1A 1A

What has red eyes, lives underground for years, and screeches all summer long? That would be cicadas. And they're here.

And more are coming.For the first time in over two hundred years, billions of cicadas are digging their way up from underground in a rare biological occurrence.

Scientists are calling it a double brood emergence because two cicada broods will be above ground at the same time. Depending on where you live, you might have already seen them flying around or their infamous exoskeletons skins.

For this installment of Scientific Method, our series where we speak to experts about the latest in the science world, we're talking about cicadas.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Maryland is one of three states holding primaries tomorrow. It's also attracting outsized national attention because of the outsized amount of money being spent.

Maryland's Senate race is the third most expensive nationwide behind California and Texas. That's thanks largely to the self-financed campaign of wealthy Democrat David Trone. He currently serves in the House.

He's part of a wave of self-funded candidates nationwide. That rise coincides with the ever-surging cost of funding a campaign. Political ad spending in the 2024 election cycle is expected to exceed $16 billion.

We discuss the cost of campaigns and how they're funded.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Billions of birds are making their way around the world right now as part of their annual spring migration.

But climate change, habitat loss, and human infrastructure are making that journey harder for a lot of species.

That's why conservation and government groups come together twice a year to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day – but maybe they also just want an excuse to talk about our feathered friends.

Either way, we're happy to oblige.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The Biden campaign is growing increasingly nervous over the growing trend of campus protests in support of Palestinians.

Party strategists are predicting a torrid time at this summer's Democratic National Convention as President Biden comes under fire for his handling of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza and recent incursion into Rafah.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government ordered the removal of Al Jazeera from within its borders this week. Officials confiscated broadcast equipment from the network, and Israeli television stopped broadcasting the channel.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been making the rounds in Europe this week. He was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Xi also praised Hungary's "independent" foreign policy ahead of a meeting with the country's president, Viktor Orbán.

We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Jen Psaki wants everyone to work on their communication skills.

She's the former press secretary for the Biden administration. She's out with a new book called "Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World."

In it, she points to deteriorating communication skills as one source of our intractable political disagreements.

We talk to Psaki about talking, politics, and talking politics.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

For the last 50 years, the government has classified Marijuana as a schedule one drug.

Last Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland did initiate the process to reclassify marijuana as a schedule three drug. Those substances are considered by the Drug Enforcement Agency to have moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.

This recommendation does not make marijuana legal at the federal level. But for the first time, the government is acknowledging marijuana's potential medical benefits.

We discuss what this move means for marijuana research, and drug policy more broadly.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy