The Daily Dive

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For quite a while now, employees have been able to call the shots as the labor market remained tight.  They could job hop and get higher wages too.  Well now, the balance of power is shifting back to the employer and workers with high hopes for raises in the coming year may be disappointed.  Companies are adjusting budgets for salaries, and it doesn’t look like it is keeping up with inflation or expectations.  Matt Boyle, senior reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to expect.   Next, where have all the coupons gone? As high inflation continues to hit us, many are looking for deals anywhere they can, but paper coupons and even digital ones are harder to come by.  Circulation is down and redemption rates have also plummeted as people just don’t have the time to sort them all and smartphones have made other shopping incentives possible.  Lydia DePillis, economy reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.   Finally, as the workplace landscapes have changed with remote work and others starting different jobs, many have been using their cell phones instead of old business lines and caller ID has been outing people.  Because caller ID is linked to the main account holder, many young professionals are being outed as still being on their parents’ phone plane.  Lindsay Ellis, careers reporter at the WSJ joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The clothing industry is the last trillion-dollar sector that hasn’t been fully automated.  Many apparel makers have also been hesitant to talk about automation because of the ramifications and possible loss of jobs.  Still, there is a quiet effort underway to develop machines that can automate some parts of jeans factories and hopefully bring more manufacturing back from overseas.  Tim Aeppel, reporter at Reuters, joins us for how robots are coming for your blue jeans.   Next, as more of Gen Z enters the workplace and communications increasingly happen online and in text formats, something is getting lost in translation.  Older colleges are having a hard time keeping up with Gen Z’s use of emojis, slang, and even punctuation. Danielle Abril, “Tech at Work” writer at for the Washington Post, joins us for how workplace language is changing with younger employees.   Finally, when is a bumblebee a fish?  When a unanimous ruling by a California state appeals court deems it so.  Public-interest groups had asked the state to include four types of bumblebees on its list of endangered species, but the 50-year-old law only applied to birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, or reptiles.  Because the legal definition of a fish was vague and had been used to include other animals in separate instances, the bee was added to the list. Matt Grossman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the legal wrangling it took to get there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder and former CEO of crypto company FTX, has been arrested in the Bahamas and charged by federal officials with eight counts of fraud, conspiracy, campaign finance law violations and money laundering.  He is being accused of funneling customer money into his hedge fund to make investments and loans to himself.  About $8 billion in client funds have gone missing with only $1 billion being recovered.  The difficulty there is that there was no adequate record-keeping as it was found out the multibillion-dollar company was using QuickBooks.  Dan Primack, business editor at Axios, joins us for what to know.   Next, a significant breakthrough when it comes to fusion energy, something that could one-day provide us with unlimited clean power.  Researchers at the National Ignition Facility were able to achieve what is called ignition, getting more energy out of a reaction than what they put in.  The team fired 192 laser beams at a small fuel pellet and produced a small amount of net gain energy.  While this is an important step in proof-of-concept of the science, it is still a long time away from being a commercially viable energy source.  The lasers and equipment used would have to be drastically upgraded to produce more energy.  Umair Irfan, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for this fusion energy breakthrough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The labor market remains tight, and employers still need workers to fill their ranks.  In order to speed up the process, some companies are dropping a once crucial step: the interview.  Places like UPS, Home Depot, and The Gap are dropping it for mostly hourly positions and in places with high turnover and warehousing.  Some are offering jobs 25 minutes after applying and others are making offers 24-48 hours after applying.  After exhausting other methods to attract workers, some are going with speed.  Sarah Chaney Cambon, labor economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, the condiment business is hyper competitive and one of the major players in the spice game, McCormick, has been making acquisitions to take over the world of hot sauce.  They bought Frank's Red Hot and Cholula Hot Sauce in deals worth millions of dollars each.  The past few years have proven to be beneficial for McCormick as many people stayed in and cooked more at home, but they were not immune to supply chain issues that affected the industry when it came to acquiring key ingredients.  Austin Carr, features writer at Bloomberg BusinessWeek, joins us for the fight for hot sauce supremacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shakeup for the Democrats in the Senate.  After clinching a 51-49 majority with Raphael Warnock’s win in Georgia, Sen. Krysten Sinema announced she would be leaving the Democratic party and register as an Independent.  While the impact may be minimal when trying to pass legislation, it means a lot when we look ahead to 2024 and how the two parties will fight to win that seat.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for how this decision plays out, Kari Lake files an election lawsuit in Arizona, and the big fight of the week, Congress struggling to fund the government and avoid a shutdown.   Next, a look into the hyper competitive world of body building and the extremes it takes to get those outrageous physiques.  There is hours and hours of training, strict diets, and then there are the drugs… steroids and other performance enhancing drugs.  It is leaving athletes with irreparable damage to their bodies, with some having heart problems, needing kidney transplants, and worst-case, death.  Jenn Abelson, investigative reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how the extreme sport of bodybuilding is pushing some to the edge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biden administration stuck a deal with Russia to free WNBA star Brittney Griner.  In exchange for her freedom, the U.S. released arms dealer Vitkor Bout, who is known as the “Merchant of Death.”  This caps a 10 month ordeal for Griner after she was arrested for possession hash oil cartridges in Russia.  Alex Ward, national security reporter at Politico, joins us for what to know about her release and what happens to Paul Whelan another American in Russian custody for espionage chargers.   Next, the chip manufacturing boom in the U.S. is just beginning.  This week President Biden toured a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plant in Arizona that is tripling its investments to build new semiconductor chips.  As the relationship between China, Taiwan, and the U.S. continues to be strained, we are rushing to build our own local supply.  Matt Phillips, markets correspondent at Axios, joins us for how the U.S. semiconductor industry is just starting.   Finally, more businesses are getting rid of their customer service reps you can reach by phone and increasingly offering options such as chat boxes to resolve issues.  For many companies, it is cost prohibitive to maintain staff just to answer calls and the result is they are making their numbers harder to find or getting rid of them all together.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why connecting with a human is almost impossible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new food category coming to your grocery stores… “thaw and eat” foods.  The makers of Uncrustables and Hot Pockets are both offering products that can be ready to eat in a couple of hours with no microwave required.  Think turkey and cheese or ham and cheese sandwiches.  These are being targeted to adults who want grabbable, no-mess bites.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios joins us for what to know as food companies are throwing more resources at launching this new frozen category.   Next, the Good Morning America cheating scandal is proving that people still love an old-fashioned tabloid drama.  While other scandals have been met with lots of negative emotion, there are some in the public that seem to be rooting for anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes.  They are both temporarily sidelined for now, but ratings have been up since the scandal surfaced.  Aja Romano, culture reporter at Vox, joins us for what to know.   Finally, the data shows that married couples hold four times as much wealth as unmarried couples who live together.  The leading thought as to why, is because they pool their resources together.  Other research is now showing that couples who do combine finances are also happier.  Julia Carpenter, personal finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what joining finances does in a relationship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest components of inflation is starting to ease.  Housing costs are coming down, but it could take some time before it shows up in official inflation numbers.  Economists say that increases in rents and home prices will remain low as the economy has slowed and mortgage rates remain elevated.  Shelter inflation is one of those things that tend to be sticky, which means that once it starts moving in any direction it is slow to change back.  Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, what do you do with an iconic Los Angeles landmark that became too old to operate normally and too much of a treasure to tear down?  LA County would like to turn the old General Hospital building into affordable and homeless housing, but to do that, there is a ton of work to be done.  The county has already committed $250 million to removing hazardous materials, upgrading electrical and water systems, installing air conditioning, fire sprinklers and so much more.  The eventual goal will be to have “Healthy Village” with as many as 1,400 units with beds for housing, and medical and mental health care.  Doug Smith, senior writer at the LA Times, joins us for the future of LA’s General Hospital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hot weight-loss drug Wegovy is in short supply and high demand.  The drug has proven to help people lose as much as 15% of their weight by suppressing appetite, but the company expected a more gradual adoption of the drug and has lost out on a ton of potential cash.  Selling only $700 million to date, analysts had projected $2 billion in sales for 2021 and 2022.  Peter Loftus, pharma reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why you can’t find Wegovy.   Next, the Real ID requirement for air travel has been delayed once again.  Americans will have two more years, until May 2025 to go to the DMV and provide the proper paperwork.  The deadline was extended to help DMVs with pandemic related setbacks.  To date, only about 49% of people have gotten their updated IDs.  Luz Lazo, transportation reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, a pair of marijuana bills may be attached to “must-pass” year-end bills in Congress.  A bipartisan group of senators will be trying to add the SAFE Banking Act to allow cannabis businesses to access loans and open bank accounts and the HOPE Act, which would provide grants to states that expunge former convictions.  Sophia Cai, congressional reporter at Axios, joins us for the plan to pass pot legislation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the FBI’s biggest investigation ever.  Looking into who was in Washington on Jan.6 and who stormed the Capitol.  It has also included the biggest ever request of phone data from geofence warrants.  Google has provided data from over 5,000 devices as the FBI has tried to narrow their search to pinpoint suspects.  Google also has a three-step process for these types of warrants to help protect as much privacy as possible and only provide info on those most likely to have commit a crime.  We are only learning more about this now as lawyers for one suspect are looking to throw out the geofence evidence in court.  Mark Harris, contributor to Wired, joins us for what to know.   Next, if you weathered the pandemic storm and stuck with your employer over the last couple of years, then you very well could be underpaid.  The tight labor market has led to a lot of movement and forced employers to try and lure new candidates with bigger paychecks and more work benefits.  That has led to a divide with current employees as salaries for new hires are on average 7% higher than existing workers.  Aki Ito, senior correspondent at Business Insider, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The word of the year for 2022 is gaslighting.  Merriam-Webster chooses the word of the year based only on data from lookups and in 2022, lookups for gaslighting increased 1,740%.  Most interestingly, there was not a particular news event that drove the lookups, it was a word that had interest every single day of the year.  Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for Merriam-Webster joins us for a definition of this year’s top word and a look at some more including oligarch, codify, sentient, and loamy.   Next, Elon Musk has been under a lot of scrutiny since he took over Twitter, but another one of his companies is being looked at for ghosting cities across America.  Musk’s Boring company, which has teased cities with plans to dig out underground tunnels to help relieve what he called “soul-destroying” traffic, has had a lot of big ideas but rarely followed through after being confronted with the realities of building public infrastructure.  The only place where Musk has been able to showcase a finished project has been a 1.6 mile “loop experience” under the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Ted Mann, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how many cities still want to work with the Boring Co. despite its uneven record.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA’s successful launch of the Artemis 1 mission looks like it will be a boon for private space companies.  More than halfway over, the Orion spacecraft has already reached its max distance from the Earth of 270,000 miles.  At least 22 companies specifically focused on the Moon have raised money to travel there, develop tech to mine for resources and even build habitats there.  Miriam Kramer, space reporter at Axios, joins us for the coming Moon economy.   Next, middle-aged men have a problem with suicide.  Overall, men have a suicide rate between three and four times higher than women.  To fight this mental health problem, researchers are studying new approaches to get them help which include participation in “meaning-centered” groups, “hope kits,” and videos on how men can speak with their doctors about suicidal thoughts.  Andrea Peterson, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Finally, insiders say that President Biden is gearing up to run for office again and this week we have a seen a preview of a possible campaign strategy, one that will try to leverage the power of the White House.  Advisers will want to keep the President out of every item in the news cycle, but keep up diplomatic engagements, quick trips to swing states, and ramp up the fundraising efforts.  Hans Nichols, reporter at Axios, joins us for how Biden will run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s zero-Covid policies is causing a wave of protests that are getting hard to ignore.  Recent protests all have their own reasons for sparking, but the underlying issue seems to revolve around the policy which has seen residents unable to access food, medicine, and medical care in some cases.  Some changes have been made to the zero-Covid policy, but frustrations have boiled over.  Ellen Ioanes, foreign affairs reporter at Vox, joins us for what to know.   Next, the money transfer service Zelle, saw some 1.8 billion transactions in 2021that totaled $490 billion dollars.  Now, the banks behind Zelle are standardizing the methods with which to reimburse scammed customers.  Popular scams include messages that seem to come from customer support and tricks users into sending money into what appears to be your own account, but it’s linked to a fraudulent one.  David Benoit, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Finally, restaurants are getting a small reprieve from chicken.  As they have been battered by high inflation, and rising labor and operational costs, chicken has begun to drop in price.  Prices for chicken breast has dropped about 70% since the first week of June.  During this time restaurants have kept up their promotions to keep people coming back.  Patrick Thomas, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how dropping poultry prices will hopefully be giving you a break soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the economy slowing and many companies beginning to layoff workers, small businesses are in a tight spot as they continue to face staff shortages but are having a hard time competing with larger companies when it comes to offering higher wages.  Small businesses are also reporting that about 90% of open positions are seeing few to no qualified applicants.  Cheryl Winokur Munk, contributor to CNBC, joins us for how they can attract top talent by highlighting more than just wages.   Next, a look at what the latest news surrounding Taylor Swift fans and the huge demand for her concert tickets says about the economy.  Despite uneven economic times, these turbocharged consumers are willing to pay almost anything to see their favorite artist, for them, there is no substitute.  The pent-up demand over the pandemic and limited supply sent die-hard fans to crash the Ticketmaster website.  Augusta Saraiva, economics reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know about “Swiftonomics.”     Finally, it was once a given at many live concerts, the band would end their show and spend a couple of minutes off-stage before coming back for a roaring encore.  Now, some artists are doing away with them saying they just feel forced.  They’d rather just play out a whole set, and not waste anyone’s time leaving a potential encore only for something memorable and not expected.  Travis Andrews, features writer at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you are looking for deals this holiday season, this is where it all starts.  Black Friday leading into Cyber Monday.  With inflation still battering Americans, many price-conscious consumers are buying less gifts and donating to charity less.  Retailers on the other hand are looking to move products with sales and promotions.  Marc Saltzman, tech columnist at USA Today and host of the Tech It Out Podcast, joins us with some apps and browser extensions for deal hunters, products to look out for, and scams to be wary of.   Next, the holiday season also means tons of cookies and baked goods.  In order to make all those delicious favorites, you need a lot of butter.  Butter in particular has been seeing some very high prices due to labor shortages and a growing appetite for cheese.  In response an underground network of butter bargain hunters is sharing the news when prices drop and tips on how to get around per-person limits.  Some have even turned to churning out their own butter.  Clare Ansberry, Turning Points columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond Meat, the plant-based meat company, is struggling and it’s causing some worries throughout the meat alternative industry.  The company has struggled to manage growth amid slumping sales.  Among some of the setbacks, the company tried to rush out new products only to miss deadlines and disappoint customers.  Beyond’s jerky product, chicken tenders, and dinner sausages all hit roadblocks as their CEO tried to push out new offerings.  Jesse Newman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the tough times at Beyond Meat. Next, Thanksgiving is here and it’s time to talk about our favorite foods!  To end the show today we will give you the official Thanksgiving food power rankings.  We will speak to Lucas Kwan Peterson, food columnist at the LA Times, for his take on where all your favorite Thanksgiving foods rank.  A little preview of what you are in for… Turkey ranks dead last in his list, pumpkin pie doesn’t fare much better either, and cranberries of all things might just be the most controversial food item. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to recent surveys, Americans are stressed out by inflation and are planning to buy fewer Christmas gifts and donate less to charity.  Last year on average, people bought about 16 gifts for family and friends, this year that number has dropped to nine.  Another survey found that many are planning to donate less with 44% blaming a lack of funds.  Jon Hilsenrath, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for how inflation is souring the holiday season.   Next, hospitals are being pushed to the brink as we see RSV, Covid and the flu infecting people at high rates.  We are also seeing a continued staffing shortage in the healthcare industry that is causing a replay of what we saw during the height of the pandemic.  A slew of nursing home closures is also pushing more into the hospital system.  Sabrina Malhi, health and science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, dogs and humans can both get dementia, a problem we know comes with age.  We also know that movement and exercise can help reduce the risk of getting the degenerative disease.  Two recent studies are offering new data about the precise amounts of walking that can protect human and dog brains.  Gretchen Reynolds, health columnist at The Washington Post, joins us for why it’s definitely a good idea to take your dog out for a walk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just a few years ago, betting on sports was regulated to Nevada and a handful of other locations in the U.S., but after a flurry of action from lobbyists and the gambling industry, 31 states now allow sports gambling either online or in-person.  Sold by possible tax revenue, many states have come on board, sometimes with very favorable tax breaks for gambling companies.  An investigation by the Times finds that in many cases that revenue hasn’t lived up to projections.  Other convincing was done at events such as the “Cigars, Cars, and Bars” event that some Kansas lawmakers attended.  Eric Lipton, investigative reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how sports betting has expanded so fast.   Next, a study in Germany that was exploring the possibility of using industrial hemp in animal feed found that when portions of the plant that had higher THC concentration was fed to some dairy cows, they produced milk with detectable levels of THC.  The dairy cows even displayed behavioral changes such as yawning and salivating a lot and standing in one place for long periods of time. Still regulators are looking into hemp because it could be an excellent source for animal feed.  Hemp seeds are high in protein and do not contain any THC.  Joel Achenbach, science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden turned 80 over the weekend, the oldest serving president in U.S. history.  He has said he intends to run again, planning a decision for early next year.  However, recent gaffes have added to concerns from those in his own party and polls also show that the public has doubts about leaders his age.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for this, GOP hopefuls beginning to make their case, and Nancy Pelosi’s legacy as Speaker of the House.   Next, due to inflation, supply chain issues, and the bird flu, your Thanksgiving meal is definitely more expensive this year.  20% more expensive to be exact.  The average cost of a meal for ten is $64.05.  You could see a shortage of large birds and everything on the table costs more except for one item, fresh cranberries.  Herb Scribner, reporter at Axios, joins us for what to know.   Finally, electric vehicles continue to grow into the mainstream of car buying.  EVs are the fastest growing segment of the auto market with sales jumping 70%.  Gas powered cars account for most of the new car market, but people are increasingly turning to battery powered cars to save money on maintenance and fuel, making them their daily drivers.  Peter Eavis, business reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heading into the holiday shopping season big retailers are hoping to offload all the excess inventory from recent months and also balance how much to discount items to move product.  The good thing is that it means more promotions and sales for consumers, but will it be the products that people want?  The main items that will see the deepest discounts are computers, electronics, and toys, many of which are left over from pandemic delays.  Beauty products on the other hand will not be seeing as many discounts. Melissa Repko, retail reporter at CNBC, joins us for what to know as retailers continue to do anything they can to attract customers.   Next, the fall of the crypto exchange FTX has quickly wiped out the value of the company, the billions of dollars that its CEO was worth, and left scores of others without a way to access their money and assets.  FTX has now filed for bankruptcy and the new CEO that has stepped in said that he’s never “seen such a complete failure of corporate controls.”  Some experts have said that it could be possible that people never recover their funds.  For now, it has caused more volatility in the crypto market and caused more values to drop.  Joel Khalili, crypto reporter at Wired, joins us for all the fallout from the FTX collapse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA’s Artemis 1 Moon mission is currently underway after the SLS rocket and Orion capsule launched early Wednesday morning.  The mission is expected to last until mid-December when the capsule will splash back down in the Pacific Ocean.  This mission paves the way for the return of astronauts to the Moon and a new space station to be assembled in orbit there.  Ramin Skibba, space writer at Wired, joins us for what to know.   Next, it’s been described as a “game changer” when it comes to weight loss, but some people who have taken it say it’s changing their taste buds.  Semaglutide is the key ingredient in drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.  It’s helping people lose as much as 15-20% of their body weight by making you feel full and reducing cravings, but it’s making some disgusted by their favorite foods.  Anna Medaris, health correspondent at Insider, joins us for more.   Finally, now that New York City’s pay transparency law is in place, people are browsing jobs like they were browsing new homes, even if they’re not in the market for a new one.  As employers are now required to post salary ranges, people are dreaming of moving into something new or asking for a pay raise.  Emily Peck, reporter at Axios, joins us for how job listings are the new Zillow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The human race has reached a milestone.  There are now an estimated eight billion people on the planet.  Overall, less people are living in extreme poverty, and we have generally better access to health care, food, and clean water.  Half of the population still just lives in 7 countries, and it could take us about 15 years to hit the next milestone of nine billion.  Stef Kight, politics reporter at Axios, joins is for what to know as we still face several challenges as the population continues to grow.   Next, there is a mystery in the labor market as older Gen Z workers are missing from the workforce.  We are seeing fewer people ages 20-24 with a job which equals to a shortfall of about half a million workers.  In 2021, wages were rising and there were tons of job openings, it attracted teens, but didn’t stick with others.  We have also seen a rise in the number people in this age range that are neither working or in school.  Bryan Mena, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Finally, a mother was arrested recently after he 10-year-old son got a tattoo.  Last month, the boy walked into the nurse’s office looking for Vaseline, he wanted to rub it on his new tattoo.  While there have been shifting attitudes about tattoos recently, there are many laws on the books where those under 18 cannot get a tattoo, even if they have parental consent.  Sarah Maslin Nir, staff reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The makeup of Congress continues to take shape as the House continues to skew toward Republicans and Democrats retain control of the Senate.  Democrats overperformed in the midterms and they can attribute that to independent voters that broke their way.  Despite the GOP holding the edge on top issues, independent voters were turned off by candidates that were too closely aligned with Trump.  Aaron Zitner, politics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how independents decided the midterms.   Next, the FAA recently held a public comment period on the size of airline seats.  What they got, was tens of thousands of comments that painted a horrible picture of what passengers experience.  But will those comments lead to bigger and better seats?  Probably not.  The FAA will decide if they want to make minimum seat requirements, but only what’s necessary for safety, not comfort.  James Bikales, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, in a shift on what you might expect, baby boomers can’t stop looking at their smartphones.  While the concern of too much screen time is mostly directed at kids and teens, some millennials and Gen Xers are complaining that their parents can’t let the phones go, especially when the grandchildren are around.  Heather Kelly, tech reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how some families have had enough of the phones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democrats have retained control of the Senate, and the House is still up in the air, although the numbers look to favor Republicans.  Throughout the midterm elections there have been many tight races and margins are just razor thin.  So why is America always divided 50-50?  As the two parties constantly jockey for the majority, neither party really builds any momentum.  Annie Lowrey, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for how polarization and a changing electorate is impacting politics.   Next, more colleges are offering admission to students who never even applied to those schools.  There has been an increase in universities that are participating in “direct admissions” programs to streamline the process for students but also align them with geographic and academic interests and boost enrollment  goals too.  The result is tens of thousands of students are getting offers they never thought they would.  Melissa Korn, higher education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Finally, dialing 0 to reach an operator or getting directory assistance from 411 is soon to be a thing of the past.  How many people even use those services now, as smartphones have made them obsolete?  Starting Jan. 1, AT&T is ending the service to landline customers in 21 states.  Wireless users aren’t even offered it.  Jo Constantz, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for a brief history of 411.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Positive sign as inflation cooled slightly to 7.7% in October.  Experts warn not to get too excited as they would like to see more of trend but hope this could be the peak.  Used car prices have dropped, along with airfare and apparel, but rents continue to stay elevated.  The Fed has signaled it will continue to raise rates until inflation drops more, but in smaller increments.  Rachel Siegel, economics reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the signs that inflation may be easing.   Next, New York City recently became the biggest job market in the country to require employers to list pay ranges in their job ads.  The hope is that it would give job seekers an edge in pay negotiations, but the rollout has had mixed results as companies are posting salary ranges with differences of hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Theo Francis, business reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about New York City’s pay transparency law.   Finally, the National Park Service put out an advisory asking people to please stop licking the psychedelic toads.  There has not been any indication that people are licking toads to trip out but wanted to send out the warning that it’s potentially dangerous and can cause poisonings.  The toads in question are the Sonoran Desert toads also known as the Colorado River toad.  Adela Suliman, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Control of Congress still hangs in the balance as Republicans are poised to take over the House, but we will have to wait until December for a runoff election to see who will take Georgia’s Senate seat.  In the meantime, the red wave never really happened, and Democrats fared far better than most thought.  Former President Trump is in a weaker position coming into his big announcement and President Biden is taking any good news he can get.  David Siders, national political correspondent at Politico, joins us for midterm takeaways.   Next, marijuana was also on the ballot in 5 states.  Just ten years ago Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize marijuana.  Now, Maryland and Missouri have been added to the list for a total of 21 states plus D.C.  As the stigma of cannabis use has worn off in many cases, it has also become big business projected to produce sales of $100 billion by 2030.  Mary Jane Gibson, contributor to Vox, joins us for the mixed night of results for marijuana on the ballot.   Finally, Meta has become the latest in a string of big tech companies to announce layoffs and hiring freezes.  The parent company of Facebook said they will be cutting 13% of its workforce, about 11,000 employees.  Revenue has been down for Meta as they face increased pressure from competitors like TikTok.  Meta will also start prioritizing content from viral creators over posts from friends and family.  Naomi Nix, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The top issue for this election season has been the economy and it has put Democrats in a bad position as Republicans have seized on the issue.  Despite high inflation and fears of a recession, there are still other positive economic markers such as low unemployment.  Still, the uncertainty of what’s to come has voters concerned for their futures and polls show they are backing Republicans.  Howard Schneider, economics correspondent at Reuters, joins us for what to know.   Next, despite Covid infections being down and pandemic restrictions mostly all lifted, the virus has proved to be a persistent drag on the workforce.  It’s keeping millions out of work when they get infected and disrupting businesses operations, raising their costs and killing productivity.  Workers themselves are also losing out due to unpaid absences.  Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how Covid is still setting us back.   Finally, marriage can have a lot of benefits to the pocketbooks of couples.  Married couples are four times as wealthy as unmarried couples who live together.  They tend to have a higher net worth and more likely to be homeowners.  Experts think that a big part of it is that married couples pool their financial resources in way that cohabitating couples don’t.  Julia Carpenter, personal finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us why moving in together doesn’t match the benefits of marriage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election Day is here, and the economy and inflation continue to be the top issues for voters.  To that end, according to recent surveys, more full-time workers are feeling the pain and having to get second jobs to supplement their income.  Nearly three-quarters of workers said they need more work to keep up with inflation and it’s not just blue-collar workers, even people in professional jobs are looking for more.  Ray Smith, careers reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how more workers are looking for side hustles.   Next, how much are you paying for water?  Corporate America has convinced more people to buy water, whether it’s bottled, boxed, or in a can.  For most of America, the water coming from the tap is perfectly fine, except for notable exceptions like Flint, Michigan.  What’s happened is that as people have lost more confidence in public infrastructure and clever advertising by packaged water companies is making us buy something that is mostly free.  Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for more.   Finally, museums have seen a recent spat of climate-change activists throwing food such as tomato soup and mashed potatoes at famous paintings in order to draw more attention to their causes.  It has prompted museums to issue “zero bag” policies and even hire security consultants to teach their staff new surveillance tactics on how to spot would-be vandals.  