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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.

New episodes: Daily
Typical length: 23 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 15 minNew

Michael Lewis on the ‘Blockers’ who fought DOGE

The Department of Government Efficiency lasted just a few months in 2025, but its impact will last for years. That's not because it made the government more efficient — it failed to meaningfully reduce federal spending — but because it hollowed out several government agencies and demonized federal workers. A new book tells the story of DOGE through the eyes of career civil servants who fought back. It’s called “Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State,” by Michael Lewis. He speaks to host Scott Tong. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

13 Oct 2026 · 28 minNew
Where Republicans are spending their energy — and money — before midterms
Midterm elections are three weeks away, and recent polls show more excitement from Democratic voters than Republicans. The Boston Globe’s James Pindell weighs in on if that matters, what Republicans want from elections and where big donors like Elon Musk are putting their money. Then, in India, Gen Z protesters are fighting for free and fair elections after more than 130 million people were removed from the country’s voter roll. New Delhi-based reporter Suhasini Raj of the New York Times explains what protesters are demanding and the violent crackdown from the state. And, Grammy-winning…
12 Oct 2026 · 26 minNew
Author Tommy Orange confronts the phenomenon of 'pretendians'
Cheyenne author Tommy Orange found out that one of his favorite Indigenous writers wasn't actually Indigenous. Then, he interviewed him. Orange shares what he learned and the long history of "pretendians," non-Indigenous people claiming to be Indigenous. Then, Brian Frange, who calls apples the "greatest fruit to grace the earth," has made it his calling to rank and re-rank at least 100 varieties of the fruit, based on 10 criteria, including density, skin, flesh, crispness, beauty and, of course, taste. Frange joins us to talk about his rankings, the unlikely origins of the apple, and the…
9 Oct 2026 · 26 min
Is universal child care working in New Mexico?
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller reflects on the state of child care access and affordability in New Mexico, and why he's opening up underused city spaces for child care providers. Then, three years since Israel’s war in Gaza began, more than 80% of the region’s infrastructure has been damaged, according to the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees. The Middle East Institute’s Jaser AbuMousa explains what it would take to rebuild the region. And, journalist and Here & Now guest host Celeste Headlee shares more about her book, “Freedom’s Daughters.” In it, she tells the story of her…
8 Oct 2026 · 21 min
Data centers are making noise in American politics
The construction of data centers in Ohio has become a contentious issue in the Senate race there. The issue at the center of several races across the country this November. Ohio Public Media's Karen Kasler tells us more. Then, in the Ukrainian frontline town of Oleshky, residents can't get out, and food and medical supplies can't get in. Kyiv Independent reporter Yuliia Taradiuk tells us about the dire humanitarian situation. And, the trillion-dollar longevity industry has attracted nonprofit hospitals, raising questions about lending scientific authority to controversial practices. STAT's…
7 Oct 2026 · 20 min
Facebook whistleblower says it's time for AI whistleblowers to speak up
In 2021, Frances Haugen released tens of thousands of internal Facebook documents showing the company knew its algorithms were promoting extremism and contributing to teen mental health concerns. Her story is now the focus of the upcoming film “The Social Reckoning.” Haugen explains how whistleblowers inside artificial intelligence companies could regulate the technology. And, 12 B-1 bombers are back in the U.S. after being removed from the UK over security fears. Ret. Navy Adm. Mark Montgomery explains how this will impact the U.S. military's air capability and preparedness. See…
6 Oct 2026 · 22 min
What we know about the death of a Russian plague lab worker
Russian officials have reportedly placed 200 people under medical observation and quarantined the hospital where a 28-year-old lab worker died of a suspected case of plague in Siberia. We learn more about the mysterious illness and the lab it may have originated from with Dr. Ashish Jha. Then, we get the latest on Iowa politics ahead of the midterm elections. Polls show the red state may be leaning blue amid high diesel prices. University of Iowa's Timothy Hagle explains. And, Jake Pearson is a problem gambler, losing thousands of dollars a night betting on sports, and a DraftKings VIP,…
5 Oct 2026 · 25 min
The case that could make big oil pay for climate change
The Supreme Court is weighing Boulder, Colorado's lawsuit against oil companies over the effects of climate change. We hear from Colorado rancher Kathleen Kelley and Mesa County commissioner Cody Davis. Then, this term, the Supreme Court is also preparing to take on cases involving immigration and religious pre-schools. Georgetown law professor Stephen Vladeck tells us more. Then, the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their work in optogenetics, a field of neuroscience that looks at the activity of…
2 Oct 2026 · 26 min
Why some Americans are getting surprise medical-debt relief
When Brittany Gurney’s son was 14 months old, he had a medical emergency. The bill came out to $15,000. Gurney paid what she could, but it wasn’t enough. Her debt went to collections. But, a surprise letter arrived in the mail: Her debt had been forgiven. Here & Now ’s Peter O’Dowd reports on a company that buys up and forgives medical debt, the impact it has on Americans’ lives and how medical debt is a widespread, growing problem in the U.S. Then, newly constructed homes now cost less than existing homes in many U.S. markets, reversing a years-long trend. Joel Berner, a senior economist…
1 Oct 2026 · 18 min
Inside Tennessee's botched execution
Death row inmate Christa Pike survived two injections intended to kill her. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has now paused the state's remaining executions pending an independent review. We get an eyewitness account of the botched execution from WPLN's Catherine Sweeney. And, newly obtained documents by The New York Times reveal the timeline between the alleged assault and when Jane Doe filed a report with Cornell University campus police. Times reporter Sharon Otterman explains what the documents show. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship…
30 Sep 2026 · 22 min
ICE raids make a 'ghost town' in Kansas
The U.S. Supreme Court decided Tuesday the Trump administration can resume deporting immigrants to countries they have no ties to. Michelle Mendez from the National Immigration Project explains the decision and what it means for immigrants who are fighting to stay in the country. Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are sparking concerns among residents and business owners in the town of Liberal, Kansas. Janeth Vazquez, vice-mayor and the first Latina elected in Liberal, shares what she’s hearing in her community. And, the U.S. military has now left Iraq, more than 20 years after…
29 Sep 2026 · 21 min
Security concerns prompt OpenAI to scrap latest model
OpenAI says it won’t release its newest model, GPT-6.1 Astra, because it showed high levels of deception during testing. Gregory Allen, founder and CEO of Decision Tree Research, explains the security concerns. And, a number of artificial intelligence agents have gone rogue lately, notably OpenAI’s agents escaping their testing sandbox and breaching Hugging Face. Author, historian and legal expert Jill Lepore breaks down the concerns about these growing safety risks and why she believes AI is “above the law.” See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data…
28 Sep 2026 · 23 min
How to navigate the housing crisis
We’re taking a closer look at the problem of housing affordability. Housing expert Christina Stacy answers questions we received in our inbox, and provides tips on renting and buying in this market. And, less than a tenth of people diagnosed with glioblastoma survive five years after diagnosis. That might change. German Biotech company CeGaT has developed a promising treatment for the deadly brain cancer by sequencing a unique vaccine from a patient’s cancer cells. We break down the process with Saskia Biskup, co-founder of CeGaT, and American patient Laura Eddington, who was joined by her…
25 Sep 2026 · 49 min
Melting glaciers, crumbling mountains, and Alaska's climate crisis
Across Southeast Alaska, landslides have killed at least a dozen people since August 2015. Landslides happen across the U.S., but geologists say they’re inescapable in Southeast Alaska. In the latest installment of our climate series Reverse Course, Here & Now ’s Chris Bentley reports on the role of climate change in landslide risk, and what can be done to mitigate it. Then, Here & Now ’s Peter O’Dowd heads to Juneau right after a glacial lake dumped its annual flood down the Mendenhall River. He talks with people whose homes have been flooded, as well as Eran Hood, an environmental…
24 Sep 2026 · 20 min
How foreign aid cuts have sparked a humanitarian crisis
As wars rage and the United States slashes humanitarian aid, the world finds itself unable to help the people most in need. Former UK foreign secretary and head of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband talks about the implications. And, for many Palestinians in Gaza, the ceasefire reached last October between Israel and Hamas is only a ceasefire in name. The Ministry of Health in Gaza says more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire agreement last year. We hear from Eyad Amawi, an aid worker with the Gaza Relief Committee, about what life in Gaza looks like…
23 Sep 2026 · 27 min
'Godfather of AI': How to create an AI that won't kill us
