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30 episodes
Hot Dam: Why beavers are Britain’s new climate heroes
Aug 16, 2026 · 27 min
Four hundred years ago, the last of Britain’s native beavers were hunted to extinction. But in 2009, scientists began a grand experiment to bring the furry, buck-toothed rodents back. They relocated a pair of Norwegian beavers to a remote rainforest in Scotland, hoping they’d become the Adam and Eve of a new line of British beavers. Today on The Sunday Story, NPR’s Lauren Frayer travels from the wilds of Scotland to a tube station in London, to explore how these animals – beloved by some humans…
Retail Sales Drop, U.S. Warships in Distress, Accurately Polling the Electorate
Aug 15, 2026 · 17 min
Paychecks aren't keeping pace with rising prices, and households are feeling the squeeze. Sailors on the ships deployed to the Middle East are straining without enough clean water and fresh food. In the thick of primary season for the midterms, how reliable is polling? Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p…
Poor Conditions on USS Lincoln, Economic Warfare on Iran, Ukraine's Drone Campaign
Aug 14, 2026 · 13 min
Lawmakers want the Pentagon to investigate reports of food shortages, poor sanitation and lack of mental health care for sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been out at sea for nearly 9 months. And the Trump administration says it’s gearing up for economic warfare against Iran. What will it mean for ordinary Iranians already suffocating under high inflation? Plus, Ukraine is using drones to challenge Russia’s grip on Crimea. Can Ukraine win back territory it lost more than a decade…
Democrat Ro Khanna’s 2028 pitch: tax the rich, regulate tech | NPR's Newsmakers
Aug 13, 2026 · 46 min
Congressman Ro Khanna says America needs an “economic realignment.” Fresh off a tour through his birthplace of Pennsylvania, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he is “thinking seriously” about running for president in 2028 — a race he called a “breaking point in America” that could lead to a destructive revolution or a new economic order. “If we don't do something dramatically different, we may break,” Khanna tells NPR’s Steve Inskeep in this episode of Newsmakers. “Have you met these folks in their…
Democratic Party Divide, Lettuce is Saving You Green, Colombia Rescue Efforts
Aug 13, 2026 · 13 min
Recent primary results were supposed to offer clues on voters’ appetite for progressive candidates. But the results — so far — paint a muddled picture. What does that mean for the party’s midterm strategy? And new inflation numbers are out and lettuce was a highlight. How are the leafy greens impacting the cost of living? Plus, rescue teams in Colombia are racing to find the nearly 500 earthquake victims still buried under rubble. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a…
Primary Race Results, Trump's Plane Swap Ruse, Disarming Iraq's Iran-Backed Militias
Aug 12, 2026 · 13 min
Results are in from primary races in six states. How did progressive candidates fare against more moderate Democrats in this run-up to the midterm elections? And President Trump has confirmed he secretly swapped planes as he left a NATO summit in Turkey last month. How unusual was this ruse? Plus, Iraq’s new leader wants to disarm the country’s Iran-backed militias that have hit U.S. military installations across the region in recent months. How challenging will that be? Want more analysis of th…
Progressives in Midwest Primaries, Trump and Iran Stalemate, Colombia Earthquake
Aug 11, 2026 · 13 min
A self-described democratic socialist is shaking up the race for Wisconsin governor and a progressive is up against a moderate in Minnesota. How much of an appetite do voters have for non-mainstream candidates going into the midterm elections? Primary races in six states today will offer clues. And Iran’s demand for war reparations has prompted President Trump to make a reparation demand of his own. Can Trump afford a stalemate that will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed? Plus the view from Colom…
Iran Negotiations Drag, New Inflation Report, Sexual Abuse at Elite School
Aug 10, 2026 · 14 min
Negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz are dragging. Is Iran stalling to sabotage the midterm elections for President Trump and his party? And new data about the cost of living comes out this week. It's expected to show the cost of living is rising faster than wages. What can the Federal Reserve do about it? Plus, a new report reveals decades of sexual misconduct at an elite arts school in Michigan. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe…
The black lung crisis deepens in Appalachia
Aug 9, 2026 · 38 min
Rates of black lung disease amongst Appalachia’s coal miners are at the highest they’ve been in 50 years. Recent data shows that a third of veteran miners have the disease. The epidemic is also striking younger workers, too. On The Sunday Story, Howard Berkes investigates the devastating human cost on Appalachian families, decades of regulatory failures, and why life-saving protections from toxic silica dust remain stalled in federal court. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over…
A New Attorney General, Profiting Off Immigration Detention, Hollywood Merger
Aug 8, 2026 · 15 min
Todd Blanche squeaks past a confirmation vote from the Senate. Private prison companies are making record profits from ICE detentions. Regal Cinemas announces support for the mega merger of Paramount and Warner Brothers. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your p…
Trump to Limit Birthright Citizenship, Hormuz Deal, Iran War Fallout
Aug 7, 2026 · 12 min
The Supreme Court struck down the last attempt by the president to limit birthright citizenship. Now President Trump is trying again. This time with two executive orders that are narrower in scope. Iran has released details of an agreement it is finalizing with Oman, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The critical waterway wouldn’t be open to American and Israeli ships. And Trump’s public messaging about what happens next in Iran is simply not matching reality. Want more analysis of the most import…
Hormuz Negotiations, Michigan Senate Race, Trump Talks Economy
Aug 6, 2026 · 13 min
President Trump has claimed several times that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is close. Now Iran is saying it too, but in a deal that is being negotiated directly with Oman. Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed eked out a primary victory for a Michigan Senate seat. He now faces former GOP Congressman Mike Rogers in November. And President Trump traveled to Las Vegas, where he claimed the economy was fine and blamed Democrats for high prices. Want more analysis of the most important news of…
Primary Election Results, US Missile Stockpiles Running Low, New Flu Vaccine
Aug 5, 2026 · 13 min
Votes in Michigan’s highly anticipated Democratic Senate primary are still being counted. But what do the results in Tuesday's other races tell us about November's election? The U.S military is running short of ammunition. NPR has learned that the Army is running out of long-range attack missiles. And the Food and Drug Administration is deciding whether to approve the first flu vaccine using mRNA technology. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe t…
Blanche and the DOJ, Michigan Primaries, Spokane Wildfires
Aug 4, 2026 · 13 min
The Senate Judiciary Committee votes today on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general. What concerns lawmakers about the record of the president’s former personal lawyer? And five states hold primaries today. Voters in Michigan must decide between two Democrats vying for a Senate seat. What does the race reveal about the direction of the Democratic party? Plus, a man is arrested on arson charges in connection to one of the wildfires ripping through Spokane, Washington. Want more analysis…
Blanche Rescinds 'Anti-Weaponization Fund', Iran Strikes Off, Midwest Primaries
Aug 3, 2026 · 13 min
Todd Blanche, President Trump’s nominee for attorney general, is rescinding an order to create a $1.8 billion fund for Trump’s political allies. Is that enough to persuade senators who blocked his nomination to back him? And President Trump is backing off additional attacks on Iran as negotiations resume today. Why is Trump willing to give diplomacy another go? Also, are progressive candidates poised to win big in this year's midterm election? Upcoming primaries may offer clues. Want more analys…
Trump attacks DSA candidates as 'communists.' Will it stick?
Aug 2, 2026 · 26 min
President Trump has repeatedly warned that the communists are coming for America. And he’s not talking about China or North Korea. He’s talking about Democratic Socialists like Zohran Mamdani and recent Congressional candidates. This week on The Sunday Story, we bring you a conversation from our colleagues at The NPR Politics Podcast. They argue that as the midterms near, crying “communism” may be a key Republican strategy. They discuss whether there’s any legitimacy to the claim, what Republica…
Truth Social Paid Access, Colorado River Cuts, FIFA's Faceplant
Aug 1, 2026 · 15 min
The president’s media company is offering investors early access to his Truth Social feed for up to $100,000 a month. Arizona, California, and Nevada share steep cuts to Colorado River water over the next decade. FIFA's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup collapses. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per…
Trump Says Hamas Will Disarm, Blanche Faces GOP Pushback, Economic Outlook
Jul 31, 2026 · 13 min
President Trump claims to have reached a breakthrough in efforts to disarm Hamas in Gaza. Hamas says it will only give up its weapons if Israel withdraws first. On the domestic front, Trump floated the idea of temporarily withdrawing his nominee for attorney general until two Republicans holdouts leave office. And a new report from the Commerce Department shows that economic growth slowed in the second quarter. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscrib…
US and Iran Trade Strikes After Brief Pause, Fauci Pleads The Fifth, New Asylum Rule
Jul 30, 2026 · 14 min
The U.S. launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran overnight. This was in retaliation to a foiled surprise attack on U.S. forces in Jordan. Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a contentious Senate hearing on Wednesday. And a new Trump administration rule is making it even harder to seek asylum. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter. Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Amina Kh…
Trump Has 'Productive' Talks With Zelenskyy And Netanyahu, France Wildfires
Jul 29, 2026 · 13 min
President Trump hosted two foreign leaders at the White House on Tuesday. Both, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are dealing with war at home. While Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu has been increasingly strained, his ties with Zelenskyy have steadily improved. And in France, raging wildfires have force hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsle…
Trump Meets Zelenskyy And Netanyahu, TPS Update, Political Corruption
Jul 28, 2026 · 15 min
President Trump is meeting with two world leaders separately at the White House on Tuesday. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu are seeking Trump’s support amid ongoing conflicts. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians and thousands of Syrians who are in the U.S. legally are facing deportation. And new research shows that an increasing number of Americans say corruption is a problem in politics. Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Sub…
Seattle Shooting, Iran War Pause, Midterm Elections
Jul 27, 2026 · 13 min
At least three people are dead after a shooting at a food festival in Seattle. Four others are injured, including a 2-year-old boy. Police say a suspect is in custody, while another is on the loose. After nearly two weeks of intense airstrikes, the U.S. and Iran have paused their attacks and started exchanging messages again. And with fewer than 100 days left until election day, some key races across the country are heating up. We'll take a look at the current state of play. Want more analysis o…
‘We want to ride’: the 1978 protest that sparked the disability rights movement
Jul 26, 2026 · 24 min
Thirty-six years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, guaranteeing civil rights for millions of Americans. But the movement that made that day possible began years earlier. One pivotal victory was won by a small, often-forgotten group of activists in Denver known as the "Gang of 19." On The Sunday Story, NPR’s Joseph Shapiro and Colorado Public Radio’s Stephanie Wolf trace the history of the disability rights movement—from the protests that secured accessible public tran…
White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Ukraine hits Russian Retailer, India Protests
Jul 25, 2026 · 16 min
A recap of President Trump’s hour-long speech at the rescheduled White House Correpondents’ Dinner. Ukrainian drones have targeted Russia’s airfields and oil refineries and are now going after Wildberries, Russia’s large e-commerce retailer. Young people’s protests in India over entrance exams have resulted in the resignation of the country’s education minister today. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast spon…
Saudi Oil Tankers Attacked, Trump's New Tariffs, Wisconsin Police Shooting
Jul 24, 2026 · 12 min
Oil topped $100 a barrel for the first time in two months after Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, opening a new front in the shipping war as President Trump says he's weighing a massive attack on Iran. One of Trump's global tariffs expired overnight and he replaced it within the hour with a new one hitting 59 countries and the European Union, built on a different legal argument after the Supreme Court threw out his last batch. And people in Madison, Wisconsin gat…
Saudi Uranium Enrichment Deal, Trump Defends Iran War, GOP Congress Out Of Sync
Jul 23, 2026 · 13 min
Saudi Arabia is getting American nuclear reactors and a path to enrich its own uranium, the same technology the U.S. has spent months bombing Iran to stop, which has Israel warning about a nuclear arms race. President Trump is asking Americans to be patient about what the war is costing them, promising Iran will pay for itself the way he claims Venezuela has, but his own supporters are getting harder to convince as gas prices climb again. And the House heads home for a month today after cramming…
Trump Receives Fallen Troops, Hegseth Grilled On The Hill, Arizona Primary Results
Jul 22, 2026 · 13 min
President Trump travels to Dover Air Force Base today to receive the bodies of service members killed in the Iran war, as he insists Iran is desperate for a deal. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got a grilling from both parties on Capitol Hill as he asked for billions more to fund a war Congress never voted to authorize, with 18 troops now dead and nearly 500 wounded. And Arizona has picked its candidates for the fall, with Trump ally Andy Biggs, who tried to overturn the 2020 election, winning t…
Iran And Yemen's Houthis Blockade, Hegseth On Capitol Hill, Arizona Primary Day
Jul 21, 2026 · 13 min
The war between the U.S. and Iran keeps widening as Yemen's Houthi rebels announce a blockade of Saudi Arabia that would choke off another key oil route, even as Iran signals it may be open to talks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth heads to Capitol Hill today to ask lawmakers for a nearly 90 billion dollar funding boost for the war with Iran, in a rare chance for senators to question him after the Pentagon admitted 100 troops were wounded in the past two weeks and hasn't briefed reporters since M…
US-Iran War Escalates, Congress To-Do List, UK Has A New Prime Minister
Jul 20, 2026 · 14 min
A third U.S. service member has been killed since Friday as the U.S. bombs Iran for a ninth straight night, with Iran vowing not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz while the attacks continue. House Republicans have one week left before the August recess as Speaker Mike Johnson tries to advance defense funding, a stock trading ban for lawmakers, and President Trump’s election integrity bill amid high voter anxiety over the cost of living. And the United Kingdom has a new prime m…
Infertility doctor secretly fathered dozens of children: how strangers became family
Jul 19, 2026 · 32 min
What defines a family? For a group of strangers, that question took on a profound, unexpected meaning after DNA tests revealed a hidden, decades-old deception. They discovered they were all half-siblings conceived through artificial insemination in the mid-20th century. Their biological father was not the man who raised them, but Dr. Charles Charny, a Philadelphia fertility specialist. In this week's episode of The Sunday Story, Frank Langfitt follows this unique family as they piece together th…
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