Yael Kohen, deputy editor for style news at the WSJ, joins us for how museums are fighting back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Title: Navigating Interracial Friendships with Some Of My Best Friends Are   Description: Here's a preview of another podcast we're enjoying, Some of My Best Friends Are, from Pushkin Industries. Harvard professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad and journalist Ben Austen are friends, one Black and one white, who grew up together on the South Side of Chicago. On Some of My Best Friends Are, Khalil and Ben, along with their guests, have critical conversations that are at once personal, political, and playful, about the absurdities and intricacies of race in America.In this preview, Khalil and Ben talk with author Saladin Ambar about his new book, Stars and Shadows: The Politics of Interracial Friendship from Jefferson to Obama. Through famous bonds ranging from Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, they explore the dynamics, benefits, and difficulties of cultivating interracial friendships. Hear the full episode, and more from Some of My Best Friends Are, at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/sbfs2?sid=dive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The midterms are finally here, and which party will take control of Congress hangs in the balance.  Republicans, poised to take over the House, have the lead on the economy, crime, and inflation.  Democrats, lead on the issues of climate change and abortion.  Control of the Senate will be up to a few key races including Pennsylvania and Georgia.  President Biden and former President Obama are making the case that democracy is at stake in this election and former President Trump, painting Democrats as the radical left, could be announcing his reelection bid very soon.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for a midterm preview.   Next, Americans went on a fast furniture buying spree during the pandemic and very soon it could all be going in the trash.  Fast furniture is mass-produced and relatively inexpensive, think of something you might find at Ikea or Wayfair.  Each year we throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture and some of the materials in fast furniture don’t break down or biodegrade.  Some of these items are only meant to last about five years, so the next spot for them is the landfill.  Debra Kamin, contributor to the NY Times, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by another 0.75 percentage point to continue fighting inflation.  They have signaled that they may keep raising them, but in smaller increments.  In the meantime, experts say it is time to reassess your financial plans and pay down any high-interest debt immediately, maybe delay you house or car hunt, and put more money into saving accounts.  Julia Carpenter, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the latest rate hike impacts you.Next, this week Netflix launched their ad-based tier in the hopes of attracting more subscribers.  The new tier is called “Basic With Ads” and goes for $6.99 a month.  It will be a big test for a company that resisted placing ads with their content for a long time, but also comes at a time when many other streaming services are doing the same.  Joe Flint, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know and the fight over advertisers and licensing agreements. Finally, with the rise of quiet quitting and more people returning to work, workers have gotten less productive.  Productivity has had the sharpest drop since 1947 and its hard to pin down exactly why, but experts think one reason is that employees are leveraging the power they gained in the tight labor market.  It’s harder for employers to fire and hire new workers.  Burnout could also be a factor.  Taylor Telford, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how productivity is down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pediatric hospitals are currently packed with kids coming down with respiratory syncytial virus or RSV.  Babies under a year old are being hospitalized at six times the rate from 2019 and overall rates for people of all ages are seven times higher.  The good news is that help could be on the way.  This week, Pfizer announced that a clinical trial of their maternal vaccine prevented 69% of severe cases in infants.  While RSV is mainly thought of as affecting children, it does affect many older Americans and other vaccines are in the final stage of development there as well.  Keren Landman, health and science reporter at Vox, joins us for what to know.   Next, commercial satellites could be the next targets in space.  Private networks that provide aid during wartime efforts could be under the crosshairs as we are seeing with Ukraine and Russia.  SpaceX’s Starlink, which is providing internet to Ukraine after their networks were taken down, is coming under Russian scrutiny. This is prompting the Pentagon and others to think about establishing rules and norms for behavior in space.  Miriam Kramer, space reporter at Axios, joins us for this and news of a “planet killer” asteroid, but don’t worry they say it’s not a threat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For now, it seems like all the changes to Twitter are playing out in real-time on the platform itself.  On Tuesday, Elon Musk tweeted that it would be changing the verification method for accounts and that it would be rolled up into its “Twitter Blue” service at a cost of $8 per month.  When verification first started, it was an attempt to combat misinformation.  Heather Kelly, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for why it could soon cost you for the blue checkmark on your profile.   Next, as the holiday shopping season starts to heat up, be sure to check out retailers’ return policies.  Over the pandemic, shoppers have become accustomed to very generous return and shipping policies, but that is changing.  Major retailers are shortening their return windows and even adding restocking fees in some cases.  Returns have increased in costs to these companies to the tune of $761 billion.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why it’s getting harder to return unwanted items.   Finally, as doctors continue to look for solutions to address the shortage of organs for transplant, they are increasingly looking to pigs as a possibility.  To that end, we are learning more about David Bennett, who earlier this year received a heart transplant from a pig. While he only lasted three months with the pig heart, researchers found out that the heart took longer to generate a heartbeat than typical humans or pigs.  Amy Dockser Marcus, health and science reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After an extremely hot employment market and people job-hopping their way to better paying positions, it seems like the Great Resignation is cooling off.  While overall job listings are still higher than pre-pandemic levels, demand is falling in areas where remote work really took off such as HR, software development, marketing, and math-related roles.  Emily Peck, markets correspondent at Axios, joins us for how more people are prioritizing job security over pay.   Next, as we approach the midterms and more people than ever are voting by mail, you can track your ballot in about half of states.  The envelopes that carry your mail-in ballots have a number associated with them that corresponds to an individual voter, and that number is used by companies like BallotTrax and Ballot Scout to track the ballot.  Geoffrey Fowler, tech columnist at The Washington Post, joins us for how you can now track your mail-in ballot’s every move.   Finally, there are about eight different types of difficult people that you can work with.  They range anywhere from insecure bosses to office know-it-alls and political operators only looking out for themselves.  But the worst type of people to work with are the passive-aggressive types because it is so common and the hardest to pin down.  Amy Gallo, contributing editor to the Harvard Business Review and author of “Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone,” joins us for how to handle difficult people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Last week, Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was attacked at their home in San Francisco.  We are now learning more about the attacker who left an extensive online trail of support for conspiracy theories and blog posts railing against Jewish and Black people, the media, and transgender people.  When he entered the home, he kept asking “Where’s Nancy?”  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for what we know about this attack and the broader concern as we see an increase in political violence.   Next, Halloween means it’s time for spooky movies!  Horror movies in general have had quite the evolution in the last 100 years.  Some of the best horror movies have acted as a mirror reflecting our own fears of the time back at us and built upon each other to get us where we are today in the genre.  From the early days with the classic movie monsters, to the slashers and serial killer flicks, all the way to modern horror movies, they have all been commentaries of what is going on in the world at the time. Aja Romano, culture writer at Vox, joins us for the horror century of movies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is running out of helium, but the concern is not that we won’t be able to blow up balloons, the shortage could impact the usage of MRI machines.  Helium is a non-renewable element that comes form the Earth’s crust and in its liquid form, it’s used to cool the magnets that make the MRI work.  Caroline Hopkins, freelance reporter for NBC News, joins us for why it is so scarce and how manufacturers are developing newer machines that use less liquid helium. Next, U.S. mortgage rates have shot up over 7%, the highest it has been in 20 years.  A year ago, the rate was just over 3% but this week, the rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 7.08%.  The housing market continues to cool as some sellers refuse to lower prices and buyers are ever-more constrained by their budgets.  Ben Eisen, banking and finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know. Finally, just in time for Halloween, why do so many people take delight in disgusting things?  Disgust itself is an emotion of avoidance originally concerned with possibly harmful foods but has evolved to include other things such as violations of morals or cultural rules.  But why do disgusting things hold our attention so much?  It could be because of something call “benign masochism.”  Bradley Irish, associate professor of English at ASU, joins us for the allure of disgust.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The debate to watch this week was between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz.  It was Pennsylvania’s first and only Senate debate and could be the thing that tips the scales.  John Fetterman’s recovery from a stroke he suffered some months ago was on full display.  The Democrats’ speech was delayed, and he struggled to answer coherently at times.  Dr. Oz, on the other hand, was very polished and comfortable on camera staying on message with attacks on crime and inflation but had a stumble on the abortion issue.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, was there and gives us the top takeaways for this consequential debate.   Next, long before social networks became the place for celebrities and influencers to flex their clout, their likeability was ruled by the Q Score.  Advertising agencies, TV studios and marketing execs used the Q Score as a guide to put the most liked people, athletes and even brands in front of audiences.  While it doesn’t hold the same importance as it once did, the Q Score is still measured to this day, and this list of most and least liked people are probably exactly what you might think.  Travis Andrews, features writer at The Washington Post joins us for what happened to the almighty Q Score and how celebrity has changed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The midterm elections are now less than two weeks away and both parties are making strategic shifts in messaging and reallocating financial resources.  Republicans are moving money away from races they see as a lock and attacking Democrats by doubling down on crime and inflation issues.  Democrats are sending resources to areas that were once solidly blue as they have been put on the defensive and changing their messaging away from abortion to the economy and health care.  Alayna Treene, congressional reporter at Axios, joins us for what to know.   Next, we’ve known for a long time that asbestos is bad for your health and while the U.S. did regulate safety standards around it, they never banned it.  To this day, hundreds of tons of asbestos are shipped to the U.S. for use by chemical companies that produce chlorine. Part of the reason why it was never banned is that protocols are so stringent, these companies made the case that the threat of exposure to workers is very little.  However, interviews with employees at one OxyChem plant near Niagara Falls tells a different story.  Kathleen McGrory, reporter at ProPublica, joins us for how some workers fear for their health after years of working at these chemical plants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Results from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress are showing the largest drop in math scores ever with declines in every state.  Reading scores didn’t fare much better with the largest drop in 4th grade reading since 1990.  Educators say that the pandemic has exacerbated existing gaps in education and tech issues hampered remote learning.  Ben Chapman, education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the big concern, it could take years for students to recover.   Next, as winter approaches public health officials are warning that other viruses could be coming back with a vengeance.  Covid is obviously a concern with new variants always on the horizon, but flu cases are higher than usual for this time of the year, and then there are worries of respiratory syncytial virus or R.S.V.  Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how cases are expected to be mild, but the sheer number of them could overwhelm hospitals.   Finally, there’s an army of robot workers coming to fill in during this tight labor market.  Better technology and improved cost-effectiveness are hitting at a time when employers are still facing a worker shortage.  A half-million industrial robots were installed globally last year, and we’re also seeing a rise the “service” robot industry with everything from autonomous cleaning robots and those that can unload trucks.  Christopher Mims, tech columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xi Jinping has claimed a third term as the Communist Party leader in China.  He will now serve another five-year term overseeing the world’s second largest economy and a growing military continuing to pose threats to the U.S. on multiple fronts.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for the latest in China and more.  With the midterm elections just a few weeks away, Democrats are getting more worried about their prospects, and we’ll get a preview of the high-stakes Pennsylvania Senate debate on Tuesday.   Next, it was the largest animal welfare seizure in the Humane Society’s history.  Nearly 4,000 beagles were rescued from the Envigo facility in Virginia where they were breeding dogs for research.  After USDA investigators found horrible conditions there, an undercover investigation by PETA, and a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department, a judge ruled that the dogs be surrendered to the Humane Society.  But that was only the beginning, then came the huge task of retrieving and adopting out the dogs, some of which had health and behavioral problems.  Lizzie Johnson, staff writer at the Washington Post, joins us for the rescue of the Envio beagles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists at Boston University recently created in a lab a new Covid virus that had the transmissibility of the Omicron variant and was also more likely to cause severe disease.  They called it the Omicron S-bearing virus.  The study found that the engineered virus had a mortality rate of 80%.  The experiment has once again called into question the purpose of so-called “gain of function” research and also oversight on such projects.  Kelsey Piper, senior writer at Vox’s Future Perfect, joins us for why labs keep making dangerous viruses.   Next, AI art generators have just been unleashed on the public.  These new text-to-image generators let you type in almost any phrase, and it will return you an image in various art styles.  Dall-E 2 by OpenAI and DreamStudio by Stability AI are now open for anyone to use and the result is a lot of fun!  The artificial intelligence interprets your words and creates fully original images, but there are still a lot of questions over how it works, copyright and who owns the images?  Then there are concerns about real artists and graphic designers.  Joanna Stern, senior personal tech columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what the future of AI art may hold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest way immigration smugglers are trying to recruit more help is by advertising on social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.  Posts are promising hundreds or thousands of dollars for a few hours of driving.  The problem is, the recruits often don’t know what they are in for until they are close, picking up migrants by the border and driving them inland.  Alicia Caldwell, immigration reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, scientists have been very excited after detecting what could be one of the most powerful explosions of its kind ever seen in space.  Space telescopes picked up a bright Gamma Ray Burst 2.4 billion light-years away that could have been triggered by a star exploding in a supernova and possibly creating a black hole.  Miriam Kramer, space reporter at Axios, joins us for all the latest space news.   Finally, marijuana use is becoming the new normal for young adults.  As more states continue to legalize cannabis and the stigma surrounding it wears off, more Americans are lighting up.  A big part of the growth is coming from young women as more companies are offering products geared toward them.  This November, 5 more states have marijuana on the ballot.  Daniel de Visé, reporter at The Hill, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As housing affordability continues to be a problem across many parts of the country, could an algorithm be responsible for apartment rents going up?  The software called YieldStar suggests daily prices for open units using data analytics.  In some cases, the software suggests double digit price increases.  It even goes as far as to suggest that landlords could get more revenue with a lower occupancy rate, but with increased rents.  How much is this software being used?  In one Seattle neighborhood, 70% of apartments were overseen by 10 property managers, all who used the pricing software.  Heather Vogell, reporter at ProPublica, joins us for how this algorithm impacts rising rents.   Next, production was shut down on Bill Murray’s latest project earlier this year when it was alleged that he sexually harassed a member of the production staff.  We now know that Murray got on top of the woman and kissed her through their masks, she settled in the amount of about $100,000.  Bill Murray has a great reputation with his fans, but since those allegations surfaced, fellow actors and co-workers have come forward with their own negative stories about him.  Matt Wilstein, senior writer at the Daily Beast and host of The Last Laugh Podcast, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new Hollywood drug on the scene, but it’s not a party drug, it’s a frug that is used to treat diabetes.  People are looking to Ozempic and similar drugs used to treat Type 2 as a quick fix for weight loss.  These drugs have an ingredient called semaglutide which stimulates insulin production, but also targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite.  Sara Ashley O’Brien, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how doctors are urging caution as it is gaining in popularity.   Next, scientists have transplanted clumps of cells that resemble the brain into rats with the hopes that it could help study autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia.  The experiments involve a new technique that takes skin cells and changes them into stem cells.  These cells where then implanted into the rat brains and they quickly formed connections.  Mark Johnson, science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how it works and the ethical concerns behind it.   Finally, the housing market has cooled, and crazy bidding wars are over.  For those still trying to sell their homes, they are remodeling properties to avoid cutting prices, but not all projects have equal pay off.  To get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to refinish hard-wood flooring, install new wood flooring, or give the home an insulation upgrade.  Veronica Dagher, personal finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the repairs that will help sell your home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After tons of anger and outcry from the entire city of Los Angeles, former City Council President Nury Martinez has resigned her city council seat.  This comes after leaked audio surfaced in which you can hear Martinez and two other councilmembers make crude and racist remarks.  The scandal has outraged residents who shut down council meetings demanding more resignations.  In the wake of the leaked audio, the CA attorney general has also said they will investigate the L.A. redistricting process and then there is the mystery yet to be solved of who recorded and leaked the audio.  Gustavo Arellano, columnist at the LA Times, joins us for how it's all playing out.   Next, the inflation rate cooled slightly to 8.2% but is still battering Americans with record high prices.  18 months after President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, the consensus is that it helped the economy recover quickly from the pandemic lows, but also contributed to the inflation we face today.  On the high end, estimates say that about half, 4% of current inflation can be attributed to the rescue plan.  High product demand and other factors also contributed, but within days of signing the plan, some prices began to rise.  David Lynch, global economics reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year’s rankings of universities around the world has fewer U.S. universities ranking in the top 100 and China stepping up with more high impact research.  A higher percentage of China’s research is being cited globally and is focused on materials science, chemistry, and engineering while the U.S. is focusing on clinical medicine and physics.  Doug Belkin, higher education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how China’s universities are on the rise.   Next, Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled Meta’s new virtual reality headset called the Quest Pro saying it’s the next major step for VR and a milestone to building the Metaverse.  The only problem is that it’s going to cost you.  The new headset is about $1,500, which puts it out of reach for casual users and most gamers.  Shirin Ghaffary, tech reporter at Recode by Vox, joins us for what to know.   Finally, robotic engineers have been taking cues from the insect world to create machines that could aid in search and rescue ops, sniff out gas leaks and more.  As sensors and battery tech keeps getting better and smaller, they are outfitting Madagascar hissing cockroaches with 3D-printed sensors or creating fully robotic machines inspired by how insects move and fly.  Pranshu Verma, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the cyborg cockroaches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The effort to create a more secure and powerful internet, one that could potentially be unbackable lies in quantum research going on at the University of Chicago, more specifically in a basement closet at the lab there.  In this closet they are firing off quantum particles into a fiber-optic network with the hopes of eventually connecting a network of supercomputers.  Jeanne Whalen, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how the technology works and what the future of the internet could look like.   Next, as the labor market continues to be tight and employers still face a shortage of workers, many are turning to so-called second chance hiring… recruiting employees with a criminal record.  It has long been a challenge for people who have been convicted of crimes to get jobs and face an employment rate of over 27% from the last numbers we have.  Allison Prang, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how more companies are looking to hire from this untapped talent pool.   Finally, while most people feel comfortable with communicating through text, the new method that is catching on is sending voice messages.  It serves as a happy medium between a call which can be too urgent and a text.  The problem is that not everyone is on board with these audio messages yet and there is some etiquette to follow when sending them.  Magdalene Taylor, contributor to the WSJ, joins us for the year of the voice message.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaked audio has led to a scandal at the Los Angeles City Council.  City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and Gill Cedillo, and LA County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera were all caught in a conversation from last year where they were talking about redistricting and Latino political power and how they could sway it their way, but the conversation quickly devolved into racist remarks made by Martinez about the Black son of one of their fellow councilmembers saying he seemed like a “little monkey.”  Martinez even disparaged other Latino groups.  Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the LA Times, joins us for all the fallout, Martinez has resigned from her position, but not from the city council.   Next, the holiday travel season will be upon us soon and you’re already hearing about how you should start planning and buying those flights now as they are expected to get more expensive.  The other thing to be aware of is surprise rental-car fees that can catch you off guard.  Sneaky refueling fees that pop up on receipts, cancellation fees for pre-paid reservations, and “convenience fees” for riding in toll lanes.  Dawn Gilbertson, travel columnist for the WSJ, joins us for what to watch out for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week President Biden announced an expedited review of how marijuana is scheduled under federal law and that he would pardon individuals charged with simple marijuana possession on a federal level.  This action will clear thousands of people but will not clear state convictions or decriminalize the drug.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at the Hill, joins us for the politics of the pardon and how the abortion issue is playing out before the midterms.   Next, more American are getting married for the first time in their 40s and 50s.  For women, the rates of first marriages in midlife has increased by 74% between 1999 and 2019.  For men, it has increased by 49%.  Many say they didn’t marry sooner because they were pursuing education and careers and some just say they weren’t interested in marrying earlier.  Clare Ansberry, Turning Points columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Finally, sales of energy drinks are up 56% since summer of 2019 and the rise has been partially driven by options that claim to be healthier.  New drinks on the market are touting vitamins, electrolytes, less sugar, and better taste.  Doctors are still not totally convinced and warn of not drinking too much, but that hasn’t stopped big beverage companies from investing in the market.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why everyone is slamming down energy drinks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents, students, and educators have been alarmed recently with the increase of gun confiscations and shootings at school campuses, but also with an increase of swatting events, hoax 911 calls about active shooters.  In response, school districts are beefing up security with new metal detectors, random searches, and anonymous tip lines.  Scott Calvert, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how gun and student behavioral problems are on the rise.   Next, as prices continue to remain high due to inflation, the big question is when will they come down?  Unfortunately, for some goods and services, when prices go up, they tend to stay that way.  These items are referred to as being “sticky” and can include things like the cost of a haircut, household furnishings, baby clothes, alcohol, and medical care.  Julia Carpenter, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about sticky prices.   Finally, why do pets do the quirky things they do?  A lot of their actions tend to have evolutionary roots or are based on bonds they have created with you.  Some researchers think dogs circle before they poop to align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field and paw the ground after to deposit scents and mark territory.  Cats on the other hand bury their waste to cover their tracks.  Marlene Cimons, contributor to The Washington Post, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk has done an about-face and offered to close his deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion.  If both parties agree, they can avert a trial set for later in the month.  Should the deal go through, many expect a lot of changes in the company such as layoffs, lighter content moderation, and adding more functionality.  Musk has said he wants to build a “super app” with offerings similar to WeChat.  Jeremy Owens, SF Bureau Chief and tech editor at MarketWatch, joins us for what to know.   Next, as high inflation continues to batter Americans, the effects are starting to weigh more and more.  A recent report said that 60% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck and even high-income earners are feeling the strain.  Of those earning more than six figures, 45% of them are in the same boat.  At the same time people are feeling a recession fatigue and finding it hard to stay disciplined.  Jessica Dickler, personal finance reporter at CNBC, joins us for more.   Finally, a new survey from Morning Consult is identifying the brands that Gen Z loves the most.  They are crazy for tech and junk food!  YouTube, Google and Netflix are among their favorite corporate brands and then there is M&Ms, Doritos, and KitKat.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for Gen Z’s favorites as they mature into more spending power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, meteorologists, emergency managers, and others are asking what they could have done better to effectively communicate with the public.  This time computer models were at odds with each other until about 36 hours before the storm hit, and graphics used such as the “cone of uncertainty” are often misunderstood.  Andrew Freedman, climate and energy reporter at Axios, joins us for why Ian was one of the most complex hurricanes to forecast.   Next, despite GDP shrinking and fears of a recession looming, many companies are still in hiring mode.  They continue to struggle with staffing shortages that were built up during the pandemic.  There is also still a lot of turnover in many industries that can wreak havoc on efficiency as new hires need to be trained.  Sarah Chaney Cambon, labor economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Finally, the tech giant Google continues to have a hard time innovating and bringing new successful ventures to fruition.  The latest casualty for Google is Stadia, their cloud-based gaming service.  It was shut down three years in after failing to attract new players and developers.  Scott Rosenberg, managing tech editor at Axios, joins us for how Google keeps messing up opportunities to cash in on new technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents in Florida and other areas affected by Hurricane Ian are now in rescue, recovery, and damage assessment mode.  As of Monday, the death toll was over 100 and many still needed their power restored.  For some, a sense of panic has set in for fears that there might not be enough food, water, and gas to go around.  Michelle Kaufman, reporter at the Miami Herald, joins us for what’s next as people try to rebuild and President Biden makes his way there on Wednesday.   Next, Elon Musk and Tesla unveiled the prototype of their humanoid AI robot named Optimus.  When completed, the robot should be able to handle difficult chores, lift heavy objects, and have some conversational capabilities.  The robot should have a price point below $20,000.  Meghan Bobrowsky, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how Tesla wants to be known as more than just a car company.   Finally, as marijuana has been legalized in more states, the taboo around consuming cannabis products has largely faded, but one area where it has not is parents who smoke.  Some parents say that using cannabis helps them relax and be more present to connect with their kids but feel they will be judged if they speak openly about it.  Ellen McCarthy, feature writer at The Washington Post, joins us for the parents who get stoned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police departments across the country are struggling with recruiting new officers and retaining their current force as we are seeing a rise in violent crime and a line of work that has lost its popularity.  To attract more recruits, departments are adjusting standards to fill vacancies which has already led to some problems and boosting up signing bonuses.  In Redding, California, the signing bonus was $40,000, more than half an entire year’s starting salary.  Zusha Elinson, national reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how law enforcement agencies are trying to attract new cops.   Next, Uber has a courier service called Uber Connect, where you can have a package picked up at one location and delivered to another.  Drivers don’t know what’s inside the package, but some suspect they may be being used to transport drugs and other prohibited items.  Drivers can cancel deliveries, but some feel compelled to go through with suspicious deliveries for safety concerns since customers often have your first name, photo, license plate, and vehicle description.  David Ingram, tech reporter at NBC News, spoke to Uber Connect drivers who were worried about being used as drug mules.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hurricane Ian tore through the Southwest Florida coast and caused catastrophic flooding, destroyed infrastructure, and left millions without power.  In all of this, one of the biggest curiosities are those that decide to hunker down and weather the storm despite evacuation orders.  Some stay because they are defiant, others for fear of returning to nothing, and some just don’t have the money to leave.  Jared Leone, contributor to the Washington Post, joins us for why some choose to stay put.   Next, whether you in the path of a hurricane or other extreme weather event, it’s important to be prepared for natural disasters.  Two key things to be prepared with is a way to communicate and a way to maintain power.  You can download emergency preparedness apps to help keep you informed, and don’t forget you can always call 911 even without a phone plan.  A generator or some type of backup power is also a must.  Marc Saltzman, contributor to USA Today, joins us for what tech can keep you prepared.   Finally, you might be “quiet quitting,” coasting by and feeling like you’re getting away with it, but you might also be getting “quiet fired” and it could lead to you actually getting fired.  It’s hard to tell because your boss could be respecting your boundaries, but they could also be overlooking you on new projects or stop inviting you to meetings to minimize your significance.  Callum Borchers, On the Clock columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about being “quiet fired.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got some very good news from a late-stage clinical trial for a drug that slowed down the progression of Alzheimer’s.  Biogen and Eisai’s drug slowed down the cognitive decline in participants by 27% compared to those that received placebos.  The drug does not restore mental capacity or totally stop it, but works by clearing out the buildup of amyloid, a toxic protein that affects the brain.  Robert Langreth, science and health reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know.   Next, the big space news from Monday was NASA’s successful DART mission, the first planetary defense test.  For this test NASA flew an unmanned spacecraft right into a asteroid to test if the impact could disrupt its orbit.  It will still take some weeks for more complete data, but for now, it worked and made for some very compelling video as it made impact.  Miriam Kramer, space reporter at Axios, joins us for more.   Finally, when Covid-19 vaccines were first rolled out, many women were complaining about a strange side effect.  They said it was messing with their menstrual cycles.  Turns out, it was true.  