Episodes

  • What the 1956 Suez Crisis says about Iran and the limits of U.S. power

    What the 1956 Suez Crisis says about Iran and the limits of U.S. power
    Apr 20 2026
    Oil prices were up again on Monday after Iran once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for President Trump's decision to extend a blockade of Iranian ships. Foreign affairs columnist Ishaan Tharoor says Trump's current headache echoes one of history’s most revealing strategic failures. He joins us.

    Then, the federal government just launched a portal where small businesses can apply for refunds from tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down earlier this year. Emily Ley, the owner of a small stationery business, talks about what the refund process may be like for her.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • 25 at 250: A fossilized bison skull and the Friendship 7

    25 at 250: A fossilized bison skull and the Friendship 7
    Apr 17 2026
    The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has a new exhibit tracing the rise, near extinction and recovery of the bison. Museum director Kirk Johnson talks about a prehistoric skull at the centerpiece of the story and why it's important for American history.

    And, NASA's Artemis II mission made history this month by sending four astronauts farther from Earth than any other humans have been before. But moments like this echo the earliest days of American spaceflight in 1962, when John Glenn orbited the planet three times in a cramped capsule called the Mercury Friendship 7. Mike Neufeld, curator emeritus at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, discusses the history and modern significance of the Friendship 7

    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
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • Why rumors about Eric Swalwell went unreported

    Why rumors about Eric Swalwell went unreported
    Apr 15 2026
    Rumors about former Rep. Eric Swalwell's behavior had been reportedly circulating for years. We talk with former Rep. Jackie Speier about the rumors and what Congress can do to better police its members. Speier was involved in 2018 in rewriting the way Congress handles sexual misconduct accusations. Politico's Melanie Mason explains how a group of social media influencers brought attention to the sexual harassment and assault they say Swalwell committed.

    Then, the Pentagon is sending more troops to the Middle East, and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues, in an attempt to pressure Iran into making a deal to end the war. Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe shares the latest.

    And, Dr. Kathleen May explains why the allergy season may have you sneezing a bit longer this year

    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
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • 6 Americans detained in Iran face ‘unprecedented danger’

    6 Americans detained in Iran face ‘unprecedented danger’
    Apr 16 2026
    Amid a shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, six Americans detained in Iran are in danger, advocates say. Former U.S. hostage envoy Roger Carstens explains what it will take to bring them home.

    Then, stock traders are remaining optimistic about a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. The S&P 500 hit a record high this week. MS NOW’s Ali Velshi offers an analysis of the market.

    And, living costs are rising across the board, and saving for retirement or emergencies is becoming increasingly hard for many Americans. Labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards details what the government could do to create a nation of savers.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Sam Altman, AI and the future tech bros want

    Sam Altman, AI and the future tech bros want
    Apr 14 2026
    In an extensive New Yorker investigation, Ronan Farrow looks into OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and whether one of the most influential AI minds can be trusted.

    Then, tech billionaires are trying to create autonomous communities, fueled by cryptocurrency and free from governmental oversight. They’ve set their sights on the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevi. Professor and author Douglas Rushkoff breaks down the implications.

    And, Anthropic’s new large language model, Claude Mythos, is said to be a skilled hacker with the ability to reshape cybersecurity. Axios correspondent Ina Fried explains 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
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Can the U.S. and Iran rescue talks from ‘unrealistic’ expectations?

    Can the U.S. and Iran rescue talks from ‘unrealistic’ expectations?
    Apr 13 2026
    President Trump has put in place a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. and Iran failed to strike a deal to end the war. We speak with former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who served as lead negotiator on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under former President Barack Obama, about what comes next.

    And then we talk with Pakistani Sen. Sherry Rehman about how negotiations played out in Islamabad.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • What does the ceasefire actually say?

    What does the ceasefire actually say?
    Apr 9 2026
    The U.S.’s ceasefire with Iran is on shaky ground after Israel launched its deadliest day of strikes on Lebanon so far. Tehran and Islamabad say the strikes violate the two-week agreement. Israel said Thursday it has agreed to talks with Lebanon. The Washington Institute's Holly Dagres explains more ahead of a U.S. delegation’s scheduled visit to Pakistan on Saturday.

    Then, since Israel began its invasion of Lebanon last month, more than 1 million people have been forced out of their homes. As Israeli airstrikes continue, the southern region of Lebanon is becoming increasingly isolated and unable to access humanitarian aid. Human Rights Watch researcher Ramzi Kaiss has more on the deepening humanitarian crisis.

    And, MS Now’s Ali Velshi details what the ceasefire means for markets, gas prices and the economy at large.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Meet the 'iPod archaeologist' resurrecting forgotten playlists

    Meet the 'iPod archaeologist' resurrecting forgotten playlists
    Apr 10 2026
    iPods were all the rage 20 years ago, but Apple discontinued them in 2022. Now, Claire Hughes collects and refurbishes old iPods as a hobby, then shares the playlists she finds on them as time capsules of joy. She tells us about how she’s connecting with strangers through her project Junk Drawer Jukebox.

    And, friction-maxxing is the idea of putting aside our phones and the convenience they bring in exchange for doing things the way we did before technology entered our lives. New York Magazine columnist Kathryn Jezer-Morton shares more about the new term she coined.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins