Join Shumita Basu every weekday morning as she guides you through some of the most fascinating stories in the news — and how the world’s best journalists are covering them.
Latest episodes
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14 min
Anthropic warned that AI could end humanity. Now it’s racing to go public.
Anthropic filed for what could be the largest IPO in history, even as its filing warns that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity. Axios’s Dan Primack breaks down the num…
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17 min
Trump’s and Obama’s dueling rallies in a crucial swing state
President Trump and former President Barack Obama campaigned in Michigan this weekend, where Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are in a close Senate race. Reuters’…
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31 min
The strange new politics of the death penalty
From Apple News In Conversation: In the span of a month, Christa Pike survived a botched lethal-injection execution in Tennessee and the Pentagon announced plans to livestream the…
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15 min
The scramble to save the internet from a catastrophic threat
The Guardian’s Robert Booth takes us inside the global scramble to fix a code vulnerability threatening 70% of websites. Minnesota hasn’t elected a Republican statewide in decades,…
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17 min
The billionaires behind the record midterm ad blitz
More than $10 billion is expected to be spent on advertising in this midterm cycle. New York Times reporter Teddy Schleifer joins to explain where the money comes from, how a recen…
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14 min
What’s behind the youth protests sweeping Europe?
The Guardian’s Ashifa Kassam takes us inside Europe’s “autumn of discontent.”The Justice Department has charged 28 people in California with election crimes and is seeking to block…
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13 min
Three world powers could decide Ukraine’s future. Kyiv won’t be in the room.
President Trump says he is open to a trilateral summit with Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi to discuss Ukraine without Zelenskyy present. The Wall Street Journal’s Lingling Wei expla…
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13 min
What’s really driving a long-shot push to break up Canada
Voters in Alberta today decide if the province should pursue secession. Leyland Cecco from The Guardian breaks down the long-shot independence referendum. New polls found President…
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40 min
Inside the trust crisis shaping this year’s midterms
From Apple News In Conversation: With the 2026 midterms just two weeks away, many Americans are paying close attention not only to races and candidates but to the election process…
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14 min
Iran’s plan to sway the U.S. elections
Iranian officials told Reuters they are intentionally ramping up attacks on commercial ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz to drive up energy prices and hurt Republicans ahead…
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14 min
Prices keep climbing. Frustrated voters may take it out on Republicans.
A new inflation report shows that prices rose again last month ahead of the midterms, driven by energy costs from the war in Iran. The Wall Street Journal’s Eliza Collins explains…
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16 min
The scandals that forced Trump to oust Ambassador Guilfoyle
Kimberly Guilfoyle has resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece after the White House asked her to step down. The Washington Post’s Michael Birnbaum breaks down the misconduct allegat…
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16 min
DHS agents search Ilhan Omar’s home — weeks before an election
DHS agents searched the Washington home of Rep. Ilhan Omar on Monday. The Washington Post’s Perry Stein explains what’s known about the investigation. South Carolina’s Senate race…
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14 min
Trump’s surprise deal with Putin sparks Republican outrage
President Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel and said Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an energy ceasefire. The Wall Street Journal’s Robbie Gramer discusses the reactio…
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34 min
The Cornell case exposes a dark reality about college culture
From Apple News In Conversation: A lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student that alleges she was sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members in 2024 has sparked an outpouring o…
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16 min
Why some Republicans are getting worried about Texas
Republicans are growing concerned about how Texas will vote in next month’s midterms. The Washington Post’s Teo Armus explains how labor shortages tied to immigration arrests could…
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14 min
Lawyers share Christa Pike’s first words since waking — and make her case in court
Lawyers have shared the first words of Christa Pike since she woke up after surviving a botched execution. Reuters reports on the latest courtroom hearings. Republican Sen. Susan C…
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15 min
Tennessee failed to execute Christa Pike. Now she’s conscious.
Christa Pike, who survived a failed execution by lethal injection in Tennessee, is conscious and speaking, her attorneys say. Kelly Puente of The Tennessean explains what could hap…
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15 min
The Cornell case puts New York’s consent laws in the spotlight
As New York investigates an alleged rape at Cornell University, the state’s legal statutes on consent and intoxication are coming under scrutiny. The Washington Post’s Joanna Slate…
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14 min
How a Boeing jet survived a nosedive at extreme speed
A copilot’s attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv sent a Boeing 737 Max into a dive near the speed of sound. Benjamin Katz of the Wall Street Journal explains how t…