In a study of nearly 20,000 people and with data from a popular period-tracking app, researchers found out that on average vaccinated women experienced a one-day delay in getting their periods, but it was only temporary.  Amanda Morris, disability reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what the research says.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that it has taken down the first targeted campaign by the Chinese to interfere with U.S. elections.  The campaign was limited and not very sophisticated, but it does signal a change from more broadly criticizing American foreign policy to getting involved in domestic politics.  Steven Lee Myers, correspondent at the NY Times, joins us for how leading up to the midterm elections we are seeing another influence campaign.   Next, amid droughts, water shortages and increased efforts to conserve water, low-flow showers are getting more attention.  As more states pass laws restricting showerhead flow, bath companies are working hard to highlight the technology in their fixtures that make it feel like you are getting more with less water.  For example, adding air to water droplets can make a big improvement.  James Tarmy, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know.   Finally, the holiday shopping season will quickly be upon us and the places where kids are going to discover the toys they want are YouTube and TikTok.  The season’s hot toys are closely tied to apps, video games, and influencers and advertising for these products is shifting from TV to social media.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for where to find out which are the top holiday toys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an effort to fight current labor shortages and as robotic technology gets better, you’ll soon start seeing robots manning the fry station at some fast food restaurants.  Miso Robotics has been developing Flippy the robot, initially to flip hamburgers, but the greatest need for restaurants is working the fryer where most backups and accidents happen.  Laura Reiley, business of food reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for where this robot is already working to make you fries.   Next, there are currently over 70 companies in Britain undergoing an experiment with a 4-day work week.  So far, they are about halfway through the six-month experiment, and many of the companies say it is going well.  In some cases, productivity is up, the employees themselves are enjoying it, and customers to these companies aren’t noticing much difference.  Jenny Gross, reporter at the NY Times based in London, joins us for what to know.   Finally, as remote work continues and employers try to navigate the changing work landscape, many are opting to install so-called “bossware“ on their employees devices.  Some say this help to increase accountability, others say it erodes trust.  Emily Peck, markets correspondent at Axios, joins us for how managers are fighting “productivity paranoia.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The midterm elections are six weeks away and new polls show that voters are divided over who should control Congress.  For now, Republicans hold a firm lead on the economy, crime, and inflation.  Democrats hold leads on the issues of abortion and climate change.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for how voters are feeling and the Republican governor that everyone wants stumping for them.   Next, inflation continues to hammer away at the country and another stressor coming to older Americans and those with aging parents, the rising cost of senior living homes.  Long-term care providers have had to deal with higher costs of food, utilities, insurance, wages, and managing Covid-19, and those costs are being passed on to seniors and their families catching them off-guard.  Clare Ansberry, Turning Points columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Finally, another factor that could be keeping the housing supply limited for some time to come is that homeowners are reluctant to sell their homes now that mortgage rates are much higher.  To sell your house and then buy into another loan with a rate nearly double what many have been locked into, doesn’t make sense.  Instead, many are choosing to list their homes for rent.  Nicole Friedman, U.S. housing reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is running out of old whiskey and renewed interest in rare bottles of bourbon has fueled a black market where people sell and trade for their favorite brands.  One case in Virginia highlights how far some will go to get these sought-after bottles, it was an inside job from the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority selling delivery secrets.  Justin Jouvenal, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know about the bourbon boom.   Next, scientists have calculated how many ants there are in the world and the number seems unimaginable.  20 quadrillion!  That’s about 2.5 million ants for every person and a total weight larger than all the wild birds and mammals combined.  Dino Grandoni, environmental reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how scientists were able to come up with this new estimate.   Finally, it seems that the fall Covid booster campaign may be facing an uphill battle to get more shots in arms.  Health authorities are even facing some resistance from those that embraced vaccines early on.  Many aren’t convinced that another shot will improve protection despite being retooled for the Omicron subvariants and there’s also a lack of data on just how effective they are.  Jared Hopkins, Pharma reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Immigration politics have taken center stage after migrants were flown from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last week.  Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has waded into the story after his administration chartered a plane to fly 48 immigrants there at a cost of $615,000.  What’s happened now is that some of the migrants have filed a lawsuit saying they were “lured” to take the flights through fraud and misrepresentation and a Texas sheriff has opened an investigation into the legality of the move.  Gary Fineout, reporter at Politico and author of the Florida Playbook, joins us for what to know.   Next, why does it seem like so many kids need glasses these days?  Myopia, or nearsightedness, for decades was thought to be just a genetic condition, but optometrists are seeing kids come in with vision worse than their parents.  Cutting back on screen time and spending more time outdoors and in open space could help, but there is also a sprouting market for treatments to slow the progression called “myopia control” or “myopia management.”  These can take the form or contacts, lenses or drops.  Sarah Zhang, staff writer at the Atlantic, joins us for more on the myopia generation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a surprise to many, a judge vacated the murder conviction of Adnan Syed who had been serving a life sentence for the murder of his former high school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.  Syed was the subject of the hit podcast “Serial.” An investigation found that prosecutors failed to turn over evidence that could have helped him and pointed to two possible “alternative suspects.”  Michael Levenson, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what’s next, prosecutors have 30 days to drop charges or try him again.   Next, Uber has announced that it was the latest victim of the hacking group Lapsus$, which broke into their internal network systems and posted messages to employees.  This international group of hackers, which includes some teenagers in their ranks, have been motivated by notoriety more so than money and have targeted other top tech companies in the past year.  Bob McMillan, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about Lapsus$.   Finally, an influential U.S. task force has called for routine anxiety screenings by primary care clinicians in adults aged 19-64.  This follows a similar recommendation for children and teens 8 to 18.  The recommendations were made to raise awareness for mental health and catch the signs which can go undetected for years.  Rachel Zimmerman, contributor to the Washington Post, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intensive parenting, or also commonly known as helicopter parenting, is the dominant model of raising children right now. But does that mean it’s a good model to follow? It turns out that research shows this style, one in which parents overextend themselves to ensure their child’s success, may lead to parental burnout and even harm a child’s competency and mental health. Elliot Haspel, early-childhood policy expert and contributor to the Atlantic, joins Oscar Ramirez, for more on intensive parenting, and how to get away from it.   Next, it’s the topic that no one wants to talk about. Death. Or more specifically, what happens to our bodies after we die. Instead of choosing a traditional casket burial, many Americans are deciding to opt for cremations, with 56% of Americans being cremated. By 2040, that number may rise to up to 80%. The number of people who are deciding on green burials has also increased. A couple of examples for these green burials is having the body buried in biodegradable containers or reducing the body into soil that can be used for gardening. Karen Heller, national features writer at The Washington Post, joins Oscar Ramirez, for more on why Americans are moving away from traditional burials.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As our attitudes toward certain drugs begin to relax, many are redefining what it means to be sober. Some drugs, such as magic mushrooms and MDMA are being taken in smaller doses and this action is being claimed by wellness culture. Although we only have limited research, many report beneficial effects on this microdosing.  Luke Winkie, contributor to Vox, joins Oscar Ramirez for the new sober-ish.   Next, almost everyone has a Disney adult in their life. These superfans live and breathe the company’s aesthetic, spending lots of time and money at the theme parks and buying its merchandis. Although they’ve been around for a long time, the term is somewhat new, along with the anti-Disney adult sentiment online while fans mourned the parks’ closures and advocated them reopening in the middle of the pandemic. EJ Dickson, senior writer at Rolling Stone, joins Oscar Ramirez for more on the adult Disney fandom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With so much of our information online and at risk from getting hacked, you may be wondering if it’s possible to scrub yourself from the internet.  Unfortunately, you’ll probably never delete everything about you online, but you can minimize how much information is out there. However, it’s going to take a lot of time, patience, and money.  Heather Kelly, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins Oscar Ramirez for what to know about deleting your data online.   Next, should recess be a right or a privilege for children in schools? For a long time educators have withheld recess as a form of punishment for misbehaving students. However, research has shown that allowing students unstructured free time is important for developing social and coping skills in children, and there is a movement to protect recess, prohibiting schools from taking it away as a punishment.  Jackie Mader, early education reporter at The Hechinger Report, joins Oscar Ramirez for more on the fight for recess.   Finally, buy now, pay later. The model that allows consumers to buy something, take it home, and pay for it in installments has exploded in popularity. We’re seeing more and more retail stores and apps offering this service and getting in on the action. While many are incentivized with the service, especially with most of them being interest free, some experts are warning against them over concerns of overspending. Claire Ballentine, personal finance reporter at Bloomberg News, joins Oscar Ramirez for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although Pornhub wasn’t the first tube site, it still remains on top 15 years after its launch. The site was a good partner to studios and creators and helped to promote their content. It changed the way people entered and worked in the industry and even laid the groundwork for other sites such as OnlyFans. Anna Iovine, reporter at Mashable, joins Oscar Ramirez for how Pornhub changed the world.   Next, social media influencers are being given free or discounted beauty procedures in exchange for promotional posts and some of them are starting to regret it.  Surgeons, clinics and med spas cannot advertise through official channels on platforms like TikTok, but they are able to make deals with influencers to make posts advertising their products.  For the influencers themselves, they say that some of these procedures can be addictive, beginning with lip fillers and botox, and then moving on to facial surgeries, all to look good for their social media followers.  Kat Tenbarge, tech and culture reporter at NBC News, joins Oscar Ramirez for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educators are experimenting with new new ways of grading that don’t rely on the traditional A-F grading system which many say is inequitable. These experiments often focus on the work students do, allowing for them to redo tests and papers, and letting students own their learning by giving themselves deadlines.  Valerie Strauss, education reporter at The Washington Post, joins Oscar Ramirez for the hunt for a fairer grading system.   Next, is a story of a man named Vaughn Smith. Vaughn cleans carpets for a living and is also a hyperpolyglot, someone who can speak 11 languages or more. However, Vaughn is special, and by his count he can speak around 37 languages. It turns out, that Vaughn’s brain looks different and functions differently than a monolingual person’s. Jessica Contrera, reporter at The Washington Post, joins Oscar Ramirez for more about Vaughn, what drove him to learn so much, and how his brain really works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the US economy has recouped around 22 million jobs that were lost during the pandemic, many of these workers are new and inexperienced. These workers shuffled around between industries and are thrown into the fray without as much training as they need. This inexperience has caused service to be slow and inefficient with some of the most effected industries being restaurants, airlines, and even hospital systems. Lauren Weber, reporter at the Wall Street Journal, joins Oscar Ramirez for more.     Next, we may have seen the end of the coupon. As inflation remains high and costs of goods seem to skyrocket, many are looking for deals. However, circulation of paper and digital coupons is down and redemption rates have plummeted. It seems that people just don’t have the time to sort through them anymore. And with the rise of smartphones and online shopping, customers are incentivized to get their deals through other means.  Lydia DePillis, economy reporter at the NY Times, joins Oscar Ramirez to explain where all of the coupons have gone.   Finally, how many friends do you actually need? Although some have said we can hold around 150 meaningful relationships at one time, research says that the magic number of close friends is about 3-5.  And these close relationships take time, with it taking around 200 hours to become close with someone. Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox, joins Oscar Ramirez for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new Gallup poll shows that half of US workers say they are quiet quitting, a phenomenon in which employees do the bare minimum at work. The key term here is employee engagement which measures involvement at work and enthusiasm employees have about work. Since 2021, employee engagement has fallen as workers feel unfulfilled with their jobs and are now being asked to return to the office. Ray Smith, reporter on the Careers Team at the Wall Street Journal, joins Oscar Ramirez for more on quiet quitting.   Next, did you know there is a secret world of private gigs?  These have always been around, but now music stars are getting paid millions to play private weddings and parties.  The key here, is secrecy. Attendees usually sign NDAs to protect all parties involved from criticism of inequality of wealth and how much is being paid for these acts.  Experts say that this trend will continue, moving beyond acts hired for nostalgia to pop stars.  David Browne, senior writer at Rolling Stone, joins Oscar Ramirez for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools are back but they are still dealing with the setbacks and learning loss all due to the pandemic.  Recently we saw Department of Education data showing 9-year-olds are behind in reading and math, the sharpest decline we’ve seen since 1990.  The learning loss was generally worse in districts that kept classes remote longer.  To combat this, states are spending billions on tutoring, expanded summer school, and more individual attention for students.  Scott Calvert, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more on what schools are doing and how they are tracking progress.   Next, we’ll tell you about LA’s first street psychiatrist trying to tackle mental health in the homeless population where it is desperately needed.  Dr. Shayan Rab leads the Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) team and approaches homeless individuals with the hopes of getting them long-term treatment and off the street.  Since this street-based treatment is not done in a traditional setting, Dr. Rab and his team must get creative and resourceful in how they provide help and even fill prescriptions.  Doug Smith, senior writer at the LA Times, joins us for how street psychiatry is trying to pull some out of homelessness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of people out there have some regrets about their education.  Just about 2 in 5 American graduates regret the major they took with almost half of humanities and arts majors regretting their choice.  After the Great Recession, the country took a big shift to STEM majors and generally those students were happy with their decision.  Andrew Van Dam, Department of Data columnist at The Washington Post, joins us for the most regretted and lowest paying college majors.   Next, as the uneven economic news leads to fears of a recession, people are worried about their job security as companies look to cut costs.  The four kinds of employees most likely to get laid off in a downturn are new hires, high earners, millennials, and recruiters and coders.  Aki Ito, senior correspondent at Insider, joins us for how those who benefitted from the Great Resignation are most at risk.   Finally, as overall pandemic worries continue to fade, one of the biggest curiosities continues to be log Covid, what causes it and who is the most susceptible?  