Here & Now

Democratic Socialists have had a string of primary wins across the country, and Megan Romer, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, weighs in on how the Democratic Party is reacting to the rise of the left.Then, millions of people in the U.S. are affected by harmful levels of air pollution. Harvard University professor Mary Rice explains how hotter temperatures can make air quality even worse.And, a third-party review found that major artificial intelligence companies have quietly backed away from safety protocols. Ina Fried, chief technology correspondent for Axios, shares more details of the review, which found none of the companies ranked above a C+ in an AI Safety Index.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

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended Team USA’s Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year. The suspended suspension means the striker can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium. Reporter Steve Futterman joins us. Then, in Tehran on Monday, Iranians thronged the funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike in February. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast Full Disclosure, reflects on Khamenei's decades of iron rule and the regime his son is continuing as peace talks stall between Iran and the U.S.  And, are we living through an unprecedented time in U.S. history? Historian Heather Cox Richardson thinks so, up to a point. As we turn the corner on America's 250th birthday, Richardson talks about the current, unparalleled "attempt to dismantle our democracy," as she sees it, versus the long American tradition of fighting back.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o

As America turns 250 this year, the American flag has become more than just a symbol of the country. Some see it as a totem of freedom, power and patriotism. Others see it as an emblem of politics and far-right ideology.We heard from listeners across the country about what the flag means to them. Here & Now producers Ashley Locke and Chris Bentley discuss the responses they received and the various perspectives they represent.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

George Washington could have stayed president for a third term, yet in his famous Farewell Address, he wrote that he would “decline being considered." He penned that address by candlelight in 1796, and curator Lisa Kathleen Graddy explains why the brass stand that held those candles is a significant part of American history.Then, Ethel Payne was the first Black American woman to become an international news correspondent. A flowered, wide brim hat made her stand out in a room full of male reporters, and Smithsonian curator Jennifer Sieck shares how this hat represents Payne’s legacy.And, few musicians have changed American music quite like John Coltrane did. He pushed jazz in new directions over his short career. Smithsonian curator Krystal Klingenberg talks about a tenor saxophone that Coltrane played in his final years.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

Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democratic Socialist, won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, in Denver, over 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette. KUSA politics reporter Kyle Clark breaks down more primary takeaways.Then, a large part of the U.S. is under extreme heat warnings as temperatures are expected to hit triple digits this week. Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy, explains the dangers and causes of this potentially record-breaking heat.And, Bobby Bonilla retired from the MLB in 2001. But every July 1, he gets a $1.19-million check from his former team, the New York Mets. Planet Money’s Kenny Malone breaks down one of the strangest contracts in baseball history.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

The Supreme Court has struck down President Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, explains the decision, which is in line with the longstanding legal interpretation of the 14th Amendment.Then, Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, explains why he still believes birthright citizenship should be limited.And, in another major decision, the Supreme Court ruled against two transgender athletes by saying schools can determine sports eligibility based on biological sex. Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter for The 19th, shares more.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

The president can now fire most independent regulators, ending a nearly century-old precedent. Mark Joseph Stern, who covers the courts and the law for Slate, weighs in on the consequential opinion.Then, Alan Blinder, former vice chair of the Federal Reserve, talks about a separate but related decision that upholds the independence of the Federal Reserve.And, a new bridge between the U.S. and Canada has been built but the Trump administration won't allow it to open. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta explains how it may be an apt metaphor for a low point in U.S.-Canada relations.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

Every storyteller has a tool: a notebook, a camera, a microphone. For legendary author Octavia Butler, it was a powder blue typewriter. That typewriter is now in the Smithsonian Institution's Anacostia Community Museum, and acting curator Jennifer Sieck explains Butler’s influence on the country’s history. And, the megalodon was one of the biggest fish that ever lived, with seven-inch-long teeth and jaws with 40,000 pounds of bite force. Don’t worry: The megalodon swam between 3.6 and 23 million years ago. But you can still see a model hanging from the ceiling in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Curator Nick Pyenson explains why Americans remain fascinated with megalodons.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

The Supreme Court issued several opinions today that advance the Trump administration's agenda on immigration, gun access and the environment.It ended Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, allowing them to be deported. It overturned a law in Hawaii that required people get permission before bringing a gun on private property. And, it sided with the manufacturer of Roundup after multiple lawsuits claimed the weed killer caused cancer.President and CEO of Global Refuge, Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, and law professor Kate Shaw join us to break down the decisions.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

Groundwater supplies in the Colorado River basin are falling fast as a historic drought continues to punish the West. Now, states like Arizona are considering new laws to regulate pumping from aquifers while keeping growing cities supplied with the water they need to grow in the desert. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd reports. And, it's summer gardening season. We hear tips for gardening during a dry summer from Sarah Perreault, managing editor for The Old Farmer's Almanac.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

