks with Style reporter Anne Branigin about the indictment against Combs, what he’s accused of and what it could mean for the music mogul.

Sep 17, 2024 • 23:13

Another potential assassination attempt against Trump

Today, what we know about a possible second assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. And, what this latest threat of political violence could mean for his presidential campaign.Read more:Yesterday, Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested on the suspicion of possibly trying to assassinate former president Donald Trump. Today, Routh was charged with two gun-related crimes.Host Martine Powers speaks with national political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf about what happened at Trump’s West Palm Beach

Sep 16, 2024 • 22:12

Need a confidence boost? 'Try This.'

Affirmations help alleviate stress and can make you emotionally and mentally stronger. Host Cristina Quinn talks to clinical psychologist Natalie Dattilo-Ryan about what kinds of affirmations are most effective. She lays out an exercise to help get you started with identifying the right kinds of statements to shore up your sense of self. Next, we dive into research on affirmations and stress levels with Carnegie Mellon University psychology and neuroscience professor David Creswell. Creswell’s w

Sep 13, 2024 • 16:56

Should schools ban cellphones?

As students return to school, more states and districts are cracking down on cellphones. But not everyone agrees. On “Post Reports,” we hear how things look on the frontlines of this battle.Read more: A few years ago, Jennifer Rosenzweig’s high school students gave her a strange nickname: the “Bucket Lady.” That’s because Rosenzweig, an English teacher at Scarsdale High School in New York state, saw students increasingly on their cellphones, including in class, and having trouble focusing. Her s

Sep 12, 2024 • 29:01

The Campaign Moment: Harris knocks Trump off balance

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake about what each candidate needed to do in this debate to win over voters in an incredibly tight race. They also talk about whether a new endorsement from Taylor Swift could give Harris an edge.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon and Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Sep 11, 2024 • 28:12

Debunking Trump’s claims about violent crime

In preparation for Tuesday’s debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, “Post Reports” fact-checks the former president’s claims about crime and immigration. Read more: Crime is falling rapidly in many U.S. cities for the second year in a row. But the decrease in homicides and assaults has been largely ignored by Republican politicians like Donald Trump, who publicly blames his opponent Kamala Harris and other Democrats for what he claims is a surge in violent crime across the

Sep 10, 2024 • 34:35

Should parents be charged in school shootings?

Just 36 hours after his 14-year-old son was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of four people at Georgia’s Apalachee High School, Colin Gray was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Those are the most serious charges ever filed against the parent of an alleged school shooter.Host Martine Powers speaks with enterprise reporter John Woodrow Cox about how the speed and severity of the charges against Colin Gray mark a shift in scho

Sep 9, 2024 • 29:00

The Campaign Moment: A presidential debate redo

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter and Kamala Harris expert Cleve Wootson about what Harris and Donald Trump need to do at next week’s debate. They also dig into Harris’s record fundraising numbers and how Harris hopes to help down ballot Democrats in key House and Senate races. Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campa

Sep 6, 2024 • 34:30

Running for Congress in a gerrymandered district

What Michael B. Moore’s congressional race tells us about gerrymandering, and how a Supreme Court decision affects the future of American democracy.Read more:Businessman Michael B. Moore is running a surprising congressional campaign: He’s trying to win as a Democrat in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, a seat that is considered solidly Republican in this election cycle. While he won his primary race, it’s unlikely he’ll win the general election because of a recent Supreme Court decis

Sep 5, 2024 • 32:02

Big Tech had Harris’s back. Will she return the favor?

Vice President Kamala Harris has been supported by prominent technology executives since the beginning of her political career. She has maintained many of her Big Tech connections while also pushing tighter privacy policies,but she has left her stance on breaking up powerful tech companies largely undefined. This is at odds with the Biden administration’s commitment  to antitrust enforcement, bringing lawsuits against companies like Google and Apple. Host Martine Powers speaks with Cat Zakrzewsk

Sep 4, 2024 • 32:19

Why some disabled workers make $1 an hour

At the Pathways to Independence program in Kearny, N.J., disabled workers sort clothing hangers and unload boxes through work contracted with outside companies. One of those workers is 33-year-old Jaime Muniz, who has been there for 11 years and whose paycheck recently averaged about $1.28 per hour. “My payment is not going well,” Muniz told The Post’s disabilities reporter Amanda Morris. “And it's making our lives harder, a lot harder.”Yet paying workers with disabilities far below minimum wage

Sep 3, 2024 • 40:47

Why are songs getting shorter?

When Szu Yu Chen, a graphics reporter at The Washington Post, was covering this year’s Grammy Awards, she couldn’t help but notice how many nominated songs came in under three minutes. The more she looked into it – analyzing Billboard charts and interviewing artists – the more she realized this was a real trend. Meanwhile, when “Post Reports” audio engineer Sean Carter was working in a recording studio in Atlanta, he kept observing a similar shift, too.  Today, Carter guest hosts “Post Reports,”

Sep 2, 2024 • 18:43

Deep Reads: An elite rock climber lost his vision, then found a way to climb blind

Jesse Dufton was born with a condition in which the light-sensing cells of his retina gradually deteriorated. This did not stop him from climbing with his family – bouldering by age 2, securing his own ropes by 5. When Dufton went to public school and then university, he downplayed his vision problems as he became a better climber. Then he met Molly Thompson, who took note of his long hair that made him look like a mature student. The two grew closer and often climbed together. But even as the

Aug 31, 2024 • 24:34

The Campaign Moment: Harris’s big interview

“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb about Harris and Walz’s interview on CNN, new polling that shows continued Democratic enthusiasm, and an altercation between the Trump campaign and an employee at Arlington National Cemetery. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

Aug 30, 2024 • 28:50

The promise and peril of ketamine

Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, there has been a big uptick in the use of the powerful anesthetic ketamine to treat anxiety and depression. But after the death last year of actor Matthew Perry, star of the hit sitcom “Friends,” due in part to the effects of ketamine, doctors and government officials are reconsidering the drug’s widespread availability.On today’s “Post Reports,” Elahe Izadi speaks with reporter Daniel Gilbert, who has been following the ketamine boom for years. They

Aug 29, 2024 • 27:34

The Trump campaign, upended

This is not the presidential race that former president Donald Trump prepared for. Today, we unpack the state of the Trump campaign, its struggles to adapt and its strategy to face a new opponent.Read more:This presidential race has taken several unexpected turns, especially for former president Donald Trump.Earlier this summer, the spotlight moved off of Trump as Vice President Kamala Harris jumped into the race. Now, the Republican nominee is crisscrossing the country to battleground states to

Aug 28, 2024 • 27:44

How NASA plans to rescue two astronauts stuck in space

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore were supposed to be on the International Space Station for eight days. But as the Boeing Starliner capsule they were in was approaching the space station, the spacecraft’s thrusters started to fail. Since then, Boeing and NASA have struggled to figure out what went wrong. NASA decided last week that the astronauts should stay put for eight months until they could come back in a SpaceX capsule. Host Martine Powers speaks with space industr

Aug 27, 2024 • 27:58

The poison in school water fountains

When the state of New York became the first in the nation to require public schools to test their drinking water for lead in 2016, students learned that dozens of water fountains across the district were contaminated. Since then, a group of students and parents have banded together to fight for clean water in the schools.Host Martine Powers speaks with investigative reporter Silvia Foster-Frau about her reporting in the East Ramapo Central School District and what people everywhere need to know

Aug 26, 2024 • 32:26

The Campaign Moment: Harris makes history

Elahe Izadi, co-host of “Post Reports,” and senior political reporter Aaron Blake sit down with White House reporter Cleve Wootson at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to talk about the highlights from Harris’s speech. Harris focused on her middle-class upbringing and how she would protect abortion access and reproductive rights, and she cast herself as a candidate who would bring normalcy and competency to the White House. They also revisit the most memorable speeches of the four-da

Aug 23, 2024 • 27:59

The strategy behind Ukraine’s move into Russia

As Ukraine continues to lose ground to Russia in the east of the country, President Volodymyr  Zelensky has quietly moved Ukrainian forces into Russia. Post correspondents have documented the operation and witnessed the Russian soldiers taken captive by Ukrainian forces in this surprise incursion. Additional Post reporting alongside Ukrainian forces revealed the state of Sudzha, a captured Russian town in western Russia. Host Martine Powers speaks with Ukraine bureau chief Isabelle Khurshudyan i

Aug 22, 2024 • 26:20

The student revolution that toppled a government

On Aug. 5, following weeks of student protests and police violence that left hundreds dead, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. The students have since worked with the country’s military to form an interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus. Soon after Hasina’s resignation, South Asia correspondent Karishma Mehrotra traveled to the capital city of Dhaka to speak to students, members of the new interim government and others. Mart

Aug 21, 2024 • 30:06

The Campaign Moment: Biden passes the torch

Biden received a warm welcome at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday evening when he walked on stage to address his party. Thousands of Democratic delegates packed in the arena chanted “Thank you, Joe!” and pumped signs saying “We love Joe” as he gave his speech. “Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter Matt Viser about Biden’s historic address and what the first night of the convention tells us about the curr

Aug 20, 2024 • 26:11

Why is the U.S. obsessed with sanctions?

The United States imposes more sanctions than any other country on Earth. Since the 1960s, sanctions have become a core element of U.S. diplomatic strategy, with countries like North Korea, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, China and Iran all being subject to these economic penalties. Today, Elahe Izade speaks with White House economics reporter Jeff Stein about how the United States fell in love with sanctions, about whether the country’s current strategy is sustainable and about whether sanctions trul

Aug 19, 2024 • 33:46

The long aftermath of the Freedom Summer murders

On a hot June evening in 1964, Mickey Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman were ambushed by the Ku Klux Klan and killed as they left town.The atrocity became a seminal moment in the civil rights movement. Yet 60 years after the killings, some people in Philadelphia worry that the country is forgetting what was learned along the way. Others wonder what the past is owed — and for how long. They talked with Susan Levine this spring about their community’s painful legacy of racism.This episode

Aug 17, 2024 • 28:00

The Campaign Moment: Dems’ down-ballot dreams

Senior political reporter Aaron Blake and congressional reporter Liz Goodwin talk with “Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers about the economic policies that Harris’s campaign unveiled Friday, and whether Democrats could win a trifecta in November and make those proposals reality. They also look ahead to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, where President Joe Biden will address delegates after withdrawing from the race last month. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff.

Aug 16, 2024 • 29:56

Meet the organizers trying to reverse Florida’s abortion ban

Florida is just one of a number of states where abortion rights will be on the November ballot. In Florida, voters will decide whether to pass Amendment 4, which would reverse Florida’s six-week abortion ban and put abortion protections in the state constitution.Grassroots organizers in Florida have been going door to door trying to get out the vote to pass Amendment 4. Some of these groups have been specifically targeting Latino voters, who organizers believe have been ignored by the Democratic

Aug 15, 2024 • 32:26

Transgender athletes and the myth of inclusion in sports

Today on “Post Reports,” how a college track star’s gender transition changed her relationship to the sport she loves. And Post sports columnist Jerry Brewer on the efforts to include – or exclude – trans athletes from the wider world of sports.Read more:During the Paris Olympics, female boxers Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu Ting of Taiwan were falsely accused of being transgender, after the International Boxing Association claimed without evidence that the women had failed gender eligibilit

Aug 14, 2024 • 36:00

The Democratic voters who aren't ready to forget Gaza

Bridgeview, Ill., just 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, is home to one of the largest concentrations of Palestinian Americans in the country. The town, nicknamed “Little Palestine,” traditionally votes Democratic. But now, ahead of the presidential election, residents are seriously reconsidering how they vote, because of President Joe Biden’s approach to the war in Gaza.Today, host Martine Powers speaks with White House reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb about Little Palestine, the broader rift in the D

Aug 13, 2024 • 40:00

The ruling that could upend Google and Big Tech

In a historic decision, a federal judge has ruled that Google is a monopoly and that the tech giant has been using its market power illegally to quash competition. The ruling marks one of the biggest wins for the Department of Justice over Big Tech in at least 20 years.Host Martine Powers speaks with tech policy reporter Eva Dou about the details of the case and how it could change Google. Also, what the decision could mean for other tech giants like Apple and Microsoft, as well as startups.Toda

Aug 12, 2024 • 23:12

The Campaign Moment: Another “Squad” loss and Walz’s record

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Marianna Sotomayor, a congressional reporter covering the House of Representatives, to talk about House Democrats’ enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris’s VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – a former member of Congress himself. They also discuss takeaways from the primary loss of Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Walz’s military and governance record, and former president Donald Trump’s campaign event slowdow

Aug 9, 2024 • 34:24

A guide to breakdancing’s Olympic debut

For the first time, breaking – or breakdancing – will be an Olympic event. Since it originated in Black and Latino neighborhoods in the Bronx during the 1970s, it has spread worldwide, with competitions held in places like Brazil, Germany and Korea. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with Ronnie Abaldonado, a veteran breaker who’s been in some of the most famous breaking crews and judged international competitions for years. He explains how Olympic judges will score the breakers and whom he’s looking forwa

Aug 8, 2024 • 27:29

TikTok, Big Tech and where your data is going

TikTok, which says it has 170 million U.S. users, made it too easy for children to create accounts and then collected data on those who did — a major violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, known as COPPA, the Justice Department alleged in a lawsuit on Friday. But tech companies collecting and selling data from users goes far beyond TikTok — and affects everyone.Post Reports co-host Martine Powers speaks with technology reporter Drew Harwell about why the Justice Department is

Aug 7, 2024 • 33:41

The Campaign Moment: Why Harris picked Walz

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's Campaign Moment newsletter. They talk about why Vice President Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, his strengths and weaknesses, and how he compares with the GOP’s vice president pick, JD Vance.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass. Subscribe to

Aug 6, 2024 • 24:29

The Sports Moment: The U.S. women’s basketball team didn’t need Caitlin Clark

The U.S. women’s basketball team is a dynasty – and it didn’t need Caitlin Clark. Host Ava Wallace talks with columnists Candace Buckner and Jerry Brewer about that and drama on the track. Plus: How NBC brings the sounds of the Games to your living room.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

Aug 6, 2024 • 24:04

The escalating fight over Venezuela's future

It has been one week since Venezuela’s presidential election. Both sides have claimed victory – but a review of the tallies collected by the opposition paints a different picture.In the hours and days after the election, independent observers and world leaders called on President Nicolás Maduro to publish the voting records and corroborate his claims of winning. Meanwhile, the opposition, led by Edmundo González and María Corina Machado, has collected thousands of receipts – printed voting talli

Aug 5, 2024 • 32:01

Deep Reads: School turned him liberal. His mom loves Fox News. Will their bond survive?

For much of his childhood, Mike Lindgren said, he parroted his mother’s right-wing opinions without question. But after Mike failed several classes as a freshman in public high school, his mother, Jennifer Lindgren, sent him to a private boarding school that promised a hands-on, “inclusive” approach to learning. There, surrounded by teachers and classmates he described as liberal, Mike said he grew more curious about his peers’ worldviews — and correspondingly less sure of his own.Jennifer fough

Aug 3, 2024 • 27:11

The Campaign Moment: Trump’s ‘is she Black?’ attack

In an interview with panelists at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago, former president Donald Trump questioned Vice President Harris’s racial identity, saying she only recently started calling herself Black. Also, the leader of Project 2025, the controversial right-wing policy group, is stepping down. And the Harris campaign has hit some major fundraising goals and is expected to announce her running mate any day now.Plus, read The Post’s exclusive investigation

Aug 2, 2024 • 29:06

The story behind a landmark prisoner swap

Today, we hear about the secret negotiations that led to an extraordinary prisoner swap on Thursday. Among the freed: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, other Americans, Russian dissidents – and a convicted assassin. Read more:On Thursday, the biggest exchange of prisoners since the height of the Cold War took place.The quiet negotiations took months between the U.S., Russia and several European nations. Among the at least two dozen people freed was Wall Street Journal reporter Evan

Aug 1, 2024 • 31:32

A Hamas leader was assassinated. Will war spread?

On Wednesday, Hamas’s No. 1 political leader outside of Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Iran. As the impact of his death ripples around the world, the assassination risks making the already deadly conflicts in the Middle East a lot worse.Host Martine Powers speaks with Steve Hendrix, The Post’s Jerusalem bureau chief, to understand how this apparent assassination has compounded fears of a larger war in the Middle East – and what could prevent it.Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkof

Jul 31, 2024 • 25:30

The Sports Moment: The race for swimming supremacy

For years, the United States and Australia have duked it out for dominance in the Olympic swimming pool. Now, with U.S. legend Michael Phelps retired and Katie Ledecky slipping in some races, it might be Australia’s turn at the top of the podium.The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace speaks with Post reporters Dave Sheinin and Rick Maese about the newest stars in the pool this year and which races not to miss.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was p

Jul 30, 2024 • 24:47

When it’s too hot to work

This month, Earth hit its hottest days recorded in history. But even on the warmest days, millions of workers in the U.S. labor in heat that is increasingly hazardous to their health.This month, the Biden administration proposed a rule that, for the first time, would protect such workers, whether their jobs are indoors or outdoors. The proposal sets out two heat index triggers that would apply nationally and require employers to offer drinking water, among other safeguards.Yet some employers, in

Jul 29, 2024 • 24:35

Deep Reads: Did their ‘Synchronicity’ album kill the Police?

In December 1982, the Police flew to the Caribbean island of Montserrat to record their fifth album. The executives at A&M Records were excited. A year earlier, the trio had generated hit singles like “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” and “Spirits in the Material World.” Suddenly, they were filling arenas.But the atmosphere in the recording studio quickly turned sour. Guitarist Andy Summers sniffed at lead singer Sting’s demo of “Every Breath You Take” as cheesy pop. Drummer Stewart Copelan

Jul 27, 2024 • 30:13

The Campaign Moment: The online army helping Harris

Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Maeve Reston, a national political reporter covering the 2024 presidential race. They talk about how Vice President Harris may tackle the Israel-Gaza conflict, new polling on the Harris-Trump matchup, and how Gen Z influencers and memes may engage young voters and buoy Harris’s campaign. Today’s episode was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary

Jul 26, 2024 • 28:56

CrowdStrike, Microsoft, and the glitch that rocked the world

On Friday, more than 8.5 million Microsoft computers around the world shut down.The tech outage threw our most essential systems into chaos. Airlines delayed or canceled flights. Hospitals turned away non-emergency patients. Banks, businesses, courts, government offices – all were faced with blank, inactive computer screens that many cal the “blue screen of death.” The culprit? A software update pushed to Windows devices by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.Host Elahe Izadi speaks with technolog

Jul 25, 2024 • 25:23

The Sports Moment: Your passport to the Paris Olympics

There are a lot of questions heading into the Summer Olympics: Is Paris prepared to host the Games? Who are the star athletes this year? What exactly is a “horsey passport”? The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace speaks with Post sports columnist Jerry Brewer and sports feature writer Rick Maese about those questions and more in the first episode of The Sports Moment which we're sharing with you this morning. After you listen, look up the show and hit follow to hear more from Ava and the rest of our

Jul 24, 2024 • 24:39

The Campaign Moment: The next steps for Democrats

This is a special episode of The Campaign Moment dedicated to answering the questions on everyone’s minds about what happens next now that Harris is the Democrats’ potential nominee.Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Colby Itkowitz, who covers voting and elections on the democracy team, sit down with Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi. They talk about how Harris polls against Trump, what it means for her to take over a campaign that was

Jul 23, 2024 • 29:57

Introducing, "The Sports Moment"

Ava Wallace, sports reporter at The Washington Post, is in France to report on the Summer Games — and eat a lot of croissants. Join her starting July 24, continuing through the entire run of the games, for several episodes a week as she captures the highs, the lows and the Paris of it all, along with other Post colleagues.Follow The Sports Moment podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or YouTube.Sign up for The Sports Moment: Olympics Edition newsletter here.

Jul 23, 2024 • 1:39

Kamala Harris, Democrats' heir apparent

Yesterday, President Biden announced that he would no longer be running for reelection; he also endorsed Vice President Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee for president in November’s election. Over the past 24 hours, endorsements of Harris have been rolling in from top Democrats. Today on Post Reports, host Elahe Izadi speaks with The Washington Post’s White House bureau chief, Toluse Olorunnipa, about Biden’s decision to endorse Harris. Plus, host Martine Powers and White House rep

Jul 22, 2024 • 39:11

President Biden steps aside

On Sunday afternoon, President Biden released a statement announcing that he would stand down from seeking reelection in the 2024 presidential race. The statement came after weeks of mounting pressure from members of his party, many of whom expressed concern over his health and speculated whether he would be able to beat former president Donald Trump. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with White House reporter Tyler Pager about this monumental decision by the president and whether it puts Democrats in a b

Jul 21, 2024 • 17:39

Deep Reads: Can a civics teacher persuade her students to believe in democracy?

So far, polling suggests that young voter turnout in 2024 may not match 2020’s rate. In April, only 41 percent of Black people 18 to 39 told a Washington Post-Ipsos poll that they were certain to vote this year, down from 61 percent in June 2020.The poll mirrored what Shannon Salter was seeing among her civics students, whose interest in voting had been hobbled by poverty, racism and two aging presidential candidates seemingly far removed from the world of a struggling Allentown, Pa., teen.To th

Jul 20, 2024 • 29:51

The Campaign Moment: Trump's convention, Biden's crisis

Democrats flipped the typical convention script this week, dominating the news during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump at a rally Saturday, the GOP aimed to send a message of unity to the party faithful. In his acceptance speech, Trump initially seemed somber, telling the crowd, “I’m not supposed to be here tonight.” They chanted back, “Yes, you are.” But he quickly regained his normal campaign posture, hammer

Jul 19, 2024 • 26:25

How the 1984 Olympics saved the Games

In the early 1980s, the Olympic Games were on the verge of dying out. After a string of disasters, the Games had become unaffordable, politically fraught, and faced serious security concerns. Then came the spectacular 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles that reinvented the way the Olympics were run.Guest host Ted Muldoon sits down with Les Carpenter, who covers the Olympics for The Post. They break down what changed in the 1984 Games and explore if 2024 could be another turning point.Today’s show w

Jul 18, 2024 • 45:27

Voyager 1 revealed secrets of our universe. Is its time up?

Voyager 1 launched on Sept. 5, 1977, during the height of the space age. In the decades since, this unmanned spacecraft has ventured to the outer edges of our universe, sending back one-of-a-kind images and exploring realms that humans will probably never reach. Voyager 1 is now more than 15 billion miles away in interstellar space, still collecting data and sending it back to Earth. But late last year, Voyager 1 faced its biggest crisis yet. It went silent and stopped communicating. In the mont

Jul 17, 2024 • 35:48

What the Secret Service got wrong

On Saturday, Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former president Donald Trump. Crooks got on top of a roof near the Butler, Pa., rally and shot toward the rally stage. But almost a minute and a half before Crooks fired, bystanders alerted security that they saw a man on a roof.Since the assassination attempt, the Secret Service – the organization meant to protect current and former presidents – has been under scrutiny. Today, guest host Chris Velazco speaks with investigative reporte

Jul 16, 2024 • 27:38

The Campaign Moment: Trump picks Vance as running mate

This week, amid calls for political unity and growing questions over presidential security, Trump faces one of the most consequential weeks in his campaign yet – the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he will officially accept the Republican nomination for president. Post Reports co-host Martine Powers speaks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and political investigations and enterprise reporter Josh Dawsey from the convention. They explore the weight of the ongoing inves

Jul 15, 2024 • 27:51

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump

A shooter fired multiple rounds toward the stage at a Saturday campaign rally for former president Donald Trump. Federal officials are investigating the incident as an assassination attempt.Read more:Donald Trump, the former president who is set to formally accept the Republican nomination later this week, was less than 10 minutes into his speech at a rally in Pennsylvania when a burst of gunfire interrupted him. Trump was quickly rushed offstage with what appeared to be blood on one side of his

Jul 14, 2024 • 21:33

The Campaign Moment: Trump rides the wave of Biden turmoil

This week, Biden vowed in his high-stakes press conference on Thursday night to remain in the race, but it’s unclear if his message satisfied voters. His speech followed new polling this week that suggests that more than half of Democrats want Biden to drop out of the race. It also found that the overall race hasn’t changed much, and that Trump and Biden are locked in a dead heat. Post Reports co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and national politics reporter

Jul 12, 2024 • 29:56

Is tennis having a moment?

Wimbledon. Hit films like “Challengers.” Tennis core. While household names such as Serena Williams and Roger Federer have retired from the game, a new generation of players is on the rise. They are fueling a resurgence in the sport’s popularity and pushing for long-awaited pay equity. Today on “Post Reports,” Martine Powers speaks with sports reporter Ava Wallace from Wimbledon about this tennis moment and the new players to watch, such as Carlos Alcaraz, Lorenzo Musetti, Iga Swiatek and Coco G

Jul 11, 2024 • 31:02

A survival guide to summer travel

Summer is in full swing, and that means many Americans are taking long-awaited vacations. While the joys of exploring new places or visiting family and friends are numerous, the chaos that comes with summer travel –such as  flight delays, disappointing Airbnbs and turbulence – can be enough to make us all want to stay home.Host Martine Powers speaks with Post travel reporter Natalie Compton about how to survive the mayhem of summer travel.Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edite

Jul 10, 2024 • 32:43

Will Democrats stand behind Biden?

As of Tuesday afternoon, nine congressional House Democrats have called on President Biden to step aside. At the same time, influential liberals like Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have publicly announced their support for Biden’s candidacy. Biden himself has been defiant about remaining in the race. Today on “Post Reports,” host Martine Powers talks to White House reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb about the schism inside the Democratic Party and why

Jul 9, 2024 • 20:04

France is in turmoil. Will the Olympics be okay?

Last week, France was preparing for the possibility of its first far-right government since World War II. Now, it faces a political crossroads, just weeks before the Olympics kick off in Paris.French President Emmanuel Macron shocked the nation last month when he dissolved Parliament and announced snap elections, hoping to win more seats for his centrist party. But after the first round of elections last week, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally made historic gains and seemed poised to secu

Jul 8, 2024 • 32:28

Deep Reads: Public memories. Private struggles.

With the 60th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery approaching next year, Philip Howard wants to ensure that visitors to Alabama receive a more robust truth, one that goes beyond a paragraph written on a historical marker.Howard conceived an ambitious goal to tell a cohesive, robust story about the Selma-to-Montgomery march. The march was mostly known for its beginnings, when officers beat and bloodied protesters walking over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, an act that the Rev. Martin Lut

Jul 5, 2024 • 43:00

In a cooking rut? 'Try This.'

Learn how to enjoy cooking by identifying parts of your personality outside the kitchen that will set you up for success inside the kitchen.In the first class in our course on how to enjoy cooking more, host Cristina Quinn teams up with the Washington Post food team to uncover tips for identifying your kitchen personality. Food and dining editor Joe Yonan, food writer and recipe developer Aaron Hutcherson and recipes editor Becky Krystal discuss how to apply personality characteristics — like a

Jul 4, 2024 • 14:05

The election that could wipe out U.K. conservatives

From Theresa May, who struggled to connect with the public, to Boris Johnson, whose tenure was marred by scandals, to Liz Truss, who served as prime minister for just 45 days, the Conservative Party has had significant challenges with U.K. voters in recent years. With economic turmoil following Brexit, a pressing need for better health care, and concerns about job security, many British voters are seeking a fresh start. Tomorrow, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party will face vo

Jul 3, 2024 • 28:00

The Campaign Moment: A chaotic 96 hours inside Biden world

It’s not Friday, but here’s a special Tuesday edition of The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.We’re bringing you an episode early in the week to share details from inside President Biden’s campaign as the Democratic Party reckons with the fallout from his stumbling performance at the first presidential debate. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's “The Campaign Moment” ne

Jul 2, 2024 • 32:44

The Supreme Court granted Trump broad immunity. What now?

Today, the Supreme Court announced a ruling that could change the limits on presidential power. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the president is immune from prosecution of any criminal acts committed in an official capacity during his tenure. The ruling, however, sends the case back to the lower court to determine what counts as an official act and what doesn’t.Martine Powers speaks with reporter Devlin Barrett about the complexities of presidential immunity, what this means for former p

Jul 1, 2024 • 28:10

The Campaign Moment: Dems in panic mode after the debate

It’s a special early Friday edition of The Campaign Moment. We’re in your feed first thing today after Post Reports co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake went into the studio shortly after the debate ended. Aaron says it’s one of the most significant moments of the campaign so far. He and Martine talk through Biden and Trump’s performances, which had Biden noticeably stumbling at times and Trump basing many answers around falsehoods that were left unchallenged by the C

Jun 28, 2024 • 28:18

She's a U.S. citizen, he's undocumented: A love story.

Last week, President Biden announced an executive action that could change everything for DACA recipient Javier Quiroz. But it could all be undone in November. Today, we discuss Biden’s and former president Donald Trump’s takes on immigration.Read more: Once again, immigration is a big focus on the presidential campaign trail. President Biden’s recent policies restricting asylum aim to decrease migration at the southern border. He also recently issued an executive action that assists undocumente

Jun 27, 2024 • 33:12

How bullying shaped the surgeon general's fight against social media

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has been at the forefront of a movement to scrutinize the impact of social media and its potential harms. Last week, he called for placing tobacco-style warning labels on social media platforms to alert users that the platforms can harm children’s mental health.Today, host Martine Powers talks to Murthy about what social media is doing to children and what type of effect warning labels could have on the issue. Plus, we talk about his latest advisory declaring gu

Jun 26, 2024 • 36:10

Why Mexico City is worried about Day Zero

These days, there’s one thing that Raquel Campos isn’t taking for granted: water. Back in January, the taps went dry in her apartment in Mexico City. At first, she thought it was just her building, until she realized far more of the city was experiencing the same dilemma. Mexico City is experiencing one of the worst droughts in its history. That, along with other factors such as leaky infrastructure, has left the capital’s critical Cutzamala water system dwindling to record lows. Throughout June

Jun 25, 2024 • 24:32

The fall of Alex Jones and his conspiracy empire

Soon after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, in which 20 children and six adults were murdered, Infowars’ Alex Jones began to push the false idea that the tragedy was a hoax perpetrated by the U.S. government to promote gun restrictions. So a group of parents decided to sue Jones for defamation, and in 2022 they were awarded a $1.5 billion settlement. This month, a bankruptcy judge ordered Jones to liquidate some of his personal assets to help cover the judgment. Jones was allowed to keep his contro

Jun 24, 2024 • 25:19

The Campaign Moment: AI and other election threats

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.Host Elahe Izadi chats with reporters Amy Gardner and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, who are on the Democracy team at The Post. They discuss the efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the ongoing political and legal fallout from those attempts. They also talk about the recent charges filed against fake electors in Arizona, including no

Jun 21, 2024 • 29:46

Why Republicans love to hate electric vehicles

Two years ago, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which included the most ambitious climate measures in the U.S. to date. It contains tax credits for electric vehicles, and his administration has taken subsequent action forcing automakers to shift production away from gas-powered vehicles by capping allowable carbon emissions from the auto industry.But many consumers remain skeptical of the technology, and its adoption is largely concentrated in areas where Democrats are in the

Jun 20, 2024 • 21:55

How grievances splintered American sports

American sports have changed from a unifying bond to a platform for division. Is there any going back?Sports columnist Jerry Brewer has been thinking about the state of sports for decades. In the past few years, it has soured in his mind. In his new series of essays titled “Grievance Games,” Brewer set out to explore why he believes the unifying power of sports has been ruptured through grievance politics. And how many of those grievances are racially charged. Today on Post Reports, Brewer narra

Jun 19, 2024 • 31:38

The underdogs of cricket: Team USA

The U.S. men’s cricket team’s win against Pakistan shocked the world – not just because they beat a titan of the sport, but also because many of the team’s players play cricket while juggling full-time jobs. “I’m focusing on my work and completely switched on [to] my work,” said Saurabh Netravalkar, an engineer for Oracle and a star player for Team USA. “And if I'm on the field, I’m completely on the field, so that really helps me – switching on and switching off.”Netravalkar spoke with The Post

Jun 18, 2024 • 23:20

Microplastics are everywhere. What can we do about it?

With every breath you take, you could be inhaling microplastics. Today, we talk about where they come from, how they impact our health and what we can do to avoid them in our daily lives.Read more:For years, scientists on the hunt for microplastics have found them almost everywhere. First, they spotted tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean, in the bodies of fish and mussels. Then they found them in soft drinks, in tap water, in vegetables and fruits, in burgers.Now researchers are discovering that

Jun 17, 2024 • 21:15

The Campaign Moment: Hunter Biden, Ohio lessons and low-info voters

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.In a district that overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2020, Ohio voters almost elected a Democratic congressman this week. But are such special election results representative? Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Toluse Olorunnipa, White House bureau chief for The Post,

Jun 14, 2024 • 32:52

Americans love supplements. Here's what you should know.

Dietary supplements are enormously popular in the United States. A new federal survey found that a majority of Americans are taking them, with many consuming multiple kinds on a regular basis. And yet, supplements are shrouded in misconceptions. Supplements have less oversight than pharmaceutical drugs and are regulated differently. While people may take them to be healthier, we often don’t think about possible side effects or interactions. We also assume we know what we’re getting. Today, host

Jun 13, 2024 • 25:25

FTC Chair Lina Khan vs. Big Tech

Since Lina Khan was appointed chair of the Federal Trade Commission in 2021, the FTC has become more ambitious in its efforts to curb alleged unfair business practices. The agency has banned most non-compete agreements, has begun to scrutinize the proliferation of AI and has initiated lawsuits against massive tech companies like Meta, Microsoft and Amazon. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post).The FTC under Khan’s leadership has drawn bipartisan support in Congress, but also the i

Jun 12, 2024 • 28:47

A farm on the edge of Gaza

Today on “Post Reports,” the story of Ashraf Omar Alakhras and his family farm and an exclusive investigation into the destruction of food and agriculture in Gaza. Read more: Since Israel’s invasion of Gaza more than seven months ago, Gaza’s food and agricultural system is on the brink of collapse. Airstrikes and bulldozers have razed farms and orchards across the region, according to a Washington Post investigation comparing satellite imagery before and after the start of the war. Experts say t

Jun 11, 2024 • 26:14

Could housing be the sleeper issue of 2024?

Housing has become increasingly expensive around the country. And while it’s traditionally seen as a local issue, housing could be a major factor in the 2024 presidential election.Read more:In polls, voters often say the economy is one of the top issues they’ll consider when voting in the 2024 presidential election.But what exactly does that mean? For a lot of people, the cost of housing — rent or a mortgage payment — is the main way they feel fluctuations in the economy. That cost can also be t

Jun 10, 2024 • 27:53

The Campaign Moment: Swing voters on Trump's verdict plus Biden's border order

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.This week, we hear directly from some undecided voters about how Donald Trump’s criminal conviction lands with them. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Isaac Arnsdorf, who covers Trump and the MAGA movement for The Post, sit down with co-host Martine Powers. They also

Jun 7, 2024 • 33:43

Why Netanyahu is facing an ultimatum

Eight months into Israel’s war in Gaza, a string of standoffs, schisms and ultimatums have brought Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s emergency war cabinet to the brink of collapse and raised the prospect that his own coalition could follow, possibly leading to new elections.Externally, the embattled prime minister is under growing pressure from the public to bring home Israel’s remaining hostages and from the Biden administration to reach a cease-fire agreement with Hamas. Within his unity gov

Jun 6, 2024 • 29:03

A gun, a memoir and the trial of Biden’s son

In Hunter Biden’s 2021 memoir, “Beautiful Things,” he writes: “I’ve bought crack cocaine on the streets of Washington, DC, and cooked up my own inside a hotel bungalow in Los Angeles. I’ve been so desperate for a drink that I couldn’t make the one-block walk between a liquor store and my apartment without uncapping the bottle to take a swig.”Federal prosecutors this week used these words and other excerpts from Biden’s memoir against him, as they attempted to convince a jury that he lied about h

Jun 5, 2024 • 20:51

The battle over Fauci's legacy

On Monday, Anthony Fauci – a former health adviser in the Trump and Biden administrations – testified in front of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, a panel devoted to investigating the federal response to covid-19. The contentious hearing came amid a battle between the panel’s Republican and Democratic leaders over how to understand Fauci’s legacy in shaping the U.S. response to the covid-19 pandemic, as well as the popular understanding of the virus’s origin.Host Martin

Jun 4, 2024 • 28:57

Inside TikTok's extraordinary almost-deal with the U.S.

TikTok offered the Biden administration a kill switch. Today on “Post Reports,” why the U.S. government declined.Read more:In 2022, TikTok offered the U.S. government an extraordinary deal. The social media app – owned by a Chinese company – said it would let federal officials pick its U.S. board of directors, would give the government veto power over each new hire and would pay an American company that contracts with the Defense Department to monitor its source code. The Biden administration, h

Jun 3, 2024 • 29:48

The Campaign Moment: The politics of the Trump guilty verdict

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign. This week is a special episode dedicated to the questions raised by having a presidential candidate and former U.S. president who is now a felon. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Ashley Parker, his colleague on the politics team, sit down with Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi

May 31, 2024 • 31:30

Donald Trump, convicted felon

A New York jury convicted former president Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his hush money trial. Tonight on “Post Reports,” the scene in the Manhattan courtroom. And what comes next.Read more:Donald Trump is now the first former U.S. president to be tried and found guilty of a crime, after a New York jury convicted him on Thursday of falsifying business records in his hush money case.The trial lasted seven weeks. The 12-person jury unanimously agreed on the ver

May 31, 2024 • 14:30

The escalating attacks in Gaza

How far-right Israeli settlers are blocking aid to Gaza. And, why humanitarian aid has become politicized. Read more:Right-wing Israeli settlers stepped up their attacks on aid trucks passing through the West Bank this month, blocking food and aid from reaching Gaza as humanitarian groups warn that the enclave is sinking deeper into famine.The Post’s Loveday Morris went to a border crossing to see these blockades in real time. Today, we break down what this means for the ongoing humanitarian cri

May 30, 2024 • 23:20

Get ready for a hot AI summer

Crypto, AI and clean-tech manufacturing are pushing America’s power grid to the brink. Aging utilities can’t keep up. On today’s episode of “Post Reports,” we look into who will be left to pay the price.Read more:Vast swaths of the United States are at risk of running short of power this summer, as electricity-hungry data centers and clean-technology factories eat up what the country’s aging power grid churns out.Today on “Post Reports,” business reporter Evan Halper explains what’s putting the

May 29, 2024 • 31:32

India’s historic election

India’s general election ends this weekend, with Prime Minister Nerendra Modi leading the polls. Today on “Post Reports,” we unpack where Modi’s support comes from and what a win for his party would mean for the world’s largest democracy.Read more:For more than a month, people across India have been voting in this year's general election. It’s the largest the world has ever seen, and Prime Minister Nerendra Modi and his right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party are ahead in polls by a wide margin. A lo

May 28, 2024 • 27:41

Deep Reads: In Milwaukee, a patio becomes a battleground for Black public housing tenants

A community organizer and several residents of public housing in Milwaukee are trying to get attention from their representatives in government. Low-income Black voters, like those at College Court, are often discussed by political pundits as key to President Biden’s reelection campaign against former president Donald Trump. The residents are facing issues like bedbugs, violence, public spillover of mental illness and backlogged maintenance issues, which are all seemingly intractable to an overw

May 27, 2024 • 37:58

The Campaign Moment: Down-ballot Dems try to lift Biden

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, is out sick this week, so national political reporter Michael Scherer and White House reporter Tyler Pager join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how the Biden campaign may need more popular Democratic candidates down ballot to boost turnou

May 24, 2024 • 31:26

The ripple effects of the coup in Niger

Niger has been a key U.S. ally in West Africa in the fight against growing threats from Islamist extremist groups. But a military coup last July soured that relationship. Now, the U.S. says it will withdraw from the country by mid-September.For more than a decade, the U.S. military presence in Niger has enabled U.S. intelligence gathering, monitoring and support to Niger, as it works to contain extremist groups. After last year’s coup, many Nigeriens support their country’s new leadership, hopi

May 23, 2024 • 33:48

A vote for the soul of the Republican Party

In a place with a long history of hate, a rebel Republican bloc mobilizes against far-right extremism within the local party. Read more:A generation ago, community activists were able to bankrupt and push out a white supremacist hate group that took root among the tall pines and crystal lakes of North Idaho. It was a hard-fought triumph — one North Idaho residents took pride in.But today, some of those activists and residents worry that hateful ideologies are returning to their region. This time

May 22, 2024 • 54:46

The Young Thug trial and how it could reshape music

Popular rapper Young Thug is on trial in Atlanta on racketeering charges, along with other members of his rap group, YSL. Today on “Post Reports,” why the trial will soon be the longest in state history and how his lyrics are being used against him.Read more:The popular rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, skyrocketed to fame over the past decade, headlining festivals, winning a Grammy, and building up a successful record label and the rap collective YSL. But in May 2022

May 21, 2024 • 24:08

The death of Iran’s president

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, along with other top officials. Today on “Post Reports,” the reactions to his death from within Iran and worldwide – and what it will mean for the country’s leadership.Read more: The deaths of two of Iran’s top officials brought shock and celebrations from within Iran and among the country’s diaspora. Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, and the foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, were killed along with other officials and

May 20, 2024 • 19:33

The Campaign Moment: Trump accepted Biden’s debate proposal. Now what?

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and national political reporter Michael Scherer join Martine Powers this week. There is a lot to dig into about the debates agreed to this week by President Biden and former president Donald Trump. Also on the must-chat list: the latest from the

May 17, 2024 • 37:51

What to know about inflation right now

Today, what’s really happening with inflation in the United States. And what the public perception of the economy could mean for the 2024 presidential election. Read more: While inflation in the United States is still higher than normal, a streak of discouraging data finally broke in a report released Wednesday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation is now slowing — from 3.5 percent in March to 3.4 percent in April — after months of hotter-than-expected reports. But it’s too early t

May 16, 2024 • 21:13

Rethinking identity in a fractured America

As trust in institutions plummets and as many people search for shared values, what is the state of American identity? Today, in a special episode of “Post Reports,” we feature a live discussion about the importance of identity in a changing world. Read more:In a live podcast taping, “Post Reports” hosts Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi sit down in Seattle at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival with Post Opinions columnists Shadi Hamid and Jason Willick. They rethink American identity and whether, duri

May 15, 2024 • 47:32

Body positivity in the age of Ozempic

People are turning to drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight – but where do they fit in the body-positivity movement? Today on Post Reports, what some fat activists think of these drugs and how one doctor is talking about these medicines with her patients.Read more:Some companies are marketing GLP-1 drugs to body-positive influencers in the hopes that they’ll market their products to their followers. Shane O’Neill is a style reporter at the Post and writes the Style Memo newsletter. W

May 14, 2024 • 30:25

The end of Google search as we know it

Google is changing the way its search feature works, feeding users AI-generated replies to their questions rather than directing them to other websites. Read more:At its annual developer conference this week, tech giant Google is expected to tout big changes to its signature product, search. Instead of directing users to a list of websites or showing them an excerpt, Google’s AI will craft paragraphs of text that tries to answer users’ questions directly. AI reporter Gerrit De Vynck sa

May 13, 2024 • 23:34

Is the Drake-Kendrick rap beef good for hip-hop?

In today’s bonus episode, we break down Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud, the biggest beef in recent rap history.Read more:In the past few weeks, a long-standing feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake has boiled over. The two artists have released songs taking shots at each other at a rapid clip, astonishing fans with salacious allegations.On today’s show, The Post’s Joseph Ferguson explains the beef that caused the recent frenzy and how this moment has reignited the hip-hop industry.Today

May 11, 2024 • 22:12

The Campaign Moment: Trump trial delays, boos for MTG and Biden’s red line on Rafah

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and national political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf join Elahe Izadi this week. They talk about how Stormy Daniels’s testimony this week could affect former president Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial and voters’ perception of him. Also, they’ll

May 10, 2024 • 29:55

Will U.S. threats change Israel’s war?

Tensions are rising between the United States and Israel over the war in Gaza. President Biden has threatened to withhold arms if Israel advances into Rafah in southern Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then vowed that Israel would “stand alone.” Read more:This week, Israel began its long-promised military operation in Rafah, a city that houses upwards of a million displaced Gazans. Israel has taken control of the Gazan side of the border crossing, blocking aid deliveries amid a worse

May 9, 2024 • 21:16

Stormy Daniels takes the stand (and Trump curses)

This week in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president, Stormy Daniels gave explicit and disturbing testimony and sparked an angry reaction from Donald Trump.Stormy Daniels, the adult-film actress at the center of Donald Trump’s hush money trial, testified against the former president Tuesday. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, recounted details of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Her testimony was met with muttered profanities from the former president. At one poi

May 8, 2024 • 27:40

How Pope Francis opened the Vatican to trans sex workers

When Francis became pope in 2013, it was clear that he would be an unconventional pope. He was more casual than his predecessors, and often rejected the fineries of his office. In particular, he made a splash when, early on in his papacy, he responded to a question about gay priests by declaring, “Who am I to judge?”Since then, Francis has moved to make the Catholic Church more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, including approving the blessing of same-sex couples, and allowing transgender peopl

May 7, 2024 • 29:33

Can U.S. aid to Ukraine make a dent in the war?

Today, whether the U.S.’s long-delayed aid to Ukraine will impact the outcome of the war.Read more:After months of stalled negotiations, Congress passed a foreign aid package that included $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. With low supplies and exhausted soldiers, the war-torn country is in desperate need of funding and weapons. U.S. officials hope the aid will buy time for Kyiv to replenish its military ranks and strengthen battlefield defenses, but The Post’s Missy Ryan reports that even the larg

May 6, 2024 • 20:15

Deep Reads: One man threatened Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Here’s what happened next.

In a time of rising anger and threats, one man in Endicott, N.Y., in the throes of a mental health crisis threatened Rep.Marjorie Taylor Greene, telling her “You spread hatred, and you’re gonna pay for it.” Here’s what happened to him. This story is part of our Deep Reads series, which showcases narrative journalism at The Washington Post. It was written and read by Ruby Cramer. Audio production and original music composition by Bishop Sand.

May 4, 2024 • 37:37

The Campaign Moment: Campus protests, a jail threat for Trump and Kristi Noem’s late dog Cricket

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and White House reporter Cleve Wootson join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how President Biden responded this week to the campus protests over the war in Gaza and what that could mean for his support, whether voters are paying atte

May 3, 2024 • 28:25

The unprecedented health-care hack that may affect you

In February, a massive cyberattack nearly brought down the entire U.S. health system. Doctors are still reeling, and many patients don’t even know their data has been exposed. Today, Dan Diamond traces what went wrong and the new scrutiny in Congress.Read more:Even if UnitedHealthcare isn’t your health insurer, the company has probably interacted with you or your data in some way. UnitedHealth Group is both the nation’s largest insurer and its largest employer of physicians. It owns pharmacies a

May 2, 2024 • 26:43

The precarious power of Speaker Mike Johnson

Six months after becoming speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson’s job is on the line. Today on “Post Reports,” we explore Johnson’s rise to power and his potential ouster at the hands of his Republican colleagues.Read more:Mike Johnson became House speaker following the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy in October. After three weeks of infighting among Republicans, Johnson emerged as the only viable candidate, in part because Johnson was relatively unknown. Before becoming speake

May 1, 2024 • 35:21

India's secret assassination plot on U.S. soil

India is rising as a competitive global power. It is also joining a club of nations that aggressively target dissidents on foreign soil. Today on “Post Reports,” we dive into India’s assassination plots.Read more: It was a split-screen moment: As the Biden administration hosted a White House state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, an officer in India’s intelligence service was relaying instructions to a team hired to kill one of Modi’s most vocal critics in the United Stat

Apr 30, 2024 • 35:25

What to know about the new bird flu outbreak

For the first time, a virulent strain of bird flu has been detected in U.S. dairy cows. Fragments of the virus have also been found in commercial milk. Today, health reporter Lena Sun shares the latest on the outbreak and why the risk to humans remains low. In recent years, H5N1 bird flu has become widespread among wild birds around the world and has spread to mammals like seals and squirrels. It can be fatal and has resulted in the deaths or cullings of tens of millions of chickens in the

Apr 29, 2024 • 27:31

The Campaign Moment: The GOP's Marjorie Taylor Greene problem

Elahe Izadi chats with Aaron Blake, author of the Post newsletter The Campaign Moment, and national politics reporter Colby Itkowitz. They delve into the most important political moments of this past week. Listen for these conversations most Fridays during the 2024 campaign. It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’

Apr 26, 2024 • 34:21

One woman’s failed abortions led another to motherhood

A young woman in Texas desperately tried to terminate her pregnancy before ultimately choosing adoption. Today on "Post Reports," how abortion restrictions and fate collided to entwine two women’s lives. Read Amber Ferguson's story and watch the video here. Today’s show was produced by Charla Freeland. It was edited by Maggie Penman and mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Apr 25, 2024 • 30:19

The mounting antiwar protests on college campuses

Today, a look inside the pro-Palestinian protests taking root on college campuses and why universities have been struggling to respond to them.Read more:Over the past week, protests over the Israel-Gaza war have spread and intensified on college campuses across the country. Pro-Palestinian student demonstrators across the country, including at Yale and Columbia University, have been arrested and removed from tent encampments on their campuses. Other encampments have been set up at many scho

Apr 24, 2024 • 31:18

TikTok might get banned. For real this time.

The Senate is expected to pass a bipartisan bill that would force TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform or face a national ban. How did Congress finally achieve consensus on this?Read more:The Senate spent the day debating a bill that would provide billions of dollars in aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. But something else is also tucked into the bill: an ultimatum to TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, to either sell the popular app or see it effectively banned

Apr 23, 2024 • 23:38

Can cities fine unhoused people for sleeping outside?

Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the most significant legal challenge to the rights of unhoused people in decades. On “Post Reports,” we hear from a correspondent who visited the city at the center of the debate.Read more:In the small city of Grants Pass, Ore., hundreds of people are living outside, with many camping in the public parks. The anti-camping laws in Grants Pass allow the city to fine those living in public spaces. But unhoused people in the city say that the fines ar

Apr 22, 2024 • 31:09

Deep Reads: Riding the baddest bulls made him a legend. Then one broke his neck.

Arguably the greatest bull rider who has ever lived, J.B. Mauney was thrown from a bull in September 2023 and forced to retire. Mauney lives on his ranch in Stephenville, Tex., with his family and the bull that ended his career. The former bull rider has led an uncompromising life. Now, not only has he accepted his fate, but he’s made friends with it. This story is part of our Deep Reads series, which showcases narrative journalism at The Washington Post. It was written and read by Sally Je

Apr 20, 2024 • 52:47

The Campaign Moment: Trump jurors and Biden on Israel

Elahe Izadi talks with Aaron Blake and Liz Goodwin about Week 1 of Trump’s first criminal trial, how Israel is dividing Democrats in Congress, and whether GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson’s strategy to approve aid to Ukraine could cost him his job.Read more: In Friday’s episode of “The Campaign Moment,” we look back at the political news of the week and dive into how it could shape the 2024 election. This week, senior political reporter Aaron Blake – who also writes The Post’s newsletter of the sa

Apr 19, 2024 • 33:03

America’s toxic tap water problem

Despite being the world’s wealthiest nation, the U.S. has communities that are still exposed to toxic tap water. Today, we hear how a city in New Mexico has struggled with high levels of arsenic in its water — and how its residents are fighting back. Read more:Fifty years after the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act, which is supposed to limit toxins in Americans’ water, many people around the country cannot safely drink from the tap.Drinking water samples tested in Sunland Park, a smal

Apr 18, 2024 • 32:02

How a narco revolt pushed a peaceful nation to the brink

A high-profile prison escape. A TV station takeover. An assault on police. Today on “Post Reports,” how powerful gangs in Ecuador pushed this historically peaceful nation to the brink and led its new president to declare war. Read more:Ecuador has long been an ecotourism hub and a safe haven, mostly immune from the guerilla violence endured for decades in neighboring Colombia and Peru. But the country has experienced a shift in recent years, becoming a center for drug trafficking and organized c

Apr 17, 2024 • 37:08

Will Israel “take the win”?

On Saturday, Iran directly attacked Israel. Now, Israel’s war cabinet is weighing possible responses as the U.S. and others have called for restraint.Read more: Ninety-nine percent of the more than 300 missiles and armed drones Iran launched against Israel were intercepted by Israel and its allies, according to the Israel Defense Forces. But the direct attack has also raised concerns about a broader war between Iran and Israel, and whether Israel would be able to fight two wars at once, aga

Apr 16, 2024 • 26:40

Day 1 of Trump's first criminal trial

Today on Post Reports, we’re on the scene at the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump is facing trial in the first ever criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president. Read more:Jury selection began today in the trial to determine whether Trump broke state law in New York by falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment in 2016 to keep adult film actress Stormy Daniels quiet about their alleged affair. Isaac Arnsdorf and Shayna Jacobs are at the courthouse and tell

Apr 15, 2024 • 19:03

The Campaign Moment: It’s 1864 in Arizona

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, the author of The Post’s newsletter by the same name, chats with Martine Powers and our Arizona-based democracy reporter, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, about the Arizona abortion ruling threatening to upend the 2024 election. The Arizona Supreme Court this week ruled that a near-total abortion ban from

Apr 12, 2024 • 33:00

How will O.J. Simpson be remembered?

O.J. Simpson has died at 76. He became a a football star, but a 1995 murder trial made him infamous. Simpson was eventually acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife and her friend – a verdict that split the public. How will he be remembered?Read more:Simpson grew up in a poor neighborhood in San Francisco, and eventually rose to NFL stardom playing for the Buffalo Bills and later the San Francisco 49ers. He was one of the most well- known and well-liked personalities off the field, too, and was a

Apr 11, 2024 • 25:31

The mounting allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

For decades, hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been a music powerhouse. He’s now subject to lawsuits alleging abuse, sexual violence and sex trafficking. Today, what we know about the allegations and the ripples in the music industry.Read more:Late last month, armored trucks, helicopters and swarms of federal agents descended on two homes owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs in Los Angeles and Miami. The searches were part of an ongoing investigation into Combs by the Department of Homeland Secur

Apr 10, 2024 • 24:45

Help! I haven’t filed my taxes yet!

The tax filing deadline is less than a week away. Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary answers your last-minute tax questions and offers advice on what to do if you need more time to file.Read more:The deadline for most taxpayers to file a federal tax return is Monday, April 15. If you haven’t filed yet or have some lingering questions about the 2024 tax season, don’t panic. Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary is here to put your mind at ease and help make sure you don’t end

Apr 9, 2024 • 24:31

How Trump narrowly escaped a cash crunch

Today on “Post Reports,” Jonathan O’Connell breaks down Donald Trump’s complicated finances — and what we know about the California billionaire who covered Trump’s bond in New York. Read more:Former president Donald Trump was in a financial bind last month. He had to post a bond of nearly half a billion dollars to cover a civil fraud judgment in New York, or risk the state seizing his assets.Then Don Hankey stepped in. The California billionaire offered to cover Trump’s bond for a “mod

Apr 8, 2024 • 28:41

Rethinking how to clean and style your home

Spring can be a great time to clean your space and start fresh – but it’s not always easy to do. Today, we have tips on how to finally get rid of clutter and find ways to make your space feel more like you, even if you’re renting. Read more:A lot of people have that one corner in their house that is constantly messy, no matter what. Sometimes it’s a “laundry chair,” which is perpetually piled with semi-used clothing. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing to have, says reporter Rachel Kurzi

Apr 6, 2024 • 25:03

The Campaign Moment: The MAGA purge of the GOP

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, the author of The Post’s newsletter by the same name, chats with Martine Powers and national political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf about the tension between U.S. District Court Judge Aileen M. Cannon and special counsel Jack Smith. The two have been at odds over the Trump team’s claim that the Presid

Apr 5, 2024 • 33:10

What makes 2024's total solar eclipse so special

Today on “Post Reports,” everything you need to know about Monday’s total solar eclipse. Plus, all the science happening during this event – and what we might learn from it.Read more:On April 8, the total solar eclipse will occur over the eastern United States, Mexico and Canada. The 115 mile-wide path of totality will include major cities such as Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Buffalo – and all of the continental United States will experience at least a partial eclipse. Science journa

Apr 4, 2024 • 20:44

March Madness, Mulkey, and no men

After an exciting run of games during this year's women’s NCAA March Madness tournament, the final four teams are set. Today on Post Reports, two sports reporters discuss this season’s most prominent characters and why women’s basketball is having a moment. Read more:All eyes are on the women’s March Madness this year, with millions tuning in to watch such record-breaking players as Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and USC’s JuJu Watkins. The unparalleled viewership comes just years after a gender equi

Apr 3, 2024 • 30:36

The Florida abortion ban that could sway the election

What Florida’s six-week abortion ban could mean for abortion access in the South – and whether the ban will motivate Florida voters to protect abortion access at the polls in November.Read more:On Monday, Florida’s Supreme Court issued a decision that will allow one of the country’s strictest and most far-reaching abortion bans to take effect on May 1. However, the court also ruled that an amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution can go on the November ballot, which

Apr 2, 2024 • 23:27

How ultra-Orthodox Jews could imperil Netanyahu’s power

Today, how ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel could upend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. Read more:Last Thursday, the Israeli Supreme Court suspended subsidies for ultra-Orthodox Jews studying in yeshivas instead of serving in the military. This comes at a time of growing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government. Protests over the weekend were fueled by anti-government sentiment and frustration from those who want to see Israeli h

Apr 1, 2024 • 20:23

Beyoncé goes country

On Friday, Beyoncé dropped “Cowboy Carter,” her highly anticipated salute to country music. The album sparked new conversations about the forces that define country music and about whether Beyoncé’s turn to country could reshape the industry.Read more:Beyoncé’s turn to country came from her personal experience of not feeling welcome at the 2016 CMA Awards. Beyoncé’s album, “Cowboy Carter,” has reignited conversations about what country music is, who gets to define the country genre, and if this

Mar 31, 2024 • 34:37

Ronna McDaniel drama, the RFK factor and Trump 'running for his freedom'

It’s Friday, so it’s time for The Campaign Moment — our weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and investigative political reporter Josh Dawsey join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how election denial is becoming more central to the Republican National Committee, what to make of this week’s NBC/Ronna McDaniel drama, the lates

Mar 29, 2024 • 30:38

The Baltimore bridge collapse reveals who is most vulnerable

Today on “Post Reports,” reporter Teo Armus walks us through what we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse — and what it says about the lives — and tragic deaths — of immigrants in tough construction jobs.Read more: Authorities are turning their focus to “salvage” operations to remove wreckage from the Patapsco River after a massive container ship caused Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse. Meanwhile, investigators have recovered the ship’s black box and are piecing together the

Mar 28, 2024 • 29:09

When police officers are predators: One teen's story

Today, the story of a teenager who was sexually abused by a police officer, and her journey to find justice.Read more:Americans have been forced to reckon with sexual misconduct committed by teachers, clergy, coaches and others with access to and authority over children. But there is little awareness of child sex crimes perpetrated by members of another profession that many children are taught to revere and obey: law enforcement.A Washington Post investigation has found that over the past two de

Mar 27, 2024 • 40:30

Why the Justice Department is taking on Apple’s iPhone

Today on “Post Reports:” Why the Justice Department is going after Apple over green text bubbles. And what its lawsuit says about the Biden administration’s stance on Big Tech. Read more:Last week, the Justice Department – along with 16 state and district attorneys general – accused Apple of illegally wielding a monopoly over the smartphone market. The civil complaint alleges that the tech giant stifled competition with restrictive App Store terms and high fees. “Apple has maintained monopo

Mar 26, 2024 • 20:22

Abortion, guns and the state of a divided Supreme Court

Public trust in the Supreme Court is at historic lows, just as justices weigh in on some of the nation’s most important debates, from abortion pills to guns. Today, Ann Marimow on the state of a divided court and its attempts to regain credibility.Read more:The Supreme Court is weighing in on many of the country’s most contentious issues, including the political fate of former president Donald Trump. On Tuesday, justices will hear oral arguments about whether to impose restrictions on the aborti

Mar 25, 2024 • 27:00

Post Opinion: What to expect when you're expecting an abortion pill argument

On the first episode of their new podcast "Impromptu," our colleagues at Washington Post Opinions discuss what’s at stake the Supreme Court hears a case on access to mifepristone. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022, it indicated that abortion was an issue to be relegated to the states. Instead, it has blown up American politics, firing up voters and leading to conflicting lower court rulings. Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Alexandra Petri and Amanda Ripley discuss how

Mar 24, 2024 • 21:49

When a viral fairy tale slams against reality

Today on “Post Reports,” a viral fundraiser for an unhoused man triggers backlash online. And, how platforms like GoFundMe are increasingly replacing America’s social safety net. Read more:Earlier this year, 21-year-old Sanai Graden – a college student from California – was on her way to a grocery store in D.C. when an unhoused man named Alonzo called out to her asking for tea. “I’m walking to Trader Joe’s,” she said to him. “You want to walk with me? We can stop at Starbucks.”It was t

Mar 23, 2024 • 38:54

The Campaign Moment: Democrats' risky primary gamble, 'bloodbath' and more

Friday on “Post Reports” now means The Campaign Moment — a weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and Glenn Kessler, editor and chief writer of The Fact Checker, join Elahe Izadi to talk about this week’s Republican Senate primary in Ohio, the debate over Donald Trump’s “bloodbath” comment and where the Republican-led impeachment effor

Mar 22, 2024 • 29:06

Chef José Andrés on cooking in war zones

In the last week, celebrity chef José Andrés has been at the forefront of efforts to feed people in Gaza on the brink of famine. Today on “Post Reports,” he talks to Martine Powers about how food can meet immediate needs – and be a bridge for healing. Read more:A ship organized by José Andrés’s nonprofit World Central Kitchen delivered hundreds of tons of food and water to the blockaded Gaza Strip, becoming the first to test a new maritime corridor for ramping up aid to a region on the brin

Mar 21, 2024 • 29:55

Nex Benedict and the rising threat to LGBTQ kids

Nex Benedict was a nonbinary teenager living near Tulsa. Their family said they were bullied at school before their apparent suicide in February. Advocates warn that a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is putting more young people at risk. Read more:Legislatures across the United States have passed a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In Oklahoma, legislators have proposed more than 50 bills in 2024 alone, more than any other state according to the ACLU, restricting things like restroom access

Mar 20, 2024 • 27:01

Boeing's crisis continues. So, is it safe to fly?

Today on “Post Reports” we dig into the string of bad news for Boeing and whether people should really be concerned about flying on one of Boeing’s planes.Read more:In January, a piece of an Alaska Airlines jet fell off during a flight, opening a hole in the plane and causing a dramatic emergency landing. And ever since that blowout, public confidence in Boeing — the plane’s manufacturer — has been in a tailspin. The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the incident

Mar 19, 2024 • 22:58

Two Italian men became parents. Soon they could be outlaws.

The Italian Parliament is expected to pass a law that makes overseas surrogacy a crime, which would eliminate the last pathway to parenthood for many same-sex couples. It’s part of a wave of efforts around the world trying to reshape what families look like. Read more:The Italian Parliament is expected to pass a law that makes overseas surrogacy a crime, which would eliminate the last pathway to parenthood for many same-sex couples. It’s part of a wave of efforts around the world trying to

Mar 18, 2024 • 25:14

Deep Reads: The Hero

When Army officer Rich Fierro deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, he thought he was fighting to keep war and terror away from his family on the home front. Afterward, like many combat veterans, he struggled to readjust to civilian life. Gradually, with the help of his wife and daughter, and his therapist, he managed to claw his way to a healthier place. The Fierro family started a business in Colorado Springs — a brewery that honored their Mexican heritage and strove to be welcoming to all kinds o

Mar 16, 2024 • 1:24:33

The Campaign Moment: Key X factors in the Biden vs. Trump rematch

Friday on “Post Reports” now means The Campaign Moment — a weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and Washington Post polling director Scott Clement join Martine Powers to unpack key X factors that will help decide the election now that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump collected enough delegates this week to secure their party’s nominat

Mar 15, 2024 • 31:40

A dangerous power vacuum in Haiti

Haiti is in a pivotal moment. The prime minister announced his resignation this week to make way for a transitional presidential council that will attempt to bring stability to the Caribbean nation.Read more:This week, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign amid a period of increased violence and chaos for the Caribbean nation. As the United States and a coalition of Caribbean countries try to organize a transitional presidential council, violent armed gangs control more than 80 per

Mar 14, 2024 • 32:17

He used to campaign for Biden. Then Gaza happened.

This week President Biden and former president Donald Trump clinched the nominations for their respective parties. Where do dissatisfied voters go from here? Today, we travel to Michigan to follow a former Biden organizer who wants Biden to lose.Read more:In 2020, Adam Abusalah wanted to knock Donald Trump out of the White House. These days, he’d take pretty much anyone over Biden. Jesús Rodríguez reports from Michigan.Also in the news today: The House overwhelmingly voted to force TikTok to spl

Mar 13, 2024 • 30:00

College athletes are unionizing. Could this change sports?

In a historic move, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team has voted to unionize, just ahead of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament. It’s part of a larger movement of student-athletes seeking better pay and conditions, possibly transforming college sports.Read more:The college sports landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade, particularly when it comes to the rights and privileges of student-athletes. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court decided unanimously in NCAA v. Alston that students we

Mar 12, 2024 • 25:43

The improbable U.S. plan to revitalize a Palestinian security force

Today, the history of the Palestinian Authority, and whether its security forces are up to the challenge of helping to stabilize a post-war Gaza.Read more:The Palestinian Authority security forces, which report to President Mahmoud Abbas, are at a pivotal moment. The group, estimated to be 35,500 members strong, is regarded by the Biden administration as central to its goal to stabilize a post-war Gaza.However, despite two decades of reforms, the Palestinian Authority remains chronically underfu

Mar 11, 2024 • 24:49

The Campaign Moment: State of the Union and what Super Tuesday says

Friday on “Post Reports” now means The Campaign Moment — a weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and national politics reporter Colby Itkowitz join Elahe Izadi to analyze President Biden’s State of the Union address and how it sets the stage for the campaign, and what questions came out of the results from Super Tuesday. Subscrib

Mar 8, 2024 • 34:31

The Oscars are Sunday. Here’s what to catch up on.

Today, we talk about the movies that have been nominated for best picture at the Oscars; what to see, what to skip and what we loved, ahead of the awards Sunday night.Read more:There are 10 films nominated this year for an Academy Award for best picture. From big blockbusters to quiet tales of domesticity, the movies span a wide variety of topics and capture what our movie critics call a diverse year for the types of stories we’re seeing on the big screen. Today, Washington Post movie criti

Mar 7, 2024 • 40:16

Biden’s plan to keep the White House

The results of Super Tuesday set up a highly likely rematch between President Biden and former president Donald Trump. Today on “Post Reports,” the hurdles that the Biden campaign has to overcome in order to secure a victory in November.Read more:After Super Tuesday nominating contests, GOP candidate Nikki Haley is exiting the presidential race and the stage is set for President Biden and former president Donald Trump to face off again. But Biden’s campaign faces challenges – with voters in some

Mar 6, 2024 • 33:42

Will the courts hold Trump accountable before November?

Many people had hoped that the highest-profile court cases involving Donald Trump would be resolved before the general election in November. That’s looking increasingly unlikely.Read more:At the start of the year, it looked as though Donald Trump might be stymied in the courts long before the November election. The former president faced a pair of federal indictments, 91 criminal charges, and challenges to his ballot eligibility in multiple states. Two months later, says Post national enter

Mar 5, 2024 • 22:18

The new covid rules – and a measles comeback. Again.

Am I contagious? U.S. health officials have dropped five-day isolation guidelines for people who get covid, prompting a mix of relief and confusion. Today, The Post’s Lena Sun breaks down what’s behind the shift. Plus, the latest on measles in Florida.On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that, effective immediately, people who test positive for the coronavirus no longer need to stay home for five days. Instead, the agency recommends that you stay home when sick, bu

Mar 4, 2024 • 30:28

The Campaign Moment: McConnell, Trump trials and Super Tuesday

Fridays on the show now mean “The Campaign Moment” – a new weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and national reporter Amy Gardner sit down with Martine Powers to discuss the announcement by Senate Minority Leader (R-Ky) Mitch McConnell that he’ll step down from his leadership post in November, talk about the latest news around former

Mar 1, 2024 • 29:15

Why immigration has strengthened the economy

A record number of migrants have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years, and Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on a solution to address the crisis. But data shows that this surge has strengthened the U.S. economy. Read more:On Thursday, President Biden and former president Donald Trump traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border, underscoring how central immigration is in this year’s presidential campaign. As Biden and Trump clash over how to address immigration at the southern bord

Feb 29, 2024 • 24:40

The fight to keep Black moms and babies alive

After traumatic pregnancies, Mimi Bingham needed another way. Then, she discovered a coalition of Black birth workers who forever changed her life. Today, we tell the story of Mimi and the birth workers fighting a nationwide maternal health emergency.Read more: The United States tops a list that no country wants to be on: It’s considered the worst place to give birth among high-income nations. Even more jarring, Black women in particular are much more likely to die from childbirth or suffer

Feb 28, 2024 • 38:04

Why students applying for financial aid are in limbo

A new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form promised an easier path for students to access financial aid for college. But the rollout has been far from easy. Read more:For decades, scores of students got tripped up by the daunting Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Then, in December, the Education Department released a new version of the form, promising a streamlined path for students to access aid. But the launch has not gone smoothly. Technical glit

Feb 27, 2024 • 22:06

The balance of the Ukraine war rests on aid

Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we talk about the state of the war, and the role foreign aid – or lack thereof – could play in Ukraine’s ability to keep holding off Russia.Read more:A little over two years ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion into neighboring Ukraine. At first, many thought it would be a brief and brutal defeat, but two years later Ukraine is still hanging on after a series of wins that exceeded expectations. Now, low on ammunition and troops, Ukraine is faci

Feb 26, 2024 • 25:41

How to reset your relationship with exercise at any age

Exercising can be intimidating. Any New Year’s resolutions you made might feel overly ambitious and hard to keep. But fitness science tells us that exercise is linked to longevity and staying young. Read more: How fit you are is not determined by your age, weight or ability to do any one physical activity. In this bonus episode of Post Reports, we’ll talk about how to stay fit at any age. Health columnist Gretchen Reynolds shares some simple exercises to assess your fitness and ex

Feb 24, 2024 • 20:42

The Campaign Moment: Trump VP chatter, the Biden impeachment inquiry and more

It’s Friday, so it’s time for “The Campaign Moment” – a new weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest political news in this campaign year. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and senior national political correspondent Ashley Parker sit down with Martine Powers to discuss the expectations for this weekend’s South Carolina Republican presidential primary, the chatter on who is on former president Donald Trump’s

Feb 23, 2024 • 31:56

The fragile future of IVF in Alabama

On Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are legally people and that someone can be held liable for destroying them. Today on “Post Reports,” how the first-of-its-kind ruling has complicated women’s health care in the state and its implications across the country. Read more:In Alabama, doctors and patients are scrambling to understand the implications of a recent state supreme court decision that ruled frozen embryos are legally people. A number of in-vitro fertilizati

Feb 22, 2024 • 18:55

Can Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode be trusted?

Today, as automakers race toward a driverless future, The Post’s technology reporter Trisha Thadani breaks down a Post investigation into a 2022 car crash in Colorado and the questions it raises about new self-driving technology on the road now. Read more:In May of 2022, Hans von Ohain and his friend Erik Rossiter went golfing in Evergreen, Colo. Hans showed off his Tesla’s new Full Self-Driving mode. The friends shared drinks and played 21 holes of golf.But Hans never made it home. On the

Feb 21, 2024 • 27:09

Navalny’s legacy

The death of Vladimir Putin's largest opponent, Alexei Navalny, has rocked hopes of democracy in Russia. We speak with The Post's David M. Herszenhorn, who covered Navalny in Russia, about the impact of his death and Putin's tightening grip on power.Read more:Alexei Navalny had been a charismatic and outspoken critic of the Kremlin for more than a decade, and was the target of an assassination attempt. Last year, Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of “extremism,” but was seen

Feb 20, 2024 • 28:32

Deep Reads: The judgment of São Miguel

The isolated river village of São Miguel had for years been shielded from a wave of religious conversions remaking the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. While many across the traditionally Catholic country were becoming evangelical Protestants, São Miguel had remained steadfast in its Catholic faith. Then one day, a pastor rumored to have mystical powers arrived and opened the community’s first evangelical church. Since then, the village has fractured in a bitter battle over its religious soul. Now t

Feb 17, 2024 • 31:39

The Campaign Moment: From Trump to Swift

It’s hard to keep track of all the biggest political news and what it could mean in this campaign year. That’s why Post Reports is launching a weekly episode on Fridays called “The Campaign Moment.” You’ll hear senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and other colleagues from our Politics team break down the stories that matter. In this inaugural episode, reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell also joins Martine Powers to discuss Thursday’s hearing

Feb 16, 2024 • 33:36

The destabilizing force of AI deepfakes in politics

AI-generated content seems to be getting more realistic every day. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about how it’s already been a factor in the 2024 presidential campaign, and in elections around the world. Read more:On Tuesday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that fake audio of him making inflammatory comments before last year’s Armistice Day almost caused “serious disorder.” Today on Post Reports, tech reporter Pranshu Verma breaks down how AI-generated content has been influencing the

Feb 15, 2024 • 22:48

Why many older women are saying “I don’t” to marriage

Whether they are widowed, divorced,or have never married, more women over the age of 50 are choosing the single life. It has nothing to do with love and everything to do with protecting their finances.Read more:In the coming decade, women will hold greater economic power than they did in previous generations. Economists at McKinsey estimate that by 2030, American women are poised to control much of the $30 trillion in personal wealth that baby boomers are expected to possess. This shift in

Feb 14, 2024 • 26:26

The growing dissent over Biden’s Israel policy

President Biden’s defense of Israel amid the war in Gaza has roiled his administration. Today on “Post Reports,” we hear from officials who resigned over Biden’s policies. The Post’s Yasmeen Abutaleb also explains Biden’s bond with Israel.Read more:Since the war in Gaza began, the Biden administration has been outspoken in its support of Israel. But as the Israel-Gaza war enters its fifth month and the number of dead in Gaza rises over 28,000, there have been growing calls inside both Congress a

Feb 13, 2024 • 32:20

The “last refuge” in Gaza

Today on “Post Reports,” Israel’s latest operation in Gaza, and what it tells us about its strategy in the war. Read more:On Monday local time, Israel carried out a round of deadly airstrikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. The strikes killed at least 67 Palestinians, including women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.Israel said its aim was to rescue hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack. Under the

Feb 12, 2024 • 18:23

We all watch football. But who is playing it?

Today on a bonus episode of “Post Reports” in honor of the Super Bowl, we go to one of the communities where tackle football still reigns. Read more:For decades, few things have united America as consistently and completely as football. But when it comes to actually playing tackle football — and risking the physical toll of a sport linked to brain damage — there are wide divisions marked by politics, economics and race, an examination by The Washington Post found. As the sport grapples

Feb 11, 2024 • 26:31

Biden's fury over the special counsel report

A special counsel report on President Biden concluded that he would not be charged for mishandling sensitive documents. Yet the report painted a scathing picture of the president’s memory, refueling attacks on his mental agility as he faces reelection.Read more:On Thursday evening, President Biden gave an emotional and angry response to a report issued by special counsel Robert K. Hur. While the report found that criminal charges were not merited for Biden’s handling of classified documents, it

Feb 9, 2024 • 17:32

Supreme Court seems ready to keep Trump on the ballot

The Supreme Court seemed prepared to keep Donald Trump on the Colorado ballot Thursday, expressing concern about a single state disqualifying a candidate from seeking national office. Today on the show, we break down what we heard and what it means. Read more:On Thursday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in former president Donald Trump’s appeal of a Colorado ruling to remove him from the state’s 2024 primary ballot because of his role in the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. W

Feb 8, 2024 • 23:38

Why El Salvador elected a self-proclaimed 'coolest dictator'

On Sunday, President Nayib Bukele won reelection in El Salvador in a landslide. Today, The Post’s Mary Beth Sheridan addresses what’s behind Bukele’s striking popularity, his self-proclaimed nickname on social media and his controversial war on gangs.Nayib Bukele first took office in 2019 as an independent, becoming El Salvador’s – and Latin America’s – youngest president. He made a name for himself through his alleged crackdown on gangs and savvy use of social media to market his efforts.

Feb 7, 2024 • 30:38

The 91-year-old fighting to kick Trump off the ballot

Today on “Post Reports,” we’re going deep on Trump v. Anderson, the Supreme Court case that could reshape the course of the 2024 election. Read more:Norma Anderson carries a pocket Constitution in her purse. She has another copy, slightly larger with images of the Founding Fathers on the cover, that she leaves on a table in her sitting room so she can consult it when she watches TV.She’s turned down a page corner in that copy to mark the spot where the 14th Amendment appears. She has reread it s

Feb 6, 2024 • 33:53

Iran’s proxy attacks in the Middle East

After a drone attack killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan last week, the United States struck more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday. The U.S. response is the latest escalation in a widening conflict in the Middle East. Read more:Several Iran-allied groups aligned with Hamas have mobilized since the militant organization’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel prompted an ongoing Israeli military offensive. According to Pentagon data, Iranian-backed militias have launched at least 165 attacks o

Feb 5, 2024 • 28:25

Deep Reads: Ripples of hate

One month into the Israel-Gaza war, Ashish Prashar put on a kaffiyeh and took his 18-month-old son to a playground near their home in Brooklyn, where a woman he’d never seen before began yelling at him. As Prashar took out his phone and began filming, the woman continued to yell, threw her phone at him, and then threw a coffee cup holding a hot beverage. It was a chance encounter that led to spiraling repercussions: a police investigation, hate crime charges, an angry mob on the internet, a wron

Feb 3, 2024 • 32:43

The Texas border city caught in a constitutional crisis

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is in a standoff with the U.S. government over who controls the Texas border with Mexico. That fight has centered on the border city of Eagle Pass, where Abbott has seized a park and is testing the limits of the Constitution Read more:Eagle Pass, Tex., is a small border city that in recent weeks has been mired in a bitter standoff between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and the federal government. In an effort to deter migrants from crossing the border from Mexic

Feb 2, 2024 • 25:39

Why Mark Zuckerberg apologized

On Wednesday, U.S. senators hammered major tech CEOs for not doing more to prevent child abuse online. Today on “Post Reports,” we dive into the takeaways from a contentious Senate hearing amid rising concerns about the well-being of youth online.Read more:In a bipartisan push, the Senate Judiciary Committee gathered to scrutinize the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord and X, formerly known as Twitter, about child abuse on their platforms. The hearing largely focused on how to elimi

Feb 1, 2024 • 28:43

The broken promises of the NFL’s concussion settlement

The “landmark” settlement promised payouts for suffering players. But a Washington Post investigation found that strict guidelines and aggressive reviews have led to denials for hundreds of players diagnosed with dementia, including many who died with CTE.Read more: This week, there has been a lot of excitement about football as fans gear up for a Super Bowl attended by Taylor Swift (assuming she can make it in time from her concert in Tokyo.) It’s easy to forget that just a few years ago,

Jan 31, 2024 • 21:45

The debate over gas stoves reignites

This week, the Energy Department announced new standards for gas stoves made after 2028. The government isn’t coming for your gas stoves — but should it? We talk about the risks with Climate Coach columnist Michael Coren. Read more:Gas stoves have been fiercely debated for decades — most recently after a government employee suggested that they should be banned. There’s mounting evidence that they emit a mix of gases that can lead to respiratory illnesses and also produce tons of carbon poll

Jan 30, 2024 • 19:58

What the U.N. court ruling means for Israel and Gaza

On Friday, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do more to prevent civilian deaths in Gaza. South Africa brought the case to the court, alleging that Israel is committing genocide. Today, we break down the court’s ruling. Read more:This month, the International Court of Justice heard a case brought by South Africa against Israel. South Africa alleged that, following the attacks on Oct. 7 by Hamas, Israel has committed genocide during its military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Jan 29, 2024 • 20:52

The ‘love languages’ are popular. Are they real?

Since the ’90s, couples have turned to the theory of the five “love languages” to help navigate relationship pitfalls. But a new scientific paper suggests that the science behind the idea is shaky.Read more:If you’ve ever tried to improve communication in a relationship, you may have come across the concept of the five “love languages” — different ways of showing and receiving affection that have helped couples understand each other for decades. The theory comes from a Baptist pastor turned rela

Jan 26, 2024 • 22:04

How one abortion ad changed an election

As candidates and political strategists on both sides look at how to handle the abortion issue in 2024, all eyes have been on one viral ad credited with reelecting a Democrat in Kentucky. Today on “Post Reports,” we hear from the young woman behind it.Read more:Since Roe v. Wade fell, voters have overwhelmingly backed abortion rights in each of the states where the issue has appeared directly on the ballot, including in conservative Kentucky, Kansas and, most recently, Ohio.Democrats have had le

Jan 25, 2024 • 34:50

Trump won again. Now what happens?

Today in an early edition of “Post Reports,” we recap the New Hampshire primary results. Trump won decisively – but the results show divisions in the GOP. Plus, the unusual write-in campaign in the Democratic race that led President Biden to victory.Read more:Former President Donald Trump defeated former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley in New Hampshire’s primary. But Tuesday’s results also show enduring divisions in the GOP, and they expose Trump’s weaknesses with moderates.President Biden, absent f

Jan 24, 2024 • 16:46

Tracking the Trump trials

Trump is juggling campaign events and courtroom appearances for the many cases he’s fighting. Today on Post Reports, we break down these legal battles and what they could mean for Trump’s political future. Read more:This week, Donald Trump is rallying support in New Hampshire while also fighting a defamation case in a New York courthouse. In addition to this case, the former president has been indicted in four criminal cases that involve allegations of hush money payments, mishandling of cl

Jan 23, 2024 • 22:12

Haley’s make-or-break moment in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a make-or-break moment for Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor challenging Trump for the Republican nomination. Plus – on the Democrats’ side – why Biden isn’t on the ballot, and who is. Read more:Nikki Haley has emerged as the only major candidate remaining in the Republican primary against former president Donald Trump. A strong showing in New Hampshire on Tuesday could give her the momentum she needs to forge ahead with her campaign. Campaign reporter Dy

Jan 22, 2024 • 30:09

Deep Reads: The real cost of one man’s $1 million stereo

Ken Fritz spent decades of his life working on his perfect stereo system at his home in Richmond, Va. Weekends and vacations were lost to the project. Fritz’s family were recruited for years of labor. After decades of work, Fritz completed his project with towering speakers that look like alien monoliths. He estimated the custom-built system to be worth more than $1 million. The real price of the stereo on Fritz and his family was even more staggering. –This story is part of our Deep Reads serie

Jan 20, 2024 • 31:15

How to spot (and avoid) ultra-processed foods

Ultra-processed foods are designed to be tasty and absorb easily — but they’re not good for us. Today on “Post Reports,” a food columnist explains how ultra-processed food is actually made and gives tips for simple, healthier swaps.Read more:Chips, peanut butter, bread — these are just a few of the foods in your kitchen that could be ultra-processed, and they make up over half of the average American’s diet. But because of the way they are manufactured, studies have shown that people who eat mor

Jan 19, 2024 • 23:24

A famine looms in Gaza

As Israel continues to wage its military campaign against Hamas, we break down why it has blocked humanitarian aid — including food — into Gaza. Hunger and disease now threaten hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza. Read more:More than 100 days into the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian crisis there continues to worsen. As Israel continues to block food and basic supplies from entering Gaza, the World Food Program estimates that 93 percent of people in Gaza are faci

Jan 18, 2024 • 26:11

Coronavirus, mpox and rabies: A tale of three viruses

Today, we dissect three recent public health responses to learn about the world’s ability to prevent outbreaks – covid and beyond – in 2024.Viruses are having a moment. Outbreaks around the world are on the rise, thanks to such factors as climate change, war and instability, and increased animal-to-human contact.Covid-19 is still here. Even though fewer people are winding up in the hospital compared with last year, some health facilities are requiring masks again as a new variant appears better

Jan 17, 2024 • 28:03

The U.S., Yemen and the risk of regional escalation

After the Biden administration launched airstrikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, the group attacked a U.S. cargo carrier. U.S. officials say that their operations are limited and that they do not want to be drawn into a wider conflict – but is that possible?Read more:In the wake of Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip, Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been carrying out attacks on U.S. and British commercial ships. Last week, President Biden authorized airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. I

Jan 16, 2024 • 17:49

Why a Trump win in Iowa may not mean victory later

Despite Donald Trump leading in the polls, victory in the GOP presidential primaries isn’t certain. Ahead of the Iowa caucuses, Trump hopes to extinguish his opponents. But history has shown that not every winner in Iowa goes on to become the nominee. Read more:Donald Trump has consistently led his opponents in polling for the Republican nomination, often by a wide margin. But victory isn’t certain. In Iowa, the first state in the Republican primaries, Trump wants to fully knock out his com

Jan 12, 2024 • 31:05

The global stakes of Taiwan’s election

Voters across Taiwan head to the polls Saturday in an election that could reverberate around the world. As pressure tactics increase from Beijing, the island of 23 million faces existential questions about how to preserve its identity and fend off war. With Beijing military planes at times looming, Taiwan’s ruling party’s candidate, Lai Ching-te, contends democracy itself is on the ballot this weekend. Opposition candidate Hou Yu-ih warns that voters face a choice between war and peace. And a ne

Jan 11, 2024 • 29:38

What we know about Alaska Airlines Flight 1282

A terrifying accident on an Alaskan Airlines flight has put renewed scrutiny on Boeing, the airline industry titan, which has seen a series of accidents and mechanical failures in recent yearsRead more:On Friday, a side panel on an Alaska Airlines flight popped out of place as the plane was ascending, sending air whistling through the cabin and terrifying passengers. The plane landed safely — but this was the latest in a series of mechanical issues on Boeing planes, some of which have ended in f

Jan 10, 2024 • 24:20

Trump wants revenge in 2024

If he wins reelection, former president Donald Trump will probably seek revenge on his political enemies. Less than a week before the Iowa caucuses, Trump remains the front-runner, but it’s unclear how that message of retribution will play with the general electorate. Read more:On the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, former president Donald Trump stood at a lectern in Iowa and applauded those who have been charged with participating in the riot and called o

Jan 9, 2024 • 21:25

Is Florida cracking the push for cheaper medicine?

After a years-long push, the Food and Drug Administration just allowed Florida to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. This decision follows decades of frustration over U.S. drug prices and could open the doors for other states to do the same.Read more:While a number of logistical and legal hurdles remain, Florida has been cleared to import prescription drugs from Canada. The path for Florida started years ago, along with efforts by Congress and pushes from the White House, including f

Jan 8, 2024 • 21:36

Harvard and the growing battle over DEI in America

Harvard’s first Black president, Claudine Gay, resigned this week amid pressure over plagiarism allegations and her comments about antisemitism on campus. For conservative activists, though, her downfall was a victory over diversity initiatives.Read more:The conservative victory laps began moments after Harvard University President Claudine Gay announced her resignation.Gay has faced growing pressure since her much-criticized comments about antisemitism on campus during testimony on Capitol Hill

Jan 5, 2024 • 17:04

Attacks in Beirut and Baghdad, and fears of a wider war

A Hamas leader killed in Beirut. U.S. strikes in Baghdad. This week, tensions in the Middle East have been rising – and with them, the specter of a widening Israel-Gaza war. Our correspondent in Beirut joins us to explain what happened this week.Read more:On Tuesday, senior Hamas leader Saleh Arouri was killed in a suspected Israeli drone strike in a Beirut suburb called Dahieh. Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned Lebanese militant and political group, holds sway in the densely packed neighborhood.In an

Jan 4, 2024 • 18:10

How record migration is testing Biden

A record number of migrants have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border, as war and poverty push people from their homes worldwide. The Post’s Nick Miroff reported from the border and saw how the Biden administration is grappling with migration as we enter a pivotal election year. Read more:In recent weeks, a historic number of people have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s a rise happening as Democratic lawmakers push for aid to Ukraine and Israel, while Republican negotiators want a borde

Jan 3, 2024 • 24:40

The recession that wasn't

It’s a new year and the economic forecast for 2024 is looking strong – but that doesn’t quite align with how many Americans feel. What does that mean for the president heading into an election year? Read more:After years of historic inflation, price hikes are finally getting back under control and wages are catching up. Unemployment is low. The looming recession that was threatened hasn’t materialized, and the Fed has signaled it’s done raising interest rates — and it might even lower

Jan 2, 2024 • 22:34

‘Field Trip’: Gates of the Arctic National Park

Today we join Lillian Cunningham on a “Field Trip” to one of the most remote and least-visited national parks as she confronts the question facing its future: whether a portion of this untouched wilderness will soon include a path for industry.Read more:Established in 1980, Gates of the Arctic marked a radically different way of thinking about what a national park should be. Compared to previously established parks, it’s hard for the public to access. This park is truly undeveloped — there are n

Dec 30, 2023 • 1:02:37

Can’t sleep? ‘Try This.’

“Try This” from The Washington Post is a series of audio courses designed to jump-start the parts of life where we can all use a few pointers — with pithy, snackable solutions you can easily use. The first course is about how to get better sleep.Read more:In the first class of our course on how to sleep better, learn why worrying about not falling asleep can make things worse. There are steps you can take during the day that can help lessen the anxiety at night.To hear more, check out “Try This”

Dec 29, 2023 • 9:40

‘Throughline’: There Will Be Bananas

The banana is a staple of the American diet and has been for generations. But how did this exotic tropical fruit become so commonplace? Today on “Post Reports,” Martine Powers shares an episode of one of her favorite podcasts, “Throughline.”Find “Throughline” here, or wherever you’re listening to this podcast. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Dec 28, 2023 • 57:27

Applying for college after the end of affirmative action

The Supreme Court’s decision to end race-based affirmative action in college admissions sent counselors scrambling and students worrying about their chances. For two seniors, it made them totally rethink their applications – in very different ways. Read more:When high school senior Demar Goodman found out that the Supreme Court had struck down race-based affirmative action, he immediately called his best friend. “So,” Demar said. “Safe to say Harvard is out, right?”Thousands of miles a

Dec 27, 2023 • 27:37

Ava DuVernay on making a film her way

Some people said Isabel Wilkerson’s book “Caste” was unadaptable. The subject matter was too heavy and too academic. But Ava DuVernay had a vision – and she pursued an unusual funding model to get her new film “Origin” made. Read more:When filmmaker Ava DuVernay couldn’t get traditional financing to film “Origin,” the Ford Foundation, Melinda Gates and other philanthropists stepped in. National arts reporter Geoff Edgers says it might be cinema’s new business model.Today’s show was produced

Dec 26, 2023 • 21:41

A murdered peace activist and a war in her name

Canadian Israeli activist Vivian Silver dedicated her life to peace. When she was killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, her sons faced an impossible question: Is peace still worth fighting for? Read more:Vivian Silver grew up in Winnipeg, Canada, and moved to Israel in 1974 to start a new kibbutz and devote her life to peace. She arranged a solidarity bike ride on both sides of the Gaza border fence. Her friends from Gaza called her on Jewish holidays. Her politics had been unwavering.But then, Sil

Dec 22, 2023 • 38:19

What you don’t know about assisted living in America

Patients with memory problems walk away from assisted-living facilities just about every day in America; many die. The Post examines a pattern of neglect in America’s booming assisted-living industry. Read more:Since 2018, more than 2,000 people have wandered away from assisted-living and memory-care facilities unattended or unsupervised. These are facilities that charge families thousands of dollars a month to care for families’ loved ones. It’s a phenomenon known in the industry as a

Dec 21, 2023 • 24:37

Colorado kicked Trump off the ballot. What’s next for 2024?

In a momentous ruling that may shape U.S. political history, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that former president Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and is therefore disqualified from the presidency.Read more:The decision by Colorado’s highest court, the first of its kind involving Trump, would keep him off the 2024 primary ballot in the state over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.A state district court previously ruled that Trump had engaged in insurrection but that the relev

Dec 20, 2023 • 16:34

Is Israel running out of goodwill?

U.S. support of Israel’s war in Gaza has been unwavering – but as the civilian death toll climbs, international calls for a ceasefire are growing. Today, the mounting concern over Israel’s tactics and how the Biden administration is responding.Read more:Nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed and millions displaced since Israel declared war on Hamas in Gaza. Conditions for people in Gaza are incredibly hard. Food is scarce, the health infrastructure is collapsing, and the death toll continue

Dec 19, 2023 • 26:11

Harvard, big-tech money, and the whistleblower

As social media disinformation grows, academics are studying its harms. But big-tech funding at universities is creating a fraught power dynamic that recently erupted at Harvard, where a researcher claimed Meta forced her ouster amid critical research.Read more:Silicon Valley tech giants, including Google and Facebook parent Meta, are increasingly influential at universities across the United States, with ramped-up charitable giving. The donations can give the companies influence over academics

Dec 18, 2023 • 25:43

Deep Reads: Their sons’ lives ended in gunfire. In grief, they found a second act.

After about 10 weeks of coaching this summer, six women turned their experiences of motherhood, loss and empowerment into their biggest display yet: a play called “Turning Pain Into Purpose: Say My Son’s Name.” They had hoped if a broader audience could hear their stories, something in the community might change — no more mothers crying over dying sons.–This story is part of a collection of new, occasional bonus episodes you’ll be hearing from “Post Reports.” We’re calling these stories “Deep Re

Dec 16, 2023 • 19:26

The last endangered whale in captivity

After half-a-century in a tank, a beloved orca named Tokitae was about to be freed. Then her life ended, and a moment of reckoning began.Read more:Most of the nearly 50 southern resident orcas taken from the Pacific Northwest during the 1960s and ’70s died within the first years after their capture. One endured. Tokitae spent more than 50 years performing in the Miami Seaquarium’s “whale bowl” – the smallest orca tank in North America. In March, a plan was announced to move her to a 10-acre

Dec 15, 2023 • 42:19

The climate clues buried under Greenland’s ice sheet

Scientists came to Greenland on an unprecedented mission to drill for rocks that would reveal the fate of the country’s fast-melting ice sheet. A sudden crack in the ice threatened their experiment. Read more:The Greenland Ice Sheet contributes more to sea level rise than any other ice mass. If it disappeared, it would raise global sea levels by 24 feet, devastating coastlines home to about half the world’s population. Computer simulations and modern observations alone can’t precisely predi

Dec 14, 2023 • 21:41

The woman who took on the Texas abortion ban

Kate Cox caught the attention of the nation last week when she asked a Texas judge for permission to end her pregnancy. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to Caroline Kitchener about the new legal battles over abortion access. Read more:Kate Cox caught the attention of the nation last week when she asked a Texas judge for permission to end her pregnancy.Three days later, a pregnant woman filed suit anonymously in Kentucky, arguing that the state’s near-total abortion ban violates her co

Dec 13, 2023 • 20:42

Does the GOP race for second even matter?

Nikki Haley is up, Ron DeSantis is down and Trump is still trouncing both of them. Today, we’re debriefing on the Republican presidential primary and how Trump’s legal battles are shaping the race.Read more:Politics reporters Dylan Wells, Isaac Arnsdorf and Ashley Parker sit down for a roundtable about the current state of the Republican primary race. Right now, it’s a competition for second place, with all the candidates trailing behind former president Donald Trump in polls. But is there actua

Dec 12, 2023 • 26:54

Free speech, antisemitism, and the university fallout

College campuses across the United States are embroiled in conflict over free speech amid the Israel-Gaza war. The stakes are so high that the University of Pennsylvania’s president resigned after a congressional hearing on antisemitism.Read more:Last week, a Republican-led House committee summoned the leaders of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT to Capitol Hill for a scalding critique of their efforts to address antisemitism on their campuses since the eruption of the I

Dec 11, 2023 • 24:33

How a neuroscientist beats winter depression

Each year, millions of people experience seasonal affective disorder or SAD. Today we talk to neuroscientist-turned-journalist Richard Sima about how to get ready for the change in season and beat the winter depression.Read more:Susceptible people — an estimated 5 percent of Americans — already are feeling the effects of winter SAD: lower moods, lethargy and excessive sleep. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about strategies that can help you cope.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Dec 8, 2023 • 17:56

How to keep junk mail out of your mailbox

Americans are inundated with junk mail in their physical mailboxes. Climate coach Michael Coren tried to manage the flood – and his techniques actually worked. Read more:The typical American gets about 41 pounds of junk mail every year delivered to their door. And for some, it’s even worse during the holiday season, as catalogs and coupon booklets come flooding in. The Post’s climate coach Michael Coren looked at this junk mail as a challenge and started asking: How do I get it all to stop?

Dec 7, 2023 • 15:28

Why Ukraine’s counteroffensive failed to deliver

The war in Ukraine has reached a critical point. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hoped for victory in 2023, but a lagging counteroffensive put Ukraine’s ability to defend itself in doubt – and has raised questions about the U.S.’s role in the war. Read more:In January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukranians that he expected 2023 to be a victorious year for the country. With support from the United States and other Western allies, Ukraine had planned a counteroffensive

Dec 6, 2023 • 25:07

Who will run Gaza after the war?

The Israel-Gaza war escalated this week with Israel’s military forces beginning their invasion into southern Gaza. But what happens when the fighting stops? Today, we tackle the question of who runs Gaza post-war.Read more:As Israel’s assault on Gaza rages on, the United States and Arab nations are wondering who will control the area after the fighting stops.Michael Birnbaum covers the State Department for The Post and traveled with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week. H

Dec 5, 2023 • 24:17

Biden and the tale of the $16 McDonald's meal

An irregular $16 McDonald’s order, a viral TikTok, and a growing conundrum for President Biden’s economic platform. The internet has been awash with social media rants lately about the high cost of fast-food. One video in particular keeps making the rounds, nearly a year on. Jeff Stein, The Post’s White House economics reporter – and self-proclaimed fast-food connoisseur – joins “Post Reports” to break down what these reactions do and don’t tell us about the actual state of the economy, and

Dec 4, 2023 • 25:25

The N.Y. law behind high-profile sexual assault cases

Today, how a New York law briefly changed how survivors of sexual assault found justice, and the impact it’s had on the legal system.Read more:Over the past month, several sexual assault lawsuits have been filed in New York against high-profile celebrities such as hip-hop mogul Sean P. Diddy Combs, musician Axl Rose and actor Jamie Foxx. Some of the alleged abuse dates back decades, and survivors were only able to file these claims because of the Adult Survivors Act – a New York law that expired

Dec 1, 2023 • 18:36

Does America have a drinking problem?

Many Americans drink more than usual this time of year – as much as double, according to some studies. But drinking more isn’t just happening around the holidays. Today, why alcohol consumption has gone up in recent years, and the deadly consequences.Read more:U.S. consumption of alcohol, which had been increasing in recent years, spiked during the pandemic as Americans grappled with stress and isolation.At the same time, the number of deaths caused by alcohol skyrocketed nationwide, rising more

Nov 30, 2023 • 21:20

The oil executive leading this year’s climate summit

Dozens of world leaders will gather in the UAE Thursday for the start of COP28, the biggest climate summit of the year. But this year’s host country has drawn scrutiny for putting the head of its national oil company in charge of the event.Read more:The stakes are high for this year’s U.N. Climate Change Conference: Many countries have exceeded emissions targets set to try to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, with time running out to change course. As global

Nov 29, 2023 • 26:12

How a strike transformed the auto industry

What the end of the UAW strike says about the future of the auto industry. Read more:After six weeks on strike, the United Auto Workers reached a deal this month with the Big 3 automakers: GM, Ford and Stellantis. The union successfully negotiated for major improvements, including wage increases, cost of living adjustments, and larger contributions to retirement plans. Jeanne Whalen, The Post’s global business reporter, says the wins are already changing the wider auto industry. Today,

Nov 28, 2023 • 26:23

Freed hostages and a fragile pause

After nearly seven weeks, Israel and Hamas reached a temporary deal: Hamas freed dozens of hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. And Israel paused its bombardment of Gaza. Read more:Over the weekend, Israeli families celebrated the return of dozens of the hostages taken by Hamas, after the militant group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7. In exchange, Israel released more than 100 imprisoned Palestinian women and teenagers. The exchange is part of a fragil

Nov 27, 2023 • 26:44

Deep Reads: Football bonded them. Then it tore them apart.

They were roommates and teammates at Harvard, bound by their love of football and each other. Then the game — and the debate over its safety — took its toll. This Deep Reads episode is part of a collection of occasional bonus stories from “Post Reports.”Read more:This story is part of a collection of occasional bonus episodes you’ll be hearing from “Post Reports.” We’re calling these stories “Deep Reads,” and they’re part of The Post’s commitment to immersive and narrative journalism.Today’s sto

Nov 24, 2023 • 47:24

A holiday message from ‘Post Reports’

A surprise in our studio – and a thank you to our listeners.Read more:Our sincerest thanks to our listeners this holiday season! We don’t have a show this Thanksgiving, but we do have a message with some good news. And while you’re here, you can subscribe to The Washington Post via Apple podcasts and get our latest Black Friday deal.

Nov 23, 2023 • 2:42

How to be a financially savvy holiday shopper

Today on “Post Reports,” personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary gives advice on how to avoid overspending on gifts this holiday season.Read more: Last year, retail sales during the November to December holiday season were $936.3 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Americans are predicted to spend even more this year. Adobe Analytics projects the best discounts will land on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But a flashy red sale sign doesn’t always mean you’re getting

Nov 22, 2023 • 22:40

Sam Altman and the chaos at OpenAI

When the board of the world’s leading artificial intelligence company abruptly ousted its popular CEO, it threw the entire tech industry into flux. Today, the rise and removal of Sam Altman and what OpenAI’s shake-up means for the future of AI technology.Read more:Just weeks ago, Sam Altman was on top of the world, the star of the artificial intelligence community and the leader of the company behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT. Then, without notice last week, the board of OpenAI voted him out.T

Nov 21, 2023 • 29:18

Trapped in Gaza

An American family who visited Gaza for a reunion found themselves trapped in the territory for nearly a month as Israeli rockets rained down. How they got out - and the desperate situation for the vast majority of civilians who cannot escape Gaza.Read more:In September, a Boston-area couple traveled to Gaza, hoping to introduce their 1-year-old son to his grandparents. War shattered their plans: For almost a month, the family was trapped in Gaza as Israel ratcheted up its air and ground assault

Nov 20, 2023 • 29:08

Deep Reads: The librarian who couldn’t take it anymore

Tania Galiñanes had planned to spend the rest of her career in the Osceola County School District. She was 51. She could have stayed for years at Tohopekaliga, a school she loved that had only just opened in 2018.That was before the school board meeting on April 5, 2022, when Tania watched parents read aloud from books they described as a danger to kids. It was before she received a phone call from the district, the day after that, instructing her to remove four books from her shelves. It was be

Nov 18, 2023 • 19:19

Surviving to graduation, Part 3

In Part 3 of our series on schools and gun violence, audio producer Sabby Robinson chronicles the tragic outcome of Huguenot High School’s graduation – which was supposed to mark a moment of cathartic celebration for the school but ended in gunfire.Read more:Graduation was supposed to be a sweet moment of celebration after a difficult year. Instead, gunfire broke out just after the ceremony, killing a graduate and his stepfather and wounding five others. A former Richmond public school student w

Nov 17, 2023 • 37:20

Surviving to graduation, Part 2

In Part 2 of our series on how schools address gun violence, reporter Moriah Balingit dives into the life and death of Huguenot student Jaden Carter and how school officials in Richmond try to save students like him. Read more:It took months to find out more about what happened the night Jaden Carter was fatally shot behind Huguenot High School’s baseball fields. In that time, The Post learned how and why school officials, from his teacher to a Huguenot police officer, tried to intervene an

Nov 16, 2023 • 35:41

Surviving to graduation, Part 1

Gun violence is reshaping U.S. education. The Washington Post spent a year inside a Richmond high school facing a surge in shootings and deaths to learn what schools are doing to stop students from dying – and whether their efforts are working.Read more:Youth gun violence is soaring nationwide, and schools are on the front lines dealing with the fallout. Three Washington Post reporters were embedded inside Richmond's Huguenot High School for one year to find out what that looks like. During

Nov 15, 2023 • 38:39

Why it took so long to get a postpartum depression pill

How the first-ever postpartum depression pill could change the landscape of maternal health. Read more:In August, the Food and Drug Administration approved Zurzuvae, the first pill to treat postpartum depression. This is a huge milestone for the serious and potentially life-threatening condition, which can afflict about 1 in 7 women following childbirth.Unlike other commonly recommended treatments such as talk therapy and antidepressants, the drug is meant to act quickly, working to ease sy

Nov 14, 2023 • 19:09

Netanyahu: The man leading Israel's war against Hamas

Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister – and one of its most scrutinized. Now, with Israel at war with Hamas, The Washington Post’s Griff Witte breaks down Netanyahu’s political history and his fragile future.Read more:It’s been over a month since Hamas militants attacked Israel, leaving at least 1,200 people dead and 239 people kidnapped. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war on Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. An

Nov 13, 2023 • 33:07

The soft power of China’s pandas

Today, why the United States is saying goodbye to its pandas. And how the bears became a powerful diplomatic symbol of U.S.-China relations.Read more:For decades, China has deployed its giant pandas as a diplomatic tool to shore up alliances and woo new partners, including the United States. In 1972, China first gifted the United Statestwo pandas. Since then, it has leased pandas to zoos across the country. Now, after American zoogoers have come to adore the bears, China is taking all of its pan

Nov 10, 2023 • 26:05

Portugal's secret to living longer

Life expectancy is dropping in the United States, despite the nation spending more per person on health care than any other country. So what is a place like Portugal — where people live longer with far fewer resources — doing right? And what is the United States missing?Today on “Post Reports,” we bring you a tale of two sisters, two countries and two health systems. Lurdes and Lucilia Costa share a lot in common. They’re sisters, and they both have rheumatoid arthritis, a complex chronic i

Nov 9, 2023 • 32:47

Why are so many Americans dying early?

Despite spending more per person on health care than any other nation, the United States has a crisis of premature deaths. The Post’s health team has been investigating why that is, and today we learn how politics, stress and chronic illness play a role.The United States was once on a track to reach an average life expectancy of 80, but after decades of progress, we’re falling further and further behind.The Washington Post spent the past year examining why this is happening. Our reporters and ed

Nov 8, 2023 • 26:51

Trump on the witness stand

It was a historic scene: In a Manhattan courtroom Monday, former president Donald Trump took the stand in a civil trial that threatens his real estate empire. We break down the case, one of many court battles facing Trump as he runs for president again. Read more:It has been more than a century since a former U.S. president has testified, under oath, as a defendant in a court trial. That all changed on Monday, when former president Donald Trump took the witness stand in a civil trial b

Nov 7, 2023 • 17:45

What Tuesday’s election could mean for abortion in 2024

How tomorrow’s elections could show the political power behind abortion rights.Read more:On Tuesday, voters across the country will head to the polls for Election Day. And while the elections – and the issues on the ballots – cover a lot of ground, there’s one big theme running through the elections: abortion.In a state such as Ohio, abortion is explicitly on the ballot. Ohio voters will determine abortion access on a ballot measure called “Issue One.” If it passes, the measure would guaran

Nov 6, 2023 • 21:49

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop: ‘We all had great expectations’

How does a revolution implode? Martine Powers traces the rise and fall of Maurice Bishop and the origin of the mystery left behind.Read more:Maurice Bishop was a charismatic leader who captured the imagination of many Grenadians. But the revolution he helped spark began to buckle under pressure within his party. Martine Powers tries to understand the life of Bishop and what propelled him into the position of prime minister, the promise of the beginning of the revolution and the events that led t

Nov 4, 2023 • 1:04:11

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop: ‘Somebody knows’

Forty years ago, the body of a prime minister went missing. The Post’s Martine Powers asks: Who’s responsible?Read more:Every 19th of October, Grenadians mark a somber anniversary: the 1983 execution of the country’s former prime minister and revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop, and others who died alongside him. The people of this Caribbean nation still have no closure 40 years later. The remains of Bishop and his supporters were never returned to their family members and are missing to this d

Nov 3, 2023 • 51:29

A family torn apart by a Trump-era policy

In 2017, Magdalena Hernández Pérez was separated from her children by the Trump-era family separation policy. Reunification would take nearly six years. The Post’s Kevin Sieff followed their story. Read more:When Magdalena Hernández Pérez and her daughters crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2017 to request asylum, it would be the last time they would be together for years. Like thousands of families, they were broken apart under the Trump administration’s family separation policy. Eventually

Nov 2, 2023 • 22:33

Why the U.S. gives so much aid to Israel

For decades, Israel has been the number one recipient of U.S. foreign aid. As the conflict in Gaza intensifies, we explore that long history of support and what it says about America’s foreign policy. Read more:Since Oct. 7, attacks by Hamas have prompted requests for millions of dollars in security aid from the United States to Israel. It’s the continuation of a long-established relationship: one where the United States has bolstered Israel’s defense budget with additional support.&nb

Nov 1, 2023 • 26:34

A night with the rat hunters

Late at night, in parts of Washington, a group of people and their small dogs walk the alleyways and trash bins hunting rats, in a city that’s filled with them. The Post’s Maura Judkis and Bishop Sand report on the hunt and what it says about our relationship with animals. Read more:The Ratscallions hunt rats with terriers and small hounds in different parts of Washington. Linda Freeman, the group’s leader and a Bedlington terrier breeder, began rat hunting five years ago after being hounde

Oct 31, 2023 • 22:35

The “second phase” of Israel’s war with Gaza

Israel plunged Gaza into a communications blackout Friday that left more than 2 million people without cell service or internet access for almost two days. On Saturday, it began a major ground assault on territory, ushering in a new phase of the war. Read more:In a televised address Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the goals for the new phase of Israel’s war with Hamas were clear: “To beat the enemy and guarantee our existence.”Since then, Israeli troops have sw

Oct 30, 2023 • 16:50

How Taylor Swift became her own economy

Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour is projected to rake in billions of dollars, becoming the highest grossing concert tour in history. But her economic impact doesn’t stop there. Today, we break down the economy (Taylor’s version). Read more:Pop powerhouse Taylor Swift has been in the music business for nearly two decades. But 2023 is turning out to be her most remarkable – and highest-earning – year. Swift is on pace to earn billions of dollars from her Eras Tour, more than any other touring ar

Oct 27, 2023 • 23:02

A family taken by Hamas

More than 200 people were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, according to Israeli authorities. On today’s “Post Reports,” we hear about one family’s ordeal, and what the hostage crisis means for Israel’s possible ground invasion of Gaza.Read more:More than 200 people were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, according to Israeli authorities. Moshe Leimberg’s wife, Gabriela, and 17-year-old daughter, Mia, are among them. On today’s “Post Reports,” we hear about Leimberg’s family before war broke out

Oct 26, 2023 • 30:16

The new House speaker is Mike Johnson. Who?

Correction: A previous version of this episode incorrectly stated where Rep. Tom Emmer is from. The audio has been updated to remove the error.After three long, chaotic weeks, the nation finally has a new House speaker – U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson from Louisiana. So who is he? And how did Congress get here? Read more:On Wednesday, 220 Republicans finally chose their new House leader: a congressman from Louisiana named Mike Johnson. But the man who’s second in line for the presidency is a relat

Oct 25, 2023 • 16:02

The Trump allies pleading guilty

What to know about the many guilty pleas rolling into the Georgia case charging former president Donald Trump and his allies with election interference. Read more:The Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta has become the epicenter of one of the most-watched criminal cases in the country right now, charging former President Donald Trump and his allies with interfering with Georgia’s 2020 election results. This week, reporters and politicians alike have been shocked by a windfall of guilty pleas

Oct 24, 2023 • 25:55

Mexico’s migration challenge

A fast-rising number of people, including families, are approaching the U.S.-Mexico border. Many seek asylum. Now, President Biden wants Mexico to crack down on migrants, but Mexico is reaching its limits to do so.Read more:When President Barack Obama faced a steep rise in people migrating toward the southern U.S. border in 2014, he pressured Mexico to curb migration at its southern border with Guatemala. President Donald Trump did the same years later.Now, Mexico is once again facing pressure,

Oct 23, 2023 • 19:24

Deep Reads: A trans woman’s journey to acceptance

After seeking community and sisterhood in a sorority, Artemis Langford faced death threats and an attempt to kick her out because of her identity. This Deep Reads episode is part of a collection of occasional weekend stories from “Post Reports.”

Oct 21, 2023 • 32:03

How Lunchables ended up on school lunch trays

Today, “Post Reports” goes back to school, to the cafeteria, where something has changed. Reporters Lenny Bernstein and Lauren Weber bring us the backstory of how ultra-processed foods ended up on lunch trays, amid growing concerns about child nutrition.When students in Robeson County, N.C., returned to school this fall, a new choice appeared on the lunch line: Lunchables. Kraft Heinz reformulated the grocery-store favorite so it would meet school nutrition requirements — and now, school distric

Oct 20, 2023 • 49:31

Will there ever be a new House speaker?

Why the House can’t elect a speaker to lead it. And the temporary solution some Republicans are proposing in the meantime. Read more:For two weeks, the House of Representatives has had no speaker. After the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, Republicans tried to push a replacement through. First, there was Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and then a second choice emerged: firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). But after two votes, Republicans failed to get behind Jordan, a conservative best known as a fo

Oct 19, 2023 • 25:15

Searching for safety in Gaza

The Post’s Gulf bureau chief Susannah George walks us through the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the uncertainty for people on the ground there.Read more:It’s been nearly two weeks since Hamas militants attacked dozens of border communities in Israel, killing at least 1,400 people and taking 199 people back to Gaza as hostages, Israeli officials said. In Gaza, roughly 3,000 people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, according to Palestinian officials. Finding safety is increasi

Oct 18, 2023 • 22:35

The threat of saltwater in the Mississippi River

For months, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has crept up the Mississippi River, contaminating the area’s water supply and putting residents of Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish on the front lines of a slowly unfolding environmental disaster. Read more:For months now, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has crept as far as 70 miles up the Mississippi River, contaminating the area’s freshwater supply. Millions of Americans draw their drinking water from the Mississippi River, including around 1

Oct 17, 2023 • 22:27

The Wild West of off-brand Ozempic

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared Ozempic and Wegovy in shortage. That has given rise to an unprecedented parallel market for imitations of the drugs made by specialized pharmacies, while unregulated websites offer their own, cheaper versions.Read more:Many people who have used injectable diabetes drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss say they have been life-changing. But the drugs are expensive, and can be hard to access: They have proved so effective that pat

Oct 16, 2023 • 26:15

The cost of India’s unbearable heat

The Post’s Annie Gowen walks us through the immediate effects of climate change on India’s megacities and what the future looks like for residents of Kolkata facing record-breaking heat. Read more:After three days of no power this April, the people of Kasia Bagan had had enough. Temperatures were reaching record highs, with no AC to help. Yet down the main lane of the neighborhood, the Quest Mall towered, humming with electrical power. Residents such as Sana Mumtaz, a divorced mother o

Oct 13, 2023 • 19:27

Bracing for what comes next in the Israel-Gaza war

Israel is still reeling from horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas – and now in Gaza, there’s nowhere to hide from airstrikes. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to our colleagues in Israel and Gaza about what’s happening on the ground and what comes next. Read more:Rubble and razed buildings are common in Gaza, including on Hazem Balousha’s street. Balousha, a Palestinian journalist reporting in Gaza for The Post, recounts what it’s like to live through the Israeli airstrikes and as he, a

Oct 12, 2023 • 27:01

Introducing “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop”

Grenada’s Black revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop, was executed in a coup in 1983, along with seven others. The whereabouts of their remains are unknown. Now, The Washington Post’s Martine Powers uncovers new answers about how the U.S. fits into this 40-year-old Caribbean mystery.“The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop” is an investigative podcast that delves into the revolutionary history of Grenada, why the missing remains still matter and the role the U.S. government played in shaping the fate

Oct 12, 2023 • 4:05

The scars of Native American boarding schools

Correction: A previous version of this episode incorrectly stated when Interior Secretary Deb Haaland began her listening tour. Haaland started the listening tour last summer, and the tour has lasted for longer than one year The audio has been updated to remove the error.In a moment of reckoning, survivors of the U.S.-run Indian boarding schools are speaking out and trying to hold the U.S. government accountable.Read more:For almost a century, the U.S. government took Native American childr

Oct 11, 2023 • 32:46

The “urban doom loop” could be coming to a city near you

The Post’s Rachel Seigel takes us on an economic journey through the “urban doom loop” and explores this threat to midsize cities. Then, Teo Armus shows us a creative way we could try to avoid it. Read more:According to Columbia economics professor Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, cities across the country could be heading for an "urban doom loop" that starts with vacant office spaces and spreads through downtowns. Later, Rachel Seigel joins The Post’s Teo Armus in Northern Virginia to experien

Oct 10, 2023 • 22:38

Understanding the Israel-Hamas war

Today, we unpack how the war in Israel started, what this conflict means for civilians on the ground and scenarios for how it could possibly end.Read more:More than 1,000 people in Israel and Gaza have been killed and thousands more injured after Palestinian gunmen from Hamas infiltrated Israel this Saturday. Hamas launched attacks on troops and massacred civilians in the most brazen militant operation in years. Shortly after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against Hamas.

Oct 9, 2023 • 23:13

Deep Reads: Inside the unfolding recovery of the Fetterman family

After the stress of a senatorial campaign, a stroke and the auditory processing disorder that followed, depression became severe for Sen. John Fetterman. Then came the hospitalization Now, the Fetterman family’s daily lives revolve around mental health. When people aren’t asking about Sen. John Fetterman, they’re inquiring about his wife, Gisele. Some offer their condolences, but many want to thank her. She’s become a safe space for those who are struggling with mental health crises in thei

Oct 7, 2023 • 28:23

It's Fat Bear Week. Yes, that's a thing.

Travel reporter Natalie Compton ventures to Katmai National Park to meet the chonky stars of Fat Bear Week up close. Today, we dig into this wild tradition and what it teaches us about tourism, conservation and, of course, fat bears.Read more: It’s impressive that anyone makes it to Katmai. Getting to the motherland of fat bears requires the kind of time and money Taylor Swift fans put into attending the Eras Tour. First there are the flights to Alaska. Then a floatplane or water taxi to the par

Oct 6, 2023 • 21:30

A breakthrough in Tupac Shakur’s case – 27 years later

In 1996, the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas. Now, nearly three decades later, police have charged a man in Shakur's death. We talk with The Post’s Keith McMillan about Shakur’s life, legacy and what this new charge means. Read more: It’s been nearly three decades since hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas at the age of 25. Now, police have charged a man in his death: Duane “Keffe D” Davis, who has publicly claimed to

Oct 5, 2023 • 21:34

The brief, chaotic tenure of Speaker Kevin McCarthy

The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to remove Kevin MCarthy as speaker after just nine months on the job. Today, how things got so bad between McCarthy and the GOP’s far-right wing, and what his historic ouster means for Congress. Read more:On Tuesday, eight House Republicans joined Democrats in an unprecedented vote to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. McCarthy lost his job despite having the support of most Republican lawmakers. With the government potentially running ou

Oct 4, 2023 • 26:18

Why the U.S. government is suing Amazon

Is Amazon an illegal monopoly? The Federal Trade Commission is arguing yes — and it’s taking that argument to court. We take a look at what’s behind the FTC’s lawsuit against Amazon and the implications for your everyday online shopping experience.Read more:The lawsuit tech policy nerds like Cat Zakrzewski have been waiting for is finally here. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission filed a landmark antitrust suit against the online retail giant Amazon. And the consequences for the future of on

Oct 3, 2023 • 22:48

Life in the pink motel, a year after Hurricane Ian

El Rancho Motel in North Fort Myers, Fla., has become a lifeline for survivors of the storm. But one year later, its residents are desperate to move on. Read more:It’s been just over a year since Hurricane Ian wrought havoc on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The storm killed at least 150 people directly or indirectly and caused $112 billion in damage — the costliest storm in the state’s history. There has been major progress — billions spent on rebuilding. But an unknown number of people are sti

Oct 2, 2023 • 34:38

Dianne Feinstein’s big legacy – and empty Senate seat

Senate stalwart Dianne Feinstein died Thursday at the age of 90. Today, we talk about her legacy — and the existential crisis for Democrats that comes with her vacant Senate seat. Read more:Sen. Dianne Feinstein, centrist stalwart of the U.S. Senate, died Thursday. At age 90, she was the chamber’s oldest sitting member and its longest-serving woman.Although the question of her fitness to serve received increasing scrutiny after she was hospitalized in February, Feinstein worked in politics

Sep 29, 2023 • 22:37

The saga of Sen. Bob Menendez

Stacks of cash, a Mercedes-Benz convertible and arms sales to Egypt – they’re all in the details of the federal indictment against Sen. Bob Menendez. This week, the New Jersey Democrat pleaded not guilty. So what’s next for the embattled senator? Read more:The indictments against Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife are stunning, with investigators finding envelopes filled with cash and gold bars in the senator’s home. It is considered one of the more serious political corruption cases involving

Sep 28, 2023 • 26:42

What a government shutdown could mean for you

As the U.S. government moves closer to a shutdown, we hear what that means for the economy, federal workers and families across the country. Read more: Congress must agree to a short-term funding bill before an Oct. 1 shutdown, which could interrupt paychecks for many federal workers and military service members. Basic government services could also hang in the balance, from food safety inspections and child-care funds to aid for long-term disaster recovery. Already, FEMA has dela

Sep 27, 2023 • 21:36

A son reported his dad for Jan 6. Can the family heal?

Their dad is in prison for his actions on Jan. 6. Their brother was the one who turned him in. Their mom moved to D.C. to support “political prisoners” in the D.C. jail. Sarah and Peyton Reffitt are caught in the middle. Can this family reconcile?Read more:On Christmas Eve 2020, Guy Reffitt sent a text to his family group chat. He was furious about the outcome of the 2020 election — which he believed was stolen from former President Donald Trump. “Too many lines have been crossed,” he wrote. “To

Sep 26, 2023 • 49:15

The child-care crisis is about to get worse

A record $24 billion in pandemic investments has been propping up the nation’s child-care industry. Now, as that money runs out, parents and day-care centers are bracing for disruptions — and the economy is bracing for the ripple effects. Read more:Even in the best of times, juggling work and child care can be a struggle. But as pandemic-era funding for child care dries up, an estimated 70,000 child-care centers are expected to close, leaving parents with even fewer — and less-affordable —

Sep 25, 2023 • 19:30

Deep Reads: A young mother’s disappearance

The jury had been brought in for a murder trial. It was a homicide with no body, a case that had been first classified as a missing person instead of a death. There had been no confession. No blood. No weapon. No witnesses. The alleged murder had gone unsolved for more than a decade, and onlookers had wondered, not unreasonably, whether it was simply unsolvable.The question at hand was whether, 13 years ago, a man named Isaac Moye had murdered a woman named Unique Harris. The trial was an attemp

Sep 23, 2023 • 31:18

What the Hollywood strikes mean for fall TV

Strikes by Hollywood actors and entertainment writers are in full-swing, making this an unusual fall, television-wise. We’re looking at the impact on the coming season of television and the future of the industry. Read more:A Hollywood strike marches on, but that has not stopped the production of new shows altogether. The Post’s television critic Lili Loofbourow discusses some of the most hotly anticipated shows, including new series such as “The Other Black Girl,” “The Changeling” and “A M

Sep 22, 2023 • 23:27

The climate factor in Libya’s deadly floods

Catastrophic flooding in Libya last week left an estimated 10,000 people dead or missing. Today, we report from the ground and explain how warming oceans and a hotter planet contributed to the scale of the disaster.Read more:At the end of what has already been a summer of extremes, floods have spanned the globe with remarkable intensity in recent weeks. Countries from Spain to Brazil to Japan have been inundated. Libya was hit the hardest last week, with catastrophic flooding in coastal cities s

Sep 21, 2023 • 21:47

A year of protests and repression in Iran

Today on “Post Reports,” a look at what has happened to Iranians in the year since massive protests swept the country. We hear from family members impacted by the government’s harsh crackdown and how Iran’s repression playbook works. One year ago, the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, in the custody of Iran’s morality police sparked what analysts have described as the longest-running, anti-government protest in Iran’s recent history. In the months since, Iranian securi

Sep 20, 2023 • 25:06

A killing in Canada, a ripple in geopolitics

How a killing in Canada has caused a geopolitical crisis that is sending shock waves through India, the United States and beyond. Read more:On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in a speech to Parliament that agents of the Indian government killed a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on Canadian soil. Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, was killed in June in British Columbia..Trudeau’s announcement led to the Canadian government expelling an Indian diplomat. India den

Sep 19, 2023 • 17:27

What's at stake in a historic autoworkers strike

First it was Hollywood, and now another big union strike is underway. For the first time ever, thousands of United Auto Workers members are striking against Detroit’s Big Three auto companies. Read more:An historic autoworkers fight is now on, with thousands of UAW members walking off the factory floors at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep and Chrysler. Workers are asking for pay increases and more equal benefits for temporary workers, particularly as companies

Sep 18, 2023 • 24:43

Healing through surfing on Maui

Today on “Post Reports,” residents in Lahaina are healing after the deadly Maui wildfires with the help of a Hawaiian tradition: surfing. Read more:The Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii – the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century – took the lives of at least 115 people, with the number of missing still unknown. With lives and homes devastated, residents are searching for a sense of normalcy. Surfing offers a reprieve for many of those affected by the tragic event.“It can be

Sep 15, 2023 • 29:21

Reported by her own students for a lesson on race

Last spring, South Carolina English teacher Mary Wood was horrified when her students reported her to the local school board for teaching about race. As she starts a new school year, we ask what it’s like for her to step back into the classroom. Read more:Last spring in Chapin, S.C., two students in high school English teacher Mary Wood‘s class reported her to the local school board for teaching about race. Wood had assigned her all-White AP English Language and Composition class readings f

Sep 14, 2023 • 27:50

McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry against Biden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has directed House committees to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden – a move that appears to appease hard-right lawmakers. The investigations center on whether Biden benefited from his son’s business dealings.Claiming there are “allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption,” McCarthy has directed House committees to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Yet House Republicans have not put forth evidence directly showing that Bid

Sep 13, 2023 • 18:39

Waiting for aid in Morocco

Today on “Post Reports,” why an earthquake in Morocco was so deadly, the anger over the government response, and what survivors say they need now. Read more:The massive earthquake in central Morocco that killed at least 2,900 people was unusual for that part of the country — and that’s part of what made it so deadly. Claire Parker has been on the ground reporting from the remote villages that were hit the hardest. “It's quite different from, for example, the earthquake in Syria an

Sep 12, 2023 • 19:00

Being a journalist in Modi’s India

India has fallen down the ranks of the World Press Freedom Index, sitting at 161 out of 180 countries. Journalists have been harassed, arrested and even killed. Today, what it’s like to be a journalist in India under the Modi government. Read more:Over the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Biden at the G-20 summit in New Delhi. But there were some people noticeably absent from the leaders’ big meeting: the press.Growing restrictions on the press in India have become a

Sep 11, 2023 • 21:36

Deep Reads: A stranger bought the home where her family fled slavery

Stephanie Gilbert wrote a letter to Jungsun Kim, the new owner of Richland Farm in Clarksville, Md. In the letter, Gilbert laid out centuries of her family’s remarkable history: the five generations of her enslaved ancestors who had labored at Richland Farm and a neighboring plantation for one of Maryland’s most prominent families. Gilbert explained in the letter that she’d established a relationship with the White descendant who had inherited Richland — the woman who had just sold th

Sep 9, 2023 • 30:41

A deadly risk factor in extreme heat: Schizophrenia

Last year, 425 people died of extreme heat in Phoenix. Stephan Goodwin was one of them. Today, why people who suffer from schizophrenia are more vulnerable to a hotter climate. And, what can be done to better protect them.Read more:Climate change is warming the planet and breaking heat index records across the globe. For people with mental illness, scorching temperatures can be especially deadly. That was true for Stephan Goodwin, a 33-year-old man who spent his last moments of life in the swelt

Sep 8, 2023 • 27:56

The hidden toll of electric cars, Part 3

The world is moving toward electric vehicles. In Part 3 of our series on the hidden toll of this historic transition, business reporter Evan Halper breaks down this industrial shift and the concerns it brings over human and environmental costs.Read more:States such as California and New York are moving to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars over the next decade. Meanwhile, President Biden wants at least half of new car sales to be electric by 2030.But the race to reduce our carbon footprint has

Sep 7, 2023 • 24:08

The hidden toll of electric cars, Part 2

In today’s installment of our series on the hidden toll of electric vehicles, reporter Gerry Shih ventures into the mountains of Afghanistan to find out what happens when loads of untapped lithium – a key part of electric vehicles – trigger a cross-border “gold rush.” Read more:“Waste kunzite” is what Afghan miners call the white rock that is all around them. It’s “waste” to them because they don’t have the capacity to extract it or sell it now. But around the world, this rock is extremely

Sep 6, 2023 • 32:19

The hidden toll of electric cars, Part 1

As the demand for electric vehicles soars and more minerals are needed for production, manganese mine workers in South Africa are experiencing mysterious health problems. Read more:While you may not have heard about manganese, it’s a key ingredient in making electric cars move. Minerals such as cobalt, lithium and manganese are used to manufacture electric and gas-powered vehicles. But electric cars typically require six times the mineral input of conventional vehicles. The demand for

Sep 5, 2023 • 24:30

A message from 'Post Reports'

‘Post Reports’ is taking this week off! We’ll be back with more news from The Washington Post after the Labor Day holiday. Read more:Our podcast is taking a week off and coming back next Tuesday, Sept. 5. If you want to catch up on news, make sure to check out ‘The 7’ podcast, the morning news briefing from the Washington Post hosted by Jeff Pierre.

Aug 28, 2023 • 0:34

The unfinished work of the March on Washington

Sixty years ago, some 250,000 Americans arrived by bus, by train and on foot to participate in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Now, marchers and organizers reflect on the goals of that day — and the work that still needs to be done.Read more: In 1963, the fight for civil rights reached a pivotal stage. Activist Medgar Evers was murdered, Alabama Gov. George Wallace called for “segregation forever,” and riots in Cambridge, Md., erupted into violence. A few years earlier, the murder

Aug 25, 2023 • 31:49

What to know about covid-19 this fall

Today, what to know about covid boosters, the new variant and how to protect those most at risk this fall.As summer comes to a close, many people have started to see a bump in covid-19 cases among their family and friends. A new variant causing an uptick in hospitalizations and other illnesses like the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are on the horizon. Health reporter Fenit Nirappil discusses the latest on vaccine recommendations and how to protect ourselves and those most at ris

Aug 24, 2023 • 23:31

What a month of disasters tells us about climate change

A tropical storm in Southern California. Wildfires in Maui. Record-breaking heat in the Midwest. Climate reporter Brianna Sacks unpacks this summer of extreme weather, and what public officials can do to better prepare for future disasters.She explains why preparedness is key in vulnerable areas, and why places like California can sometimes get it right while others are still learning. Michelle Boorstein guest hosts.

Aug 23, 2023 • 24:49

A GOP debate without Trump

The first Republican primary debate for the 2024 election cycle is tomorrow night. Republican front-runner Donald Trump has indicated he will not be attending, leaving open the possibility for another candidate to take advantage of his absence.Read more:To make it onto the debate stage, Republican candidates needed to meet strict polling requirements and have at least 40,000 individual donors. National polling puts former president Donald Trump in first place among his Republican opponents, with

Aug 22, 2023 • 26:29

A life-and-death fight to ban ‘forever chemicals’

The kids at her school called it “cancer water.” There was even a group of them called the “cancer kids.” But when Amara developed a rare form of cancer at 15, the water — and the company contaminating it with chemicals — took center stage in the little time she had left.Read more:Amara Strande lived in Minnesota, where her city’s water had been tainted with forever chemicals. After she developed a rare form of cancer at 15, Amara told lawmakers at the state capitol that she believed those chemi

Aug 21, 2023 • 23:46

A road trip with Sinéad O’Connor

When legendary musician Sinéad O’Connor died, arts reporter Geoff Edgers was crushed. He’d spent time with her in 2020 as she relaunched her career. Today on the show, we share moments from that time and Geoff’s reflections on her legacy.Read more:Read Geoff’s essay about his road trip with Sinéad O’Connor and his profile from 2020. A previous version of this episode incorrectly stated the year Sinéad O’Connor’s son Shane died. It was 2022, not 2020. The audio has been corrected.If you or s

Aug 18, 2023 • 25:55

Where does Maui go from here?

Last week, the worst wildfire in Hawaii’s history left blocks of charred wreckage and more than a hundred people dead. Now, while locals wait for news of loved ones, they’re also fighting to keep historic Lahaina in the hands of the Hawaiian people.Read more:Hawaii has one of the most intense housing crunches in the country, with sky-high property values, soaring costs of living and a colonial history that is still felt across the islands. Nowhere was that crunch more visible than historic

Aug 17, 2023 • 22:06

What Georgia's racketeering charges could mean for Trump

In the fourth indictment of former president Donald Trump, Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis alleges that Trump and 18 others participated in a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. To do so, Willis is hoping to use the same legal tactic federal prosecutors have traditionally used to prosecute mafia bosses. “She's using a statute in Georgia called the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which mirrors a federal law that was origina

Aug 16, 2023 • 21:20

'Brain desirable,' Part 2

Who is Mary Sara, the Sami woman whose brain was taken for the Smithsonian’s “racial brain collection”? Today, we find her descendants. And we find out how the Smithsonian is addressing the dark legacy of its “bone doctor,” Ales Hrdlicka. Read more: The brain of a Sami woman who died at a Seattle sanitarium in 1933. The cerebellum of an Indigenous Filipino who died at the 1904 World’s Fair. These are just two of the brains collected, seemingly without consent, by the Smithsonian’s firs

Aug 15, 2023 • 33:44

'Brain desirable,' Part 1

When Mary died in 1933, her brain was sent to a man named Ales Hrdlicka, the Smithsonian’s ‘bone doctor.’ Post reporters couldn’t find any records that Mary or her family consented to this. So what happened to Mary’s brain? And what is the extent of the Smithsonian’s “racial brain collection”?Read more:The brain of a Sami woman who died at a Seattle sanitarium in 1933. The cerebellum of an indigenous Filipino who died at the 1904 World’s Fair. These are just two of the brains collected over the

Aug 14, 2023 • 35:48

It was all a dream: Hip-hop turns 50

Two turntables and a microphone. That was all DJ Kool Herc had 50 years ago when he planted the seeds of what would become hip-hop. Today, we’ll hear directly from some of the genre’s biggest stars about how hip-hop took over the world.“Post Reports” audio engineer Sean Carter joins us today to share his reporting on hip-hop’s evolution over the past 50 years. Carter takes us backstage with some of hip-hop’s biggest names, like Rakim and the Lady of Rage, and speaks with the people who were

Aug 11, 2023 • 38:14

Meet the hackers trying to make AI go rogue

Chatbots can be biased, deceptive or even dangerous. Today on “Post Reports,” we meet the hackers who are competing to figure out exactly how AI can go awry. Read more:Will Oremus reports on technology for The Post, and recently that has meant writing a lot about AI and all the ways it could go wrong. “Even the people who make this stuff, the creators of these technologies, are also out there warning, hey, this could be really bad,” Will says. “This could go wrong in very disturbing wa

Aug 10, 2023 • 21:23

Avoiding the news? You’re not alone.

A new survey shows that more people are avoiding the news. Today on “Post Reports,” our media reporter Paul Farhi talks with Elahe Izadi about “news avoiders” – and how the media could respond to this growing trend.Read more:Bad news seems to be constant these days. Thanks to our hand-held devices, that bad news can follow us everywhere. More and more, people who used to follow the news regularly are tuning it out. This is bad news for an already struggling news industry. How can news organ

Aug 9, 2023 • 18:53

RFK Jr.’s politics of conspiracy

Today on “Post Reports,” the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the impact his candidacy could have on the 2024 election — even if he doesn’t come close to winning. Read more:Back in April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his candidacy for president of the United States. While he comes from a long line of famous politicians — including his father, onetime U.S. attorney general Bobby Kennedy, and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated — he has no

Aug 8, 2023 • 20:23

The fading invincibility of U.S. women’s soccer

The USWNT is out of the World Cup at the earliest stage in the program’s history. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to soccer reporter Steve Goff about what happened – and what it signals about the global evolution of women's soccer.Read more:The U.S. women’s national soccer team went into the World Cup favored to win it all. Instead, they were knocked out before even making it to the quarterfinals. But as The Post’s Emily Giambalvo wrote, “the team’s waning dominance says less about the Uni

Aug 7, 2023 • 19:25

Friendship: It’s good for your health

On this encore episode of “Post Reports,” we rethink our friendships. Research shows that strong friendships are essential to a healthy life.Read more:Have you ever neglected your friendships for romantic love? It may be time to rethink your priorities. A growing body of research shows that friends are essential to a healthy life. Cultivating strong friendships may be just as important for our well-being as healthy eating habits or a good night’s sleep. Platonic love may even be more import

Aug 4, 2023 • 19:39

The problem for NFL running backs

Running backs used to be among the most famous — and best-paid — players in football. But the game has changed and so has their status. Today on “Post Reports,” what that means for the sport and these players — and how they might be able to change it. Read more: The traditional running back has moved to the margins. The position is dangerous and injury-prone, but increasingly NFL teams are finding it makes business sense not to commit to these players long

Aug 3, 2023 • 23:03

United States v. Donald Trump. Again.

A grand jury has indicted former president Donald Trump for alleged crimes stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Today, what the third indictment of Trump means for the 2024 Republican front-runner.Read more:The four-count, 45-page indictment alleges that former president Donald Trump conspired to defraud the United States, conspired to obstruct an official proceeding and conspired against people’s rights. Trump, who is seeking to return to the White House

Aug 2, 2023 • 21:36

Two years ago, an abortion ban made them teen parents

Today on “Post Reports,” we follow up with Brooke and Billy High, two teenagers compelled into parenthood by the Texas abortion ban. Now, they’re caring for their twin daughters in a new city — and trying their best to hold it all together.Read more:Last summer, The Post’s abortion reporter Caroline Kitchener told the story of a teenager who wanted an abortion and ended up having twins because of the Texas abortion ban. The story — which “Post Reports” also covered — went viral. “The fascin

Aug 1, 2023 • 25:36

How Jason Aldean’s 'Small Town' became a right-wing anthem

Today on “Post Reports,” we explore the controversy around Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” – and how the song landed near the top of the charts. Critics say its new music video is full of coded threats against Black people.Read more:Country music star Jason Aldean is facing immense backlash over “Try That in a Small Town,” which soared in popularity even as the music video was pulled from Country Music Television amid the controversy. While Aldean is defending the video onstage and on

Jul 31, 2023 • 14:33

Deep Reads: After Mississippi banned his hormone shots, an 8-hour journey

This year, Mississippi banned transgender young people, such as Ray, from accessing hormones or other gender-transition treatments. Nearly half the country has since passed similar bills, according to the Movement Advancement Project.Across the country, families are doing everything they can to protect their trans children. Some uprooted their lives in red states for the promise of protections in blue ones. Others filed lawsuits. Katie, Ray’s mother, couldn’t afford to move, and she needed

Jul 29, 2023 • 26:23

Parents are using AirTags to track kids

Some parents are using tracking devices meant for keys to keep tabs on kids too young for smartphones. Read more:Apple AirTags are not meant to track your kids. But that’s exactly how some parents are using them. In backpacks, on wristbands, they are making it so parents worried about introducing their children to a smartphone can access their child’s location in case something goes wrong. And AirTags aren’t the only tech marketed toward the fear of parents. There are flip phones, watches a

Jul 28, 2023 • 20:39

The doctors prescribing misinformation

What happens when doctors push misinformation, jeopardizing patients’ lives? Today we dig into a months-long Post investigation into a system that appears ill-equipped to respond, and what that means for patients who suffered the health consequences.Read more:When Margret Murphy’s long-time doctor’s office told her to stop wearing a mask at her appointments during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting masking could be the cause of her high blood pressure, she left the practice and w

Jul 27, 2023 • 22:26

Who’s driving Israel’s political crisis?

A political crisis has swept Israel. Amid massive protests, lawmakers in parliament voted to limit the Supreme Court’s ability to strike down government actions, weakening the judiciary. Who’s driving it?Read more:On Monday, Israel’s lawmakers voted to limit the Supreme Court’s ability to block government actions. Tens of thousands of people marched in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv after the vote, with protesters worrying about the step back from democracy after the important check on executive po

Jul 26, 2023 • 20:43

The 'parental rights' group igniting the GOP

Moms for Liberty is a conservative parental rights organization that is increasingly influencing the policies of the Republican Party. The Southern Poverty Law Center has called it an extremist group.Read more:A few weeks ago, conservative parental rights group Moms for Liberty held a summit in Philadelphia. At the summit, the group rallied against sexual education, critical race theory and public health mandates — all topics its members believe public schools are teaching to “indoctrinate” thei

Jul 25, 2023 • 20:27

Wait, so is the economy…good?

Today on “Post Reports,” why experts are suddenly feeling a bit more optimistic about the economy. And whether we can finally stop worrying about a recession … or not.Read more:For the past few years, the U.S. economy has been in a period of chaos. The coronavirus pandemic caused supply chains to go haywire, and inflation shot up. Many people were laid off early in the pandemic – followed by historic job growth and hiring struggles. But now, it seems as if the economy might be settling into a ne

Jul 24, 2023 • 20:10

Field Trip: White Sands National Park

The much-anticipated movie “Oppenheimer” opens today – about the scientist who led the development of the atomic bomb. On “Post Reports,” we’re joining The Post’s Lillian Cunningham on a journey to the site of the bomb’s first test.Read more:White Sands National Park contains a geological rarity: the largest field of gypsum sand dunes anywhere on Earth. The blinding white dunes stretch for miles in every direction, dazzling tourists, inviting selfies and sled rides.But there’s much more to this

Jul 21, 2023 • 1:01:11

The scandals of Shein's fast-fashion empire

Beyond Shein’s uber cheap clothes, the fast-fashion retailer from China has been involved in numerous scandals, including claims of human rights abuses. Even if you’ve never done a Shein haul, it’s time to get to know the massive company.Read more:A few weeks ago, a handful of influencers went on a paid brand trip for the fast-fashion company Shein. Known for its persistent TikTok ads and clothing haul videos, Shein showed off a factory where some of its clothes are made. Most influencers create

Jul 20, 2023 • 22:03

Get ready for a historic World Cup

The FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off on July 20. Get up to speed on why this is a historic tournament in women’s soccer. Read more:We’re doing something a little different today. Our resident sports experts are taking over the mics. Join sports columnists Candace Buckner and Sally Jenkins as they prepare us for the women’s World Cup with The Post’s soccer reporter Steven Goff. They’ll discuss the players and teams to watch out for and if the U.S. women's national team can pull off the

Jul 19, 2023 • 25:22

Hollywood’s existential crisis

Hollywood is facing a crisis. Almost every writer and actor is on strike against major studios, halting production. Massive protests have taken over LA and New York. Today, we unpack the upheaval that will change Hollywood forever. Read more:Hollywood is going through an existential crisis. In a historic double strike, nearly every performer and writer in the industry is on strike against major studios for the first time in more than 60 years. In an era of artificial intelligence and

Jul 18, 2023 • 18:13

The hidden truth about Red Cross lifeguards

The Red Cross’s lifeguard certification program is considered the gold standard in water safety, but an investigation into the nonprofit reveals alleged gaps in its oversight of lifeguard training. Read more:In 2019, Doug Forbes and his wife left their 6-year-old daughter, Roxie, at Summerkids Camp, an idyllic day camp in the Los Angeles area. Less than an hour later, they got a phone call from the camp director. Roxie was being transported to a nearby hospital. The next day, Roxie was pron

Jul 17, 2023 • 23:13

Deep Reads: A gay couple ran a restaurant in peace. Then new neighbors arrived.

In the tiny town of Plains, Va., the conservative Christian neighbors of the gay-owned Front Porch Market and Grill have been working to shut down the restaurant. It's a story of ideological differences, accusations of harassment and the monopolizing of town resources.This story is the second in a collection of occasional weekend bonus episodes you’ll be hearing from “Post Reports.” We’re calling these stories “Deep Reads” and they’re part of The Post’s commitment to immersive and narrative

Jul 15, 2023 • 26:46

How to hate your printer a little bit less

Decades after we were first promised a “paperless office,” nearly half of Americans still own a printer. But most aren’t happy with them, and that might be by design.Read more:The Washington Post’s Help Desk is here to discuss all things printers. Tech columnist Geoffrey Fowler rounds up a series of investigations he and his colleagues conducted into most people’s least favorite piece of personal tech. Many people still need to print shipping labels, school projects, legal documents and med

Jul 14, 2023 • 21:54

How hundreds of migrants drowned on Greece’s watch

On June 14, a ship with as many as 750 migrants aboard from countries including Pakistan and Syria sank off the Greek coast. Hundreds of people died. We hear about what happened and about a Post investigation that suggests this was a preventable tragedy. Read more:Today on “Post Reports,” we hear the story of one of the deadliest migrant tragedies in recent history, when an overpacked ship sank in one of the deepest points of the Mediterranean Sea. Louisa Loveluck, The Post’s Baghdad b

Jul 13, 2023 • 21:32

Inside a critical moment for NATO

Today on “Post Reports,” we head to Lithuania, host of a pivotal NATO summit this week. Plenty is at stake, including the possible expansion of NATO and the biggest question of all: how to support Ukraine while keeping it outside of the alliance.Read more:As tensions build between the West and Russia, world leaders met in Lithuania this week for the annual NATO summit. The Post’s Brussels bureau chief, Emily Rauhala, brings us her reporting from the meeting and breaks down how the Bide

Jul 12, 2023 • 22:39

Saudi Arabia’s quest to take over pro golf

It was a deal that stunned the world: The PGA will merge with LIV Golf, a rival league funded by the Saudi Arabian government. But many are unhappy, including members of Congress investigating it.Read more:For decades, the PGA Tour was the dominant organization in professional golf. Then the government of Saudi Arabia funded the creation of a new league, LIV Golf. Backed by millions in Saudi funding, LIV managed to attract several high-profile players, despite concerns about partnering with

Jul 11, 2023 • 20:29

Nikki Haley and the Confederate flag

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley often depicts her removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina’s State House as her key move to take on the history of enslavement. Today on “Post Reports,” we hear how that chapter is more complex than portrayed. Read more:As she runs for the GOP presidential nomination, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley often portrays her decision to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds as the culmination of her work to move South

Jul 10, 2023 • 22:12

Deep Reads: Bitter rivals. Beloved friends. Survivors.

This is the first bonus installment of "Deep Reads," the best of The Post's narrative journalism. It's a story about two tennis stars, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who turned a rivalry into an enduring friendship – and cancer support system.Read more:Tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova became friends as teenagers but then split apart as each rose to No. 1 in the world. But they grew back together as they forged one of the greatest rivalries in sports and embarked on ambit

Jul 8, 2023 • 55:52

A mind-bending discovery about our universe

Compared to the chaos of Earth, outer space can seem serene. But, thanks to a recent discovery, we now know that the very fabric of the cosmos is being pushed and pulled by gravitational waves — waves powerful enough to distort space-time.Read more:Victoria Jaggard is a deputy health and science editor at The Post. She reported on the breakthrough research proving the existence of a gravitational wave background. Now, we know that low-frequency gravitational waves from objects such as super

Jul 7, 2023 • 25:07

Field Trip: Glacier National Park

Today on “Post Reports,” we join The Post’s Lillian Cunningham on her journey through the messy past and uncertain future of America’s most awe-inspiring places: the national parks. Next stop? Glacier.Read more:All 63 national parks sit on Indigenous ancestral lands. They’re places Native Americans called home for thousands of years. But for more than 100 years, these places have also been public lands, intended to benefit all Americans. Sometimes that puts Native American tribes and the Nation

Jul 6, 2023 • 58:00

Field Trip: Yosemite National Park

Today on “Post Reports,” we join The Post’s Lillian Cunningham on her journey through the messy past and uncertain future of America’s most awe-inspiring places: the national parks. First stop? Yosemite.Read more:California’s Sierra Nevada is home to a very special kind of tree, found nowhere else on Earth: the giant sequoia. For thousands of years, these towering trees withstood the trials of the world around them, including wildfire. Low-intensity fires frequently swept through groves of sequo

Jul 5, 2023 • 56:34

The future of college without affirmative action

On Thursday, the Supreme Court restricted race-based affirmative action policies, changing the landscape of higher education in the United States. Today, we look at what this decision means for college admissions and beyond. Read more:A decision this summer on the future of affirmative action was one of the most anticipated cases on the Supreme Court’s docket. In a 6-3 decision Thursday, the court overturned decades of precedent by restricting affirmative action policies. They declared that

Jun 30, 2023 • 25:43

Your summer movie bucket list

“Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “Mission Impossible 7” – the list goes on. Today we’re reviewing the movies you shouldn’t miss this summer. Plus, a closer look at Hollywood and the state of the movie industry. Read more: Summer movie season is upon us. The Washington Post’s movie critic Ann Hornaday and pop culture reporter Sonia Rao sit down with us to make sense of which movies to watch in theaters this summer. They break down which action movies are poised to be blockbusters, which under-the-ra

Jun 29, 2023 • 24:54

A president, his son, and his political woes

President Biden’s son Hunter pleaded guilty to two minor tax crimes, and though President Biden wasn’t implicated, it could pose a problem for him as he ramps up his reelection campaign.Read more:Last week, President Biden’s son Hunter Biden reached an agreement to plead guilty to two minor tax crimes as part of a deal struck with federal prosecutors. It’s just the latest in a series of scandals surrounding Hunter and his relationship with his father. For years, critics of Preside

Jun 28, 2023 • 24:41

The conservative doctors upending trans rights

The American College of Pediatricians has promoted views on abortion and transgender care that have been rejected by the medical establishment. But their views are still shaping conservative laws restricting abortion and trans rights across the country.How does a small group such as the American College of Pediatricians gain such an outsized influence in conservative statehouses? Lauren Weber is The Washington Post’s health and science accountability reporter focused on the forces behi

Jun 27, 2023 • 18:50

What comes after the Wagner rebellion in Russia

Today, we explain why an armed revolt in Russia, led by the Wagner mercenary group, represents one of the biggest challenges to Vladimir Putin’s 23 years of rule. Read more:A fast-moving crisis unfolded in Russia over the weekend: A group of mercenary soldiers, known as the Wagner Group, marched toward Moscow, getting within 120 miles of Russia’s capital before abruptly turning back. Although the rebellion was short-lived, it raises serious questions about Vladimir Putin’s grip on Russia an

Jun 26, 2023 • 28:34

Listen to this: It’s good for your health

On today’s episode of “Post Reports,” we talk about the benefit of hearing birdsongs for our well-being.Read more:Looking to improve your mental health? Pay attention to birds. Two studies published last year in Scientific Reports said that seeing or hearing birds could be good for our mental well-being.Today on “Post Reports,” neuroscientist and Brain Matters columnist Richard Sima explains.

Jun 23, 2023 • 13:32

The lawless deep sea

The Coast Guard said Thursday that the missing submersible suffered a catastrophic loss of pressure that killed all five people onboard. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about the unregulated industry of deep-sea tourism. Read more:The Coast Guard said Thursday that debris was found near the search area for Titan, OceanGate Expeditions’s lost Titanic submersible. All crew members have died.Post reporter Ben Brasch says that many on shore are wondering whether stricter regulations could have

Jun 22, 2023 • 19:34

The barista who fought Starbucks

Lexie Rizzo took on Starbucks. Now she’s out of a job. Today, a look at the U.S. labor laws that are supposed to protect workers who are organizing unions.Read more:People describe Lexi Rizzo as a “coffee person.” She loves drinking coffee, talking about coffee. And she loved her job at Starbucks. She worked there for nearly eight years, until she got fired in March.Rizzo believes she was fired for being a union organizer. Rizzo joined the unionization efforts in 2021, when her Starbucks be

Jun 21, 2023 • 25:14

Why a once-banned world leader is getting a state dinner

This week, President Biden will honor Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a state dinner. Today on “Post Reports,” New Delhi bureau chief Gerry Shih explains why Biden is rolling out the red carpet for the controversial world leader.Read more:President Biden will welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House this week with a lavish state dinner, a reception that is rarely offered to world leaders. And especially not to leaders like Modi, who was once denied a visa to the Un

Jun 20, 2023 • 17:29

Introducing “Field Trip”

Journey through the messy past and uncertain future of America’s national parks. The Washington Post’s Lillian Cunningham ventures off the marked trail to better understand the most urgent stories playing out in five iconic landscapes today.“Field Trip” is a new podcast series that will transport you to five national parks: Yosemite, Everglades, Glacier, White Sands and Gates of the Arctic. Coming on June 28th.Follow the show wherever you listen.

Jun 19, 2023 • 3:28

Love, leather and fighting the next mpox outbreak

Come for the leather kink, stay for the lifesaving health care outreach. Today on “Post Reports,” health reporter Fenit Nirappil embeds on the front lines of preventing the next mpox outbreak at International Mr. Leather in Chicago. Read more:How do you fight a potential outbreak after the health emergency has ended?Chicago has been witnessing early signs of a new mpox outbreak, formerly known as monkeypox. The lesser-known virus emerged last summer, on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic. Pan

Jun 16, 2023 • 28:03

The eyes holding courts accountable

While people have been watching former president Donald Trump’s second indictment, others in the nation are watching everyday bail hearings. They’re a volunteer army of court watchers, and even Grammy-winning artist Fiona Apple says she is one. Read more:There have been many eyes on the justice system whenever people are arrested or first come in contact with police. But who looks out for people once they enter the justice system? Cue court watchers. They’re a national set of volunteers who

Jun 15, 2023 • 21:37

Who’s who in the Trump documents case

Today on “Post Reports,” we catch up on the cast of characters in the Trump documents case: from his aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta to special counsel Jack Smith to the Trump-appointed judge, Aileen Cannon.Read more:Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges that he broke the law dozens of times by keeping and hiding top-secret documents in his Florida home — the first hearing in a historic court case that could alter the country’s political and legal landscape.Today we have a

Jun 14, 2023 • 21:54

A Supreme Court surprise on voting rights

In the midst of other big news last week, you may have missed the surprising Supreme Court decision in support of voting rights in Alabama. Today, we break down the case that redraws Alabama’s congressional map. Read more:It seemed almost predictable that the three liberal justices on the Supreme Court would side with civil rights groups in the latest case on voting rights in Alabama. But when Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Brett Kavanaugh, two conservatives, sided with the liberal just

Jun 13, 2023 • 21:18

Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive

A much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia is underway. But as Samantha Schmidt reports from the beleaguered city of Kherson, a push for liberation from Russian occupation is just the beginning. Read more:A much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia is underway. There are signs of small gains for Ukrainian troops, but wins will be difficult as a long battle appears ahead. Today on “Post Reports,” foreign correspondent Samantha Schmidt explains what is at st

Jun 12, 2023 • 18:33

United States v. Trump

Former president Donald Trump has been indicted for a second time. Now, he’s being charged with obstruction and conspiracy in connection with classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago estate, which could mean years in prison if he’s found guilty. Read more:For the second time in two months, former president Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican frontrunner, has been indicted. As the first former president to face federal criminal charges, Trump has been charged with 37 counts, including ille

Jun 9, 2023 • 25:16

Unhealthy air everywhere

Today, we break down what’s happening with the Canadian wildfires, the smoke enveloping parts of the United States, and what you can do to protect yourself. Read more:While the United States has grown accustomed to increasingly devastating wildfires ravaging the West Coast, the country is facing a new challenge: intense wildfire smoke hitting the East Coast from fires burning through Canadian forests. This week, the smoke has blanketed the East Coast corridor and is spreading to the Midwest

Jun 8, 2023 • 14:25

Uncovering modern slavery in D.C.’s suburbs

How a reclusive heiress’s past in suburban D.C. sparked a true-crime sensation in Brazil — and a national reckoning over modern-day slavery and the status of household servants. Read more:Margarida Bonetti was a mysterious figure in São Paulo, Brazil, for more than two decades. She was often seen walking her dogs (Ebony and Ivory) through the streets of the Higienópolis neighborhood or peeking through the stained-glass windows of her crumbling mansion — her face covered in a layer of white

Jun 7, 2023 • 41:47

What you need to know about the GOP presidential race

We’re more than a year away from the 2024 presidential election and there are already 12 republican candidates. The question, as it’s been since 2016: Can anyone beat Trump? Read more:Michael Scherer is a national political reporter for The Post. He says even though 2024 is a ways away, this is still a pivotal time. Large donors are figuring out who to back and candidates are trying to make themselves stand out in a crowded field. Scherer will tell you all you need to know at this poin

Jun 6, 2023 • 24:59

A hitchhiker's guide to Washington’s new abnormal

What happens when the “sideshow characters” of national politics are suddenly thrust onto the main stage? And in a post-Donald Trump Washington, where are they now?Read more:Ben Terris has spent years covering politics via the people on the fringe: operatives who aren’t well known but are key to understanding how Washington works. When a former reality TV show host became president, suddenly some of those political oddballs were running things. Terris’s book, “The Big Break: The Gamblers, P

Jun 5, 2023 • 28:45

Lonely? You're not alone.

Today, a conversation with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on how loneliness is posing a profound public health threat in the United States. Read more:Vivek Murthy, surgeon general of the United States, says loneliness is a serious threat to the mental and physical health of the nation. Studies show half of U.S. adults experience loneliness, and the consequences can be devastating; from a greater risk of depression and anxiety, to heart disease, stroke and dementia. In an advisory issued

Jun 2, 2023 • 24:06

The debt deal nobody likes

The United States won’t default on its debt payments, that’s the good news. The bad news? A lot of Democrats and Republicans are unhappy with the agreement that President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy crafted.Yet, both men say the deal represents a win for their respective parties. So, who actually got what they wanted out of this deal? Rachel Siegel joins us to explain. Read more:Here’s what’s in the debt ceiling billThe new SNAP work requirements in the debt bill, explained

Jun 1, 2023 • 18:42

How Erdogan won after a close call in Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won reelection, beating a challenge from a united opposition movement and cementing his tenure at the country’s helm into a third decade.Read more:Erdogan’s victory affirmed his political survival and his support among loyal supporters, many of them conservative Muslims. Turkey’s overseas allies, including the United States, must now navigate their relationship with Erdogan and his relations with international actors, including Russia. Istanbul bur

May 31, 2023 • 25:18

The toll of DeSantis’s election police unit

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis created an election police unit to crack down on voter fraud. But actual convictions by this unit are rare — and the toll on Florida’s voters is climbing higher.Read more:In its first nine months, the Office of Election Crimes and Security referred hundreds of alleged illegal voting cases to local law enforcement for possible charges — but few resulted in any arrests. Lori Rozsa covers Florida for The Washington Post. She explains why DeSantis wants more money for

May 30, 2023 • 20:11

Reinventing the Disney princess business

“The Little Mermaid” has debuted with Halle Bailey playing the titular character, Ariel. Culture reporter Helena Andrews-Dyer shares why this movie matters to Black girls, especially, and what Disney is doing with its successful intellectual property.Read more:The Washington Post’s culture reporter Helena Andrews-Dyer happens to be a mom of two Black children. That’s part of the reason she was so excited to see “The Little Mermaid,” which debuted recently.But in today’s episode of “Post Reports,

May 26, 2023 • 25:49

The false quote that pit MLK against Malcolm X

The author of a new biography about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. unravels the story of how one fabricated quote perpetuated a story that King and fellow civil rights leader Malcolm X were antagonists. Read more:When author Jonathan Eig was doing research for his new biography about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., he was digging through archives and libraries, trying to find information about the historic civil rights leader. One day, he was reading the full, unedited transcript of an in

May 25, 2023 • 30:37

Does Ron DeSantis stand a chance?

As the 2024 campaign season approaches, an early favorite to clinch the Republican nomination for president, Ron DeSantis, is starting to lose his shine, just as he is about to officially enter the race.Read more:The 44-year-old governor of Florida became a national name by defending former president Donald Trump. But now they are in a power struggle. DeSantis plans to announce that he is running for president during a Twitter Spaces discussion with Elon Musk Wednesday evening. But the past

May 24, 2023 • 16:40

The silent crisis in men’s health

Across the life span, the risk of death is higher for men and boys than women and girls. The longevity gap is the greatest it’s been in years. It’s a health crisis that’s largely silent because men are largely silent about their health. Read more:The crisis in men’s health goes beyond men not going to the doctor enough. Men are dying, on average, nearly six years sooner than women — and the numbers for men of color are even worse. Tara Parker-Pope is the editor of The Post’s “Well+Bein

May 23, 2023 • 21:51

He was an election official in 2020. Now he has PTSD.

Ever since the 2020 election, Arizona election official Bill Gates has struggled with PTSD. He’s one of many election workers who are still coping with the barrage of death threats and harassment they endured in the wake of former president Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election. As the country braces for another presidential election cycle, in which Trump is the Republican front-runner, Gates is coming forward with his story about the psychological toll disinformation about the la

May 22, 2023 • 28:16

The short life of Baby Milo

Today, a story about the uncharted legal territory of a new abortion law, and the consequences for families and doctors who end up in the middle.Read more:Nobody expected Baby Milo to live a long time. The unusual complications in his mother’s pregnancy tested the interpretation of Florida’s new abortion law. Earlier this year, Washington Post reporter Frances Stead Sellers shared the story of Deborah Dorbert, a woman who was carrying a pregnancy to term after being denied an abortion, desp

May 19, 2023 • 26:30

A fragile calm at the border

A Title 42 border policy has expired. The public health measure allowed the U.S. to turn away many migrants and asylum seekers at the border because of the pandemic. But what does the end of the policy mean for migrants now?Read more:For many migrants hoping to enter the United States, a Title 42 border policy was a big boundary. It was a Donald Trump-era pandemic policy that made it easier for the administration to turn away migrants at the border. The policy expired May 11.On today’s “Post Rep

May 18, 2023 • 28:04

The doomsday scenarios if the U.S. defaults

Today on “Post Reports,” what could happen if the United States government fails to raise the debt limit by the deadline.Read more:Yesterday, President Biden met with congressional leadership to talk about the “X date”; that’s the date after which the Treasury projects the U.S. government would no longer be able to pay its bills. The “X date” is June 1, and if a deal isn’t struck by then, the United States would default on its debt.If the United States were to default, that could mean a variety

May 17, 2023 • 24:16

Fresh havoc from the Discord leaks

The Discord leaks keep sending shockwaves globally. This week, the slow drip of intelligence has the world’s attention on Ukraine and the Wagner Group. Also, we’ll learn more about Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old allegedly behind the leaks. Read more: While fighting for Russia in occupied Ukraine, the Wagner Group has taken heavy losses in the devastated city of Bakhmut. According to U.S. intelligence leaked on Discord, the mercenary army’s head, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, appeared to offer Ukrain

May 16, 2023 • 26:47

Elon’s Twitter

A little more than a year ago, Elon Musk made a hostile takeover bid to buy Twitter. Today on “Post Reports,” we look back at a chaotic year for the platform and ask what we can learn from Musk’s handling of the company as he appoints a new CEO.Read more:Twitter has been dramatically transformed under Musk, and few — even among some in the billionaire’s corner — say the changes have been for the better. In recent weeks, government agencies, news organizations and powerful social media influencer

May 15, 2023 • 59:26

Should mommy bloggers pay their kids for content?

Family bloggers share their lives, and their kids’ lives, online. But what happens when those kids grow up? New legislation is aiming to make sure children are protected and compensated if their parents make money off sharing their childhoods. Read more:Mommy bloggers have been around for more than two decades.. They share everything online, from struggles with postpartum depression to the highs and lows of having toddlers. These blogs have been helpful for parents, but when content is foc

May 12, 2023 • 20:19

The Supreme Court’s potential conflict-of-interest problem

The potential conflicts of interest keep stacking up for the Supreme Court. Today we break down the recent reports about issues such as luxury vacations gifted to Clarence Thomas and the occupation of John Roberts’s wife. Read more:First, it was revealed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been accepting luxury gifts from a Republican mega-donor. Then, Justice Neal Gorsuch sold his home to a lawyer whose cases appear in front of the Supreme Court. And now, Justice John Roberts is

May 11, 2023 • 28:02

The sexual abuse verdict against Trump

A civil jury in New York has found that former president Donald Trump sexually assaulted and defamed the writer E. Jean Carroll. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about the evidence, the possible political consequences and why this trial happened. Read more:Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before siding with Carroll, awarding her a combined $5 million in damages. She testified during the trial that Trump violently assaulted her in the mid-1990s and inflicted further trauma by rid

May 10, 2023 • 23:43

The end of the covid emergency

The covid public health emergency is ending this week after more than three years. Today on “Post Reports,” health reporter Dan Diamond breaks down what this means for our day-to-day lives and our future pandemic preparedness. Federal vaccine mandates and travel requirements will soon be gone as what’s left of the nation’s pandemic emergency response ends this month. The White House’s covid response team is disbanding, too – all with little to no fanfare.“It feels like slouching across the finis

May 9, 2023 • 26:07

Why are we forgetting the pandemic already?

While the coronavirus emergency declaration officially ends this week, neuroscientist-turned-science-journalist Richard Sima has been pondering this question: Why are so many of us starting to forget much of the pandemic? The coronavirus pandemic is a historic event that has impacted everyone across the world. And yet, “given the quirks of human memory,” many of us may not remember much about this time, Sima tells “Post Reports.” Today, we dig into the science of why many of our brains

May 8, 2023 • 23:50

Crazy rich royals

Is King Charles III a billionaire? Officially, it’s unknown how rich the king is, but what is known is that in addition to receiving a stipend from United Kingdom taxpayers, Charles has created a lucrative business empire. As the country prepares to celebrate the king’s coronation on Saturday, which is expected to cost the U.K. government tens of millions of dollars, some British residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the royal family’s wealth and questioned whether the m

May 5, 2023 • 21:26

TV and film writers hit the picket line

Television and movie writers kicked off a strike this week after negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and Hollywood producers went sideways. Today we dig into why writers such as Josh Gondelman are hitting the picket lines.Read more:Late-night shows are on hiatus. Movie scripts might not have anyone to write them. And it’s all because at least 11,000 Writers Guild of America union members started striking this week. Writers are fighting for better pay in the streaming age and protec

May 4, 2023 • 25:39

Small steps to live your best sustainable life

A lot of us question how much we can minimize our carbon footprint in our day-to-day lives. Should we go vegan? Recycle more? Or just never fly again? That’s where The Post’s climate coach, Michael Coren, comes to the rescue.In today’s episode, he answers your questions about how to make smart decisions every day that will help the planet.Read more: Why free street parking could be costing you hundreds more in rent.These 4 free apps can help you identify every flower, plant and tree ar

May 3, 2023 • 21:11

Playing chicken with the debt ceiling

Congress and President Biden have five weeks to strike a deal on raising the debt ceiling, according to a new projection from the Treasury Department. Otherwise, the country will need to brace for an economic catastrophe. The problem? Neither side is willing to compromise. President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have agreed to meet next week, but both have also insisted they are unwilling to negotiate, stoking fears that the government may miss this critical deadline. Tony Rom

May 2, 2023 • 19:29

The threat within the world's largest refugee camp

Join “Post Reports” on a journey through the Kutupalong mega camp in Bangladesh. It’s home to about a million Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar only to face growing militant threats from within the camp. The Kutupalong encampment has become increasingly difficult for visitors to access. Armed guards man the entrance. Documentation to enter is hard to come by. But earlier this year, Rebecca Tan, The Post’s Southeast Asia bureau chief, spent two weeks inside. She discovered de

May 1, 2023 • 42:06

Curtis Sittenfeld on “Romantic Comedy”

On today’s bonus episode of “Post Reports,” a conversation between our senior host Martine Powers and the author Curtis Sittenfeld about her new book, “Romantic Comedy.” Read more:This month, Martine spoke with Curtis Sittenfeld in front of a live audience at D.C.’s Sixth & I synagogue, in partnership with Politics & Prose. Learn more about “Romantic Comedy” here.“Who Is Hillary Without Bill?” In her previous book, novelist Curtis Sittenfeld imagines another life for Hillary Ro

Apr 29, 2023 • 47:43

How artificial intelligence is saving people’s voices

Today on “Post Reports,” how artificial intelligence can re-create voices that may have otherwise been lost to disease.Read more:When Mark Dyer was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) last year, he started on a difficult checklist. He got his will in order; he got set up to receive Social Security and disability benefits. But of all the things Mark had to do to get ready for life with ALS, there was one thing he found himself putting off: voice- and phrase-banking. These tech

Apr 28, 2023 • 24:07

Is Dianne Feinstein a liability for Democrats?

After an ongoing medical absence, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is being called on by her colleagues to resign. Today, why Feinstein is in the hot seat and what this moment could mean for the trailblazer’s legacy.Read more:In early March, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was hospitalized with a case of the shingles. Since then, she’s been absent from her job, and her Democratic colleagues have been calling on her to resign. As the tie-breaking vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Feinstein

Apr 27, 2023 • 24:57

The rise of a shadowy Russian mercenary network

The Wagner Group is a name that seems to be coming up a lot lately, whether it’s in connection with the war in Ukraine or the fighting in Sudan. Today on “Post Reports,” reporter Greg Miller unpacks the origins of this mercenary network and its growth fueling instability around the world.The Wagner Group operated in the shadows for years, its network of mercenary forces aiding the Russian government in military operations in places such as Ukraine. In the time since, the Wagner Group has ex

Apr 26, 2023 • 28:31

The enthusiasm gap for Biden 2024

Here we go again: President Biden has just announced his 2024 reelection bid. But has his time in the White House actually convinced voters to give him another four years? Or are even his supporters turning “blah” for Biden? Read more: The video starts out dramatically. Images of the Capitol under attack on Jan. 6, 2021. Grainy footage of a protest on the grounds of the Supreme Court. A musical score to rival a Marvel superhero movie. And then President Biden’s voice,

Apr 25, 2023 • 25:35

This Barbie is a business decision

The new live-action Barbie movie is highly anticipated … among adults. Today on “Post Reports,” we unpack the business decisions behind Mattel’s move.Read more:Can nostalgia make the Barbie movie a win for Mattel? A few weeks ago, Warner Bros. dropped a full-length trailer for the highly anticipated film from Greta Gerwig and her co-writer and partner Noah Baumbach. Since the trailer dropped, it has gone viral – among young adults – making business reporter Rachel Lerman wonder why a toy-ma

Apr 24, 2023 • 14:10

The deadly world of white-supremacist prison gangs

Missing people, buried car parts and human remains in Oklahoma: the silent but not so secret influence of white-supremacist prison gangs.Read more:Carol Knight thought she was going to build her dream home in Choctaw, Okla. But when she started renovations, she discovered all kinds of debris buried on her property. Everything from electronics to car parts and motorcycles. Carol had heard rumors that the previous residents weren’t the most upstanding citizens, so she called her friend Jathan

Apr 21, 2023 • 43:11

Does Disney have a Star Wars problem?

Disney has planned out the next decade of Marvel and Star Wars films, but are audiences still willing to keep up with all its content, or is fatigue setting in? When Disney bought Star Wars and Marvel for a total $8.05 billion, it made a big bet that audiences would consistently keep up with the interconnected storylines that span movies, television shows and video games. But while the franchises remain relatively successful, there are signs that audiences are starting to feel fatigue.

Apr 20, 2023 • 26:22

The warring leaders pushing Sudan to the brink

A violent showdown between Sudan’s two most powerful leaders has brought a new level of instability to the region. Today on “Post Reports,” a look at how the country went from hopes of democracy just a few years ago to being on the cusp of civil war. The conflict between the country’s main military and paramilitary leaders – boiled over on Saturday, rocking the country’s capital and catching civilians, aid workers and international residents in the crossfire. “The scale of the vi

Apr 19, 2023 • 23:12

"I don't want to die trying to have a baby."

Today, we look at how vague language in antiabortion laws has disrupted the standard of care for a pregnancy complication called PPROM.Read more:Anya Cook wants a baby more than anything. She and her husband, Derick, live in Florida. They experienced a long line of miscarriages. Then last fall, they tried IVF, and they got further in their pregnancy than ever before. Cook found herself shopping for baby clothes and maternity swimsuits. But then her water broke at 16 weeks; this was the beginning

Apr 18, 2023 • 34:32

What DeSantis did at Guantánamo Bay

When Ron DeSantis first ran for governor in Florida in 2018, a campaign ad boasted that he “dealt with terrorists in Guantánamo Bay.” Today on "Post Reports," our reporter digs in on everything we can learn about that time.Read more;Florida governor and potential 2024 candidate Ron DeSantis is in the news a lot. But little is known about his time serving as a Navy lawyer at Guantánamo Bay.Today on “Post Reports,” political investigative reporter Michael Kranish tells us everything he could learn

Apr 17, 2023 • 28:45

Fox News on trial

Ahead of opening arguments Monday, we unpack the Dominion defamation case against Fox News, and what the outcome could mean for the future of the media and democracy.

Apr 14, 2023 • 23:50

The gamers behind a leak of state secrets

For the past week, the world has been transfixed by a massive leak of top-secret Pentagon documents. Today, we hear directly from one of the teenagers who was part of the Discord channel where it all started, and get inside the head of the alleged leaker.Read more:On Thursday, a young member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested by the FBI in the investigation into leaks of hundreds of pages of classified military documents to a Discord group of friends and acquaintances. Tod

Apr 13, 2023 • 32:11

The top-secret document leak panicking U.S. officials

The photos of top-secret Pentagon documents first started appearing online on Discord, a chat platform popular with gamers. But where did they come from? And just how many military secrets do they contain? Read more:Last week, reports surfaced that a trove of classified documents was leaked on a number of social media platforms. The documents cover worldwide intelligence briefings, assessments of Ukraine’s defense capabilities, and the highly classified methods the United States uses to col

Apr 12, 2023 • 21:26

Will abortion pills stay legal?

Late Friday, two conflicting rulings threw a key abortion medication’s FDA approval into question. Today on Post Reports, we break down the legal confusion and talk about what could happen next. At the center of this unprecedented legal clash is mifepristone, a drug that is part of a two-step abortion pill regimen used by millions of people. A federal judge in Texas blocked the FDA’s longtime approval of the drug. Less than an hour later, another federal judge, in Washington state, or

Apr 11, 2023 • 24:26

The virus hunters

An especially risky kind of virus hunting aims to identify new viruses in animals that have yet to jump to humans. Imagine trips to distant caves and wrangling bats to pull blood and DNA samples. The hope is to use that knowledge to be a step ahead and develop therapeutics and surveillance that could help prevent a future outbreak or, worse yet, a deadly pandemic from erupting.But a year-long Post investigation by David Willman and Joby Warrick has found that such research may be putting the wor

Apr 10, 2023 • 35:06

The Iraq I never knew

What is it like to leave a country in crisis - only to return years later to a devastated homeland? Today, a Post photojournalist journeys back to Iraq after 24 years. Read more:Salwan Georges, a photojournalist at The Post, left Iraq more than two decades ago. Georges and his family spent five years in Syria as refugees, eventually settling in Detroit, Mich. As The Post prepared to cover the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war, Georges traveled back to his homeland for the first time sin

Apr 7, 2023 • 24:57

Why American cities are getting Whiter

Many American cities are being gentrified — and getting Whiter. Today on “Post Reports,” we go to Denver to see how the city has changed and what longtime residents are doing about it.Read more:As the United States is getting more diverse, the opposite has been happening in American cities over the past decade. In some cities, local governments have invested more money in public infrastructure such as parks and transportation to attract residents as developers have built new upscale apartment bu

Apr 6, 2023 • 28:19

How Putin pushed Finland to join NATO

Finland just joined NATO. Sweden is waiting in the wings. Will this beefed-up security alliance — a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — be enough to keep President Vladimir Putin at bay? Read more:On Monday, Finland officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) making it the 31st member of the alliance. Finland, which historically stayed neutral throughout the Cold War, felt inspired to join after witnessing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and they’re not the only c

Apr 5, 2023 • 25:25

The politics of Trump's surrender

Former president Donald Trump was arraigned Tuesday for hush money payments made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. Here’s what that means politically for the GOP and Trump.Read more:Former president Donald Trump is still campaigning and collecting contributions even though he surrendered to authorities today in New York. Post reporter Michael Scherer examines what the indictment might mean for the Republican Party. He also explains how Trump is capitalizing on the media attention of this u

Apr 4, 2023 • 27:05

An historic global heist — and a rapper on trial

Former Fugees rapper Pras is on trial for conspiracy, money laundering and acting as a foreign agent. The case, involving celebrities and political figures, is a small part of a bigger scandal: the $4.5 billion theft from the Malaysian government.Read more:Leonardo DiCaprio. Steve Bannon. Kim Kardashian. All of these people are somehow connected to a trial stemming from one of the biggest financial scams in history: the $4.5 billion theft from the 1MDB Malaysian government fund. Prakazrel “Pras”

Apr 3, 2023 • 28:46

Trump’s indicted. Now what?

Former president Donald Trump has been indicted. Today, how the case could test the limits of our political and legal systems.Read more:A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict former president Donald Trump, making him the first person in U.S. history to serve as commander in chief and then be charged with a crime, and setting the stage for a 2024 presidential contest unlike any other.The indictment was sealed, which means the specific charge or charges are not publicly known. But the grand ju

Mar 31, 2023 • 28:41

Finding love in an AI place

As loneliness rates spike, more people are getting romantically and emotionally attached to artificial intelligence bots. Today, we report on what it’s like to fall in love with software (and what happens when it breaks your heart).Read more:T.J. Arriaga lost so many family members around the time when he downloaded Replika. The artificial intelligence company allows people to customize AI bots that they can chat with. In Arriaga’s case, he fell in love with his chat bot Phaedra. The 40-year-old

Mar 30, 2023 • 28:02

Can the pitch clock save baseball?

“America’s Pastime” is struggling to keep Americans interested. Today ahead of Opening Day, we talk about Major League Baseball’s introduction of a pitch clock to try to speed things up and appeal to younger audiences. Read more:This season, baseball is trying something new to speed up the game: a pitch clock. The goal is to make baseball more exciting by requiring pitchers and batters to move more quickly (but will it actually bring in new fans?).Reporter Chelsea Janes joins Post Reports j

Mar 29, 2023 • 20:54

How the AR-15 became America’s gun

At a school in Nashville on Monday, a shooter used two AR-style weapons and a handgun to kill three children and three adults. Today on “Post Reports,” we look at the history of the AR-15 and how it became America’s gun. Read more:The AR-15 wasn’t supposed to be a bestseller. The rugged, powerful weapon was originally designed as a military rifle in the late 1950s. “An outstanding weapon with phenomenal lethality,” an internal Pentagon report raved. It soon became standard issue for U.

Mar 28, 2023 • 20:02

A turning point in Israel

Nationwide strikes and protests erupted in Israel as outrage grew over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s courts. Many saw the move as a threat to Israel’s democracy. And on Monday, Netanyahu announced he would put the plan on pause.Read more:For months, Israelis have rallied against the country’s right-wing government as it tries to force a drastic overhaul of the Supreme Court. But protests intensified when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense min

Mar 27, 2023 • 21:07

The realities of being transgender in the U.S.

Today, what a landmark poll of U.S. transgender adults reveals about what life is like for trans people in America.Read more:In this atmosphere of intense polarization around transgender rights, The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation set out to hear what transgender Americans had to say on topics ranging from their experiences as children in school to navigating the workplace, the doctor’s office and family relationships as adults. The resulting Washington Post-KFF Trans Survey is

Mar 24, 2023 • 18:00

Mr. TikTok goes to Washington

TikTok is on Capitol Hill today. Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of the popular social media app, testified in front of Congress about the company’s data security practices and its relationship with the Chinese government, as more lawmakers advocate for banning the app in the United States. Read more:Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, testified in front of the House Energy Committee for five hours on Thursday. He was grilled by lawmakers on issues ranging from data privacy to national security. Fo

Mar 23, 2023 • 26:20

Putin and Xi want a new world order

Today, what Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit could mean for the balance of global power.Read more:This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for the first time since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine. Reporter Mary Ilyushina says, while the two leaders have met many times before, this meeting showed the two countries' commitment to creating a new world order, one where the U.S. is no longer the arbiter of e

Mar 22, 2023 • 19:50

What priests on Grindr can tell us about data privacy

A conservative Catholic group spent millions of dollars on app data that identified gay priests. A Washington Post investigation dives into how this secretive group got data from Grindr and other apps, and what this story can tell us about data privacy in the U.S.Read more:In the summer of 2021, a prominent priest, Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, was mysteriously outed for being a regular on Grindr, the gay dating and hookup app. The scandal sent shock waves through the Catholic church. Religion repo

Mar 21, 2023 • 27:00

Should I be worried about all the bank failures?

Are we in the middle of a financial crisis? Today’s show breaks down the latest bank crises — from Credit Suisse to First Republic.Read more:Another week, another banking calamity. On Sunday, Swiss banking giant UBS came to the rescue of its rival, Credit Suisse. It was the first near-collapse of a European bank on the heels of three regional bank implosions in the United States. Economics reporter Abha Bhattarai helps us decipher all the bank failures over the past couple of weeks. And as

Mar 20, 2023 • 18:31

What's in an American name?

As the U.S. continues to grow racially and ethnically diverse, that shift is reflected in how our names are changing. Still, culture wars persist. And that can mean Americans are forced to consider what makes us American, and what makes a name American. Read more:Two years ago this week, a 21-year-old gunman in Atlanta massacred eight people in three spas. Six of those victims were women of Asian descent. It prompted a wave of reporting about racist attacks and violence, and for Mari

Mar 17, 2023 • 23:25

The Texas case that could soon upend abortion everywhere

Today on Post Reports, we take you to an abortion hearing in Amarillo, Tex., that the judge didn’t want you to know was coming. Read more:In a four-hour hearing on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard arguments in a lawsuit that could restrict access nationwide to the abortion medication mifepristone. The lawsuit alleges that the medication is unsafe, despite being approved and highly regulated by the FDA for decades. However, many antiabortion activists are hopeful that K

Mar 16, 2023 • 24:32

Did the AI behind ChatGPT just get smarter?

The AI behind ChatGPT just got an upgrade. But it might not have all of the bells and whistles that some were expecting.Read more:GPT-4 might sound like gibberish, but it could change what you expect from your apps (not to mention what happens when you try out ChatGPT). If you need a recipe and are low on groceries, you could soon take a picture of your open fridge for the system to “look” at, identify your ingredients, and whip up a recipe for the night. That being said, there are limits t

Mar 15, 2023 • 20:37

What teachers won’t teach anymore

Teachers across the nation are changing how they teach in response to state laws, administrative decrees and parental pressure. Today on “Post Reports,” we explore three examples of things teachers are cutting from their lesson plans. Read more:School districts and teachers are grappling with how to teach race, racism, U.S. history, sexual orientation and gender. These fights are happening in school board meetings, local town halls and on the campaign trail. A growing parental rights m

Mar 14, 2023 • 28:11

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Bank is dead. The institution that was a major financier for venture capitalists, tech start-ups and other Silicon Valley outfits has collapsed. Enter: the federal government.Read more:When depositors who belonged to Silicon Valley Bank started quickly withdrawing their money recently, it caused a “bank run.” This led to the ruin of the tech-focused bank, the largest bank failure since the Great Recession. Now the federal government is stepping in to ensure customers are still abl

Mar 13, 2023 • 21:15

Hollywood sets have a safety problem

It’s not just on movie sets like the infamous “Rust.” Beyond Hollywood’s glitz and glamor, and the spectacle of the upcoming 95th Academy Awards, there are hidden dangers on many of the sets for the tv shows and movies we love.Read more:Back in October 2021, two major events happened in Hollywood. First, 60,000 union members overwhelmingly voted to go on strike because of rough working conditions on television and movie sets. The strike was narrowly averted, but it left union members wanting mor

Mar 10, 2023 • 25:17

The science of pandemic grief

Today on Post Reports, as we near the three-year mark of the pandemic, health reporter Lena Sun digs into the science of grief and what she learned through her own loss. Her mother was one of more than 1 million Americans who died of covid.Read more:This week, we’re marking three years since the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 was a pandemic. Since March of 2020, more than a million people have died in the United States alone and we’ve lost more than 6 million people world

Mar 9, 2023 • 24:12

The kidnapping of four Americans in Mexico

Today, what we know about the four Americans who were kidnapped in Mexico, and what this incident can tell us about medical tourism, the security situation at the U.S. southern border, and how U.S. policy has contributed to the problems.Read more:Last week, four American friends from South Carolina were kidnapped in the Mexican border city Matamoros. By the time Mexican security forces located them on the outskirts of the city Tuesday, two of the Americans were dead and another was injured. The

Mar 8, 2023 • 20:12

Surviving on less than $6 a meal

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, enables low-income families to put basic food on the table. This month, SNAP experienced dramatic cuts that have left many families and seniors struggling to figure out how to survive on less than $6 per meal. That can mean cheaper, less-healthy options like canned and processed foods, which are high in sugar and are major drivers of obesity, reporter Laura Reiley tells “Post Reports.” “It's a hunger that looks different tha

Mar 7, 2023 • 17:30

The alleged Ponzi scheme that preyed on Mormons

Today on the show, the $500 million alleged Ponzi scheme that preyed on Mormons.Read more:Las Vegas investigative reporter Jeff German was killed outside his home in September; a Clark County official he had investigated is charged in his death. To continue German’s work, The Washington Post teamed up with his newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, to complete one of the stories he’d planned to pursue before he was killed. A folder on German’s desk contained court documents he’d started to gat

Mar 6, 2023 • 25:32

What really happens to your donated clothes

If you’re gearing up to clean out your closet this spring, you might be wondering: Where can I donate all these clothes? And: What actually happens to these clothes when I do donate? The Washington Post’s climate solutions team has some answers.Read more: From Goodwill to disaster-relief efforts to those big metal donation boxes on street corners, there are a lot of options for where to give those clothes you just don’t wear anymore. But whether those old t-shirts ever find new, good homes

Mar 3, 2023 • 15:38

How AP African American studies became so controversial

Why did the College Board, which oversees Advanced Placement classes, change certain parts of the AP African American studies course framework? Post Reports digs into the latest controversy about the new AP course, still in its pilot stages.Read more:After Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis came out against the new AP African American studies course, it sparked a controversy. The state said it wouldn’t allow students to take the class because it lacked educational value.Then the College Boar

Mar 2, 2023 • 26:22

A new era of extremism in Israel and the West Bank

Violence has been mounting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank for months, but the situation is already reaching a new level of escalation in 2023. “Everything is falling apart,” The Post’s Miriam Berger explains to guest host Libby Casey, referring to the fragile dynamics between Palestinians and Israelis in the region. At least 60 Palestinians and a dozen Israelis have been killed in recent weeks in the occupied territories, a level that is on track to be the bloodiest in two dec

Mar 1, 2023 • 23:37

Revelations from the defamation case against Fox News

In the wake of the 2020 election, Fox News aired false claims about election fraud promoted by Trump allies. A lawsuit, however, reveals that top executives and hosts privately doubted the legitimacy of those claims. Reporter Jeremy Barr joins us to explain. Read more:In recently revealed texts and emails, Fox News hosts privately disparaged election theories being aired on their shows. Rupert Murdoch, chair of Fox News’s parent company, acknowledged in a lawsuit that he wishes the net

Feb 28, 2023 • 23:01

The push for the four-day workweek

Today on Post Reports, we look at how the boundaries between work and life are potentially changing, from the feasibility of a four-day workweek to protections for workers when they're off the clock.Read more:The five-day workweek is the standard in the United States, and in many other countries across the world. But advocacy groups, and employees themselves, have been dreaming about the possibility of a four-day workweek. Recently, dozens of companies in the United Kingdom finished a four-day w

Feb 27, 2023 • 26:16

A message from Martine

Today from "Post Reports," a quick message from Martine about what she’s working on and why she won’t be in your ears as much for the next few months. (We promise, it’s good news!)

Feb 25, 2023 • 1:57

The war in Ukraine, one year later

It’s been one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. The Post’s Ukraine Bureau Chief reflects on the war, its impacts and what the future might look like for these countries. Read more:Europe’s biggest land war since World War II just entered its second year, with no clear end in sight. The losses are unimaginable – estimates suggest there have been hundreds of thousands of casualties, as well as mass evacuations and family separations. According to the United Nations, the war has forced o

Feb 24, 2023 • 31:50

They still love Trump. But will they vote for him again?

Today, we look at how former Donald Trump voters are feeling about his 2024 presidential run, and whether Trump’s grip on the Republican base is slipping. Read more:Over the past several months, a team of reporters at The Washington Post traveled to five swing states to ask former Trump voters about their feelings toward the former president ahead of the 2024 election. After more than 150 interviews, they found tension within the Republican base, and a growing range of Trump supporters who

Feb 23, 2023 • 24:38

Should we still be worried about a recession?

For months, economists warned that the U.S. economy may enter a recession. Instead, the economy appears to be growing. Rachel Siegel joins us to explain why economists were worried, and what led this economy to defy predictions.Read more:A good jobs report complicates the Fed’s fight against inflationInflation has gone down for seven months, but still remains at an overall high

Feb 22, 2023 • 17:47

‘What if Yale finds out?’

“Post Reports” looks at why students were asked to leave Yale University while they were having mental health crises.Read more:Nicolette Mántica was having a tough time at Yale. At the end of her freshman year, she started struggling with her mental health. She eventually was taken to a hospital for help. While there, college officials gave her no other choice but to withdraw, she said, and she went back to her home in rural Georgia.Reporter William Wan talked to Nicolette and other students abo

Feb 21, 2023 • 21:42

Beyoncé’s Renaissance

Today on Post Reports, culture writer Helena Andrews-Dyer breaks down our current Beyoncé moment: After breaking the record for Grammy wins and ahead of her upcoming world tour, we talk about why Beyoncé is more relevant than ever.Read more:Beyoncé is having a moment. She just broke the record for winning more Grammys than any other artist, and her fans are clamoring for tickets to her Renaissance concert tour. But institutions like the Grammys are still not giving her the highest award: Album

Feb 17, 2023 • 28:40

Living next to a chemical disaster in Ohio

Nearly two weeks ago near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed, forcing residents in East Palestine to evacuate. But as cleanup continues, many residents still have questions about whether it’s safe to keep living there. Read more:A Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3. Fifty cars derailed, 20 of which contained hazardous materials. The dangerous chemicals released as a result of the accident have forced many to evacuate t

Feb 16, 2023 • 18:58

Nikki Haley has entered the presidential chat

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley announced that she’s running for president. Today on “Post Reports,” we hear from her supporters about why they’re choosing her over former president Donald Trump, and what her entrance means for the 2024 race. Read more:Nikki Haley kicked off her campaign with a rally in Charleston, S.C., where she pitched a wider-tent approach to GOP politics. The former South Carolina governor and ex-U.N. ambassador is counting on Republican voters who are “tire

Feb 15, 2023 • 19:00

The race against the clock in Turkey and Syria

Early last week, earthquakes hit southern Turkey and northwestern Syria. The death toll had surpassed 41,000 people by Tuesday. As rescuers continue the search for survivors in both countries, many people are sleeping in cars or tents.Read more:Last week, we talked with Post reporter Sarah Dadouch about the fatal earthquake that had just hit the Turkish and Syrian border. Now, we look at the aftermath in the wake of what’s being called Turkey’s biggest disaster. Middle East bureau chief Kar

Feb 14, 2023 • 21:47

The AI arms race is on

Big Tech was moving cautiously on AI. Then came ChatGPT. As tech reporter Nitasha Tiku explains, the surge of attention around ChatGPT is pressuring tech giants to move faster, potentially sweeping safety concerns aside.Read more:Google, Facebook and Microsoft helped build the scaffolding of AI. Smaller companies, like OpenAI, are taking it to the masses, forcing Big Tech to react.Microsoft is trying to push its search engine Bing into the future with OpenAI technology. The company held an artif

Feb 13, 2023 • 31:52

What ‘The Last of Us’ means for TV

HBO’s new show “The Last of Us,” which is based on a 2013 video game, has won acclaim from critics and gamers alike for its unusual twist on a zombie story. Gene Park joins us to explain why the show has resonated with viewers.Read more: Read Gene Park’s review of HBO’s “The Last of Us”Read about the real science behind the zombie plague in “The Last of Us”

Feb 10, 2023 • 14:58

The antiabortion movement at a crossroads

The antiabortion movement spent nearly 50 years organizing around one goal: overturning Roe v. Wade. With that success, what’s next? We go inside the movement’s biggest annual event to examine its diverging paths and possible futures.The annual March for Life is the antiabortion movement’s biggest event of the year, bringing tens of thousands of protesters to the National Mall in D.C. But this year’s march was different. With Roe v. Wade now overturned and the constitutional right to an abortion

Feb 9, 2023 • 23:24

A ballooning interest in China's spy program

Today on Post Reports, we talk to national security reporter Shane Harris about exclusive reporting from The Washington Post on the vast aerial surveillance program behind the Chinese spy balloon.Read more: The U.S. intelligence community has linked the Chinese spy balloon shot down on Saturday to a vast surveillance program, and U.S. officials have begun to brief allies and partners who have been similarly targeted.Why balloons? The technology is old but effective, according to Shane’s sources.

Feb 8, 2023 • 20:42

Sifting through the rubble in Turkey and Syria

Why the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria was so deadly and how rescue efforts are going.Read more:Early Monday morning, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Turkey and northwestern Syria. The shock was felt as far as Egypt, leveling buildings and killing more than 7,000 people as of Tuesday afternoon. So far, rescue efforts have been complicated by frigid temperatures, and the earthquake has compounded other crises in war-torn Syria. Beirut-based correspondent Sarah Dadou

Feb 7, 2023 • 16:32

The future of Kamala Harris

President Biden will outline his goals for the next year at Tuesday’s State of the Union address. Today on Post Reports, we look at how the White House has deployed Vice President Harris over the past two years. Read more:On Tuesday, President Biden will deliver the State of the Union address. While the 2024 election is more than a year away, this moment has prompted questions from Democrats about future leaders of the Democratic party.Vice President Harris has long been considered to

Feb 6, 2023 • 24:27

Need financial advice? Call your mother.

At every age and stage of life, we’re faced with making tough financial decisions. Am I ready to buy a house? Should I start saving for retirement? And what the heck is FICA? For nearly 30 years, Michelle has answered these questions for Washington Post readers. Now, she has compiled her most frequently asked questions in a new project, Michelle Singletary’s money milestones for every age. But, do her own children take her advice?On this bonus episode of “Post Reports,” personal finance col

Feb 4, 2023 • 24:15

And the Oscar (should) go to...?

With the Oscars on the horizon, The Washington Post’s chief film critic and a culture writer share their hot takes on the movies they loved and who may win the golden statues.Read more:This year’s Oscars are already notable: Angela Bassett became Marvel’s first performer to be nominated, and a controversy surrounding an unlikely best actress nomination kicked up concerns about social media campaigning. That doesn’t mean that all of the movies were memorable, but they were surprising, accord

Feb 3, 2023 • 32:26

Who’s in charge in the 118th Congress?

The new Republican House majority is off to a shaky start. We’ll unpack the drama over committee assignments, the debt ceiling fight and a House speaker who has a very precarious hold on power. Read more:The 118th Congress started with a long and contentious vote for House speaker. After 15 rounds of voting, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) won that fight, but he’s still struggling to seize control of an unruly party with a slim House majority. McCarthy is now negotiating committee

Feb 2, 2023 • 23:49

The FDA is ready for gay and bisexual men to donate blood

After years of protest, the FDA is easing the blood donation ban for gay and bisexual men. Today on the show, what this means for LGBT rights and the nation’s blood supply.Read more:Gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships will no longer be forced to abstain from sex to donate blood under federal guidelines announced last week. The proposed relaxation of restrictions follows years of pressure from blood banks, the American Medical Association and LGBT rights organizations to abandon rule

Feb 1, 2023 • 22:04

Pandemic rents soared. Now what?

For many Americans, it’s almost time to pay the rent, and prices are soaring. The Biden administration has stepped in to help renters, but will it have an impact? Rachel Siegel joins us to explain.Read more:Read about the Biden administration’s plan to help tenants

Jan 31, 2023 • 21:08

Tyre Nichols and the promise of police reform

After Tyre Nichols —a young Black man — was beaten to death by police in Memphis, the fact that the five officers charged are Black has prompted activists to grapple with the complex pervasiveness of institutional racism in policing.Read more:Tyre Nichols was a 29-year-old Black man who died after sustaining injuries from a police beating in early January. Five officers were fired and charged with second-degree murder. A sixth officer, who is White, has been suspended, the police department said

Jan 30, 2023 • 20:12

The case of the missing workers

Despite recent headlines about layoffs, the story of many industries is still too many jobs and not enough workers. Today on “Post Reports,” we do a deep dive into the restaurant industry and ask – where did all the workers go?Read more:A little over a year ago, “Post Reports” Executive Producer Maggie Penman reported on quitters – the millions of Americans who left their jobs during the pandemic. Now, more than a year later, she’s puzzled by the continued worker shortages and “help wanted”

Jan 27, 2023 • 31:59

Jacinda Ardern is burnt out

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern surprised many when she announced her decision not to run for reelection. Though she enjoyed global popularity as a feminist icon, her reputation at home was more mixed. Ishaan Tharoor explains why.Read more:Ishaan Tharoor’s column on Ardern’s legacyJacinda Ardern didn’t make mothering look easy. She made it look real.

Jan 26, 2023 • 18:00

The power – and limits – of California’s gun laws

Despite having some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, California has experienced three mass killings in the past 10 days. Today, we examine what any state could do to stop these tragedies in a country awash in guns.Read more:California has a reputation as a tough place to buy a gun. The state’s patchwork of gun laws has been judged the strongest in the nation by one gun-control advocacy group.But recent mass killings in the state, including in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, illu

Jan 25, 2023 • 19:54

Domestic violence cases rise with extreme weather

Floods, wildfires, droughts and other extreme weather events can lead to more domestic violence around the world. Today’s show looks at why this happens and how advocates and emergency responders can extend a helping hand.Read more:The Washington Post partnered with The Fuller Project, a nonprofit news organization, to unpack evidence that domestic violence cases often rise wherever extreme weather events take place. The Fuller Project’s editor in chief, Eva Rodriguez, joins the show today to di

Jan 24, 2023 • 19:38

How to be smart with your money at every age

Today on “Post Reports,” personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary offers up some of her time-tested, conventional financial wisdom.At every age and stage of life, we’re faced with making tough financial decisions. Am I ready to buy a house? Should I start saving for retirement? And what the heck is FICA? For nearly 30 years, Michelle has answered these questions for Washington Post readers. Now, she has compiled her most frequently asked questions in a new project, Michelle Singletary

Jan 23, 2023 • 31:51

Friendship: It’s good for your health

HTML SHOW NOTES:It’s time to rethink our friendships. Research shows that strong friendships are essential to a healthy life.Read more:Have you ever neglected your friendships for romantic love? It may be time to rethink your priorities. A growing body of research shows that friends are essential to a healthy life. Cultivating strong friendships may be just as important for our well-being as healthy eating habits or a good night’s sleep. Platonic love may even be more important than romanti

Jan 20, 2023 • 18:59

Who is George Santos, anyway?

Who is George Santos, and why does it seem as though everyone on Capitol Hill is talking about him? Today, we have the story of the embattled lawmaker and why some voters in his district want him removed from his seat.Read more:Freshman Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has an interesting biography, littered with untruths. He claimed he had worked for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. He said the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks claimed his mother’s life. And he mentioned that four of his employees died i

Jan 19, 2023 • 20:01

Isolated Putin

Today on “Post Reports,” we cover the latest news from the war in Ukraine – and talk about why Putin is increasingly isolated, even among Russia’s elite. Over the weekend, a Russian missile struck a nine-floor apartment complex in central Ukraine. The timing, on a weekend afternoon, meant many people were at home at the time of the strike. Dozens of people were killed. The move seems to signal a new level of desperation from Russia – and reporter Catherine Belton says Russian President

Jan 18, 2023 • 23:38

Climate trauma is real. Could nature be the cure?

As California works through the devastating consequences of catastrophic flooding, today on “Post Reports” we look back at another climate disaster and ask if survivors can find healing on the very land that holds the scars of climate change.Read more:From deadly flooding to destructive wildfires, Californians have been coping with the perils of climate change for years. More than four years after the Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise, one study on the fire’s aftermath said survivors expe

Jan 17, 2023 • 33:18

Help! My family is royally messed up!

Today, Post advice columnist Carolyn Hax offers some guidance to the splintered British royal family.Read more:Lately, there’s been a lot of news about the British royal family. There’s a Netflix documentary series about Harry and Meghan, and this week Harry released his new memoir, “Spare.” Both are packed with surprisingly intimate details about the lives of the former royals, including Harry taking magic mushrooms at a celebrity party as well as intentional palace leaks to the tabloids. From

Jan 14, 2023 • 26:00

What we know about the Biden documents

What we know about the classified documents found in President Biden’s possession. How will a new special counsel investigation by the Justice Department work? And what are the similarities — and differences — with the investigation into former president Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents? Read more:Amid new revelations of classified documents in his possession after the vice presidency, President Biden now faces a special counsel investigation. In November, a small batch

Jan 13, 2023 • 26:48

America’s fragile aviation system

What was behind the sudden halt to thousands of domestic flights yesterday morning? Today on Post Reports, a conversation with transportation reporter Lori Aratani about a highly unusual aviation system failure and the deeper flaws it exposed. Read more: More than 4,600 flights arriving in and out of the U.S. faced unusual delays yesterday morning, as aviation staff sought answers to an unexpected overnight outage of its airspace alert system. Preliminary reviews traced the

Jan 12, 2023 • 17:40

Covid whiplash in China

It came as a complete surprise. Last month, the Chinese government dropped most of its “zero covid” restrictions. Today on Post Reports, we find out what’s behind the shift and a massive covid outbreak that has since swept the country.Since the start of the pandemic, China has kept in place rigid policies in hopes of eliminating the spread of covid-19. That all changed last month, amid outbreaks of the highly transmissible omicron variant and in the wake of unprecedented protests. In a sudden sh

Jan 11, 2023 • 22:49

Why Biden is restricting border crossings

President Biden promised a different approach to immigration than his predecessor, but he is still relying on some Trump-era tools. Today, a look at what Biden’s new strategy will mean for migrants and border communities. Read more:President Biden announced new immigration policies that would expand legal entry into the United States for thousands of migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti, while continuing to rely upon a controversial Trump-era policy that would block access for

Jan 10, 2023 • 18:40

Brazil’s insurrection

Why thousands of supporters of the far-right former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro trashed key government buildings in the country’s capital. And what’s next for the country’s new president and Brazil’s democracy.Read more:On Sunday, thousands of rioters destroyed key government buildings in Brasília, Brazil’s capital, to protest the election of the country’s new leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Most were supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who lost to Lula in a conte

Jan 9, 2023 • 18:20

Trump, two years after Jan. 6

On the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, we have a conversation about the political and legal consequences former president Donald Trump faces and how they are affecting his presidential campaign.Read more:Former president Donald Trump’s sphere of influence appears to be waning: Many of the candidates he supported publicly in the midterms lost races, and despite his recent announcement to run for the presidency again in 2024 his campaign has garnered little public support. National

Jan 6, 2023 • 14:59

A Brazil without Bolsonaro

Where in the world is Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president? Today’s Post Reports examines why Bolsonaro left the country ahead of the ceremonial handover of power, and what his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, could mean for a divided Brazil.Brazilian elections were razor-thin: Lula won just 50.9 percent of the vote. But the country’s young democracy was put to its biggest test yet when incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro questioned the election process and never formally conceded. Many

Jan 5, 2023 • 21:36

Tinder in the trenches

Marriages, breakups and dates are still happening in Ukraine, even during the war against Russian forces.Read more: Reporter Jeff Stein recently reported on what love and intimacy look like during the war with Russian forces. What he found was that Tinder and sex shops still persist as cities in Ukraine continue to see airstrikes and hear sirens. Sometimes, when it doesn’t seem like either side is winning, love just might be.

Jan 4, 2023 • 13:08

What happened to Kevin McCarthy?

Who will be the new speaker of the House? Republican leader Kevin McCarthy struggles to whip up the votes. Read more:The House met for the first day of the 118th Congress on Tuesday to swear in members and elect a speaker for the new Republican majority. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) needs 218 votes to become the speaker of the House; he can afford to lose only four GOP votes. While an overwhelming number of Republicans want McCarthy to be speaker, several have remain

Jan 3, 2023 • 19:59

Check out The 7 for Friday, December 30

This week, we’re bringing you episodes of The 7 - a new podcast from The Washington Post. Your host Jeff Pierre takes you through the seven most important and interesting stories, so you can get caught up in just a few minutes. Make it a habit in the new year. Read today's briefing here.

Dec 30, 2022 • 6:21

The 7 for Thursday, December 29

This week, we’re bringing you episodes of The 7 - a new podcast from The Washington Post. Your host Jeff Pierre takes you through the seven most important and interesting stories, so you can get caught up in just a few minutes. Make it a habit in the new year. You can also read today's briefing here.

Dec 29, 2022 • 5:29

The 7 for Wednesday, December 28

On The Post’s new podcast, "The 7," host Jeff Pierre takes you through the seven most important and interesting stories of the day. It's a way to get caught up in just a few minutes. It comes out every weekday at 7 a.m. Check it out today, then find and follow "The 7."You can also read today's briefing here.

Dec 28, 2022 • 6:21

Check out The 7 for Tuesday, December 27

This week, we’re bringing you episodes of The 7 - a new podcast from The Washington Post. Your host Jeff Pierre takes you through the seven most important and interesting stories, so you can get caught up in just a few minutes. Make it a habit in the new year. You can also read the briefing here.

Dec 27, 2022 • 6:03

Will the real ‘Queen of Christmas’ please stand up?

Who is the real Queen of Christmas? Not Mariah Carey, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Today on a bonus episode of Post Reports, we explain the legal battle for the Christmas throne.Read more: Read more about the legal battle over the “Queen of Christmas” title here.Looking for a last-minute holiday gift? Right now, you can save over 70 percent on a new premium subscription to The Washington Post — and that new premium subscription comes with a bonus subscription to share.&nbsp

Dec 24, 2022 • 9:28

How to ‘Eat & Flourish’ in 2023

Today on “Post Reports,” the way what we eat – and how we eat it – affects our mental health, not just our physical health. Plus, how to eat for your emotional well-being in the new year. Read more:Washington Post journalist Mary Beth Albright has been fascinated by the connection between food and mood for years. “What I began to realize is that food and emotions are inextricably entwined,” Mary Beth told Martine Powers. “We can either get to know the biology and the connection and how to u

Dec 23, 2022 • 26:09

Can nuclear fusion save the world?

After decades of attempts, scientists have finally created a nuclear fusion reaction in a lab. On today’s show, what this breakthrough means for the future of energy.Read more:Last week, the Energy Department announced that for the first time, scientists have been able to produce a fusion reaction that creates a net energy gain. This essentially means that in a lab-based setting, researchers were able to replicate the nuclear reaction by which energy is created within the sun. It’s a major miles

Dec 22, 2022 • 20:36

What Ukrainian refugees were promised

Today on “Post Reports,” how the chaos of war can put even well-intentioned efforts to help Ukrainian refugees on unstable ground.Read more:It’s been 300 days since the start of the war in Ukraine. And since that war began, millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes to seek safety in Western Europe. Back in March, the leaders of European Union countries pledged to help Ukrainians by enacting their Temporary Protection Directive for the first time. This gave refugees access to housing, hea

Dec 21, 2022 • 32:28

Baby, it’s covid outside

Holidays and winter illnesses go hand in hand. Today on Post Reports, we unpack how to prevent the spread.As families face a “tripledemic” of highly contagious respiratory viruses, we turn to national health reporter Lena Sun to understand the latest on how to stay healthy this holiday season. From effective flu and covid vaccines to DIY air filters, we find out what she has learned to keep viruses at bay, as well as what happened when she pressed a leading health official about the current mask

Dec 20, 2022 • 26:04

Inside the antiabortion war room for 2023

Months after their Supreme Court victory, conservatives fear that new abortion bans aren’t being sufficiently enforced. Now, from mobilizing citizen investigators to blocking abortion pill websites, they’re pursuing unorthodox ideas to further crack down. Read more:Nearly six months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, triggering abortion bans in more than a dozen states, many antiabortion advocates fear that the growing availability of illegal abortion pills has undercut their l

Dec 19, 2022 • 26:47

Investigating the sport my dad made famous

How a tip at a funeral became a year-long investigation into the sport of bodybuilding.Read more:When Post investigative reporter Desmond Butler’s father, George Butler, died last year, work was the last thing on Desmond’s mind. But a friend of his father came to him with a tip – startling allegations in the world of bodybuilding, a sport Desmond’s father helped make famous through his film “Pumping Iron.”What followed was a year-long investigation of the sport of bodybuilding and its culture. I

Dec 16, 2022 • 38:32

The journey to Qatar's World Cup final

Ahead of Sunday’s final match, two Post journalists and die-hard soccer fans discuss all things World Cup. Columnist Ishaan Tharoor sits down with Jeff Pierre, host of “The 7,” to unpack the controversies, the triumphs and what’s at stake this weekend.Read more:This year’s World Cup has been mired in debates about its host country, Qatar. But it’s more complicated than that, according to Ishaan Tharoor: “I think being there helped me think a bit more deeply and hopefully with a bit more nuance.”

Dec 15, 2022 • 24:52

New life hack: The joy snack

Today on “Post Reports,” we dive into research on happiness and talk about finding joy in mundane experiences to cultivate a more meaningful life.Read more:Here’s an antidote to an ever-stressful, busy and uncertain world: Try finding and savoring little bites of joy throughout your day. Our Brain Matters columnist, neuroscientist Richard Sima, calls them “joy” snacks.By mindfully tuning in to the pleasant, nice and sometimes routine experiences of every day, we can transform an otherwise mundan

Dec 14, 2022 • 22:28

Operation Sour Cream

Since 2019, the number of Americans killed by fentanyl has jumped 94 percent. Today on "Post Reports," we go inside Operation Sour Cream — and inside the pipeline bringing the deadly drug from Mexican labs to U.S. streets.Read more:In 2019, Drug Enforcement Administration agent Brady Wilson noticed big loads of synthetic drugs, like fentanyl, popping up around St. George, Utah. St. George is not exactly known as a hot spot for drugs; it’s a sleepy city of retirees, out-of-town hikers and Mormon

Dec 13, 2022 • 31:17

Hope and fear: Dispatches from Iran

Today, we hear from a mother and son in Iran about life amid ongoing protests and an escalating government crackdown. Despite communication challenges, journalist Sanam Mahoozi has been carefully corresponding with them for weeks about their lives in a changing Iran.“I am devastated by the way the system is treating the youth,” a mother in Tehran told journalist Sanam Mahoozi during one exchange. “Every mother in Iran is miserable now.”Protests erupted across Iran following the September death o

Dec 13, 2022 • 38:39

What it’s like to survive a school shooting

A decade after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the story of a 10-year-old girl who survived the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Tex. — and how she has become a voice for the friends she lost that day.Read more:After a school shooting, we often hear numbers — how many children and teachers were killed or injured. But for the survivors and their families, the trauma can be overwhelming. “I think the scope of this crisis is so much larger than people are willing to acknowl

Dec 9, 2022 • 34:38

Bringing Brittney Griner home

Today, the White House announced that WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian detention and is coming home – in exchange for a notorious arms dealer. We talk about why this deal happened now, and what it means for other American hostages.Read more:More than nine months after she was arrested in Russia, WNBA star Brittney Griner has been freed. Griner is one of the world’s best women’s basketball players. She’s been in Russian custody since February, when authorities detained her

Dec 8, 2022 • 21:53

Who is Kevin McCarthy?

Republican Kevin McCarthy wants to be the next speaker of the House, but first he’ll need to secure 218 votes. Despite winning a majority in the midterm elections, Republicans have felt deflated by an election cycle many hoped would be a “red wave,” and some are now saying they won’t endorse McCarthy’s leadership bid. Read more:Read Michael Kranish’s profile of Kevin McCarthy’s rise to power.

Dec 7, 2022 • 19:43

The downfall of FTX

The crypto world is in shock after FTX, a major cryptocurrency exchange, declared bankruptcy. We discuss what led to the company’s collapse and how its 30-year-old founder went from a philanthropic darling to disgraced CEO.Read more:What led to the ruin of FTX, one of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges? It’s the question confounding Silicon Valley — and Washington. After the collapse, founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried stepped down amid claims of mismanagement. Newly appointed CEO John

Dec 6, 2022 • 35:11

What to expect in Georgia’s runoff election

For the fifth time in two years, Georgians will cast a ballot for or against Raphael G. Warnock, and despite Democratic control of the Senate, the stakes of this race for both parties are big. Read more:Despite Democratic control of the senate, both parties still see a lot to gain or lose in Tuesday’s runoff election.

Dec 5, 2022 • 23:01

What drug overdoses did to my hometown

Every time producer Jordan-Marie Smith would visit her hometown, it seemed as if another person she knew from high school had died of a drug overdose. She went back home to investigate, along with reporter Lenny Bernstein.Read more:Post Reports producer Jordan-Marie Smith always thought of her hometown of Greenville, N.C., as a nice place to grow up. A small city about halfway between Raleigh and the Outer Banks, it was home to a university, beautiful walking trails and lots of local businesses.

Dec 2, 2022 • 38:59

Iran is ramping up its secret kidnapping plots

The Iranian government is increasing its efforts to kill or kidnap activists, journalists and others living in the West — a change that alarms U.S. intelligence officials. Shane Harris explains the extent and escalation of Tehran’s efforts.Read more:Read Shane Harris’ reporting on Iran’s assassination and kidnapping program, and the steps Western officials have taken to try to counter it.

Dec 1, 2022 • 23:19

Inside senators’ fight to protect same-sex marriage

They needed 10 Republicans. Today on Post Reports, we take you inside the efforts of a small bipartisan group of senators – and how it gathered enough GOP support to pass same-sex marriage protections in a divided Congress. Read more:Back in July, after this year’s first attempts to codify protections for same-sex marriage in Congress, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) had a revelation. “I remember the day that happened,” Baldwin told Liz Goodwin, congressional reporter for The Post. . She recall

Nov 30, 2022 • 25:34

Trump continues to be plagued by legal woes

November wasn’t a great month for Donald Trump. The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for a congressional committee to examine the former president’s tax returns, ending a legal battle that has consumed Congress and the courts for years.Meanwhile, a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department has been tasked with investigating Trump’s role in efforts to undo the results of the 2020 election, as well as possible mishandling of classified documents recovered from his Mar-a-Lago home. Ther

Nov 29, 2022 • 22:42

The outrage over ‘zero covid’ in China

For the first time in decades, massive protests broke out in cities across China. Today on “Post Reports” — what's behind the protests and what they mean for the future of China’s leadership. Read more:Protests erupted throughout China this weekend over the country’s “zero covid” policy, which has led the government to implement strict lockdown and testing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The protests were triggered by a botched response to a deadly fire in Urumqi, a

Nov 28, 2022 • 20:44

Say goodbye to Black Friday

The years of one-day deals and long lines the day after Thanksgiving are over. Black Friday is now more than a month long. We break down what’s changed and why. Read more:Retail reporter Jaclyn Peiser discusses how last year’s supply chain issues and delayed inventory are a win for consumers, how people are shopping despite inflation, and she outlines her holiday shopping survival guide. And as a bonus – we give you a taste of Alexandra Petri’s column, ”The 9 best Thanksgiving songs I

Nov 23, 2022 • 21:09

Is your kid ready for a phone?

A guide for when and how to give your kid a smartphone. Heather Kelly polled the experts, and there’s a lot we can all learn from their advice – whether we have kids or not. Plus, we dive into the reported benefits of “brown noise.”Read more:A guide to giving your child their first phone. Children are getting smartphones younger than ever. Make sure you’re all prepared.Even older adults struggle with screen time. Here's how to help them put down their phones and be more present.Listening to “bro

Nov 22, 2022 • 28:21

The end of the Pelosi era

Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she would step down from Democratic leadership. Today on the show, we discuss Pelosi’s legacy and the new era of Democrats in line to take her place.Read more:Nancy Pelosi has spent 35 years in Congress. Last week, she stepped down as speaker of the House, ending her historic tenure as the first woman to serve as speaker. “She has been an incredibly powerful figure that has ruled the House of Representatives in this sort of iron-fisted way that is

Nov 21, 2022 • 23:34

No beer, plenty of scandal: Qatar’s World Cup

The 2022 World Cup starts this weekend in Qatar, and it is already marked by controversy. Today on “Post Reports,” the geopolitical stakes of this year’s World Cup, and a preview of the most exciting players and teams to watch in Doha. Read more:World Cup organizers said Friday that they were abandoning plans to sell beer around match stadiums. Qatar, a conservative Muslim country, strictly limits the sale of alcohol and bans its consumption in public places. It had made exceptions to

Nov 18, 2022 • 22:31

The urgent situation in Haiti

Today on Post Reports, we hear from a journalist on the ground in Haiti about the country’s growing humanitarian crisis, and what can be done about it.Read more:Natural disasters and political turmoil have plagued Haiti for decades. But last year, the country reached a tipping point: President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated and the country was hit by another deadly earthquake. Capitalizing on the situation, gangs have overrun many parts of the country, frequently kidnapping and killing people an

Nov 17, 2022 • 23:22

Trump is back. Back again.

Tuesday night, Former president Donald Trump announced his fourth bid for the White House in 2024. The announcement comes just a week after voters decidedly rejected the candidates he backed in the midterm elections. Trump has taken the brunt of the criticism from his fellow Republicans who aren’t sold on having him represent the party again, with potential rivals already planning to challenge Trump for the nomination.National political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf recaps last night’s announceme

Nov 16, 2022 • 22:52

Inside the covert abortion pill pipeline

In a post-Roe America, tens of thousands of people without access to legal abortions are turning to a new covert network to get abortion pills. Today on Post Reports, we trace the network’s surprising supply chain and look at the precarious position of those participating in it.When the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June, abortion bans instantly took effect in large swaths of the United States, prompting people around the country to seek alternatives amid new legal and medical risks.

Nov 15, 2022 • 37:34

Ukraine’s triumph in Kherson

A triumphant President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the liberated Ukrainian city of Kherson Monday morning, declaring “the beginning of the end of the war.” Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about whether that’s true and why this city is so significant.Read more:Kherson residents celebrate liberation and describe the trauma of occupation.Witnesses recount detentions, torture, disappearances in occupied Kherson.Fighting-age men in Russia are still hiding in fear of being sent to war.Follow live upda

Nov 14, 2022 • 18:58

Who should pay for climate disasters?

There’s a big, contentious question at the heart of this year’s COP27, the U.N. climate change conference: Should richer countries foot the bill when it comes to climate disasters? Read more:Thousands of government officials from all over the world have gathered in Egypt for the 27th annual U.N. climate change conference, which started this week. Amid a backdrop of protests — on climate change and the Egyptian government’s spotty human rights record — the focus is on the commitments each co

Nov 11, 2022 • 25:56

Is Ron DeSantis the GOP’s golden ticket?

Today on Post Reports, we dig into the election results in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans sailed to victory this week. What does their win mean for the party nationally, and for Florida’s long-standing “swing-state” status?Read more:On a night when Republicans across the country did worse than many had predicted, Gov. Ron DeSantis won in a landslide in Florida. Once a swing state that both parties fought to win in presidential elections, Florida has increasingly become a

Nov 10, 2022 • 23:48

So, who won?

Democrats outperformed expectations in Tuesday’s midterms, but Republicans still look likely to take back the House. We talk to reporters covering Congress and the White House about what to make of the results we have so far, and what to look for next. Read more:Control of both chambers of Congress remained undecided Wednesday morning after Democrats showed surprising strength in key battleground races on Election Day. On “Post Reports,” we’re joined by White House reporter Tyler Pager

Nov 9, 2022 • 37:32

Gen Z’s political coming of age

It’s Election Day in America. Record-breaking voter turnout is expected, and the results could change the nation’s political landscape. Today, we look at Gen Z and how today’s election is about more than politics; it’s about shaping the future. Read more:Voters are finally casting their ballots in the midterm elections. In battleground states across the country, long-awaited contentious races are coming to a head as Washington prepares for a potential shift in power.Today, eyes are turned t

Nov 8, 2022 • 29:24

What Musk’s Twitter chaos means for Election Day

Elon Musk has made his mark on Twitter, but after he laid off thousands of employees, some are warning that the social network is ill-prepared to combat misinformation on Election Day.Read more:On the day before the midterms, Twitter owner Elon Musk encouraged Americans to vote for the GOP, breaking with other social media CEOs who’ve sought to remain apolitical.

Nov 7, 2022 • 26:29

Goodbye Daylight Saving Time… For now

For many of us here in the U.S., today marks the end of Daylight Saving Time - the day when we “fall back” an hour to Standard Time. But changing the clocks is divisive - and in Congress there’s even a stalled effort to stop it.Read more:Earlier this year, our colleague health reporter Dan Diamond took a break from covering covid to report on something a bit sunnier: the push in Congress to stay on Daylight Saving Time forever. We aired an episode in March about it on Post Reports, and today, we

Nov 6, 2022 • 17:13

An election to upend elections

Today on Post Reports, we look at how voting is going across the country, what to expect on Tuesday, and what the results of the midterm election could mean for how future elections are run.Read more: We have spent a lot of time this week talking about the midterm election and which party is likely to gain control of the House and Senate next year. But the results of the election could also change how future elections are run. That’s because a majority of Republican nominees on the bal

Nov 4, 2022 • 26:56

Fauci’s not done yet

Today on “Post Reports,” a conversation with Anthony Fauci. The prominent U.S. infectious-disease doctor is stepping down from the government next month, and he reflects on viruses, vaccines and getting Americans to believe in science again.Read more:After more than half a century in the government, Anthony Fauci plans to step down next month. Fauci’s tenure as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases put him on the front lines of the AIDS epidemic, the Ebol

Nov 3, 2022 • 26:52

Was the attack on the Pelosi home preventable?

When a man entered Nancy Pelosi’s home in San Francisco last week and attacked her husband, the act was documented on cameras viewable by Capitol Police. What the delayed response exposes about limits in protecting lawmakers.A Washington Post investigation found that while Capitol Police in Washington were tasked with monitoring live feeds of more than 1,500 cameras placed around the Capitol Complex and beyond, they had the best chance to stop what could have been a deadly attack at Nancy Pelosi

Nov 2, 2022 • 20:08

Introducing "The 7"

Every minute of your morning counts. Host Jeff Pierre takes you through the seven most important and interesting stories of the day, with the reporting and insight of The Washington Post. Get caught up in just a few minutes every weekday at 7 a.m. Launches Nov. 14. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Nov 2, 2022 • 5:00

The Arizona news anchor turned GOP darling

In a campaign season filled with critical races, Republican Kari Lake’s bid to be the next governor of Arizona stands out. Reporter Ruby Cramer joins us to discuss Lake’s candidacy, and why some think she represents the future of the GOP.Read more:National political enterprise reporter Ruby Cramer wrote about what it’s like to watch Lake on the campaign trail.

Nov 1, 2022 • 21:28

How the war in Ukraine is shaping Ohio’s Senate race

The war in Ukraine may be thousands of miles away from Ohio. But because of the state’s large Ukrainian population, the war could determine who wins the state’s open Senate seat: isolationist Republican J.D. Vance or Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan.Read more:Republican J.D. Vance and Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan are in a tight race over an open Senate seat in Ohio, a state Donald Trump carried in 2020. While both candidates have talked plenty about domestic matters, there is one issue that could swing the

Oct 31, 2022 • 21:03

The illness straining pediatric hospitals

Today on “Post Reports,” why RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — is overwhelming children’s hospitals, and what parents can do to keep their children safe.Read more:Children’s hospitals are under strain as they care for unusually high numbers of kids infected with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. RSV, a common cause of cold-like symptoms, started surging in late summer, months before its typical season. This surge in RSV comes as the flu is sending a record number of people to the hospital t

Oct 28, 2022 • 19:28

Will you ever be able to buy a house?

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about mortgage rates, which are the highest they’ve been in two decades – what that means for the housing market, and why it could make housing costs even higher for renters and buyers alike – at least in the short term.Read more:Mortgage rates topped 7 percent this week, the highest level in 20 years — and the latest sign that the Federal Reserve’s aggressive moves to slow the broader economy are hitting the housing market hard already. Fed reporter Rachel Siege

Oct 27, 2022 • 22:20

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s rise to power

Rishi Sunak is Britain’s new prime minister – the third one in two months. He’s also the first person of color to lead the country. But will he really be a departure from his predecessors?Read foreign affairs columnist thoughts on Britain having its first leader of South Asian descent.

Oct 26, 2022 • 22:36

The pandemic wake-up call for schools

What data from the “nation’s report card” shows about how students progressed during the pandemic — and why people like Education Secretary Miguel Cardona are calling the results “appalling and unacceptable.”Read more:This week the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “nation’s report card,” was released for the first time since 2019. Widely considered to be the most comprehensive look at how students are progressing academically, it showed that during the pandemic stud

Oct 25, 2022 • 19:14

Can Fetterman flip a Senate seat in Pennsylvania?

Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz are in a tight Senate race in purple Pennsylvania. The stakes are high as the nation waits to see if Democrats can flip this seat.Read more:On Nov. 8, Pennsylvanians will vote for their next senator – Republican Mehmet Oz, the TV personality, or Democrat John Fetterman, the state’s Lieutenant Governor. Many believe that this seat is the best chance for Democrats to maintain a majority in the Senate. So what do we know about Senate hopeful John Fet

Oct 24, 2022 • 25:38

America has a Black sperm donor shortage

Only 2 percent of sperm donors in the United States are Black. This, in turn, leaves many aspiring Black parents with an agonizing choice: choose a donor of another race or try to buy sperm from unregulated apps and online groups. Read more:Post reporter Amber Ferguson has spent months reporting on why so few Black men donate sperm. She found that the reasons for the shortage are myriad: failure of sperm banks to recruit Black donors; a selection process that demands a three-generation medi

Oct 21, 2022 • 25:54

The Black-White covid death rate flipped. Why?

Today on “Post Reports,” why White people in the U.S. are now more likely to die of covid than Black Americans. Read more:The imbalance in death rates among the nation’s racial and ethnic groups has been a defining part of the pandemic since the start. Early in the crisis, Black people died at higher rates than White people. But at the end of last year, the racial disparity in covid deaths vanished. Now, White people are more likely to die of covid than Black people. Reporter Akilah Johnson

Oct 20, 2022 • 22:46

Battleground Georgia

Georgia, the state that was key to the Democrats taking control of Washington in 2020, could now be responsible for giving some of that power back to Republicans. In a contentious Senate race, former NFL star Herschel Walker (R) is taking on the Democratic incumbent, Raphael Warnock. Walker, however, is plagued with controversy that’s making it hard for Republicans to throw their support behind him. A rematch for governor pits incumbent Brian Kemp (R) against his 2018 challenger, Stace

Oct 19, 2022 • 25:18

The retired military cashing in with repressive governments

A new Washington Post investigation has uncovered the fact that hundreds of veterans have taken lucrative foreign jobs — often for countries with known human rights abuses. U.S. officials approved these contracts — but fought to keep them secret.Read more:The Post found more than 500 retired members of the military – from helicopter mechanics to high-ranking generals – have cashed in on work with foreign governments since 2015, sharing military expertise and political clout. Many worked for

Oct 18, 2022 • 23:02

Making hearing more accessible

Today, hearing aids are finally available over the counter. What this means for accessibility and first-time buyers. Plus, a test of the Earth’s planetary defense.Read more:For the hard of hearing, it feels like the Food and Drug Administration is finally listening. On Monday, the FDA is allowing hearing aids to be sold over the counter for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. This means you no longer need a prescription or custom fitting to get a hearing aid. Experts have called it a game

Oct 17, 2022 • 30:18

Investigating families of trans kids gets personal

After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered child abuse investigations of the parents of transgender children, Morgan Davis – a trans man with Child Protective Services in Austin – was assigned two cases. They didn’t go as planned.Read more:Morgan Davis used to believe that his workplace – the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – had a noble mission: to remove children from abusive situations.But when he was asked to comply with a new mandate from Gov. Greg Abbott – one that required hi

Oct 14, 2022 • 35:27

The billionaire Starbucks CEO and his ‘Venti’ union fight

This spring, Howard Schultz returned as Starbucks CEO to stop a rapidly growing unionizing effort. Today, what happens when an anti-union leader comes up against one of the fastest growing union efforts in the country. Read more:With more than 225 stores voting to unionize since last fall, the Starbucks unionization effort has been seen as a beacon of hope for the labor movement. But despite his track record of providing workers with substantial benefits, Starbucks's founder and current CEO

Oct 13, 2022 • 35:45

What happens in Vegas … could control Washington

The balance of power in Washington could come down to one or two states. In recent weeks, Republicans have set their sights on Nevada as their Senate candidates in other states, such as New Hampshire and Georgia, have stumbled. It’s an uphill climb for Republicans, who haven’t won a Senate race in Nevada in a decade. They see inroads with Latino voters and workers in the tourism and hospitality industries who were hurt by Democratic policies during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Bu

Oct 12, 2022 • 22:17

Why Kanye’s posts could be the future of social media

Over the weekend, the rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) had antisemitic posts quickly taken down by Twitter and Instagram. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about how content moderation could change if Elon Musk and GOP leaders have their way.Read more:Over the weekend, the rapper Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) posted antisemitic messages on Twitter and Instagram. They were quickly taken down, and his accounts were restricted. But as Will Oremus reports, there’s a conservative-led movem

Oct 11, 2022 • 28:30

The war is back in Kyiv

A wave of Russian airstrikes rocked Kyiv on Monday morning, shattering months of calm and thrusting the city back into the center of the war. Today on “Post Reports,” we hear from our reporter on the ground in Ukraine’s capital. Read more:On Monday morning, Russian forces fired a series of airstrikes on major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv. At least 11 people were killed and more than 80 were injured nationwide according to Ukraine’s national police department. Rus

Oct 10, 2022 • 13:44

The supremely conservative Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States reopened its doors to the public this week for the first time since March 2020. This new term brings new cases, a new justice and renewed questions about its legitimacy. Supreme Court reporter Robert Barnes runs down the slate of cases that will be heard this term and offers his insights about how Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the associate justices handled public disapproval during the summer recess. Read more:Supreme Co

Oct 7, 2022 • 25:25

In Truss the U.K. doesn't trust

A tax policy by the new administration in Britain sent the price of the pound plummeting and the global economy spiraling. Today on “Post Reports,” we explain why it caused such turmoil, and what else to expect from Prime Minister Liz Truss. Read more:Prime Minister Liz Truss has been in office for only about a month, but already her proposals have weakened the struggling British economy and worsened her party’s support. Most notably, her administration proposed removing income tax for the

Oct 6, 2022 • 15:53

The escalating crackdowns in Iran

Iranian authorities are cracking down on protests inspired by the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman arrested for improperly wearing the hijab. But that hasn’t stopped demonstrators. Reporter Miram Berger explains what’s different about this moment. Read More:Read about how a viral song became an anthem for protesters in Iran. Tactics of repression: How Iran is trying to stop Mahsa Amini protests

Oct 5, 2022 • 23:23

How U.S. Soccer failed its players

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about a damning new report on systemic abuse in women’s soccer. Read More:Sports columnist Sally Jenkins said that abuse within women’s sports has been a long-standing problem, but it’s only recently that there’s been a public reckoning about it. “These are some of our top athletes in the country, and nobody did anything. They treated the women like they were the problem,” Jenkins said. “The systemic issue is men in suits at the top of these organizations wh

Oct 4, 2022 • 19:57

The migrants caught in a political ploy

For months, Republican leaders have been escalating a campaign against President Biden’s border security policies by transporting migrants from their states to Democratic-led areas, without providing a plan for what happens when they arrive. In a high-profile case in September, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew dozens of asylum seekers from Texas up to Martha’s Vineyard, a Massachusetts island. It prompted a legal backlash that alleged the plan was “fraudulent and discriminatory.” Beyond

Oct 3, 2022 • 23:26

How our bodies changed during the pandemic

Today on “Post Reports,” a show about how our bodies have changed during the pandemic. We hear from our listeners about how their bodies have surprised, delighted and worried them after these past few years. Read more:Here on the “Post Reports” team, we’ve been thinking a lot about…our bodies. Specifically, how they’ve changed over these past two years, as we’ve gone through lockdowns, isolation and return-to-work. We reached out to our listeners to hear how their bodies have evolved over t

Sep 30, 2022 • 42:42

In Hurricane Ian’s 'expanding bull’s eye'

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about Ian’s historic destruction in Florida, and why the story of this storm has only just begun.Read more:Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday in southwestern Florida as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States. Millions of people are without power, and the full extent of the destruction may not be clear for days. We hear from Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Brittany Shammas, and Brady Dennis about what we know so far about the damage from Hurri

Sep 29, 2022 • 18:01

Vaccinating against monkeypox — at the club

Black men who have sex with men are contracting monkeypox at a higher rate than any other group in the United States. But they are among the least likely to be vaccinated. Today, the creative outreach to get at-risk groups vaccinated against monkeypox.Read more:Monkeypox cases might be going down, but there are still at-risk groups. While Black gay men are more likely to get monkeypox than other demographic groups, they’re also less likely to be vaccinated. Johnny Wilson, an employee with a coun

Sep 28, 2022 • 15:19

The woman leading Italy’s far-right

Conservative Giorgia Meloni is Italy's presumed next prime minister. Who is she? And what do the results of Italy’s historic election mean for the strength of the far-right movement in Europe? Read more: This week Italian voters sided with the far-right party Fratelli d’Italia, also known as the Brothers of Italy. The election results could also mean the country gets its first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. On today’s “Post Reports,” Rome bureau chief Chico Harlan dives in

Sep 27, 2022 • 23:19

How the NFL sidelines Black coaches

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about how Black coaches have been excluded from the NFL’s top jobs, despite years of attention on this issue – and why the problem is actually getting worse. Read more:Since 1989, only 25 head coaches in the National Football League have been Black, and in the more than a century long history of the NFL only 26 Black men have held the title. Despite 60 percent of the league’s players being Black, an investigation by The Washington Post found that the NF

Sep 26, 2022 • 28:17

Why Russians have had enough with this war

Russian President Vladimir Putin is doubling down in Ukraine – holding staged referendums in occupied territories and drafting men to the war. Today on “Post Reports,” we’ll talk about how Russians are reacting to the dramatic escalation.Read more:This week in Ukraine, Moscow began staging referendums in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories and drafted hundreds of thousands of Russian men to join the war effort. The escalation sparked protests, arrests and sold-out flights as some Russians – w

Sep 23, 2022 • 22:22

Why women are burning hijabs in Iran

The death of Mahsa Amini is igniting protests across Iran — and it’s drawing global attention to Iranians’ anger and frustration with their ultra-conservative leaders.Read more:Earlier this month, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was detained by the so-called morality police in Tehran for violating Iran’s law on headscarves and died several days later. In the days since, protesters have flooded the streets in cities across Iran. Many have been burning hijabs, symbolizing their frustration with the Islami

Sep 22, 2022 • 17:57

The plot to steal $250 million from hungry children

How a pandemic food program was used to allegedly defraud the government of $250 million. Read more:This week, the federal government indicted 47 people connected to the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future in the largest known pandemic fraud scheme. The nonprofit claimed to be giving meals to thousands of kids who needed them. Instead, the Justice Department said, they were using bribes and shell companies to falsify information, and in some cases used the federal money they got to

Sep 21, 2022 • 19:39

Hurricane Fiona, and the scars of Maria

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico five years ago. Recovery in many ways had just begun when Fiona hit the island. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to Arelis R. Hernández about why the recovery has been stymied, and how another storm could complicate it further. Read more:Hurricane Maria cleaved Puerto Rican memory. There was one kind of life before the storm, and an entirely different life that emerged in its wake. Before the storm, the Caribbean island archipelago was teetering eco

Sep 20, 2022 • 22:38

Does the world need a British monarchy anymore?

On today’s show, we take you to London for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Plus, the colonial legacy and potential future of the monarchy without her leadership.Read more:The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, was laid in the royal vault at Windsor Castle on Monday. The funeral procession marks the end of 10 days of national mourning. London correspondent Karla Adam describes how thousands of people camped near Westminster Abbey to watch the funeral procession. “

Sep 19, 2022 • 26:47

The Afghans stranded at a luxury resort

For 780 Afghan evacuees stuck at a beachside resort in Albania, the future is unclear. They might never make it to the U.S. All because they took the wrong plane out of Afghanistan.Read more:The Afghans living at the Rafaelo Resort were evacuated from Afghanistan by nonprofits and organizations that expected Albania would be a stopover — a temporary landing pad as evacuees were processed for permanent resettlement in the United States. The Biden administration, which faced intense criticism for

Sep 16, 2022 • 49:54

Strike plans derailed — for now

More than 100,000 railroad workers were ready to strike this week in the name of more sick days. Plus, what happens when a man with a pistol shows up outside the home of a congresswoman. Read more:When 115,000 unionized railroad workers made it clear there would be a strike if freight companies didn’t give them sick days, President Biden made some calls.After hours of negotiations, the strike was likely averted, but the high-stakes freight rail drama could heat up again soon. Labor reporter

Sep 15, 2022 • 36:07

Your fall coronavirus booster questions, answered

On today’s show, what you need to know about the updated booster shots and why they matter amid growing pandemic fatigue. Plus, new research on the science of sitting and the pitfalls of being an “active couch potato.” Read more:The new coronavirus vaccine boosters are now widely available in the United States, but the updated shots are rolling out amid widespread pandemic fatigue. Federal health officials say that these updated vaccines could help buffer communities against future sur

Sep 14, 2022 • 22:22

The Jan. 6 committee's unfinished work

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol still has some unfinished business. Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.) joins us to discuss what’s left. Also, the significance of Sheryl Lee Ralph’s first Emmy. Read more:Over the summer, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol dominated the news cycle by unearthing revelatory evidence that illuminated the connection between allies of former president Donald Trump and the violence that t

Sep 13, 2022 • 26:45

Is the tide turning in Ukraine?

Today, what the sudden retreat of Russian forces in key areas of Ukraine means for the future of the war. Plus, how one Ukrainian mayor is holding onto his city in wartime.Read more:Over the weekend, Russian soldiers fled their encampments in Zaliznychne, Ukraine. As Ukrainian soldiers poured into the area, Russians dropped their weapons, leaving rifles behind. The flight of Russians from the village marks a new reality that took the world by surprise; Russian invaders are on the run after

Sep 12, 2022 • 30:24

How abortion is changing the way people vote

In the run up to the midterms, no issue has upended the battle for control over Congress and statehouses as abruptly as abortion. Could it slow down — or stop — the anticipated red wave? Read more: The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June has shifted the midterm landscape. Many had previously anticipated a Republican wave in November, but that advantage could be eroded by voters concerned over the rollback of abortion protections around the country

Sep 9, 2022 • 21:44

‘London Bridge is Down’

The death of Queen Elizabeth II, and how her reign over Britain shaped the world for 70 years. Read more: Queen Elizabeth II is dead. She passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon at the age of 96, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. She was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and held the throne for 70 years. The world had been bracing for her passing for some time. “Operation London Bridge” even maps out what happens next, the when and the how. Her son now takes o

Sep 8, 2022 • 29:33

No clean water in Jackson, Miss.

How the water crisis in Jackson, Miss., reached its tipping point. Plus, one Peruvian farmer’s fight for climate justice.Read more:The capital city of Jackson, Miss., has been without drinkable tap water since late July. But this isn’t the first time there’s been a water crisis in the majority-Black town. “I think what's really been lost is that there was a crisis in Jackson long before,” reporter Emmanuel Felton says, “And what had been going on for years was really almost constant boil wa

Sep 7, 2022 • 35:00

How a special master could change the Trump investigation

The latest in the Justice Department’s investigation into Donald Trump. And the students who survived the mass shooting in Uvalde, Tex., return to school for the first time. Read more: On Monday, a federal district judge pumped the brakes on the Justice Department’s investigation into the material seized from former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property. The judge granted Trump’s request to appoint a special master to review the documents. Rosalind Helderman, a political enterpr

Sep 6, 2022 • 26:34

Broken Doors, Episode 4

In the fourth episode of the “Broken Doors” podcast, we explore the minutes between approval for a no-knock warrant and a deadly raid. Read more:All this week on “Post Reports,” we’re airing episodes of the “Broken Doors” podcast, an investigative series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the American justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.The fourth episode of this series is calle

Sep 2, 2022 • 56:02

Broken Doors, Episode 3

In the third episode of the “Broken Doors” podcast, we come face to face with a sheriff and a judge.Read more:All this week on “Post Reports,” we’re airing episodes of the “Broken Doors” podcast, an investigative series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the American justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.The third episode of this series is called “‘You’re interrogating me.’” In this ep

Sep 1, 2022 • 59:56

Broken Doors, Episode 2

In the second episode of the “Broken Doors” podcast, a family confronts a sheriff after a deadly no-knock raid.Read more:All this week on “Post Reports,” we’re airing episodes of the “Broken Doors” podcast, an investigative series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the American justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.The second episode of this series is called “‘Why y’all had to go in th

Aug 31, 2022 • 1:12:21

Broken Doors, Episode 1

An unusual warrant. A pattern of questionable no-knock raids. A reporting thread that just kept going. “Broken Doors” is an investigative podcast series from The Washington Post, hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.Read more: No-knock warrants allow police to force their way into people’s homes without warning. What happens when this aggressive police tactic becomes the rule, rather than the exception? All this week on “Post Reports,” we’re airing episodes of the “Broken Doors” po

Aug 30, 2022 • 41:52

No-knock warrants, revisited

Today on “Post Reports,” we revisit the use of one of the most intrusive and dangerous tools in policing: no-knock warrants. Read more: Two years after the death of Breonna Taylor, the Justice Department announced federal charges against four officers involved in her death. At the time, officers had a no-knock warrant for the young Black woman’s apartment. For Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, the Justice Department investigation represented a step toward justice for her daughter — but it was

Aug 29, 2022 • 23:48

'The Mamas' and the cult of mom groups

Today on “Post Reports,” Helena Andrews-Dyer on her new book, “The Mamas” and what it takes to be an authentic Black mother in a mostly White mom group.Read more:Washington Post culture writer Helena Andrews-Dyer talks about her latest book “The Mamas: What I Learned About Kids, Class and Race from Moms Not Like Me.”The book is a memoir of Andrews-Dyer’s personal experience of what it was like to be the only Black woman in her neighborhood’s mom group. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted to join

Aug 26, 2022 • 23:11

How student debt relief works

President Biden’s new plan to cancel some student loan debt will impact millions of Americans. On today’s “Post Reports,” we learn how this program works, what it means for the economy and why some people are unhappy with this approach. Read more:Millions of Americans rely on the federal government to cover the cost of college. Soaring tuition costs, higher enrollment and changes to the federal lending system have all contributed to the $1.6 trillion in outstanding federal student debt.&nbs

Aug 25, 2022 • 26:46

What really happened as the U.S. left Afghanistan

In the last days of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, a suicide bomber set off a blast at Kabul airport. It killed an estimated 170 Afghans and more than a dozen U.S. troops. Today, one year after the withdrawal, Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe takes a closer look at the days leading up to that devastating blast and what happened in its aftermath. From a Marine in a scout-sniper team, to the top military commander who planned and directed the operation, today’s episode shares the sto

Aug 24, 2022 • 41:41

How a car bomb in Moscow became a flash point in Ukraine

On today’s “Post Reports,” how a car bombing in Moscow has become a flash point in the war in Ukraine, and what it could signal is coming next. Read more:On Saturday, Daria Dugina, the daughter of a far-right Russian nationalist, died in a car bombing in a Moscow suburb. Russia’s domestic security agency, the FSB, accused Ukraine of organizing the attack, which many think was intended for Dugina’s father, Alexander Dugin. Ukraine denied any involvement. The killing has already cr

Aug 23, 2022 • 21:14

How favoritism trumped science in Iran's covid response

Today on Post Reports, how government officials in Iran cut corners to expedite a yet-unproven vaccine developed by a company close to the supreme leader. Read more:Last year, as Iranian regulators considered endorsing a locally developed coronavirus vaccine, a top health official issued a warning, saying the test results were insufficient, and the vaccine’s approval could undermine efforts to contain the deadly spread of covid throughout Iran.But the vaccine had influential backers – it wa

Aug 22, 2022 • 21:47

The media mogul and the former president

Today on “Post Reports,” the changing relationship between former president Donald Trump and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and what it could mean for the future of American politics. Read more:Rupert Murdoch has swayed global politics through his media empire for decades. His relationship with former president Donald Trump was regarded as one of his strongest alliances, with Trump dominating the conservative media outlets Murdoch owns. But as media reporter Sarah Ellison explains, Trump and t

Aug 19, 2022 • 24:02

The botched monkeypox response

Today on Post Reports, how early mistakes by the Biden administration left gay and bisexual men facing the threat of an agonizing illness and the potential for broader circulation of monkeypox. Plus, an unintended consequence of overturning Roe.Read more:For two months, the Biden administration has been chased by headlines about its failure to order enough vaccine doses, speed treatments and make tests available to head off an outbreak that has grown from one case in Massachusetts on May 17 to m

Aug 18, 2022 • 20:52

Liz Cheney’s fall — and future

Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s crushing defeat in Wyoming’s Republican primary on Tuesday. Plus, Alaska experiments with a new way to vote. Read more:Rep. Liz Cheney’s loss on Tuesday night wasn’t really a surprise — not even to her. As vice chair of the congressional committee investigating Jan. 6, she’s carved a new reputation as a voice of anti-Trumpism within the Republican party. But her constituents have rejected it. Politics reporter Amber Phillips explains what Cheney’s future could loo

Aug 17, 2022 • 28:46

Back to school with a catastrophic teacher shortage

Today on “Post Reports,” why school districts across the country are facing a critical teacher shortage this fall. Plus, we meet some of the covid “super-dodgers.”Read more:As back-to-school season gets into full swing, many schools across the United States are still scrambling to hire teachers.Education reporter Hannah Natanson has been speaking with educators and administrators about why we’ve run out of people who are willing to teach and what this will mean for students.Then, meet the “super

Aug 16, 2022 • 25:22

The cost of peace in Afghanistan

One year ago today, Kabul fell to the Taliban, ending two decades of war and U.S. occupation. Today on Post Reports, we take you to Afghanistan’s Helmand province, where a year of peace hasn’t healed old wounds or brought new opportunities.Read more:When the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan last summer and U.S. forces began a chaotic exit, the world watched in horror as people flooded the airport in Kabul, desperate to escape Taliban rule. But far from the capital city, in Helmand prov

Aug 15, 2022 • 18:30

The nuclear documents

The newly unsealed search warrant for Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home lists potential crimes, including violating the Espionage Act. The Washington Post reported Thursday that the FBI was also looking for classified documents about nuclear weapons. Read more:On Friday afternoon, a judge unsealed the search warrant for the FBI’s search on former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. The warrant revealed the FBI went there looking for evidence of crimes, including mishandling defense infor

Aug 12, 2022 • 18:48

The right-wing rise of tech billionaire Peter Thiel

Billionaire Peter Thiel was one of Facebook’s first investors. Now, more than a decade later, Thiel is investing in a slate of right-wing candidates in the midterms. Reporter Elizabeth Dwoskin explains Thiel’s rise. Read More:Elizabeth Dwoskin reports on how Peter Thiel went from Facebook investor to an architect of the new American right.

Aug 11, 2022 • 21:04

Not the New Deal, but a big deal

This week, Democrats had a surprise victory in the Senate, passing a $700 billion bill to fight climate change and lower health-care costs. This legislation is a big deal - but it’s not exactly what many Democrats were hoping for. Read more:The Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act on Sunday, and it’s expected to pass the House and become law. The landmark legislation contains climate measures, major changes to health care, tax hikes on corporations and dozens of other provisions. White

Aug 10, 2022 • 27:21

Why the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago

Today on Post Reports, why the FBI searched former president Donald Trump’s Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, and what they’re looking for.Read more:On Monday, former president Donald Trump announced that his Palm Beach, Fla., home had been searched by the FBI. No former president has ever faced a search by federal investigators like this.This is the next step in an investigation of whether Trump took classified documents with him when he left the White House. The National Archives retrieved 15 box

Aug 9, 2022 • 21:06

How a prisoner swap for Brittney Griner could happen

What we know about the often clandestine operation of how countries trade prisoners, and what that means for WNBA star Brittney Griner. And Jason Rezaian weighs the U.S. response to hostage-taking by hostile governments. Read more:With the sentencing of Brittney Griner last week, the clock started ticking on potential U.S. negotiations with Russia to secure the release of the WNBA star and another American, security consultant Paul Whelan. But how do prisoner swaps actually work? What are t

Aug 8, 2022 • 27:56

The essential labor of care work

On today’s “Post Reports,” a conversation with author Angela Garbes about her new book, “Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change.” Read more:In 2020, author Angela Garbes found herself at home taking care of her two daughters, clinically depressed and unable to write. It was a time when people were told to stay home, unless you were an essential worker. “But I remember sitting there being like, ‘What about me?’ ” Garbes told “Post Reports” editor Lexie Diao. “What about parents? Wh

Aug 6, 2022 • 17:37

Flying is a mess. Blame the airlines.

What’s to blame for a summer of flight disruptions. And the legacy of pioneering “Star Trek” actress Nichelle Nichols.Read more:This summer has been filled with air travel issues: canceled flights, lost baggage, long lines. There’s been a lot of finger-pointing from airlines, at weather issues and short-staffed air traffic controllers, but federal data suggests the airlines themselves are to blame for many of the disruptions. Transportation correspondent Lori Aratani explains why airlines are st

Aug 5, 2022 • 23:26

The steel mill town being reshaped by abortion

Today on “Post Reports,” we take you to a conservative-leaning steel town in Illinois grappling with its new role as home to the closest abortion clinics for many patients in the South and Midwest post-Roe.Read more:Granite City is a conservative-leaning community in Southern Illinois that’s seen layoffs at the local steel mill and had dozens of businesses close in recent years. But the city is now becoming known for something else: abortion. It’s home to the closest abortion clinics for many ou

Aug 4, 2022 • 27:37

When abortion is on the ballot

An abortion access victory in Kansas. Trump-backed candidates on the rise. What the results of Tuesday’s elections could mean for the midterms in the fall. Read more:Kansas voters delivered the first election win to protect abortion access since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Campaign reporter Hannah Knowles unpacks this surprising outcome — supporters of abortion rights overwhelmingly won — and what lessons it carries for the politics of abortion.At the same time, ma

Aug 3, 2022 • 21:15

Is Afghanistan harboring terrorists — again?

The killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the world’s most wanted terrorist, leaves al-Qaeda in a leadership crisis. But the drone strike ordered by President Biden also highlights new tensions with the Taliban one year after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.Read more:Ayman al-Zawahiri’s safe house in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, was targeted by a drone strike Saturday after months of planning, officials said Monday. And Zawahiri had been a U.S. target for more than two decades: He oversaw the 9/11

Aug 2, 2022 • 19:13

He voted to impeach Trump. Did it kill his career?

Rep. Peter Meijer was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, but back in his district a right-wing base on the rise hopes to punish him for his vote.Read More:Less than two weeks after arriving in Congress, one of Republican Rep. Peter Meijer’s first votes was to impeach former president Donald Trump after the events of January 6, 2021. Now, Meijer is fighting for his seat back home in his western Michigan district where supporters of the former president have mobilized in staunc

Aug 1, 2022 • 32:11

Your kids’ apps are spying on them. Here’s what to do.

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler about how apps are spying on our kids — and what we can do to stop it. Read more:Geoff has been looking at tech from a consumer perspective in his series We the Users, and he says apps are spying on our kids at a scale that should shock you. More than two-thirds of the 1,000 most popular iPhone apps likely to be used by children collect and send their personal information out to the advertising industry, according to

Jul 29, 2022 • 25:37

The true story of a 10-year-old’s abortion

The story of a 10-year-old who crossed state lines for an abortion after Roe v. Wade fell sparked loud skepticism from media and politicians. Today, how local journalists uncovered the truth — and why the public rarely hears such abortion stories at all.Read more:When the Indianapolis Star published a story July 1 about a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio who was forced to travel to Indiana for an abortion because of new restrictions in her home state, it sparked a national frenzy. An indignant

Jul 28, 2022 • 33:28

The Justice Department eyes Trump

Today on Post Reports, how the Justice Department is investigating former president Donald Trump’s actions surrounding the 2020 election. Plus, how same-sex marriage has become a bipartisan issue.Read more:This week, a Washington Post investigation revealed that the Justice Department is investigating former president Donald Trump’s conduct surrounding efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Devlin Barrett reports on what the investigation looks like and whether any criminal charge

Jul 27, 2022 • 25:32

The race to contain monkeypox

The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency over the weekend — leading to debate within the White House over whether the United States should do the same as case numbers continue to climb.Read more:The Biden administration is weighing whether to declare the nation’s monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency. As health policy reporter Dan Diamond explains, officials are hoping to make a decision this week – but the deliberations are complicated by politics.

Jul 26, 2022 • 19:09

How U.S. interest rates could fuel a global hunger crisis

While the U.S. government is scrambling to lower inflation for Americans, there’s a growing concern about what rising interest rates means for the rest of the world, especially poorer countries. Read more:It has been said that when America sneezes, the world catches a cold, and White House economic reporter Jeff Stein says in this case, it could be much worse than a cold.“We're on the precipice of a tsunami of debt slamming into dozens, if not hundreds, of countries with rising interest rat

Jul 25, 2022 • 16:02

Trump’s missing hours on Jan. 6

The House committee investigating Jan. 6 has wrapped up its first series of hearings. Today on “Post Reports,” a debrief on what we’ve learned about what happened behind-the-scenes that day, and what’s next for the committee.Read more:For over a month now, members of Congress have been calling witnesses and making the case that former president Donald Trump played a critical role in the attack on the Capitol. On Thursday night, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on t

Jul 22, 2022 • 23:53

The end of universal free school lunch

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about the end of a grand experiment: universal free school lunch. The program started to address childhood hunger early in the pandemic, but it's set to expire at the end of the summer. Read more:For many school administrators, providing universal free meals has been a no-brainer. “The reason we like this program is that it takes all the shame out of all the kids that eat free lunch,” said Donna Martin, a school nutrition director in a rural count

Jul 21, 2022 • 20:07

Inflation is making people homeless

Today on “Post Reports,” how the rising cost of living is pushing many Americans into homelessness, even if they have good jobs. Read more:The sheriffs arrived at 6 a.m. in early June to tell Josanne English what she already knew: She was being evicted.She’d lost her job as a project manager near Sacramento in April, then fell behind on rent as $6-a-gallon gas and higher costs for food and utilities depleted her monthly budget. By the time she lost her home two months later, she owed $9,160

Jul 20, 2022 • 18:47

Britain’s hottest day ever

Today on Post Reports, the 104-degree day that came years too soon in Britain. Plus, why President Biden is contemplating declaring a climate emergency in the U.S. Read more:London correspondent Karla Adam takes us to a non-air-conditioned housing bloc in London on the hottest day ever recorded in Britain. One tenant tells her he’s unplugged the fridge because he’s scared it’ll catch fire. Plus, London bureau chief William Booth explains why Britain's heat wave is just the beginning o

Jul 19, 2022 • 22:56

‘Multiple systemic failures’ in Uvalde

Today on “Post Reports,” the most comprehensive report to date on the Uvalde school shooting blames multiple “systemic failures” of law enforcement on the scene.Read more:On Sunday, a special committee from the Texas House of Representatives released the most exhaustive report yet on the May 24 mass shooting inside a Uvalde, Tex., elementary school. The mass shooting left 19 children and two teachers dead. The report spread blame on every law enforcement agency responding to the attack, fau

Jul 18, 2022 • 23:23

'The Gringo Hunters'

Today, we join an elite police squad in Mexico trying to solve an immigration problem we don’t often hear about: American fugitives fleeing south across the border. Read more:The Mexican police squad is officially called the International Liaison Unit. But to locals, they’re known as “the Gringo Hunters.” This spring, Mexico City Bureau Chief Kevin Sieff rode along with this team as they worked to apprehend fugitives who fled American soil for the freer terrain of Baja California. What happ

Jul 15, 2022 • 22:57

Inside Gretchen Whitmer's abortion fight

In a political party that has been criticized for its lukewarm response to the Dobbs decision, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan appears to stand out. We take you inside her fight — and her family’s — to protect abortion access in her home state.Read more:A year before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was already thinking about how to protect abortion rights in her home state. In particular, she was working to overturn a 1931 abortion ban that w

Jul 14, 2022 • 27:46

The Twitter-Elon Musk showdown has arrived

A billionaire, a social media company and a lawsuit — the “epic” saga between Twitter and Elon Musk’s acquisition deal. Plus, NASA’s James Webb telescope captures galaxies light-years away.Read more:Twitter is officially suing Elon Musk, after the billionaire said he wanted to back out of a deal to buy the social media company. Silicon Valley correspondent Elizabeth Dwoskin has for months been following Musk’s threats to cancel the purchase, and she explains what this moment means for Twitter.Th

Jul 13, 2022 • 18:29

Why is President Biden so unpopular?

As the White House confronts multiple crises, some Democrats are openly questioning whether the president is capable of leading their party through a contentious midterm election.President Biden has been mired in low approval ratings for months. Despite coming into office with a bold vision to combat climate change, rising wealth inequality and political partisanship, Biden’s agenda has consistently faced obstruction from Republicans and even members of his own party. Meanwhile, a spate of

Jul 12, 2022 • 30:19

The Uber Files

Today on Post Reports, we dig into the findings of an explosive new report about Uber, and reveal the human cost of Uber’s quest for rapid growth.Read more:The Uber Files is an international investigation into the ride-hailing company’s aggressive entrance into cities around the world — while frequently challenging the reach of existing laws and regulations. Documents illuminate how Uber used stealth technology to thwart regulators and law enforcement and how the company courted prominent politi

Jul 11, 2022 • 37:24

The next abortion fight is over state lines

The president is taking steps to safeguard abortion access, even as some lawmakers are talking about blocking patients from seeking the procedure across state lines. Today on “Post Reports,” we explore abortion’s next legal battleground.Read more:Two weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending constitutional protection to abortion in the United States, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at safeguarding abortion rights. This includes measures to ensure access to abor

Jul 8, 2022 • 27:01

Boris makes his Brexit

It’s official: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned. We review the scandals that led Johnson here and try to understand what happens next for his party. Then we discuss WNBA star Brittney Griner’s guilty plea and why it’s not surprising.Read more:After a week of government resignations, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Thursday that he is stepping down as the leader of the Conservative Party.The calls for Johnson to resign came after the discovery that the prime minist

Jul 7, 2022 • 29:15

A rescue mission outside of Kyiv

Many of those who are covering the war in Ukraine also call it home. Today on Post Reports, the story of a reporting trip to Chernihiv that also became a rescue mission for one of our colleagues. Read more:As the battle for the east of Ukraine intensifies, we take you to a city north of Kyiv that survived weeks of Russian siege. It also happens to be the hometown of Kostiantyn Khudov, a Ukrainian journalist who has been working for The Post since before Russia’s full-scale invasion in Febru

Jul 6, 2022 • 31:10

How do you punish a mass shooter?

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about the chaos and terror at July Fourth celebrations over the holiday weekend. Then, we break down a big decision point for the Justice Department on whether to seek the death penalty in another recent mass shooting. Read more:In Highland Park, Ill., a holiday parade became a scene of horror as a gunman opened fire on the crowd. At other celebrations in cities nationwide, the booming sounds of fireworks were apparently mistaken for gunshots, sending s

Jul 5, 2022 • 30:08

Freaking out about the economy? Let's talk.

Gas prices are high, unemployment is low and the tools the federal government has to fight inflation could cause a recession. So how should we think about the economy right now? We asked our econ reporters and a personal finance columnist for advice. Read more:Businesses and consumers are increasingly worried the U.S. economy will tip into a recession. There are already growing signs that Americans are starting to spend less on dining out, vacation plans and even such routine services as ma

Jul 4, 2022 • 30:33

Miscarriage, abortion and the legal gray area for doctors

Doctors are worried gray areas in new abortion bans force a choice between breaking their oath and breaking the law. Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to an OB/GYN about what those decisions are like. Plus, how to cover your digital trail if you seek an abortion.Read more:Health and science reporter Ariana Eunjung Cha recently wrote about the fear and confusion many doctors are facing since Roe was overturned.. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) joined numerous other p

Jul 1, 2022 • 21:10

A SCOTUS term like no other

Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court — just after the court delivered a blow to President Biden’s climate plan. Today, we talk about the divided court and what it means for the future of our democracy.Read more:On Thursday, the Supreme Court sharply cut back the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to reduce the carbon output of existing power plants, a major setback for the Biden administration’s plans to combat climate change.The vote w

Jun 30, 2022 • 22:17

Congress passed gun control. Will it last?

Congress notched a major legislative win last week by passing gun control legislation. But will a recent Supreme Court ruling on a concealed-carry law blunt the victory?Read more:One day before Congress sent a landmark piece of gun legislation to President Biden’s desk, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on New York’s concealed-carry licenses that could weaken the law. Then, the morning of the bill’s passage, the Supreme Court announced another landmark decision, overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Jun 29, 2022 • 28:43

The most damning Jan. 6 testimony yet

On Tuesday in a surprise hearing, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson gave the most damning testimony to date on President Donald Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, 2021.Read more:It didn’t take long to find out why the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol chose to hold a surprise hearing on Tuesday: Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson provided what quickly became clear was the most damning testimony to date on President Donald Trump’s actions on Jan. 6.Rep

Jun 28, 2022 • 16:02

She wanted an abortion. Now, she has twins.

After Brooke Alexander learned she was pregnant last August, she and then-boyfriend Billy High initially wanted an abortion. Just 18 and 17, the pair had been dating only a month. But Brooke and Billy live in Texas, where a state-wide abortion ban prohibited the procedure after about six weeks of pregnancy. Brooke was too far along, and this past spring, she gave birth to twins. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade Friday, ending the constitutional right to an abortion, it set off

Jun 27, 2022 • 31:50

The day Roe v. Wade fell

On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned the fundamental right to abortion established nearly 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade. Today, we take you from a clinic in Houston to protests and celebrations outside the court, and explain what this decision means.Read more:The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was the most anticipated of the term. But while this was a stunning reversal — it wasn’t surprising. A draft of the decision was leaked in May, indicating that th

Jun 24, 2022 • 31:17

The Amazon uprising

Today on Post Reports, we follow two union fights at Amazon warehouses with very different outcomes, and what they can tell us about what it takes to go up against a trillion-dollar company.Read more:In early April, the labor movement saw a huge victory: Workers voted to unionize an Amazon warehouse on Staten Island. Our reporter Greg Jaffe went up to New York to meet Chris Smalls, the charismatic leader of a new kind of worker-led movement. Greg had one big question: Could this movement spread?

Jun 23, 2022 • 33:01

Latin America’s new left

Colombia has elected its first leftist president. Unthinkable a decade ago, his victory signals a dramatic shift in the pandemic-wracked region. Plus, the powerful testimony from election workers whose lives were upended by Donald Trump’s false claims. Read more:For the first time in its 200-year history, Colombia will have a leftist president: More than 50 percent of voters chose Gustavo Petro, a former guerilla fighter and mayor of Bogatá, to lead the country. Petro is one of several

Jun 22, 2022 • 26:54

The Google engineer who thinks its AI has come alive

Today on Post Reports, the rogue Google engineer who thinks the company’s AI has come to life – and the dangers of artificial intelligence that impersonates humans. Read more:Nitasha Tiku covers tech culture for The Post. Recently, she broke the story about the Google engineer who concluded his company’s chatbot generator “LaMDA” was sentient. But even as Google and outside experts disagree, this case raises questions about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence that closely mimic

Jun 21, 2022 • 25:09

‘Pro-life’ in a post-Roe world

As the Supreme Court seems poised to strike down Roe v. Wade, we explore some of the fissures in the antiabortion movement.Read more:What does it mean to identify as “pro-life” in 2022?When Karen Swallow Prior, a longtime antiabortion activist, first heard about the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion suggesting that Roe v. Wade would be overturned, she was thrilled. But she quickly realized her feelings on the “pro-life” movement had become a lot more complicated over the decades.Religion repo

Jun 20, 2022 • 22:59

The untold story of ‘All the President’s Men’

Fifty years ago today, five men broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, located in the posh Watergate building in D.C. Nobody knew it at the time, but the break-in was the first in a series of events that spiraled into the Watergate scandal, and eventually, the downfall of President Richard M. Nixon. For many people, their memories of this event have become encapsulated in a movie: the iconic 1976 film “All the President’s Men.” Based on the book by Washington Post

Jun 17, 2022 • 35:52

Finally, vaccines for young kids

On Wednesday, independent advisers to the Food and Drug Administration recommended the agency authorize coronavirus vaccines for children under 5. What this move means for families and how it will affect where we are in the pandemic.Read more:It’s finally happening: The Food and Drug Administration seems poised to sign off on coronavirus vaccines for children younger than 5 years old. Parents are celebrating the news after waiting for approval for almost a year and a half. But why did it t

Jun 16, 2022 • 23:16

A last-chance deal on gun control?

Ten Republicans. Ten Democrats. One bipartisan gun-control deal. Could this be the last chance for any meaningful action on federal gun reform?Read More: Over the weekend, Republicans and Democrats announced a monumental agreement on addressing gun violence. They had a nine-point plan that included provisions that would prevent gun sales to a broader group of domestic violence offenders (closing what is called the “boyfriend loophole”), and criminal background checks for gun buyers under 21 woul

Jun 15, 2022 • 27:08

The ‘big lie’ candidates

Today on Post Reports, the GOP candidates spreading the so-called “big lie,” and how the Jan. 6 committee hopes to educate Americans about what really happened. Plus, the United States has sent weapons to Ukraine — but now the troops need tech support. Read more:J.R. Majewski marched to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and tweeted a photo with the caption: “It’s going down on 1/6.” Last month, he won the Republican nomination in an Ohio congressional district along Lake Erie.A Washington P

Jun 14, 2022 • 32:22

A recession? In this economy?!

Is the U.S. economy hurtling toward a recession? Dean Baker, an economist and co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in D.C., thinks it all boils down to just how aggressive the Federal Reserve will be. The Fed is expected to raise interest rates again later this week. On today’s “Post Reports,” we examine the factors that could lead to a recession — and we ask what Americans can do to prepare if it happens.

Jun 13, 2022 • 21:47

'Broken Doors,' Episode 6

Today on “Post Reports,” the sixth and final episode of “Broken Doors,” about the risks of no-knock raids for people on both sides of the door. How did we get here – and what does the future look like? Read more:“Broken Doors” is an investigative podcast series hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the U.S. justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. In the sixth and final episode of

Jun 11, 2022 • 53:06

How the abortion ruling could impact Black women

Today on “Post Reports,” what the fight for abortion rights means for Black women, and how both sides of the fight are intertwined with the legacy of slavery and racism.Read more:With a Supreme Court ruling on abortion access looming, Black women in particular are struggling with the fight for reproductive rights. A long history of medical mistreatment and neglect follows Black women, and it makes the debate between abortion rights and antiabortion advocates all the more complicated. While some

Jun 10, 2022 • 19:52

The banned book club

How high school students across the country are fighting for their right to read. Plus, what the Golden State Warriors represent off the basketball court.Read more:A few months ago, education reporter Hannah Natanson sat in on the meeting of an unusual book club at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Tex. – one in which students read exclusively books banned by their school district, and think deeply about the aspects of the world that’ll remain hidden to them if grown-ups keep banning books.&nbsp

Jun 9, 2022 • 31:20

A preview of the Jan. 6 hearings

Starting Thursday, the House committee probing the attack on the Capitol is holding televised hearings. What will be revealed after nearly a year of investigation? Plus, an update on California’s Tuesday elections.Read more:After conducting hundreds of interviews and uncovering more than 100,000 records, the House committee probing the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is making the investigation public, holding six televised hearings, the first starting tomorrow in prime time. The hearings will feat

Jun 8, 2022 • 18:50

The housing crisis hits mobile homes

Today on Post Reports, how rising prices at mobile home parks may destabilize the entire housing market. Plus, climate change is forcing schools to close early for “heat days.” Read more:America’s housing crisis is trickling down to mobile home parks. Mobile homes have traditionally been the country’s biggest source of affordable housing: 20 million Americans live in manufactured homes. Most mobile home park residents own their houses and rent the land underneath. But now, mobile home parks

Jun 7, 2022 • 22:50

Too liberal for California?

Today on “Post Reports,” we take a hard look at California’s strange election season to see how Democrats across the country are testing the viability of their beliefs – and whether some may be losing patience with leftward ideas.Read more:Tomorrow is primary day in the Golden State. And in California’s two largest cities, things are looking pretty…odd.In San Francisco, there’s a campaign to remove a district attorney and “progressive prosecutor,” who was voted in a couple of years ago. Then, in

Jun 6, 2022 • 25:10

"Broken Doors," Episode 5

Today on “Post Reports,” the fifth episode of “Broken Doors,” about a multi-house no-knock raid,and the drugs police say they seized.Read more: “Broken Doors” is an investigative podcast series hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the U.S. justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. In the fifth episode of this series, we head to Missouri.Police upended the lives of an entire block and ki

Jun 4, 2022 • 47:27

“Dirty Dancing” to “Knocked Up”: Abortion in the movies

How aborition in the movies changed the way Americans think about reproductive rights. And a dispatch from Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilee celebrations in London.Read more:As we wait to hear how the Supreme Court rules on abortion access in America, we’ve been reflecting on what has and hasn’t change since Roe. v Wade was decided almost 50 years ago. Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post’s film critic, looked at how the film industry has portrayed abortion since the landmark ruling in 1973. After watch

Jun 3, 2022 • 46:01

99 days of war in Ukraine

Today on Post Reports, we bring you to the frontline of the war in Ukraine, as Russian forces encircle Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Plus, a teenager coming of age in the war finds purpose in helping fellow displaced Ukrainians. Read more:Nearly 100 days into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have suffered significant setbacks: President Volodomyr Zelensky says Russia has now taken 20 percent of his country. Foreign correspondent Siobhan O’Grady brings us into the tr

Jun 2, 2022 • 36:06

What went wrong in Uvalde

More than a week later, what we know and don’t know about how a gunman carried out a massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex. — and why the timeline from authorities keeps changing.Read more:In the days since a shooter killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School, new and horrifying details about the timeline of events keep emerging. We now know that the gunman was able to walk into the school unimpeded. We know that children called 911 from within classrooms pleading

Jun 1, 2022 • 25:32

Out to dry after a hurricane

As hurricane season hits, we examine what happens when Black communities seem to be last in line for disaster planning in Texas.Read more:Communities more likely to be hit by hurricanes are bracing themselves for a rough summer, as hurricane season begins June 1. But in Kashmere Gardens, a predominantly Black neighborhood in Houston, residents are still trying to repair the damage to homes from a hurricane that hit five years ago. As Tracy Jan tells producer Bishop Sand, that’s because mone

May 31, 2022 • 15:20

"Broken Doors," Episode 4

Today on “Post Reports,” the fourth episode of “Broken Doors,” about the minutes between approval for a no-knock warrant and a deadly raid. Read more:“Broken Doors” is a new investigative podcast series hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the U.S. justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. In the fourth episode of this series, we head to Port Allen, La.On July 25, 2019, a Bla

May 30, 2022 • 55:41

Depp v. Heard

After six weeks, the contentious defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is set to wrap up Friday. Today on “Post Reports,” what happened in the courtroom and online, and why it matters.Read more:After six weeks of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation trial, the jury is hearing closing arguments Friday.Depp is suing Heard for $50 million over an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post in 2018 in which she referred to herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse (Depp ha

May 27, 2022 • 20:42

What comes after the NRA

The NRA faces critics from all sides, with infighting among its executives and, after the Uvalde, Tex., school shooting, renewed pressure from gun control advocates. And then there are the radical gun groups that say the NRA hasn’t gone far enough.Read more:Tomorrow, the National Rifle Association will kick off its annual meeting. Just a few hours from the site of Tuesday’s school shooting, the convention will feature a 14-acre gun show and headliners including former president Donald Trump and

May 26, 2022 • 20:58

‘It started in the fourth grade building’

The deadliest school shooting in nearly a decade, and what’s changed in the years since the massacre in Newtown, Conn. Read more:Washington Post reporter Arelis Hernández is on the ground in Uvalde as children and families try to make sense of the violence that tore through Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. According to a Post database,last year was the deadliest year for school shootings in America since at least 1999, the year of the Columbine massacre. This year is on track to be e

May 25, 2022 • 38:33

Monkeypox: Should we be worried?

Today on Post Reports, what to know about monkeypox and how prepared the United States is for future pandemics. Plus, in New Orleans, the return of a beloved Mardi Gras tradition.Read more:What is monkeypox, and how concerned should we be about the virus? Cameron Wolfe, an infectious-disease expert at Duke University, explains what we know about the rare virus, now confirmed in the United States and Europe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert late last week, urgin

May 24, 2022 • 30:08

Georgia's Trump question

On Tuesday Republican voters in Georgia will choose between candidates who supported Donald Trump’s claims that the election was stolen and those who did not. The results may say a lot about election integrity in 2022 — and the state of the GOP nationwide. Read more: In 2020, the fate of the presidency and which party would control the U.S. Senate hinged on what happened in Georgia. The state emerged as a contentious battleground, and it quickly drew the attention of President Donald T

May 23, 2022 • 20:39

‘His Name Is George Floyd’

After the murder of George Floyd, reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa spent months learning everything they could about Floyd’s life. The story they reveal in a new book shows how systemic racism shaped and shortened it. Read more: “He's everywhere — but he's not here. He's on somebody's wall. He's on somebody's billboard. … He's in a newspaper, but he's not here. He's here in spirit. But he's not here.” In the summer of 2020, after George Floyd was murdered, he became a sym

May 20, 2022 • 1:16:09

The untold story of the Texas abortion ban

A year ago today, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Texas Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act. The law bans abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy — before many people even know they’re pregnant. It also employed a novel legal strategy that empowered ordinary people to enforce the law by suing anyone who may have helped facilitate the abortion.Many observers thought the law would be blocked from taking effect or overturned after passing. That didn’t happen. The Su

May 19, 2022 • 32:25

‘Un-retiring’

Today on Post Reports, an estimated 1.5 million retirees have reentered the U.S. labor market over the past year. What’s bringing them back?Read more:Millions of Americans who retired during the pandemic are returning to the workforce.Many are being lured back to work by more flexible, hybrid work arrangements and declining concerns over covid. And, yes, some of it is also being driven by high inflation. But there’s good news, too: Ageism might be less of a problem for older workers. Companies a

May 18, 2022 • 13:00

​​Why Putin is the best thing to happen to NATO

Finland and Sweden are applying for NATO membership, ending decades-long policies of military neutrality. We take a look at what this means for global security. Plus, why some NATO leaders are worried about Vladimir Putin being humiliated in Ukraine.Read more:Finland and Sweden’s leaders announced in recent days that they would be seeking membership in NATO, the military alliance among the United States, Canada and many European countries. Sweden and Finland historically have remained neutral to

May 17, 2022 • 24:09

The forces shaping the 2022 midterm story

With key states holding primaries this week, we ask the big question for the 2022 midterms: Will Republicans take back control of Congress? And, the GOP lawmakers who have echoed the racist conspiracy theory used to justify the mass shooting in Buffalo.Read more:The 2022 midterms are ramping up. On Tuesday, voters in five states, including Pennsylvania and North Carolina, will vote in primary elections.Meanwhile, in races around the country, Republicans are pushing anti-immigrant sentiments that

May 16, 2022 • 21:41

Black in Time: The Gilded Age, Bridgerton & Beyond

A few weeks ago, Martine Powers appeared on the Black culture podcast “For Colored Nerds” to discuss her love of period dramas and what does and doesn't work as these shows try to be more inclusive in their casting.To hear the rest of Martine’s discussion with Eric Eddings and Brittany Luse, check out “For Colored Nerds” wherever you get your podcasts, and listen to the episode “Black in Time.”

May 15, 2022 • 11:48

‘Pregnant? Don’t want to be? Call Jane.’

In the years before Roe v. Wade, the group known as Jane helped more than 11,000 Chicago women get abortions. We look back at the group and talk with one of its members as activists and health advocates mobilize in anticipation of the end of Roe.Read more:In the years before Roe v. Wade guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion, a group of women banded together in Chicago to help others access the procedure illegally. Their fliers read things like: “Pregnant? Don’t want to be? Call Jane

May 13, 2022 • 27:11

The baby formula crisis

For months, parents have been scrambling to feed their children amid a nationwide baby formula shortage. Today, why the supply is so short, and how parents are coping.Read more:Three-quarters of American parents with infants rely on baby formula. For many, it’s the only option to keep their babies alive and healthy. But since the winter, shortages have left caregivers scrambling to find enough food. Last week, supplies in stores were down more than 40 percent. Parenting editor Amy Joyce say

May 12, 2022 • 23:01

The ‘kingpin’ of opioid makers

A cache of more than 1.4 million newly released records exposes the inner workings of the nation’s largest opioid manufacturer. Today on “Post Reports,” we go inside the sales machine at Mallinckrodt.Read more:The largest manufacturer of opioids in the United States once cultivated a reliable stable of hundreds of doctors it could count on to write a steady stream of prescriptions for pain pills.But one left the United States for Pakistan months before he was indicted on federal drug conspiracy

May 11, 2022 • 23:21

What we can learn from vaccinated covid deaths

Nearly 1 million people in the United States have died of covid-19, and the toll is growing among vaccinated people as the virus gets harder and harder to dodge. Today on Post Reports, what we can learn from looking at vaccinated deaths.Read more:According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccinated people made up a shocking 42 percent of covid deaths in January and February during the peak of the omicron surge, compared with 23 percent during delta’s surge in Septemb

May 10, 2022 • 20:08

Atul Gawande on why we still need covid funding

Today on “Post Reports,” the head of global health at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Atul Gawande, on the state of the pandemic and why global vaccination efforts are at risk. Read more:Today on the show, we hear from national health reporter Dan Diamond about his interview with Atul Gawande, who leads global health at USAID and co-chairs the Biden administration’s covid-19 task force. He is also an endocrine surgeon, health-care researcher and writer. Gawande exp

May 9, 2022 • 16:41

One of the deadliest places on Earth to have a baby

Today on Post Reports, we go to Sierra Leone, where having a baby can mean risking your life. Read more:Today, we follow the story of Susan Lebbie. Lebbie is 17 and has just given birth to her son, Evan. Throughout her pregnancy she was terrified of facing the same fate as her mother, who died while giving birth to Susan. Susan’s fears are not unfounded: One in 20 women in Sierra Leone die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest United Nations estimate, most oft

May 6, 2022 • 19:04

The power of language in the abortion fight

In the ‘90s, Buffalo was ground zero for the battle over abortion rights. Today we revisit that time with media columnist Margaret Sullivan — who served as managing editor of the Buffalo News — and talk about how media has shaped the abortion debate.Read more: In 1998, in Buffalo, NY, OB/GYN Barnett Slepian was murdered in his own home by anti-abortion extremist, James Kopp. We hear from media columnist Margaret Sullivan about how she remembers this volatile time and how the media has

May 5, 2022 • 20:32

The economics of abortion access

As the Supreme Court seems poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, we talk to an economist about the long-term consequences for someone denied an abortion. Read more:What can economic research tell us about the effects of abortion access on women’s lives? As the Supreme Court seems poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, we talk to economist Caitlin Myers at Middlebury College, who has been asking this question in her research. Myers says there is a lot we can learn from the data about how being denie

May 4, 2022 • 29:02

Drafting the end of Roe v. Wade

The Supreme Court may soon overturn Roe v. Wade. Today, we unpack the leaked draft opinion that has spurred intense reaction from both sides of the issue. Plus, we hear about the implications for red states, blue states and the Supreme Court.Read more:Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. confirmed on Tuesday that the draft opinion is authentic, and that he is opening an investigation into how it became public. Roberts also stressed that the draft opinion was not final, and the ultimate decision of

May 3, 2022 • 32:01

The changing face of J.D. Vance

This Tuesday, Ohioans will vote in the primary ahead of this fall’s midterm elections. Today on “Post Reports,” we’re talking about the transformation of one candidate from never-Trumper to Trump’s pick for Ohio’s open Senate seat. Read more:Back in 2016, commentator and venture capitalist J.D. Vance was known for his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” about the ravages of poverty and drug use in his Ohio town. He made the rounds on talk shows like “Charlie Rose” and NPR’s “Fresh Air” explaining the

May 2, 2022 • 17:38

The carpet cleaner who speaks 24 languages

Today on “Post Reports,” we meet a carpet cleaner who speaks two dozen languages — and we have an update on what’s happened to him since this story was first published in print.Read more:In a city where diplomats and embassies abound, where interpreters can command six-figure salaries at the State Department or the International Monetary Fund, where language proficiency is résumé rocket fuel, Vaughn Smith was a savant with a secret.He speaks 24 languages well enough to carry on lengthy conversat

Apr 29, 2022 • 40:42

Why fewer kids are going to college

Why college enrollment numbers are down. And how one solution to climate change could threaten an endangered species.Read more:May 1 is college decision day, which is the last chance students have to submit the deposit that secures their spot at the university or college of their choice. But colleges aren’t getting as many students as usual. Enrollment has shrunk more than 5 percent since 2019 — that’s a loss of nearly 1 million students. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel explains why enrollment is down

Apr 28, 2022 • 25:34

On the front lines in Ukraine

On today’s show we take you on the ground in Bucha, where Russian forces have left a trail of devastation. Then we head east, where we hear from refugees who have escaped the embattled port city of Mariupol. Read more:In the suburb of Bucha, Russian forces have left a trail of violent devastation. Post journalists spent a week reporting from the area and counted more than 200 bodies. Foreign correspondent Louisa Loveluck says the actual number of dead is believed to be much higher. “It's ve

Apr 27, 2022 • 25:52

The $44 billion question

What will Elon Musk do with Twitter? Today on “Post Reports,” we talk about what’s next for one of the world’s most influential communication platforms.Read more:Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, will buy social media site Twitter for about $44 billion after weeks of back-and-forth with the company. Musk now holds the future of the platform in his hands, and critics fear his strong belief in free speech could lead to more misinformation and hate speech on the platform. Will Oremus explains

Apr 26, 2022 • 21:26

Disney vs. DeSantis

What the battle between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney World says about what Republicans are willing to do to win the culture wars. And, how the end of the federal public transit mask mandate will affect vulnerable people who use buses and trains. Read more:Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has been publicly feuding with Disney over a controversial law that limits what teachers can say to kids about gender and sexual orientation. Reporter Hannah Sampson explains how the state’s Repu

Apr 25, 2022 • 24:18

“Broken Doors,” Episode 3

“Broken Doors” is a new investigative podcast series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the U.S. justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.In the third episode of this series, we return to a rural county in Mississippi.After hearing from survivors of no-knock raids and learning about the deadly consequences, we put our questions directly to the sheriff and the judge who

Apr 22, 2022 • 59:09

What ‘greenwashing’ means for climate change

Today on “Post Reports,” the Biden administration announces a plan to welcome Ukrainian refugees. Plus, just in time for Earth Day, our corporate accountability reporter helps you decipher what it means when a company claims to be “green.”Read more:The Biden administration announced plans Thursday to expedite the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, creating a new system that will allow citizens and organizations such as churches to sponsor them and warning that Ukrainians attempting to cross via Mexi

Apr 21, 2022 • 28:32

The trouble with policing ‘hot spots’

In the past two years, a number of major American cities have experienced spikes in homicides and other violent crimes. Mayors and police chiefs have been under pressure to respond, and some are turning to a new policing strategy called “place network investigations.” As its name suggests, the strategy focuses on how criminal networks form and thrive in certain geographical places, and it looks at what can be done to try to break up these patterns of crime. Pioneered by academics and now be

Apr 20, 2022 • 37:51

Planes, trains & poop: the future of coronavirus

What the end of the transportation mask mandates means for you. And, the key to tracking coronavirus surges across the country could be in your poop. Read more:Yesterday a federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit. The Transportation Security Administration stopped enforcing the mandate, as did major airlines, with some of them informing passengers of the news midflight. The relaxation of the pandemic precaution has raised public health conce

Apr 19, 2022 • 30:45

Elon Musk’s vision for Twitter

Today on Post Reports, tech reporter Nitasha Tiku breaks down what’s happening with Elon Musk’s bid to take over Twitter, what his vision of the platform would look like, and why Twitter is putting up a fight.Read more: Elon Musk is already facing pushback on multiple fronts on his plan to buy social media company Twitter. The billionaire launched his takeover bid last week after back-and-forth wrangling with Twitter since he became a major shareholder. First, he was invited to join the boa

Apr 18, 2022 • 20:56

Life Kit: Dealing with mental health at work

On today’s bonus episode of Post Reports, we bring you a collaboration with NPR’s “Life Kit” about how to deal with mental health issues while on the job.Read more:Being on the clock while experiencing depression, anxiety or another mental health issue can be distracting, difficult and isolating. But you’re not alone. Post Reports producer Jordan-Marie Smith worked with NPR’s how-to podcast “Life Kit” on how to deal with mental health while at work. It doesn’t matter whether you are a barista or

Apr 16, 2022 • 22:05

“Broken Doors,” Episode 2

A family confronts a sheriff after a deadly no-knock raid.Read more:“Broken Doors” is a new investigative podcast series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the U.S. justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at every level. Hosted by Jenn Abelson and Nicole Dungca.In the second episode of this series, we return to a rural county in Mississippi.Around 1 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2015, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office hurled a battering ram into the home

Apr 15, 2022 • 1:12:28

The danger of forever chemicals

Today on “Post Reports,” how forever chemicals upended the lives of farmers in Maine — and just how widespread the contamination might be.Read more:Adam Nordell and Johanna Davis bought their farm seven years ago. In late 2021, they discovered that their land and water were contaminated with incredibly high levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals” or PFAS. After finding out about the contamination, they shut down all of their farm operations

Apr 14, 2022 • 25:18

The misinformation war in Ukraine

Today on “Post Reports,” the battle over misinformation on Facebook in Ukraine. Plus, how TikTok has created an alternative universe, just for Russia. Read more:In Ukraine, Facebook fact-checkers are fighting a war on two fronts: racing to debunk propaganda about the war while also trying to survive it. Naomi Nix reports. With Russia cracking down on social media, the Chinese-owned company TikTok has managed to stay online there by banning all new content, even as loopholes let Ru

Apr 13, 2022 • 32:27

Will France elect its first far-right president?

Could Macron lose? That’s the question we put to Paris correspondent Rick Noack, who has been on the campaign trail with the incumbent and the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen. Today on Post Reports, what to know about the French presidential election.Read more: French President Emmanuel Macron finished ahead of far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the first round of the French presidential election. But far-right leader Le Pen’s close second-place finish set up a competitive runoff election

Apr 12, 2022 • 17:02

How the student loan freeze helped Black women

On today’s episode of “Post Reports,” what life without federal student loan payments has meant for Black women. Plus, the double life of a WNBA star.Read more:Lamesha Brown bought a house. Alphi Coleman feels like she can finally rest. Lisa Jackson says it “almost feels like a raise.” For millions of Americans who took out loans to pay for college, the past two years have offered a chance to live without the burden of education debt. But Black women like Brown, Coleman and Jackson shoulder

Apr 11, 2022 • 24:11

“Broken Doors,” Episode 1

An unusual warrant. A pattern of questionable no-knock raids. A reporting thread that just kept going. Read more:No-knock warrants allow police to force their way into people’s homes without warning. What happens when this aggressive police tactic becomes the rule, rather than the exception? “Broken Doors” is a new investigative podcast series about how no-knock warrants are deployed in the American justice system — and the consequences for communities when accountability is flawed at

Apr 8, 2022 • 43:26

Is accountability possible for Amir Locke's killing?

Why prosecutors decided not to charge Minneapolis police officer Mark Hanneman in the killing of Amir Locke. Plus, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gets confirmed to the Supreme Court. Read more:On Wednesday, prosecutors announced they would not be filing charges against a Minneapolis police officer in the killing of Amir Locke during a predawn no-knock raid in February. In a statement on Wednesday, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said they

Apr 7, 2022 • 25:56

In Oklahoma, a closing window to access abortion

On Tuesday, Oklahoma lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to ban most abortions in the state, passing a Republican bill that would make performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. If the law is signed — and not struck down by the courts — it will take effect this summer. The state is also weighing two other bills modeled on the restrictive Texas law that has banned most abortions by employing a novel legal strategy that empowers private citizens to enforce the law thro

Apr 6, 2022 • 36:51

A secret campaign against TikTok

How Facebook’s parent company Meta paid one of the biggest Republican consulting firms in the country to orchestrate a nationwide PR campaign against TikTok. And, where we stand with booster shots and covid antivirals.Read more:Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is paying the Republican consulting group Targeted Victory to try to turn the American public against TikTok. They’ve done everything from placing op-eds in major regional news outlets to promoting dubious stories about alleged TikTok tren

Apr 5, 2022 • 25:28

‘How many more Buchas are there?’

On today’s episode of Post Reports, grim scenes from the Ukrainian suburb of Bucha renew calls for investigations into alleged Russian war crimes. Read more:On Saturday, Ukrainian forces and journalists found mass graves in Bucha, a suburb northwest of Kyiv, after Russian forces withdrew from the region. Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk told The Post that about 270 residents had been buried in two graves. He estimated that 40 bodies were left on the street. On today’s episode of Post Report

Apr 4, 2022 • 13:01

An ICU nurse confronts Year 3 of the pandemic

As we enter Year 3 of the pandemic, we check back in with intensive care unit nurse Jessica Montanaro, whom we first met in 2021. Now sick with covid and facing a ticking clock on her return to work, she reflects on the past year and the present struggles of her profession. Read More:Last year we brought you the story of Jessica Montanaro, an intensive care unit nurse from New York City who found herself battling exhaustion and grief as New York became the epicenter of the coronavirus pande

Apr 1, 2022 • 32:05

The view from Kyiv

Russia announced earlier this week it would scale back its offensive around Kyiv. We take you in and around the capital city to see whether that’s true. Plus, how videos of impromptu concerts around Ukraine have become the soundtrack of hope in the face of war. Read more:On Tuesday, Moscow announced that it would “drastically reduce” its military assault around Kyiv. But U.S. officials are leery of Russia’s promise to shift away from the capital city. Post foreign correspondent Siobhan

Mar 31, 2022 • 18:11

The rise and fall of Peloton

How Peloton became a victim of its own success, and what the parasocial relationship with its instructors tells us about our relationships to ourselves. Plus, what happens when two cosmonauts and an astronaut return to earth.Read more:Peloton saw a meteoric rise at the start of the pandemic. But as normal life has resumed, sales of the stationary bike have plummeted and the company has been plunged into crisis. Business reporter Aaron Gregg explains. And writer Anne Helen Petersen, author o

Mar 30, 2022 • 32:14

How the war in Ukraine could end

On today’s episode of Post Reports, we bring you the latest news from Istanbul, where Russian and Ukrainian delegates are negotiating a de-escalation of the war. Read more:After a day of talks in Istanbul, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have laid out their terms for a potential end to the war.Moscow has said it would “drastically reduce” military activity near Kyiv and Chernihiv “to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations.” Kyiv has propose

Mar 29, 2022 • 21:30

Preparing for a post-Roe America

As more and more states move to restrict abortion rights, and the Supreme Court weighs whether to overturn Roe v. Wade, we look at how clinics in blue states are preparing for an influx of patients from across state lines. Read more:On today’s episode of Post Reports, national politics reporter Caroline Kitchener takes us inside a clinic on the Illinois side of the Illinois-Missouri border, where abortion providers are working to build a blue-state abortion refuge for patients from across t

Mar 28, 2022 • 24:17

What’s the deal with Ginni Thomas?

On today’s Post Reports, what we can learn from texts between President Donald Trump’s top aide and the wife of a Supreme Court justice. Plus, why protesters in the Caribbean have not been charmed by William and Kate’s royal “charm offensive.” Read more:In text messages obtained by The Washington Post and CBS News, Virginia Thomas — a conservative activist and the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas — repeatedly pressed White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to keep up the

Mar 25, 2022 • 18:51

Mariupol, war crimes, and NATO’s limits

The United States and the E.U. announced new sanctions on Russia on Thursday as President Biden held emergency talks with NATO leaders in Brussels. Today we talk about the geopolitical moment, and hear from the families of people trapped in Mariupol. Read more:President Biden said on Thursday that the United States will take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and will commit more than $1 billion in humanitarian assistance for those affected by Russia’s continued invasion in Ukraine. As the war r

Mar 24, 2022 • 23:36

Fauci on the BA.2 variant

Today, what we know about the BA.2 coronavirus variant and whether the United States is prepared for a possible rise in cases. Plus, why the war in Ukraine has had an unexpected impact on sushi prices in Japan.Read more:The BA.2 variant is now the most common variant among new coronavirus cases in the United States. And while experts say it’s unlikely to lead to a big surge, dropped mask mandates across the country could lead to more spread. Meanwhile, the federal government is running out of mo

Mar 23, 2022 • 24:53

The Ketanji Brown Jackson hearings

Today on Post Reports, the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, and how Republicans are weighing the costs and benefits of opposing Jackson’s nomination.Read more:The Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson have begun. If confirmed, Jackson would be the first African American woman to be seated on the Supreme Court bench. While Jackson’s confirmation hearing is expected to be less contentious than those for other recent Supreme Co

Mar 22, 2022 • 20:48

Death in the rainforest

Today on Post Reports, a journey deep into the Amazon to uncover how the planned redevelopment of a highway could go hand in hand with deforestation and violence. Read more:Highway BR-319 slices through the heart of the Amazon. Built in the 1970s, it has slowly deteriorated, giving way to muck and mud. Many people who rely on the road are calling for its repair. But scientists warn that easier access to the rainforest will inevitably lead to illegal deforestation, which will soon tip the fo

Mar 21, 2022 • 24:47

Daylight Saving Time … forever?

This week, a sleepy Senate voted unanimously to end “spring forward” and “fall back” and make daylight saving time permanent. Read more:The Senate surprised everyone in Washington this week by voting unanimously to end clock-switching in the United States and make daylight saving time permanent. Our health policy and politics reporter Dan Diamond got to take a break from covering the coronavirus to talk about the bipartisan legislation, which would need to get through the House and be signe

Mar 18, 2022 • 16:29

Why Jason Rezaian is scared for Brittney Griner

Today on Post Reports, we talk to our colleague Jason Rezaian about WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia. Rezaian, who was unjustly held in Iran for 544 days, fears that Griner is being held as a geopolitical bargaining chip. Read more:Post opinions writer Jason Rezaian is very concerned about Brittney Griner. When he heard of her arrest, he says, his first thought was, “This sounds a lot like what happened to me.” Rezaian was arrested in 2014, and his case became a bar

Mar 17, 2022 • 25:20

Gas prices are the new war bonds

On today’s show, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal to Congress. Why U.S. sanctions on Russian oil aren’t the only thing raising gas prices. Plus, how the White House is enlisting TikTok influencers in the information war with Russia.Read more:On Wednesday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Congress, calling on the United States to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine. While President Biden has resisted calls to create a no-fly zone, he and other world lead

Mar 16, 2022 • 22:15

How Hong Kong’s ‘zero covid’ policy backfired

Since the omicron outbreak began a few months ago, 10 times as many people have died in Hong Kong as in the previous two years. Today on Post Reports, how Hong Kong’s “zero covid” policy led to a devastating surge.Read more:Body bags, overflowing morgues and chaotic hospitals. Hong Kong — a wealthy financial center — now has the highest covid-19 death rate in the developed world. More than 4,000 people have died since the start of the city’s most recent outbreak, compared with just 213 in the tw

Mar 15, 2022 • 15:14

Is Russia losing the war?

Many experts predicted that Russia would take Ukraine in a matter of days –– but fighting is now in its third week. Today on Post Reports, the failures of Russia’s military strategy, the surprising strength of Ukrainian forces, and how this could end. Read more:Almost three weeks into the Russian assault on Ukraine, Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control, to the surprise of many onlookers. “I think, broadly, there are two big reasons,” says national security reporter Shane Harris. “First

Mar 14, 2022 • 26:15

Who gets to stop thinking about the pandemic

Two years in, many Americans are ready to leave the pandemic behind. But some people don’t have that luxury — like the immunocompromised, parents of small children and covid “long-haulers.” Today on the show, what it means to “live with covid.”Read more:It’s been two years since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Today on Post Reports, we take stock of how far we’ve come … and how far we still have to go.For many around the country, the pandemic is starti

Mar 11, 2022 • 31:46

Russia’s war on the truth

After blocking media access, the Russian government banned what it calls “fake” news on its war with Ukraine. Journalists are now fleeing the country. Today on Post Reports, what that means for the truth and Russians’ access to it. Read more:Independent journalists in Russia have been fleeing since Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a ban on “fake news,” which bars reporters from calling the war in Ukraine a “war” or referring to the “invasion.” (The preferred language is “spe

Mar 10, 2022 • 18:28

The hidden cost of police misconduct

Today on Post Reports, we explore the hidden cost of police misconduct. Cities around the country spent more than $1.5 billion between 2010 and 2020 to settle claims involving thousands of officers repeatedly accused of misconduct – and often left taxpayers in the dark.Read more:A warning to listeners: Today’s episode of Post Reports includes a story about police violence that may be disturbing to some people, especially animal lovers.When we hear about lawsuits against police departments, it’s

Mar 9, 2022 • 24:26

Reading Putin

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, one question has loomed large: What does Putin want? Nonfiction book critic Carlos Lozada went looking for clues in the Russian leader’s 2000 book and other writings. Today on Post Reports, he shares what he learned. Read more:Reporters Siobhan O’Grady and Whitney Shefte have been reporting from the Ukrainian city of Irpin, just outside of Kyiv, where people are desperately trying to escape a Russian attack. As the invasion of Ukraine goes on, so many of u

Mar 8, 2022 • 17:14

Is Russia committing war crimes?

How Ukrainians are documenting the destruction of their country. And, why the international community may struggle to hold Russian officials accountable for alleged war crimes.Read more:As Russia continues its artillery assault of major population centers in Ukraine, Western officials have begun accusing Russian military officials of committing war crimes. “We've seen these really gruesome images of civilian casualties, of the shelling and the complete destruction of Ukrainian cities,” says

Mar 7, 2022 • 14:57

What ‘the Roger Stone tapes’ reveal about Jan. 6

A team of Danish filmmakers spent more than two years following Trump confidant and adviser, Roger Stone. Their footage — and an investigation from The Washington Post — shed new light on Stone’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.Read more:As a mob ransacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Roger Stone, Donald Trump’s longtime political adviser, hurried to pack a suitcase inside his suite at downtown Washington’s Willard hotel. Before leaving the city on a private jet, he told an aide he fe

Mar 5, 2022 • 22:35

Zelensky: The TV president turned war hero

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s improbable journey — from an actor who played the president on TV, to the real president of Ukraine, to the center of an American impeachment, to a war hero. Plus, an interview with the director of “The Batman.” Read more:The world has been captivated by videos from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the past week. The TV president turned wartime leader has a habit of turning up center stage in global events. Producer Ted Muldoon talke

Mar 4, 2022 • 42:24

Sanctions on oligarchs, and a lockout in baseball

Today on Post Reports, how the U.S. is imposing sanctions on Russia’s elite. Plus, why Major League Baseball is canceling games. Read more:On Thursday, the White House announced new sanctions against more Russian elites and their family members. Reporter Jeff Stein explains the strategy behind seizing yachts, jets and luxury apartments. This week, Major League Baseball announced that roughly 90 games would be canceled amid a labor dispute between the players union and team owners

Mar 3, 2022 • 22:37

Fleeing Ukraine

Nearly 900,000 people have fled Ukraine for safety. On today’s show, the refugees of the war in Ukraine. Read more:Hundreds of thousands of refugees have left Ukraine for neighboring countries, and many are now waiting in holding centers across the region. Many are women and children; Ukrainian authorities have told men ages 18 to 60 to stay in the country to fight the invasion.Almost 900,000 people have fled Ukraine and are looking to places like Poland, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania and Hung

Mar 2, 2022 • 18:29

Is Russia sanctions-proof?

Today on Post Reports, we bring you the latest from the war in Ukraine. How sanctions from the West are tanking Russia’s currency. Plus, a dire new climate report from the United Nations.Read more:Six days into the invasion of Ukraine, fierce fighting continued in Kharkiv as Russian forces closed in on the second-largest Ukrainian city. A convoy seemed to be stalled outside Kyiv on Tuesday afternoon. Follow the latest on the war from our reporters on the ground. The United States and Europe

Mar 1, 2022 • 24:14

Russia, Ukraine and the NATO question

Today, on the ground in Kyiv, where the battle for control continues. And NATO 101: how NATO came to be, how its mission has evolved since the end of the Cold War, and why two nonmembers are challenging the way the security organization is seen.Read more:Ukraine is not a member of NATO, the military alliance of mainly Western countries united by a mutual defense treaty. But post-Cold War tension between the West and Russia over NATO is at the heart of the current crisis. On today’s episode of Po

Feb 28, 2022 • 21:38

Getting to know Ketanji Brown Jackson

Today, a deep dive into the life of Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. Plus, a dispatch from Ukraine, where Russian forces are pressing closer to the capital, Kyiv.Read more: On Friday morning, President Biden announced his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court: federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Currently serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Jackson is a former clerk for Justice Stephen G. Breyer. If confirmed, she will be the first

Feb 25, 2022 • 22:32

Russia’s assault on Ukraine

On Thursday, Russia launched attacks on cities across Ukraine, from Kyiv to Kharkiv. Today on Post Reports, what it’s like on the ground there, Putin’s calculus, and why the United States and Europe feel powerless to stop Russia. Read more:Ukrainians in cities and towns across the country woke up to the sound of explosions early Thursday morning as Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine. On Thursday afternoon, President Biden announced further sanctions against Russ

Feb 24, 2022 • 33:26

Inside a police training conference

Much of America wants policing to change. But these self-proclaimed experts in police training tell officers they’re doing just fine. Today on Post Reports, we take you inside a police training conference.Read more:For more than a year now, Robert Klemko has been covering calls for police reform across the country in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.But last fall, he started wondering — have these calls for reform changed anything about the way police are trained?He went looking for a poli

Feb 23, 2022 • 14:27

‘The beginning of a Russian invasion’

Today on Post Reports – did Russia just invade Ukraine? Foreign correspondent Isabelle Khurshudyan says it depends on who you ask. Plus, Michael Robinson Chavez on what it’s like reporting from the eastern front. Read more: On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that he is recognizing two separatist regions of Ukraine as independent. He ordered troops to “perform peacekeeping functions” in those regions – which the United States and other allies say amounts to an invasion

Feb 22, 2022 • 20:37

Happy Presidents’ Day! Or … not?

Students, teachers and historians reflect on what has changed – and what should change – about the way we teach presidential history today.Read more:Americans are grappling with the complex legacies of former presidents.In just the past few weeks, a Theodore Roosevelt statue came down in New York City and a high school in New Jersey named after Woodrow Wilson officially decided to drop the president’s name.Today’s episode is hosted by Lilian Cunningham and looks to students, teachers and preside

Feb 21, 2022 • 24:51

Road-tripping through a divided state

With midterms ahead, both parties are tryings to connect with voters. But what if voters just want politics to stop feeling like an existential death match? Plus, a tribute to “Arthur,” the kids show ending after 25 years.Read more:This year’s midterm elections have Democrats and Republicans facing tough questions about how to reach voters. Back in November, there was a test case that offered some insight to both parties: the Virginia governor’s race.Businessman Glenn Youngkin was the first Repu

Feb 18, 2022 • 55:09

The Sandy Hook settlement

How some of the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting reached a settlement with Remington Arms nearly a decade after the massacre. Plus, why a convoy of semi-trucks descended on downtown Ottawa three weeks ago — and never left.Read more:When the families of nine of the victims of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School began their lawsuit against the gunmaker of the Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle, their goal was to spare other families the pain that had upended

Feb 17, 2022 • 31:01

How private equity is changing America’s suburbs

Today on Post Reports, how one company made millions by scooping up homes across the United States, then renting them back to people who could no longer afford to buy them. Read more:Last year investors bought nearly 1 in 7 homes sold in America’s top metropolitan areas, the most in at least two decades, according to data from the realty company Redfin and an analysis by The Washington Post. Those purchases come at a time when would-be buyers across the country are seeing wildly escal

Feb 16, 2022 • 21:45

A test for Kamila Valieva – and the Olympics

Kamila Valieva is arguably the best female figure skater in the world. She’s also a 15-year-old at the center of an Olympics doping scandal. After the skater’s emotional performance Tuesday, we talk about doping and her controversial coach.Read more:Kamila Valieva, the 15-year-old figure skating phenom from Russia, arrived in Beijing poised for a coronation, with a potential Olympic title affirming her status as the best women’s skater of her time. But now at the center of the doping controversy

Feb 15, 2022 • 19:08

Will anyone save Ukraine?

Diplomatic efforts to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine have failed to ease tensions — and that has huge stakes for Ukraine, for Europe and for America’s standing in the world.Read more:The U.S. State Department has announced that the U.S. will close its embassy in Ukraine’s capital, with remaining embassy personnel being relocated closer to the border with Poland because of mounting U.S. fears of an invasion by Russia.Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to leave the diplomatic door

Feb 14, 2022 • 19:08

Skating and SCOTUS

Today on Post Reports, a guide to the judges being considered to fill Justice Stephen Breyer’s Supreme Court seat and make history as the first Black woman on the court. Plus, two Washington Post politics experts talk … figure skating. Read more:After Justice Stephen G. Breyer announced his plan to retire at the end of the Supreme Court’s current term, all eyes turned to President Biden, who now has the chance to bolster the court’s liberal minority and deliver on a major campaign promise:

Feb 11, 2022 • 38:13

Why your rent is going up

We look at why rents have gone up across the nation, and whether that trend will end any time soon.Read more:Nationwide, the price of renting a home has skyrocketed recently — in some places the rent is up more than 30 percent. As economics correspondent Abha Bhattarai explains, the effect on some renters has been severe: Millions of Americans have been forced to move, while others have become homeless until they can find another place to live.

Feb 10, 2022 • 12:07

Is ISIS back?

What a brazen Islamic State prison break reveals about the strength of the terrorist group. Plus, amid uncertainty over the future of Roe v. Wade, Vermont moves to enshrine access to abortion in the state’s constitution. Read more:The world forgot this Syrian prison. The Islamic State did not. Baghdad bureau chief Louisa Loveluck was recently in Syria reporting on the fallout from a brazen ISIS attack, and what it revealed about the enduring strength of the group.Politics reporter Caroline Kitch

Feb 9, 2022 • 17:07

Born in the U.S.A., skiing for China

What it means for a star American athlete to compete for China in the Beijing Olympics. Plus, how an anonymous Instagram account called “Dear White Staffers” is exposing what it can be like working for lawmakers on Capitol Hill.Read more:Eileen Gu is an American dream of an Olympic athlete. Born and raised in San Francisco, she won gold in the big-air freestyle skiing event and is a favorite in two more events. But she’s not competing for the United States. She’s competing for China. Les Carpent

Feb 8, 2022 • 19:52

Can diplomacy save Ukraine?

As Russia appears to prepare for a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States and NATO allies scramble to find a diplomatic resolution.Read more:Russia is close to completing preparations for what appears to be a large-scale invasion of Ukraine that could lead to 50,000 civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis with millions of refugees fleeing the chaos, according to U.S. military and intelligence assessments. Intelligence reporter Shane Harris breaks down how the diplomatic ef

Feb 7, 2022 • 25:07

A way back to Adelaida

For four years, Maria Chic Reynoso and her daughter, Adelaida, only spoke through a screen. They were separated at the U.S. border under Trump. Though they’re reunited, they’re still haunted by the past — and the possibility of another separation. Read more:Maria Chic Reynoso and her daughter, Adelaida, were among the first to be separated at the U.S.-Mexico border in the summer of 2017 under the Trump administration — a year before the White House publicly acknowledged it was sep

Feb 4, 2022 • 43:23

George Floyd and the ‘duty to intervene’

Three police officers are on trial in Minnesota for their role in George Floyd’s murder. The case centers on their “duty to intervene” in the actions of Derek Chauvin. But some are asking: How do you teach cops to stand up to other cops? Read more:Former Minneapolis police officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane and Tou Thao are facing trial on federal charges that they deprived George Floyd of his federal civil rights in the fatal May 2020 arrest. Reporter Holly Bailey has been reporti

Feb 3, 2022 • 33:06

Getting vaccines ready for young kids

For many parents of young kids, the news that Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking emergency-use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine for children younger than 5 couldn’t have come soon enough. What we know — and don’t know — at this point in the process. Read more:Earlier this week, The Washington Post reported that coronavirus vaccines for children younger than 5 could be available far sooner than expected — perhaps by the end of February — under a plan that would lead to the potential auth

Feb 2, 2022 • 18:43

Boycott or not, the Olympics are big business

Today on Post Reports, we talk about corporate responsibility — at the Olympics, and in the C-suite. Plus, Wordle gets bought out. Read more:The U.S. government may be boycotting the Olympics, but American corporate sponsors aren’t. Global business reporter Jeanne Whalen says, “China is the world's second biggest economy, and for many of these companies, it is one of their biggest markets.” We break down what that means for the diplomatic boycott and its impact. A Washington Post revie

Feb 1, 2022 • 23:14

Taking politics out of parole

The legacy of “truth in sentencing” politics in Maryland, where the vast majority of people serving life sentences are Black, and how a new law could alter what it means to serve life in prison.Read more:Politics have shaped the parole process in Maryland for decades. In the heat of a tough-on-crime campaign in the 1990s, the state’s governor said that he would reject parole for anyone serving a life sentence, even when parole commissioners had recommended release. This policy, maintained by his

Jan 31, 2022 • 23:21

And now, some good news

The revolutionary Webb telescope reaches its final destination. Amy Schneider’s historic winning streak on “Jeopardy!” comes to an end. Plus, the faster world of 5G, explained.Read more:NASA’s revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope on Monday fired its thrusters for five minutes and reached its final destination, a special orbit around the sun where it will spend the rest of its life scrutinizing the universe and capturing light emitted soon after the big bang. Joel Achenbach reports. Amy

Jan 28, 2022 • 27:54

Winter's grip on Kabul

A hunger crisis in Afghanistan is forcing Western countries to grapple with how to save lives without benefiting the Taliban.Read more:After Taliban forces took Kabul in August, foreign aid into Afghanistan dried up. The international community worried that aid money would be misused by Taliban officials, so that money stopped coming. Banks ceased normal operations. Billions of dollars in Afghan assets were frozen.This economic freeze – in combination with the freezing temperatures Afghans have

Jan 27, 2022 • 17:24

Breyer will retire — just in time for Biden

Justice Stephen G. Breyer will retire at the end of the current Supreme Court term. This clears the way for President Biden to make good on his campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to serve on the court.Read more:Justice Breyer will retire from the Supreme Court, according to a person familiar with his plans. This clears the way for President Biden to reinforce the court’s liberal minority and make good on a campaign promise: to nominate the first Black woman to the nation’s highes

Jan 26, 2022 • 16:53

Your pay raise? No match for inflation.

How inflation is wiping out pay raises. Plus, how Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s mask mandate ban has plunged Virginia’s public schools into chaos. Read more:After years of barely budging, wage growth is finally at its highest level in decades. Workers have more negotiating power than many ever imagined, and average hourly wages rose 4.7 percent last year. But, as economics correspondent Abha Bhattarai explains, the same strong recovery that is emboldening workers is also driving up infla

Jan 25, 2022 • 21:24

A war in the heart of Europe?

Today on Post Reports we ask our Moscow correspondent: Is Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? Plus, 5G wireless service was turned on nationwide last week. We’ll talk about why that caused problems for air travel.Read more:On Monday, tensions over Ukraine and Russia continued to escalate amid growing fears that more than 100,000 Russian troops massed near Ukraine might soon invade. Isabelle Khurshudyan reports from Kyiv. 5G service was rolled out nationwide last week, and while it promises

Jan 24, 2022 • 24:56

Inside an overwhelmed emergency room

A Rhode Island emergency department provides a window into how front-line health-care workers are coping with the latest covid surge. And a conversation about how André Leon Talley embodied the heart of the fashion world.Read more:Laura Forman, Kent Hospital’s emergency department director, says that her days dealing with a deluge of covid patients involves a lot of “best bad options.” Reporters Joyce Koh and Lenny Bernstein reported from Rhode Island, where overwhelmed emergency staff have been

Jan 21, 2022 • 35:01

You get a test! And you get a test!

Today on Post Reports, the government’s rollout of free rapid coronavirus tests in the United States. And later in the show, how China’s “zero covid” policy could affect the Winter Olympics. Read more:This week, the Biden administration launched a website where Americans can order free rapid coronavirus tests. Each household is eligible for four tests, which are sent via mail to your residence. Reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb explains the importance — and limitations of rapid tests. You can

Jan 20, 2022 • 22:58

Will Democrats flunk their midterm?

As midterm elections loom, Democrats scramble to hold on to their slim majority. Plus, what a redistricting debacle in Ohio tells us about the map-drawing process happening in states across the country.Read more:For Democrats in swing districts, the midterm elections are looming large. These “front-liners” especially need something to show for their two years in the majority come November. As Marianna Sotomayor reports, some of them are advocating a new strategy on the stalled Build Back Better

Jan 19, 2022 • 28:01

A synagogue held hostage

What we know about the 11-hour hostage crisis at a Texas synagogue. Plus, Australia sends tennis champion Novak Djokovic home because of his refusal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Read more:On Saturday night, a gunman held four people hostage for more than 10 hours at a synagogue in Colleyville, Tex. The standoff ended with an FBI raid. The suspect has been confirmed dead, though Colleyville police would not say whether he had been killed by law enforcement or himself.“The trage

Jan 18, 2022 • 20:41

The first-ever list of enslavers in Congress

More than 1,700 congressmen once enslaved Black people. On today’s episode of “Post Reports,” the first database of those slaveholding congressmen. And how those politicians shaped the nation. Read more:For the first seven decades of its existence, Congress returned again and again to one acrimonious topic: slavery. Many of the lawmakers arguing in Washington were enslavers themselves. But until recently, the world didn’t know how many. Last week, The Post published the first-ever list

Jan 17, 2022 • 16:28

The president wants voting reform. Can he get it?

President Biden says passing voting rights legislation is a top priority for his administration. But a couple of senators have the power to keep that from happening. And, an unlikely casualty of our supply chain blues.Read more:In Atlanta this week, President Biden pushed for the passage of two voting rights bills facing the Senate. But any meaningful change on voting reform would mean changing Senate rules on the filibuster. And two Democratic senators are holding out: Joe Manchin and Kyrsten S

Jan 14, 2022 • 25:50

Why everything is so expensive right now

Inflation has hit a 40-year high in the U.S., driving up the cost of everything from groceries to housing. As the Fed prepares to raise interest rates, here’s what to watch out for.Read more:In December, inflation hit a staggering 7 percent. That’s far above the Federal Reserve’s target, and Chair Jerome H. Powell says action is needed to keep the economy from sliding into a recession. Economics reporter Rachel Siegel breaks down the impact of record inflation and what the Fed plans to do about

Jan 13, 2022 • 19:22

Empty shelves, fewer babies: How the pandemic is leading to less

Today on Post Reports: Why you’re seeing empty shelves at the grocery store — again. Plus, the sharp decline in the U.S. birthrate nine months after the pandemic began.Read more:A lot of people have been getting “March 2020 vibes” at the grocery store lately: Empty shelves, basic necessities missing and big price increases on certain foods. Reporter Laura Reiley explains there are several factors at play, including the omicron surge, supply chain woes and winter weather.“Uncertainty is not good

Jan 12, 2022 • 25:12

Omicron is breaking records – and our health-care system

Today the United States broke the record for covid hospitalizations. We talk about what overwhelmed hospitals mean for health-care workers and patients. Plus, a story about the power of reclaiming a name. Read more:The United States today broke a record with more than 145,000 people sick with covid-19 in hospitals. Health reporter Dan Diamond explains what that means for health-care workers on the front lines, and for those of us who depend upon them.Plus, editor Marian Chia-Ming Liu on why

Jan 11, 2022 • 22:30

The push to keep schools open

Today, we look at the toll of remote learning on kids. We’ll dive into what’s happening in school systems across the country during the omicron variant surge — and how the scars of remote school linger, even for kids who are learning in person again. Read more:Reporter Laura Meckler talks with producer Bishop Sand about how a San Francisco school’s return to in-person learning revealed the toll virtual school took on students during the pandemic. Plus, an update on how schools across the co

Jan 10, 2022 • 35:43

Four Hours of Insurrection

As we reflect on the anniversary of Jan. 6, we wanted to share an episode from last year. We reconstructed the riot inside the U.S. Capitol — hearing from the lawmakers, journalists and law enforcement officials who were there, and answering lingering questions about how things went so wrong.

Jan 8, 2022 • 58:19

Jamie Raskin’s year of grief and purpose

On Jan. 5, 2021, Rep. Jamie Raskin buried his only son. The next day he witnessed firsthand the attack on the Capitol. As we mark a year since the insurrection, we look at how Raskin dealt with his son’s death while serving on democracy’s front lines. Read more:A warning to listeners: This episode deals with suicide. If you or someone you know needs help now, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. You can also reach a crisis counselor by texting HOME to 741-741.A

Jan 7, 2022 • 45:34

The scars of January 6th

A year out from the attempted insurrection of the Capitol, we consider the state of American democracy — what’s changed, what hasn’t changed and what will never be the same. Read more:One year ago today, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, set on overturning the results of the 2020 election. Since then, the basic facts of the insurrection have been in contention and democracy itself has remained under siege. On today’s episode of Post Reports, politics reporters Dan Balz, Roz Helde

Jan 6, 2022 • 40:38

The pivotal and petty battle for QAnon’s future

An update on what the Jan. 6 commission has learned so far. And how the pro-Trump Internet descended into infighting in the year since the attempted insurrection. Read more:Reporter Jacqueline Alemany has been following the Jan. 6 commission for the past six months. As we come up on the first anniversary of the attack on the Capitol, Alemany reports on what the commission has uncovered so far and what she’s watching out for next.Plus: The far-right firebrands and conspiracy theorists of the

Jan 5, 2022 • 29:05

A ‘pandemic on fast forward’

Omicron has coronavirus cases surging across the country. What’s the outlook for this highly transmissible variant?Read more:The highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus has taken over as the dominant strain in the United States. Now, post-holidays, virus cases are surging, with about 500,000 per day in the United States. Americans are struggling with breakthrough infections, strained hospital systems and the uncertainty of what might come next. Reporter Dan Diamond discusses

Jan 4, 2022 • 20:27

What is a tree worth?

The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is home to some of the oldest trees in the country. For decades, they were felled indiscriminately for lumber. Will the remaining trees be protected?Read more:Old-growth trees are at the heart of a political debate on logging and climate change. That’s because they hold a disproportionate amount of carbon in their trunks. If they’re cut down, most of that carbon escapes into the atmosphere, where it contributes to global warming. But they’re also w

Jan 3, 2022 • 19:09

One last look at 2021

A farewell to 2021 from us here at Post Reports and the photojournalists who witnessed the year’s biggest stories.Read more:The Washington Post photography editors combed through thousands of images to find the most memorable from 2021. Accompanying the photos this year are interviews with the photojournalists who took them. The team at Post Reports felt inspired by the interviews and images to look back on the past year.The images of 2021 tell a complex yet dramatic story. It was a year of the

Dec 30, 2021 • 28:12

Hasan Minhaj’s diasporic comedy

Today on Post Reports, we talk to Hasan Minhaj about how he uses comedy to “make people’s world bigger.” Read more:Hasan Minhaj has worked as a comedian for 17 years. You might know him from “The Daily Show,” the 2017 White House correspondents’ dinner, or his Netflix show, “Patriot Act.” On today’s episode of Post Reports, producer Linah Mohammad talks to Minhaj about representation in film and television, their relationship to Islam and what it means to be a diasporic voice in the co

Dec 29, 2021 • 24:06

J. Smith-Cameron on ‘Succession’

Today on “Post Reports,” we talk to one of the people who brought us joy during a dark year: the actor J. Smith-Cameron. We cover her role as Gerri on “Succession” and how it feels to become a sex symbol in her 60s. Read more:J. Smith-Cameron is having a moment. “Succession” Season 3 wrapped up recently – and one of the highlights for us was her character, Gerri Kellman, the calculating interim CEO of Waystar Royco. We talked to the actor about the show and what makes her character so

Dec 28, 2021 • 20:41

Amazon, can I have my name back?

Amazon's use of Alexa as a wake word for its voice assistant turned the name into a command, impacting daily interactions for people with the name – including The Washington Post’s own Alexa Juliana Ard.Read more:Nearly 130,000 people in the United States have the name Alexa. It gained popularity after singer Billy Joel and model Christie Brinkley named their daughter Alexa in 1985. In 2015, more than 6,000 baby girls in the United States were named Alexa, according to a Washington Post analysis

Dec 27, 2021 • 20:24

The holidays are weird. Carolyn Hax is here to help.

The holidays are weird — this year especially. Today, Post advice columnist Carolyn Hax joins Martine Powers to answer your questions about navigating this tricky time of year.Read more:The holiday season can be complicated; throw in the spike in omicron cases, and this already stressful time of year just got even trickier. Enter: Carolyn Hax, The Post’s brilliant advice columnist. Today on Post Reports, she’s here to help our listeners and readers navigate the holidays. You can listen to our ep

Dec 23, 2021 • 22:42

Dr. Wen’s advice for the holidays

Omicron is now the most prevalent variant of the coronavirus in the country. But public health expert and emergency physician Leana Wen says that with a three-pronged approach — testing, vaccines and masks — we can still celebrate the holidays.Read more:Once again, America is looking down the barrel of a winter surge of the coronavirus, thanks to the highly transmissible omicron variant. Houston Methodist Hospital, which has been sequencing genomes since the beginning of the pandemic, says that

Dec 22, 2021 • 22:29

The promise of anti-covid pills

How the approval of anti-covid pills from drug companies Pfizer and Merck could impact the course of the pandemic. And the life and legacy of feminist author bell hooks.Read more:On Tuesday, President Biden urged calm as coronavirus cases rise, and the omicron variant becomes dominant in the United States. He touted a plan for more readily available testing and more resources for strained hospitals nationwide. But on the horizon is another treatment against covid-19: antiviral pills. The pi

Dec 21, 2021 • 20:01

Omicron is everywhere. Here’s what to do.

Seemingly overnight, the pandemic has changed — again. On today’s Post Reports, everything you need to know about the omicron variant — and whether you should still plan to travel for the holidays.Read more:Over the weekend, health reporter Dan Diamond wrote a Facebook post that changed the way we’re thinking about the omicron variant. “Every expert I’ve interviewed, including some of the nation’s top health officials, has adjusted his or her mindset and now is mentally bracing to test posi

Dec 20, 2021 • 27:38

Quitters, part 3

A record number of Americans quit their jobs this year. Today for our special series “Quitters,” economist Darrick Hamilton examines why that is — and why he thinks it might be a good thing.Read more:Many Americans have reconsidered their relationship with work this year.There’s lots of reasons for that — an ongoing pandemic, stagnant wages and a severe labor shortage all made work harder.But Darrick Hamilton, a professor of economics and urban policy at the New School, says that workers also ha

Dec 17, 2021 • 16:35

Quitters, part 2

What happens when an entire fast-food restaurant staff quits? Today for our special series on “Quitters,” the story of a McDonald’s walkout, and what it can tell us about the labor market right now.Read more: In September, the entire staff of a McDonald’s in Bradford, Pa., walked out and quit their jobs. One of the staff members left a parting note for the customers, written in blue highlighter because he couldn’t find a pen: “Due to lack of pay, we all quit.”“The signs are…kind of like pri

Dec 16, 2021 • 22:25

Quitters, part 1

2021 was a big year for quitting. Millions of Americans resigned. For the first episode in our series on “quitters,” we go to a restaurant in Arkansas where nearly every employee – and the owners – found themselves reassessing their work, and their lives.Read more:This year, millions of Americans quit their jobs in the “Great Resignation.” Over the next three days on “Post Reports,” we’re talking to some of the “quitters” and exploring why so many people are reassessing the role of work in

Dec 15, 2021 • 33:58

In Chicago, a test case for Biden’s EPA

How the fight in Chicago over a proposed scrap metal facility became a test case for the Biden administration’s approach to environmental justice. Read more:General Iron Industries is a Chicago-based scrap metal recycling company with a bad track record of pollution. When the company announced its intention to move from a wealthy, White neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side to a working-class, Latino neighborhood on the city’s Southeast Side last year, the plan set off alarm bells. This

Dec 14, 2021 • 26:26

The new ‘tornado alley’

On the ground in Mayfield, Ky., after a string of tornadoes devastated the town, flattening buildings and leaving streets unrecognizable. The tornadoes tore through a 200-mile swath of land, and may be the sign of a lengthening tornado season. Read more: Late last week, a string of tornadoes ripped through the South and Midwest regions of the United States. Dozens have died, and thousands of structures have been destroyed. National breaking news reporter Kim Bellware takes us on the g

Dec 13, 2021 • 17:50

After a school shooting

How the tight-knit community of Oxford, Mich., is healing after a mass shooting. Plus, remembering Post Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt.Read more:A 15-year-old opened fire at his Michigan high school on Nov. 30, killing four students and wounding seven others, police say. This is the deadliest episode of on-campus violence in almost three years. Reporter Kim Bellware and producer Rennie Svirnovskiy examine what it looks like for a town to start healing. The Post remembers Editorial Page Ed

Dec 10, 2021 • 20:07

When is it self-defense?

What self-defense means in a country deeply divided over gun rights and race. And a story that shows the stakes of disappearing local news – about an Alaska community where climate change is costing them their school. Read more:After the high-profile trials of Kyle Rittenhouse and the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery – we wanted to unpack the legal questions with Post columnist and Georgetown law professor Paul Butler and talk about what self-defense looks like in a country with gun rights, sta

Dec 9, 2021 • 28:22

Biden ended “Remain in Mexico.” Now it’s back.

Earlier this year, Joe Biden ended the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy — but a court has now reinstated it. Today, what that means for asylum seekers, who are forced to wait in Mexico for their immigration proceedings. Read more:Today on Post Reports, we revisit Nancy, a woman we followed as she fled gang violence in El Salvador and ended up stuck in a border camp in Matamoros, Mexico. Nancy’s story shows how this program affects asylum seekers left in limbo on the U.S. southern bor

Dec 8, 2021 • 28:15

Russian troops on Ukraine's border

The limitations of American diplomacy — at the border between Russia and Ukraine, and at the Olympics in Beijing.Read more:According to U.S. intelligence and The Post’s reporting, Russia is planning to move up to 175,000 troops to its border with Ukraine — plans that have the international community concerned. On a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, President Biden threatened economic sanctions and other measures if the Kremlin were to escalate the situation and invade U

Dec 7, 2021 • 24:05

The trial of Elizabeth Holmes

The trial of Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos founder and CEO. Read more:Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of the medical technology start-up Theranos, is on trial for 11 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Tech reporter Rachel Lerman has been covering Holmes’s trial for about three months now. Lerman dives into what we’ve learned about the Theranos founder from her extraordinary moments on the stand – and what that tells us about the “fake it ‘til you make it” culture

Dec 6, 2021 • 17:03

Mold at Howard U., and an omicron update

Why dozens of students at Howard University spent part of their fall semester living in tents. And, omicron comes to the United States.Read more:Mold, mice, water damage and no WiFi. Those have been some of the conditions in Howard University’s housing units in Washington. This fall, the conditions led to protests that lasted more than 30 days. Some students even slept in tents on the historically Black university’s campus. But such conditions aren’t new. For years, students and graduates have c

Dec 3, 2021 • 27:04

Twitter verifies a new CEO

What Jack Dorsey’s departure from Twitter means for Silicon Valley, the platform and its dedicated users. And how the new CEO, Parag Agrawal, could change the direction of the company. Read more:In a casually written tweet Monday, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced that he would be stepping down from his position. As the company’s co-founder, he’s been a Silicon Valley icon for 15 years, and he leaves behind a complicated legacy. Tech reporter Will Oremus says that his departure is shrouded

Dec 2, 2021 • 22:24

ICE’s deportation ‘force-multiplier’: Local sheriffs

Today on Post Reports, a deep examination of the sheriffs involved in the controversial 287(g) program. Plus, how the new republic of Barbados signals a changing tide for the British crown.Read more:Investigative reporter Debbie Cenziper has been looking into the expansion of a controversial program called 287(g) that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to recruit sheriffs as partners to question and detain undocumented immigrants.“What I found most surprising is that some of the she

Dec 1, 2021 • 24:30

A new vision to overturn Roe v. Wade

It’s a critical week for abortion rights in the United States. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could roll back the protections of Roe v. Wade. But the arguments to gut Roe are coming from the surprising lens of women’s empowerment.Read more:Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization goes before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The caseputs Mississippi’s 15-week ban on abortions to the test, and it could be the case that defines abortion rights for generations. When Th

Nov 30, 2021 • 20:48

*Omicron has entered the chat.*

Omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus, could be the next big hurdle in beating the pandemic. Today on Post Reports, what we know so far, and why you shouldn’t panic just yet.Read more:Last week, a new coronavirus variant was detected in southern Africa. Since then, public health officials and government leaders have been trying to figure out what’s next. Some countries have reinstated travel bans, while others are urging people not to panic.While as of Monday there were no known cases in the

Nov 29, 2021 • 24:49

The myth of Thanksgiving

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the “first Thanksgiving” between English pilgrims and Wampanoags in Massachusetts. But historians say the true story of what happened bears little resemblance to the myth that many Americans learn in grade school.Read more:In 1621, some pilgrims and some Wampanoags shared a feast. It wasn't the first meeting between the two groups and it wouldn't be the last, but for many reasons — including the American Civil War — the anniversary of that meal took on bo

Nov 24, 2021 • 21:21

A family confronts White privilege

In the final installment of our series Teens in America, what it sounds like for the family of one 17-year-old to confront White privilege and racism.Read more:With Thanksgiving coming up this week, a lot of us might be feeling anxious about seeing relatives we may not have seen in a while, especially if we don’t always see eye to eye with them. We might be bracing for some awkward conversations or even some intense debates around politics or what we’ve been seeing on the news.Iris Santalucia ca

Nov 23, 2021 • 13:04

Fauci’s advice for America

Today on “Post Reports,” a conversation with Anthony S. Fauci: We cover why you should get a booster, how you can gather safely with family over the holidays, and how Fauci feels about having his job — and science — politicized. Read more:Anthony S. Fauci has become a familiar voice for many Americans during the pandemic. As a high-profile member of the White House coronavirus task force and the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he led the country through th

Nov 22, 2021 • 26:14

Why a jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse

Today a jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on all counts in last summer’s shootings in Kenosha, Wis. We talk about the verdict, what it means and why this trial captivated the nation. Read more:After three and a half days of deliberation, jurors in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse have found the 18 year-old not guilty on all charges — including homicide and reckless endangerment. Rittenhouse fatally shot two people and shot and wounded a third during a protest against police conduct in Kenos

Nov 19, 2021 • 14:52

How ‘Europe’s last dictator’ is weaponizing refugees

How Belarus’s president is weaponizing a refugee crisis to get back at the European Union. And, what it means to “pass” as White. Read more:Thousands of refugees are currently stuck in limbo on the border between Poland and Belarus, invited by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko when he announced that his state would no longer secure Belarus’s border with the European Union. The invitation was his way of retaliating against sanctions that the E.U. has enacted against Belarus

Nov 18, 2021 • 31:31

What Sinema wants

Sen. Joe Manchin gets all the attention. But Sen. Kyrsten Sinema could be an even bigger obstacle for Democrats’ spending plans. Today on “Post Reports,” we ask what she wants and how she got here.Read more:Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D) has been throwing a wrench in the plans of her own party. The Arizona lawmaker has stalled her votes on major legislative plans including raising the minimum wage and increasing drug prices. But her agenda isn’t explicitly clear, and she’s doing deals behind closed doo

Nov 17, 2021 • 22:01

3G is ending. Who will be left behind?

Why America’s digital divide could soon get worse. And, what happens when extremist beliefs move from the fringe to the mainstream. Read more:When they were rolled out nearly two decades ago, 3G wireless networks served as the bedrock of an explosion in cell phones and connected devices. Now, they’re being phased out by telecommunications companies that want to focus their money on their 4G and 5G networks. Cat Zakrzewski reports on the vulnerable Americans that could be left behind if the

Nov 16, 2021 • 26:43

McConnell & Trump: It’s complicated.

The intertwined legacies of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former President Donald Trump. And, what happens to a country when its borders are eroded by climate change. Read more: Mitch McConnell is the most powerful elected Republican in the country. But the most influential member of the GOP is arguably still former president Donald Trump. That dynamic has become the basis for a tense, awkward, sometimes pugilistic alliance between the two men -- one that could define the

Nov 15, 2021 • 23:51

The environmental cost of online shopping

During the pandemic, online shopping has become more popular than ever. That’s especially true as we head into the holidays. Today, we look at one community that says it’s seeing the costs of that growth in its air quality. Read more:To meet the increased online shopping demand, companies like Target, Walmart and Amazon use big distribution centers — warehouses that store products and ship things to customers as fast as possible. (We should say here that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The W

Nov 12, 2021 • 23:41

Pandemic math: Retiring without Social Security

The Americans who are retiring — but delaying claiming Social Security benefits. Plus, the next installment in our Teens in America series: a story about students taking on the job of educating their peers about race.Read more:For better-off Americans, the pandemic economy created some of the strongest incentives to retire in modern history, with generous federal stimulus, incredible market gains, skyrocketing home values and health concerns drawing many Americans into early retirement.The surpr

Nov 11, 2021 • 33:05

A post-presidency like no other

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the state of Donald Trump post-presidency — his businesses, his finances, the ongoing criminal investigations into his actions and how all of those things could affect a potential political comeback. Read more:The Post’s David Fahrenthold has spent half a decade reporting on former president Donald Trump’s family and its business interests — first when Trump was a candidate, then when he was president and now that he’s a private citizen again.There was a narr

Nov 10, 2021 • 22:41

Kyle Rittenhouse on trial

The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse pits claims of self-defense against accusations of vigilantism. Plus, in the next installment in our series on teens in America: Why it can be especially hard for Black immigrant families to talk about racism. Read more:The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse – the teenager who killed two people and injured a third during a protest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. – continues this week. Kim Bellware reports on the evidence

Nov 9, 2021 • 31:54

How a crowd can become deadly

After eight people were killed at a Travis Scott concert in Houston late Friday, many of us were left wondering: How did this happen? An expert on crowds explains how too many people packed closely together can become deadly.Read more:An estimated 50,000 people attended the sold-out 2021 Astroworld Festival at NRG Park to see Travis Scott, whose concerts have a reputation for being raucous.The Washington Post reviewed dozens of videos from the night to understand how the concert became a mass ca

Nov 8, 2021 • 17:39

The zebra files

When you hear hoofbeats, think zebras — especially if you’re in the D.C. suburbs, where fugitive zebras have been on the run from a local farm for many weeks. Buckle up for a wild ride as we delve into this suburban safari.Read more:For more than two months, fugitive zebras in the Maryland suburbs have captured the imaginations of children, neighbors and members of Congress alike. Post Reports producer and amateur zoologist Emma Talkoff started looking into what she thought was a cute local news

Nov 5, 2021 • 31:51

Listening in as teens talk about race

When the pandemic triggered a wave of anti-Asian violence, 18-year-old Miranda Zanca found herself wondering about her own identity and how she fit into the moment. This is the first in a new series in The Post’s Teens in America project.Read more:Miranda Zanca hasn’t always seen herself as particularly Asian, even if others did. That’s because she’s mixed race — her mom is Chinese and Puerto Rican and her dad is White. And earlier this year, when the pandemic triggered a wave of anti-Asian viol

Nov 4, 2021 • 23:49

Big GOP energy

In a major upset for Democrats Tuesday, Republican Glenn Youngkin eked out a victory in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. Today, we look at the results of that election, and others, to understand the nation one year after the divisive 2020 elections.Read more:On Tuesday, Glenn Youngkin became the first Republican to be elected governor of Virginia since 2009. For Democrats, the race took on new national significance, with many seeing the results as a reflection of where the country stands nearly a

Nov 3, 2021 • 19:37

Democracy as a trust exercise

On this Election Day, we talk about how the events of Jan. 6 have affected our elections. Plus, what nations participating in COP26 will have to give up to avoid more climate change catastrophes. Read more:For months, journalists at The Washington Post have been trying to understand: How did the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 happen? And what’s happened to the country since then?As part of a three-part investigative series by The Washington Post, Rosalind S. Helderman has been

Nov 2, 2021 • 33:21

How law enforcement failed on Jan. 6

In the days leading up to Jan. 6, mounting red flags tipped law enforcement agencies off to the coming violence. Why did they fail to act?Read more:All year, journalists at The Washington Post have been seeking to understand: How did the insurrection on January 6th happen? Why wasn’t it stopped?A new three-part investigative series by The Washington Post reveals how law enforcement officials failed to heed warnings of violence on Jan. 6., the bloody consequences of President Donald Trump’s inact

Nov 1, 2021 • 25:39

Instagram, Facebook and this Meta episode

Instagram’s CEO steps into the limelight in an unexpected public interview. And, after a firestorm, Facebook’s big attempt to pivot.Read more:In an impromptu interview on Twitter Spaces, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said he still believes building an app for children is “the right thing to do.” The company had paused development of Instagram Kids last month over concerns about privacy, screen time and the mental health of young people. But Instagram is just one piece in the puzzle that is F

Oct 29, 2021 • 22:03

The next phase of the pandemic

Today on Post Reports, we talk about the latest news on vaccines for young children, booster shots for adults and at-home coronavirus tests for us all. Physician and columnist Leana Wen offers her advice on the next phase of the pandemic.Read more:Leana Wen is an emergency physician and contributing columnist for The Post. Her newsletter, The Checkup, offers the latest research and advice on such questions as which booster shot to get and how to safely gather with family for the holidays. You ca

Oct 28, 2021 • 23:03

How did a loaded gun end up on a movie set?

As new details emerge about the shooting on the “Rust” movie set that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza, we talk to reporter Sonia Rao about how Hollywood is rethinking firearms on sets. Read more:In the days since Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of the movie “Rust,” killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, many of us have been asking the question — how could this have happened?“How was it that this actor was see

Oct 27, 2021 • 14:30

The mystery of Manchin’s motivations

President Biden’s economic agenda is on hold — thanks, in no small part, to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The families in his home state could pay the price for it.Read more:The constant man in the middle, Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), is trying to scale back the president’s Build Back Better economic plan. Part of the White House agenda on Manchin’s chopping block: the permanent expansion of the child tax credit. It’s a recent policy that experts say has been a key part of reducing child poverty in t

Oct 26, 2021 • 22:16

Facebook’s role in the Jan. 6 attack

A trove of internal documents turned over to the SEC exposes Facebook’s role in fomenting the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.Read more:Relief flowed through Facebook in the days after the 2020 presidential election. The company had cracked down on misinformation, foreign interference and hate speech — and employees believed they had largely succeeded in limiting problems that, four years earlier, had brought on perhaps the most serious crisis in Facebook’s scandal-plagued history.“It was

Oct 25, 2021 • 13:21

Issa Rae and the growing pains of being ‘Insecure’

Five years after the debut of “Insecure,” the acclaimed HBO comedy-drama is finally coming to a close. Creator and star Issa Rae discusses the characters’ journeys, personal growth and “betting on herself.”Read more:For a certain generation of Black women, Issa Rae’s volume of work is like the Harry Potter books — stories about characters who grow and mature alongside their fans. “In shooting this final season, we've been very nostalgic and thinking about where we came from and imagining wh

Oct 22, 2021 • 22:30

Vigilante violence on trial

Ahmaud Arbery’s killing changed his Georgia community. Now, as the state grapples with a judicial legacy shaped by racism, three White men stand trial for murder.Read more:This week, the trial began for Greg McMichael, his son Travis McMichael and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan. It hinges in part on Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law, which helped codify White vigilante violence for 150 years. The law was repealed in May 2021, but its legacy reverberates today.Margaret Coker, editor of nonpro

Oct 21, 2021 • 18:19

Should the U.S. brace for a ‘twindemic’?

Health officials are worried about a severe “twindemic” this year, when influenza and coronavirus cases increase at the same time. What parallel surges could mean for an already exhausted health-care system and efforts to end the pandemic.Read more:Last year, similar warnings were made about a potential “twindemic.” Instead, the flu practically vanished. Health officials say this year could be different: Much of the country is up and running again, and 2020’s mild flu season means population imm

Oct 20, 2021 • 12:53

America’s broken supply chain

The commercial pipeline is clogged. Every year, this supply chain brings $1 trillion worth of toys, clothing, electronics and furniture from Asia to the United States. And right now, no one knows how to unclog it. Read more:For months, consumers have confronted shortages of goods such as clothing, toys, groceries and cars. And those shortages aren’t going away any time soon. Reporter David J. Lynch visited the ports of Southern California— where giant container ships are waiting u

Oct 19, 2021 • 22:04

Colin Powell’s complicated legacy

The legacy of Colin Powell, the first Black secretary of state, is complicated — by his role in the Iraq war, by the evolution of the Republican Party and by how he lived his life after public office.Read more:Former secretary of state Colin Powell died Monday of complications from covid-19. His long career in the public eye — as a decorated military officer and statesman — was marked by choices he made leading up to the Iraq War. But Powell’s life is also characterized by a shift away from the

Oct 18, 2021 • 18:09

The NBA’s Kyrie problem

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has been benched over his decision not to get vaccinated. Today on Post Reports we discuss what responsibilities famous athletes bear and why this story is resonating beyond the basketball world.Read more:Kyrie Irving has been benched indefinitely because of his refusal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. His team, the Brooklyn Nets, has been favored to win the NBA title this year, but that is now being thrown into question.Irving has long been a controvers

Oct 15, 2021 • 20:14

Should defending Taiwan be a red line for the U.S.?

In recent days, record numbers of Chinese warplanes have flown into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, signifying a deteriorating relationship between Taiwan and China — and putting the United States in an awkward position.Read more:Last week, China flew nearly 150 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Taiwan responded by scrambling to engage its fighter jets and missile systems. Meanwhile, the United States is in an increasingly awkward spot. While the United Stat

Oct 14, 2021 • 15:24

A new model for affordable housing

In a predominantly Black Chicago neighborhood, how one affordable housing program is addressing inequality by enabling homeownership. Read more:Over the years, rows of two-story stone houses and small buildings have fallen into disrepair in the Chicago neighborhood of North Lawndale. The neighborhood was made famous in 1966, when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — hoping to turn the focus of the civil rights movement on housing inequalities in the North — moved his wife and four children int

Oct 13, 2021 • 17:01

The Black voters disappointed in Biden

The “benefit of the doubt” portion of Joe Biden’s presidency is over. His poll numbers are down, especially among Black voters. Today on the show, we return to some of the voters we talked to in Georgia during the state’s runoff election and hear how they’re feeling now.Read more:A little over nine months into Joe Biden’s presidency, the infrastructure bill is languishing in Congress and his poll numbers have fallen, especially among key Democratic constituencies, including Black Americans. We’r

Oct 12, 2021 • 22:51

Why child-care workers are quitting

Working in a day care is a demanding job — but the pay is typically around just $12 an hour, and often without benefits. Many child-care workers have quit during the pandemic, leaving parents without options and struggling to return to work themselves.Read more:Hiring and retaining good workers has been tough in the child-care industry for years, but it is escalating into a crisis. Pandemic-fueled staffing challenges threaten to hold back the recovery, as the staffing problems at day cares have

Oct 11, 2021 • 17:08

What do we do about Facebook?

Facebook had a bad week. A whistleblower testified before Congress about the danger the company poses, and an outage took down the site and its products for hours. Now, some are rethinking their relationship with Facebook. But can we live without it?Read more:This week on the hill, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told lawmakers that the company systematically and repeatedly prioritized profits over the safety of its users, painting a detailed picture of an organization where hunger to grow

Oct 8, 2021 • 19:55

Looted treasure and offshore accounts

Cambodia wants its religious artifacts returned. Dozens tied to an indicted collector remain in prominent museums. The Pandora Papers expose his reliance on offshore secrecy. Plus, U.S. lawmakers respond to revelations in the Pandora Papers.Read more:Cambodia wants its religious artifacts returned. Dozens tied to an indicted collector remain in the Met and other prominent museums. The Pandora Papers expose his reliance on offshore secrecy, as Peter Whoriskey reports. Although it’s only been

Oct 7, 2021 • 18:49

Putin, a shop cleaner and a Monte Carlo mystery

Secret money, swanky real estate and a Monte Carlo mystery: Pandora Papers documents tie a woman allegedly in a secret, years-long relationship with Putin to a luxury Monaco apartment. Read more: There’s little about the humble background of Svetlana Krivonogikh to indicate that she had the means to acquire luxury property in Monaco, a playground for the world’s elite. The Russian woman reportedly grew up in a crowded communal apartment in St. Petersburg and held jobs that included cle

Oct 6, 2021 • 19:12

King Abdullah’s secret splurges

While billions of dollars in American aid poured into Jordan over the past decade, a secret stream of money was flowing in the opposite direction as the country’s ruler, King Abdullah II, spent millions on extravagant homes in the United States.Read more: In the past decade, King Abdullah II of Jordan used an extensive network of offshore accounts to disguise multimillion-dollar purchases of lavish homes in the United States and Britain. Reporter Greg Miller on how the lavish purchases sit

Oct 5, 2021 • 14:31

A tax haven in America’s heartland

The United States has long condemned secretive offshore tax havens where the rich and powerful hide their money. But a burgeoning American trust industry now shelters the assets of wealthy foreigners by promising even greater secrecy and protection. That same secrecy has insulated the industry from meaningful oversight and allowed it to gain new footholds in states like South Dakota and Alaska.The Washington Post and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) gained unprece

Oct 4, 2021 • 1:04:13

The anti-vax wellness influencers

How wellness influencers are fueling the anti-vaccine movement. Read more:For many people, the term “misinformation” conjures up images of conspiracy-theorist chat rooms and Russian bots. But as Ashley Fetters Maloy reports, an alarming amount of misinformation about the coronavirus is coming from wellness influencers. Today on Post Reports, the social media influencers questioning the wisdom of vaccination –– and how their messaging is increasing the threat of the virus mutating and k

Oct 1, 2021 • 19:05

On the death of species

This week, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed taking 23 animals and plants off the endangered-species list — because none can be found in the wild. What this tells us about climate change, and things to come.Read more:The ivory-billed woodpecker is officially extinct, along with 22 other species of plants and animals. “Just having to write those words was quite difficult,” Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Amy Trahan told climate reporter Dino Grandoni, choking up. “It took me a while

Sep 30, 2021 • 14:26

Can military leaders answer for Afghanistan?

This week in Congress, top military officials are testifying on what went wrong in the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Will anyone in the government be held accountable? Read more:Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie are on Capitol Hill testifying in front of the Senate and House Armed Services committees on the fall of Kabul and the disastrous U.S. exit from Afghanistan.&nbs

Sep 29, 2021 • 18:32

Sex-trafficked — and jailed

For years, allegations that R. Kelly was abusing young women and girls swirled. This week, the singer was found guilty of sex trafficking in federal court. But not all child sex-trafficking victims get justice — instead, many of them are arrested.Read more:Jessica Contrera has done a lot of reporting on child sex trafficking in the United States. When she saw the R. Kelly verdict this week, the cases of hundreds of other sex-trafficked children came to mind. “People were finally praising an

Sep 28, 2021 • 20:51

What we know about Havana Syndrome

What you need to know about “Havana Syndrome,” the mysterious illness affecting U.S. officials stationed around the world — and whether there’s anything the United States can do about it. Read more:“Havana Syndrome” first popped up in 2016 when a group of people at the U.S. embassy in Cuba reported a wide-ranging set of debilitating symptoms such as headache, nausea, tinnitus and memory loss. Five years later, 200 people are known to have shown symptoms of the mysterious illness. The W

Sep 27, 2021 • 19:41

Gabby Petito, and the victims left out of headlines

How Gabby Petito case galvanized sleuths across the Internet. And, how her disappearance and death highlight media failures in covering cases about missing women of color. Read more: Washington Post “Tik Tok Guy” Dave Jorgenson explains the Internet’s fascination with Gabby Petito’s disappearance and how the online attention has magnified the media coverage of her case. Plus, how the groundswell of news coverage has people wondering: What about other people who have gone missing —

Sep 24, 2021 • 20:12

Hooked on a ceiling

Deadlines are looming large for Congress. If policymakers fail to act, the United States could face unprecedented economic catastrophe. Read more:Time is running out to fund the federal government, which could shutter by Oct. 1. It all has to do with a bigger fight on the debt ceiling — the government’s borrowing limit. Democrats in Congress want to suspend the debt ceiling until next year, but Republicans aren’t playing ball and are threatening a government shutdown in opposition.But what

Sep 23, 2021 • 15:58

An immigration crisis in Del Rio, Tex.

Thousands of mostly Haitian migrants are crossing into the U.S. from the southwest border of Texas. When they arrive, they face rough territory: hostile law enforcement, mass airlifts for deportations, and a squalid, overcrowded migrant camp in the U.S.Read more:Crossing the Rio Grande into Texas as a Haitian migrant is a treacherous journey. That became apparent after images came out of U.S. Border Patrol agents using whips and horses to police the border.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has also made it

Sep 22, 2021 • 19:48

The young and the vaccinated

What the latest news from Pfizer means for getting younger kids vaccinated. Plus, who will be able to get a booster shot and when. Read more:On Monday, Pfizer and BioNTech said that children ages 5 to 11 had a robust immune response to smaller doses of their coronavirus vaccine. Anita Patel, a critical-care pediatrician at Children’s National Hospital, explains what these results mean for slowing the spread of the coronavirus and what it has been like to take care of severely sick children

Sep 21, 2021 • 21:53

Who are the Oath Keepers?

Members of far-right extremist organizations — such as the Oath Keepers, a self-styled militia movement — are being charged by federal prosecutors for their alleged participation in the Jan. 6 riot. But prosecution may not wipe out their ideologies. Read more:Law enforcement officials in D.C. were prepared for a big rally this weekend — the so-called Justice for J6 rally in support of people charged in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection. While turnout in D.C. was low, underlying conspira

Sep 20, 2021 • 19:05

America’s Song, Part 2

With his performance of “God Bless America” during Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, NYPD officer Daniel Rodriguez comforted a nation still grieving in the wake of 9/11. It felt like a timeless moment. Instead, it proved fleeting. Twenty years later, the reasons for that tell a story of the political divisions and embellished patriotism that now polarize American sports. The weight of it all can be felt through the struggles of Rodriguez, who’s still trying to bless people with his voice as Ameri

Sep 18, 2021 • 31:35

America’s Song, Part 1

With his performance of “God Bless America” during Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, NYPD officer Daniel Rodriguez comforted a nation still grieving in the wake of 9/11. It felt like a timeless moment. Instead, it proved fleeting. Twenty years later, the reasons for that tell a story of the political divisions and embellished patriotism that now polarize American sports. The weight of it all can be felt through the struggles of Rodriguez, who’s still trying to bless people with his voice as Ameri

Sep 17, 2021 • 37:20

The end of the Merkel era

After a decade and a half in office, Germany’s Angela Merkel is stepping down. On today’s show, we take a closer look at the chancellor’s life and legacy, and what this shift in power will mean for Germany and the world.Read more:Angela Merkel grew up the daughter of a pastor in communist East Germany, and political possibilities opened up for her after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. As chancellor she carried Germany and by extension the European Union through crisis after crisis with a st

Sep 16, 2021 • 19:11

When an OB/GYN is antiabortion

When we talk about abortion access in the U.S., we talk a lot about Roe v. Wade, the actions of state lawmakers, the court system. But we don’t talk about doctors — and what they do or don’t say to patients behind closed doors. Read more:After Texas passed the country’s most restrictive abortion law, many abortion rights advocates feared that other states would follow suit — states like West Virginia that have already made moves in the past to restrict access to abortion. But reporter

Sep 15, 2021 • 31:02

Delta’s stress test on schools

The Biden administration has made in-person learning a priority for this school year. Now that most kids are back in school, the question on everyone’s mind is: Will it last? Read more:By now almost all students are back to learning in person. But what some school districts are calling vague guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has led to widely varying coronavirus protocols — only some districts are requiring masks, while others may not be properly notifying parents

Sep 14, 2021 • 20:01

California’s recall fever

A recall election in California ends Tuesday night. After pandemic-related shutdowns and mandates, can Gov. Gavin Newsom survive the challenge to his liberal policies? Read more:Forty-six candidates on the recall ballot. One governor with his first term on the line. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is fighting to hold on to his seat, with the recall election that could replace him set to end Tuesday night. Newsom needs more than 50 percent of the vote to maintain his governorship. Sen

Sep 13, 2021 • 19:32

Inside the newsroom on 9/11

Watching the chaotic end of America’s longest war, we’ve been thinking a lot about the terrorist attack that set it in motion. We interviewed colleagues who covered 9/11 to try to make sense of how that day changed the country and the world.Read more:“Where were you on September 11th?” Most Americans over a certain age have a 9/11 story — of the moment they heard the news of the terrorist attacks, or of anxiously calling family members to make sure they were okay. In the 20 years since the

Sep 10, 2021 • 42:45

The YOLO economy paradox

What the mismatch between the number of people employed and the number of jobs available tells us about America’s reassessment of work. Plus, how the pandemic has set women in the workforce back globally. Read more:There is a mystery at the center of the economic recovery in the U.S. — 8 million people are unemployed, but there are 11 million jobs open. Senior economics correspondent Heather Long explains that this is all part of the overall rethinking of American life and labor.There

Sep 9, 2021 • 21:28

The legal limbo for Afghan evacuees

For many Afghan evacuees arriving in the United States, escaping the Taliban was just the beginning. Now, they face the uncertainty of a tenuous legal status with little financial support unless Congress acts. Read more:The Biden administration is preparing to screen and resettle tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees in the United States over the coming months, but the majority will arrive without visas as “humanitarian parolees,” not refugees. Reporter Nick Miroff explains what this means.&

Sep 8, 2021 • 15:17

The beginning of the end of Roe v. Wade?

Life in Texas under the nation’s most restrictive abortion law. Plus, the unusual legal strategy that allowed the law to go into effect and how it could be a blueprint for other states to circumvent Roe v. Wade. Read more:The nation’s most restrictive abortion law is now in effect in Texas after the Supreme Court refused to block it, banning abortions after six weeks. Hours before S.B. 8 went into effect, abortion clinics were packed — and now that abortion providers can be sued, they’re re

Sep 7, 2021 • 17:58

What is ISIS-K?

What we know about the Thursday bombing near the Kabul airport. Plus, an Afghan journalist who left Kabul just before its collapse tells us why she fears for the family and friends she left behind. Read more:A bombing outside the Kabul airport Thursday left more than a hundred people dead, including civilians and U.S. service members. Military reporter Dan Lamothe says the attack was “a nightmare scenario” for the United States, making the mission to evacuate Afghans and U.S. personnel much

Aug 27, 2021 • 21:50

Who decides who gets evicted?

The future of a federal ban on evictions is in the Supreme Court’s hands. But in many cases, whether a person gets evicted is up to a judge’s discretion, as our reporter found in Mississippi. Read more:A federal ban on evictions has been in place in one form or another since the beginning of the pandemic. But after spending a day in an eviction court in Mississippi, reporter Marissa Lang found it’s often left up to individual judges whether to enforce it. “So many of these cases are ju

Aug 26, 2021 • 21:05

The Full Comirnaty

What the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine means. Plus, big business pledged nearly $50 billion for racial justice after George Floyd’s killing. Where did the money go?Read more:Goodbye, “emergency use authorization.” Hello, “full approval.” On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, commercially called Comirnaty. The four-month evaluation process was fast by the FDA’s usual standards, but regulators hav

Aug 25, 2021 • 25:58

The choice to stay in Kabul

What the return of the Taliban means for women in Kabul. And, the story behind a secret meeting between the CIA director and the leader of the Taliban.Read more:Mahbouba Seraj, activist and director of the Afghan Women Skills Development Center, weighs the dire stakes for the women in Afghanistan — and explains why she chooses to stay in the country as dangers mount. President Biden said Tuesday he will stick to the Aug. 31 deadline to fully withdraw from Afghanistan. The Taliban has said U.S. t

Aug 24, 2021 • 17:53

Is this a new Taliban?

The Taliban insists it has changed. Afghanistan’s future hinges on whether that’s true.Read more:Frenzied evacuations from Afghanistan continue as the U.S. scrambles to meet its Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw all troops. But it’s still unclear what the country will look like after that. Taliban leaders say they will refrain from retaliatory violence and respect women’s rights. Griff Witte, The Post’s former Kabul bureau chief, evaluates those promises.

Aug 23, 2021 • 23:03

The Afghanistan Papers, revisited

This week, Americans watched in disbelief as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in a matter of days — and we wondered what Craig Whitlock was thinking. Two years ago he and a team at The Post published a prescient and ground-breaking project called “The Afghanistan Papers,” revealing hundreds of secret interviews with U.S. officials candidly discussing the failures of the war.The interviews with some 400 people were part of a project called “Lessons Learned,” undertaken by the Special Inspector Gen

Aug 20, 2021 • 59:09

Disaster on repeat in Haiti

Haitians face devastation after two natural disasters hit the island. And what the tragedies have exposed about the country’s preparedness.Read more:Last weekend, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction and death in Haiti. Then, torrential rain from Tropical Storm Grace hit the island. Now, Haitians are recovering from two back-to-back natural disasters while reeling from political turmoil caused by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse last month. Caribbean bureau chief

Aug 19, 2021 • 20:46

Keeping kids safe this school year

Today, Post Reports answers your questions about kids, schools and covid-19 with physician and columnist Leana Wen and education reporter Hannah Natanson. Plus, the latest news on booster shots. Read more:Subscribe to The Checkup With Dr. Wen to get guidance in your inbox on how to navigate the pandemic and other public health challenges.

Aug 18, 2021 • 27:52

The Afghanistan war blame game

Almost as soon as Kabul fell, the political blame game began in Washington. But why weren’t we more prepared? Plus, an interview with Afghanistan’s first female ambassador to the United States on her fears for women and girls in her country.Read more:As quickly as Kabul fell, the finger-pointing commenced. Reporter Shane Harris on the political fallout of a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan — and how it could have gone better. Roya Rahmani was Afghanistan’s first female ambassador to t

Aug 17, 2021 • 26:08

A disastrous American exit

As the United States left Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of war, the Taliban seized control of the country in a matter of weeks. President Biden defended the withdrawal Monday afternoon while Americans and vulnerable allies remained in limbo in Kabul.Read more:The Taliban seized the Afghan capital Kabul Sunday morning, restoring the insurgent group’s grip over Afghanistan after they were removed from power by U.S.-led forces in 2001, and kept at bay for about two decades during America’s long

Aug 16, 2021 • 24:05

Interview with the TikTok Guy

Today on Post Reports, an interview with Dave Jorgenson, The Washington Post’s “TikTok Guy.” Throughout the pandemic, he’s been uploading two newsy, funny TikToks a day for The Post’s nearly 1 million TikTok followers. Read more: Dave also has a book: “Make a TikTok Every Day: 365 Prompts for Attention-Grabbing TikToks.” You can check out all of his TikToks here.A few of Martine’s favorite Tiktoks from Dave:During the primary for the 2020 election, Dave made TikToks with a bunch

Aug 13, 2021 • 16:42

The town lost to the Dixie Fire

How some states are trying to make students and staffers feel safe in school. Why more moms may leave the workforce as the delta variant spreads. And what it’s like to lose your town to a wildfire and to have to start again. Read more:California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Wednesday that the state will require all teachers and school staffers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or to submit to weekly testing. It’s the first state to impose such a rule. The governor is citing the su

Aug 12, 2021 • 17:18

How Mitch learned to stop worrying and love a bill

What’s behind Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans embracing a big Biden agenda item? Infrastructure. Plus, a delightful story about a man, his hobby and his dog. Read more:The big bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the Senate this week is being hailed as a moment of unity, with politicians from both sides of the aisle finding common ground in building roads, repairing bridges and expanding broadband technology. But the reality is a bit more complicated. Mike

Aug 11, 2021 • 20:18

The fall of Andrew Cuomo

The resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. And, as American troops withdraw, the U.S. response to a surge of Taliban control in Afghanistan. Read more:Today, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation after a state investigation found he sexually harassed 11 women and oversaw an unlawful attempt to exact retribution against one of his accusers. Reporter Michael Scherer on what this means for New York politics and the women at the center of the accusations. The Taliban is gaining m

Aug 10, 2021 • 25:54

‘A code red for humanity’

A landmark United Nations report finds that humans have pushed the climate into ‘unprecedented’ territory. Plus, what we can learn from the Tokyo Olympics with the Winter Games in Beijing just around the corner.Read more:On Monday, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest and most dire report about the state of the planet. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said that results are “a code red for humanity” and is calling on countries to embrace the drastic

Aug 9, 2021 • 22:56

The people left out of the infrastructure deal

The infrastructure bill making its way through the Senate doesn’t include money for caregivers. Today, we dive into what it’s like to take care of a partner who has a disability and to often not get compensated for that labor.Read more:Earlier this week, the much anticipated infrastructure bill started moving through the Senate with bipartisan support. What’s left out of the bill, though, is what’s being called “human infrastructure” — money for things like quality child care and care for elderl

Aug 6, 2021 • 17:38

Back-to-school struggles

Florida school districts defy the governor’s ban on mask mandates. An elementary school that welcomed its students back in the spring is still struggling to make a full return to normal. Plus, why you should rid your vocabulary of “corporate-isms.”Read more:At least four school districts in Florida have announced that they will either keep or issue new mask mandates in light of the coronavirus outbreak ravaging the state. Their announcements directly challenge an order by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R),

Aug 5, 2021 • 19:32

The brothers Cuomo

As New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo faces an impeachment effort and calls for his resignation, his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, avoids mentioning the scandal on his show. Plus, your questions on the delta variant — and is NBC ruining the Olympics?Read more:Will New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo resign? The pressure continues to mount after a damning report was released yesterday by the state’s attorney general. It concludes that Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women. That report also included the name o

Aug 4, 2021 • 34:19

‘Broke again’

The Biden administration is expected to announce a new action to limit evictions as a federal eviction moratorium expires. But it’s unclear how many people that will help. And, why the expanded child tax credit may not be a silver bullet against poverty.Read more:Nearly a year and a half into the pandemic, 28 percent of households are struggling to cover basic expenses. More than 11 million renters are behind on payments. One in seven parents are struggling to feed their families. This is all de

Aug 3, 2021 • 23:16

The art of the infrastructure deal

Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have come to rare agreement, crafting a trillion dollar-plan to fix infrastructure across the country.Read more:After weeks of negotiation, a bipartisan group of senators have put forth a plan to restore America’s infrastructure. The more than $1 trillion plan to improve roads, bridges, pipes, ports and lines of communication could be a centerpiece of Joe Biden’s presidency — unless he has his own deal in the works. Congressional reporter Tony Romm breaks

Aug 2, 2021 • 19:48

The dream of a Black utopia

In 1983, the U.S. invaded the small Caribbean nation of Grenada. Forty years later, many Americans have no idea why — or that it happened at all. Today, in collaboration with “Throughline,” we tell a story of revolution, conquest, and dreams of a Black utopia.Read more:For host Martine Powers, this historical deep-dive has a personal connection. Growing up in a Caribbean American family offered a different perspective on the 1983 invasion — a moment that isn’t just about President Ronald Reagan

Jul 30, 2021 • 1:02:43

‘We don’t even think about race.’

