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Here & Now Anytime
NPR · News
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.
More from this show
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Why Iowa is up for grabs
With midterms looming, President Trump campaigned in Iowa for a number of Republican candidates for tight House, Senate and governor seats. Iowa has been reliably red, but some longtime Republican and Independent voters say they’re turning toward Democrats over dissatisfaction with Trump and the state of the economy.…
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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 supports the construction of a new double wall along his property. We also hear why rancher Ross Humphries is against the construction of a new…
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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 political advertisement in the Ohio gubernatorial race that's being called one of the ugliest of the midterm election cycle. And, Keri Russell…
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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 the impact on Ukraine. Oleksandra Matviichuk, the leader of a Ukrainian organization that won the Nobel Peace Prize for documenting alleged…
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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 lawsuit. Then, New York Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by Israeli defense forces Wednesday morning while…
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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 historic October surprises since the term was coined in the 1980s and before. Then, the number of people receiving federal food assistance has hit…
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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 research Jocelyn Kiley tells us more. Then, AI is everywhere in the news, but the jargon can be hard to follow. Boston Globe columnist Larry…
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'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 about her epic second novel and the power of solitude. Then, "The Muppets Show" is turning 50. We speak with Bonnie Erickson, the creator of…
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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 an "irreversible" breach of Ukraine’s trust in the U.S. Then, the latest analysis by the Cook Political Report finds more and more House…
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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 to meaningfully reduce federal spending — but because it hollowed out several government agencies and demonized federal workers. A new book…
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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, what Republicans want from elections and where big donors like Elon Musk are putting their money. Then, in India, Gen Z protesters are…
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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 history of "pretendians," non-Indigenous people claiming to be Indigenous. Then, Brian Frange, who calls apples the "greatest fruit to…
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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, three years since Israel’s war in Gaza began, more than 80% of the region’s infrastructure has been damaged, according to the United…
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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 Public Media's Karen Kasler tells us more. Then, in the Ukrainian frontline town of Oleshky, residents can't get out, and food and medical…
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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 health concerns. Her story is now the focus of the upcoming film “The Social Reckoning.” Haugen explains how whistleblowers inside…
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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 Siberia. We learn more about the mysterious illness and the lab it may have originated from with Dr. Ashish Jha. Then, we get the latest on…
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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 commissioner Cody Davis. Then, this term, the Supreme Court is also preparing to take on cases involving immigration and religious…
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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 collections. But, a surprise letter arrived in the mail: Her debt had been forgiven. Here & Now ’s Peter O’Dowd reports on a company that buys up…
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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. We get an eyewitness account of the botched execution from WPLN's Catherine Sweeney. And, newly obtained documents by The New York Times…
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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 Project explains the decision and what it means for immigrants who are fighting to stay in the country. Then, Immigration and Customs…
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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, explains the security concerns. And, a number of artificial intelligence agents have gone rogue lately, notably OpenAI’s agents escaping…
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How to navigate the housing crisis
We’re taking a closer look at the problem of housing affordability. Housing expert Christina Stacy answers questions we received in our inbox, and provides tips on renting and buying in this market. And, less than a tenth of people diagnosed with glioblastoma survive five years after diagnosis. That might change.…
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Melting glaciers, crumbling mountains, and Alaska's climate crisis
Across Southeast Alaska, landslides have killed at least a dozen people since August 2015. Landslides happen across the U.S., but geologists say they’re inescapable in Southeast Alaska. In the latest installment of our climate series Reverse Course, Here & Now ’s Chris Bentley reports on the role of climate change in…
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How foreign aid cuts have sparked a humanitarian crisis
As wars rage and the United States slashes humanitarian aid, the world finds itself unable to help the people most in need. Former UK foreign secretary and head of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband talks about the implications. And, for many Palestinians in Gaza, the ceasefire reached last October…
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'Godfather of AI': How to create an AI that won't kill us
Geoffrey Hinton is a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist and cognitive psychologist. He’s helped develop the mathematical engine behind today’s artificial intelligence. But, Hinton is now calling for slowing the development of that technology. He explains how he sees the existential threat of AI and what the future…
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DoorDash driver detained with bullet in back after ICE shooting
A Venezuelan immigrant still has a bullet in his back, two days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and injured him, according to his lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. Lincoln-Goldfinch says Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is being kept in a regular bed in a detention center and treated with Tylenol and…
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Why is diesel so much more expensive than gasoline?
The average price of diesel fuel is at a record high in the United States. This means the cost of transporting goods is also going up, and consumers will feel it. Tom Kloza, chief energy advisor for Gulf Oil, talks about how high prices might get and the factors driving them up. Then, in Michigan, many small…
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In 'Mule,' Orville Peck chronicles a year coming back from the brink
Country musician Orville Peck's new album "Mule" tells the story of a transformative year that began in the summer of 2023, when Peck nearly died of an overdose before a show. He tells us more. Then, Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen says her new album, "Day and Night," stands as the proudest creative achievement of…
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UN investigators say US likely committed war crimes in Iran
Experts commissioned by the UN report that they have "reasonable grounds" to believe the U.S. committed war crimes during two airstrikes in Iran, including one that hit a school in February. We speak with Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of "The Iran Podcast." Then, the…
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Why China isn't (as) worried about an AI apocalypse
China watcher Kevin Xu explains the myths and realities of China's capabilities in artificial intelligence amid concerns in the U.S. that regulating it here would cause the U.S. to fall behind China in AI development. Then, Jesse Appell describes himself as an independent creative, entrepreneur and intercultural…
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