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Episodes
July 4, 2025 • 33 mins
Unless you're a physicist, you've probably only encountered quantum mechanics on TV.
And even when it was explained, you might've still been a little confused.
The field of quantum mechanics was created a century ago. Today, scientists are using it to create methods of communication that can't be hacked, higher quality digital images, and to develop medications.
But many of us don't even understand what q...
And even when it was explained, you might've still been a little confused.
The field of quantum mechanics was created a century ago. Today, scientists are using it to create methods of communication that can't be hacked, higher quality digital images, and to develop medications.
But many of us don't even understand what q...
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July 3, 2025 • 40 mins
Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar, OpenAI Head of Product Kevin Weil, and Thinking Machines Lab advisor Bob McGrew are now lieutenant colonels in the U.S. Army Reserves.
They're part of a military unit called Detachment 201, also known as the the Executive Innovation Corps. Their US Army says their swearing in is the "start of a bigger mission to inspire more tech...
They're part of a military unit called Detachment 201, also known as the the Executive Innovation Corps. Their US Army says their swearing in is the "start of a bigger mission to inspire more tech...
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July 2, 2025 • 29 mins
The so-called 'big, beautiful bill' has squeaked by in the Senate and now moves back to the House.
The massive piece of legislation is the centerpiece of Trump's agenda, filled with tax breaks and spending cuts that would touch just about every American.
We discuss what's on the table now in the GOP mega bill. And how might it affect us if it passes.
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The massive piece of legislation is the centerpiece of Trump's agenda, filled with tax breaks and spending cuts that would touch just about every American.
We discuss what's on the table now in the GOP mega bill. And how might it affect us if it passes.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio st...
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July 1, 2025 • 31 mins
Last week, Kennedy announced the U.S. would not renew its $1.2 billion commitment to the global vaccine agency Gavi.
The new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also met for the first time last week since Kennedy fired and then replaced its members.
We talk about the outlook for U.S. vaccine policy both at home and abroad.
Then, we switch gears to discuss the link between menopause and an increa...
The new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also met for the first time last week since Kennedy fired and then replaced its members.
We talk about the outlook for U.S. vaccine policy both at home and abroad.
Then, we switch gears to discuss the link between menopause and an increa...
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June 30, 2025 • 23 mins
Last month, President Donald Trump openly questioned the separation of church and state during the establishment of the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty. He said that he is bringing religion back to the country.
We continue our "If You Can Keep It" series by assessing the boundaries of the separation between religion and the government.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and su...
We continue our "If You Can Keep It" series by assessing the boundaries of the separation between religion and the government.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and su...
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June 30, 2025 • 22 mins
Sen. Elissa Slotkin isn't just a congressperson, she's also a former CIA analyst. That means she has special insight into what's be going on abroad. And there's a lot happening these days.
But, as a Democrat, there are plenty of things to focus on at home, too. Namely, what her party is going to do to ensure success in the midterm elections.
We sit down with her to discuss the Trump administration, the Democratic ...
But, as a Democrat, there are plenty of things to focus on at home, too. Namely, what her party is going to do to ensure success in the midterm elections.
We sit down with her to discuss the Trump administration, the Democratic ...
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June 27, 2025 • 84 mins
NATO leaders met this week and promised to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump claimed at that same summit that the U.S. strikes on nuclear sites in Iran had "completely and fully obliterated" the country's nuclear program. American intelligence reports, however, indicate the attack only set Tehran back a few months.
Zohran Mamdani, the New York assembly member representing the s...
Meanwhile, Donald Trump claimed at that same summit that the U.S. strikes on nuclear sites in Iran had "completely and fully obliterated" the country's nuclear program. American intelligence reports, however, indicate the attack only set Tehran back a few months.
Zohran Mamdani, the New York assembly member representing the s...
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June 26, 2025 • 32 mins
80 years ago, Smokey the Bear was mostly talking about campfire safety. Now? Things are a little different.
Forest fires have always been a normal part of our landscape – and a tool used by human civilizations for millennia.
But as climate change makes our landscapes hotter and drier, wildfires are getting bigger and more destructive. Fire consumed 8.9 million acres across the U.S. last year. The LA County fires t...
Forest fires have always been a normal part of our landscape – and a tool used by human civilizations for millennia.
But as climate change makes our landscapes hotter and drier, wildfires are getting bigger and more destructive. Fire consumed 8.9 million acres across the U.S. last year. The LA County fires t...
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June 25, 2025 • 32 mins
Earlier this week, the U-S embassy in Qatar issued a warning to American citizens to quote: "shelter in place until further notice." Qatar is home to the largest U-S military base in the Middle East.
The alert came amid growing fears of Iranian retaliation against U-S troops and personnel overseas, after President Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
When global news like this breaks, embassie...
The alert came amid growing fears of Iranian retaliation against U-S troops and personnel overseas, after President Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
When global news like this breaks, embassie...
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June 24, 2025 • 32 mins
José Andrés is a Michelin-starred chef and the owner of 40 restaurants across the globe. But the culinary star is just as well known for his humanitarian work.
His organization, World Central Kitchen, has fed millions in Gaza and Ukraine and during natural disasters in the U.S. and abroad.
Now, he's releasing a memoir about what it's like to not only feed people when they want it, but when they need it.
...
His organization, World Central Kitchen, has fed millions in Gaza and Ukraine and during natural disasters in the U.S. and abroad.
Now, he's releasing a memoir about what it's like to not only feed people when they want it, but when they need it.
...
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June 23, 2025 • 19 mins
Donald Trump's new Commission on Religious Liberty met last week for the first time.
When Trump signed the executive order in May establishing the group, he marked the occasion by saying, "We're bringing religion back to our country, and it's a big deal."
But isn't the separation of church and state guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution? Can the president just "forget about it" even once?
We discuss the co...
When Trump signed the executive order in May establishing the group, he marked the occasion by saying, "We're bringing religion back to our country, and it's a big deal."
But isn't the separation of church and state guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution? Can the president just "forget about it" even once?
We discuss the co...
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June 23, 2025 • 23 mins
With strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday, President Donald Trump has brought the United States into Israel's war with Iran.
Israel began its campaign against Iran 10 days ago with what it called a "preemptive strike." Now, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned on social media that Iran "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
Iran has so far retaliated on...
Israel began its campaign against Iran 10 days ago with what it called a "preemptive strike." Now, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned on social media that Iran "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
Iran has so far retaliated on...
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June 20, 2025 • 31 mins
In his first six months back in the Oval Office, President Trump rolled back decades of U.S. climate policy.
So far, he's scaled back regulations that help keep our air and water clean, delayed critical protections for endangered species, withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time, and cut staffing and federal spending on critical environmental agencies and programs – among other changes.
So far, he's scaled back regulations that help keep our air and water clean, delayed critical protections for endangered species, withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time, and cut staffing and federal spending on critical environmental agencies and programs – among other changes.
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June 19, 2025 • 32 mins
What's your most vivid school memory? Do you remember it as a time of exploration? Was it a place where you could figure out who you were and what you wanted to become?
Or did it feel like it wasn't made for you? Did it feel constricting, or like a place with lots of rules about how you had to act and what you couldn't do?
Your experience of schools likely depended on the administrators, who your teachers were, ho...
Or did it feel like it wasn't made for you? Did it feel constricting, or like a place with lots of rules about how you had to act and what you couldn't do?
Your experience of schools likely depended on the administrators, who your teachers were, ho...
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June 18, 2025 • 32 mins
Drug overdose deaths have been increasing steadily for over two decades in large part due to opioids. That's until recently. Now, new data from the Centers for Disease Control found that 2024 saw the largest one year decline ever recorded. And that 24% decline was felt across the country. Every state except two saw a drop in overdose deaths.
The drop comes after an aggressive public health response from both the Biden Ad...
The drop comes after an aggressive public health response from both the Biden Ad...
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June 17, 2025 • 11 mins
On Monday, the Israeli military struck the headquarters of Iran's state television network. The explosion was caught on video in the middle of a news broadcast. As the conflict enters its fifth day, 224 civilians have been killed in Iran. And in Israel, at least 24 people have been killed according to the prime minister's office.
Meanwhile, Israel's war in Gaza continues. This weekend at least 79 Palestinians were killed ...
Meanwhile, Israel's war in Gaza continues. This weekend at least 79 Palestinians were killed ...
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June 16, 2025 • 11 mins
On Saturday, Representative Melissa Hortman, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor party leader in the Minnesota House, was killed along with her husband Mark at their home in a suburb of Minneapolis. Another state representative, Democratic senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, were also shot, but are recovering.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz announced late Sunday that police had caught the main suspect in the case after a massive...
Minnesota governor Tim Walz announced late Sunday that police had caught the main suspect in the case after a massive...
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June 16, 2025 • 31 mins
President Donald Trump's decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles is now up in the air – with a federal appeals court reviewing the case. A lower court has already said Trump acted illegally.
For this edition of our weekly politics series, "If You Can Keep It," we explore how presidents can and can't deploy U.S. troops domestically.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscrib...
For this edition of our weekly politics series, "If You Can Keep It," we explore how presidents can and can't deploy U.S. troops domestically.
Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscrib...
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June 13, 2025 • 82 mins
The second iteration of Donald Trump's travel ban goes into effect.
A federal judge rules that the government must release Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil.
The International Monetary Fund looks to support Syria's economic recovery, saying that it will require investment from abroad.
And, more deaths are reported at food aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip.
Want to support 1A? Give t...
A federal judge rules that the government must release Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil.
The International Monetary Fund looks to support Syria's economic recovery, saying that it will require investment from abroad.
And, more deaths are reported at food aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip.
Want to support 1A? Give t...
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June 12, 2025 • 31 mins
When someone hurts us, we might feel wounded or sad. We might feel angry and defensive. But sometimes those feelings turn into something more dangerous: a desire for revenge.
Wanting to right a perceived wrong is normal. But neuroscientists are now finding that revenge-seeking behavior can be a form of addiction.
Why does hurting those who have hurt us make us feel good, at least in the moment? And why does getti...
Wanting to right a perceived wrong is normal. But neuroscientists are now finding that revenge-seeking behavior can be a form of addiction.
Why does hurting those who have hurt us make us feel good, at least in the moment? And why does getti...
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