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Corporate intrigue. National security secrets. A suspected Chinese spy. The rise and possible fall of a powerful man. The Nvidia espionage story has the makings of a great spy movie. But the implications are very real. CEO Jensen Huang is facing an investigation — and federal scrutiny— after admitting to an affair with a business executive believed by U.S. intelligence to be a spy for Beijing.But this isn’t just corporate gossip. Nvidia’s microchips fuel the AI race. Did tech secrets change hands? And what does this mean for national security and the global economy?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.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

“Today, the convergence of automation, robotics and A-I is rapidly transforming the very structure of work. It is said that this will bring great improvements for everyone. In reality, however, the “new ways” of working are not necessarily better,… …it is necessary to design systems that are centered on the human person and not solely on performance.” That critique of artificial intelligence is one you might expect to find in an op-ed or an online forum. It’s actually from Pope Leo the XIV, writing recently about protecting humanity in the AI era.The risks that generative artificial intelligence pose to human work are a common source of worry. A summer survey from Pew showed a majority of respondents – 52 percent – are more concerned than they are excited about the technology. And for the first time in five years of asking the question, a majority of people surveyed under 30 years old said they were more concerned than excited.How much of this worry about work and AI is based in reality? How are employees changing their work to include AI?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.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

It’s a historic moment for the Democrats. Right now, the party is basking in a landslide victory glow. But after taking back the House and Senate and taking wins in reliably red areas across the U.S., the real work is just beginning.Last week, voters delivered a rebuke to the Trump administration and its policies. Now, they’re looking to the left to deliver on their key concerns.How will the Democrats take on the issues that matter most to Americans right now? How much of that is investigations and accountability versus actual legislation? What will they actually be able to get done?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.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

Massive Democratic midterm wins on Tuesday flipped control of the U.S. House and Senate across the country. Democrats will go to Congress in 2027 with a clear directive from voters — for change.The Affordable Care Act marketplace opened Sunday and millions of Americans are facing double-digit hikes to their health insurance premiums.And as Democrats take back control of the Senate, The New York Times reports that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has decided he will not retire until at least the end of the current court term.And, in global news, Vice President JD Vance wrote Wednesday on social media that the reason the GOP lost so many seats in the midterm election was the Iran war.Global reactions to the midterm elections poured in this week. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised voters in the U.S. for electing Democrats, posting on social media that, “It happened in Brazil. It has just happened in the US. And it will happen soon in Spain.”And the day of the midterm elections, President Donald Trump announced his administration would end the $4 billion in aid the U.S. sends annually to Israel.We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.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 cost of most necessities is rising right now. And healthcare is no exception.In 2026, the average employer-based family healthcare plan cost a little over $28,000. And employees contributed over $7,400 more to those plans than in 2025. That’s according to analysis from the health research group KFF.And the nearly 20 million Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act for health insurance are facing a 13 percent premium increase next year.Two days out from the midterm elections, what can Congress do to keep healthcare affordable in the United States?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.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