Debates over critical race theory take over a town in Michigan. Plus, why breakthrough coronavirus infections do not mean that our vaccines aren’t working.Read more:Traverse City, Mich., is a microcosm of the critical race theory debates taking over school systems across the country. The debates in the town came after the school board decided to fast-track an equity resolution, after students held a fake slave auction over Snapchat. Reporter Hannah Natanson went to Traverse City to understand wh

Jul 29, 2021 • 21:40

Return of the Mask

Why employers are getting bolder with vaccine mandates. How the pandemic worsened the opioid crisis. And the aftermath of the floods in Germany.Read more:On Tuesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that vaccinated Americans wear masks indoors in certain circumstances because of the highly transmissible delta variant. At the same time, many employers — including the federal government — are considering coronavirus vaccine mandates. Dan Diamond reports on the changing gui

Jul 28, 2021 • 31:20

The price of being the GOAT

Why the U.S. women’s gymnastics team settled for a silver medal. And, the search for separated parents in rural Guatemala. Read more:The U.S. women’s gymnastics team took home a silver medal in Tuesday’s team final, after star gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the event. Sports reporter Liz Clarke discusses the unexpected upset, and the course of the Russian Olympic team’s winning trajectory. The United States lost track of parents after separating them from their children at the bord

Jul 27, 2021 • 32:25

Investigating the insurrection

The political debate — and theater — surrounding a new House committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. And, why wildland firefighters in the West are burning out. Read more:A bipartisan select House committee begins its probe of the Jan. 6 insurrection this week. But as national security reporter Karoun Demirjian explains, the investigation kicks off under a cloud of political debate and theater. On the heels of one of the worst wildfire years on

Jul 26, 2021 • 24:00

Marooned in Matamoros, Part 2

In February 2020, Washington Post reporter Arelis R. Hernández walked across the bridge from Brownsville, Tex., to Matamoros, Mexico, two sister cities along the international border with the glistening green Rio Grande snaking between them. Up on the levee, a breathtaking sight unfolded before her: a makeshift migrant camp full of thousands of asylum seekers from all over Latin America forced by the Trump administration to wait in Mexico while they plead their cases.There in the camp, Hern

Jul 22, 2021 • 41:31

Marooned in Matamoros, Part 1

In February 2020, Washington Post reporter Arelis R. Hernández walked across the bridge from Brownsville, Tex., to Matamoros, Mexico, two sister cities along the international border with the glistening green Rio Grande snaking between them. Up on the levee, a breathtaking sight unfolded before her: a makeshift migrant camp full of thousands of asylum seekers from all over Latin America forced by the Trump administration to wait in Mexico while they plead their cases.There in the camp, Hern

Jul 22, 2021 • 51:40

Can the Olympics be covid-safe?

The Tokyo Olympics are set to begin Friday, after dozens of people in the Olympic bubble have tested positive for the coronavirus. How soaring rent prices are becoming the new norm across the U.S. And, Anthony Bourdain and the ethics of audio deepfakes. Read more:After a year’s delay, Tokyo 2020 will kick off this Friday despite concerns over the coronavirus: At least 67 people in the Olympic bubble have tested positive. Michelle Ye Hee Lee reports on the precautions that the International

Jul 21, 2021 • 26:18

The release of Abdul Latif Nasir

The Biden administration has resumed repatriation of Guantánamo Bay detainees — a practice largely halted under former president Donald Trump. Plus, why some states are considering reinstating mask mandates. Read more:The Biden administration on Monday repatriated a detainee from Guantánamo Bay to Morocco, the first transfer of an inmate from the high-security prison since President Donald Trump mostly halted resettlements when he took office in 2017. We hear from The Post’s Missy Ryan abou

Jul 20, 2021 • 27:45

The spyware secretly hacking smartphones

The military-grade spyware that’s being used to spy on journalists, human rights activists and business executives. Plus, a long overdue trip to space.Read more:Military-grade spyware leased by the Israeli firm NSO Group to governments for tracking terrorists and criminals was used to hack smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and the two women closest to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an investigation by The Washington Post an

Jul 19, 2021 • 24:54

Crying in H Mart with Michelle Zauner

Michelle Zauner, author of “Crying in H Mart,” on grief, food and embracing her Korean heritage. Plus, what happens when a head of state gets a really bad case of the hiccups.Read more:Michelle Zauner is the lead singer of the band Japanese Breakfast and also the author of the best selling memoir “Crying in H Mart.” The book chronicles Zauner’s journey through grief when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Food and trips to the Asian grocery store H Mart, become a central vehicle for exploring

Jul 16, 2021 • 22:19

America’s collective amnesia in Haiti

How the killing of Haiti’s former president has sparked a constitutional crisis — and how years of U.S. intervention in the Caribbean country contributed to the chaos we’re seeing now.Read more:The assasination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse last week has plunged the country into turmoil, with many unanswered questions left surrounding the attack. The Post’s Widlore Merancourt and Ishaan Tharoor report on what’s known so far about the investigation into killing and what a vacuum of power cou

Jul 15, 2021 • 24:03

Texas Democrats’ exodus

Why Texas Democrats are camping out in D.C. And how to stay safe in extreme heat.Read more:This week, Texas Democrats left the state and flew to Washington, D.C., to prevent Texas Republicans from passing restrictive voting legislation. Eugene Scott reports on why Democrats made this extreme move and what it means for the future of voting rights and lawmaker relationships in the state.A series of heat waves across the Pacific Northwest may have killed hundreds over the past month. Ollie Jay, a p

Jul 14, 2021 • 19:00

To boost or not to boost?

The latest on coronavirus booster shots. What to expect from the Olympic Games with no spectators. And for better or worse: how to survive this summer’s wedding fatigue. Read more:Concerns over booster shots are growing as new coronavirus variants become more pervasive. Yasmeen Abutaleb shares the latest developments on these extra shots domestically and abroad.Last week, the Japanese government announced all spectators would be banned from Olympic venues in and around Tokyo. Simon Denyer r

Jul 13, 2021 • 23:17

How to not get scammed

How to keep yourself and your employer safe from ransomware attacks. And, what to do if you get a scam call. Read more:Major ransomware attacks are becoming more frequent and their demands more extreme. Tatum Hunter explains how to identify and avoid these attacks.Social Security-related telephone scams routinely trick people out of their money — which is what almost happened to personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary’s sister. Michelle shares the tactics the scammer used and how she

Jul 12, 2021 • 26:16

Curating Black history

As museums open up, we wanted to talk to the new director of the National African American Museum of History and Culture about what it means to interact directly with history. Plus, why air travel feels worse than ever. Read more:Archivist and poet Kevin Young became the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. this year. As museums open back up, he’s reflecting on the role he and the museum play in reassessing our national history and preserving Black

Jul 9, 2021 • 18:53

Leaving Afghanistan

The future of Afghanistan as U.S. troops withdraw after a 20-year war. Plus, the future of autonomous weapons.Read more:The slow process of withdrawing the U.S. military presence from Afghanistan reached a milestone: American forces handed over control of Bagram air base to Afghan leaders. Foreign affairs columnist Ishaan Tharoor on Afghanistan after America leaves. Military weapons powered by AI are becoming easier to build. Tech reporter Gerrit De Vynck explains how these weapons are bein

Jul 8, 2021 • 26:47

An assassination, and the future of Haiti

The assasination of Haiti’s president. And, a controversy over drug policies and Olympic athletes. Read more:Last night, Jovenel Moïse, the president of Haiti, was assassinated in his private residence by a group of gunmen. Anthony Faiola reports on the Caribbean country’s political instability, growing gang violence, and what Moïse’s assassination means.Track star Sha’Carri Richardson has been suspended from competition for one month and won’t be able to compete in the Olympics after a pos

Jul 7, 2021 • 20:15

What the delta variant means for you

How the highly contagious delta variant is affecting the fight against the coronavirus. Plus, Nikole Hannah-Jones's fight for tenure and what it's like to be Black in higher education.Read more:A mutated, more transmissible form of the coronavirus called the delta variant is forcing countries to go back into lockdown and areas of the United States to reinstate mask mandates. Fenit Nirappil reports on what’s known so far about this new variant and how it could affect the United States.On Tuesday,

Jul 6, 2021 • 26:00

Post-vax advice, with Carolyn Hax

With more and more Americans vaccinated and cities reopening again, we’re having some joyous reunions — and a lot of social anxiety. Post advice columnist Carolyn Hax answers your questions about how to navigate a post-vaccine America.Read more:As excited as we are about being vaccinated and emerging into the world again, there are some awkward conversations and social anxiety mixed in there, too. On this special episode, one of The Post’s beloved advice columnists, Carolyn Hax, takes questions

Jul 2, 2021 • 27:46

Another blow to the Voting Rights Act

Where voting rights stand after a new court decision. An assessment of a shifting Supreme Court. And the latest legal challenges for Trump’s family business. Read more:The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Arizona’s voting restrictions. Reporter Amy Gardner discusses what this means for the Voting Rights Act. And Supreme Court reporter Robert Barnes shares how the latest rulings show ideological shifts on the bench.Reporter David A. Fahrenthold discusses new criminal charges against the Trump

Jul 1, 2021 • 28:56

Why was Bill Cosby released from prison?

Why Bill Cosby was released from prison. And why some states are banning lessons on systemic racism.Read more:On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the sexual assault conviction of entertainer Bill Cosby, allowing for his immediate release. Manuel Roig-Franzia reports on this decision and how some victims are responding.Several states have banned teaching about systemic racism and gender discrimination, with dozens more proposing similar legislation. Valerie Strauss reports on

Jun 30, 2021 • 24:35

Surviving the heat dome

What the heat wave in the Pacific Northwest has to do with climate change. A doctor trying to close the racial vaccine gap in Philadelphia. And tips to combat burnout. Read more:A climate-change-fueled heat wave blanketed the Pacific Northwest. In some areas, temperatures passed 110 degrees. Sarah Kaplan reports on how people in cities such as Portland and Seattle grapple with extreme heat.While at least 70 percent of Philadelphians have received at least one coronavirus vaccination, only 3

Jun 29, 2021 • 29:20

The ‘nightmare scenario’ response to the pandemic

Two Post journalists, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta, spent months reporting on the chaos inside the White House during the Trump administration’s pandemic response. Revelations include details about how sick President Trump really was and his proposal to send infected Americans to Guantánamo. All of this reporting is in their new book “Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration's Response to the Pandemic That Changed History,” out Tuesday. Read more:Over the past few months,

Jun 28, 2021 • 23:55

The search for voices in the rubble

Dozens are still unaccounted for after a sudden building collapse in the Miami area. And introducing The Washington Post’s new executive editor, Sally Buzbee.Read more:In the early hours of Thursday, a 12-story condominium building in Miami-Dade County collapsed. Half of the 40-year-old beachfront structure crumbled and over 150 people are missing. The cause of the collapse is unknown, but investigations are underway. Marc Fisher shares what happened.This month, The Washington Post’s new executi

Jun 25, 2021 • 29:13

Free Britney?

Britney Spears’s fight to end her conservatorship. An experimental brain surgery that could treat substance use disorders. And the forced closure of a Hong Kong newspaper. Read more:On Wednesday, Britney Spears made a rare statement on her own behalf to a Los Angeles court requesting that the conservatorship that has taken her finances and lifestyle out of her own control for more than a decade be terminated. Ashley Fetters on Spears’s fight for freedom.Can an experimental brain surgery hel

Jun 24, 2021 • 28:25

A test case for vaccine mandates

Houston Methodist was one of the nation’s first health systems to impose a coronavirus vaccine mandate. Now, 153 people have either resigned or been fired for refusing it. Plus, ethical questions in the Biden administration. And coming out in the NFL. Read more:More than 150 health-care workers who did not comply with a Houston-based hospital system’s vaccine mandate have been fired or resigned, more than a week after a federal judge upheld the policy. Health reporter Dan Diamond on what th

Jun 23, 2021 • 32:19

The legacy of a bombing

In Oklahoma City, the 1995 bombing offers lessons — and warnings — for today’s fight against extremism. Plus, what a Supreme Court ruling means for the NCAA.Read more:Reporter Hannah Allam was in high school in Oklahoma City when Timothy McVeigh altered the skyline of her city for good. She remembers her classmates speculating about what could possibly have rattled their school building so intensely — maybe an accident in the chemistry lab? A sonic boom? Twenty-six years later, Hannah found

Jun 22, 2021 • 24:35

Biden’s Catholicism

President Biden is a lifelong Catholic, but because he supports abortion access, some U.S. bishops believe he shouldn't take Communion. A grim discovery is spurring a reckoning in Canada. Plus, how donating breast milk can help grieving mothers heal.Read more:U.S. Catholic bishops voted last week to back a measure that would limit Communion for Catholic politicians who support abortion rights, including President Biden. Religion reporter Michelle Boorstein explains the significance of this move

Jun 21, 2021 • 24:59

The joys and struggle of Juneteenth

Historian Annette Gordon-Reed discusses the meaning and history behind Juneteenth, the holiday that has come to symbolize the end of slavery in the United States.Read more:Juneteenth is officially a national holiday. This week, Congress rushed to pass a bill officially recognizing June 19, commemorating the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally informed that they had been freed two years earlier by the Emancipation Proclamation. Historian Annette Gordon-Reed grew up ce

Jun 18, 2021 • 22:00

Inflation, inflation, inflation

The Fed says inflation could climb higher than projected — but many of the price hikes could be short-lived. How to navigate the many new spending opportunities the end of the pandemic has brought. Plus, the power of this year’s graduation speeches.Read more:New projections from the Federal Reserve suggest that prices will keep climbing this year. But what does that tell us about economic recovery from the pandemic moving forward? Rachel Siegel explains the Fed’s current approach: Wait and see.I

Jun 17, 2021 • 26:44

The Biden-Putin summit

What Biden’s summit with Putin can tell us about the future of U.S.-Russia relations. And, what could happen to struggling tenants when the rent comes due in July. Read more:President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded their Wednesday summit as “positive” and “constructive” — but politics reporter Eugene Scott says their back-to-back news conferences made clear that the two leaders remain at odds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s eviction moratorium is up

Jun 16, 2021 • 27:20

How to fix a labor shortage

Some businesses ask whether higher wages could be the answer to the labor shortage. Members of Congress return to the Capitol, and all its security concerns. And a new era of space travel dawns — for those who can afford it.Read more:Across the country, businesses have a problem: Workers aren’t taking low-wage jobs. Economics reporter Eli Rosenberg talked to employers who think they have found a solution: paying people more.Before returning to their home states last month, some lawmakers express

Jun 15, 2021 • 30:17

A reckoning for People of Praise

An insular Christian group faces a reckoning over sexual misconduct. And, the extraordinary effort from educators to get kids back to school.Read more:Last fall, the Christian group People of Praise garnered national attention after a prominent member, Amy Coney Barrett, was nominated to the Supreme Court. Soon after, former members began a Facebook group called “PoP Survivors.” Investigative journalist Beth Reinhard reports on some of those former members who say they were sexually abused by ot

Jun 14, 2021 • 23:06

Introducing ‘Please, Go On’

An introduction to The Post’s new opinion podcast: “Please, Go On,” with columnist James Hohmann and his first guest, Vice President Harris. And, cartoonist Alison Bechdel shares the secret to superhuman strength.Read more:The Post’s new opinion podcast launches today: “Please, Go On,” with host James Hohmann. In the first episode, James talks to Vice President Harris about the exodus of women from the workforce during the pandemic. This week we’re kicking off our Summer Fridays series, whe

Jun 11, 2021 • 27:06

Washington’s X-Files

The serious government search for UFOs. What the death of Keystone XL could mean for Big Oil. And, what we know about how covid affects the brain. Read more:Are we alone in the universe? The U.S. government has been investigating that question for years. Reporter Jacqueline Alemany on the serious search for UFOs. The company behind the Keystone XL pipeline is shutting down the project after years of lawsuits and public blowback. Juliet Eilperin reports.Scientists are still trying to understand h

Jun 10, 2021 • 31:35

‘Do not come.’

Vice President Harris delivers a blunt warning against crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. How the tax returns of the richest Americans are spurring talk of a wealth tax. And, the renewed popularity of Crocs during the pandemic. Read more: In her first international trip as vice president, Kamala D. Harris attempted to thread a delicate needle on immigration: remaining stern on border crossings while offering incentives to would-be migrants to remain in Central America. Reporter Nick Miro

Jun 9, 2021 • 27:11

Reclaiming stolen bitcoin

The Justice Department strikes back against hackers who carried out a lucrative ransomware attack last month. And what President Biden hopes to get out of his meeting with the Group of Seven.Read more:In May, hackers extorted millions of dollars in bitcoin from Colonial Pipeline through a ransomware attack. Now, the Justice Department has broken into the hackers’ virtual wallet, effectively wiping out their profits from the scheme. Cybersecurity reporter Joseph Marks takes us through the cat-and

Jun 8, 2021 • 21:49

Manchin on a mission

Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) says he will not support his party’s voting rights bill. The coronavirus pandemic’s devastating impact on Latin America’s middle class. And, the White House partners with dating apps to promote vaccinations. Read more:Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) has broken from his party once again to reject a broad voting rights bill. Congressional reporter Mike DeBonis has more on what this means for the rest of the Democrats’ priorities. In Latin America, a previous

Jun 7, 2021 • 28:16

Is baseball broken?

Baseball is back, and almost normal — which means the sport is once again plagued with lots of problems that predate the pandemic. Today, we explore the fastball, the nonstop no hitters, and what’s wrong with baseball.Read more:There’s a growing trend in baseball — and it could be the downfall of America’s favorite pastime. We revisit a past episode with sports reporter Dave Sheinin on how high-velocity pitches are now dominating the sport. “What's being lost in baseball is the nuance, and it’s

Jun 4, 2021 • 20:31

Bye-bye, Bibi?

What it’ll take to replace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Why we’ll probably all need a coronavirus booster shot. And what makes Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” resonate across generations.Read more:An unlikely alliance of opposition lawmakers announced on Wednesday that they had come to a power-sharing deal that would oust longtime Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Steve Hendrix reports on what this major political shift would mean for the future of the country.Vaccine developers a

Jun 3, 2021 • 30:04

A brief history of Black rebellion

The fight over voting rights in the United States. How one historian is thinking about the George Floyd protests a year later. And, what the HIPAA federal privacy law says about vaccination records.Read more:On Sunday night, Texas Democrats staged a dramatic walkout to block a restrictive voting bill from passing — but as Amy Gardner reports, this is far from the end of the battle over voting rights in the United States.It’s been a year since the killing of George Floyd sparked a global uprising

Jun 2, 2021 • 33:28

Fauci’s inbox

What we can learn from Fauci’s emails. Why tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open. And, the joyous sounds of Americans reuniting.Read more:The Post recently obtained 866 pages of Anthony Fauci’s emails from March and April of 2020. Yasmeen Abutaleb and Damian Paletta report on the correspondence behind some of the most frantic days of the coronavirus crisis.Naomi Osaka is the second-ranked tennis player in the world. After a back-and-forth about whether she would be required to sp

Jun 1, 2021 • 20:31

On cicada time

Love them or loathe them, the cicadas of Brood X are here. One Washington Post editor recalls his first taste of the bug. A Smithsonian entomologist demystifies the science of Brood X. And a biologist takes us on a journey through cicadas’ deep past.Read more:When the cicadas of Brood X last emerged, the world was a different place. George W. Bush was president. “Shrek 2” topped the box office. And Cameron Barr, lately the interim leader of The Washington Post, was a general-assignment reporter

May 28, 2021 • 27:59

The mystery of covid’s origins

Top health officials say they can’t rule out the possibility that the coronavirus leaked from a lab in China. For many Indian Americans, the covid crisis in India is close to home. And Texas enacts the strictest abortion law yet.Read more:We still don’t know the origin of the coronavirus pandemic. President Biden is asking the intelligence community to redouble their investigation into one theory: that the virus leaked from a Wuhan laboratory. Shane Harris reports.Even as the United States gets

May 27, 2021 • 30:34

Decisions, decisions

What it’s like to cover the Supreme Court, year after year. And, the not-so-secret life of audio producers.Read more:Longtime Supreme Court reporter Robert Barnes on how he prepares for the decision season each year, and what he’ll be watching out for this month. What exactly does it mean to “produce” a podcast? After a listener asked the question, the Post Reports team started thinking: What if we pulled back the curtain on our process? Producer Bishop Sand and editor Alexis Diao give a be

May 26, 2021 • 27:56

A dissident, a plane and the future of Belarus

What a forced plane landing in Belarus could mean for state sovereignty and press freedom. And, how some Americans are dealing with accent bias.Read more:On Sunday, Belarusian authorities forced the landing of a commercial flight carrying travelers from Athens to Lithuania, mere minutes before its final descent. Michael Birnbaum reports on President Alexander Lukashenko’s goals in downing the flight, and the international response to the arrest of a dissident journalist on board. Accent bia

May 25, 2021 • 26:35

The crypto yo-yo

Cryptocurrency’s highs and lows. How the Black Lives Matter movement has shaped American views on the Middle East. And a guide for talking to vaccine-hesitant friends and family. Read more:Over the past week, cryptocurrency buyers saw several sudden drops in the value of their investments. Hamza Shaban reports on the market’s volatility and questions about the future of crypto.Black Lives Matter activists have been taking to the streets and speaking out to show solidarity for Palestinians.

May 24, 2021 • 26:09

Inside the failures of the Secret Service

Stern. Exacting. Infallible. The reputation of the U.S. Secret Service is all about perfection. But behind the scenes, the agency is far from perfect. Carol Leonnig goes behind the scenes on scandals and close calls that have come to define the agency.Read more:Before Post reporter Carol Leonnig started covering the Secret Service, she had the same impression most of us do about the men and women in suits standing next to the president. “They are super serious, they never crack a smile. The

May 21, 2021 • 42:53

The power (and limits) of a hate-crime law

What new legislation can –– and can’t –– do to address anti-Asian hate crimes. And, the growing role of people of color in far-right organizations.Read more:On Thursday, President Biden signed the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act, which Congress passed in a rare moment of bipartisanship. Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) discusses the promise — and limits — of the bill aimed at combating anti-Asian hate crimes and how it will be implemented. People of color are playing increasingly visible roles across the

May 20, 2021 • 26:55

Finally, kids pay off

A new tax benefit aims to cut U.S. child poverty in half — if it can reach the parents who need it most. And what happens when the world’s fourth richest person gets a divorce.Read more:Democrats passed a new child tax credit that they hope will cut U.S. child poverty in half. Millions of parents will start getting money as soon as July. But will it reach the families most in need? White House economics writer Jeff Stein reports.After 27 years of marriage and philanthropic partnership, Bill and

May 19, 2021 • 21:46

Matt Gaetz and the limits of GOP loyalty

What we know about the investigation of Rep. Matt Gaetz. And a covid-stricken New Delhi family’s harrowing 12-day ordeal.Read more:Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was a darling of the Republican right. Now he’s embroiled in allegations that he engaged in sex trafficking involving a minor. Matt Zapotosky reports the latest on the investigation.Foreign affairs reporter Ruby Mellen brings us the story of two sisters scrambling to find care for their parents in coronavirus-ravaged New Delhi.If you value th

May 18, 2021 • 24:16

Devastation in Gaza

No end in sight as the Israel-Hamas conflict enters a second week. And, how will the Biden White House respond to the intensifying crisis? Read more:The crisis in the Middle East continues to escalate. Over the past few days, Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have destroyed multiple buildings, including one that housed international media. Miriam Berger reports that at least 200 Palestinians have died, including dozens of children. President Biden and his aides have spent recent day

May 17, 2021 • 31:08

The great unmasking?

How to interpret the latest mask-wearing guidance from the CDC. And, what the wave of election laws across the U.S. means for voter access. Read more:On Thursday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced that in many cases, fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors. Yasmeen Abutaleb reports on the CDC’s rationale for the new guidance. National reporter Amy Gardner explains the election laws taking hold inseveralstates, raising concerns over voter acces

May 14, 2021 • 27:08

Running on empty

The threats — real and imagined — driving a run on gas across the Southeast. And why Peloton decided to recall 125,000 treadmills.Read more:A ransomware attack by suspected Russia-based hackers brought the Colonial Pipeline system to a grinding halt Friday. But gas shortages across the Southeast are largely driven by something else — panic. Will Englund reports.Todd Frankel reported on dozens of injuries, and the death of one child, connected to a Peloton treadmill. Under pressure from consumers

May 13, 2021 • 27:24

Dude, where’s my Uber?

Where have all the Uber and Lyft drivers gone? And, how the pandemic economy is fueling protests and violence in Colombia.Read more:Uber and Lyft are facing major driver shortages, leading to long wait times and more expensive fares. Faiz Siddiqui reports on why this is happening — and what it may mean for the future of these popular ride-hailing apps.Weeks of protests in Colombia have left dozens dead. South America bureau chief Anthony Faiola explains how the pandemic-ravaged economy has led t

May 12, 2021 • 24:40

Liz Cheney vs. the new GOP

Liz Cheney’s losing battle with the Republican Party. And, the athletes living with covid for the long haul. Read more:Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is fighting for her life in the party she helps lead. Congress reporter Marianna Sotomayor and Post Reports senior producer Reena Flores discuss the political head winds for Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in the House and an anti-Trump Republican in a party that values loyalty to the former president over everything else. Long-haul sympto

May 11, 2021 • 25:14

Displacement in East Jerusalem

Israeli-Palestinian violence is flaring as Israel marks the contentious Jerusalem Day holiday. What April’s job numbers mean for the future of work. And, the prom must go on. Read more:Violence erupted on Jerusalem Day, leaving at least 300 Palestinians injured. Jerusalem bureau chief Steve Hendrix reports on the escalating violence. April’s job numbers showed a dip in hiring. Economics correspondent Heather Long reports that the drop does not indicate a labor shortage, but a great rea

May 10, 2021 • 27:38

When police watchdogs lack teeth

How civilian oversight is undermined by politicians and police. And how economic inequality has worsened the pandemic in Venezuela.Read more:Civilian oversight agencies are touted as ways that ordinary citizens can hold police accountable. But an investigation into these agencies by reporter Nicole Dungca shows that they often fail at doing so — in part because they are undermined by law enforcement itself.Severe economic equality is worsening the coronavirus outbreak in South American countries

May 7, 2021 • 30:26

Unfriending Trump

Facebook’s Oversight Board bars Donald Trump from rejoining the site –– at least for now. How far-right extremists are recruiting new members in chat rooms and on gaming platforms. And, a farewell to empty middle seats on Delta flights.Read more:Facebook’s 20-member Oversight Board has upheld the decision to ban Donald Trump from the social media platform. Silicon Valley correspondent Elizabeth Dwoskin discusses what that means for other political leaders online.Far-right groups that blossomed d

May 6, 2021 • 24:52

What it takes to police the police

The Justice Department is investigating police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville for misconduct. If they are in violation, what can the feds really do? And two new airlines hope to get Americans flying again.Read more:Justice Department probes will investigate police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville. Georgetown Law professor Christy Lopez has firsthand knowledge of what that kind of investigation can really accomplish.It’s been 14 years since a new airline has launched in the Un

May 5, 2021 • 23:59

For India, no end to pandemic in sight

India continues to set world records as it faces the worst surge in cases since the start of the pandemic. And, how two decades of war have reshaped Kabul.Read more:Coronavirus cases are surging across India, leading to mass cremations and a scramble for vaccines. Joanna Slater reports on the crisis.As U.S. troops formally withdraw from Afghanistan, Philip Kennicott and photographer Lorenzo Tugnoli look at how two decades of conflict have reshaped Kabul.If you value the journalism you hear in th

May 4, 2021 • 19:41

The legacy of the 1963 Children’s Crusade

The key role children played in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and why it matters today. Read more:Janice Wesley Kelsey was 16 when she faced White police officers in the Children’s Crusade of 1963 in Birmingham, Ala. The Black youths ages 7 to 17, marching peacefully in the name of civil rights, were met with billy clubs, German shepherds and fire hoses. News crews flocked to the place nicknamed “Bombingham,” and the footage helped prompt President John F. Kennedy to urge Con

May 3, 2021 • 23:16

Revisiting 'The Life of George Floyd'

Today, we’re re-airing this special episode of “Post Reports,” where we tell the story of George Floyd’s life, his upbringing and how racism hobbled his ambition. Plus, an update from Floyd’s family members after the trial of Derek Chauvin.Read more:Last fall, the Post Reports staff and a team of reporters at The Post worked on an exhaustive telling of George Floyd’s life, about this one man and his family and the forces of systemic racism that shaped their experiences over the course of more th

Apr 30, 2021 • 1:14:53

The do’s and don’ts of going maskless

What the CDC’s updated mask guidance means for you. And, what to expect at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Read more:The CDC says fully vaccinated Americans can go without masks outdoors, except in crowded settings. Lena H. Sun reports on how these new guidelines may change the social norms of mask-wearing.The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are on — for now. Correspondent Rick Maese reports on how they’re being organized and how they’ll look different because of the pandemic.

Apr 29, 2021 • 21:50

Biden’s first 100 days

What President Biden did — and didn't do — in his first hundred days in office. And, the United States takes cautious steps toward rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.Read more:As President Biden nears 100 days in office, he can say he made good on his promise to speed up the country’s vaccination efforts. But White House reporter Cleve Wootson explains that other issues, such as immigration, haven’t been so easy for him to address.This week, Iran and the United States engage in another round of ind

Apr 28, 2021 • 26:05

What the census means for your democracy

What the initial results of the 2020 Census might mean for the political future of the country. And, how “canceled” went from a Black-culture punchline to a watchword of White grievance. Read more:The first batch of 2020 Census results were released Monday. Tara Bahrampour explains the biggest changes, and what that will mean for the country’s politics. The theme of this year’s meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee was “America Uncanceled.” Clyde McGrady explores

Apr 27, 2021 • 27:38

The surge in India

How India is driving the surge in global coronavirus cases. Plus, how countries are reacting to the United States’ abundance of vaccine. Read more:A devastating second wave of coronavirus is sweeping India. The country is setting daily records for case numbers, and, as Joanna Slater reports, the health-care system is buckling under the immense demand. While the few countries with high vaccination rates are seeing coronavirus numbers decrease, globally, cases are rising. Emily Rauhala r

Apr 26, 2021 • 23:22

Fighting environmental racism

How a protest in a North Carolina farming town sparked a national movement for environmental justice.Read more:"I can't breathe" were George Floyd's dying words under a White police officer's knee. They eerily echo what Black, Latino, Native American and other non-White environmental-justice activists have said for decades about choking pollution in their communities. Darryl Fears and Brady Dennis report on how a protest in a North Carolina farming town sparked a national movement.If you value t

Apr 23, 2021 • 25:37

Amazon and the new trust busters

The Biden nominee who wants to shake up Amazon. And a volcanic eruption meets a pandemic.Read more:Lina Khan’s nomination hearing signals a new era of tough antitrust enforcement for the tech industry. If confirmed, she would be the youngest-ever commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission. Anthony Faiola reports on a volcanic eruption in St. Vincent that displaced thousands. Now, the island is grappling with how to keep evacuees safe as the pandemic rages on.If you value the journalism yo

Apr 22, 2021 • 24:45

Processing a guilty verdict

Some Black Americans are reluctant to believe that Chauvin’s conviction will impact social justice on a larger scale. Biden’s backtrack on refugee admission caps. And, the legacy of Walter Mondale.Read more:Many police reform advocates throughout the country celebrated what they saw as a rare moment of accountability on Tuesday. But Arelis Hernández spoke with Black Americans who are nervous that the conviction of Derek Chauvin might buoy misguided beliefs that racial justice has been achieved i

Apr 21, 2021 • 31:07

Derek Chauvin, convicted murderer

Derek Chauvin is convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd. And the promise to defund the police in Minneapolis, and what happened instead.Read more:Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd. Mark Berman reports. What do communities do when police retreat? Reporter Robert Klemko explains how a Native American neighborhood in Minneapolis found itself with

Apr 20, 2021 • 41:11

When gun laws fail to stop a mass shooting

How Indiana gun laws failed to prevent a mass shooting last week. And conflicting views on Brexit spur violence in Northern Ireland.Read more:Police say existing gun laws should have prevented a mass shooting in Indiana last week. Instead, the shooter was able to legally purchase firearms. Paulina Firozi reports. In Northern Ireland, Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists have faced off in riots fueled by anger over Brexit trade deals. Amanda Ferguson reports from Belfast on some of

Apr 19, 2021 • 23:12

Derek Chauvin's defense

Protests continue in the Minneapolis area after the police killing of Daunte Wright. And the defense rests in the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Read more:Tim Craig reports on how the suburbs of Minneapolis are dealing with fallout from the killing of Daunte Wright.On Thursday, after two days of witness and expert testimony, the defense rested its case in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, with Chauvin declining to testify. Holly Bailey reports. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://p

Apr 16, 2021 • 22:56

Getting Putin’s attention

The United States imposes sweeping new sanctions against Russia. And, how former Trump allies are faring in the private job market.Read more:On Thursday, the Biden administration imposed the first significant sanctions to target the Russian economy in several years. Shane Harris reports on the administration’s effort to punish the Kremlin for a cyberespionage campaign against the United States, and for its attempts to influence the 2020 presidential election.Former Trump administration officials

Apr 15, 2021 • 23:41

Ending the forever war?

A deadline to end the war in Afghanistan. Biden’s vision for the future of infrastructure. Plus, how Native communities are tackling vaccinations. Read more:Biden announced that the United States will withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021. Missy Ryan explains that the decision tells us a lot about the administration’s priorities. “Nobody is going to say that the situation in Afghanistan is what anybody would have wanted in 2001 or 2011 or 2020. The government is incredibly

Apr 14, 2021 • 30:12

Weighing the risks of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Correction: In a previous version of this episode, we misstated a Brooklyn Center Police Department policy about guns and tasers. According to the former police chief, tasers are kept on the non-dominant hip, and guns on the dominant hip.Why the CDC and FDA are recommending a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Another police killing in Minnesota. And, remembering DMX.Read more:The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended a pause in

Apr 13, 2021 • 35:50

Tracking down the Capitol rioters

How surveillance networks are helping federal authorities track down the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. And, the legacy of Prince Philip.Read more:A Washington Post review of hundreds of pages of court records has revealed how federal law enforcement officials are using license plate scanners, facial-recognition software and other controversial surveillance technologies to hunt down Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. Post tech reporter Drew Harwell analyzes their use in one of the biggest criminal investigations

Apr 12, 2021 • 20:57

Putting police on trial

This week in the Derek Chauvin murder trial, officers and medical experts testified on the cause of George Floyd’s death. And why it’s so hard to prosecute police officers. Read more:During the second week of the Derek Chauvin murder trial, prosecutors focused on two subjects: how the former officer’s tactics, denounced by fellow police officers on the stand, did not align with his training; and what was happening biologically to George Floyd in the key moments before his death. Holly Baile

Apr 9, 2021 • 29:45

Amazon vs. unions

What’s at stake in the biggest union battle this country has seen in decades. The future of community colleges. And, facing the prospect of “vaccine passports.”Read more:Jay Greene reports on Amazon workers’ fight for a union in a warehouse in Alabama — and the drive’s potential to inspire other workers. Normally during an economic downturn, higher-education reporters like Nick Anderson expect to see a rise in enrollment in community colleges. This time, that didn’t happen. Nick explains wh

Apr 8, 2021 • 31:51

Georgia’s tug-of-war on voting

Understanding Georgia’s controversial new voting law. And, how to tell if it’s allergies … or covid. Read more:Georgia just passed a new voting law. Amy Gardner reports on the background of the controversial law and what actually ended up in it. As spring reaches full bloom, some allergy sufferers are wondering: Are their stuffy noses and itchy eyes actually symptoms of the coronavirus? Wellness reporter Allyson Chiu allays those fears and answers other reader questions about allergies

Apr 7, 2021 • 24:26

Could the economy get … too good?

Why some prominent economists and Republican lawmakers are worried the economy might recover too quickly. And, what it’s like to be a teenager while lawmakers debate your right to exist.Read more:The Federal Reserve has emerged as a White House ally in rejecting concerns about overdoing the stimulus. But Rachel Siegel reports that some economists and market analysts are raising alarm bells about the risks of overstimulating the economy and triggering inflation. In other words — could we be recov

Apr 6, 2021 • 29:14

A fourth covid surge?

Experts warn that the United States may be entering a fourth surge of coronavirus cases. And, the things we take when we leave home. Read more:Some scientists are warning that the United States is entering a “fourth wave” in the pandemic. Others are questioning that conclusion. Reis Thebault reports. When Post community editor Yu Vongkiatkajorn left Chiang Mai at 18, she tried to bring with her a veritable library — books collected over the years, journals she treasured. But when makin

Apr 5, 2021 • 18:11

Can a PSA end a pandemic?

As more vaccines become available in the U.S., the problem stops being supply and starts being how you get everyone to take one. Ariel Plotnick reports on the public health effort to bring the vaccine-hesitant around to getting a shot.Read more:“We want to be educated, not indoctrinated,” say Trump voters wary of coronavirus vaccines. Dan Diamond reports on the findings of a focus group he sat in on last month with vaccine-hesitant Trump voters.“We can do this”: Biden unveils pro-vaccine TV ads

Apr 2, 2021 • 24:48

The witnesses to George Floyd's death

Emotional testimony in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged in the killing of George Floyd. And, Biden’s massive infrastructure plan. Read more:The murder trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin began in Minneapolis this week, with emotional testimony from witnesses to George Floyd’s death. National correspondent Holly Bailey lays out what the jurors heard.Follow The Post’s live coverage of the Chauvin trial here. On Wednesday, President Biden unveiled a $

Apr 1, 2021 • 30:01

Crossing the border

Thousands are journeying to the border, motivated by complicated personal and practical reasons. Plus, the sound of Mars.Read more:Migrants are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in large numbers. Arelis R. Hernández rode along with Constable Roque Vela on a dusty road along the Rio Grande in South Texas to talk to some of the people trying to navigate the complicated policies at the border — and learn about why they’re trying to cross it. NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is recording sound. Mar

Mar 31, 2021 • 25:47

Scamming pandemic relief

How scammers raked in millions of dollars in pandemic relief fraud schemes. Advice for vaccinated parents about what to do with their unvaccinated kids. And, what we know about the origin of covid-19.Read more:Last week, the Justice Department announced that it had charged hundreds of scammers who targeted the trillions of dollars made available through federal aid programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans program. Reporter Matt Zapotosky explains ho

Mar 30, 2021 • 29:16

Where is Mazen al-Hamada?

After telling the world about the brutality he experienced in a Damascus prison, Mazen al-Hamada mysteriously returned to Syria, into the arms of his tormentors. His story goes to the heart of the Syria tragedy — a decade after the hopeful Arab Spring. Read more:After escaping from Syria to the Netherlands, Mazen al-Hamada shared his story about the horrors he had endured in a Damascus prison with audiences across the United States and Europe. Then — mysteriously, inexplicably — just o

Mar 29, 2021 • 32:42

The cost of racism for Asian businesses

The economic cost of racism for Asian businesses. And Tunisia a decade after the Arab Spring.Read more:There’s an economic cost to racism as Asian business owners reduce hours and shell out for security in the wake of the Atlanta shootings, says business reporter Tracy Jan. Tunisia is often considered the biggest “success” of the Arab Spring. A decade later, Claire Parker reports on the people still fighting for democracy in a Tunisia battered by crises.

Mar 26, 2021 • 33:42

Biden’s first news conference

Biden gives his first news conference as president. The NCAA’s problem with women’s basketball. And how a movie studio gave new life to a box office flop.Read more:On Thursday, President Biden fielded questions from the press about the immigration surge at the U.S.-Mexico border, whether he wants to kill the filibuster and what he plans to do about the war in Afghanistan. Power Up newsletter author Jacqueline Alemany reports on the president’s first formal grilling from reporters.The National Co

Mar 25, 2021 • 34:08

Biden’s uphill climb on gun control

President Biden is pushing for new gun-control measures after the mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder. Plus, what relaxed rules for art sales mean for the future of museums. Read more:Biden is urging Congress to immediately pass stronger gun laws after two mass shootings in less than a week. Reporter Sean Sullivan lays out Biden’s agenda on guns and discusses the challenge he faces in seeing that agenda through. Museums have begun using the money from art sales to help them survive t

Mar 24, 2021 • 27:45

Gun violence in a pandemic

Though mass shootings have happened less often during the pandemic, gun deaths remain high in the U.S. And, an independent panel says the AstraZeneca vaccine trial data is misleading.Read more:On Monday afternoon, a man walked into a Boulder, Colo., grocery store and started shooting. Ten people were killed, including a responding police officer. Reporter John Woodrow Cox lays out what we know about the second mass shooting in a week and addresses the misconception that gun violence has stalled

Mar 23, 2021 • 23:20

Another vaccine on the horizon?

What we know about the AstraZeneca vaccine. And, the fractured relationship between Google and historically Black colleges and universities. Read more:Science reporter Carolyn Y. Johnson breaks down the results of the U.S. trial for the AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine — and its challenges.Google’s failing approach to recruiting historically Black schools helps explain why there are few Black engineers in Big Tech. Reporter Nitasha Tiku says the pipeline for recruiting Black technical talent ne

Mar 22, 2021 • 18:44

The case against the filibuster

The fate of the Senate filibuster will decide the future of the Biden presidency. Today, we dive deep into the filibuster’s origins and myths — and we talk to people who say that killing this arcane procedural roadblock is the only way to save the Senate.Read more:President Biden and Senate Democrats are faced with the question of whether to reform the rules of the filibuster — or even to terminate it altogether. In the view of many Democrats, it’s the only thing holding Biden back from executin

Mar 19, 2021 • 50:52

A specific kind of racism

A look at the unique vulnerability of spa workers in the wake of the deadly shootings in Atlanta. And how to handle your Zoom fatigue.Read more:Eight people have died after a gunman opened fire in Asian-run spas in and around Atlanta. Six of the victims were Asian women. Anne Branigin, a staff writer for The Lily, looks at the unique vulnerability of spa workers through the lens of race, class and gender. Zoom fatigue is real. Paulina Firozi reports on what you can do about it.

Mar 18, 2021 • 20:51

The shootings in Atlanta

What we know about the shootings Tuesday night at three Atlanta-area spas. Plus, a closer look at the AstraZeneca vaccine controversy. Read more:Shootings at three Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday have left eight people dead, including six Asian women, prompting widespread concern that the killings could be the latest in a surge of hate crimes against Asian Americans. Paulina Firozi reports. In Europe, several countries have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Berlin bureau chief

Mar 17, 2021 • 23:11

Will Cuomo step down?

Calls for Andrew Cuomo to step down grow as the New York governor faces allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women. The billionaires whose wealth ballooned during the pandemic. And, what the fencing around the Capitol means for our democracy.Read more:White House reporter Josh Dawsey discusses the controversy surrounding Cuomo and his refusal to resign.A handful of tech titans made more than $360 billion during the pandemic. Tech culture reporter Nitasha Tiku discusses how the past yea

Mar 16, 2021 • 28:00

Biden’s border crisis

The influx of unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border. And, medical professionals taking on covid-19 — and misinformation. Read more:President Biden plans to send FEMA to help with the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Immigration enforcement reporter Nick Miroff explains who is arriving at the border and why. Meet the doctors and nurses who fight covid all day at work. Then, they go online and fight misinformation. Wellness reporter Allyson Chiu reports.

Mar 15, 2021 • 23:14

A pandemic year

Reflecting on the anniversary of the pandemic, from the eyes of a nurse on New York’s front lines.Read more: Jessica Montanaro thrives in a high-stakes, high-pressure world. As a nurse at an intensive care unit in New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital, Montanaro is accustomed to leaping into action when patients’ lives are at stake. And when the coronavirus hit the U.S., Montanaro, like so many health-care workers, found herself at the center of the chaos. One year after the WHO declared the

Mar 12, 2021 • 29:02

The pandemic’s lost students

The search for the students who have gone missing during the pandemic. And, listeners share what has brought them joy this year. Read more:Many students have failed to show up for online school since classrooms closed one year ago. Even before the pandemic, districts had to track down children who had stopped showing up or failed to return for a new school year. But this year, such cases are happening in unprecedented numbers, forcing districts to employ extraordinary efforts to track down

Mar 11, 2021 • 28:29

A jury of Derek Chauvin’s peers

Jury selection for the trial of Derek Chauvin begins. And, tips for hunting vaccine appointments online. Read more:Proceedings have begun for the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged in the killing of George Floyd. National reporter Mark Berman talks about what to expect at the beginning of what will be a lengthy and highly contentious trial. Outside the Hennepin County courthouse, Joshua Lott describes what it’s like to photograph a city on edge.Check out T

Mar 10, 2021 • 23:36

Vaccinated? Here’s what’s safe.

The CDC guidelines on what fully vaccinated people can — and can’t — do. What we can learn from Israel’s mass vaccination program. And, the risk of plummeting birth rates in France. Read more:New guidelines have emerged for fully vaccinated people in the United States. The Post’s Lena H. Sun walks us through what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday about what fully vaccinated people can now do safely. Israel has inoculated over half of the population. Jerusale

Mar 9, 2021 • 24:13

What’s in the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill

What’s in the coronavirus relief bill — and what’s not. The story of a Syrian spy. And the royal fallout from that Oprah interview. Read more:Economic policy reporter Rachel Siegel lays out what made it into the Senate’s $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, what didn’t, and how soon Americans could be receiving financial relief.Joby Warrick covers national security and weapons proliferation for The Post. In his latest book, “Red Line,” he looks at how a spy working for Syria’s chemical weapons prog

Mar 8, 2021 • 32:16

A turning point for voting rights

The future of voting rights — in state legislatures across the country and before the Supreme Court.Read more:In recent weeks, Republican state legislators across the country have been proposing and voting on a variety of voting restrictions. Politics reporter Amy Gardner examines the onslaught of legislation intended to limit mail-in ballots, early-voting periods and ballot boxes — and the motivations behind the proposals. On Tuesday, a key part of the Voting Rights Act was stress-tested b

Mar 5, 2021 • 29:54

The legacy of a conspiracy theory

How the conspiracy theories that fueled “Pizzagate” were a harbinger of QAnon. Texas in the aftermath of the devastating winter storms. And, a remembrance of Vernon Jordan.Read more:The “Pizzagate” gunman has been released from prison. After Edgar Maddison Welch entered a popular D.C. pizzeria and fired shots in December 2016, he told law enforcement that he had gone there to investigate a conspiracy theory. Reporter Mike Miller explains how Pizzagate signaled the deepening of violence linked to

Mar 4, 2021 • 36:11

Don’t mask with Texas

Texas lifts its coronavirus measures requiring masks and allows businesses to reopen. President Biden’s first failed Cabinet nomination. And the building that reminds people of … the poop emoji.Read more:Politics reporter Philip Bump breaks down Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott’s decision to reopen the state’s businesses and lift its mask mandate — and why it’s not an opportune time to do it. White House reporter Seung Min Kim explains why Neera Tanden, President Biden’s controversial pick to lead t

Mar 3, 2021 • 27:54

Gen Z leads LGBT shift

Generation Z is breaking with binary notions of gender and sexuality. And, how the first season of “The Bachelor” to feature a Black man has only highlighted the show’s racism problem. Read more:Recent surveys show that a growing percentage of the U.S. population identifies as LGBT. What’s less clear is why. Is it because of a real shift in sexual orientation and gender identity? Or is it because of a greater willingness among young people to identify as LGBT? Samantha Sch

Mar 2, 2021 • 30:14

Biden’s Middle East woes

The U.S. intelligence report on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is finally released. And, how Donald Trump took a wrecking ball to U.S. relations in the Mideast, and whether President Biden will be able to recalibrate foreign policy in the region.Read more:The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, approved the operation that led to the death of Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi. National security reporter Karen DeYoung explains what we know from the long-awaited intelligence report.&nb

Mar 1, 2021 • 25:47

The violence rattling Asian Americans

Asian American communities are bracing themselves against an increase of violent assaults, leaving the marginalized group feeling under attack and isolated. Read more:Attacks against Asian Americans are surging. While data is scant, the numbers in New York City and San Francisco — cities with large, long established Asian American communities — are up. Racially motivated attacks are chronically underreported, reporter Marian Liu says. “On top of that, there's a high threshold to provin

Feb 26, 2021 • 20:38

A balancing act in Honduras

As President Biden seeks to reset immigration policy, uncertainty surrounds the U.S. relationship with Honduras and its president, Juan Orlando Hernández, who is implicated in drug trafficking. Read more:For four years, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández built his governing program around the demands of the Trump administration, which in turn stayed out of Honduras’s domestic affairs. Now, that arrangement is ending, and Hernández is finding himself in a precarious position as t

Feb 25, 2021 • 22:12

Will a minimum-wage hike save the economy?

Behind the fight over raising the minimum wage — and why the Senate parliamentarian is at the center of it. Plus, boomers embrace online shopping. Read more:President Biden’s push to increase the federal minimum wage is facing significant hurdles in Congress, opposed by skeptical Republicans, centrist Democrats and many business owners. Labor reporter Eli Rosenberg lays out the cases for and against the policy as a tool of financial relief during the pandemic.Obscure Senate procedures are a

Feb 24, 2021 • 19:06

An apolitical Justice Department?

Merrick Garland’s plans for the Department of Justice. And, another push to provide pandemic loans to small businesses.Read more:President Biden has vowed to remake the Department of Justice, placing a greater emphasis on promoting racial justice, criminal justice reform, and investigating and rooting out domestic terrorism. His nominee for U.S. attorney general, Merrick Garland, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Matt Zapotosky reports. Business reporter Aaron Gregg

Feb 23, 2021 • 22:59

Pregnancy, coronavirus vaccines and a difficult choice

Pregnant people and their babies face severe risks if they get infected with the coronavirus. Newly available vaccines could be a source of hope. But without good data, many pregnant people are agonizing over whether the shots are right for them.Read more:As vaccines become more widely available, many pregnant people are being asked to decide whether they’re ready to trust and receive a shot. For some, that decision could be the difference between life and death. False claims tying vaccines

Feb 22, 2021 • 23:36

Why so many Texans still don't have water

Most Texans are finally getting their power back, but millions of people are still without water as the crisis escalates in the storm-ravaged state. And why coronavirus cases are finally dropping in the United States.Read more:Although most Texans have finally had their power restored, millions of people are now facing a water crisis because of cracked pipes and knocked out water-treatment plants. Arelis Hernández reports from San Antonio.The rate of newly recorded coronavirus infections is plum

Feb 19, 2021 • 21:58

The rise and fall of Philly’s mass vaccination clinic

Philadelphia’s first mass vaccination site looked like a model of 21st-century efficiency — until the city abruptly shut it down after losing trust in the group that ran it. Plus, how the pandemic has led some men to realize they need deeper friendships. Read more:A mass vaccination clinic in Philadelphia opened with fanfare but closed amid rifts of trust. Frances Stead Sellers explains the swift rise and fall of Philly Fighting Covid. No game days. No bars. Samantha Schmidt reports on

Feb 18, 2021 • 19:16

The lone grid state

Understanding the freezing weather sweeping across the United States — and why Texas’s independent power grid was doomed to fail in its wake. Plus, NASA tries to land a car on Mars. Read more: At least 14 people are dead in four states after a record-breaking cold snap swept through parts of the United States. Meteorologist Matthew Cappucci explains the science behind the freezing temperatures — and why the country might be bracing for more. Will Englund reports on how the Texas power grid got c

Feb 17, 2021 • 22:26

How many extremists are in the military?

Why it won’t be easy to root out far-right extremism in the military. Why Indian farmers are protesting. And who pours the kibble for the first dogs? Read more:In the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection, the Pentagon is struggling to answer a basic question: How many extremists work among its ranks? Missy Ryan reports. In Delhi, tens of thousands of Indian farmers have formed a protest encampment several miles long. Joanna Slater traces the origins of the revolt. Graphics reporter Bon

Feb 16, 2021 • 30:16

‘Presidential’: Andrew Johnson

In honor of Presidents’ Day, the story of a president who was impeached during a time of great division: Andrew Johnson. This story is from The Post’s podcast “Presidential” with Lillian Cunningham.Read more:The Post’s podcast “Presidential” is a historical journey through the personality and legacy of each of the American presidents. Listen to the whole archive here. If you’re hearing this episode on Presidents’ Day, check out the “Presidential” trivia event! It's free, virtual and will ta

Feb 15, 2021 • 34:07

Liz Cheney’s ‘vote of conscience’

There’s one big question hanging over the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump: How many Republicans will be willing to break with the former president and vote to convict? Today, a story about the potential cost of a vote of “conscience” and what that can tell us about the future of the GOP.Read more:Rep. Liz Cheney’s vote to impeach Trump prompted a voter rebellion in the Republican’s home state— and the backlash shows that loyalty to the former president runs deep in the GOP. Post Reports

Feb 12, 2021 • 38:44

A split screen of two presidents

As the impeachment trial continues, the former and the current president are pursuing very different strategies: One is watching the trial closely, while the other is doing everything he can to demonstrate that he is not watching at all.Read more:Former president Donald Trump has been watching his second impeachment trial closely, while President Biden messages that he has better things to do. Ashley Parker, The Post’s White House bureau chief, and reporter Anne Gearan paint a sharp juxtapositio

Feb 11, 2021 • 16:59

The mob that Trump built?

House managers make the case that Donald Trump spent months laying the groundwork for January’s riot at the Capitol. Plus, how the states that are pulling ahead in vaccinations are getting it done.Read more:On Wednesday, arguments began in the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. Politics reporter Aaron Blake unpacks House Democrats’ strategies. This week, the United States passed an encouraging milestone: 10 percent of the population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus v

Feb 10, 2021 • 42:14

‘The framers’ worst nightmare come to life’

The impeachment trial begins with an argument about whether it is constitutional in the first place. And, how the Keystone XL pipeline became a political shorthand for climate policy. Read more:On the first day of former president Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, his attorneys are asking: Can a president even be impeached after he has left office? Reporter Ann E. Marimow explains the constitutional questions at play.President Biden has said that addressing climate change is one of h

Feb 9, 2021 • 28:36

Trump’s rhetoric on trial

On the cusp of another impeachment trial, court documents point to how former president Donald Trump’s rhetoric allegedly fueled the rioters who attacked the Capitol. And, whether double-masking makes sense.Read more:Reporter Rosalind S. Helderman shares the latest in the impending impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump.Health reporter Fenit Nirappil explains whether people should start wearing surgical masks beneath their fabric masks — especially as coronavirus variants spread.As t

Feb 8, 2021 • 20:41

Democrats prepare to go it alone on covid relief

What you need to know about the economic relief package, and how Democrats are pushing it through Congress without any Republican support. And America’s chicken wing crisis. Read more:In an early morning vote Friday, the Senate passed a budget bill that paves the way for President Biden’s $1.9 trillion economic relief plan. Reporter Jeff Stein reports on why Democrats soured on bipartisan efforts and ultimately decided to move forward without GOP support. Meanwhile, America is facing a

Feb 5, 2021 • 20:21

Putin’s latest gamble

The Kremlin cracks down on opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s supporters all over Russia. And, how Pfizer is making the most of its available vaccine doses. Read more:President Vladimir Putin has continued efforts to quash massive protests in Russia, spurred by the arrest and sentencing of recently returned opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Robyn Dixon reports from Moscow.Health business reporter Christopher Rowland explains how the Pfizer drug company is squeezing extra doses from overfill

Feb 4, 2021 • 26:31

The GOP’s Marjorie Taylor Greene problem

How Republicans helped prop up the controversial congresswoman from Georgia. Why nursing home workers keep turning down vaccines. And, a tale of two ski resorts. Read more:Marjorie Taylor Greene didn’t get to Congress on her own. Michael Kranish explores how prominent Republicans promoted the follower of extremist QAnon ideology, helping to usher her to power and ultimately deepening rifts in the party.Reporter Rachel Chason explains the skepticism amongst nursing home workers to get the co

Feb 3, 2021 • 34:13

What happens after Myanmar’s coup?

Monday’s military coup in Myanmar was a long time coming. But what happens next? And, Canada vaccinates its homeless population. Read more:Reporters Shibani Mahtani and Anne Gearan contextualize the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in Myanmar.Foreign correspondent Amanda Coletta reports on Canada’s efforts to vaccinate people experiencing homelessness.Join the “Presidential” virtual trivia night, hosted by Lillian Cunningham. It takes place at 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday, Fe

Feb 2, 2021 • 26:25

The ex-president’s defense

Former president Donald Trump plans his impeachment defense. Why a new vaccine could be a game-changer. And, the owl pellet economy.Read more:Trump’s legal team unravels as the former president sticks to his script on his false claims of having won the 2020 presidential election. Reporter Josh Dawsey reports on what this means for the impeachment trial.Carolyn Y. Johnson breaks down the single-shot coronavirus vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.Christopher Ingraham’s kids loved dissecting owl pe

Feb 1, 2021 • 24:22

The Man in the Middle

How a moderate West Virginia Democrat could decide what Biden can do on climate change. Plus, the story of a snowstorm, six expiring vaccines and a group of dedicated health-care workers. Read more:One coal state senator holds the key to Biden’s ambitious climate agenda — and it’s not Mitch McConnell. Climate and science writer Sarah Kaplan reports.When Oregon health-care workers got stuck in a snowstorm with expiring vaccines, they got creative. Andrea Salcedo reports. If you value th

Jan 29, 2021 • 24:21

Gaming Wall Street

How ordinary investors, spurred on by a Reddit message board, took on the big Wall Street funds and sent GameStop share prices soaring. Plus, how President Biden is using the pandemic to try to expand access to health coverage. Read more:Business reporter Hamza Shaban explains what you need to know about GameStop’s stock price chaos. On Thursday, President Biden signed two executive actions, one of which was designed to expand access to health insurance through the Affordable Car

Jan 28, 2021 • 26:05

All the (former) president’s men

Why President Biden may not be able to fire some federal employees appointed during the Trump administration. The first Latino senator from California. And, what the new federal mask mandate means for you. Read more:Lisa Rein reports that while Biden is firing some top Trump holdovers, in some cases, his hands may be tied.California Gov. Newsom selects Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate.How do Biden’s new mask orders work? Health reporter William Wan explains. If you v

Jan 27, 2021 • 27:51

The battle over reopening schools

The growing tensions between school systems and teachers unions. Plus, Biden's Cabinet may be “the most diverse in history,” but his pick for agriculture secretary has reignited criticism over the USDA’s treatment of Black farmers.Read more:Chicago teachers are deadlocked with the school district over their reopening plans, but Chicago is far from alone. Education reporter Perry Stein explains the growing tensions between teachers unions and school systems. On Tuesday, CDC researchers publi

Jan 26, 2021 • 24:09

Whose Senate is it anyway?

A standoff in the Senate. How essential workers are faring almost a year into the coronavirus pandemic. And, why vaccine rollout has been so slow in France.Read more:When President Biden took office last week, he promised sweeping, bipartisan legislation to solve the pandemic, fix the economy and overhaul immigration. Just days later, the Senate ground to a halt, its members unable to agree on rules for how the evenly divided body should operate. Reporter Mike DeBonis unpacks the standstill.&nbs

Jan 25, 2021 • 24:36

400,000 people are dead. Can Biden change course?

How President Biden plans to combat the pandemic in his first 100 days. Where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went wrong with testing, and what it cost us. And what the U.K. coronavirus variant means for you.Read more:Just ahead of President Biden’s inauguration, the United States reached a grim milestone — 400,000 people have died of the coronavirus, a quarter of them in the past month. Health policy reporter Amy Goldstein lays out the new administration’s plan for wrangling in t

Jan 22, 2021 • 37:06

All-American terrorism

A wake-up call for federal law enforcement on domestic terrorism. How journalists who cover the White House are recalibrating post-Trump. And dogs return to the White House.Read more:National security reporter Shane Harris explains the soul-searching happening in federal law enforcement after Jan. 6, and how domestic terrorism might be handled in the United States. A conversation with Allison Michaels, host of the Post politics podcast “Can He Do That?” on the show’s pivot to the new admini

Jan 21, 2021 • 30:32

The 46th president

An inauguration like no other. And how the White House residence staff say goodbye to one first family and hello to another. Read more:Joe Biden has been inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States, calling for unity in a speech to a divided nation. White House reporter Sean Sullivan reports. Kamala D. Harris is the first woman, and the first woman of color, to become vice president. Producer Jordan-Marie Smith talks to Harris's Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters about how t

Jan 20, 2021 • 27:15

Biden’s first days

Why the nation’s capital feels like a ghost town. What President-elect Joe Biden wants to get done on his first day in office. And why the Secret Service has been paying $3,000 a month for a bathroom. Read more:President-elect Joe Biden has long been eager to undo and reshape policies advanced by the Trump administration over the past four years. Come Wednesday, he’ll make liberal use of his executive powers to do it, Matt Viser reports.Peter Jamison was reporting on Ivanka Trump and Jared

Jan 19, 2021 • 24:06

Tulsa, 100 years later

The plight of black entrepreneurs in Tulsa, nearly a century after one of the nation’s worst acts of racial violence. Read more:In 1921, a White mob descended on the Greenwood district of Tulsa, killing scores of African Americans, and looting and burning their businesses to the ground. The Tulsa massacre decimated Greenwood, a commercial hub once hailed as the height of Black enterprise. But as Tracy Jan reports, Black erasure in Tulsa is hardly a remnant of the past. Today, Black ent

Jan 18, 2021 • 21:53

Four hours of insurrection

Today, we reconstruct the riot inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 — hearing from the lawmakers, journalists and law enforcement officials who were there, and answering lingering questions about how things went so wrong. Read more:The four-hour insurrection: How a mob of Trump supporters tried to disrupt American democracy. Reporters Rebecca Tan, Marissa J. Lang, Rhonda Colvin, and photojournalist Bill O’Leary were all witnesses to the violence on Jan. 6. They share their harrowing accou

Jan 15, 2021 • 58:08

A brief history of tear gas in America

Tear gas is a chemical weapon banned in war. So why do police departments still use it on civilians in the United States? Producer Linah Mohammad and reporter Devlin Barrett examine the history of tear gas and the ethical questions about its use.Read more:Over the summer, tear gas was deployed to disperse peaceful protesters outside of St. John’s Church near the White House before President Trump posed with a Bible in front of the church, raising questions about the use of the chemical agent by

Jan 14, 2021 • 35:16

Impeached, again

President Trump is impeached by the House — again. And, inside a California hospital overwhelmed by the pandemic. Read more:On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for the second time, on the charge of incitement of insurrection. This time, some Republicans supported the move, like Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). Reporter Mike DeBonis reports on what it was like to be there today.And while we’ve all been transfixed by the attack on the

Jan 13, 2021 • 28:20

Who’s in charge of the GOP?

A widening rift in the Republican Party. What FBI officials knew about the siege of the Capitol, and when they knew it. And, why the February Vogue cover of Kamala Harris is causing a stir.Read more:Political reporter Michael Scherer explains how the Capitol riot is escalating a fight for the soul of the Republican Party, with pro-Trump conspiracy theorists on one side and the party establishment on the other. The Washington Post has learned that a day before rioters stormed Congress, an FB

Jan 12, 2021 • 27:55

The insurrection planned in plain sight

How tech companies are responding to the far-right extremism on their platforms. Why we should have seen the siege on the Capitol coming. And, a brief history of presidential pettiness.Read more:The planning for last week’s assault on the U.S. Capitol happened largely in plain view, with chatters in far-right forums explicitly discussing how to storm the building, handcuff lawmakers with zip ties, and disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s election. Those planners, however, are starting t

Jan 11, 2021 • 28:18

Trump’s ‘American Carnage’

Trump’s promise for a smooth transition of power might be too late, amid growing calls to remove him from office. After the attack on the Capitol, lawmakers seemed to come together — but will that last with a 50-50 Senate? And an update from Georgia.Read more:White House bureau chief Phil Rucker brings us behind the scenes of a week when President Trump incited a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol, and then, grudgingly, admitted his loss. With Democratic victories in Georgia’s runo

Jan 8, 2021 • 31:07

What happens after an insurrection?

The public fracturing of the Republican Party. Security failures at the Capitol. And, questions about why predominantly White rioters got kid-glove treatment from police.Read more:Lawmakers, rattled and angry, reconvened to certify election results after an angry pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. Seung Min Kim reports on the very public schism laid bare in the Republican Party. National security reporter Shane Harris on the massive failure of law enforcement to protect the building.&n

Jan 7, 2021 • 34:06

Two Americas collide

The U.S. Capitol has been breached by a pro-Trump mob during the process of confirming Joe Biden’s vistory in the presidential election. Meanwhile, another election in Georgia is wrapping up — with control of the Senate hanging in the balance. Read more:A violent mob has breached the U.S. Capitol, halting a congressional count of electoral votes. Follow live updates here. Results from the Senate runoffs in Georgia signal a Democratic flip in the state, and in the Senate. National repor

Jan 6, 2021 • 20:43

Can America’s vaccine rollout be fixed?

Why the vaccine rollout has been slower than expected in the United States. And, the political theater of counting electoral college votes. Read more:Reporters Isaac Stanley-Becker and Brittany Shammas explain why state and local health systems are struggling to roll out coronavirus vaccines, and what that means for people hoping to sign up.On Wednesday, Joe Biden will be one step closer to the presidency. Rosalind S. Helderman reports on what to expect during the congressional counting of

Jan 5, 2021 • 21:09

‘I just want to find 11,780 votes’

What President Trump’s pressure campaign to overturn his election defeat sounds like. And, a nursing home’s creative solution to physical isolation.Read more:Amy Gardner explains why Trump’s latest phone call to Georgia officials has legal scholars crying foul.And as the nation keeps a close eye on Georgia’s two U.S. Senate runoff elections, it’s a good time to revisit Post Reports’ deep dive into the real — and perceived — voter suppression in the state. And, after months of isolation, a “

Jan 4, 2021 • 25:26

Georgia on our minds

As the dust settled after the November election, it became clear that the balance of power in Washington would all hinge on two Senate runoffs in Georgia. Whether President-elect Joe Biden will be able to accomplish major parts of his agenda, whether Congress will remain gridlocked, whether there will be single party rule or a still divided government -- it all comes down to Georgia. Attention, money and volunteers have poured into the state. But how much do we really understand about Georg

Dec 30, 2020 • 1:02:52

Love, actually … isn’t all around

A story of love and family — and deadlines. Read more:For Post Reports producer Linah Mohammad, moving back in with her parents to weather the pandemic in Texas seemed like a harmless idea. But then Mohammad, who is single, turned 25 — a milestone sometimes deemed “the cutoff age for eligibility” for Arab women to marry — and suddenly her parents’ involvement in her love life made things a lot more complicated. So she decided to do something she’d never done before: let her parents arr

Dec 29, 2020 • 11:14

Underwater during a pandemic

In April, a massive dam failure in Midland, Mich., left an entire community underwater amid the pandemic. Jacob May saw the flood ravage his hometown and recorded an audio diary. This is Jacob’s story, and an update on how he’s doing now.Read more: Back in the spring, the producers of the Post podcast “All Told” put together a series of audio diaries, bringing listeners inside different people’s experiences of the pandemic. One of those diaries was from Jacob May. In late April, a dam in Mi

Dec 28, 2020 • 36:35

‘Presidential’: The story of Joe Biden

We really thought we knew everything there is to know about Joe Biden. … But then we heard this episode of “Presidential” with Lillian Cunningham and the New Yorker’s Evan Osnos, and we learned so much that we wanted to share it with you here. We’re taking a couple days off for Christmas. We hope you are safe and cozy wherever you are, whether you celebrate or not. We’ll be back on Monday, Dec. 28, with more stories from The Washington Post.Read more:Find the “Presidential” podcast here, or

Dec 23, 2020 • 54:12

London on lockdown

A new mutation of the coronavirus is spreading in the U.K. — and causing chaos at certain ports of entry as Britain prepares to leave the European Union. Plus, the historic nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland to be interior secretary.Read more:The U.K. coronavirus mutation prompts more travel bans and major freight disruptions. The timing couldn’t be worse, London bureau chief Bill Booth says, as Britain prepares to leave the European Union. President-elect Joe Biden has picked Rep. Deb Haaland

Dec 22, 2020 • 22:46

Is $900 billion too little too late?

What’s in the new stimulus package? The people stealing to survive during a pandemic. And a dispatch from America’s oldest Chinatown. Read more:Rachel Siegel explains what Congress included in the long-awaited stimulus deal — and what it left out. More people are shoplifting food during the pandemic, according to retailers, police departments and researchers around the country. Abha Bhattarai reports on the Americans struggling to survive covid-19’s harsh economic realities. &nbsp

Dec 21, 2020 • 26:13

The sensibility of Janet Yellen

How president-elect Joe Biden has tapped Janet Yellen to be the first female treasury secretary. And the mall Santas making it work. Read more:Economist Janet L. Yellen has had many jobs, even in the White House. Now, she’s going to be the secretary of the Treasury Department — if confirmed — in Biden’s Cabinet. Economics correspondent Heather Long explains the significance of her nomination.And, this year, Santa performers are braving the pandemic with plexiglass, sanitation elves and snow

Dec 18, 2020 • 17:14

From Russia, with malware

What Russia hacked this time. Why America’s biggest companies are laying people off during a pandemic – while boasting record profits. And new coronavirus tests you can take at home.Read more:The U.S. government spent billions on a system for detecting hacks. The Russians outsmarted it, as national security reporter Ellen Nakashima explains. Some of America’s biggest companies have made a killing off the pandemic. But their record profits haven’t stopped them from laying off thousands of pe

Dec 17, 2020 • 28:42

Get rich or vote trying

How members of Congress vote to enrich themselves. Why Biden is pursuing an unconventional pick for defense secretary. And what happened when The Post’s food critic got covid-19. Read more: Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia aren’t alone in drawing scrutiny over their stock portfolios. Chris Ingraham dives into new research showing that lawmakers with stock holdings vote in ways that juice their portfolios. Dan Lamothe explains the controversy surrounding Presiden

Dec 16, 2020 • 26:19

The vaccine is here. She got it first.

Meet Sandra Lindsay, the first person to get a coronavirus vaccine in the United States. And a closer look at President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken. Read more:The vaccine is now being administered in the United States as hospitals struggle to keep up with coronavirus patients. Science reporter Ben Guarino on why this New York critical care nurse got the country’s first coronavirus shot: “We were scared.”Biden has picked Antony Blinken to be secretary of sta

Dec 15, 2020 • 21:13

Immigration under Trump

Looking back at four years of Trump’s immigration policies. Plus, setting egg-spectations for Britain’s pubs under covid.Read more:In 2015, Donald Trump ran on the promise to overhaul immigration — a vow he made good on as soon as he was sworn in. Immigration reporter Maria Sacchetti takes us through all the steps President Trump took to change the U.S. immigration system, from banning travel from some Muslim-majority countries to separating families, and the potentially lasting change in tone a

Dec 14, 2020 • 22:54

Policing mental health crises

What can go wrong when police are the ones responding to mental health crises. And grieving virtually during the pandemic.Read more:The final moments of Stacy Kenny’s life are captured on a recorded 911 call. Kenny, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, begs an emergency operator to explain why she’s been pulled over. The officers – Springfield Sgt. Rick A. Lewis and Officer Kraig Akins – smash the windows on her car. They Taser her twice, punch her in the face more than

Dec 11, 2020 • 31:40

A supply chain that could end the pandemic

When the first coronavirus vaccine is approved for emergency use, officials across the country will embark on a finely orchestrated, high-stakes process to distribute and administer doses. Meet the people inside the supply chain that could end the pandemic.Read more:Once you have a vaccine, you have to get it to the masses. That’s the hard part. A vaccine manufacturer. A shipper. A state health official. A dry-ice guy. Host Martine Powers and producer Linah Mohammad take us inside the suppl

Dec 10, 2020 • 28:39

Bridging the vaccine’s trust gap

Can companies require employees to be vaccinated? What community leaders and health officials are doing to sell Black Americans on the coronavirus vaccine. And a second life for Halloween skeletons. Read more:Can your employer require you to get vaccinated? Reporter Jena McGregor breaks it down.Many Black Americans are not sold on the coronavirus vaccine, citing a long history of medical mistreatment and continuing inequities in modern-day health care as reasons not to trust the medical est

Dec 9, 2020 • 26:22

Biden’s unorthodox health team

President-elect Joe Biden’s names his administration’s top health officials. The toll the pandemic has taken on nursing home employees. And an inauguration unlike any other. Read more: Health reporter Amy Goldstein examines the president-elect’s picks for top health officials, including the unorthodox choice of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on nursing home workers. “The pro

Dec 8, 2020 • 27:14

Lame-duck executions

Why the Justice Department is pushing executions before the inauguration. The secret centrist revolt that could mean a second stimulus. And, how a top official tasked with helping Americans through the pandemic could benefit from hundreds of evictions.Read more:Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department is pursuing several federal executions during a lame-duck period ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration. Reporter Matt Zapotosky explains. Last week, a bipartisan group of lawmakers r

Dec 7, 2020 • 28:11

America’s deadliest serial killer

Reporter Hannah Knowles reveals a portrait of a fragmented and indifferent criminal justice system that for decades allowed the country’s deadliest serial killer to target those on the margins of society.Read more:America’s deadliest serial killer went undetected for decades. Between 1970 and 2005, he claims to have killed at least 93 people — nearly all women, many who remain unidentified.For months, a team of reporters at The Post has been investigating Samuel Little’s killings —of people who

Dec 4, 2020 • 30:12

The battle between fear and boredom in El Paso

Pandemic fatigue permeates even the cities hit hardest by the virus: In El Paso the death toll is staggering, but the community is struggling to come together to fight it. Plus, how a group advising the CDC is deciding who should get vaccines first. Read more:El Paso was still grieving when the coronavirus arrived. Now, death has overwhelmed it. Arelis Hernández says the city pulled together after 23 people were killed in an attack at a Walmart last year, but El Paso is now struggling to su

Dec 3, 2020 • 25:05

How to raise $170 million after an election

How President Trump might use the $170 million he’s raised to challenge election results. Infighting muddies the future of the Democratic Party. And, how the pandemic has complicated shared custody agreements.Read more:November was one of the president’s most successful fundraising months. Michelle Ye Hee Lee explains how Trump raised more than $170 million using appeals about false election claims, and where that money could go.Democrats expected a blue wave this election cycle. It didn’t happe

Dec 2, 2020 • 29:33

Why was Iran’s top nuclear scientist killed?