A new study says that psychological factors such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness, could be better predictors than physical ailments.  To be clear, it is not a causal relationship, but there is an association.  Siwen Wang, research fellow at Harvard and lead author of this study, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday granted former President Trump’s requested to appoint a special master to review documents seized during the raid at Mar-a-Lago.  With her decision, Cannon, who is a Trump appointee, has also waded into the messy politics of the whole situation as many quickly criticized the ruling.  Zoe Tillman, senior reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know about the special master and its impact.   Next, we’ll tell you about all the backlash to quiet quitting.  It started as a movement among office workers to just do the bare minimum and draw more work/life boundaries, but bosses and work coaches say there really isn’t a reason to coast on the job.  Detractors say it can cause more laziness and even hurt the performance of other employees.   Kathryn Dill, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why people are hating on quiet quitting.   Finally, you may have seen them strolling on a sidewalk near you, but delivery robots may not be ready for prime time just yet.  A pilot program in 4 cities looking at the impact of these delivery bots determined that in a lot of cases it was the failure of local infrastructure that proved difficult for them to succeed.  They worked in more controlled environments but might not be ready for more critical tasks such as delivering medication.  Joann Muller, transportation correspondent at Axios, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teachers in California have been struggling to make ends meet and, in some cases, they are having to take on side gigs to be able to afford to live in the areas where they teach.  A recent survey showed that almost 70% of teachers in the LA area have considered quitting, 28% of them had a second job.  Nationally there are about 300,000 fewer workers in public education in June of this year compared to February 2020.  Michael Sainato, reporter at the Guardian, joins us for how more on teachers thinking about leaving the profession.   Next, telehealth companies got a big push during the pandemic when rules were waived that required people to see an in-person health provider to be prescribed controlled substances.  Now telehealth apps are spending millions to advertise on TikTok saying they can get a person a diagnosis of ADHD and a prescription for Adderall in as little as 30 minutes.  Content creators are also posting about living life with ADHD leading to billions of views and many to think they might also have the condition. Then they are targeted with ads.  Sara Morrison, senior reporter at Recode, joins us for how startups are pushing Adderall on TikTok.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even as pandemic disruptions have faded and most schools have returned to in-person instruction, permanent virtual classes are still being offered to protect vulnerable children.  Districts in Texas, California, and New York are creating full-time remote learning programs for this school year.  The virtual option may only be appropriate for a small percentage of students, but in an effort to fight declining enrollment and disruptions from families moving, virtual schools will remain part of the education system. Ben Chapman, education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, the country has been grappling with a drug overdose crisis driven by opioids, most notably fentanyl.  Early on, most of the fentanyl came from China, but now two Mexican drug cartels have dominated the supply coming to the U.S.  The Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have set up sophisticated operations handling the manufacturing, marketing, and delivery of the synthetic drug.  For them, the formula is easy to replicate and inexpensive to make.  Jon Kamp, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how these cartels are controlling the U.S. fentanyl market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the California legislature passed a bill to create a government panel that would set wages for fast food workers in the state.  They would be able to set hourly wages of up to $22/hour.  Fast food operators are mobilizing against the bill saying it will drive up operating and labor costs and lead to price increases for consumers.  Unions on the other hand are praising the decision and other states are keeping an eye on the developments with a possibility of adopting similar legislation.  Heather Haddon, restaurants reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, we are increasingly seeing anxious and depressed teenagers use multiple psychiatric drugs, a practice called polypharmacy.  The problem is that many of the medications might not be tested in adolescents or tested for use together.  Often this path starts with drugs used to treat ADHD and other medication gets added on to treat side effects or dull the effects of some drugs.  A study from 2020, found that over 40% of people ages 2 to 24 who were prescribed ADHD drugs were also prescribed at least one other medication for mood and behavioral disorders.  Matt Richtel, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The FDA has cleared the new Covid booster shots that target the Omicron subvariants that are prominent right now.  The shots are likely to be offered very soon but complicating the efforts will be the vaccine fatigue that has set in and the fact that these shots have been cleared without results from clinical trials.  Vaccine experts say it is not needed since it’s just an update to a proven shot and is similar to the process for flu shots.  Liz Whyte, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about the retooled boosters.   Next, get ready for the magic mushroom pill!  As the medical benefits of psychedelic drugs has moved into solid science and more mainstream startups are racing ahead to bring products to market.  Psilocybin and other psychedelics have shown promise in treating conditions like depression and PTSD and is especially effective when paired with therapy.  As a result, we are seeing an industry pop up that could see a global market for psychedelic pharmaceuticals reach $6.9 billion by 2027.  Kristen V Brown, health editor and reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The water system in Jackson, Mississippi is failing.  There is little to no drinking water and residents are under order to boil water for 3 minutes before drinking or using to cook.  Gov. Tate Reeves has signed an emergency declaration and first steps are to restore water quantity at the O.B. Curtis Water treatment plant and then water quality as the shortage is expected to last days.  Bobby Harrison, senior capitol reporter at Mississippi Today, joins us for what to know about this water system failure.   Next, thieves across the country are targeting Hyundai and Kia owners.  Design flaws in the cars that use a steel key and not fobs or push-button start are being stolen, sometimes in a matter of seconds with as little as a screwdriver or a USB cord.  Tutorials online and even groups calling themselves the “Kia Boys” are popularizing the thefts.  Annalise Frank, Detroit reporter at Axios, joins us for what to know.   Finally, Republicans had been excited for a red wave to hit in the midterm elections, but those hopes have been running up against a few walls recently.  Democrats have a long way to go to maintain their majorities in both chambers of Congress, but Democrats recently scored a victory in a bellwether election, persuadable voters are trending towards Dems, and the abortion issue isn’t playing well for the GOP.  Sahil Kapur, senior national political reporter at NBC News, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salvage food stores have long been a place for people to find deals at a deep discount, but inflation and some rebranding is making them grow in popularity.  These stores sell what mainstream retailers call “unsellables,” often products like dented cans and boxes, things on the cusp of sell-by dates, and weird holiday marketing attempts.  Another thing fueling interest is the small subgenre on social media where people chronicle their trips and display their hauls like trophies.  Some people just love finding a good deal.  Kim Severson, food correspondent at the NY Times, joins us for what to know about salvage stores.   Next, almost $400 million went to a veteran retraining program as part of the American Rescue Plan, but a lack of oversight and the involvement of for-profit schools led to a flop where only 397 veterans landed jobs.  It’s known as the Veteran Rapid Retraining Program or VRRAP.  One school where there were problems was the Chicago-based Future Tech Career Institute.  Students there said that schedules were disorganized and didn’t follow a set syllabus, and school-issued laptops didn’t have enough memory and couldn’t run critical software.  Lisa Rein, reporter at the Washington Post covering the federal government, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The discussions surrounding President Biden’s decision to forgive some student debt for millions of Americans continued with some opponents saying it would increase inflation and it amounts to an unfair bailout for elites and those that could not manage their loans.  The White House chose to fight back by highlighting several Republican lawmakers who had six and seven figure PPP loans forgiven which taxpayers were also in the hook for.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for this, more fallout from the Mar-a-Lago raid, and Democrats thinking they may have a chance in November after all.   Next, Abbott Laboratories has restarted production of Similac at their plant Michigan that was at the center of the U.S. baby formula shortage.  One thing that gets overlooked was what caused the shutdown…a lot of sloppiness coming from the factory.  By the time FDA investigators showed up for their annual inspection, it was already a year overdue because of Covid restrictions.  Despite finding evidence of cronobacter bacteria at the plant, the FDA relied on Abbot to fix its own problems and then came a whistleblower report.  By the time the plant was shut down some babies had fallen ill, and the shortage was imminent.  Anna Edney, national healthcare reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for how the US baby formula shortage got started.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA’s Artemis program which will return people to the surface of the moon will have a big test on Monday.  We will see a launch of the new moon rocket called the Space Launch System.  It will send an uncrewed Orion capsule around the moon and back and eventually take people to the moon surface in 2025.  Miriam Kramer, space reporter at Axios, joins us to discuss if NASA’s old way of space exploration will stand up in the modern space age.   Next, the fall Covid-19 booster campaign will be upon us soon and how well the new Omicron-specific boosters will work may depend on a phenomenon called “original antigenic sin.”  Since people have been infected, vaccinated, and boosted, people’s immune systems are on different playing fields and your first exposure may play a bigger part in future immune responses.  Carolyn Johnson, science reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, everyone wants that opportunity to achieve the perfect work/life balance and remote work is a big factor, but would you take a pay cut for it?  Some employers are currently debating whether remote work can be classified as a perk or benefit and pocket the savings by reducing salaries for people working at home, especially if they move to lower-cost markets.  Don Lee, economics reporter at the LA Times, joins us for how you may soon be asked to take a pay cut to keep working from home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big news for those with student loan debt!  President Biden announced that he will forgive $10,000 in federal student debt and $20,000 for those with Pell grants.  This new action will affect millions and see almost 9 million people get their balances wiped completely.  There are earnings caps and the payment pause on most federal loans has been extended through December 31.  Annie Nova, personal finance reporter at CNBC, joins us for what to know about the debt relief and the pressure from both sides of the aisle, some still don’t think it was enough and others think it could set a bad precedent and increase inflation.   Next, Google has an automated tool to detect abusive images of children that is a big help in combating the online spread of these types of photos, but sometimes the system can get it wrong, and the consequences can be serious.  Recently a father took a picture of his naked son to send to the doctor for a diagnosis, but as the photo passed through Google’s servers it was flagged and it all went downhill.  The father became the target of a police investigation and lost access to his account along with a decade’s worth of contacts emails and photos.  Kashmir Hill, technology reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know about this case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The street takeover scene in Los Angeles is growing in popularity along with a growing backlash from residents demanding that law enforcement do more to crack down on these dangerous gatherings.  Often organizing on social media, people are blocking off streets to race and perform dangerous car stunts on city streets.  In the last 6 months, at least eight people have died at or near street takeovers.  Nathan Solis, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for how a lack of police resources make it tough to curb the events.   Next, it sounds like more and more infectious diseases are popping up every day.  Polio, monkeypox, Marburg virus and other infectious diseases are increasingly in the news for spreading around the globe.  It’s not just one thing that is causing this, but a combination of factors like our increased contact with animals, the pace of global travel, and climate change.  Hilary Brueck, health correspondent at Insider, joins us for what to know.   Finally, there’s a mysterious illness killing dogs in northern Michigan.  Officials are investigating, but they believe it could be a new strain of the parvovirus.  What’s complicating efforts is that while the symptoms are similar to parvo, some dogs are testing negative for it.  Layla McMurtrie, reporter at the Detroit Free Press, joins us for what to know about this illness affecting young and unvaccinated dogs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you friends with the people you work with?  After going through the Great Resignation or starting to work remote more and more are saying that work friendships are harder to form and are also less of a priority.  In a survey of U.S. employees, relationships with co-workers tied at the very bottoms as a factor for job satisfaction. Compensation and work-life balance ranked the highest.  What’s more, half of workers aged 18-25 said workplace friendship were not at all important.  Lindsay Ellis, careers reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how Americans are breaking up with their work friends.   Next, there’s one place in the country that is a constant factor in why airline travel can get so bad… Florida.  The airspace in Florida can serve as an obstacle course for airlines and the effects of delays cascade throughout the rest of the country, even if you’re not flying through the area.  Bad weather, military exercises, space launches, and being short-staffed at air traffic control, all contribute to the woes of flyers.  Micah Maidenberg, space and aviation reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why you can blame Florida for making air travel so miserable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The political fallout continues from the FBI’s raid on Mar-a-Lago as Republicans maintain it was all politically motivated government overreach.  Since the search, the FBI has come under increased scrutiny and threats of violence.  FBI Director Christopher Wray, who is trying to distance himself from the politics is reportedly “pissed” about the threats against his department.  Former President Trump on the other hand, is pressing for the unredacted release of the affidavit that led to the search warrant.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for the latest and a look at how Republicans are worried about their possible gains in the Senate.   Next, Inc. Magazine has released their list of the fastest growing companies in America. Among the top 500, the median revenue growth rate over the past three years has been 2,144% and of all the companies on the list, they have added about 1.2 million jobs.  Scott Omelianuk, Editor in Chief at Inc. Magazine joins us for the results of their CEO survey, what these companies reveal about the future of business, and a look at SnapNurse, the Uber of nursing and how it has reimagined medical staffing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the better bargain, eating out or cooking at home?  As record high inflation continues to punish Americans, we are seeing the biggest gap between grocery stores and restaurants since the 70s.  Since last year, grocery prices have increased 13.1% while restaurant prices have gone up 7.6% and they are pushing out new deals showcasing the value over shopping at the grocery store.  Heather Haddon, restaurants reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, the schools of the future are going to be looking a lot different than the current architecture.  Gone are the hallway and classroom models, start looking for flexible learning spaces with movable walls, wellness rooms, and better ventilation which will promote a “whole child” approach that focuses on small groups, collaboration, and hands on learning.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for what to know about the K-12 schools of the future.   Finally, have you even been ghosted in a relationship? Did it mess with your mind?  In a study of college students at Wesleyan University, some students admitted that they ghosted because they lacked the right communication skills to have an honest conversation.  Others said they did it to leave a toxic relationship.  Jhanelle Thomas, Master of Arts at Wesleyan University joins us to talk about how ghosting is linked to mental health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vasectomies have been growing in popularity recently as a form of contraception and it’s not the middle-aged dads you might think, younger child-free men have been scheduling more appointments with their urologists and even posting about their experiences on social media.  Alisha Haridasani Gupta, reporter at the NY Times, joins us what for could be driving this… the economy and a more restrictive family planning landscape.   Next, it was expected, but Rep. Liz Cheney lost her primary in Wyoming to the Trump-backed Harriet Hageman, 66% to 29%.  It all went downhill for Cheney politically after she voted to impeach Trump and for her part in leading the Jan. 6 hearings.  Lachlan Markay, politics reporter at Politico, joins us for the loss and what’s next for her, she could be gearing up for a 2024 presidential run.   Finally, Pfizer’s Covid antiviral drug Paxlovid is leaving a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.  It’s a side effect of the drug called dysgeusia that people say tastes like a mouthful of dirty pennies or even rotten milk.  In some cases, it’s so bad, people have said they want to discontinue taking the treatment, which doctors don’t recommend.  Alex Janin, personal health reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about Paxlovid mouth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Flash” star Ezra Miller has released a statement saying they are seeking treatment for “complex mental issues.” Miller has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons as they have faced a series of legal issues and assault and abuse allegations.  Warner Bros. has spent $200 million on the movie so far and looks like the remain committed to a theatrical release in 2023.  Brent Lang, executive editor at Variety, joins us to discuss whether this will be enough to squash Miller’s PR mess.   Next, all eyes were on a signature verification process in Los Angeles to see if the recall of LA’s DA George Gascon would be put on the ballot. On Monday the numbers came in and the effort failed to provide enough valid signatures.  Many signatures were thrown out for being duplicates or the person not being registered to vote.  Jeremy White, CA politics reporter at Politico, joins us for what this does for the progressive prosecutor movement.   Finally, the pandemic took a big toll on movie theaters causing closures and worries across the industry, but we are seeing with recent releases that people still love going out to theaters for blockbusters.  Studio execs are also committing to the big screen and readjusting their priorities to continue releases.  Erich Schwartzel, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how movie theaters are back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Streaming companies continue to be frustrated by customers who subscribe to their service, watch the shows they want, then cancel and go to another platform.  Competition is stiff for the streamers, but price-conscious customers looking for more content are following specific shows rather than staying loyal to any one service.  Sarah Krouse, streaming reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how customer loyalty is declining at the top streaming services.   Next, as we continue to see low job satisfaction and high burnout rates among workers and changing policies and priorities from leaders, middle managers are stuck with pressure from both sides and are having a hard time keeping everything on track.  Especially hard is implementing return to work plans and dealing with turnover.  Julia Herbst, senior editor at Fast Company, joins us for why no one wants to be a middle manager anymore.   Finally, on the ballot this November, one Southern California county will ask its residents if they want to secede from the state.  Feeling like they aren’t getting enough funding, San Bernardino County will ask voters if they want them to “to study all options to obtain its fair share of state and federal resources, up to and including secession. “  Dani Anguiano, reporter at The Guardian US, joins us for how residents feel and the hard road ahead to actually break away.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former President Trump had a very tumultuous time last week as his home at Mar-a-Lago was raided by the FBI.  There they seized 11 sets of classified documents, some that were labeled top secret.  Latest reports say that in his final days in office, he was so preoccupied with trying to overturn the election, that he failed to properly prepare to leave the White House leaving aides to just throw everything into boxes. Trump now faces three separate criminal investigations.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for what to know about the raid, how Republican leaders are reacting, and two primaries to watch out for this week.   Next, stick shift cars may soon be a thing of the past.  Of the hundreds of new car models for sale in 2022, only 30 can be purchased with a manual transmission.  A couple of reasons why the manual is on its way out, is that new car technology has become too good and the rise of electric vehicles, which have no gear boxes, continues to push them out.  Still, many car drivers love the connection they feel when controlling the car and lament how they may no longer be, myself included.  Ian Bogost, contributing writer at The Atlantic, joins us for the end of the manual transmission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming out of the Great Resignation and the tight labor market, some employers are saying that it’s finally getting a little easier to hire.  Especially when we look at the hospitality and healthcare industries, employers are having a better time at recruiting and getting people to accept offers.  Uber, which has rebounded with drivers, said they think inflationary pressures motivated more people to drive for the platform.  Chip Cutter, workplace reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how inflation could be bringing more people to the workforce and causing less turnover.   Next, an interesting story about how a mother and her daughter are facing criminal charges after the daughter had an abortion in Nebraska.  In this case police obtained their Facebook messages through a search warrant.  In Nebraska, 20 weeks is the limit to have an abortion, and the teen at the time had it some weeks after. The pair contracted with another man to bury the body after the baby came out stillborn.  Jason Koebler, editor in chief at Motherboard, joins us for how this case highlights how tech companies could be enlisted by law enforcement to prosecute these cases.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. inflation has eased slightly to 8.5% down from its 40-year high of 9.1%.  Some of the gains have been made up with falling energy and gas prices, but grocery prices are still as concern as they are up 13% from last year.  The Fed has been managing the inflation crisis with adjustments to the key interest rate and meets next month to evaluate.  Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about the latest inflation numbers.   Next, the labor market remains tight despite recession fears and the U.S. added 528,000 jobs in July driven mostly by travel and hospitality sectors.  On the other hand, the tech sector has been dealing with cuts and business is booming for layoff specialists.  These are companies that help businesses with identifying who to layoff, make sure they receive the right amount of severance, and day-of communication plans.  Maxwell Strachan, features writer and editor at Motherboard, joins us for what to know.   Finally, the Covid pandemic has changed just about every aspect of Americans’ health, and it has mostly been for the worse.  As people missed health screenings, abandoned routines, and went through isolation we saw a range of other chronic diseases worsen.  Overall death rates of heart disease and stroke rose, drug overdose deaths and alcohol abuse rose, and even mental health took a hit.  Brianna Abbot, health reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this time of high inflation and recession fears the country continues to add more jobs driven by gains in the travel and hospitality industries.  Restaurants, bars and hotels keep hiring people, but they still don’t have enough as pent-up demand for those services remains high. Allison Pohle, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how many of these industries have recovered almost all of their pre-pandemic jobs.   Next, Amazon recently held an event where they debuted some improvements in their text-to-speech technology and had and AI mimic the voice of someone’s dead grandmother.  What’s amazing is that it’s becoming easier to create these artificially generated voices to sound like anyone and in this case, they only needed about 60 seconds of audio rather than 60 hours.  Adam Bluestein, contributor to Fast Company, joins us for how this is just the beginning for voice cloning.   Finally, craft beer lovers beware!  Brewers are facing a shortage of carbon dioxide and it could cause delays in production.  Breweries rely on CO2 for putting bubbles in the beer itself, but also along the production process to move the beer through lines and purge oxygen from tanks.  Emily Heil, food reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the latest challenge for craft brewers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are seeing an increase in food insecurity around the country and this time around it is not due to a wave of people losing jobs, rather high inflation has been hitting Americans hard, leading many to seek out help from food banks.  Lora Kelley, business reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how the food banks themselves are struggling to meet demand as they see decreasing donations and increased costs due to paying more for transportation and acquiring food.    Next, despite fears of a recession and record-high inflation, pent-up demand for travel and fun are leading people to Las Vegas.  After sheltering for most of the pandemic, older consumers are returning to the Strip, international travelers are also back, and work and fan conventions are filling up the calendar.  Katherine Sayre, gambling reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how people are feeling lucky as Vegas is still booming.   Finally, American’s urge to spend has not stopped even as prices have increased, and they are whipping out their credit cards and charging it.  There has been a shift in buying physical goods and home items during the pandemic to spending on experiences like travel and entertainment and it’s raising the amount of credit card debt.  Javier David, managing editor for business and markets at Axios, joins us for what to know about soaring credit card debt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senate Democrats have passed the Inflation Reduction Act with a 51-50 vote, Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote.  Democrats say the bill will combat climate change, reduce health care costs, reduce the deficit, and raise taxes on big corporations.  The bill now moves on to the House before it hits Biden’s desk, but the bill also delivers another big win for the president.  Despite some wins however polls still show that Americans are worried about the economy and Biden’s approvals remain low.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for what to know.   Next, some streaming stars are learning the hard way what the price of online fame can be.  Stars on the video game streaming platform Twitch invite viewers into their homes to hangout, interact with fans and they can gain big followings pretty quickly, but they also have to deal with stalkers and harassment.  While it’s not new that celebrities have had to deal with these difficulties from fans, the intimacy that the streaming relationship allows for just amps it up.  Kellen Browning, tech reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how content creators and streamers are now hoping that platforms put a greater emphasis on personal security.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. has officially declared the monkeypox outbreak a national health emergency.  This is in addition to various states already declaring their own emergencies.  The designation frees up funds to ramp up vaccination efforts, testing, education, and outreach.  In the meantime, many monkeypox patients feel there is a lack of guidance and have been reporting excruciating pain.  Dominique Mosbergen, medical science reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, researchers at Yale University have used a new system they created called OrganEx to restore cells in some organs of pigs that had just died.  When blood is no longer pumping through organs the cells begin to die, but with this system, it restored circulation and even repaired some of the damaged cells.  Evan Bush, science reporter at NBC News, joins us for this breakthrough and the ethical questions raised about how medicine defines death.   Finally, Polio is back in the U.S. after being eliminated in 1979.  There was a recent case in an unvaccinated 20-year-old in Rockland County, New York.  What makes this case interesting is that it came from a vaccine derived strain, meaning that it mutated from an oral vaccine that had small amounts of the live virus.  Miranda Dixon-Luinenburg, joins us for this latest case and how it affects the global eradication efforts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Fed tries to combat inflation by raising interest rates and cooling down the economy, it risks moving us into a recession and causing a big spike in unemployment.  Now, there is a fight brewing about how big the jump could be or if it will be more of a soft landing like the Fed wants.  As it stands now, there has been a small drop in job openings, but there are still roughly two jobs open for each unemployed worker.  Courtenay Brown, economics reporter at Axios, joins us for the inflation vs. jobs fight.   Next, when it comes to student debt, the fastest-growing demographic of borrowers are those aged sixty-two and older.  Of the forty-five million Americans who have student debt, one in five are over fifty and we have seen their student loan balances increase over 500%.  One example of how bad it can get… a woman took out a $29,000 federal loan in 1983, she is now 91 and owes more than $329,000.  Eleni Schirmer, organizer with the Debt Collective and contributor to The New Yorker, joins us for how more Americans are aging into their debt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden made the announcement Monday that Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed by a drone strike in Afghanistan.  The CIA zeroed in on his location by carefully studying the movements of him and his family until Biden authorized a “precise tailored airstrike” with two Hellfire R9X missiles hitting Zawahiri in the balcony of his safe house in Kabul.  Idrees Ali, foreign policy correspondent at Reuters, joins us how the strike happened and the impact it has made on the terrorist network.   Next, a popular side hustle selling Dum Dum lollipops on Amazon is costing the candy company who makes them millions and it’s also violating Amazon’s policy.  People are engaging in drop-shipping and pocketing the profits by looking for products with lower prices than on Amazon, then posting those items on the website, waiting for someone to place an order, and finally purchasing the product from the other retailer and shipping it directly to the customer.  A lot of these methods are also driven by tutorials on YouTube and TikTok.  Spencer Soper, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for how it all works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shortly after millennials hit their teens and started getting jobs, their employment numbers plummeted fueling the myth of the lazy millennial.  But now, after looking at the data, it seems like it might not be that they didn’t want jobs, rather they were entering the workforce after two recessions and competing with laid-off, more experienced workers.  Andrew Van Dam, Department of Data columnist at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Next, the nonprofit agency that operates the transplant system is called the United Network for Organ Sharing and according to a recent review, the technology used to match donated organs to patients is in need of a full overhaul.  It has been plagued by aged out software, periodic system failures, and an over-reliance of manually inputting data.  Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.   Finally, as the group of people who have not had Covid continues to shrink, many ideas begin to swirl about how they have avoided it for so long.  For some it could be a healthy immune system, masking, or just luck, but could genetics also be at play?  Katherine Wu, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for how scientists are looking into whether some are just naturally resistant to the virus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is visiting 4 Asian countries to discuss trade, Covid-19, climate change and security.  Missing notably from her itinerary is whether Pelosi and her delegation would visit Taiwan in what would be the first visit from an American official since 1997.  China has warned of consequences if Pelosi does touch down there because China claims them as their territory.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for what to know about this, Republicans increasingly courting Latino voters, and Biden testing positive again for Covid-19.   Next, the deadliest road in America is US-19, a stretch of highway in Pasco County, Florida.  The road has three lanes on both sides with extra turn lanes and a speed limit of 45-55 mph making it more like a freeway.  The road was definitely not built with pedestrians in mind as crosswalks are few and far between causing people to often cross where they can to access the businesses and restaurants along the way.  Roads like this are called “stroads” meant to be quick thoroughfares through multiple cities, but also share characteristics with smaller streets, places for people to live, shop, and eat and this combination can be deadly for those on foot.  Marin Cogan, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. economy shrunk for a second quarter putting us on a path closer to a recession.  GDP fell at a rate of 0.9% after a 1.6% decline in the first quarter.  Most of the dip was driven by slower consumer spending and drops in business and residential investment.  Reade Pickert, economy reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for how we will still need official news from the National Bureau of Economic Research to determine if the recession is here.   Next, as interest rates are rising, companies are calling workers back to the office, and home prices expected to fall, Zoomtowns that drew in remote workers during the pandemic are showing that the housing market is cooling fast.  Boise, Idaho in particular is emblematic of this with its housing market currently overvalued by 69%.  Nicole Friedman, U.S. housing reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know as more houses are sitting on the market longer.   