1A

Feb 21 2025 300 ep. 40 mins 45k

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The News Roundup For February 21, 2025

Feb 21 2025 82 mins

Following the firings of a slew of employees at federal agencies responsible for things like fighting pandemics and taking care of nuclear weapons, the Trump administration is scrambling to rehire key positions.Senate Majority Leader John Thune says that he and his Republican colleagues are moving forward with their plans for a budget, despite Trump endorsing a competing plan put f

Celebrating The Legacy Of David Lynch

Feb 20 2025 36 mins

David Lynch, an icon of American cinema, died last month at 78 years old. As a filmmaker, he was known for his eccentric and dark depictions of American life – as illustrated in his 1986 film "Blue Velvet." And in "Twin Peaks." His small-town mystery series aired for two seasons beginning in 1990 leading to a film and a 2017 reboot. Of course, his imagination wasn't limited to sm

ICYMI: Trump Fired And Unfired The Employees That Manage Our Nuclear Stockpile

Feb 19 2025 8 mins

It was an abrupt about-face. Last Thursday, federal employees at the agency that manages the U.S. stockpile of nuclear weapons were suddenly let go by the Trump administration, with some employees receiving the news late Thursday night.Then, as early as the next morning, some of those firings were reversed, with employees being told they should come back to work.The White House has

Game Mode: The New American Board Game Craze

Feb 19 2025 30 mins

We all know the classics: Monopoly, Backgammon, Checkers, and many more. For some, board games are relegated to the dregs of American entertainment, to be broken out at bad parties and played by candlelight on nights where the power's out. But for many, a new wave of board game production and enthusiasm has them clearing calendars and pulling up a chair. We discuss what's driving t

'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Democratic Party

Feb 18 2025 30 mins

A November 2024 Pew Research survey found that nearly-half of Democrats are pessimistic about the party's future, compared to only 13 percent of Republicans. The 2024 election was a rude awakening for leaders on the left, many of whom are grappling with how to shift the public perception of the party. In this latest edition of "If You Can Keep It," we get at the heart of this polit

The Lingering Effects Of Wildfire Smoke

Feb 18 2025 38 mins

The effects of climate change are being felt more than ever. We've seen the devastation caused by storms and floods. Most recently, we watched the West Coast go up in flames flames, displacing thousands and destroying homes.But what about what lingers behind? What stays in the air that we breathe?Smoke can have a real impact on our health. As more of our forests start to burn due t

The Story Behind Executive Orders

Feb 17 2025 34 mins

We've heard about a lot of them the last few weeks. They're one powerful tool in a commander-in-chief's arsenal to enact their agenda.Donald Trump has made heavy use of the executive order in the past few weeks, but so have his predecessors. Both Joe Biden and Barack Obama issued many Executive Orders during their times in office.We discuss the practice and boundaries of Executive

The News Roundup For February 14, 2025

Feb 14 2025 80 mins

The White House is moving ahead with its plan to significantly reduce the federal workforce.Also this week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the Secretary for Health and Human Services in a 52-48 vote, even after several senators raised concerns about his record of an anti-vaccine activism.And in global news, Donald Trump spent time on the phone with both Russian President Vla

Donald Trump And Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

Feb 13 2025 35 mins

As of Tuesday, President Donald Trump has signed seven executive orders or proclamations related to DEI. They include ending virtually all such programs in the federal government, calling them "illegal," and "Ending racial indoctrination in K through 12 schooling." According to the Trump administration, that includes teaching "gender ideology and critical race theory" in the classr

Strangers Share Their Love Stories With Author Trent Dalton

Feb 13 2025 33 mins

In 2021, Trent Dalton sat down with a typewriter on a busy corner in Brisbane, Australia, and asked people to tell him their love stories. Those tales are now collected in his first book, "Love Stories." It's over 300 pages and talks about the meaning of love, from strangers and Dalton alike.As a nod to Valentine's Day, we revisit our conversation with Dalton about his book "Love S