Geoffrey Hinton is a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist and cognitive psychologist. He’s helped develop the mathematical engine behind today’s artificial intelligence. But, Hinton is now calling for slowing the development of that technology. He explains how he sees the existential threat of AI and what the future could look like. 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
22 Sep 2026 · 18 min
DoorDash driver detained with bullet in back after ICE shooting
A Venezuelan immigrant still has a bullet in his back, two days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and injured him, according to his lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. Lincoln-Goldfinch says Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is being kept in a regular bed in a detention center and treated with Tylenol and Ibuprofen. We speak with Lincoln-Goldfinch. Then, although required by law, accessible voting remains a challenge for people with disabilities, with the midterms just six weeks out. Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association for People With Disabilities, joins us.…
21 Sep 2026 · 22 min
Why is diesel so much more expensive than gasoline?
The average price of diesel fuel is at a record high in the United States. This means the cost of transporting goods is also going up, and consumers will feel it. Tom Kloza, chief energy advisor for Gulf Oil, talks about how high prices might get and the factors driving them up. Then, in Michigan, many small businesses are facing rising health care costs. We speak with Brian Calley, head of the Small Business Association of Michigan. And, what looks like a leopard, but is tinier than a house cat? It's leopardus tilcayo, the first new cat species discovered in a hundred years. We talk with…
18 Sep 2026 · 33 min
In 'Mule,' Orville Peck chronicles a year coming back from the brink
Country musician Orville Peck's new album "Mule" tells the story of a transformative year that began in the summer of 2023, when Peck nearly died of an overdose before a show. He tells us more. Then, Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen says her new album, "Day and Night," stands as the proudest creative achievement of her career. Jepsen discusses the influences behind her new album and the journey it takes listeners on. And, this week, the Macklemore and Ed Sheeran tour debacle highlighted the conflict between music and politics. Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein joins us. See pcm.adswizz.com for…
17 Sep 2026 · 16 min
UN investigators say US likely committed war crimes in Iran
Experts commissioned by the UN report that they have "reasonable grounds" to believe the U.S. committed war crimes during two airstrikes in Iran, including one that hit a school in February. We speak with Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of "The Iran Podcast." Then, the House of Representatives is heading home and won't be back in session until the midterms. NPR's Sam Gringlas shares the latest. And, someday soon, your doctor may prescribe the psychedelic drug LSD to treat anxiety. STAT's Elaine Chen talks about the latest developments in LSD…
16 Sep 2026 · 24 min
Why China isn't (as) worried about an AI apocalypse
China watcher Kevin Xu explains the myths and realities of China's capabilities in artificial intelligence amid concerns in the U.S. that regulating it here would cause the U.S. to fall behind China in AI development. Then, Jesse Appell describes himself as an independent creative, entrepreneur and intercultural comedian based in Beijing, using comedy to bridge cultural divides. His new memoir, "This Was Funnier in China, An American Comedian's Cross-Cultural Journey," details it all. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to…
15 Sep 2026 · 20 min
The Russian oligarch who bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding
Reporting by ProPublica recently found that Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir Putin, secretly paid for part of — and attended — Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. Experts say he’ll likely want something from the Trumps in return. Joshua Kaplan co-reported the story and explains more of the implications. And, the Environmental Protection Agency is repealing rules that limit climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fueled by coal and natural gas. The agency says this will “unleash” American energy. But Bryan Hubbell from the nonpartisan think tank…
14 Sep 2026 · 21 min
AI leaders want to slow development. Can they actually do it?
Welcome to the next big vibe shift in artificial intelligence. On Monday, Microsoft published a new "Humanist AI" code of conduct that says people should always be in control, after the leaders of OpenAI and Anthropic over the weekend called for a global slowdown in AI research. But President Trump says now is not the time to slow down development. Axios' Ina Fried tells us more. And as leaders of powerful artificial intelligence companies are calling for slowing down the pace of development, how did we get here, and how would that work? We ask Gregory Allen, founder and CEO of Decision Tree…
11 Sep 2026 · 29 min
The story behind the photo that captures the horror of 9/11
In the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, photographer Richard Drew took a now-famous photo of a man falling from the north tower. The photo garnered attention and backlash, with the subject never definitively identified. Drew shares more about experiencing 9/11 and capturing it in photos. Then, we heard from listeners across the U.S. explaining how the events on 9/11 and the aftermath changed their lives. Some experienced profound loss, some turned to service and all shared unique reflections on the 25th anniversary of the attacks. And, Lila Nordstrom watched the…
10 Sep 2026 · 19 min
The conservative movement, one year after the killing of Charlie Kirk
Thursday marks one year since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA. We speak with Michael Knowles, who was a friend of Kirk. Then, as Ukraine strikes Russian gas plants in a grinding war of attrition, Russian drones are suspected of flying over European countries. This week, a drone nearly hit a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Norway, according to the Norwegian prime minister. We discuss the risky strategy with NPR national security correspondent Greg Myre. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection…
9 Sep 2026 · 22 min
9/11 and the long shadow of Islamophobia
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called on current Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend an annual ceremony commemorating the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Giuliani also made false claims about Islam, Mamdani’s religion. Mamdani said he will attend the ceremony. Moustafa Bayoumi, professor at Brooklyn College, explains more. Then, in the months following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack in New York City, officials repeatedly reassured New Yorkers that the air in lower Manhattan was safe to breathe. But this week, 170,000 pages of documents made public by Mamdani show that wasn’t…
8 Sep 2026 · 24 min
Israel faces global outrage over West Bank violence
Britain, France and Canada moved to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. This comes amid the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory and a wave of deadly violence against Palestinian civilians. The U.K. accuses the settlers of "ethnic cleansing." We hear from Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group. Then, two thieves broke into the Renoir Museum on the French Riviera early Tuesday morning and made off with two paintings worth millions. Art theft expert Anthony Amore tells us more. And, on the 60th anniversary of the premiere of the…
7 Sep 2026 · 30 min
How eagles, bears and salmon keep Alaska wild
At Eagle Beach outside of Juneau, Alaska, salmon, bald eagles, dragonflies and signs of bear are everywhere. Here & Now ’s Peter O'Dowd and Chris Bentley invite naturalists and wildlife experts along to learn more about the sights and sounds of this special place. Then, the National Park Service turned 110 this year. Jeff Reinbold, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, explains how the expiration of a fund established to pay for maintenance projects is hurting the park infrastructure. And, writer Chris Ballard started by just writing about the growing sport of ice swimming. But…
4 Sep 2026 · 23 min
How the soaring coast of diesel is hitting school budgets
The cost of diesel gas is at record highs as the war in Iran continues. We hear what it means for school districts trying to budget for school bus transportation from Trevor Greene, superintendent for Yakima School District in Yakima, Washington. Then, homeschooling numbers continue to rise in the U.S. Retired professor Kenny Anthony explains the trend. And, we’re taught that growing up means putting away childish things. That includes trading the magic of fairy tales for serious adult novels. But what if turning our backs on children's literature is a mistake? Oxford University professor…
3 Sep 2026 · 24 min
The legacy Gloria Steinem leaves behind
Trailblazing journalist and activist Gloria died on Wednesday at age 92. She championed gender equality, fought for abortion rights, and co-founded Ms. Magazine, the first national magazine written for and run by women. Astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen shares a remembrance of Steinem and reflects on the impact she had on the nation. Then, North Carolina election officials are preparing to send out the first ballots Friday even as a legal fight continues over President Trump’s efforts to curtail mail-in voting. Dawn Hurdle, director of the Board of Elections for Alamance County in North…

About Here & Now Anytime

Here & Now Anytime is a English news podcast from NPR. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: NPR
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Daily
Typical length: 23 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
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Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id426698661
Rights: Copyright Trustees of Boston University

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