Here & Now Anytime

Is FEMA ready for hurricane season? 03.06.2026 23m

This year's hurricane season begins with concerns that there are staffing issues at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency that President Trump has targeted for overhaul. William Ray, the North Carolina director of emergency management, talks about his state's preparedness this year following widespread damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024. We also spoke with acting FEMA administrator Bob Fenton about the increasing number of severe storms, which may make it harder for the federal government to respond effectively to hurricanes this season, even in a year when fewer than normal hurricanes are expected. And, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began the war on Iran together, and now the relationship is under strain, though both sides deny a major rift. We hear from Michael Koplow, chief policy officer of Israel Policy Forum.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 former judge who helped block Trump's allies fund 02.06.2026 17m

A federal judge’s order temporarily halts President Trump’s $1.8 billion fund to pay people who say they were unfairly prosecuted by former President Joe Biden’s administration. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner is one of the judges who challenged the fund and pushed the courts to reopen the settlement that established it.And, protests continue outside Delaney Hall, an immigration detention center in Newark, N.J., over conditions inside. Alexandra Goncalves-Peña, a lawyer with a client detained in the center, details what her client is facing amid reports of a hunger and labor strike.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

Why bright-red Iowa may now be a toss-up 01.06.2026 20m

President Trump's standing in the polls has dipped in Iowa, a state he won three times. During primary voting, Democrats hope to pick up an open Senate seat and other Congressional seats. Radio Iowa news director Kay Henderson shares what’s at stake.Then, roughly 60 candidates are on the ballot to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom, but with primary voting ending Tuesday, there is no clear frontrunner. KQED politics correspondent Marisa Lagos explains more.And, WBUR political reporter Anthony Brooks breaks down the sexting scandal involving Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, and shares what voters there make of it.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

How Route 66 got its kicks 29.05.2026 19m

Route 66, known as “America’s Main Street” is not the longest or most-travelled American highway. Fully paved in the 1930s, it became a Depression-era migration route for poor farming families fleeing the Dust Bowl for a new start in California. It’s been featured in popular media for decades. Kathleen Franz, lead curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, unpacks more of the road’s history.And, the 1973 album “A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle of Asians in America” was one of the first recognized musical albums expressing Asian American identity. It’s often considered a blend of political statements within a collective art project. Sojin Kim, curator of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, details the album’s legacy.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 bipartisan plan to ease the nation's housing crisis 28.05.2026 20m

Congressional lawmakers are trying to pass a bill to address a shortage of affordable. The would limit the number of rental homes large investors can own and make it easier to build and buy homes made in factories. The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Picciotto explains more.Then, CNN reports that President Trump’s Department of Justice is investigating whether E. Jean Carroll committed perjury in her two civil lawsuits against the president, one alleging sexual abuse and another for defamation. Carroll was awarded millions in damages, but Trump is appealing those judgements. CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz shares more from the reporting.And, Trump's family has their own cryptocurrency startup and also ties to prediction markets. Investigative reporter Sharon LaFraniere from the New York Times gives more details on reporting showing that the Trump administration dialed back enforcement of those industries.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 evolution of Marco Rubio 27.05.2026 22m

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is at the center of the Trump administration. He's helping to lead negotiations over the war in Iran, the pressure campaign on Cuba's communist regime, and U.S. efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. It wasn't always this way. Journalist and author Manuel Roig-Franzia breaks down how Rubio went from Trump critic to his chief booster, and whether it's all in service of a potential presidential run in 2028.And, in a sharp and rare rebuke of President Trump, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell slammed the administration’s $1.776 billion so-called 'anti-weaponization' fund, calling it "utterly stupid" and "morally wrong." Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer explains McConnell’s reaction and why it should be viewed through the lens of McConnell's decision not to convict Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.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

Immigration lawyers report 'chaos' over Trump’s new green card rules 26.05.2026 20m

