Here & Now Anytime

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.

Epstein survivor on why she doesn't support releasing names of his associates

Liz Stein, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking, joins us to talk about why she wants the Department of Justice to continue investigating the case, but doesn't support publicly releasing a list of Epstein's associates.Then, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny from Democrats and some Republicans over his views on vaccines during a Senate hearing on Thursday. Julie Rovner of KFF Health News breaks down what was said.And, as Kennedy moves to change guidance around the COVID-19 vaccine, some states are going around the CDC and making it available to almost everyone who wants it. Dr. Nahid Bhadelia of the Boston University Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases explains the latest in vaccine turmoil.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

09-04
20:52

China holds a massive military parade. What message does it send to the U.S.?

China held a massive military parade on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un joined Chinese leader Xi Jinping to watch. NPR's Anthony Kuhn in Seoul and NPR's Charles Maynes in Moscow join us. Then, health policy reporter Julie Rovner talks about a push to get Congress to preserve enhanced subsidies that help people buy cheaper health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Those subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year. And, the use of Botox is growing, and not just among the wealthy. The Washington Post's Rachelle Bergstein talks about the trend.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

09-03
26:22

As Israel intensifies Gaza offensive, ceasefire and hostage deals at impasse

Some 60,000 Israeli reservists began mobilizing on Tuesday as Israel intensifies its offensive in Gaza City. Former Middle East hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin explains whether peace is even an option anymore.And, Congress must pass a spending bill by the end of the month to avoid a government shutdown. The Washington Post's Kadia Goba talks about where negotiations stand as lawmakers return from their summer recess.Then, actor Graham Greene rose to stardom alongside Kevin Costner in the 1990 movie “Dances with Wolves.” Greene died on Monday at age 73, and Levi Rickert, editor and publisher of Native News Online, joins us to remember Greene’s legacy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

09-02
24:24

The fight to save America's 'seas of grass'

Here & Now's Chris Bentley takes a walk through the Schurch-Thomson Prairie of southwestern Wisconsin with a crew of self-described "plant nerds" who are working to restore the American prairie.Then, we visit the nearby Paris Family Farm, where cows graze on pasture instead of eating feed. We hear why raising cows on pasture appeals to a growing number of farmers and milk drinkers.Also, pasture-based farms and restored grasslands can both be part of the solution to environmental problems like habitat loss, freshwater pollution and climate change. But neither is a silver bullet.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

09-01
29:08

Looking back on Hurricane Katrina, 20 years later

After Hurricane Katrina, state officials in Louisiana accelerated their takeover of New Orleans’ lowest-performing schools.  WWNO's Aubri Juhasz discusses the state of New Orleans' schools 20 years after Katrina. Then, 20 years ago, actor Wendell Pierce managed to evacuate his parents from the Ponchartrain Park neighborhood in the hours before Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Pierce joins us. And, the animal welfare crisis that followed Hurricane Katrina spurred the nation to change the way it thinks about pets during natural disasters. NPR's Nate Rott reports.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-29
27:51

Why proposed cuts to rent aid are stalling affordable housing development

President Trump has proposed scaling back federal funding for low-income renters as part of his budget for the next fiscal year that starts in October. Developers are already responding by scaling back projects that rent to people who depend on that aid to pay their rent. Denice Wint of EAH Housing, a low-income housing developer, explains more.And, Gov. Kim Reynolds explains why she went around the legislature to overhaul the state's child care system.Then, rising costs, tariffs and funding cuts to public education are heightening the debate over who should be paying for school supplies — parents or teachers? Chabeli Carrazana, an economy and child care reporter for The 19th, joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-28
23:38

Steep tariffs on goods from India take effect

The U.S. imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India on Wednesday, threatening to raise tensions with a major trading partner and destabilize global markets. NPR's Diaa Hadid explains.And, EarthQuaker Devices, based in Akron, Ohio, makes guitar pedals for musicians who want to create distortion effects in both live and recorded performances. But the ever-changing tariff policies are making it difficult to manufacture the company's products and plan for the future. Ideastream Public Media's J. Nungesser reports.Then, five years after the pandemic changed the way we work, people are facing less pressure to be at work for eight hours a day. Wall Street Journal columnist Callum Borchers explains what that means for ourselves and how others perceive us. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-27
21:15

