The news you need to know today — and the stories that will stick with you tomorrow. Plus, special series and behind-the-scenes extras from Here & Now hosts Robin Young and Scott Tong with help from Producer Chris Bentley and the team at NPR and WBUR.
Latest episodes
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20 min
The case for and against Trump's double border wall
With the midterms approaching, Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd visits Southern Arizona to speak with ranchers who live along the border. We hear from rancher John Ladd about why he suppo…
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21 min
What's dividing voters in Kansas?
Axios' Margaret Talev and Kansas Public Radio's Jim McLean discuss the dividing lines in Kansas where President Trump campaigned this week. They also unpack the fallout from a poli…
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17 min
Trump is ‘financing’ war against Ukraine, Nobel winner says
In recent days, President Trump exempted Russia from new sanctions and agreed to buy Russian diesel. This newfound favorable attitude toward Russia has heightened concerns about th…
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18 min
Why Utah is taking on Kalshi
Utah is suing Kalshi, the prediction market company, accusing the platform of gambling, which is illegal in the state. Utah's Attorney General Derek Brown tells us about the lawsui…
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25 min
The history of the 'October surprise'
An ‘October surprise’ is a scandal or newsmaking event that can influence voters just weeks before Election Day. Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer looks back at histori…
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17 min
What matters most to midterm voters?
The economy is a leading issue for voters this November, but other top issues vary compared to previous midterm elections, according to Pew Research Center. Pew's director of resea…
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30 min
'The Muppets' turn 50
"The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," Kiran Desai's 2025 novel, is a sprawling, multi-generational family saga that plays out across four continents in the late 1990s. Desai talks a…
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22 min
Does Ukraine still trust the U.S.?
A U.S.-provided Starlink satellite has been a critical tool in Ukraine’s war against Russia. But, Ukrainian drone operator Dmytro Veselov says disruption in that system has caused…
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15 min
Michael Lewis on the ‘Blockers’ who fought DOGE
The Department of Government Efficiency lasted just a few months in 2025, but its impact will last for years. That's not because it made the government more efficient — it failed t…
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28 min
Where Republicans are spending their energy — and money — before midterms
Midterm elections are three weeks away, and recent polls show more excitement from Democratic voters than Republicans. The Boston Globe’s James Pindell weighs in on if that matters…
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26 min
Author Tommy Orange confronts the phenomenon of 'pretendians'
Cheyenne author Tommy Orange found out that one of his favorite Indigenous writers wasn't actually Indigenous. Then, he interviewed him. Orange shares what he learned and the long…
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26 min
Is universal child care working in New Mexico?
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller reflects on the state of child care access and affordability in New Mexico, and why he's opening up underused city spaces for child care providers.Then…
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21 min
Data centers are making noise in American politics
The construction of data centers in Ohio has become a contentious issue in the Senate race there. The issue at the center of several races across the country this November. Ohio Pu…
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20 min
Facebook whistleblower says it's time for AI whistleblowers to speak up
In 2021, Frances Haugen released tens of thousands of internal Facebook documents showing the company knew its algorithms were promoting extremism and contributing to teen mental h…
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22 min
What we know about the death of a Russian plague lab worker
Russian officials have reportedly placed 200 people under medical observation and quarantined the hospital where a 28-year-old lab worker died of a suspected case of plague in Sibe…
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25 min
The case that could make big oil pay for climate change
The Supreme Court is weighing Boulder, Colorado's lawsuit against oil companies over the effects of climate change. We hear from Colorado rancher Kathleen Kelley and Mesa County co…
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26 min
Why some Americans are getting surprise medical-debt relief
When Brittany Gurney’s son was 14 months old, he had a medical emergency. The bill came out to $15,000. Gurney paid what she could, but it wasn’t enough. Her debt went to collectio…
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18 min
Inside Tennessee's botched execution
Death row inmate Christa Pike survived two injections intended to kill her. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has now paused the state's remaining executions pending an independent review. W…
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22 min
ICE raids make a 'ghost town' in Kansas
The U.S. Supreme Court decided Tuesday the Trump administration can resume deporting immigrants to countries they have no ties to. Michelle Mendez from the National Immigration Pro…
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21 min
Security concerns prompt OpenAI to scrap latest model
OpenAI says it won’t release its newest model, GPT-6.1 Astra, because it showed high levels of deception during testing. Gregory Allen, founder and CEO of Decision Tree Research, e…