The debate is not whether Israel killed Iran’s top nuclear scientist, but why. How the “Q” conspiracy theory went from an American curiosity to a transnational mess. And, the people who have covid-19 symptoms for the long haul.Read more:In the hours after the brazen assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, the question quickly shifted from “who” to “why.” Jerusalem bureau chief Steve Hendrix explains why Israel might have been motivated to strike now. Reporter Emily Rauhala explains t

Dec 1, 2020 • 32:06

Biden’s play-it-safe, history-making Cabinet

What Joe Biden’s nominees and appointments can tell us about the incoming president’s administration. And, the former head of the CDC on what it will take to get coronavirus vaccines to the masses.Read more:National political reporter Annie Linskey on President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet picks — including economist Janet Yellen as the first female treasury secretary and an all-female communications team.Moderna is moving closer to getting the green light for its coronavirus vaccine. But as former

Nov 30, 2020 • 26:26

The emotional toll of distance learning

Education reporter Laura Meckler explores the impact of distance learning on young kids’ emotional health and behavior — and what families and caretakers can do to help make a difficult situation better. Read more:In March, school campuses across the United States began to shutter, forcing a nation of students home to pivot — seemingly overnight — to online learning. But left in the lurch are children, especially young children. After many districts decided to stay online during the fa

Nov 25, 2020 • 21:06

Working moms are not okay

Juggling careers and kids was already a struggle for millions of women in America. Then the pandemic hit. Ellen McCarthy reports on why working moms are leaving the labor force in droves – and what that could mean for the future of our country.Read more:When they met as students in Chicago, Vondetta Taylor and Jennifer Anderson were all aspiration. Taylor was training to be a chef. Anderson was working toward a career in broadcasting. And they both dreamed of starting their own families one day.

Nov 24, 2020 • 33:49

The invisible public health crisis

Health reporter William Wan examines one of the unseen effects of the pandemic on people’s lives — the emotional and psychological toll of all that’s happened.Read more:Almost a year into a pandemic, we’re all aware of what the coronavirus can do to our bodies. More than 250,000 Americans have died. Millions of people around the world are sick.But there are other, non-physical effects, too — the emotional and psychological toll of isolation, constant fear and loss, especially on young adults. Th

Nov 23, 2020 • 21:45

The campaign to flip the election

Will anyone stop the president’s attempts to overturn the election? Revisiting the iconic album documenting John Lennon’s last years. And, where tourists go for fake coronavirus test results.Read more:With most legal options exhausted, President Trump is now using the power of his office to overturn the election by claiming baseless allegations of voter fraud. White House bureau chief Philip Rucker reports on the president’s attempt to stay in office.National arts reporter Geoff Edgers revisits

Nov 20, 2020 • 27:11

Inauguration is 62 days away. What could go wrong?

The votes have been (mostly) counted, and though Joe Biden is clearly the president-elect, there are still more steps and potential obstacles for that to become official. Plus, why more men are dying of covid-19. Read more:This week in Wayne County in Michigan, a drama has been unfolding over a procedural step that happens in every election: the certification of the vote. Trevor Potter of the Campaign Legal Center explains the process for Joe Biden to officially become the president -- and

Nov 19, 2020 • 23:17

How we voted, and why

A look at how key groups voted in this election: from Latinos in Texas and the women who went for President Trump to the Black voters who pushed President-elect Joe Biden across the finish line. Read more:Democrats lost ground with swing Latino voters in key states such as Florida and Texas. In the Rio Grande Valley, national reporter Arelis Hernandez says, the surprising support for Trump underscores the need for Democrats to cultivate deeper relationships with a diverse Latino population.

Nov 18, 2020 • 31:16

A red wave of Republicans — and covid cases

How Republicans are using election wins to justify their approach to the pandemic. The CDC’s latest on why you should wear a mask. And, the coronavirus response in Africa. Read more:GOP leaders flouted warnings from public health officials early on. National political reporter Griff Witte explains how Republicans are now pointing to election wins to justify their approach to the pandemic. Coronavirus cases are reaching record highs in the United States. “Every two seconds we get anothe

Nov 17, 2020 • 25:18

The lame-duck economy

With protections expiring and no stimulus deal in sight, Americans could be heading for even more economic pain. The national security costs of delaying the transition. And the promise of at-home coronavirus testing.Read more:Could we get another stimulus package during the lame-duck period? Jeff Stein reports on the political forces at work, and the potential costs of doing nothing. Experts are concerned that President Trump’s unwillingness to start a transition threatens the security of o

Nov 16, 2020 • 30:16

The worst covid surge is just beginning

The Midwest emerges as the latest hot spot for coronavirus, as daily cases across the U.S. breaks records. And the Democrats’ last hope to take control of the Senate comes down to Georgia.Read more:Coronavirus cases continue to surge in the U.S. Reporters Annie Gowen and William Wan take a look at where the cases are rising and why.Senior congressional correspondent and columnist Paul Kane joins the show to talk about the Democrats’ last hope to take the Senate in Georgia.Subscribe to The Washin

Nov 13, 2020 • 29:02

What’s wrong with polling?

Campaign strategists and the public were led to believe that Democrats were headed for a wave. Election results have told a different story, just as they did four years ago. And, the next steps for a promising coronavirus vaccine.Read more:Polls fell short again in 2020. Political reporter Michael Scherer discusses what that means for future elections.Carolyn Y. Johnson explains the next steps for Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, which the company finds is 90 percent effective in early data from it

Nov 12, 2020 • 20:46

Is this a coup?

The quiet pessimism lurking inside the White House. How Joe Biden plans to tackle an “existential threat to humanity” – climate change. And how to reclaim your sense of time during this … time. Read more:White House reporter Josh Dawsey on what’s going on behind the bold claims from the president and his allies that he will stay for four more years. President-elect Joe Biden stands poised to launch the boldest climate change plan of any president in American history. Climate reporter J

Nov 11, 2020 • 26:39

These tweets may be harmful to your democracy

Breaking down conspiracy theories over election fraud. The Republicans who won, even when Trump didn’t. And, a new leader in the box office. Read more:Tech reporter Drew Harwell reports on the conspiracy theories taking hold among Trump supporters and being bolstered by Republican lawmakers. The battle for control of the Senate is still up in the air. But, as Fix reporter Amber Phillips explains, Republican politicians who embrace Trump won big this election. As the U.S. struggles

Nov 10, 2020 • 24:20

New president, same pandemic

President-elect Joe Biden prepares a transition to the White House — and readies a team to combat a surging pandemic. And for future leaders, the hope and promise of Kamala Harris.Read more: Joe Biden is projected to be the next president of the United States. But, as politics writer Matt Viser reports, the president-elect faces some Trump-sized roadblocks in his transition to the White House.Days after winning the election, Biden put forth a plan to slow the coronavirus. Health policy repo

Nov 9, 2020 • 29:15

How does a man who hates losing prepare to lose?

As key states flip for Joe Biden, the former vice president renews calls for patience. Meanwhile inside the White House, President Trump is by turns angry and despondent. But no matter what happens next, it’s clear: Trumpism is here to stay. Read more:As Joe Biden overtakes President Trump in key states, national political reporter Matt Viser says the Democrat’s campaign is urging calm and patience as ballots continue to be counted. On Thursday night, President Trump delivered an angry

Nov 6, 2020 • 29:36

The divided states of America

Why the Trump campaign is mounting legal challenges in swing states. What the election reveals about the urban-rural divide. And why Wall Street likes the sound of gridlock in Washington. Read more:Trump is mounting several legal battles over votes in key states. National political reporter Amy Gardner lays out the lawsuits to watch and what they could mean for the outcome of the election.As battleground states continue to count ballots, one clear picture emerges: a divided America. White H

Nov 5, 2020 • 26:03

The race to 270

Battleground states continue counting ballots in races that are too close to call. And how Democrats failed to capture Latino voters in Florida.Read more:The presidential election is still too close to call. Aaron Blake lays out the states to watch in this quickly moving race, and explains each candidate’s potential path to victory. President Trump took a decisive and early win in Florida on election night. National enterprise reporter Jose Del Real explains how Trump successfully mobilized

Nov 4, 2020 • 28:34

It’s not over yet

As the nation waits to find out the results of the election, we hear what it's like to report the news in this moment of uncertainty — with dispatches from political reporters and the editor who’s charged with deciding what goes on the front page.Read more: Buckle up folks. It’s gonna be a minute. Early Wednesday morning, President Trump falsely declared himself to have already won the election — a move that is far from surprising, according to White House reporter Toluse Olorunnipa. T

Nov 4, 2020 • 21:30

The citizen’s guide to election night

From Kenosha, Wis., to Greenville, N.C., voters are anxiously heading to the polls on the last day of the 2020 general election. How voters have navigated the process of casting a ballot this year. And what to watch for on this election night. Read more:As voters continue to line up at polling places across the country, Washington Post reporters are asking what’s keeping them in their lines and what’s giving them hope looking forward. “2020 is obviously one of the most hard-fought camp

Nov 3, 2020 • 29:40

The year of the voter

How a chaotic year resulted in sky-high voter turnout. And, how Democrats are trying to win back rural votes in the Midwest. Read more:The year of the vote: How Americans surmounted a pandemic and dizzying rule changes so their voices would be heard.Can Biden compete in Trump’s rural strongholds? Democrats hope so.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Nov 2, 2020 • 21:35

Keeping up with the Boneses

Maura Judkis explains 2020’s peculiar Halloween phenomenon: the mad dash for Home Depot’s decorative 12-foot-tall plastic skeletons. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Oct 31, 2020 • 12:45

Will our democracy survive this election?

The decline of democracy in the United States. Lessons from 150 books about President Trump and his time in office. And, the rise of Sarah Cooper. Read more:On multiple occasions, President Trump has refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if former vice president Joe Biden wins the election. That concerns a lot of people, including Sarah Repucci, vice president of research and analysis at Freedom House, an organization that studies democracies around the world. “Democracy is

Oct 30, 2020 • 26:27

Q-tips, generators and a prayer: How to run an election

What it’s like to run an election in a pandemic. Also, the French president’s crusade to reform Islam.Read more:Chris Anderson is a Florida election official. In the weeks leading up to Nov. 3, he has been trying to administer an election safely, securely and as smoothly as possible. The tools of his trade: 101,000 Q-tips from a local Dollar Tree, a phone constantly pinging with text messages, and an election supervisor’s prayer that begs, “We don’t care who wins — just don’t let it be close.” A

Oct 29, 2020 • 23:02

Can we trust polling in battleground states?

A snapshot of what’s happening in key battleground states. What we can and can’t learn from polling. And a complicated end to the World Series.Read more:Reporters Jenna Johnson and Amy Gardner have been closely watching the presidential race play out in key states. In some of these states, such as Georgia and Texas, the polls are much closer than expected.The Post’s polling director, Scott Clement, talks about Biden's narrow lead in Michigan, and what we can and can't learn from polling.The Los

Oct 28, 2020 • 29:13

Will your vote count?

What we can learn from a Supreme Court decision on mail-in ballots in Wisconsin. The states where most voters still can’t vote by mail. And why it’s easier to vote from space than from your own home.Read more:On Monday night, the Supreme Court rejected a request to extend Wisconsin’s deadline for counting mail-in ballots. Justice Brett M.Kavanaugh wrote a concurring argument that reporter Philip Bump says is riddled with dubious arguments, including an allegation that late ballots are somehow a

Oct 27, 2020 • 24:57

The court that Mitch McConnell built

Mitch McConnell’s Supreme Court victory. The future of the Affordable Care Act. And a shift in the White House’s thinking on how to tackle the coronavirus.Read more:Trump’s conservative imprint on the federal judiciary gives Democrats a playbook — if they win.‘ACB vs. ACA’: Why Democrats keep bringing up Obamacare during Barrett’s confirmation hearing.With just over a week until Election Day, the White House has signaled that it’s done trying to contain the spread of the coronavirus, setting its

Oct 26, 2020 • 27:56

The winners and losers of early voting

What record-breaking early-voter turnout means for Democrats and Republicans. How one election official is handling the “tsunami” of ballots in her Texas county. Plus, the latest on foreign election interference. Read more:Across the country, Democratic enthusiasm is propelling an enormous wave of early voting. But reporter Amy Gardner, who covers voting issues, explains that it’s still too early to know what that will mean for Democrat Joe Biden. Meanwhile, election officials such as Dana

Oct 23, 2020 • 29:17

545 kids

How the government has lost track of hundreds of separated migrant families. Why rural communities still lack reliable access to high-speed Internet. And, forming a ‘pandemic pod’ for the winter. Read more:More than two years after a U.S. district judge ordered that families separated by President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy at the border be reunited, the parents of 545 minors still haven't been found. Reporter Teo Armus explains why it’s been so difficult to track and reunite families.

Oct 22, 2020 • 25:01

The latest on the race for a vaccine

The latest on vaccine trials, and who would get a vaccine first. Why personal protective equipment such as the N95 mask is still so scarce. And introducing the mute button to the presidential debate. Read more:As coronavirus cases climb in nearly every state, drug companies are developing prospective vaccines at unprecedented speed. Science reporter Carolyn Y. Johnson has the latest on the search for a vaccine, and she says early data is expected in a matter of weeks. N95 masks are cru

Oct 21, 2020 • 30:06

Can Senate Republicans survive Trump?

The Senate seats in danger of flipping parties this election. Facebook and Twitters attempt to tackle disinformation ahead of the election. And a Black man speaks out after his image was used for fake pro-Trump Twitter accounts.Read more:Will the Senate flip parties? Reporter Paul Kane explains the Republican seats to watch this election, and the tightrope that senators who are close to the president have to walk to stay in office. Social media companies like Twitter and Facebook are strugg

Oct 20, 2020 • 28:18

Election 2020: Lawyers vs. more lawyers

There are just over two weeks until Nov. 3. Election-related lawsuits are flooding the courts, but the army of lawyers filing cases shows little sign of stopping. And a conversation with a pro-Trump Muslim voter. Read more:People are voting early across the country, but courts are facing an unprecedented number of election cases. Martine Powers and Post Reports producer Reena Flores explore the variouselection cases before the court, the lawyering-up by both parties, and how that can play a

Oct 19, 2020 • 27:23

The Life of George Floyd

“He's everywhere — but he's not here. He's on somebody's wall. He's on somebody's billboard. … He's in a newspaper, but he's not here. He's here in spirit. But he's not here.”George Floyd has become a symbol, and a rallying cry. But what’s missing in our understanding is the man himself: a figure who was complicated, full of ambition, shaped by his family and his community and a century of forces around him.On this episode of “Post Reports,” we explore the life and experiences of the man who spa

Oct 16, 2020 • 1:04:31

Tracking a secret outbreak in Iowa

How genetic science can help expose, track and contain coronavirus outbreaks. And your voting questions answered. Read more:In a pandemic rife with confusion, where essential data and clear guidance have been difficult to find, clues to controlling coronavirus outbreaks can be found in the virus’s own genetic code. Sarah Kaplan reports on an undisclosed outbreak in Postville, Iowa — and the genetic evidence it left behind.Your voting questions, answered. One listener asks, how do campaigns

Oct 15, 2020 • 23:55

Everyone wants a stimulus deal. So why isn’t there one?

Why we still don’t have a second pandemic relief bill. What the funding holdup means for schools. And how rushing this year’s census could shape our democracy for years to come. Read more:Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has announced that the Senate will take up a narrow economic relief bill when it returns to session next week — one that Democrats will probably block. White House economics reporter Jeff Stein reports on the content of the stimulus bill.As talks sour ov

Oct 14, 2020 • 22:21

How covid-19 amplified the anti-vaccine movement

How Amy Coney Barrett would view her role on the court. How anti-vaxxers are using covid-19 to further their agenda. And when mail ballots get counted.Read more:During the first day of questioning in Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing, she told the Senate Judiciary Committee that she has made “no commitment” to the White House or senators on how she would rule on major cases on the Affordable Care Act, abortion and election disputes. Amber Phillips breaks down how Barre

Oct 13, 2020 • 24:33

Introducing Amy Coney Barrett

Opening statements in the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett. How Barrett was involved in litigating the 2000 presidential election. And the political battle that led Oregon to vote by mail.Read more:White House reporter Seung Min Kim unpacks opening statements in the Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, and what we can expect over the following days.Investigative reporter Beth Reinhard discusses Barrett’s role in the contested presid

Oct 12, 2020 • 32:54

Trump’s loyal base

The White men without college degrees who love the president more than ever. How evangelical Latinos could swing the vote for Trump in Florida. And, a bakery in Beirut reopens two months after an explosion. Read more:Polls show Biden with a significant lead over the president, but national political reporter Jenna Johnson says there is still one demographic group that can’t be swayed: White men without college degrees. Johnson talked to some of Trump’s most loyal fans. In the battlegro

Oct 9, 2020 • 34:24

The problem with grand juries

What grand jury recordings can tell us about why there was no indictment in Breonna Taylor's death. How the pandemic is scrambling college students’ voting plans. And, how Boris Johnson was affected by contracting covid-19. Read more:During last night’s vice-presidential debate, Vice President Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) were asked about justice, and the grand jury decision not to charge several officers for fatally shooting Breonna Taylor. From reporter Marisa Iati, the questio

Oct 8, 2020 • 0:00

With Trump sick, Biden puts the virus front and center

How Biden’s presidential campaign is pivoting. The most uneven recession. And, why service industry workers are seeing less in tips.Read more:National political reporter Annie Linskey on how Joe Biden’s campaign for president this year is evolving. From revealing coronavirus testing results to mobilizing Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the way the Democratic nominee approaches the field is changing.On Tuesday, President Trump announced on Twitter that he was stopping negotiations on another relie

Oct 7, 2020 • 29:01

When serving the president means risking covid-19

How the White House residence staff is responding to the hot spot in their workplace. The owner of a Kansas diner weighs whether to reopen or keep feeding people in need. And the NBA’s push to get out the vote. Read more:National features reporter Jada Yuan reports that as the number of people testing positive for coronavirus at the White House increases, there is growing concern that residential workers are being put at risk. The Ladybird Diner in Lawrence, Kan., has been feeding hung

Oct 6, 2020 • 27:07

Outbreak in the West Wing

The White House sends mixed messages about Trump’s condition as at least a dozen people in Trump’s inner circle have tested positive for the coronavirus. The quiet resistance of U.S. Postal workers. And the importance of slow science. Read more:The president says he's leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Centerafter testing positive for the coronavirus. White House reporter Seung Min Kim explains how the White House has been unclear about Trump’s condition, and who in his inner cir

Oct 5, 2020 • 25:39

"A secret that she couldn't tell"

The second chapter of “Canary: The Washington Post Investigates,” a new seven-part podcast that follows the intertwining stories of two women who came together after one of them publicly shared her story of sexual assault.Lauren Clark is a hair stylist in D.C. When a stranger sexually assaulted her in 2013, it sparked a years-long courtroom saga and a campaign for justice. Her story started The Post’s Amy Brittain on a reporting journey that has lasted for nearly three years — one that played ou

Oct 3, 2020 • 29:02

The ultimate coronavirus test for the president

President Trump and the first lady tested positive for the coronavirus. What does that mean for the White House, the presidential race and the future of the country?Read more:White House reporter Josh Dawsey reports on contact-tracing efforts out of the White House.Amber Phillips and the Fix navigate the political fallout, including the effects on upcoming presidential debates and campaign rallies. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Oct 2, 2020 • 17:01

Introducing "Canary: The Washington Post Investigates"

After a sexual assault case in the District of Columbia, one woman’s public warning ricochets all the way to Birmingham, Ala., where another woman gives voice to a devastating allegation.This seven-part investigative series from The Washington Post follows the Alabama woman’s decision to come forward with a claim of sexual assault against a high-ranking figure in the D.C. criminal justice system, and the spiraling effects of that choice.“Canary: The Washington Post Investigates” is about the int

Oct 1, 2020 • 30:01

Nine months and 1 million lives lost

From the first wave in February in China through New York City and on to India’s current surge, the coronavirus has unleashed a worldwide suffering with no evident exit. As we pass a grim milestone, we try to get a sense for a few of the people we’ve lost.Read more:This week, the worldwide death toll of covid-19 has now surpassed 1 million people. That’s 1 million lives lost in just nine months. And as we’ve been hearing about and thinking about this huge number, our colleagues at The Post

Sep 30, 2020 • 29:00

Revisiting the 2016 ‘October Surprise’

The story behind the FBI’s October Surprise just days before the 2016 election. And, the human cost of ordering online during a pandemic.Read more:Book excerpt: An FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger 2016’s “October Surprise,” by national security reporter Devlin Barrett. In warehouses across the U.S., workers say they are overworked and fearful of their safety, says retail reporter Abha Bhattarrai. Now, workers are bracing for a holiday frenzy. For a recap of the first presiden

Sep 29, 2020 • 25:46

Is Trump actually rich?

What we’ve learned from Trump’s tax returns. Who is Judge Amy Coney Barrett? And, what it’s like to moderate a presidential debate — and why it might be a good thing to lose the audience.Read more:President Trump paid just $750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017, according to reporting tax records obtained by The New York Times. Reporter David Fahrenthold explains what else we’ve learned from these documents about the president’s business ventures.Over the weekend, President Trump nominated

Sep 28, 2020 • 34:06

Trapped inside the Star Motel

Even before the pandemic, Orlando was plagued by a lack of affordable housing. Then Florida’s tourism economy crashed, leaving hundreds of people trapped in rundown motels on the edge of society.Read more:Greg Jaffe reported on the people trapped at a motel without power just outside of Disney World.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Sep 25, 2020 • 25:53

How policing failed Breonna Taylor

Why police are rarely charged for shooting people — and whether police tactics will change. The movement to abolish Greek life on campuses. And, the question of court-packing.Read more:In Louisville, clashes erupted after a grand jury’s decision in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor. Investigative reporter Robert Klemko is in Louisville. He shares why it’s so hard to charge police officers of wrongdoing. Follow The Post’s live updates here. Across college campuses, students are calling f

Sep 24, 2020 • 29:21

Why Mitch McConnell is unstoppable

Republicans leave Senate Democrats with few options to stall a Trump SCOTUS pick. The country’s first U.S. criminal jury trial — on Zoom. And your voting questions, answered. Read more:As the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s body lies in repose at the Supreme Court, Republicans are vowing to forge ahead with a Trump-picked replacement. Congressional correspondent Paul Kane explains how Democrats are largely powerless to stop a Senate confirmation. Justice by Zoom: Courts across the n

Sep 23, 2020 • 28:03

Fall’s here. So is a rise in coronavirus cases.

Temperatures are dropping, and that could mean a spike in coronavirus cases. How a Supreme Court vacancy — or replacement — could have an impact on the presidential election. And, pandemic-inspired music you can dance to. Read more:The United States reached a grim milestone: 200,000 deaths from covid-19. Health reporter Lenny Bernstein says that young people are behind the spike in cases — and with the temperature dropping, it will probably get even worse.Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death has inj

Sep 22, 2020 • 25:33

America after RBG

The political battle brewing over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat, and the future of the Supreme Court. And, remembering the life and legacy of “the notorious RBG.”Read more:Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a pioneer for gender equality and the second woman to reach the Supreme Court, died Friday at age 87 at her home in Washington. Supreme Court reporter Robert Barnes discusses Ginsburg’s life and legacy, and how she became a feminist icon. “Folks made her out to be superwoman, and

Sep 21, 2020 • 29:32

“I hired you because you’re Black.”

On today’s Post Reports, Michelle Singletary has an honest conversation about affirmative action. And, we take your questions about voting this year, starting with a listener in California.Read more:Introducing Sincerely, Michelle: A personal series by financial columnist Michelle Singletary examining misconceptions involving race and economics. The first topic? Affirmative action. Do you have a question about voting this election? Check out The Post’s How to Vote guide, a resource with inf

Sep 18, 2020 • 28:23

The White women turning away from Trump

On today’s “Post Reports,” Jenna Johnson reports on the White, suburban women who regret putting Donald Trump in office. Matt Zapotosky explains why Attorney General William Barr lambasting the Justice Department matters. And introducing “Canary,” a Washington Post investigative podcast hosted by Amy Brittain. Read more:National political correspondent Jenna Johnson reports on the growing number of White female voters who regret voting for Donald Trump in 2016 and plan to vote for Democrati

Sep 17, 2020 • 22:26

How federal regulators failed meat plant workers

On today’s Post Reports, more than 200 meatpacking workers have died of covid-19. Critics say that federal regulators have endangered employees by failing to respond appropriately. How the pandemic is transforming family practice doctors. And the Big 10 turns a 180. Read more:So far, more than 200 meat packing employees have died of covid-19 in the United States. “We’re talking about problems in more than four hundred meat plants,” investigative reporter Kimberly Kindy says, but “two receiv

Sep 16, 2020 • 28:06

The 1963 Birmingham bombing’s ‘Fifth Girl’

Sarah Collins Rudolph survived the Birmingham bombing 57 years ago today. Now, she wants restitution. And, an update on the criminal case in the death of George Floyd.Read more:The story of Sarah Collins Rudolph, who survived the 1963 Birmingham church bombing. The explosion killed her sister and three other girls. Now, she wants restitution and an apology. “She wants justice for herself,” explains enterprise reporter Sydney Trent. “She feels like she has been overlooked.”The police officers cha

Sep 15, 2020 • 26:29

After Oregon fires, no house to come home to

Oregon residents struggle to find shelter away from wildfires and dense smoke. Why a Black autistic man is serving 10 years in prison for a car crash. And U.S. Open winner Naomi Osaka sends a strong message with her masks.Read more:Samantha Schmidt reports from Oregon, where state orders have evacuees sleeping in parking lots and residents find themselves without homes to return to. Video journalist Lindsey Sitz reports on the case of Matthew Rushin, a 22-year-old Black autistic man who is

Sep 14, 2020 • 28:47

Nineteen children and counting

How one sperm donor found out he has 19 children -- and learned the promises and perils of online genetic testing. And, how dogs can sniff out diseases, including the coronavirus. Read more:When Bryce Cleary donated his sperm in 1989, he was told he would have five donor children at most and all would be located on the East Coast, his own role hidden behind anonymity. Kyle Swenson reports that with the advent of genealogical websites like Ancestry.com and 23andMe, Cleary realized he one day

Sep 11, 2020 • 29:33

The American West is burning

On today’s Post Reports, record-breaking wildfires are already spreading up the West Coast – and the fire season has only just begun. How a Homeland Security whistleblower was told to stop reports on potential Russian interference in the 2020 election. And, the issues with the new “Mulan.” Read more:The Bay Area skies changed basically overnight, says Washington Post reporter Heather Kelly. One day “it was orange. It looked like Mars. It was dark. It was depressing.” As wildfires in th

Sep 10, 2020 • 33:57

E. Jean Carroll v. the United States?

The Justice Department seeks to intervene to the benefit of President Trump in a defamation case brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of raping her decades ago. Unemployed Americans say they won’t forget inaction by Congress. Plus, whether there’s a future for karaoke.Read more:Reporter Matt Zapotosky on the Justice Department’s case for defending the president in a year-old defamation suit.People hurting financially in the U.S. say they won’t forget Congress’s lack of action d

Sep 9, 2020 • 27:16

The postmaster general’s alleged straw-donor scheme

The postmaster general faces new allegations of campaign finance violations. Why the pandemic is making it so hard for people to sleep. And your questions about immunity, answered. Read more:Investigative reporter Aaron Davis has discovered that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s prolific campaign fundraising was bolstered for more than a decade by a practice that left many employees feeling pressured to make political contributions to GOP candidates –– money DeJoy later reimbursed through bo

Sep 8, 2020 • 32:16

Is it okay to laugh at Florida Man?

The beginnings of the Florida Man meme, and what it’s like to go viral on the worst day of your life.Read more:Is It okay to laugh at Florida Man? Writer Logan Hill investigates what happens after someone goes viral as the “world’s worst superhero”— and the moral implications of laughing along.Subscribe to The Washington Post: postreports.com/offer

Sep 7, 2020 • 16:14

The U.S. is deporting Nicaraguan asylum seekers

The story of a Nicaraguan dissident who — in fear for his life and his family’s — sought asylum at the border. U.S. officials sent him back instead. Moises Alberto Ortega Valdivia is a political dissident from Nicaragua who sought asylum in the U.S. He was denied that right. What happened next at the border was “shocking,” says Post correspondent Kevin Sieff. “To them and to basically anyone who follows immigration law.” After the Post published this article, Congress members wrote to Presi

Sep 4, 2020 • 18:37

Why your groceries just got more expensive

On today’s Post Reports, how presidential candidates are shifting their focus to the Midwest. How the pandemic is making us pay more for less at the grocery store. And how grocery store workers morale is at an all-time low.Read more:Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is shifting his strategy in an attempt to win the Midwest. Matt Viser reports that the intentional contrast with President Trump makes the region the most crucial battleground in the 2020 campaign. What’s on your grocery

Sep 3, 2020 • 26:19

The children left behind in online learning

On today’s Post Reports, how distance learning widens the digital divide and leaves disconnected students behind. The unique challenges of special education during the pandemic. And, the toxic side of positivity.Read more:Education reporter Moriah Balingit on how schoolchildren are being locked out of virtual classrooms because of poor Internet connections. As many of the nation’s classrooms are moving online, more than 17 million students do not have high-speed Internet at home. As schools

Sep 2, 2020 • 22:47

The TikTok ban, explained

Tech reporter Rachel Lerman on why President Trump wants to ban TikTok, and what a ban could mean for users and employees in the United States. Emily Rauhala explains what the pandemic means for international students in America. Plus, Lauren Lumpkin on what it feels like to start college remotely. Read more:‘45 days of ambiguity’: What a U.S. TikTok ban could mean for users and employeesEducation, interruptedFreshmen waited for their schools to share reopening plans. Then things got compli

Sep 1, 2020 • 30:05

What happens when federal workers get political

Lisa Rein reports on the Hatch Act and the uneven way the anti-corruption law has been enforced for the past three years. Matt Zapotosky breaks down what we know about Stephen K. Bannon’s arrest. And remembering actor Chadwick Boseman. Read more:As Trump appointees flout the Hatch Act, civil servants who get caught get punished.Steve Bannon has been charged with defrauding donors in a private effort to raise money for Trump’s border wall.Chadwick Boseman praised student protesters in his 20

Aug 31, 2020 • 32:01

Two conventions, two American realities

Political correspondent Dan Balz looks back at two very different conventions that painted two different portraits of America. Plus, NBA reporter Ben Golliver and sports columnist Jerry Brewer on what happened in the bubble and what it means for the role of sports in protests against racial injustice.Read more:Trump and Biden look to brutal fall campaign over pandemic, race and the economyMost sports leagues pause with second day of protests, some more unified than othersNBA players set a new st

Aug 28, 2020 • 27:31

A story on repeat in America

Today on Post Reports, Kim Bellware is following protests in Kenosha, Wis., where a Black man was shot multiple times by police. Columnist Eugene Robinson on the civil rights moment we’re in, and why we need Black Lives Matter. Elise Viebeck reports on how voting by mail went in the primaries. And, deputy weather editor Andrew Freedman on what happens when you’re dealing with climate change, a pandemic and a Category 4 hurricane. Read more:Opinion: We need Black Lives Matter. The police who

Aug 27, 2020 • 34:27

The quiet ambition of Mike Pence

Tonight at the Republican National Convention, Mike Pence will accept the nomination for another term as vice president. White House bureau chief Philip Rucker explains how Pence has secured his longevity in the administration. Also on Post Reports, science reporter Carolyn Johnson on the truth behind the plasma treatment Trump has been touting as a coronavirus breakthrough. And climate reporter Sarah Kaplan on what the pandemic can teach us about fighting climate change.Read more:Mike Pence hop

Aug 26, 2020 • 28:01

The invisible hand of Melania Trump

On the eve of Melania Trump’s big speech headlining the second night of the Republican National Convention, politics reporter Mary Jordan discusses the first lady’s reputation. Sarah Kaplan explains how genetic analysis of the coronavirus could help us map and control its spread. And Isabelle Khurshudyan on the mass demonstrations that have erupted in Belarus after a hotly contested presidential election.Read more:Melania Trump is about to give her biggest speech in four years. The Trump campaig

Aug 25, 2020 • 31:44

In the words of Trump’s sister: ‘You can’t trust him’

Today on Post Reports, Michael Kranish explores the inner workings of the Trump family. Kevin Sieff looks at how work deemed essential led to one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the United States. Plus, Robin Givhan hunts down the rare fashion brand beloved by the women of Trump’s world. Read more:In secretly recorded audio, President Trump’s sister says he has ‘no principles’ and ‘you can’t trust him.’For Guatemalans in Florida, essential work leads to a coronavirus outbreak.

Aug 24, 2020 • 30:20

Remote learning during a pandemic is hard

Today on Post Reports, a story from the Post’s podcast All Told: As schools across the country wrestle with the question of how to best return to teaching in the fall, the story of one class’s preparation for Advanced Placement exams reveals the highs and lows, successes and struggles, that distance learning brings with it.Read more:Education reporter Laura Meckler writes about the struggle to prepare for AP exams across the nation.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Aug 21, 2020 • 30:49

What happened at UNC-Chapel Hill?

Nick Anderson talks about how the outbreak at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill foreshadows how other higher education institutions are reacting to the coronavirus. Matt Viser describes Joe Biden’s decades-long fight for the Democratic nomination. And, Caroline Kitchener explains the debate over Susan B. Anthony’s views on abortion -- and why it matters. Read more:The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reopened the campus for in-person classes. A week later, those classes

Aug 20, 2020 • 32:51

How Howard University shaped Kamala Harris

Rosalind S. Helderman on the new Senate report that alleges close ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign team and Russia. Fashion critic Robin Givhan shares Sen. Kamala D. Harris’s journey to a historically Black university. Read more:What’s in the Senate’s ‘grave’ new Russia report?Sen. Kamala D. Harris’s Black identity blossomed at Howard University, according to fashion critic Robin Givhan.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Aug 19, 2020 • 31:26

Women’s suffrage and the Black women left out

Today on Post Reports, Katie Mettler on the little known story about how the 19th Amendment was ratified. And historian Martha S. Jones on how Black women had to keep fighting for the right to vote after the 19th Amendment passed.Read more:A mother’s letter, a son’s choice and the little known story about the 19th Amendment’s ratification.Black women fought to get the right to vote long after White women earned it.The Lily: Meet the Americans who first advocated for women's right to voteSubscrib

Aug 18, 2020 • 24:39

Trump vs. the Postal Service

Ashley Parker traces President Trump’s obsession with the U.S. Postal Service. Freelance journalist Kayla Ruble talks about why young Black voters yearn for policy, not promises, from Sen. Kamala Harris. Plus, Dino Grandoni on the hunters and fishers asking Congress to deliver climate change solutions.Read more:Tracing Trump’s Postal Service obsession — from ‘loser’ to ‘scam’ to ‘rigged election’.A large portion of young Black voters in the U.S. aren’t entirely convinced Sen. Kamala Harris will

Aug 17, 2020 • 21:50

Ten bucks left, no place to go

Today on Post Reports, social issues reporter Kyle Swenson explains how America’s unemployment system is stretched to the brink by the pandemic. And reporter Sydney Page on one artist’s random acts of kindness, and what they mean to health-care heroes. Read more:Ten bucks left, no place to go: How the pandemic and a broken unemployment system are upending people’s lives.Health-care workers are opening their mailboxes and finding their own portraits.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://

Aug 14, 2020 • 22:59

What’s up with the Postal Service?

On Today’s Post Reports, Jacob Bogage explains how delays and a partisan battle over funding the U.S. Postal Service may affect the election. Jose A. Del Real reports on Latino voters in Arizona, who may hold the key for a Democratic win there. And, Sarah Kaplan with a climate solution for America’s hottest cities. Read more:Trump says the Postal Service needs money for mail-in voting but he’ll keep blocking funding.Latinos transformed Arizona. Do campaigns see them? How America’s hott

Aug 13, 2020 • 24:25

Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and the future for Democrats

Today on Post Reports, national political reporter Annie Linskey breaks down the reasons behind Joe Biden’s historic choice of Sen. Kamala D. Harris as his running mate. Sports columnist Sally Jenkins on why it takes courage to hit pause on college football. Sarah Dadouch reports on the shattered lives left behind after the blasts in Beirut last week — plus, the story of a doctor whose wedding video shoot accidentally captured the explosions and went viral. Read more:Inside Biden’s unusual

Aug 12, 2020 • 29:33

More mail-in ballots, more problems?

Today on Post Reports, Elise Viebeck on the anxieties around voting by mail ahead of November. Phil Rucker explains how the White House failed to contain the coronavirus as the summer cases crept up. And Shibani Mahtani reports on the crackdown in Hong Kong. Read more: Anxieties about mail ballots were on full display in the latest round of primaries, highlighting worries for fall. The lost days of summer: How Trump fell short in containing the virus. Hong Kong media tycoon J

Aug 11, 2020 • 28:00

America’s eviction crisis

Today on Post Reports, Renae Merle reports on why the expiration of rent relief will trigger a wave of evictions in at-risk communities. Dino Grandoni explains the fight to keep the lights on in households across the country. And, Teddy Amenabar on how to read your coronavirus test results. Read more:Evictions are likely to skyrocket as jobs remain scarce. Black renters will be hard hit. And landlords are pushing back on a federal moratorium.Congress faces pressure as states lift electricit

Aug 10, 2020 • 19:29

A new gentrification crisis

Today on Post Reports: Tracy Jan on how the pandemic is exacerbating the effects of gentrification in cities like Los Angeles. From Linah Mohammad and Hira Qureshi, how the Hulu series “Ramy” tackles taboos, and why it’s gotten criticism from the Muslim community. And Brittany Renee Mayes explains why Black-owned bookstores are seeing a boom in orders of anti-racist literature.Read more:Ethnic enclaves are struggling to fight gentrification during the pandemic.The Hulu show “Ramy” tackles taboos

Aug 7, 2020 • 23:53

How negligence killed scores in Beirut

Today on Post Reports, Sarah Dadouch brings us on the ground in Beirut, and Liz Sly reports on how the massive explosion there has thrown the city into deeper crisis. Columnist Jerry Brewer ruminates on how sports won’t be sports in the time of covid-19. And a Black doctor on how his scrubs are a form of armor.Read more:Shock turns to anger as Beirut assesses damage inflicted by massive explosion. Sports used to be an escape from the world. Now, they’re a window into it.A Black doctor on wh

Aug 6, 2020 • 28:06

The organ transplant aftershock

Early on in the pandemic, we solicited queries from Post Reports listeners about covid-19. We received all kinds of responses — about masks, social distancing, food safety, testing, symptoms. And we received an email from one listener, Charlotte Cudd of Jacksonville, Fla., who was curious about whether people who die of covid-19 can still become organ donors. On today’s episode, we seek to answer her question — and we ask a few of our own.Surgeons perform first known U.S. lung transplant for cov

Aug 5, 2020 • 27:37

America’s vanishing economy

Heather Long on the economy’s decline, Madhulika Sikka talks to “Indian Matchmaking” creator Smirti Mundhra. Plus, the “Can He Do That?” podcast examines why we do polling.Read more: We’re in a recession. If Congress fails to act, a lot of damage could be permanent.Netflix’s new hit “Indian Matchmaking” misses the full story on arranged marriageHow America votes is inherently unpredictable. So why do polling?

Aug 4, 2020 • 29:44

How the pandemic left America behind

As countries around the world are emerging from lockdowns and cautiously returning to life as normal, it’s beginning to feel like most of the world is showing up to a post-pandemic celebration party where Americans are not invited. On today’s “Post Reports,” we ask the question: Where did the U.S. go wrong? What’s it like in places where the curve has successfully been flattened? Which countries are still struggling with covid-19? And how has the American failure in pandemic response shifted the

Aug 3, 2020 • 33:03

Capital B for Black

In a newsroom, it’s rare that a question of whether to capitalize a word sparks intense discussion and debate. But in June, an issue of textual style became an urgent topic at The Washington Post: Should journalists begin capitalizing the word “Black” when used as a racial identifier? And if so … what does that mean for “White”? And “Brown”? “During my lifetime, this decision has come up a lot,” says Jesse Lewis, who leads The Post’s copy editing desk. “I was born in the ’50s, and at the ti

Jul 31, 2020 • 23:44

Can police learn to de-escalate?

Police officers around the country are fielding an increasing number of mental-health calls. Hannah Dreier documents what it’s been like for one officer who recently completed his department’s de-escalation training. And, Michelle Boorstein reports on how gospel choirs are adapting to the pandemic’s socially distanced reality.Read more:Converging in a tense section of Huntsville: A White police officer fresh from de-escalation training, a troubled Black woman with a gun, and a crowd with cellpho

Jul 30, 2020 • 34:00

The attorney general’s defense

Amber Phillips recaps Attorney General William P. Barr’s combative testimony on Capitol Hill. Peter Whoriskey uncovers how Johnson & Johnson companies used a “super poppy” to make narcotics for America’s most abused opioid pills. Plus, Michael Andor Brodeur on the sound of the pandemic. Read more:Takeaways from Attorney General Barr’s contentious congressional hearingJohnson & Johnson companies used a ‘super poppy’ to make narcotics for popular opioid pillsMusic for the pandemicSubs

Jul 29, 2020 • 29:10

No really, how long before a coronavirus vaccine?

Trying to find 30,000 test subjects for a coronavirus vaccine, from Carolyn Y. Johnson. How white moms on the front line of Portland, Ore., protests are trying to balance power with privilege, according to the people who spoke with reporter Marissa Lang. Plus, a seismically quiet Earth during the pandemic’s shutdowns, from science reporter Joel Achenbach.Read more:Trials for coronavirus vaccines are underway, but we still have a long way to go.The “Wall of Moms” participating in Portland’s prote

Jul 28, 2020 • 26:27

Public vs. private: The pandemic education gap

Perry Stein on the private-school choice parents are making as public classrooms remain closed. Geoff Fowler guides us through the privacy risks on TikTok. And Michele Norris explains the significance of John Lewis’s final journey. Read more:As public schools go all virtual in the fall, parents eye private schools that promise to open their campuses.Is it time to delete TikTok? A guide to the rumors and real privacy risks. The late congressman John Lewis lies in state at the Capitol.Su

Jul 27, 2020 • 23:26

Policing while black

As a black police officer in Plainfield, N.J., Martesse Gilliam thought he could change policing from the inside — until he ended up on the outside. Plus, Steven Zeitchik on how movie theaters are adjusting to the pandemic. Read more:The duty and burden of the black police officerAs movie theaters reopen, they’re tackling a role they never expected to play: PsychologistTell us what you think of Post Reports, and all of The Washington Post’s audio projects, by filling out our audience survey

Jul 24, 2020 • 19:19

A show of force in American cities

Matt Zapotosky dissects the deployment of federal agents to American cities. Max Bearak reports on the surprising effects of the coronavirus on Kenya’s wildlife preservation. And Dave Sheinin on the changes to baseball on Opening Day. Read more:Trump announces an increase in the use of federal law enforcement in U.S. cities.Coronavirus is crushing tourism — and cutting off a lifeline for wildlife.Opening day amid coronavirus: Masks, empty parks, social justice.Tell us what you think of Post

Jul 23, 2020 • 27:24

A looming deadline for tens of millions of Americans

Today on Post Reports, Jeff Stein tracks the GOP infighting complicating the trillion-dollar stimulus deal. As President Trump nears the end of his first term, Juliet Eilperin explains what’s at stake in the environmental world. And Christopher Rowland, on the race to make enough small glass vials to deliver coronavirus vaccines around the world. Read more:A rift forms between the White House and Senate Republicans as they stumble to formulate a unified coronavirus budget plan.Nixon signed

Jul 22, 2020 • 29:36

The Gettysburg Troll

Investigative reporter Dalton Bennett goes on a quest to find the shadowy figure behind a number of social media hoaxes –– the most recent played out in Gettysburg on Independence Day –– that have riled far-right extremists and repeatedly duped media outlets. Read more:The Troll: A fake flag burning at Gettysburg was only his latest hoax.Tell us what you think of Post Reports, and all of The Washington Post’s audio projects.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Jul 21, 2020 • 31:10

Federal agents storm Portland

Today on Post Reports, Devlin Barrett and Marissa Lang explain why federal tactical units have been deployed to Portland, Ore. — over the protest of city officials. And Jonathan Capehart, on the life and legacy of John Lewis.Read more:Federal officials ignore city officials’ calls to leave Portland as clashes with protesters continue.Civil rights icon and congressman John Lewis died on Friday. Jonathan Capehart remembers the life and legacy of one of the original freedom fighters. Hear more

Jul 20, 2020 • 23:05

Inside the Houston surge

Full emergency rooms. Expanded ICUs. Double shifts. 3 a.m. phone calls to patients’ families. A look inside the hospitals at Texas Medical Center in Houston — the epicenter of the state’s new surge in coronavirus cases.Read more:As coronavirus cases skyrocket across Texas, hospitals grapple with patient influxes.At least 135,000 people have died from coronavirus in the U.S.Tell us how you feel about Post Reports –– and all The Washington Post’s audio projects –– by filling out this survey.

Jul 17, 2020 • 35:46

A tale of two vaccine searches

Carolyn Y. Johnson explains how the unsuccessful years-long hunt for an HIV vaccine could give scientists a leg up in developing a novel coronavirus vaccine. Carlos Lozada dissects Mary L. Trump’s new book. And Ben Golliver shares a glimpse from inside the NBA bubble at Disney World. Read more:Decades of research on an HIV vaccine boost the bid for one against coronavirus.The real villain of Mary L. Trump’s family tell-all isn’t Donald. It’s Fred.What’s it like in the NBA’s Disney bubble? F

Jul 16, 2020 • 29:07

A crisis for education

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner on the decision to keep public schools online in the fall. Laura Meckler explains the delicate dance local districts are facing with whether to allow students on campus. And Nick Anderson, on a victory for international college students.Read more:California’s two largest districts will keep students home as the pandemic worsens.With coronavirus science still iffy, U.S. schools hope to reopen for 56.6 million K-12 students.The Trum

Jul 15, 2020 • 26:05

How some campus health centers fail students

Jenn Abelson describes the state of college campus health-care centers. William Wan reports on the recurring supply shortages challenging health-care workers. And, Emily Heil explains the boycott against Goya.Read more:As students return to college amid the coronavirus pandemic, campus health-care centers across the country face their biggest test. What’s your experience been like with college health centers? Tell us your story.America is running short on masks, gowns and gloves. Again.A Go

Jul 14, 2020 • 29:28

How Trump rewards loyalty

Toluse Olorunnipa reports on the fallout of Roger Stone’s commutation. Marissa Lang discusses the concerns of organizations that help victims of domestic violence. And Robert McCartney explains how Washington’s NFL team is dropping its name. Read more:Trump commuted his confidant’s sentence. Roger Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering.Domestic violence is rising amid coronavirus lockdowns.Corporate money, Black Lives Matter protests and elites’ opinions are driving

Jul 13, 2020 • 24:47

A new Hong Kong

Shibani Mahtani reports on the security law sending a chill through Hong Kong. Abha Bhattarai explains why workers are being laid off — again. And Cleve Wootson on the implications of reopening Disney World in Florida.Read more:With the introduction of a security law, hope for a democratic Hong Kong disappears. Workers are being laid off for a second time, as coronavirus surge puts the brakes on reopening the economy. Florida invited the nation to its reopening. Then it became a new co

Jul 10, 2020 • 20:52

Will we ever see Trump’s taxes?

Today on Post Reports, David Fahrenthold explains the Supreme Court’s rulings on Trump’s tax records, and why the public still may never see them. Debbie Cenziper on how a nursing home administered a cocktail of unapproved drugs to its residents. And music critic Michael Andor Brodeur ventures out to hear live music for the first time since the pandemic began. Read more:Supreme Court rules Manhattan’s District Attorney may subpoena Trump’s tax records, denies Congress access for now. ‘

Jul 9, 2020 • 30:14

Black women to Biden: You owe us

Today on Post Reports, Errin Haines on what black female voters want from the Democratic Party. Michael Scherer explores the relevance of political conventions during a pandemic. And Tiana Clark on getting divorced over videoconference. Read more:Black women show up at the polls. Will the Democratic party show up for them?How conventions will be different during the pandemic.The surreal anticlimax of getting divorced over videoconference. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postr

Jul 8, 2020 • 27:54

Teaching the human body to fight covid-19

Today on Post Reports, Carolyn Johnson explains that in the rush to find a vaccine for the coronavirus, scientists are turning to an elegant but unproven method. Jonathan O’Connell reports on how the Small Business Administration funneled relief funds to major chains and private-equity investors. And, Taylor Turner on how historically black colleges and universities face unique challenges during the pandemic.Read more:RNA vaccines have leapt to the front of the fight against the coronaviru

Jul 7, 2020 • 27:12

Will there be another stimulus bill?

Congress has adjourned for a two-week recess without addressing the alarming rise in coronavirus infections or the ongoing economic crisis. Erica Werner explains what might come next. Aaron Blake reports on how some Republicans lawmakers are moving toward mandating masks, even as Trump continues to question how dangerous the coronavirus really is. And Ben Guarino on the new elevator etiquette amid a pandemic. Read more:Congress departs for two-week recess without addressing coronavirus spik

Jul 6, 2020 • 27:02

“The Cursed Platoon,” Part 2

This is the second episode of a two-part series. After a second-degree murder conviction, Clint Lorance was pardoned by President Trump and received a hero’s welcome in his small hometown in Texas. Reporter Greg Jaffe started talking to his platoon, and the story that unraveled was about what happens when your reality is questioned by the president and Fox News. Read more:The soldiers of 1st Platoon tell their story. If you’re a veteran, The Post wants to hear your response to this sto

Jul 3, 2020 • 24:37

“The Cursed Platoon,” Part 1

This is the first episode of a two-part series. After a second-degree murder conviction, Clint Lorance was pardoned by President Trump and received a hero’s welcome in his small hometown in Texas. Reporter Greg Jaffe started talking to his platoon, and the story that unraveled was about what happens when your reality is questioned by the president and Fox News. Read more:The soldiers of 1st Platoon tell their story. If you’re a veteran, The Post wants to hear your response to this stor

Jul 2, 2020 • 31:49

Why would Russia pay the Taliban to kill U.S. troops?

Ellen Nakashima explains the story behind Russia-backed bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. Sarah Kaplan explains the practical effects of a coronavirus mutation. And, Damian Paletta on the future of the fireworks industry.Read more:Intelligence assessments find that Russian bounties to Taliban-linked militants resulted in the deaths of U.S. troops.This coronavirus mutation has taken over the world. Scientists are trying to understand why. Trump’s tariffs could fizzle fireworks, an

Jul 1, 2020 • 27:55

The child-care problem

How the lack of child care during the pandemic is hurting families and businesses, from Heather Long. Why women are more affected by this economic downturn, from Samantha Schmidt. And what it’s like to join Alcoholics Anonymous over Zoom, from Sarah Pulliam Bailey.Read more:The pandemic upended child care. It could be devastating for women.The pandemic’s effect on the economy is not like the “mancession” of 2007.Alcoholics Anonymous adjusts and adapts during the pandemic.Subscribe to The Washing

Jun 30, 2020 • 22:12

A reprieve for abortion rights

Robert Barnes and Caroline Kitchener on a Supreme Court decision that upholds abortion rights. Lenny Bernstein on surging coronavirus infections in the United States. And, Mississippi votes to remove the Confederate symbol from its state flag.Read more:The Supreme Court strikes down a restrictive Louisiana abortion law that would have closed clinics.The Supreme Court just delivered a major victory for abortion rights. Providers say it’s hard to celebrate.Coronavirus deaths lag behind surging inf

Jun 29, 2020 • 29:19

Policing the black imagination

Today on Post Reports, Chris Richards on how rapper Drakeo the Ruler dropped an urgent and timely album from jail. And Fredrick Kunkle on the history of germs, and how the discovery of pathogens changed the way we live. Read more:The most urgent rap album of 2020? Drakeo the Ruler just recorded it from jail.The discovery of pathogens changed the way we function. Will covid-19 do the same?Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Jun 26, 2020 • 29:25

Tamir Rice’s mother on the trauma of loss

In 2014, Tamir Rice was fatally shot by a police officer while playing with a toy gun. He was 12 years old. Video editor Taylor Turner speaks with his mother, Samaria Rice, on the trauma she still carries. And, Samantha Schmidt on why the decrease in reports of child abuse isn’t cause for celebration.Read more:WATCH: On Tamir Rice’s 18th birthday, his mother addresses PTSD and police brutality. With kids stuck at home, emergency doctors report more severe cases of child abuse. Subscrib

Jun 25, 2020 • 20:23

The economics of Trump’s visa restrictions

On today’s Post Reports, Nick Miroff explains President Trump’s restrictions on foreign visas and why they are a long-awaited victory for immigration hardliners. Joseph Marks reports on how we can learn from recent primaries ahead of the general election in November. And sports columnist Jerry Brewer explains the deepening NASCAR drama.Read more:Trump’s new restrictions on foreign workers, explained.Reports of mail-in ballots and difficulty voting spell trouble for November. What we see in

Jun 24, 2020 • 30:38

Times are changing. The president's message is not.

Today on Post Reports, Josh Dawsey and Philip Rucker on how a week of defeat for President Trump could play out. Jerry Brewer explains how NASCAR has become front and center in discussions about systemic racism. Read more:President Trump rallies in red states to a sea of empty blue seats. NASCAR doubles down in support for Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in the major circuit, after a noose was found in his garage after the league bans Confederate flags at its events. Subscrib

Jun 23, 2020 • 27:36

How to develop a vaccine — quickly and ethically

Carolyn Johnson reports on the race to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus and how it could pit countries against one another. Ben Guarino on why bioethicists are thinking hard about coronavirus vaccine testing. And Maura Judkis on why so many people are convinced that they had covid-19 already.Read more:The biggest challenge for a coronavirus vaccine could be getting countries to share.Volunteers are signing up to put their lives on the line for a coronavirus vaccine.Many are convinced

Jun 22, 2020 • 30:15

Why Americans don’t learn about Tulsa, or Juneteenth

Michele Norris on what happened in Tulsa — and why Americans don’t learn this history in school. Nicole Ellis on the history of Juneteenth. And Taylor Turner talks about her personal connection to the holiday.Read more:Opinion: The diabolical irony of Trump in Tulsa.Trump rally in Tulsa, site of a race massacre, on Juneteenth was “almost blasphemous,” historian says.What Juneteenth tells us about the value of black life in America. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Jun 19, 2020 • 28:38

What’s next for the ‘dreamers’?

Robert Barnes reports on the Supreme Court’s ruling against the Trump administration’s attempt to end DACA. We hear from dreamers about what’s next and why their fight isn’t over. And Marc Fisher on the elderly people becoming radio DJs to connect with one another. Read more:Supreme Court rules against the Trump administration’s attempt to end DACA, a win for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.Coronavirus isolated them in their rooms. Now, old-age home residents reconne

Jun 18, 2020 • 26:17

The NFL after George Floyd

Jerry Brewer on the NFL’s moment of reckoning over Black Lives Matter. Amber Phillips on the policing bill unveiled by the Senate GOP. And, Sarah Kaplan on the most famous skyscraper in New York going green. Read more:At the lowest moment of my life, I rediscovered sports’ greatest gift: Hope.Senate GOP unveils policing bill that would discourage, but not ban, tactics such as chokeholds and no-knock warrants.New York’s most famous skyscraper shrank its planet-warming emissions by 40 percent

Jun 17, 2020 • 30:39

How BLM is challenging Big Tech

Geoffrey Fowler describes the questions Black Lives Matter is raising for Big Tech. Ben Golliver considers the future of professional sports. And Marisa Iati, on how one data scientist is pushing back against faulty coronavirus stats in Florida. Read more:Black Lives Matter could change facial recognition forever – if Big Tech doesn’t stand in the way.The NBA has a plan for the playoffs. But players and fans have questions. Florida fired its coronavirus data scientist. Now she’s publis

Jun 16, 2020 • 29:48

SCOTUS rules in favor of LGBTQ workers

Robert Barnes walks through the Supreme Court decision that protects gay and transgender people in the workplace. Karla Adam explains why minority and immigrant doctors are feeling the brunt of the coronavirus burden in Britain. And Eugene Scott describes how it feels to be a Black journalist right now. Read more:The Supreme Court has said that gay and transgender workers are protected by federal law, forbidding discrimination on the basis of sex.Minority doctors are among the worst hit by

Jun 15, 2020 • 25:48

Why Hollywood loves cop stories

Alyssa Rosenberg on 100 years of police in pop culture and why we need to rethink cop stories on TV. And, fashion critic Robin Givhan on the symbolism of clothing on Capitol Hill this week. Read more:Shut down all police movies and TV shows. Now.Dragnets, Dirty Harry and dying hard: 100 years of the police in pop culture.Congress’s kente-cloth spectacle was a mess of contradictions.George Floyd’s brother came to Washington to speak. But his power was in the silences.Subscribe to The Washing

Jun 12, 2020 • 34:22

What it means to ‘defund the police’

Katie Mettler and Georgetown’s Christy Lopez delve into the movement to “defund the police.” Michael Kranish looks into Joe Biden’s complicated history on criminal justice. And Lenny Bernstein reports on a new hope for patients whose lungs have suffered from covid-19.Read more:Defund the police? Here’s what that really means. Joe Biden let police groups write his crime bill. Now, his agenda has changed.Surgeons perform the first known lung transplant for a coronavirus patient in the U.S.&nb

Jun 11, 2020 • 33:12

Why a vaccine won’t be a silver bullet

Joel Achenbach tracks the rising coronavirus caseloads in some parts of the country. William Wan explains how the virus could become the next measles or chickenpox. And Ben Guarino talks us through a time-tested method for disease containment. Read more:As the economy reopens, coronavirus transmission remains high in much of the U.S.Coronavirus may never go away — even with a vaccine. Reopening the country safely means deploying “disease detectives” — contact tracers — as soon as possi

Jun 10, 2020 • 27:14

A funeral, and a call to justice

George Floyd is laid to rest in Texas. We hear from some of the people who knew him. President Trump and federal law enforcement vs. Washington, D.C. And how a black police officer responded to protests.

Jun 9, 2020 • 25:53

Why police convictions are so rare

Marissa Lang and Clarence Williams report from Washington, D.C., as protests continue across the country. Georgetown University’s Paul Butler explains why it’s so difficult to prosecute police. And Heather Long looks at why black Americans have been left out of the economic recovery. Read more:Protesters gather on the streets of Washington, D.C., and around the world. Filing charges in George Floyd’s death was the easy part. Now comes the hard part.Digging deeper into the latest jobs r

Jun 8, 2020 • 29:13

The legacy of American riots

Kellie Carter Jackson on the double standard that guides who can protest – and how – in the United States. And, Rachel Chason and Rebecca Tan examine what nursing home residents are experiencing during the pandemic.Read more:“There needs to be much more honesty about how we look back at the past and decipher what is violence, and what is a response to violence.”Nursing homes have been hard-hit by the coronavirus. Hear from residents in these facilities.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://p

Jun 5, 2020 • 21:28

The failure to protect black Americans from covid-19

Reporter Robert Samuels talks about how disastrous and present coronavirus has been in the black community. Emily Rauhala on President Trump’s decision to sever ties with the World Health Organization during a pandemic. And Rachel Lerman on the pros and cons of surveillance for racial injustice protesters and police. Read more:Blacks are suffering from covid-19 at an alarming rate. Here’s how U.S. cities failed one of their most vulnerable populations.President Trump pledges to divert funds

Jun 4, 2020 • 26:15

Racism, protests and the challenge for Joe Biden

How Joe Biden is responding to protests across the United States, from political reporter Cleve R. Wootson Jr. How President Trump uses religion as a political tool, from White House reporter Toluse Olorunnipa. And we hear from the protesters in their own words.Read more:Protests pose a challenge for Biden: Appealing to older and younger black voters. Trump’s naked use of religion as a political tool draws rebukes from some faith leaders. We’ve been hearing a lot about the protests in

Jun 3, 2020 • 27:01

Protesters vs. a presidential photo-op

Why gas was used on peaceful protesters outside the White House, from Ashley Parker. How the U.S. has scaled back police reform efforts, according to Matt Zapotosky. And, one young woman says “Let it burn” after her family’s business gets caught up in the destruction.Read more:Police cleared the path for President Trump to take a photo, using gas and rubber bullets on a peaceful crowd. The Trump administration abandoned Obama-era police reform efforts. Now critics want them restored.“Let it

Jun 2, 2020 • 26:15

Anger and anguish across America

Devlin Barrett on how police tactics may be exacerbating tensions. Shane Harris on the officials who are trying to blame outsiders. And Christian Davenport talks about a historic launch into space. Read more:How police are feeding into the violence that erupted over the weekend.Who is actually attending these protests?Also, over the weekend: The historic SpaceX launch.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Jun 1, 2020 • 31:49

One hundred thousand.

The U.S. death toll has reached a stark milestone: 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus. The pandemic has exposed the nation’s vulnerabilities and dangerous divide.Read more:The U.S. death toll has reached 100,000. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

May 30, 2020 • 20:16

‘We woke up to a city of ash’

Holly Bailey reports from Minneapolis, where anger and violence are boiling over in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing by police. Errin Haines explains what really happened in Central Park. And Sebastian Smee with an appreciation for a powerful painting that captures another unsettling time in America.Read more:Protests in Minneapolis raged through the night, following the tragic killing of George Floyd. On Friday, the police officer was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.&nb

May 29, 2020 • 32:43

Trump vs. Big Tech

Cat Zakrzewski reports on Trump’s expected executive order, which takes aim at a law that protects big tech companies. Tracy Jan reports that Asian American health-care workers are fighting racism as well as the coronavirus. And, Natalie Compton on what to expect next time you take a flight. Read more:On Thursday, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order that could fundamentally change free speech regulations on social media.Asian American health-care workers are facing increa

May 28, 2020 • 23:32

It’s not normal for so many Americans to feel depressed

William Wan reports on the staggering numbers of Americans experiencing depression and anxiety during the pandemic. National reporter Reis Thebault on how the pandemic is shifting away from cities and gaining a foothold in rural America. And writer Ellen McCarthy on why we can’t bring ourselves to do the dishes. Read more:One-third of Americans show signs of clinical depression amid coronavirus pandemic, according to new census data. The pandemic is making its way into rural America.&n

May 27, 2020 • 25:33

Will Hong Kong be changed forever?

Shibani Mahtani and Emily Rauhala explain what Beijing’s new security laws could mean for the future of Hong Kong. Steven Zeitchik on summer cinema in 2020. And a New York bus driver on the dangers such workers face. Read more:Hong Kong police use tear gas against thousands protesting Beijing’s new lawThe fate of the summer movie season rests on one Christopher Nolan filmNYC bus drivers risk their health to keep city moving through pandemicSubscribe to The Washington Post: postreports.com/o

May 26, 2020 • 29:31

Why the need to go might prevent us from going out

Americans are making it clear: They won’t be ready to go out to their favorite destinations until they feel confident about being able to go. To the bathroom, that is.Read more:The need to go is a big barrier to going out. Why public bathrooms are a stumbling block for reopening.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

May 23, 2020 • 16:33

Who is Hillary without Bill?

Novelist Curtis Sittenfeld imagines another life for Hillary Rodham –– one without Bill Clinton. And, what we’re missing when we’re missing human touch. Read more:Some readers are calling Curtis Sittenfeld’s new book a work of ‘Pantsuit Nation fanfiction.’ She doesn’t mind at all. Skin-to-skin contact is often suggested for newborns. But we all need touch.Subscribe to The Washington Post: postreports.com/offer

May 22, 2020 • 25:18

The end of retail as we know it?

Abha Bhattarai and Damian Paletta unfold the retail bankruptcies weighing down the greater financial system. Chris Davenport explains the stakes of the first launch of NASA crews from the United States in nearly a decade. And, Hira Qureshi on the online community that’s breaking the fast together, each night of Ramadan.Read more:After years of debt, major department store chains are running out of cash –– and fast. SpaceX faces its toughest test.Millennials can’t celebrate in pers

May 21, 2020 • 29:03

Vote by mail? Harder than it sounds.

Joseph Marks describes the challenges of preparing for massive mail-in voting. Juliet Eilperin breaks down why people aren’t getting tested, in places that have plenty of tests. Plus, Min Joo Kim explains how a new outbreak in South Korea has pushed its LGBTQ community into the spotlight. Read more:Two primaries underscore dueling paths to holding elections during coronavirus pandemicAs coronavirus testing expands, a new problem arises: Not enough people are getting testedTracing South Kore

May 20, 2020 • 27:58

Fighting covid-19: A tale of two countries

Linah Mohammad reflects on the strict lockdown in Jordan. Ishaan Tharoor unpacks how the “Swedish model” for battling coronavirus is not quite what it seems. Plus, Amanda Coletta explains why expanding your household’s bubble could be a headache. Read more:Jordan uses its army to put its capital, Amman, on lockdown.Sweden’s coronavirus strategy is not what it seems.Canadian provinces allow locked-down households to pair up – threatening hurt feelings all around.Subscribe to The Washington P

May 19, 2020 • 27:14

What happens when the watchdog gets fired

Phil Rucker reports on Trump’s dismissal of the State Department’s inspector general. George Washington University’s Kathryn Newcomer on why these positions matter in overseeing the executive branch. Plus, Faiz Siddiqui investigates the pandemic-time deliveries of alcoholic beverages.Read more:The State Department inspector general fired by President Trump was looking into allegations that a staffer for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was performing domestic errands and chores.According to Califo

May 18, 2020 • 24:52

What comes after reparations

In 1923, an all-white mob burned down the small mill town of Rosewood, Fla., killing at least six people and driving out black residents. Decades later, the survivors won reparations from Florida legislators, including a scholarship that allowed any Rosewood descendants to attend any of the state’s public universities. Robert Samuels reports on a conversation around the complicated legacy and effects of those reparations. Read more:How a scholarship helped — and didn't help — descendants of

May 15, 2020 • 19:16

Choosing between a paycheck and your health

Today on Post Reports, Holly Bailey and Tony Romm report that as some states begin to reopen, people returning to work face life-or-death decisions. Aaron Davis explains how an ousted U.S. health official testifies that 2020 may be “the darkest winter in modern history.” And, author Mary Beard on what she’s reading during this pandemic — she recommends Rebecca Solnit’s “Recollections of My Nonexistence.”Read more:People returning to work in states that are beginning to ease social distancing mea

May 14, 2020 • 34:50

Is dining out officially dead?

Today on Post Reports, investigative reporter Amy Brittain on the truth about Project Airbridge, a White House program set up to deliver badly needed personal protective equipment. Food reporter Laura Reiley explains the long road to recovery for restaurants. And Rachel Lerman says bartering is back in the time of the coronavirus. Read more:Trump promised that Project Airbridge would deliver essential supplies to medical workers, but a Post investigation reveals the emergency program is swa

May 13, 2020 • 28:46

Bill Barr’s attempt to undo the Mueller investigation

Matt Zapotosky reports on the Justice Department’s recent moves to undercut the Mueller investigation. Aaron Gregg on the small-business loans that are going to large companies instead. And Monica Hesse on the power and popularity of Purell.Read more:Why the Justice Department moved to erase Michael Flynn’s guilty plea in the Russia investigation.Are Small Business Administration loans — part of coronavirus relief efforts — actually getting to small businesses?Delving into the history and myster

May 12, 2020 • 24:08

What happened with Ahmaud Arbery’s case?

Cleve Wootson on why it took so long for the suspects to be charged in Ahmaud Arbery’s death. William Wan on the coronavirus’s toll on mental health. And Jacqueline Alemany on the young people left out of the virus relief efforts.Read more:It took 74 days for suspects to be charged in the death of a black jogger.The coronavirus pandemic is pushing America into a mental-health crisis.Young people are being left out of coronavirus economic relief efforts. That could be a big problem.Subscribe to T

May 11, 2020 • 27:40

The sound of silence

What does the pandemic sound like? Mostly, silence, according to critic Robin Givhan. Read more:What does a pandemic sound like? For many of us at home, it’s a heartbreaking silence.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

May 9, 2020 • 12:48

‘You have all the jobs’: Motherhood during the pandemic

What being a working mom is like during a pandemic from Helena Andrews-Dyer. And how learning Bach could be an expression of grief from Philip Kennicott.Read more:This Mother’s Day, stories of women balancing careers and kids concede that thriving is out of reach. Surviving is enough in the time of the coronavirus.How one reporter found solace in Bach after losing his mother.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

May 8, 2020 • 30:59

Your money and the pandemic

Advice for managing your money, from personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary. What happens when people are too scared to seek medical care, from Frances Stead Sellers and Jessica Contrera. And what we wear when we’re stuck at home, and what it says about us, from fashion critic Robin Givhan. Read more:Your money and the pandemic: We answer your most pressing personal finance questions on the economic fallout of covid-19.Patients with heart attacks, strokes and even appendicitis vanis

May 7, 2020 • 29:15

A pandemic playbook for political campaigns

Michael Scherer describes how candidates have rewritten their campaigns during the pandemic. Jessica Contrera asks how we weigh risk against necessity, longing and fear. And Emily Heil on the anxiety-filled hellscape that is the grocery store. Read more:Political candidates – and not just the presidential ones – are reinventing how they campaign in the age of the pandemic.As the country moves to reopen, Americans weigh risk against necessity, longing and fear. Grocery shopping used to

May 6, 2020 • 22:54

The deaths that haven’t been counted

Emma Brown on which deaths count toward the covid-19 death toll. Jeff Stein reports on the $500 billion the Federal Reserve plans to lend big corporations with little restrictions. Plus, Reed Albergotti explores what happens when cannabis is deemed an essential service.Read more:U.S. deaths soared in early weeks of the pandemic, far more than previously known. The U.S. plans to lend $500 billion to large companies. It won’t require them to preserve jobs or limit executive pay.Weed is deemed

May 5, 2020 • 29:09

The changing face of grief

How people are dealing with grief and loss during the pandemic. And Melinda Hunt, the director of Hart Island in New York explains the challenges of burying the city’s dead. Read more:The coronavirus is rewriting how we grieve. Unable to gather in person, people are finding new ways to mourn.An island in New York that has historically housed the city’s dead is being stretched by the coronavirus. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

May 4, 2020 • 23:51

The rise of sourdough bread baking

In the pandemic times, sourdough bread is king. Post Reports producer Reena Flores goes on a journey to find out why, with King Arthur Flour co-chief executive Karen Colberg and ancient bread maker Seamus Blackley. Read more:People are baking bread like crazy, and now we’re running out of flour and yeast.Now is the ideal time to learn to make sourdough bread. Here’s how.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

May 2, 2020 • 19:50

Two thousand hours of Louis Armstrong

Geoff Edgers on how the Louis Armstrong Museum is finding a new life online during the coronavirus pandemic -- and, just a warning, this segment contains explicit language. From The Post’s podcast “All Told,” how one blues musician is changing his act under self isolation. And Reena Flores on a new kind of romantic comedy on Netflix.Read more:Jazz legend Louis Armstrong is being honored in a new way at a nonprofit museum that’s going digital during the pandemic.Blues in self isolation, with Face

May 1, 2020 • 29:53

What is Tara Reade accusing Joe Biden of?

Matt Viser on the allegations against the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. Rick Noack on how nations that had a robust response to the coronavirus pandemic are beginning to cautiously reopen.Read more:Nations around the world that were praised for their robust responses to the coronavirus pandemic are beginning to reopen. Allegations against the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.If you love Post Reports, vote for us for a Webby Award!https://vote.webbyaw

Apr 30, 2020 • 27:31

What we know — and still don’t — about the coronavirus

Leonard Bernstein on what we know (and still don’t) about the coronavirus. Laura Meckler explains the changes schools might have to make to reopen in the fall. And Anna Fifield on Kim Jong Un, missing in action.Read more:What you need to know about the coronavirus.Alternating schedules. Lunch in the classroom. Students in masks. No football. School districts will have to change things up if they want to reopen in the fall.Where is North Korea’s leader?Vote for Post Reports in the Webby Awards: h

Apr 29, 2020 • 27:20

The pandemic at sea

Rosalind Helderman explains how the cruise industry carried the coronavirus around the globe. Greg Miller on the virus briefings Trump skipped. And, how young caregivers are impacted by social distancing, from Tara Bahrampour.Read more:Cruise ships kept sailing for weeks after the coronavirus was first detected, carrying the virus around the globe.President’s intelligence briefing book repeatedly cited the coronavirus threat. He skipped them. Young caregivers are used to social isolation. C

Apr 28, 2020 • 25:41

The mysterious clotting in covid-19 patients

Two doctors on the mysterious blood-clotting complication killing coronavirus patients. Heather Long explains why the economy won’t just bounce back in a “V-shaped” recovery. Plus, Lindsey Sitz on why washing your hands a lot doesn’t mean you’re “so OCD.” Read more:Doctors say that a blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients.What is a W-shaped economic recovery? (Hint: It’s scary.)If you wash your hands a lot, it doesn’t mean you’re “so OCD.” Here’s what it’s really like t

Apr 27, 2020 • 26:51

The history of American antipathy toward masks

Even as governors, mayors and the federal government urge or require Americans to wear masks to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, the nation is divided about whether to comply.Read more:Will Americans wear masks to prevent coronavirus spread? Politics, history, race and crime factor into tough decisions.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Apr 25, 2020 • 18:33

A coronavirus crisis in the Navy

Dan Lamothe explains how the Navy tried and failed to control a coronavirus outbreak -- and a crisis of confidence -- on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Plus, child psychiatrist Matthew Biel on how to talk to kids about the global pandemic. Read more:How an outbreak on the USS Theodore Roosevelt became a defining moment for the U.S. military.Parents are the filter for how kids understand the pandemic. Tips on how to talk to them about the coronavirus.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://po

Apr 24, 2020 • 23:07

Why reopening states is a ‘deadly mistake’

Georgia will begin reopening businesses Friday, against the advice of experts and the White House. William Wan reports on what will happen next. For survivors of AIDS, an eerie deja vu, from reporter Jada Yuan. And, what Trump’s new immigration policy actually means, from Nick Miroff. Read more:States rushing to reopen are likely making a deadly error, coronavirus models and experts warn.They survived the HIV crisis. Now New York’s aging gay population is confronting another plague.Trump si

Apr 23, 2020 • 19:51

Can we all be better Earthlings?

On Earth Day, Sarah Kaplan asks how we can be better Earthlings. Seung Min Kim analyzes the new coronavirus response bill working its way through Congress. And Monica Hesse explains why we’re all having extra-weird dreams.Read more:What does it mean to be a good Earthling?The Senate has passed a $484 billion bill that would expand small-business aid and boost money for hospitals and testing. Will it be enough?You’re not the only one having weird dreams. Being trapped in our homes has made our su

Apr 22, 2020 • 19:21

What’s slowing down coronavirus testing

Juliet Eilperin explains the delays in widespread testing. Young people aren’t as vulnerable to the coronavirus, but the crisis is affirming their political frustrations, Hannah Knowles reports. And Michelle Lee on campaign fundraising in a pandemic.Read more:Why is it taking so long to ramp up coronavirus testing?Generation Z is fed up with the status quo. Coronavirus could affirm their beliefs.Joe Biden posted the biggest monthly fundraising haul of his campaign in March. Will the pandemic slo

Apr 21, 2020 • 26:05

Why shelves are empty at the grocery store

Laura Reiley explains the kinks in the food supply chain leaving grocery shelves bare. Grocery workers share their well-founded fears with Abha Bhattarai. Erin Patrick O’Connor hears from sanitation workers on the pandemic’s front line.Read more:The industry says we have enough food. Here’s why some grocery store shelves are empty anyway.The grocery workers on the front line of the pandemic never thought of their jobs as risky. Now, they’re scared to go to work.Sanitation workers are exposed to

Apr 20, 2020 • 28:00

Finding solace in paintings of parties

Over the past few weeks, many people have said they feel like figures in an Edward Hopper painting. On this bonus episode of Post Reports, art critic Sebastian Smee has a reminder from Renoir and Manet that the good times will return. Read more:We’re all alone. So let’s get lost in these paintings of parties.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Apr 18, 2020 • 9:15

Life for a medical worker in a pandemic

Alaa Daghlas, a physician assistant at a Bronx hospital, grapples with her decision to return to work after recovering from covid-19. And Jon Gerberg reports from an ICU in Brooklyn scrambling to keep up with the influx of coronavirus patients.Read more:Alaa Daghlas prepares for her first day back on the front lines of a Bronx hospital after contracting covid-19. Inside a Brooklyn ICU, health-care workers risk their lives to care for coronavirus patients in critical condition. Follow t

Apr 17, 2020 • 25:17

The coronavirus is killing Americans under age 50

Chris Mooney reports on the science of why some younger people are getting better, while others are dying of covid-19. Griff Witte reports on how parties and gatherings became clusters. And Annie Gowen on coronavirus deniers. Read more:The medical mystery of why some people under age 50 are dying of covid-19.The coronavirus had already reached the United States, but the parties went on. Experts say the inconsistent manner that social gatherings shut down across states gave the illness a hea

Apr 16, 2020 • 26:28

How coronavirus will reshape the world’s borders

Martine Powers and Ishaan Tharoor explore the meaning of borders in a pandemic, and how coronavirus might change travel and migration in the future. And Mary Beth Sheridan walks us through public service announcements from around the world.Read more:Countries are slamming borders shut. What will it look like when they reopen? From Japan to Uganda, global public service announcements are emerging to help fight coronavirus. Check out our episode from December about “sober curiosity

Apr 15, 2020 • 30:16

The economy in limbo

On today’s Post Reports, Heather Long on how opening up the economy will be less like flipping a switch and more like a slow rehabilitation. Drew Harwell on the privacy complications around Zoom. And author J. Courtney Sullivan on what she’s reading for comfort. Read more:The economy came to a grinding halt when the coronavirus hit. The recovery will likely be the opposite. More and more people are relying on Zoom video conferencing for work and staying connected with others, but that

Apr 14, 2020 • 23:12

How do we reopen the country safely?

The president talks about reopening the U.S. economy, but Lena Sun reports that experts say it would require widespread testing and contact tracing to do that safely. Long lines — and no relaxed restrictions — strain the nation’s food banks, Jenna Johnson reports. And, from Anna Fifield, how New Zealand didn’t just flatten the curve, but squashed it.Read more:A plan to defeat coronavirus finally emerges, but it’s not from the White House.Food banks sought relaxed federal rules to minimize contac

Apr 13, 2020 • 25:56

The great toilet paper shortage of 2020

For your weekend listening pleasure, senior editor Marc Fisher reads his story about the great toilet paper shortage, and what we can learn from it.Read more:Flushing out the true cause of the global toilet paper shortage amid coronavirus pandemicSubscribe to The Washington Post: postreports.com/offer

Apr 11, 2020 • 12:08

Life as a black American in a pandemic

Robert Samuels reports on the stark disparities in how covid-19 affects black Americans. Tracy Jan examines how wearing a face mask in public is different for black men. And Jordan-Marie Smith navigates the politics of hair during a pandemic.Read more:The coronavirus is ravaging black communities. One Milwaukee neighborhood is trying to fight back.As the nation is told to wear masks, how black Americans are weighing the risks of racial profiling.The underlying meaning behind the care of black me

Apr 10, 2020 • 24:36

When you can’t wash your hands in a pandemic

Damian Paletta looks ahead and outlines a bleak, new post-pandemic economic reality. Isaac Stanley-Becker reports on what happens when you can’t wash your hands in the midst of a public health crisis. And Emily Rauhala offers a glimpse into Wuhan before and after the lockdown lifts.Read more:With more than 17 million unemployment claims filed in the past four weeks, economists say the unemployment rate is now the worst since the Great Depression.We’ve all been told to wash our hands to prevent t

Apr 9, 2020 • 28:50

The risks of unproven drugs for coronavirus

Bernie Sanders ends his White House bid. Sean Sullivan discusses the impact of his campaign. There have been only a few anecdotal studies showing benefits of antimalarial drugs in coronavirus patients, yet the FDA has authorized the widespread use of the drugs. Chris Rowland reports. Phil Rucker on why Trump has been pushing the drug hydroxychloroquine, despite warnings from some public health officials about dangerous side effects and uncertain results. And Style editor Steve Kolowich remembers

Apr 8, 2020 • 30:55

Voting in a pandemic

Wisconsin’s primary is threatening to become a worst-case scenario for elections amid a pandemic. Amber Phillips reports on why it’s still so hard to put vote-by-mail systems in place. Undocumented workers are often ‘essential’ — but afraid of seeking health care, and won’t get government benefits if they’re laid off, says Tracy Jan. And Nantucket island has just three ventilators, and is preparing for the worst as summer residents flock to the island from cities, reports Caroline Kitchener.&nbs

Apr 7, 2020 • 26:07

It’s proving really hard to give away $350 billion

Aaron Gregg on the realities of getting a small business loan under the stimulus plan. Nicole Dungca reports that the federal government lagged for months in helping local officials respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, Karin Bruilliard reports that the plight of tigers around the United States goes beyond what we saw in the Netflix documentary “Tiger King.”Read more:If you’re a small business, here’s how to get a loan under the $349 billion aid bill.While President Trump declared the coron

Apr 6, 2020 • 30:26

Feeling lonely?

Older people can face serious health effects from being isolated — and yet, being isolated is the only thing that can keep them safe, Senior Producer Maggie Penman reports. Plus, Global Opinions writer Jason Rezaian on how he survived solitary confinement in Iran — and how you can survive social distancing, too. And, though we may be apart, a reminder that we’re not alone, from science reporter Sarah Kaplan.Read more:I survived solitary confinement. You can survive self-isolating.Human connectio

Apr 3, 2020 • 23:54

A New York hospital transformed by the pandemic

Inside a New York hospital on the front lines of the pandemic. And how health-care workers are forced to face their own mortality. Read more:Inside a major New York City hospital system battling coronavirusAs they rush to save lives, health-care workers are updating their own wills and funeral plansFollow The Post’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Apr 2, 2020 • 32:06

Should everyone be wearing a face mask?

How Europe is weathering the crisis, from the U.K. to Hungary. The federal government’s internal debate over whether to tell all Americans to cover their faces in public, from health reporter Lena Sun. And the linen company that’s making medical masks, from reporter Arelis R. Hernández.Read more:Europe is deeply in crisis, or preparing for the worst,Memos from the CDC to the White House lay out the rationale for possible widespread use of face coverings.Cruise ships canceled orders. Then hotels.

Apr 1, 2020 • 27:42

The ethics of incarceration during a pandemic

What coronavirus means for crowded prisons, from reporter Kimberly Kindy. The tension in a community that’s dealing with a deadly outbreak but reluctant to shut down its economy, from Cleve Wootson. And, how the virus is separating extended families, from Caitlin Gibson.Read more:Amid fears that the coronavirus will be particularly deadly in the crowded prisons and jails, counties and states are releasing thousands of inmates.A pro-Trump community in Florida, hit early by virus, sits at emotiona

Mar 31, 2020 • 30:00

How do you 'shelter in place' when you're homeless?

White House economics reporter Jeff Stein explains how corporations are benefiting from the stimulus package. And Hannah Dreier on why “sheltering in place” isn’t really an option for people who are homeless.Read more:What’s in the Senate’s $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package?For the homeless, coronavirus is a new menace in a perilous life.Follow The Post’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Mar 30, 2020 • 26:34

School’s out forever?

School closures are a big deal for kids and parents, says education reporter Moriah Balingit. How the shift to online learning has exposed America’s deep digital divide from Tony Romm. And an audio diary of working from home with kids, from Alexis Diao.Read more:The unintended consequences of closing schools.The move to online learning is exposing Internet-access inequality among kids in the U.S.Online learning has a curve.Post Reports producer Alexis Diao keeps a diary of working from home with

Mar 27, 2020 • 25:21

Will the biggest stimulus bill in U.S. history be enough?

Many Americans will receive a check during the pandemic –– but how much, and when? Heather Long explains the federal relief package. Emily Heil checks in with laid-off restaurant workers. And, Abha Bhattarai on those who can’t afford to stock up.Read more:Who’s set to receive a check from the government during the pandemic? Find out here.Laid-off restaurant industry workers are trying to find a way to live during this pandemic.Imagine a 69-year-old woman unable to buy the groceries she needs dur

Mar 26, 2020 • 28:23

Why cruises kept sailing despite coronavirus dangers

Cruise ships continued to sail as the coronavirus spread. Beth Reinhard explains why. Michael Scherer reports on the awkwardness of campaigning during a pandemic. And Simon Denyer on how Japan is handling covid-19.Read more: Cruises didn’t stop operations until it was too late. Health experts are asking why.How do you campaign for president during a pandemic?Japan is handling the coronavirus in its own way. Here’s what that looks like.Follow the Post’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic h

Mar 25, 2020 • 29:24

The quiet genius of a zombie virus

Brady Dennis reports on the growing number of cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States. Sarah Kaplan explains the science of why this virus is so dangerous. And, Rick Maese on the Tokyo Olympics, now postponed until 2021. Read more:‘It’s going to get bad’: As outbreak surges, nation faces tough start to a grim week.The science behind what makes this coronavirus so sneaky, deadly and difficult to defeat.The 2020 Olympics will be postponed. We talked to athletes about how they’re f

Mar 24, 2020 • 22:16

The pandemic warnings that were ignored

Shane Harris on what U.S. officials knew about the global threat of the novel coronavirus, and when they knew it. Chris Mooney on why the coronavirus is killing more men. And, Dan Zak reflects on our shifting sense of time and space during the pandemic.Read more:U.S. intelligence reports from January and February warned about a likely pandemic. Why was the government so slow to respond?The coronavirus is killing far more men than women. Epidemiologists are trying to figure out why.Coronavirus is

Mar 23, 2020 • 21:55

Tiny decisions will determine our collective future

William Wan on how the novel coronavirus will radically alter the United States. Maura Judkis on social distancing with roommates. Plus, Julie Zauzmer’s dispatch from churches deciding what’s more important: fellowship and prayer, or public health?Read more:Here’s what may lie ahead based on math models, hospital projections and past pandemicsWhose bedroom becomes the infirmary? Group-house living just got a whole lot trickier.Without guidance from the top, Americans have been left to figure out

Mar 20, 2020 • 19:35

Republicans’ radical about-face on bailouts

Phil Rucker on how Republicans are throwing out the political playbook by supporting a massive bailout for the economy. Chris Rowland on the search for a treatment for the coronavirus. And Min Joo Kim reports on how South Korea got testing right.Read more:Trump’s $1 trillion stimulus package composed of bailouts and personal checks is gaining support from Republicans, a tactic the party has traditionally opposed.As scientists race to find a treatment for the novel coronavirus, they’re looking at

Mar 19, 2020 • 24:34

Trump’s economic Hail Mary

Jeff Stein explains Trump’s plan to bail out companies hit hard by the coronavirus. Tony Romm on whether Silicon Valley and the White House could use location data to fight the outbreak. And Julie Zauzmer on the Christians who say this isn’t the end of the world, though it feels like it.Read more:In an effort to alleviate the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, the White House says it is considering different scenarios, including a bailout for hard-hit companies. The White House and

Mar 18, 2020 • 27:58

Social distancing may be our only hope

Lena Sun clears up what “social distancing” means and why it’s important. William Wan explains why it’ll probably take months — not weeks — for the coronavirus threat to subside. And Caroline Kitchener with tips on how to talk to friends about staying home. Read more:It’s a make-or-break moment with coronavirus to test a basic — but disruptive — public health tool.How long will social distancing for coronavirus have to last? Depends on a few factors.How to talk to your friends about social

Mar 17, 2020 • 26:36

Will the coronavirus derail the Democratic primary?

Today on Post Reports, Elise Viebeck explains how the coronavirus could impact the presidential election. Andrew Freedman on why the coronavirus won’t necessarily go away in the summer. And how new health screenings at airports are playing out, from Post Reports executive producer Madhulika Sikka. Read more:The coronavirus outbreak is rattling voters and election officials ahead of Tuesday’s primaries.Will the coronavirus be thwarted by a change of seasons? New travel restrictions are

Mar 16, 2020 • 22:41

What went wrong with coronavirus testing in the U.S.

Neena Satija explains what went wrong with coronavirus testing in the United States. And Brady Dennis on the effect the outbreak is having on carbon emissions. Read more:Trump has said that “anybody” who wants to be tested for the coronavirus could be, but that’s not true. One consequence of the coronavirus? It could halt emissions growth. Follow our live coverage here. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Mar 13, 2020 • 23:07

Trump's Europe travel ban causes confusion

Katie Zezima explains the new U.S. travel restrictions from Europe. Peter Whoriskey and Abha Bhattarai report on how paid sick leave, or lack thereof, is exposing vulnerabilities in the U.S. And, Ben Golliver on the NBA’s suspended season.Read more:Trump announced late Wednesday that flights from Europe to the U.S. would be halted starting Friday. It’s the most aggressive move by the federal government in response to the coronavirus, but is it enough?Millions of workers lack sick pay. This will

Mar 12, 2020 • 23:16

Coronavirus is sparing children. No one knows why.

The WHO has declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. On today’s Post Reports, William Wan says the virus is sparing kids — and understanding why could be key to finding a treatment or vaccine. Political reporter Aaron Blake reports on Biden’s “Big Tuesday” wins. And Robert Samuels talks to a Bernie supporter who is second-guessing his behavior online.Read more:The coronavirus seems to be sparing kids, and understanding why may be crucial to defeat the virus. Follow our live coverage here.The

Mar 11, 2020 • 31:32

Can we quarantine the economy?

Today on Post Reports, Chico Harlan with a dispatch from Italy after a country-wide lockdown goes into effect. Heather Long answers your questions about the coronavirus outbreak’s impact on the markets. And, Ben Guarino on the audacious efforts to reforest the planet to fight climate change.Read more:Italy is under lockdown in an attempt to contain the coronavirus. It is the most aggressive step taken in the West to curb the outbreak. All eyes are on the stock market Wednesday after a stunn

Mar 10, 2020 • 27:19

The irony of Trump’s casual attitude toward coronavirus

Today on Post Reports, Toluse Olorunnipa on how the coronavirus is testing President Trump’s leadership. Susannah George and Missy Ryan on how Afghanistan’s instability could affect peace talks. And remembering an English village that self-quarantined during the bubonic plague. Read more:More than 500 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the United States, including an attendee of a conference where President Trump spoke. Follow our live coverage here. In Afghanistan, rival pres

Mar 9, 2020 • 27:02

The fight for the soul of America’s political parties

Political reporter Dan Balz on the ebb and flow of the two political parties and how much power they actually have. And Jada Yuan on whether celebrity endorsements make a difference for presidential candidates.Read more:The Democrats seem split between an “establishment” candidate and a candidate who isn’t a Democrat at all. Dan Balz on what’s up with the Democratic Party and how much power the establishment actually has.Do celebrity endorsements make a difference for presidential candidates? Th

Mar 6, 2020 • 20:59

And then there were two

Annie Linskey and Amber Phillips consider the end of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s campaign and what it means for the delegates she won. Aaron Blake explains why you should care about a scuffle between Sen. Charles E. Schumer and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. And, a portrait of a portrait, from Sebastian Smee.Read more:Now that Sen. Elizabeth Warren is out of the presidential race, how will her delegates swing?A dust-up between Sen. Chuck Schumer and U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, explained.&nbs

Mar 5, 2020 • 29:03

So ... Biden?

Today on Post Reports, Philip Bump talks through the Super Tuesday results and the narrowing field of Democratic candidates. Heather Long explains the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates in response to the coronavirus outbreak. And the proper way to wash your hands, according to a microbiologist.Read more:The Democrats’ race for the nomination is reshaped after Joe Biden’s surge on Super Tuesday. The Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates in response to the coronavirus. One

Mar 4, 2020 • 25:50

Abortion in the age of a conservative Supreme Court

Caroline Kitchener on the abortion restriction being tested at the Supreme Court. William Wan on how the coronavirus epidemic could play out. And an island full of Buttigiegs, from Chico Harlan.Read more: An abortion case out of Louisiana is a first test for Trump’s Supreme Court justices.How is the coronavirus outbreak going to end? Here’s how similar epidemics played out.In this village, 1 in every 14 people is a Buttigieg.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Mar 3, 2020 • 24:55

Super Tuesday, in 16 dispatches.

On Super Tuesday, more states hold contests to pick a presidential nominee, more voters have a chance to go to the polls and more delegates are allotted to candidates than on any other day on the primary calendar. We bring you to each of the 14 states holding primaries, as well as the global primary for Americans abroad and one U.S. territory. What is Super Tuesday and why is it important?Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Mar 2, 2020 • 35:23

Your questions about coronavirus, answered

Health reporters Lena H. Sun and Lenny Bernstein answer your questions about the coronavirus. Marian Liu talks about the discrimination Asian Americans have experienced since the start of the outbreak. And Week 4 of being quarantined with your partner ... and your mother-in-law. Everything you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak. How coronavirus is being used as a justification for racism. Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Feb 28, 2020 • 26:30

What millennial voters care about in 2020

Eugene Scott describes the impact young voters may have on the presidential election. Drew Harwell on the psychological toll of Web-connected cameras. And Dan Keating explains whether the stop-and-frisk program is actually what lowered the crime rate in New York City, as former mayor Michael Bloomberg claims. Read more:What do young South Carolina Democrats want most in the upcoming election? Big change.Ring, Nest and other Internet-connected cameras have normalized surveillance and created

Feb 27, 2020 • 27:38

The ‘radical feminists’ working against trans rights

Abha Bhattarai unpacks Walmart’s “Great Workplace” program, and why it means layoffs for workers. Samantha Schmidt on a strain of feminism that rejects the existence of transgender identity. And Shibani Mahtani explains how China’s ambitions are choking the Mekong River. Read more:Walmart employees say they’re preparing for job cuts as the retailer rolls out its “Great Workplace” program.Conservatives have found an unlikely ally in fighting transgender rights: so-called “radical feminists.”

Feb 26, 2020 • 25:06

Reparations, rebranded

Matt Viser and Lenny Bernstein on how an old field of candidates changes the norms around the presidency. Tracy Jan looks into Rep. James Clyburn’s anti-poverty program, recast as reparations. Plus, Monica Hesse examines how Harvey Weinstein’s conviction changed the way we talk about rape. Read more:Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) proposed a race-neutral anti-poverty program a decade ago. Presidential candidates recast it as compensation for slavery.A historically old field of candidates ref

Feb 25, 2020 • 27:57

Mayors back Bloomberg’s bid

Fenit Nirappil asks why D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser supports Michael Bloomberg, even as he gets slammed by critics on race and gender issues. Joanna Slater discusses Trump’s visit to India. And NASA mourns the death of Katherine Johnson, a “hidden figure” during the 1960s space race, who died at 101.Read more:Trump visits India. Critics slam Bloomberg on race, gender. D.C.’s black, female mayor has his back.Katherine Johnson, ‘hidden figure’ at NASA during 1960s space race, dies at 101.Subs

Feb 24, 2020 • 25:16

Shopping under the influence

Shane Harris talks about the lingering threat of Russian election interference and how the administration is responding. Abha Bhattarai on a new gimmick from retailers. And Gillian Brockell and Jessica Contrera on the CIA’s rebellious neighbors.Read more: President Trump chooses a new acting director of national intelligence, following revelations that Russia wants President Trump reelected.Boozy shopping is a thing now. Find out why stores like Whole Foods and Nordstrom are hooked.In 1933,

Feb 21, 2020 • 22:27

Kids are using Trump’s words to bully their classmates

Michael Scherer on the heated Nevada Democratic debate. And John Woodrow Cox andHannah Natanson talk about how President Trump’s rhetoric has affected bullying in American schools. Read more: Mike Bloomberg made his prime-time debut at the Democratic debate in Las Vegas — and he didn’t get a warm welcome from the other candidates. The president’s rhetoric has changed the way hundreds of children are harassed in American classrooms.Subscribe to The Washington Post: postreports.com/

Feb 20, 2020 • 29:06

ICE is using therapy notes to deport young immigrants

Hannah Dreier on how Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses therapists’ notes to keep young immigrants detained. Damian Paletta discusses how the coronavirus is affecting American companies. And Ishaan Tharoor on the Nordic governing Bernie Sanders loves so much.Read more:Notes from therapists who work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement can be used against detained young immigrants in court.The coronavirus is disrupting manufacturing in China. That’s not great for American companies such

Feb 19, 2020 • 27:40

The profane ‘wit and wisdom’ of Mike Bloomberg

Political investigative reporter Michael Kranish on Mike Bloomberg’s long history of alleged sexism and profanity. And Travis DeShong describes a new kind of card game meant to make even people at dinner parties more vulnerable.Read more:Newly uncovered documents show Mike Bloomberg’s long history of alleged sexism and profanity in the workplace. Don’t like people, or even yourself? Try a vulnerability card game.Subscribe to The Washington Post: postreports.com/offer

Feb 18, 2020 • 23:29

The loves and scandals of President Harding

Steamy love letters. Jazz. Scandal. Psychics. Newspapers. The Hope Diamond.In this Presidents’ Day special from Post Reports, we revisit an episode of The Post’s “Presidential” podcast with host Lillian Cunningham. Cunningham and Nicole Hemmer of the University of Virginia's Miller Center helps guide us through the wild life and presidency of Warren G. Harding — and the interesting connection between his presidency and The Washington Post.Read more:Listen and learn more by checking out the

Feb 17, 2020 • 45:55

How a non-binary teen claimed their identity

Tara Bahrampour on what coming of age looks like for a non-binary teen. And, revisiting the wisdom of George Washington with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Read more:Becoming Eli: Getting their parents to accept their new name means everything to this non-binary teen. The wisdom of the first president, with Doris Kearns Goodwin, who spoke with Lillian Cunningham, host of The Post’s “Presidential” podcast.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Feb 14, 2020 • 20:49

Coronavirus: An epidemic of misinformation

Kim Bellware on how disinformation about the coronavirus is spreading online. Danielle Paquette on the drawdown of Firestone’s factories in Liberia, where the tire company has been central to the economy. And Rick Maese takes us inside a Tokyo dojo.Read more:As the coronavirus spreads, so does disinformation about the outbreak, stoking fears and racism.The tire company Firestone has a long, complicated history with Liberia. The drawdown of its factories is devastating workers there and causing a

Feb 13, 2020 • 22:22

The politicization of the Justice Department

Today on Post Reports, Matt Zapotosky reports on the fight for independence within the Justice Department after Attorney General William P. Barr intervened in the sentencing guidelines for Roger Stone. Political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down the New Hampshire primary results, and what they mean for the Democrat’s race for the White House. And columnist Monica Hesse says that questions of Elizabeth Warren’s electability are a self-fulfilling prophecy for her supporters.Read more:Four prosecuto

Feb 12, 2020 • 28:14

The CIA’s ‘coup of the century’

Greg Miller on how governments all over the world got played by the CIA. Simon Denyer and Lenny Bernstein on the increasingly desperate situation aboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess. And Griff Witte says there are few signs of President Trump’s “blue-collar boom’ in New Hampshire’s poorest city.Read more:‘The intelligence coup of the century’: For decades, the CIA read the encrypted communications of allies and adversaries.The increasingly desperate situation aboard the cruise ship Diamond P

Feb 11, 2020 • 32:01

What Trump’s company charges the Secret Service

Eugene Scott weighs the stakes of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. David Fahrenthold reports on what Trump’s companies are charging the government. And Teddy Amenabar reflects on the gendered perceptions of 2-in-1 shampoos.Read more:The still-crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates faces its next contest: the New Hampshire primary. Will it narrow the field at all?The Secret Service has paid rates as high as $650 a night for rooms at President Trump’s properties. That’s according to f

Feb 10, 2020 • 23:01

‘Unshackled and unleashed’: Trump, post-acquittal

Today on Post Reports, Philip Rucker describes what the presidency could look like post-impeachment. And ahead of Sunday’s Academy Awards, Sarah Hashemi considers whether gendered categories should be eliminated from award shows. Read more:Historians and legal experts say President Trump’s acquittal could have profound ramifications for what future presidents consider permissible conduct. The Oscars have a gender problem. Non-binary actors have some solutions.Subscribe to The Washingto

Feb 7, 2020 • 21:31

The race to find a cure for the coronavirus

Today on Post Reports, Anna Fifield describes the eerie emptiness that has taken hold across China under the threat of the coronavirus. David Lynch reports on the epidemic’s impact on the global economy. Carolyn Johnson explains the hurdles disease specialists are facing in creating a vaccine for the virus. And Justin George on Bernie Madoff’s plea for “compassionate release.”Read more:Major Chinese cities are becoming quiet ghost towns, as residents lock themselves away from the threat of the c

Feb 6, 2020 • 20:26

Iowa and the future of election technology

Today on Post Reports: Tony Romm on the makers of the app that set back the results of the Iowa caucuses. Samantha Schmidt describes how sex education classes in some states are reacting to the #MeToo era. And Mike DeBonis on a surprise moment in the Senate impeachment trial.Read more:An untested app rolled out and broke down during the Iowa caucuses. Read more about the company that delivered it.Propelled by the #MeToo movement, a growing number of states are mandating consent be taught in sex

Feb 5, 2020 • 20:50

Inside the chaos of the Iowa caucuses

Today on Post Reports, Jenna Johnson explains the result delays at the Iowa caucuses. Juliet Eilperin fills us in on the many environmental policy changes we’ve missed while distracted by impeachment and the election. And Abha Bhattarai on the mindful appeal of Legos.Read more:An epic breakdown in Iowa shines a spotlight on the caucus system as a whole. While impeachment and the election have held our attention, President Trump has dismantled age-old policies in the environmental world –– a

Feb 4, 2020 • 28:01

The new targets of Trump’s travel ban

Today on Post Reports, national reporter Abigail Hauslohner outlines the expansion of President Trump’s travel ban. Beth Reinhard looks into how presidential pardoning has evolved under Trump. And Dan Balz explores whether a president can be impeached more than once. Read more:President Trump’s expanded travel ban has been blasted by Democrats as “clearly discriminatory” against people from predominantly black and Muslim nations. In his first three years of office, Trump issued a recor

Feb 3, 2020 • 28:11

How do caucuses work, anyway?

Kayla Epstein explains the chaotic, confusing, bizarre process that is the Iowa caucuses. And political reporter Aaron Blake tells us how the GOP succeeded in blocking witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial. Read more: Kayla Epstein explains how the 2020 primaries begin, with the “giant game of musical chairs” that is the Iowa caucuses.Aaron Blake on Republicans blocking witnesses.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Feb 1, 2020 • 24:56

Is the White House ready for the new coronavirus?

Lena Sun and Yasmeen Abutaleb explain the dangers of the coronavirus outbreak. Amber Phillips talks about that moment with Rand Paul. And Michelle Ye Hee Lee on the Trump donors who are going from zero to 60 with big contributions.Read more:Impeachment questions come to an end with little resolved.Lena Sun and Yasmeen Abutaleb on the panic surrounding the coronavirus.Michelle Ye Hee Lee covers the people throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars at Trump.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https:/

Jan 31, 2020 • 26:42

Majority of black Americans call Trump 'racist'

Aaron Blake says the debate over whether to call witnesses still hangs over the impeachment trial. Vanessa Williams reports on why 8 in 10 black Americans say President Trump is racist. And many questions remain as Britain prepares to leave the E.U.Read more:All eyes are on the moderate Republicans as the Senate impeachment trial enters a new phase. Most black Americans say Trump is “racist.”Impending Brexit leaves loose ends.Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Jan 30, 2020 • 28:28

Who’s paying for Trump’s lawyers?

As the president’s impeachment defense rests, Ann Marimow explains who is paying for his lawyers. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro tells The Post's Anthony Faiola that he's still firmly in control. And Marian Liu on the branding genius of K-pop group BTS.Read more:Who is paying for Trump’s defense in the impeachment trial?Reporter Anthony Faiola sat down with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. BTS is more than a K-pop group. It’s a booming business.Subscribe to The Washington Post: htt

Jan 28, 2020 • 24:26

The Bolton question hangs over impeachment trial

Today on Post Reports, political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down President Trump’s impeachment defense. Kyle Swenson explains the cluster of HIV cases in West Virginia. And sports columnist Jerry Brewer reflects on Kobe Bryant’s stardom on and off the court, as well as his sexual assault case. Read more:The Senate impeachment trial continues and President Trump’s defense team says their piece. Read live impeachment trial updates.Post reporter Kyle Swenson says one of the many side effects

Jan 28, 2020 • 29:29

What reparations mean to one American family

Today on Post Reports, business reporter Tracy Jan tells the story of one family for whom reparations mean more than money. Geoff Edgers explains the hidden history of Roberta Flack’s hit song “Killing Me Softly.Read more:This family faced slavery and internment during World War II. To them, reparations mean more than money.The true story behind the song ‘Killing me softly.’Subscribe to The Washington Post: https://postreports.com/offer

Jan 24, 2020 • 31:21

‘Hello MBS.’ How the world’s richest man was hacked.

Amber Phillips tells us about the latest antics by the world’s greatest deliberative body: One senator read a book Thursday while one doodled through another day of the impeachment trial. After Jeff Bezos and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia exchanged numbers at a dinner party, Bezos was hacked. Marc Fisher explains how the hack went down. And, Emily Yahr on why we’re obsessed with Wikipedia’s “personal life” section. Background reading: The Senate impeachment trial continues. Read live imp

Jan 24, 2020 • 22:50

Can Democrats keep impeachment spicy?

Amber Phillips on the opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial. Anna Fifield and Lena Sun on the rapidly spreading coronavirus. And David Fahrenthold reports on how Trump’s D.C. hotel blurs lines of private interests and public life.

Jan 23, 2020 • 25:33

The rules of engagement

Aaron Blake explains Tuesday’s Senate debate on the rules for Trump’s impeachment trial. Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig on their new book “A Very Stable Genius.” And Rosalind Helderman answers your questions on impeachment.

Jan 22, 2020 • 31:20

A crumbling bridge and restorative justice

Robert Samuels on the opportunity black activists see in a city’s crumbling highway section. And DeNeen L. Brown tells the surprising story of how Martin Luther King Jr. got his name.

Jan 20, 2020 • 20:10

The politics of hair for black women

Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s video about her battle with alopecia has renewed conversations around the politics of hair. Jena McGregor outlines the growing protections against race-based hair discrimination. And Chico Harlan on the tensions between two popes.

Jan 17, 2020 • 18:59

Trump, Giuliani and a guy called Lev

The Senate gavels in for the impeachment trial. Paul Sonne unpacks the latest evidence implicating President Trump in the Ukraine scandal. Drew Harwell on the tech companies manufacturing diversity. And Philip Bump brings us the “Impeachment Polka.”

Jan 16, 2020 • 29:35

What’s next in impeachment

Rosalind S. Helderman explains what’s happening with impeachment — and the new documents made public by House Democrats. Robert Costa on Bernie Sanders and the candidate’s quiet rise in Iowa. And a new contract for the WNBA.

Jan 15, 2020 • 28:28

A campaign with unlimited money

Michael Scherer on Mike Bloomberg’s campaign strategy. Shane Harris explains the administration’s conflicting rationales for the strike on Iran’s Qasem Soleimani. And Drew Harwell unpacks the effect of doctored photos on politics.

Jan 14, 2020 • 27:57

Women in the workforce: ‘I’m back, baby!’

Rachel Siegel reports women outnumber men in the U.S. workforce for just the second time. Moriah Balingit on how a book-burning at Georgia Southern ignited a conversation about race. And Arelis Hernández on the earthquakes rattling Puerto Rico.

Jan 13, 2020 • 28:21

Selective memory: The U.S. and Iran

Jason Rezaian contextualizes the current relationship between the United States and Iran and describes what leaders can illuminate from the past about the present.

Jan 10, 2020 • 33:00

Australia burning

Kate Shuttleworth and Sarah Kaplan on the wildfires ravaging Australia. Colby Itkowitz breaks down how President Trump has reshaped the most important courts in the country. And Jennifer Hassan gives context to Britain’s “Megxit.”

Jan 9, 2020 • 24:45

Trump: ‘Iran appears to be standing down’

Ishaan Tharoor unpacks the White House response to attacks from Iran. Paul Kane reports from the chambers of the least deliberative Senate in modern history. And Abha Bhattarai on a new approach to thank-you cards.

Jan 8, 2020 • 25:15

Impeachment trial? What impeachment trial?

Mike DeBonis explains the impeachment trial’s delay. Liz Sly unravels the fraught history of U.S.-Iraq relations. And Kayla Epstein assuages young people’s concerns about the draft.

Jan 7, 2020 • 26:45

Inside the plan to kill Soleimani

Shane Harris explains how Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shaped the decision to kill a top Iranian military commander. Phil Rucker describes President Trump’s wartime posture. And Anthony Faiola on the fight over Venezuela’s National Assembly.

Jan 6, 2020 • 26:50

What Iran’s ‘severe revenge’ vow means for the U.S.

Missy Ryan examines the fallout of a U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani. Plus, Sebastian Smee describes the stunning photo that changed how we see our planet.

Jan 3, 2020 • 19:43

What’s in and out for 2020

The Washington Post’s annual guide to what’s out from 2019 and what’s in for 2020. And, how gender bias in science also affects lab rats.

Jan 2, 2020 • 22:09

Black women on race and genre

Martine Powers talks with N.K. Jemisin, Jasmine Guillory and Lauren Wilkinson about challenging narrow perceptions of race in literary genres. And Bilal Qureshi discusses Toni Morrison’s legacy.

Dec 31, 2019 • 22:08

A tale of two billionaires: Trump and Bloomberg

Michael Kranish dives into the tumultuous relationship between President Trump and Mike Bloomberg. Plus: Robin Givhan remembers a bombastic legend of the fashion world.

Dec 30, 2019 • 13:32

How the ’60s’ most disastrous concert turned deadly

Altamont 1969 was meant to be the Woodstock of the West. Eyewitnesses recount how this free concert turned into a deadly disaster.

Dec 27, 2019 • 38:54

How the ’60s’ most disastrous concert came to be

It was meant to be the Woodstock of the West, but it was chaos. How the free rock concert in Altamont, Calif., 50 years ago came to be.

Dec 26, 2019 • 25:42

Fashion in the age of climate change

Robin Givhan considers whether it’s possible to dress fashionably and ethically. Caitlin Gibson and Monica Hesse take a day to watch every film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” ahead of the new movie.

Dec 24, 2019 • 20:28

The rise of the ‘zombie mall’

Abha Bhattarai explains why most shopping malls are on the decline — and why a few are thriving. Maggie Penman on making sobriety hip. Plus, Lauren Tierney tracks down the origin of your Christmas tree.

Dec 23, 2019 • 23:10

What sex trafficking in the U.S. actually looks like

Jessica Contrera unpacks a legal case challenging how courts understand sexual violence. And Moriah Balingit describes the plight of educators using the impeachment trial to teach history in real time.

Dec 20, 2019 • 27:18

What comes next in impeachment

Amber Phillips previews the Senate’s impeachment trial next month. Griff Witte on why red states are choosing to welcome more refugees. And Sarah Hashemi describes the reach of the new “L Word.”

Dec 19, 2019 • 31:04

The impeachment of President Trump

Mike DeBonis, Seung Min Kim and Paul Kane take the temperature of Capitol Hill. And Aaron Blake breaks down the partisan debate that led to the impeachment of President Trump.

Dec 19, 2019 • 26:59

Voices from the war in Afghanistan

People who experienced the war in Afghanistan respond to uncovered documents and secret audio recordings. Juliet Eilperin on the drilling effort dividing an Arctic village. Joanna Slater shares what’s going on with India’s controversial citizenship law.

Dec 17, 2019 • 29:06

The racial reckoning of Pete Buttigieg

William Booth on what Boris Johnson’s sweeping majority means for Brexit. Robert Samuels on Pete Buttigieg’s often clumsy attempts to understand the black experience. And the downside of a new cutting-edge wireless network.

Dec 16, 2019 • 27:31

Selling treatments to incurable diseases

Rhonda Colvin on the Judiciary Committee vote to advance impeachment articles. Laurie McGinley and William Wan explain how clinics are profiting by selling cellular therapies for incurable diseases. And Michael Rosenwald remembers Caroll Spinney.

Dec 13, 2019 • 31:04

Who’s losing out in the automated economy? Women.

Heather Long on how older women are being left behind in the new automated economy. Reed Albergotti investigates unwanted sexual behavior on iPhone chat apps. And Julie Zauzmer on Trump’s executive order to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses.

Dec 12, 2019 • 24:50

The fight over the FBI’s Russia probe

Matt Zapotosky on the fight over the FBI’s investigation of the Trump campaign. Kevin Sieff on the cycle of debt for migrants. Plus, Lena Felton explores how women use sci-fi to explore gender and sexuality.

Dec 11, 2019 • 29:41

The Democrats’ case against President Trump

Aaron Blake explains House Democrats’ articles of impeachment. Darryl Fears on the disease threatening Florida’s citrus crop. And Hawken Miller on how video gaming creates opportunities for people living with disabilities.

Dec 10, 2019 • 25:36

The Afghanistan Papers

After a three-year legal battle, The Post obtains hundreds of records of candid interviews assessing the war in Afghanistan and its failures.Read the full story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-confidential-documents/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=post-reports

Dec 9, 2019 • 46:46

The fight for a gender-neutral Spanish

Samantha Schmidt talks to the Argentine teens promoting a more inclusive Spanish. And Kevin Sieff reports from a squalid tent city in Matamoros, Mexico, where refugees are forced to wait for their asylum requests to be processed by the United States.

Dec 6, 2019 • 20:26

Can Boris Johnson keep his seat?

William Booth lays out the factors shaping Britain’s upcoming general election. Ovetta Wiggins on the legal and media battle that won five prison exonerees millions from Maryland. And the House will move forward with drafting articles of impeachment.

Dec 5, 2019 • 25:31

The NBA star courting Congress on Turkey

Shane Harris interprets the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment report. Jacob Bogage explains why lawmakers are lining up to back NBA player and Turkish dissident Enes Kanter. And Maura Judkis reads her horoscope.

Dec 4, 2019 • 29:41

How the Mueller investigation led Giuliani to Ukraine

Rosalind S. Helderman traces the origin of Rudolph W. Giuliani’s involvement in Ukraine. Eugene Scott on the end of Sen. Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. And Anna Fifield on China’s rapid robotic revolution.

Dec 3, 2019 • 26:01

The human cost of food delivery in China

Mike DeBonis unpacks the White House’s strategy as the impeachment inquiry unfolds. Gerry Shih describes the human toll of the food delivery industry in China. And Valerie Strauss on the lengths to which teachers will go to get classroom supplies.

Dec 2, 2019 • 25:33

How a black activist managed to take over a neo-Nazi group

Katie Mettler unpacks the complicated life of black activist James Stern and how he came to take control of Jeff Schoep’s neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement.

Nov 29, 2019 • 33:15

What’s stalling the self-driving car revolution

Faiz Siddiqui explains the engineering challenge behind training self-driving cars. Madhulika Sikka shares the story of an author and filmmaker excavating the experiences of black Americans. Plus, Matt Viser unpacks a Dukakis family tradition.

Nov 27, 2019 • 29:15

Trump touts law freeing inmates. But the Justice Department wants them behind bars.

Neena Satija on the tensions underlying a major piece of criminal justice legislation. Amber Phillips outlines what comes next in the impeachment process. And Antonia Noori Farzan describes how one town is addressing its “food desert.”

Nov 26, 2019 • 32:26

How crib bumpers have paralyzed a U.S. consumer regulation agency

Michael Scherer with a look into how Mike Bloomberg’s wealth could influence the 2020 race. Todd Frankel reports on an agency struggling with an internal dispute over crib bumpers. And Alex Horton on a powerful weapon’s role in the impeachment inquiry.

Nov 25, 2019 • 25:02

They escaped China’s crackdown. Now, they wait.

Emily Rauhala tracks the plight of a Uighur family that escaped internment in western China. And Michael Ruane describes a newly digitized wealth of recordings and documents from the postwar Nuremberg Trial.

Nov 22, 2019 • 18:56

Two weeks. Seven hearings. Now what?

Shane Harris recaps the second week of public impeachment hearings. Jay Greene examines the vast counterfeit-product market on Amazon.

Nov 21, 2019 • 20:16

A race to stand out before Democratic field thins

Political reporters Michael Scherer, Annie Linskey and Cleve Wootson break down key moments from Wednesday’s Democratic primary debate in Atlanta.

Nov 21, 2019 • 18:43

‘Was there a "quid pro quo"? … The answer is yes.’

Shane Harris unpacks Ambassador Gordon Sondland’s public testimony. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez on where he sees the party going. And Michelle Ye Hee Lee explains how merchandise sales have altered the campaign fundraising game.

Nov 20, 2019 • 28:25

The call that sparked the whistleblower complaint

Shane Harris and Lisa Rein share what another day of public impeachment hearings revealed. Mary Beth Sheridan connects the political crises unfolding across Latin America. And Lena Sun describes the growing threat posed by superbugs.

Nov 19, 2019 • 29:13

The free-for-all over Medicare-for-all

Jeff Stein describes how Medicare-for-all would work. Rachel Siegel explains what President Trump’s trade war is doing to lobster fishing towns in Maine. And Michelle Ye Hee Lee on single-dollar donors.

Nov 18, 2019 • 28:20

As Yovanovitch testifies, Trump attacks her on Twitter

Shane Harris on how Marie Yovanovitch’s testimony prompted accusations of witness intimidation. Elahe Izadi describes how comedian Jenny Slate works through her stage fright. And Chico Harlan wades through the tidewaters submerging Venice.

Nov 15, 2019 • 32:14

Late to the party: Even more Democrats enter the race for 2020

Matt Viser on late entries into the 2020 race. Neena Satija investigates the policies that ensnared child migrants in a bureaucratic nightmare. And author Jacqueline Woodson with untold stories about black family life in her latest, “Red at the Bone.”

Nov 14, 2019 • 31:04

The public impeachment inquiry hearings: Day One

Shane Harris explains what we learned on the first day of the impeachment inquiry’s public phase. Shibani Mahtani on a flashpoint in Hong Kong.

Nov 13, 2019 • 23:18

America’s new ‘progressive prosecutors’ are getting pushback

Mark Berman on the reality facing “progressive prosecutors.” Amber Phillips looks into Wednesday’s key witnesses: William B. Taylor and George Kent. Plus, Mustafa Salim on the unconventional role of Iraq’s tuk-tuks.

Nov 12, 2019 • 28:14

The impeachment inquiry finally goes public

Paul Kane previews the next stage of the impeachment inquiry. Annie Gowen on the ongoing mental health crisis facing America’s farmers. Plus, Laura Reiley covers the challenges of marketing and selling CBD products.

Nov 11, 2019 • 26:35

How Pete Buttigieg plans to diversify his base

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg lays out his plan to capture broader appeal. And Tara Bahrampour on a 94-year-old woman who wanted to leave life on her own terms.

Nov 8, 2019 • 22:08

The future of a drug company blamed for helping fuel the opioid crisis

Chris Rowland explains why one of the companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic is declaring bankruptcy. Griff Witte looks at why Republican legislators feel they can’t stray from Trump. And Ellen Nakashima discusses Saudi Arabia’s Twitter spies.

Nov 7, 2019 • 26:41

What Tuesday’s election results could mean for 2020

Robert Costa with the major takeaways from Tuesday’s elections. Abby Ohlheiser explains how a tracking app is transforming parent-child relationships. Plus, Rick Noack on what a 10-year-old burger says about capitalism.

Nov 6, 2019 • 29:18

The Texas teenagers who allegedly smuggled immigrants across the southern border

Karoun Demirjian on what we’ve learned from the impeachment inquiry transcripts released this week. Maria Sacchetti on the role U.S. citizens play in immigration smuggling. And Rebecca Tan explains part of the new generation’s enthusiasm for cricket.

Nov 5, 2019 • 25:02

Guns in the gym: The NRA’s charity arm raffles off weapons in American schools

Beth Reinhard on why the NRA is raffling off guns in American schools. Jason Rezaian examines Iran’s history of hostage-taking. And Joel Achenbach considers the uncertain fate of the universe.

Nov 4, 2019 • 31:11

Restoring Afghanistan’s lost era of film

Siobhán O’Grady visits the archivists restoring film reels hidden during the Taliban era. And Peter Finn explains how an adventure-seeking socialite became the first American woman in uniform captured by the Nazis.

Nov 1, 2019 • 19:31

The Canadian islands crumbling into the sea

Brady Dennis examines the effect of climate change on Canadian islands. Karen DeYoung clarifies the complicated U.S.-Turkey relationship. Maura Judkis on a cradle of outlandish Halloween costumes. And Tracy Grant celebrates D.C.’s World Series win.

Oct 31, 2019 • 25:55

A California utility that cut off power to curb wildfires may have caused them

Douglas MacMillan reports on a utility’s controversial plan to prevent California wildfires. Heather Long explains why the deficit is ballooning under Trump. And Ben Strauss on the changing rules for college athletes.

Oct 31, 2019 • 20:40

House Democrats prepare for first impeachment vote

Mike DeBonis on what the upcoming impeachment vote means. Josh White on why the Supreme Court is considering whether a D.C. sniper should be resentenced. And Hawken Miller on the people getting coaches to improve their video game playing.

Oct 29, 2019 • 29:10

How Baghdadi’s death could be rallying cry for ISIS

Missy Ryan on how U.S. troops closed in on ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Peter Whoriskey explains the ethical uncertainty of what goes into a chocolate bar. And Danielle Paquette reports that rising temperatures means more female sea turtles.

Oct 28, 2019 • 25:25

Doors are closing for Syrian refugees

Kareem Fahim travels with a refugee couple seeking a new life outside of Syria. And Julie Zauzmer on a Republican PAC working to get the Amish population out to vote.

Oct 25, 2019 • 20:28

An interview with an algorithm

Drew Harwell and Carolyn Y. Johnson examine the algorithms measuring your worth. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel explains why the Education Department gave millions in student loans to ineligible colleges. And Sarah Dadouch on the ongoing protests in Lebanon.

Oct 24, 2019 • 24:54

A princess, an international custody dispute — and Rudy Giuliani

Dalton Bennett on the unexpected meeting between Rudolph W. Giuliani and an Emirati princess. Aaron Blake sums up the latest developments of the impeachment inquiry. And Rick Maese explains how coastal sports teams are planning for climate change.

Oct 23, 2019 • 25:46

How Vladimir Putin soured the president on Ukraine

Greg Miller describes Vladimir Putin’s role in shaping Trump’s view of Ukraine. Griff Witte spends time with refugees who sought asylum in Australia and ended up in Texas. And Martine Powers on how a city responds to its team’s first World Series.

Oct 22, 2019 • 24:01

Cracks in Trump’s Republican firewall

Ashley Parker on an increasingly embattled White House. Debbie Cenziper on the thousands of children in foster care after their parents fell victim to the opioid epidemic. And William Booth explains the latest fight over Brexit.

Oct 21, 2019 • 28:21

Trump awards a massive government contract – to himself

David Fahrenthold scrutinizes the president’s decision to award a major government contract — to himself. U.S. star Rose Lavelle discusses the future of women’s soccer. And Sonia Rao shares what indie studio A24 is doing right.

Oct 18, 2019 • 30:40

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg struggles to balance truth and free speech

Tony Romm examines what Facebook sees as its role in policing speech ahead the 2020 election. Jenna Portnoy and Paul Kane recount the life and legacy of Rep. Elijah Cummings. And Simon Denyer on the cultural tradition behind Japan’s dolphin hunt.

Oct 17, 2019 • 26:41

A Democratic debate, in the shadow of impeachment

Amber Phillips shares her takeaways from the fourth Democratic presidential debate. Aaron Davis explains the ascent of the U.S. ambassador to the E.U. And Keith Alexander describes how D.C. changed during the reign of drug kingpin Rayful Edmond III.

Oct 16, 2019 • 29:28

Some colleges are tracking students before they even apply

Douglas MacMillan explains how colleges track potential students before they even apply. Alex Andrejev follows a video-game designer’s path from refugee to CEO. And Louisa Loveluck on the young people who feel locked out of Iraq’s political system.

Oct 15, 2019 • 28:05

As U.S. military plans pullout, a stunning unraveling in Syria

Missy Ryan talks about how the fight in Syria connects to U.S. diplomacy. Michelle Ye Hee Lee on the army of consultants behind Trump’s reelection campaign. Plus, Scott Wilson on the unpopular way California utility companies are fighting wildfires.

Oct 14, 2019 • 28:25

Why a suburb's integrated schools are still failing black students

Laura Meckler goes back to her hometown of Shaker Heights, Ohio, to try to understand why integration efforts in schools there are still not closing the achievement gap. And Steve Mufson reports on Jane Fonda’s plan to protest inaction on climate change.

Oct 11, 2019 • 27:45

How China called foul on American businesses

Jeanne Whalen examines how Western businesses are bowing to political pressure from China. Samantha Schmidt on how a vulnerable community of transgender sex workers takes care of its own. And Luisa Beck unpacks the implications of a shooting in Germany.

Oct 10, 2019 • 25:55

‘Not so much a legal document as a political screed’

Karoun Demirjian tracks how the White House has pushed back against impeachment. Anna Fifield explains a new phase in China’s forcible assimilation of its Uighur population. And Ben Guarino on the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry.

Oct 9, 2019 • 27:01

The fallout of a U.S. troop withdrawal from northern Syria

Ishaan Tharoor on what the withdrawal of troops from Syria means for the Kurds. Eli Rosenberg reports from the picket line of the United Auto Workers strike. And Caroline Kitchener on the stakes of a Supreme Court case focused on LGBT discrimination.

Oct 8, 2019 • 27:38

Inside the Republican reckoning over Trump’s possible impeachment.

Phil Rucker on how the impeachment inquiry into the president is paralyzing the GOP. Anton Troianovski reports on what climate change means in Siberia. And voices from the Hong Kong protest movement.

Oct 7, 2019 • 29:52

Why every Jessica you know is turning 30

The Lily’s Caroline Kitchener explores what it’s like to turn 30 in 2019. Plus, David Betancourt on the best “Joker.”

Oct 4, 2019 • 26:36

The story of Hunter Biden’s dealings in Ukraine

Michael Kranish looks into Hunter Biden’s dealings in Ukraine. Julie Zauzmer rides along with two pastors working to revive shrinking churches. Plus, Jemar Tisby on the burden of forgiveness for black Americans.

Oct 3, 2019 • 25:46

How the White House rehabilitated Saudi Arabia’s reputation after the death of Jamal Khashoggi

John Hudson examines the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, one year after Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Nick Miroff on an interview with DHS’s isolated acting chief. And Mike Ruane with a newly discovered audio recording of the D-Day invasion.

Oct 2, 2019 • 31:15

Uber says safety is its first priority. Employees aren’t so sure.

Greg Bensinger on Uber’s company-centric safety policies. Matt Zapotsky examines how Attorney General William Barr fits into the impeachment inquiry. And Anne Midgette remembers opera singer Jessye Norman.

Oct 1, 2019 • 29:15

How 2020 Democrats are navigating the impeachment inquiry

Sean Sullivan tracks how Democratic presidential candidates are responding to the impeachment inquiry. Wesley Lowery unpacks the argument for reparations. And Anna Fifield explains how pork prices are overshadowing China’s national day celebrations.

Sep 30, 2019 • 28:15

50 years, three presidents: How impeachment inquiries change the nation

Chief political correspondent Dan Balz on covering two presidential impeachment inquiries. And Elahe Izadi examines the rarefied place in pop culture that “Saturday Night Live’s” Kenan Thompson occupies.

Sep 27, 2019 • 26:16

The ‘highly detailed and arresting’ whistleblower complaint against Trump

Shane Harris takes us through the newly released whistleblower complaint. Juliet Eilperin on the conflicted attitudes of oil and gas executives toward climate change. And Laura Reiley digs into the religious debates behind plant-based meat and shrimp.

Sep 26, 2019 • 27:55

‘A piece of a broader narrative’: Trump’s call at the center of whistleblower complaint

Shane Harris examines the rough transcript of Trump’s call to Ukraine. Greg Miller unpacks the shadow agenda pursued by Rudolph W. Giuliani in Ukraine. And Samantha Schmidt on the future of the Boy Scouts.

Sep 25, 2019 • 27:17

Impeachment inquiry launched against Trump: How we got here

Politics reporter Aaron Blake explains House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to move forward with an impeachment inquiry against President Trump, bringing an end to an extended debate within the Democratic Party.

Sep 25, 2019 • 19:27

‘It’s going to be an enormous battle’: Black college students fight for voting access in Texas

Amy Gardner on a case of alleged racial bias in the administration of a local election in Texas. Jerry Brewer examines where the NFL went wrong with Antonio Brown. And Aaron Gregg tracks the military funding diverted for President Trump’s border wall.

Sep 24, 2019 • 26:24

Whistleblower allegation against Trump revives the call for impeachment

Rachael Bade explains whether impeachment is on the table after a whistleblower complaint. Gerry Shih on the new targets of China’s crackdown against Muslims. And Zachary Pincus-Roth examines the continued watchability of “The Shawshank Redemption.”

Sep 23, 2019 • 26:24

‘They weren’t listening’: How Congress failed to act on a deadly drug’s harrowing rise

Katie Zezima on why federal money has a limited impact in communities fighting the opioid crisis. And Emily Giambalvo tracks the lives of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation.

Sep 20, 2019 • 33:05

Intel official blows a whistle on Trump's interaction with world leader

Shane Harris on the whistleblower rattling the intelligence community. Juliet Eilperin explains the president’s move to take away California’s ability to set its own emission standards. And Maura Judkis on the legal challenges of opening a cannabis cafe.

Sep 19, 2019 • 26:48

‘They see that swagger when Harris speaks’: How Howard University shaped Kamala Harris

Robin Givhan examines Sen. Kamala Harris’s political and racial identity. Ruth Eglash breaks down the negotiations for a new government in Israel. And Caroline Kitchener on who die-hard Hillary Clinton supporters will back in 2020.

Sep 18, 2019 • 30:17

‘He's got competing instincts here’: Trump’s shifting response to Saudi oil-field attack

Anne Gearan explains the White House’s shifting messaging on Iran. Drew Harwell on how Beijing-based TikTok is suspected of censoring the Hong Kong protests. And Maura Judkis takes us into the kitchen with “Queer Eye” star Antoni Porowski.

Sep 17, 2019 • 26:21

What the opioid crackdown means for chronic pain patients

Joel Achenbach reports on chronic pain and opioids. Sarah Kaplan on how American teens are channeling their anxiety over climate change into activism. And Max Bearak visits a Kenyan community whose members say its source of power was stolen.

Sep 16, 2019 • 26:06

‘The city didn’t need another statement of failure’: Baltimore still reeling after Freddie Gray

Aaron Blake shares his takeaways from the third Democratic debate. And Erin Cox describes the healing and reawakening of Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray.

Sep 13, 2019 • 27:35

A report card on school segregation in America

Laura Meckler examines what school segregation looks like today. Heather Long on the minority women changing the makeup of the U.S. workforce. And Nick Miroff explains the Supreme Court’s move on a Trump administration asylum policy.

Sep 12, 2019 • 30:35

The ‘South Atlantic blob’: The vulnerability of the world’s warming oceans

Chris Mooney, John Muyskens and Carolyn Van Houten on the dangerous hot zones spreading around the world. David Weigel previews the next Democratic presidential debate. And Sarah Kaplan describes a ‘Super Earth’ 110 light-years away.

Sep 11, 2019 • 31:22

What John Bolton’s departure means for Trump’s foreign policy

John Hudson on the ouster of national security adviser John Bolton. Reed Albergotti describes Apple’s dual role in the app economy. And Lena Sun breaks down the chemical linked to recent vaping-related illnesses and deaths.

Sep 10, 2019 • 23:06

‘As far as I’m concerned, they’re dead.’ How Trump’s peace talks with the Taliban broke down.

Karen DeYoung explains the collapse of U.S. peace talks in Afghanistan. Rachael Bade on the implications of an impeachment probe. And Anthony Faiola describes the human toll and destruction of Hurricane Dorian.

Sep 9, 2019 • 31:50

The power of black motherhood: Finding joy beyond the numbers on maternal mortality

Helena Andrews-Dyer looks for joy in her pregnancy in the face of scary statistics about black women and childbirth. And Peter Holley explains what life after death could look like, thanks to new technology.

Sep 6, 2019 • 20:36

Protests, defections, rebellions — a chaotic week for British politics

Kevin Sullivan breaks down Boris Johnson’s Brexit battle. Caroline Kitchener describes the state of women’s health care in Maine. And Danielle Paquette takes us on a ride with an African delivery service.

Sep 5, 2019 • 23:21

An intoxicated pathologist misdiagnosed 3,000 cases. VA failed to stop him.

Taylor Telford on Walmart’s response to multiple mass shootings. Lisa Rein looks at oversight failures in the Department of Veterans Affairs. And Jessica Contrera reports from what might be the most dramatic dog park in the country.

Sep 4, 2019 • 27:45

After prison, a different kind of punishment

Philip Rucker on what White House advisers and aides are really thinking as the summer winds down. Tracy Jan explains what’s missing in the conversation about criminal justice reform. And Jason Samenow forecasts the hurricanes of the future.

Sep 3, 2019 • 29:06

Getting through the world with face blindness

Post reporter Sadie Dingfelder used to think she was just really bad at recognizing people. Then she learned she might have a condition called prosopagnosia — better known as face blindness — and set about getting an official diagnosis.

Sep 2, 2019 • 21:36

How American classrooms gloss over slavery and its enduring legacy

Joe Heim examines the glossing over of the history of slavery in American textbooks and schools. Plus, Lisa Bonos and Linah Mohammad question the supposed magic of the summer fling.

Aug 30, 2019 • 21:50

‘Finish the wall’: Trump tells aides he’ll pardon misdeeds, say current and former officials

Nick Miroff explains how the president is encouraging misdeeds to get his wall built. Geoffrey Fowler talks about how his credit cards have let companies buy his data. And Rachel Hatzipanagos on anxiety in the Latino community under Trump.

Aug 29, 2019 • 24:55

Security or surveillance? How smart doorbell company Ring partners with police

Drew Harwell on doorbell-camera company Ring turning its focus to surveillance. Laura Reiley on the war over what plant-based brands can call themselves. Adam Taylor on Boris Johnson’s move to suspend Parliament, and debate, ahead of the Brexit deadline.

Aug 28, 2019 • 22:31

“This is a landmark.” The court decision that could shape the future of the opioid crisis.

Lenny Bernstein on what a court ruling in Oklahoma could mean for the opioid epidemic. Carol D. Leonnig reports on Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers speaking out in court. And transportation reporter Luz Lazo explains why there may be Braille on your e-scooter.

Aug 27, 2019 • 24:49

Goodbye Biarritz, Hello … Trump National Doral? Trump makes a pitch for next year’s G-7

David Fahrenthold explains President Trump’s unusual pitch for next year’s G-7 summit: hosting it at his own resort. Sari Horwitz on how fentanyl is crossing the border. And Jerry Brewer on quarterback Andrew Luck’s early retirement from the NFL.

Aug 26, 2019 • 23:51

‘Publishing is still a business that is owned by white men’: Three women on race and genre

Martine Powers talks with N.K. Jemisin, Jasmine Guillory and Lauren Wilkinson about challenging narrow perceptions of race in literary genres. And Marian Liu on the segregation of American music awards.

Aug 23, 2019 • 18:29

‘People were always so welcoming, so kind, so helpful.’ And then the president arrived.

From a community divided by xenophobic chants, Griff Witte explains what the president’s rhetoric can do on the ground. Jeff Stein on the aging problem in the U.S. And Andrew Freedman on the record-breaking number of fires in the Amazon.

Aug 22, 2019 • 27:37

Where does President Trump stand on gun reform? Depends on the day.

Josh Dawsey and David Nakamura on the dimming prospect of Trump-led gun reform. Pam Constable and Jon Gerberg track the U.S.-Taliban peace talks and their impact on violence in Afghanistan. And an animal love story from Luisa Beck and Rick Noack.

Aug 21, 2019 • 27:21

The Trump translator: How Stephen Miller became so powerful in the West Wing

Nick Miroff and Josh Dawsey on the outsize influence of Stephen Miller on Trump’s immigration policy. Former Mass. governor Bill Weld makes a long-shot case for the Republican presidential nomination. And a summer field trip with Joel Achenbach.

Aug 20, 2019 • 28:31

48 hours at the Iowa State Fair

Holly Bailey and Kevin Uhrmacher outline 2020 takeaways from the Iowa State Fair. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) explains his case to Martine Powers. And Matt Collette introduces us to the fair’s nonpolitical competitors.

Aug 19, 2019 • 31:52

Non-binary, pregnant and taking on the most gendered role of all: motherhood

Samantha Schmidt on the sacrifices one person has made to become a mother. And Geoff Edgers remembers Aretha Franklin, one year after her death.

Aug 16, 2019 • 25:26

How small-dollar donors could choose our next president

Anu Narayanswamy crunches the numbers on small-dollar donations. Niha Masih and Joanna Slater explain the changes and turmoil in Kashmir. And Travis DeShong on what it takes to become the voice inside someone’s head.

Aug 15, 2019 • 27:51

He witnessed Michael Brown’s killing. Now Dorian Johnson is trying to get his life back on track.

Wesley Lowery takes us back to the night Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson. Damian Paletta warns of a possible recession. And Rebecca Tan on the community a simple piano can create.

Aug 14, 2019 • 30:16

For many Americans, dramatic climate change has already arrived

Chris Mooney shows us where to see the future of climate change right now. Michael Kranish on President Trump’s relationship with his late alcoholic brother. And Timothy McLaughlin and Gerry Shih explain the clashes in Hong Kong.

Aug 13, 2019 • 29:52

‘This is an issue that we can win’: Cory Booker on his gun control plan

Sen. Cory Booker lays out his gun policy proposal. Matt Zapotosky on what convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide in federal custody can tell us about the case moving forward. And Alex Horton gives us a reality check on a meme.

Aug 12, 2019 • 23:46

Nearly all mass shootings are committed by men. Why isn’t masculinity a bigger part of the debate?

Nicki DeMarco reports on the often-overlooked connection between masculinity and gun violence. And Geoff Edgers on a run of Vegas shows that defined Elvis’s legacy.

Aug 9, 2019 • 23:43

Forced from Paradise: Finding home after California’s Camp Fire

Greg Miller unpacks the calls for a redirection of U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Frances Stead Sellers and Whitney Leaming on people’s search for home after the Camp Fire. And Monica Hesse pokes holes in the gender-reveal party trend.

Aug 8, 2019 • 31:11

‘Crops aren’t moving. There’s no market’: Why so many family farms are facing bankruptcy

Annie Gowen explains how the trade war is impacting American farmers. Joy Sharon Yi on one woman’s unseen losses after the Charleston, S.C., shooting. And Drew Harwell on the shutdown of a site that’s become a refuge for racists and extremists.

Aug 7, 2019 • 26:20

Why China is playing the long game in its trade battle with the U.S.

Damian Paletta unpacks the most recent battles in the trade war with China. Mike DeBonis on the many retiring House members leaving Republicans in a lurch. And Bilal Qureshi on Toni Morrison’s legacy.

Aug 6, 2019 • 29:16

After mass shootings, Trump condemns white supremacy. Critics say he inspires it.

Mark Berman tracks the mass shootings that happened over the weekend in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio. Plus, Philip Rucker on President Trump’s response to the tragedies. And Andrew Freedman on last month’s record-breaking heat.

Aug 5, 2019 • 25:51

Finding America’s last-known slave ship — and confronting a monstrous past

Nicole Ellis tells the story of the Clotilda, the last-known ship of the illegal slave trade in the U.S. And Oyinkan Braithwaite ruminates on the unexpected relatability of her novel, “My Sister, the Serial Killer.”

Aug 2, 2019 • 17:11

For the Democratic field, the path to nomination goes through Joe Biden

Amber Phillips analyzes the liberal-moderate divide on display at the Democratic debates. Plus, Beth Reinhard details President Trump’s history with Jeffrey Epstein. And Elahe Izadi on the politicization of the word “squad.”

Aug 1, 2019 • 25:58

How Trump wants to one-up Democrats on health care

Yasmeen Abutaleb on the White House’s scramble for a health-care win. Moriah Balingit explains how e-cigarettes may lead to more than nicotine addiction. And Heather Long on the Federal Reserve’s gamble on the economy.

Jul 31, 2019 • 25:31

How secure are U.S. elections? (Hint: Still much less than you might think.)

Karoun Demirjian paints a grim picture of election security. Sam Schmidt on the 2020 Democrats flaunting Spanish skills — and the Latino candidate who isn’t. Plus, Marina Lopes explains Brazil’s C-section parties.

Jul 30, 2019 • 20:16

Trump upends U.S. intel agencies with spy-chief pick

Shane Harris unpacks the state of the intelligence community amid the departure of spy chief Daniel Coats. Plus, Shibani Mahtani visits a Philippine troll farm that’s transforming discourse online, and Rick Maese on how rising temperatures affect athletes

Jul 29, 2019 • 25:16

Not your neurotypical romance novel: The appeal of Helen Hoang

Lisa Bonos on an author working to make the romance genre more inclusive of people on the autism spectrum. And Travis M. Andrews on why you should stop pretending to like outdoor concerts.

Jul 26, 2019 • 22:13

California’s secret climate deal with automakers bypasses Trump administration regulations

Juliet Eilperin explains the secret deal between California and four major automakers. Plus, Elizabeth Dwoskin on the lives of content moderators across the ocean and Jeff Stein on whether we can expect a four-day workweek anytime soon.

Jul 25, 2019 • 30:47

A ‘living message’: What we learned from Robert Mueller’s testimony

Rachael Bade and Rosalind S. Helderman annotate the Mueller testimony, and Arelis Hernández explains the turmoil in Puerto Rico.

Jul 24, 2019 • 26:58

Britain's next prime minister: Boris Johnson, the ‘frat boy’ of Brexit

William Booth unpacks what a Boris Johnson-led Brexit could look like. Plus, Aaron Davis on the companies at the center of the opioid epidemic and Ellie Krieger deconstructs the vocabulary of diet culture.

Jul 23, 2019 • 27:16

What Mueller’s testimony will add to our knowledge of the investigation: Probably not much

Rosalind Helderman previews Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress on Wednesday. Todd Frankel on the dangers of home elevators. Plus, Dan Zak talks to an evangelical Christian climate scientist.

Jul 22, 2019 • 24:56

The origin story of the lunar landing

Lillian Cunningham on the United States’ path to being the first to have astronauts walk on the moon. Plus, Sebastian Smee on an iconic photo of Mother Earth.

Jul 19, 2019 • 20:49

Trump’s racist tweets, and the politics of white identity

Michael Scherer explains the president’s identity politics. Plus, Eugene Scott on the history underpinning the “go back” refrain. And readers tell us how it feels to be told you don’t belong.

Jul 18, 2019 • 29:01

Seven years, 76 billion pain pills - tracking the opioid epidemic in the U.S.

Scott Higham and Steven Rich unpack the DEA’s pain pill database. Sean Sullivan explains what’s missing in presidential candidates’ appeals to Hispanic voters. And Justin Moyer on an alternative currency.

Jul 17, 2019 • 26:39

What happened to Beto O’Rourke?

Damian Paletta explains how the U.S. government got behind on its bills. Plus, Jenna Johnson unpacks Beto O’Rourke’s lackluster fundraising numbers. And Sarah Kaplan on NASA’s upcoming experiments on old moon rocks.

Jul 16, 2019 • 25:35

The immigration policies causing further uncertainty for asylum seekers

Nick Miroff and Kevin Sieff on the policies causing further uncertainty for asylum seekers. Plus, Amy Goldstein explains another threat to the ACA. And Rick Maese on the 10-year-old hoping to skateboard into the Olympics.

Jul 15, 2019 • 30:51

‘You do know the banjo is an African instrument, right?!’: The black roots of country music

Emily Yahr, Valerie June and Dina Bennett talk about how black people have been largely excluded from country music -- an art form rooted in black history. And Danielle Paquette on how controversy over a black Ariel gets mermaid lore wrong.

Jul 12, 2019 • 19:01

‘A constant state of drowning’: 40% of Americans say they struggle to pay bills

Heather Long on the not-so-booming economy. Mike DeBonis explains the Democratic rifts in the House. And as far as Europe’s “flight shame” movement goes, Hannah Sampson says it has no chance in the United States.

Jul 11, 2019 • 30:04

The FBI and ICE are scanning millions of Americans’ faces — without their knowledge or consent

Drew Harwell on how the FBI and ICE are using local DMV photos for facial-recognition searches. Dave Weigel talks about how Bernie Sanders has evolved on the campaign trail. And Anna Fifield on the bare bellies creating controversy in Beijing.

Jul 10, 2019 • 25:14

Trump digs in on 2020 Census question over citizenship

Aaron Blake on how the citizenship question might make its way onto the census. Beth Reinhard on how the Newtown massacre created a rift within the National Rifle Association. Plus, Peter Whoriskey on the price of cocoa.

Jul 9, 2019 • 24:32

New sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein — and the story behind a decade-old plea deal

Matt Zapotosky reports on the new abuse charges against well-connected multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Michael Kranish talks about how Donald Trump got into Wharton. Plus, Chico Harlan on Italy’s cheese-authentication wars.

Jul 8, 2019 • 30:01