The Trump administration put out new rules last Friday that require people to apply for green cards from abroad instead of from inside the U.S., which has been custom for immigrants seeking permanent residency status. Immigration attorney Richard Herman explains what he’s hearing from his clients and what remains unclear.Then, protests continue outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in New Jersey as detainees inside stage a hunger strike over poor conditions. Bergen Record reporter Ricardo Kaulessar shares more.And, a new report from the Brookings Institution found about 145,000 children have been separated from their families during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Author Tara Watson details the impact of separation on those families.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

What the Queen of Salsa's red satin heels say about America 25.05.2026 18m

A pair of red, satin, sky-high heels that Celia Cruz, or the “queen of salsa” wore on stage is part of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Ranald Woodaman, exhibitions and public programs director at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, shares more about the exhibit and Cruz’s lasting legacy.And, throughout the early 20th century, East Coast musicians developed a finger-picking, ragtime-style called the Piedmont blues. Singer and guitarist John Cephas and harmonica player Phil Wiggins were modern ambassadors of the genre. Smithsonian Folkways director Maureen Loughran details their influence in American music.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

Reverse Course: Sheep meet solar, AI detects wildfires 22.05.2026 29m

When farmer Bryant Parker noticed solar farms popping up in his area, he spotted an opportunity. Now, Parker brings his flock of sheep to several solar farms to chow down on grass. Here & Now’s Chris Bentley reports from central Illinois about the practice called agrivoltaics, or the combination of solar power and farming, where both industries benefit.And, as a historic drought desiccates the West, artificial intelligence has proved beneficial for detecting wildfires long before humans can. Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd visits facilities in Arizona, Colorado and California to report on the effectiveness and the potential risks of using AI cameras and satellite footage to track wildfires.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

Why Jan. 6 officers are suing to stop Trump's $1.8 billion allies fund 21.05.2026 23m

President Trump's administration has created a nearly $1.8 billion fund designed to pay out people who say the government unfairly investigated or prosecuted them, including people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Two police officers who defended the Capitol that day are suing, calling the fund a way for Trump to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence” in his name. Brendan Ballou, who is representing the officers, explains more.Then, the U.S. continues to put pressure on Cuba, indicting former president Raúl Castro and sending an aircraft carrier to the southern Caribbean. Associated Press reporter Cristiana Mesquita shares the reactions she’s hearing from Cubans.And, on May 22, 1856, tensions over slavery boiled over on the Senate floor when a slave-owning representative from South Carolina used a cane to beat Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, an outspoken opponent of slavery. David Freudberg talks about his new radio documentary which explains how Sumner was “ahead of his time.”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

Trump administration says the IRS can't audit Trump 20.05.2026 20m

A last-minute addendum to a Department of Justice deal with President Trump says the Internal Revenue Service is “forever barred” from auditing Trump, his family members and his businesses. The deal also created a $1.8 billion fund to pay out Trump allies who say they were unfairly investigated. Law professor Mary McCord explains the implications.Then, Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, lost his primary on Tuesday. The president on Tuesday also endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn ahead of Texas Senate runoff elections. Republican pollster Whit Ayres discusses Trump’s power over his party.And, the Trump administration is using the Pentagon and concerns about national security to stall wind energy projects across the nation. David Carroll, CEO of ENGIE North America, details the state of the wind energy industry.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

Who gets the money in Trump‘s new ‘weaponization’ fund? 19.05.2026 21m

The Trump administration announced a new Justice Department fund of more than $1.7 billion to compensate people it says were harmed by “weaponization” under the Biden administration. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter talks about the legal and ethical questions surrounding the move. Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are getting quicker at finding people to arrest, thanks to tools provided by the tech company Palantir. Investigative journalist Joseph Cox tells us more. And, giant utility rivals NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy are planning to merge. Why now, and what could this mean for your energy costs? We learn more from Roben Farzad, host of the podcast Full Disclosure.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

What to know about a new Ebola outbreak 18.05.2026 19m

The World Health Organization has declared an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to be a global health emergency. We hear from Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician with experience in Ebola outbreak response. And, on Saturday, one prominent critic of President Trump, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, lost his primary, and on Tuesday, another Republican Trump critic, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, will see if he can survive Trump's wrath in what's being called the most expensive primary race in the country. ABC News Washington bureau chief Rick Klein talks about expectations for primaries in six states tomorrow, and the prospects for Republicans who criticize President Trump and want to win re-election. 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

Introducing "The Midnight Rebellion," a new climate fiction podcast 16.05.2026 19m

From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. The Midnight Rebellion is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It is fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family.You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight Rebellion. Each chapter ends with a choice. YOU decide what’s next. Choose wisely.If you like what you heard, listen to the rest and follow The Midnight Rebellion wherever you get your podcasts.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

What life in China looks like 15.05.2026 27m

Host Scott Tong checks in with us from Beijing, China, where he's been reporting from all week. Then, Melinda Liu moved to Beijing in 1980. Scott talks with her in a historic neighborhood about the ways China has transformed since the 1980s and the rural poverty that remains despite the modern leaps forward. And, Tong never met his grandfather, who was a political prisoner and died in a labor camp. It was seen as a shameful chapter in his family's history and was never talked about, but 70 years later, Scott tells the story.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

What do American businesses want from China? 14.05.2026 21m

Thursday's meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded with a banquet. Seated at tables in the ballroom were more than a dozen CEOs, among them SpaceX's Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. It was also attended by Trump's son Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, and his wife, Fox News host Lara Trump. The Financial Times' Joe Miller tells us more.Then, during the summit, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have focused on trade, security, and stability.NPR China correspondent Jennifer Pak in Beijing shares the latest from the summit. And, Scott Tong reports from China on a podcast called StoryFM, modeled after This American Life. He speaks with Kou Aizhe, the show's creator, about being inspired by American podcasts and how he's able to get Chinese people to tell frank, honest stories that might be embarrassing or shameful, in a culture that is conformist where private things stay private.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

How to keep your chatbot from stealing your money 13.05.2026 21m

While artificial intelligence can be helpful for synthesizing complicated information, financial analysts urge consumers to avoid sharing personal financial information with chatbots. Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary outlines the risks.And, amid an unpopular war in Iran and states pushing to redraw congressional maps, midterm elections are approaching. Republican analyst Charlie Dent and Democratic analyst Jamal Simmons weigh in on what it's going to take for their party's candidates to win.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

Why consumer prices are rising fast 12.05.2026 20m

The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that consumer prices increased by 3.8% in April compared to a year ago. That's the fastest pace of price increases in around three years. Wailin Wong, host of the Indicator from NPR’s Planet Money, joins us. Then, the subject of Taiwan is one of the main priorities for Beijing in the upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. How will Trump approach the topic of Taiwan? We hear from Eyck Freymann, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford and the author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China."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

When 'America First' meets 'China First' 11.05.2026 25m

Host Scott Tong is reporting from China this week as President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a high-profile summit in Beijing. He joins us from Shanghai to share his first impressions of the country since the last time he was there.Then, the summit is set for later this week. Senior research fellow Yu Jie from Chatham House explains the power dynamic going into the meeting.And, Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on Saturday. It was scaled back compared to previous years, with the country's military might displayed not in person but on giant TV screens, out of fear of a possible attack from Ukraine. Nina Khrushcheva, New School professor and great-granddaughter of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, details Russian President Vladimir Putin's hold on power.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

Virginia's top court deals huge blow to Democrats 08.05.2026 13m

The Virginia Supreme Court has thrown out a voter-approved redistricting referendum that could have helped Democrats pick up several U.S. House seats this fall. NPR’s Larry Kaplow explains more about the fight over congressional maps ahead of midterm elections.And, Alabama is one of many states moving forward with redistricting after the Supreme Court’s decision last week dealt a blow to the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, joins us.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