Affordable housing is top of mind for voters, and lawmakers appear to be listening. The Senate on Monday passed a big housing bill that aims to increase supply and lower costs. But will it? University of Pennsylvania’s Vincent Reina explains.Then, record-breaking heat is hitting Europe. In France, dozens of people have died. The Associated Press’ Sylvia Hui explains how Europe is trying to adapt to a warming climate.And, the Supreme Court said the prison officials who forcibly shaved a Rastafarian man’s head did not violate his religious beliefs. What does this mean for religious freedom at large? Former federal prosecutor Paul Butler weighs in.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

Israel's wars in the Middle East have become a wedge issue in several congressional campaigns, especially in New York, where establishment Democrats are trying to fend off more progressive challengers backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. We discuss the impact Israel's wars are having on these key primary races with The New York Times' Benjamin Oreskes. And, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says President Trump is making up a story that she "begged" him for a photo at the G7 Summit in France last week. The rift could break up one of Trump's closest alliances in Europe. Federiga Bindi, who served as a senior advisor to Italy's then-Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, joins us to discuss what this means for Italy-U.S. relations.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

Our series Reverse Course has explored environmental crises and possible fixes, from water vapor harvesting to electric trucks. At the WBUR Festival in Boston last month, Here & Now's Chris Bentley and Peter O'Dowd discussed climate solutions on stage with Leah Bamberger, global sustainability leader at Textron and former director of sustainability at the City of Providence, and Tik Root, who covers climate solutions for Grist.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

In the new book "America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries," author Eddie Glaude looks at the cycles of American history and how they obscure the dark truth of the country. We speak with him. Then, 10 years ago, a gunman walked into the LGBTQ-friendly Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and opened fire, killing 49 people and injuring 50 more. Trauma surgeon Dr. Joseph Ibrahim was on call that night, mere blocks from the club. He reflects on the second-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.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

There’s a preliminary agreement between the United States and Iran to end the war, but experts say energy prices and inflation are not expected to come down quickly. MS NOW’s Ali Velshi explains why.And, housing official Bill Pulte is set to become acting director of national intelligence on Friday. Sen. Mark Warner, Democrat from Virginia and the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, talks about why Democrats and some Republicans are concerned Pulte may use his new powers to target President Trump's perceived enemies.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

Some members of Congress had hoped to fast-track the confirmation of President Trump's pick for director of national intelligence. But early Wednesday morning, Trump threw a wrench in those plans when he posted to social media that his nominee, Jay Clayton, would not be showing up for his confirmation hearing due to Trump's ongoing dispute with lawmakers. Former Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair weighs in. Then, earlier this month, the government sold the Washington, D.C. building that once housed one of the Trump family's hotels. The Wall Street Journal's Craig Karmin joins us to discuss the $80 million sale. And, a major climate polluter might get a break from the EPA after its founder gave millions to President Trump’s campaign. Alex Cuadros tells that story in a new investigation for ProPublica.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

President Trump is asserting that the war with Iran is over, even though a lasting peace is likely months off. Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, offers a view from the Middle East of the tentative deal.Then, Colorado has become the second state to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. Colorado Public Radio’s John Daley explains why Colorado probably won't see those drugs anytime soon.And, Fox is buying Roku, the streaming and smart TV company. Business analyst Roben Farzad unpacks the $22-billion deal that would put Fox in control of a streaming device that's in more than 100 million households.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

President Trump and Iran separately announced an agreement to end more than three months of war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. For more on what could come of the deal, we hear from Jon Finer, a former adviser to President Biden who helped negotiate the Obama administration's deal to restrict Iran's nuclear program. Then, a major Russian attack overnight set fire to a historic monastery complex in Kyiv and killed at least four people. It's the latest barrage by Russia, which launched 611 long-range drones and 70 missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The Foreign Policy Research Institute's Rob Lee shares the latest from the front lines in Ukraine. And, a viral joke led to an Irish pub in Scotland becoming an Ivory Coast pub for the World Cup. Ruairi O’Neill, general manager at Biddy Mulligans in Edinburgh, Scotland, explains.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

Grammy-winning musician Lizzo's new album "Bitch" is out. She talks with Robin Young about her music and reclaiming and owning the word. Then, we kick off summer with music picks from Miguel Perez, producer for NPR's World Cafe. And, "Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet" is a string of text that's become ubiquitous. Designed as a placeholder for work-in-progress documents, those quasi-Latin words now appear on mugs, tote bags and T-shirts. But why did this particular passage of bastardized Cicero become the industry's default? Emily Zhang investigated. 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

A key part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is set to expire after the House on Thursday failed to extend it. The program allows U.S. intelligence agents to spy on terrorist suspects abroad without a warrant, but some Democrats and Republicans in Congress are concerned that President Trump's pick for acting director of national intelligence will abuse his power and spy on Trump opponents in this country. We hear from FBI special agent Asha Rangappa about what the expiration means for national security. Then, a stabbing in Belfast has become the spark for wider anti-immigrant violence in Northern Ireland. Irish Times producer Andrew McNair shares a first-hand look at what's happening in Belfast. And, the federal government is sending water from the Flaming Gorge reservoir upstream to prop up Lake Powell. But as Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd reports, it comes at a cost.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsor