Spirit Airlines suddenly shut down over the weekend after a failed bailout attempt by the U.S. government. CNBC’s Leslie Josephs breaks down the factors that led to the budget airline’s closure. Trump says the U.S. will guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz as the competing blockades continue. Meanwhile, the president is withdrawing troops from Germany as he criticizes Europe’s response to the war. The Washington Post’s Noah Robertson explains. Several Republican states could move to change their congressional voting maps after the Supreme Court’s recent Voting Rights Act decision. NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang joins to discuss how it might change the makeup of Congress. Plus, drugmakers have asked the Supreme Court to preserve mail access to a common abortion drug, a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship caused three deaths, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 starts the summer movie season with a strong box-office showing. Today’s episode was hosted by Cecilia Lei.
13H AGO
Why is Russia shutting off the internet?
In recent months, the Russian government has been restricting access to messaging apps such as Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, and at points, even shutting down internet access completely. Russian officials insist that curbs on communication are in the interests of public safety. They claim that mobile internet blackouts disorient Ukrainian attack drones, although such attacks have continued even in areas where the internet has been switched off. How have these blackouts been affecting peoples’ ability to access news, communicate, even find their way around? And how are people reacting to the restrictions on their freedoms? BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg joins Asma to discuss. Producers: Chris Benderev and Hannah Moore Executive producer: Bridget Harney Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins Photo: Passengers use mobile phones aboard a themed metro train honouring the Russian National Guard in Moscow, Russia, March 31, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Ramil Sitdikov
15H AGO
A Committee Protecting U.S. Elections Is Under Threat
Last week's Supreme Court decision gutting the Voting Rights Act is big news. But there are tons of other ways that the Trump Administration and the GOP are trying to make it harder for you to vote. Take the Technical Guidelines Development Committee, or TGDC. It's supposed to be a nonpartisan federal committee that determines the standards for voting equipment used in elections across the country. But back in April, a group of election officials sounded the alarm. The Trump Administration has been blocking new appointees to the TGDC and won’t say why — which is a big, big concern with midterm elections just a few months away. So to explain what’s going on with our nation’s voting apparatus, we spoke to Jacob Knutson, a reporter at Democracy Docket. And in headlines, Trump tells Congress that the war in Iran is currently not a war, Tucker Carlson gives a long and winding interview to the New York Times, and we send a bittersweet goodbye to Spirit Airlines. Show Notes: Check out Jacob's piece – https://tinyurl.com/4rjytz3b Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday
12H AGO
What Drives Political Violence in America
In the midst of a cascade of violent acts against political figures in the United States, a few questions keep coming up — how did we get here, and how much worse could it really get? Robert Pape, a professor at the University of Chicago and one of the country’s leading voices on political violence, discusses why violence is on the rise and what it would take to stop it. Guest: Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago. Background reading: Is the United States in a politically violent age? This is what the data and history say. Here’s how to understand claims about U.S. political violence and threats to presidents. Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times, Kenny Holston for The New York Times and Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
12H AGO
A bill that bans kids from using AI chatbots is gaining momentum
The GUARD Act is a bipartisan bill that would prohibit companies from letting kids under 18 interact with what the legislation calls "AI companions,” which are chatbots designed to encourage the simulation of an interpersonal relationship. This comes after some harrowing stories of teenagers who developed relationships with chatbots and then harmed themselves or others. The bill just passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes talks about this with Ashley Gold, a senior tech policy reporter at Axios.
1D AGO
The cost of “I do”
Love is in the air, but only if you’ve got thousands to throw at it. How couples are navigating the pressures and expenses of planning their perfect wedding. This episode was produced by Ariana Aspuru, edited by Avishay Artsy, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by Brandon McFarland and David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo of an October wedding by Alyssa Neely. If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email askvox@vox.com. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How does diplomacy work during a military deadlock?
The war with Iran is in a deadlock. Despite a back and forth of peace plans, there is no permanent ceasefire. President Trump has oscillated between a willingness to engage in diplomacy and threats to resume the American bombing campaign if he doesn’t get a deal. All this has complicated negotiations, which the U.S. and Iran are holding through intermediaries. So, how do leaders try to negotiate with countries they’re in conflict with? For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org. This episode was produced by Henry Larson. It was edited by Sarah Robbins and Tinbete Ermyas. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
2D AGO
Economic effects of the war in Iran ripple around the globe
From fuel to food, fertilizer and flights, the fallout from the Iran war is reshaping the global economy. We hear from reporters in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America on the ways it’s affecting their regions and how they’re coping. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
3D AGO
Trump’s retribution tour: Comey, Indiana Republicans, and ABC
President Trump and his allies seem to be — once again — seeking retribution from people who have gotten on the president’s bad side. We discuss the Justice Department’s new indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, Trump’s efforts to unseat some Indiana Republican state lawmakers, and a renewed fight with ABC's Jimmy Kimmel. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, Supreme Court and justice correspondent Carrie Johnson, and senior political correspondent Tamara Keith. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
4D AGO
The 'Great Man' Presidency
Alexander the Great. Julius Caesar. Napoleon Bonaparte. Donald Trump The Atlantic staff writers Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer reported this week on the president privately comparing himself to the three norm-defying, world-historical figures highlighted in the work of the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. The president has also sought to make his mark across seemingly every manner of federal real estate, including national monuments and even currency and passports. If Trump’s focus is on himself as a great man of history, what is he doing—and, more notably perhaps, not doing—as president today? Read Ashley and Michael's article: “The YOLO Presidency.” - - - Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5D AGO
Supreme Court deals another blow to Voting Rights Act
In a landmark ruling Wednesday, the Supreme Court effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act. We discuss what the ruling could mean for Black representation — not just in Congress but at all levels of government. This episode: voting correspondents Miles Parks and Hansi Lo Wang and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson. This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
APR 27
A third attempt on Trump’s life?
On Saturday night, as U.S. President Donald Trump sat on a dais in front of a room full of journalists, gunshots were heard inside the building. An armed man was taken down by Secret Service members, and the President was evacuated, unharmed. Paul Hunter was there, and describes what happened in that room, and what to make of what may be the third attempt on Trump’s life. Paul is CBC's senior Washington correspondent and co-host of the podcast Two Blocks from the White House. Find Two Blocks from the White House here. For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
From The New Yorker · The demise of the English paper will end a long intellectual tradition, but it’s also an opportunity to re-examine the purpose of higher education. Written by: Hua Hsu Narrated by: Woody Fu Read the article: https://apple.news/AJiQDJ5H9QVO6f-W22QsaHQ Published: June 30, 2025
06/30/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
How the brains of the wealthy are hardwired differently
From Rolling Stone · They have fantasies of going to Mars, transhumanism, and superhuman AI. How the heck does someone get this way? And what does it mean for the rest of us? Written by: Alex Morris Narrated by: Jaime Lamchick Read the article: https://apple.news/AjdqlVKyiTc6Gc-xb6TepIQ Published: June 15, 2025
07/06/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
My best friend’s murder was a tabloid circus. Now, I’m looking for the truth.
From Rolling Stone · When Nicole DuFresne was killed in New York in 2005, the media twisted the narrative by latching onto a phrase that fell out of her mouth: “What are you going to do, shoot us?” Written and narrated by: Mary Jane Gibson Read the article: https://apple.news/AeuxF4eR5SAKuMnX0XkAC3A Published: July 6, 2025
07/07/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
America’s overheated landfills have been making people sick
From Bloomberg Businessweek · Beneath layers of waste, landfills around the U.S. have been reaching scorching temperatures, and neighbors have been getting sick. Written by: Laura Bliss and Rachael Dottle Narrated by: Inés del Castillo Read the article: https://apple.news/A_bf2QgYhQYC9Seqcjt20Ow Published: July 1, 2025
07/01/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
The eternal quest to save Gap
From Bloomberg Businessweek · The iconic ’90s retailer was on the precipice of death for years. Richard Dickson finally had momentum for a comeback — then came Trump. Written by: Amanda Mull and Lily Meier Narrated by: Suehyla El-Attar Young Read the article: https://apple.news/AmHN1IWHBQj2HawQ8HkA_dw Published: June 24, 2025
06/25/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
The spying scandal rocking the world of HR software
From Bloomberg Businessweek · HR software maker Rippling accused Deel, a key rival, of hiring a staff member to serve as a mole. Things escalated from there. Written by: Kate Clark and Ellen Huet Narrated by: Kirsten Potter Read the article: https://apple.news/AvZh6Pz41RjOmFrbAcWwHCg Published: June 10, 2025