The United States Today — Slow English: American News

Samantha Watkins

Listen to the daily news from the United States, hosted by Samantha Watkins of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Follow the important news for the country in the realms of politics, business, technology, sports, health, and entertainment. Please, visit the website for transcripts, additional resources, and updates. View the Italian version of this podcast here or at Gli Stati Uniti Oggi on your podcast app.

Episodes

  1. 2.11.26 - Judges Push Back on Mass Detention, GOP Rebels on Tariffs, Grand Jury Spares Senate Democrats, U.S. Opposes West Bank Expansion, FDA Rejects Moderna Vaccine

    5D AGO

    2.11.26 - Judges Push Back on Mass Detention, GOP Rebels on Tariffs, Grand Jury Spares Senate Democrats, U.S. Opposes West Bank Expansion, FDA Rejects Moderna Vaccine

    Visit this link for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Per l’episodio in Italiano, visita questa link. Sources: Borger, Julian. “‘A step in the wrong direction’: Israel’s West Bank plans prompt global backlash” The Guardian. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/10/israel-west-bank-plans-global-backlash Cheney, Kyle. “Judges may have found a way to bypass 5th Circuit ruling upholding Trump’s mass detention policy” Politico. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/texas-immigration-detention-rulings-00774124 Mangan, Dan. “DC grand jury declines to indict Sens. Kelly, Slotkin for seditious conspiracy: MS Now” CNBC. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/11/kelly-slotkin-grand-jury-trump-hegseth.html Mole, Beth. “FDA refuses to review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine” ARS Technica. 10 Feb 2026. https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/fda-refuses-to-review-modernas-mrna-flu-vaccine/ Stracqualursi, Veronica, and Main, Alison. “Three House Republicans cross party lines to block effort to shield Trump from challenges to his tariffs” CNN. 11 Feb 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/house-trump-tariffs-vote-republicans These stories are summaries. The United States Today — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.

    9 min
  2. 02.10.26 - ICE funding stalled, Trump threatens U.S.–Canada bridge, Judge blocks mask ban, U.S. speedskater comes out, Funding increase for the 211 hotline

    FEB 11

    02.10.26 - ICE funding stalled, Trump threatens U.S.–Canada bridge, Judge blocks mask ban, U.S. speedskater comes out, Funding increase for the 211 hotline

    Visit this link for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Per l’episodio in Italiano, visita questa link. Sources: Arrieta, Rolando. “U.S. skater Connor McDermott-Mostowy joins record number of out LGBTQ Winter Olympians” NPR. 09 Feb 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/02/09/nx-s1-5703620/speedskater-connor-mcdermott-mostowy-lgbtq-olympian Burdelski, Julia. “Lt. Gov. Austin Davis stumps in Pittsburgh for boosting 211 help line budget” TribLive. 09 Feb 2026. https://triblive.com/local/lt-gov-austin-davis-stumps-in-pittsburgh-for-boosting-211-help-line-budget/ Cheney, Kyle, and Gerstein, Josh. “Judge blocks enforcement of California’s law banning masks for ICE agents” Politico. 09 Feb 2026. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/09/judge-blocks-enforcement-california-ice-agents-masks-00772396 Gold, Michael. “Talks on Immigration Enforcement Limits Still Stuck With Deadline Nearing” New York Times. 08 Feb 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/dhs-funding-immigration-shutdown.html Harvey, Lex, and Waldenberg, Samantha. “Trump threatens to block opening of new US-Canada bridge” CNN. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/gordie-howe-bridge-canada-trump-threat-intl-hnk These stories are summaries. The United States Today — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.

    9 min
  3. 2.8.26 - Pelosi Backing JFK’s Grandson, Netanyahu Meeting With Trump, Mass Arrests at Minnesota Protest, The Super Bowl Halftime Show: Bad Bunny vs. Kid Rock, and Pittsburgh’s Boil Water Advisory

    FEB 11

    2.8.26 - Pelosi Backing JFK’s Grandson, Netanyahu Meeting With Trump, Mass Arrests at Minnesota Protest, The Super Bowl Halftime Show: Bad Bunny vs. Kid Rock, and Pittsburgh’s Boil Water Advisory

    Visit this link for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Per l’episodio in Italiano, visita questa link. Sources: Davis, Sarah. “Americans prefer to watch Bad Bunny halftime show over Kid Rock’s: Poll” The Hill. 07 Feb 2026. https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5728286-halftime-show-poll-results/ Mokam, Bernard. “At Least 50 Arrested After Protests Escalate Outside Minnesota Federal Building” New York Times. 07 Feb 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/us/minneapolis-immigration-protesters-arrested-whipple-building.html Ochacher, Jared, and O’Keefe, Ed. “Nancy Pelosi to endorse Jack Schlossberg in New York congressional race” CBS News. 07 Feb 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nancy-pelosi-to-endorse-jack-schlossberg-new-york-congressional-race/ Ravid, Barak. “Netanyahu to hold urgent meeting with Trump Wednesday amid Iran negotiations” Axios. 07 Feb 2026. https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/netanyahu-trump-iran-negotiations Reese, Quincey. “Boil water advisory impacting 95K in Allegheny, Washington counties could take ‘several days’ to lift” TribLive. 07 Feb 2026. https://triblive.com/local/regional/boil-water-advisory-issued-to-95000-in-allegheny-washington-counties/ These stories are summaries. The United States — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.

    7 min
  4. 02.07.26 - Immigration Detention Ruling, The Census, Nuclear Talks With Iran, TrumpRx, And ‘Pittsburgh Says ICE Out!’

    FEB 8

    02.07.26 - Immigration Detention Ruling, The Census, Nuclear Talks With Iran, TrumpRx, And ‘Pittsburgh Says ICE Out!’

    Visit this link for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Sources: Ebrahim, Nadeen, and Salem, Mostafa. “US and Iran conclude high-stakes talks in Oman. Here’s what to know” CNN, 06 Feb. 2026, https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/middleeast/us-iran-oman-talks-explained-intl Raymond, Nate. “US appeals court upholds Trump's immigration detention policy” Reuters, 06 Feb. 2026, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-appeals-court-upholds-trumps-immigration-detention-policy-2026-02-07/ Schneider, Mike. “Census Bureau plans to use survey with a citizenship question in its test for 2030, alarming experts” PBS News, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/census-bureau-plans-to-use-survey-with-a-citizenship-question-in-its-test-for-2030-alarming-experts Swift, Megan. “‘Pittsburgh Says ICE Out!’ protest, march takes place this weekend” TribLive, 06 Feb. 2026, https://triblive.com/news/politics-election/pittsburgh-says-ice-out-protest-march-takes-place-this-weekend/ Sy, Stephanie, and Jackson Hudgins. “How Effective Will TrumpRX Be at Lowering Prescription Drug Prices for Americans?” PBS News, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-effective-will-trumprx-be-at-lowering-prescription-drug-prices-for-americans. Gli Stati Uniti Oggi — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.

    7 min

About

Listen to the daily news from the United States, hosted by Samantha Watkins of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Follow the important news for the country in the realms of politics, business, technology, sports, health, and entertainment. Please, visit the website for transcripts, additional resources, and updates. View the Italian version of this podcast here or at Gli Stati Uniti Oggi on your podcast app.