1A NPR

First introduced by immigrants in the 1800s, hot dogs have become synonymous with sports, summer, and the Fourth of July. And no other food starts debates quite like hot dogs – what's the best way to cook them? What's the best brand? What toppings are and aren't allowed? Are they sandwiches? Should we even eat them?We discuss the evolution of one of America's favorite foods and talk about some of your favorite ways to top them.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

Friendships are one of the few relationships that we choose. They can last longer than our romantic relationships and be just as intimate. They can take on the role of family if our own falls short. Having friends is an important part of the human experience. But over the past few years, adult friendship has been on the decline. And men are suffering the most from it. According to the Survey Center on American Life, the percentage of men with at least six close friends has fallen by half since 1990. One in five single men says he has zero close friends. We speak to two psychologists who specialize in friendships and men. We also hear from two guys who've been best friends for 30 years on how they keep the love alive.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

In a 6-3 ruling, the court struck down race-conscious admissions at two universities, setting the stage for other college and university admissions policies.Meanwhile, Canadian wildfires are wreaking new havoc in the Upper Midwest of the US, creating dense smog and unsafe air qualities in major American cities.Around the world, the questions of what's next for Russia after a dramatic but short-lived mutiny was cut short by the leader of the Wagner Group – Yevgeny Progozhin?Violent protests in France begin again after a teenager is killed during a police stop.The Swedish government approves a Quran-burning demonstration outside of a mosque, coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Adha.We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, is illegal. It is listed as a Schedule 1 drug by the U.S. federal government (the same group as marijuana and psilocybin, or magic mushrooms).In recent years, a growing body of academic research has suggested potential benefits of MDMA. One study found that MDMA-enhanced therapy dramatically reduced PTSD symptoms. Another showed that psychedelics like MDMA could reopen so-called critical periods of time when brains are especially impressionable and open to learning.Rachel Nuwer's new book, "I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World," explores the history and potential of the so-called love drug.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

The U.S. is battling a years-long, devastating opioid epidemic. Last year saw 79,770 reported opioid-involved drug overdose deaths, a 1.5 percent decrease from the previous year, according to data from the CDC.Nevertheless, the opioid crisis has upended traditional family structures. Many parents have died from overdosing, become incarcerated, or are otherwise unable to care for their children due to substance abuse.As a result, more and more children are being raised primarily by their grandparents in what are known as grandfamilies.Grandfamilies face unique challenges, as caregivers contend with stigma, dwindling income, deficits in technological savvy, and health issues related to aging.What kind of support do grandfamilies need to raise successful children? We explore how the opioid crisis is affecting grandparent caregivers with a panel of experts.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our website.

More than 122,000 people in the U.S. are estimated to be in solitary confinement, according to a report by Solitary Watch and Unlock the Box. That number is far greater than previous estimates.The United Nations says that prolonged solitary confinement can be psychological torture. We talk with our panel about the use of solitary confinement across the U.S. in federal and state prisons as well as local jails.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find more shows and information online.