Tracking the influence of the Make America Healthy Again movement

One year ago, during the 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched the Make America Healthy Again movement. Now as the head of Health and Human Services, Kennedy is trying to push through changes to policies around vaccines and food safety, and end the chronic disease epidemic. STAT reporter Isabella Cueto explains how much progress the movement has made.And, when 19-year-old Viraj Dhanda starts his first year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he’ll be the first student with non-speaking autism. Viraj Dhanda and his father, Sumit Dhanda, join us to detail his journey to MIT.Then, hundreds of thousands of Chinese students are studying in the U.S., but only 1,200 U.S. students are studying in China. Linguistics professor and author David Moser explains why.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-26
27:02

How Trump is using the DOJ as his personal law firm

President Trump is using the full force of the presidency to go after critics and people he believes are criminals. Law professor Kim Wehle talks about the implications of Trump's push to use the attorney general as his own personal lawyer. Then, Trump has suggested that Chicago could be the next U.S. city where he deploys National Guard troops after doing so in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The Chicago Sun-Times' Tina Sfondeles gives more context. And, an undocumented teen is trying to get an education at a Bronx school for immigrants as the Trump administration amps up ICE actions. Chalkbeat reporter Michael Elsen-Rooney tells us more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-25
22:11

How sleep, exercise and a daily routine can improve your mental and physical health

Research shows that developing a daily routine can positively impact mental health by creating a structure that helps reduce stress and anxiety. Mental health counselor Samantha Zhu explains how to create and stick to a routine.And, exercise improves not only physical health, but mental health too. It can be hard to start a fitness regimen, but fitness instructor Aubre Winters shares some tips for working regular exercise into your life.Then, according to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 30% of Americans say their sleep quality is poor, or they aren’t getting enough sleep each night. Psychologist Shelby Harris details how to create morning and bedtime routines that can help you get more restful sleep.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-22
34:33

What's wrong with the Democratic Party?

New data shows the Democratic Party is hemorrhaging voters. New York Times national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher broke the story and joins us to explain what the numbers mean as Democrats try to find their way out of the political wilderness.And, with voter enrollment numbers down, Democrats are working on new strategies to win elections again. Democratic strategists Rebecca Kirszner Katz and Jamal Simmons explain what they think the party needs to do to connect with voters.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-21
21:46

Republicans in Ohio and Missouri push to repeal voter-approved abortion protections

After the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion rights in 2022, voters in Ohio and Missouri approved state abortion protections. Now, conservatives in the states are working to roll those rights back. Reporters Karen Kasler and Jason Rosenbaum break down those efforts.And, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised "a massive testing and research effort" to determine what he calls environmental causes of autism. But now, the government is ending funding for some of those studies. ProPublica’s Sharon Lerner shares more.Then, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a set of vaccine recommendations that strays from the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AAP president Dr. Susan Kressly explains why. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-20
27:28

Why Russia wants Ukraine's Donetsk region

The Kremlin is demanding that Ukraine give up the entire Donetsk Oblast as part of any ceasefire agreement. Russia analyst Kateryna Stepanenko explains why Donetsk is so important to Ukraine and why Russia wants control of it. Then, Brennan Center for Justice CEO Michael Waldman talks about President Trump's push to end mail-in voting, baselessly claiming it is "corrupt." And, Trump kicked off a nationwide race to redraw political maps after he urged Texas Republicans to draw five more GOP-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Author David Daley writes that the "true architect" of the gerrymandering fight is Chief Justice John Roberts and the conservative Supreme Court.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-19
27:11

Inside the new Fort Bliss detention center that will hold thousands of migrants

As many as 5,000 migrants may soon be detained at a new facility at Fort Bliss in Texas. The center opened on Sunday. KTEP’s Angela Kocherga joins us to explain more.And, just seven months into President Trump’s second term, nearly half of the goals outlined in Project 2025 have been achieved. During the 2024 campaign, Trump distanced himself from the conservative Heritage Foundation's governing blueprint. Law professor Kim Wehle details what’s left on the checklist.Then, Elon Musk's The Boring Company is moving forward with its planned tunnel under Nashville. The tunnel, called the Music City Loop, has faced questions about its environmental impacts. Environmental reporter Caroline Eggers at WPLN joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-18
25:20

Spike Lee’s new joint reimagines a classic

Spike Lee’s latest film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” is his reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film, “High and Low.” Denzel Washington stars as a music mogul faced with a moral dilemma: Should he fork over $17 million to save his driver and friend’s son? Lee joins us to talk more about the film as it hits theaters Friday.And, radio legend Bruce Morrow, known as Cousin Brucie, reminisces about helping to introduce The Beatles 60 years ago when they kicked off a new era in rock 'n' roll by headlining at Shea Stadium in 1965.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-15
37:53

Missouri Republicans repeal paid sick leave law approved by voters

A voter-approved mandate in Missouri for employers to provide paid sick leave is set to go away later this month after Republican lawmakers repealed it. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum. Then, this week, a glacial outburst sent millions of gallons of water surging down the Mendenhall River that runs through Juneau, Alaska. Public Safety manager Sabrina Grubitz joins us. And, dermatologists are stunned by a new movement that falsely claims that sunscreen — one of the proven ways to prevent skin cancer — is ineffective and even dangerous. Dr. Susan Taylor explains the science.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-14
29:33

How Boston became a focal point in Trump’s immigration crackdown

Increased immigration enforcement is playing out across the U.S., and Boston is no exception. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been spotted in neighborhoods across the city, and the detainment of Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk made headlines across the country.WBUR reporter Simón Rios, who has extensively covered immigration in Boston, joins Here & Now’s Chris Bentley to explain more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-13
30:01

What Trump's takeover of the D.C. police means for fighting crime

President Trump put Washington, D.C. police under federal control, vowing to fight crime in the country’s capital. What does the move mean for mayors across the country as they try to keep their cities safe? Van Johnson, president of the African American Mayors Association, joins us.And, despite fears around crime, data shows that violent crime and property crime rates fell to a 20-year low in 2024. Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, explains more about the data.Then, as electric vehicle sales flatten, Ford announced a line of smaller, cheaper electric vehicles. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast "Full Disclosure," details the rollout.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-12
21:40

Israeli strike kills journalists in Gaza

Israel targeted a journalist tent in Gaza City, killing five Al Jazeera journalists Sunday, including prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 192 journalists have been killed since the start of the war nearly two years ago. Mohamed Moawad, Al Jazeera’s managing editor, joins us to talk about the loss of his colleagues.And, President Trump took the unprecedented move on Monday of placing the Washington, D.C. police department under federal control and sending in National Guard troops to fight crime in the nation's capital, despite statistics showing violent crime declining 26% since last year. WAMU's Alex Koma details White House plans to use federal forces in D.C.Then, Chipmakers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices are selling advanced artificial intelligence chips to China, and national security experts have major concerns. The deal requires the two companies to pay 15% of chip sales revenue to the U.S. government. The Jamestown Foundation’s Peter Mattis explains more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-11
23:22

Exploring the birthplace of the blues

On a recent reporting trip, Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd and Chris Bentley stopped in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a town known as the birthplace of the blues. They speak with Mayor Orlando Paden, who runs the blues club Red's, and Shelley Ritter, executive director of the Delta Blues Museum. Then, music journalist Betto Arcos goes to Bentonia, Mississippi, to get a music and history lesson from a storied musician and owner of one of the region's remaining juke joints.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

08-08
25:50

Wayne Boyd

I have no idea how to get to the show notes using Castbox on an Android phone.

07-15 Reply

Philly Burbs

the USA is in tatters. my ancestors were slaves, their ancestors were slaves. who build the pyramids, Greece & Europe, if you look most of Americans ancestors were slaves, that's what led them here. im so sick & tired of hearing about what happened to American slaves. Our democracy is almost lost, stop focusing on the past. we need to work together to save the republic. did u see that crowd on 1/6? imagine if they were in charge. that's what we are up against, those people are happy when Democrats & liberals are focused on other social issues, the less you see them the more powerful they are becoming. I didn't do anything to nobody. Neither did my family. my family came over in the 1910s. they were slaves to manufactures then sent back to Europe to fight against the people they just left in 1917. My father shot at his cousin's farm in World war 2 in Italy. After the war everyone moved on because it was the only way to survive, not living in the past. I know it's hard because of the r

01-18 Reply

Philly Burbs

Biden should have said STAY HOME THIS IS BULLSHI STAY HOME

12-24 Reply

Philly Burbs

I couldn't watch Kings Liseys story. shut it off.

06-15 Reply

Philly Burbs

A year from all of this white collar crime in both sectors will get a pass. Garland has no intention of doing his job if it means major political figures will end up in jail. I'm so disgusted.

06-05 Reply

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