Finally, the new battleground for fast-food restaurants is chicken nuggets.  KFC will be testing new nuggets that could replace their popcorn chicken and Boston Market has rolled out their first nuggets that are roasted and not fried.  The industry is looking to boost profits by targeting younger Gen Z customers who love their chicky nuggies.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for the nugget wars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two HIV patients have joined a very small group of patients who seem to have beaten the virus.  A 66-year-old man who received a transplant of stem cells with a genetic mutation that blocks HIV has no virus in his body and a woman in her 70s that was treated with retroviral drugs and immune boosting therapies is “functionally cured.”  Researchers are hoping that these cases will provide clues to a possible cure in the future.  Betsy McKay, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, let’s talk about all those pandemic impulse buys you may be regretting.  It was a time when everyone had a lot of time on their hands and some extra money, so people bought Peloton bikes, roller skates, bread makers, even new homes or pets, but now that things have returned a little more to normal those things have hit the back burner.  Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for pandemic buyer’s remorse.   Finally, high inflation costs have sent businesses searching for new sources of revenue and greener way to deal with waste and it’s leading to some interesting new products.  Think compost made from crabs, vodka distilled from dairy waste, and soap made from bacon grease.  Harriet Torry, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how customers are reating to inflation’s funky byproducts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With much of President Biden’s legislative agenda stalled recently he is finally poised for some big wins in Congress.  The first major prescription drug legislation in nearly 20 years and a $50 billion bill to subsidize semiconductor chip manufacturing are two bills that have bipartisan support and appear to be on their way to passing.  Mike DeBonis, congressional reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how Democrats hope these bills have big political payoffs.   Next, as inflation continues to push prices higher for everyone, businesses are looking to offset their increased costs by making products slightly smaller but keeping the same price.  It’s called shrinkflation, and if you don’t pay close enough attention, you could be missing out.  Laura Daily, contributor to The Washington Post, joins us for how to combat shrinkflation by looking at unit pricing and keeping an eye on tricky labeling.   Finally, the sober-curious movement is making its way into dating and more people are opting to go out without the drinks.  Social norms around drinking on dates have changed and people looking for more authentic connections.  They are also making sure to mention it on their online dating profiles.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how younger adults are looking for more creative dates without the booze.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The WHO has now declared monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern.”  Cases have continued to rise worldwide and has not necessarily grown out of control, but it has the potential to do so.  Part of this is to also raise awareness for people to know symptoms, warning signs, and look out for guidelines.  Keren Landman, epidemiologist and senior health reporter at Vox, joins us for what to know.   Next, many experts may have been wrong about the Great Resignation.  While workers have been quitting and switching jobs to get more power, money and benefits, the big gains have only benefited a select group.  Fears that a recession could be coming also have the potential to make it worse.  Juliana Kaplan, labor and inequality reporter at Business Insider, joins us for more.   Finally, the exclusive club of people who have not had Covid continues to shrink.  However, some experts say that most people have been infected even if you didn’t realize it as some 40% of confirmed cases are asymptomatic.  Immunologists are looking into whether exposure to other pathogens or coronaviruses could trigger immune responses before Covid spreads.  Julie Wernau, health and medicine reporter at the WSJ, joins us for those that think they have remained Covid-free.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden is still recovering from Covid-19 as his doctors have said he has improved significantly but still has a sore throat while other symptoms have diminished.  They also said that it is likely that he has the BA.5 Omicron subvariant.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for a quick health update and what we learned from dueling Trump and Pence rallies in Arizona.  The Republican base still loves the former President as he gears up to run again.   Next, Beyond Meat has a pepperoni problem.  It currently has a deal to bring its alt-meat to KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, but more than a year into its partnership it is struggling to deliver on the new products.  When it comes to the pepperoni, only a small test has been done at select Pizza Hut locations because they kept hitting speed bumps along the way.  The fake pepperoni links are formed in Pennsylvania, flown to Europe to be cooked and sliced, then flown back to the states.  There were even disagreements over the order of cooking and slicing.  Deena Shanker, food reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for Beyond Meat’s struggles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has tested positive for Covid-19 despite being vaccinated and double boosted and is experiencing mild symptoms.  The current wave of infections we are seeing are mostly the BA.5 Omicron subvariant and it could be what the Covid normal looks like.  Katherine Wu, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for how the endless churn of variants will keep infecting people even if you’re vaccinated or had prior infection.   Next, the impact of the pandemic on children has been so uneven that in classrooms across the country we are seeing a wider range of student abilities and it could be harder for those lagging behind to catch up.  A recent study shows that students in grades three to eight showed a larger spread in achievement levels this year compared to 2019.  The gap was 4-8% in reading and 5-10% in math.  Erin Einhorn, national education reporter at NBC News Digital, joins us for what to know.   Finally, Costco has two recession-proof items at their stores… the $1.50 hot dog combo and their $4.99 rotisserie chickens.  When it comes to the chicken, Costco has built out its own chicken business contracting with famers to raise their birds, building a feed mill, a hatchery, and slaughter plant.  Kenny Torrella, reporter at Vox, joins us for how the rotisserie chickens are considered a “loss leader” just to get you in the door to buy more stuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many in the entertainment industry had been waiting on numbers from Netflix on how many subscribers they lost in the last quarter. They lost just under one million subscribers instead of the two million they had predicted.  That still leaves a lot of questions on what they can do to stop people from leaving in droves.  Peter Kafka, senior correspondent at Recode, joins us for the big question, is this a Netflix-specific issue or does the entire streaming business have a problem?   Next, while the Jan. 6 committee hearings have not made a huge splash in changing peoples minds about former President Trump and his actions around that time, we may be seeing some signs that they are wounding his reputation after all.  The constant drip of negative coverage is causing some Republicans on the margins to reconsider their support for 2024 according to some polls and focus groups.  David Siders, national political correspondent at Politico, joins us for more.   Finally, as more companies are resuming normal operations, work conferences are also making a comeback and these professional gatherings are acting as mini vacations for parents who spent the pandemic taking care of their kids while they were out of school.  Alina Dizik, contributor to the WSJ, joins us for how parents are escaping their families by going on work trips.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Omicron subvariant BA.5 is proving that the pandemic is still not over.  It continues to evade immunity, even from previous omicron infections.  The good news is that death rates are down and hospitals aren’t overwhelmed like before, but the virus is spreading fast again and the small fraction of people getting seriously ill can add up.  Umair Irfan, senior reporter at Vox, joins us for how virus mutations are keeping Omicron in play.   Next, all signs point to President Biden running again in 2024, but the one person who weighs most heavily on his decision is former President Trump.  It has set up an almost codependent relationship between the two for the next election.  Rumors are that Trump could declare in September and Biden in April, but there are plenty of considerations yet to be made.  Matt Viser, White House reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how we could be in store for a presidential rematch.   Finally, we’ll tell you how the Brazilian butt lift became one of the deadliest cosmetic surgeries and inadequate regulations make it hard for patients to tell if they are getting a good doctor or not.  One of the things to consider, there is a difference between plastic surgeons, which require years of specialized training and cosmetic surgeons which doctors can call themselves after a few months of training.  Fiona Rutherford, healthcare reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A committee of the Texas House of Representatives released a preliminary report over the weekend of all the failings in the response to the shooting in Uvalde that led to the death of 19 children and 2 teachers.  The report was all bad news and found problems at every level.  Despite there being almost 400 officers from various agencies, no one took command of the situation, the school itself also didn’t follow safety protocols, and those that knew the shooter missed several warning signs.  Alicia Caldwell, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how a lack of leadership and communication delayed a confrontation with the gunman.   Next, we’ll talk to a man that has gone public with his battle with monkeypox.  He will detail his illness from being notified by phone that he was exposed to the flu-like symptoms and the painful lesions that appeared all over his body.  One of the toughest parts of recovery was the isolation he had to be in while waiting to get better.  His decision to go public about his experience led to a lot of reaction online, most of which was supportive.  Matt Ford, actor, writer and video producer, joins us for what it’s really like to experience monkeypox.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden wrapped up his first presidential trip to the Middle East over the weekend with few concrete deliverables on increased oil production from Saudi Arabia and no progress on an Israeli and Palestinian resolution.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us this, Biden’s meeting with the Saudi crowned prince, another round of bad poll numbers, and Sen. Joe Manchin refusing to support the president’s agenda.   Next, some restaurants are facing an extortion racket and it’s all playing out on Google.  Emails are being sent to dozens of restaurants threatening bad, one-star reviews unless owners pay up with $75 Google Play gift cards.  These reviews are critical in attracting business and some restaurants are complaining of inaction on the part of Google in policing these negative comments.  Christina Morales, food reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how restaurants are responding.   Finally, the battle for the future of American passenger rail is currently being played out.  Amtrak is trying to expand with 39 new routes to reach dozens more cities and towns and it has the money to do so, but it doesn’t have the railroad tracks.  Amtrak contracts with private rail owners because it doesn’t own its own, but the fight to keep freight and the supply chain moving, is taking precedent.  Luz Lazo, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know in a decision that could come by the end of summer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is getting an upgrade this weekend (July 16) as it debuts a new three-digit number for calls and texts.  The new number is 988 and the hope is that the shorter number will be more memorable during a crisis.  Underscoring how important the service is, latest numbers show that one in six calls to the hotline go unanswered, so it is more important then ever to get people connected.  Brianna Abbott, health reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about 988, the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number.   Next, recent news out of the field of xenotransplantation, two brain-dead people has pig hearts transplanted which offered doctors a chance to use new infectious disease protocols designed to help ensure that pig viruses aren’t transmitted to patients.  This is all leading up to plans for the FDA to allow clinical trials for pig organ transplants.  Amy Dockser Marcus, health and science reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Finally, another 40-year high, inflation has soared to 9.1%.  Driving the increases have been continued high energy costs, but also rising food and housing costs.  The big challenge is how to curb inflation without causing a recession.  The main tool of the Fed is to keep raising interest rates and they have signaled they will keep doing so.  Rachel Siegal, economics reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the nation’s most challenging economic problem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twitter is now suing Elon Musk seeking to enforce the $44 billion deal he made to buy the company after he said he wanted out.  Musk says his decision to drop out has to do with Twitter not providing him enough info to be able to verify how many accounts on the platform are fake and that could be tough to decide as data scientists say isn’t easy to determine.  Sarah Needleman, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the complex metric this legal battle will be centered on.   Next, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom took to Washington DC while President Biden is out of the country on a trip to Israel and the Middle East.  It seems that Newsom has been trying to raise his national profile on issues such as abortion, climate change and guns and even pushing back on his own party for not being strong enough on those issues.  All that movement has sparked discussion on whether he has presidential ambitions.  Hannah Knowles, campaign reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.   Finally, Americans are cancelling homebuying deals at the highest rates since the start of the pandemic.  A new report from Redfin says 15% of deals are being cancelled and even homebuilders are seeing cancellations.  Inflation and higher mortgage rates are mostly to blame with some borrowers no longer qualifying for the loans they want.  Diana Olick, real estate correspondent at CNBC, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans relationship with college is complicated and according to a new poll many think that it might not be worth the cost and time commitment.  Overall, most people believe that the benefits outweigh the costs long-term, and those with bachelor’s degrees usually earn 75% more than they would if they only have a high school diploma.  But the pandemic also plays a big part in this as enrollment has been down 1.3 million students since March 2020.  Chris Quintana, education reporter at USA Today, for how many still value higher education, but feel it’s too expensive for many.   Next, could your smartphone be ruining your memory?  We are increasingly outsourcing much of our memory to an external device like our phones and we are missing out on some of the complex actions our brains should be doing.  Experts say that constant distractions from notifications are keeping us from moving memories into long-term storage.  Another downfall is relying too much on GPS step-by-step directions which can prevent us from improving spatial memory abilities.  Rebecca Seal, contributor to the Guardian, joins us for the rise of digital amnesia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA has released photos from the James Webb Space Telescope from its first six months of observation and the incredible images show a range of deep space features including a nebula around a dying star, water vapor around an exoplanet, an area where new stars are born and a huge image of five galaxies where one of them is tearing a path through the cluster.  Purbita Saha, deputy editor at Popular Science, joins us for our first look at what the JWST can do.   Next, a new report from the CDC is showing that the pandemic fueled a surge in superbug infections and deaths.  Overall, there was a 15% increase mostly due to sicker patients, lack of staff and safety equipment and doctors overprescribing antibiotics.  Early on when doctors didn’t know how to treat Covid, they gave almost 80% of those hospitalized antibiotics even though they didn’t need them.  Lena Sun, health reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more.   Finally, as many people continue to look for new jobs that provide the work/life balance they want, remember to look at the fine print.  Those remote jobs you may have your eye on, may not be as remote as you think.  Some jobs listed as remote still require new hires to come into the office part-time or even live nearby to attend occasional in-person meetings.  Lindsay Ellis, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to watch out for so you don’t waste your time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driven by mass migrations of both workers and employers, red states have been winning the post-pandemic economic recovery over blue states.  Not really a move because of political preferences, workers left for financial and lifestyle reasons such as cheaper housing, less Covid restrictions and lower taxes.  Biggest winners are Florida, Texas, and North Carolina while California, New York and Illinois have lost the greatest number of residents.  Josh Mitchell, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how red states have had quicker recoveries.   Next, we’ll tell you about Jonathan Mitchell, the architect of the Texas abortion law.  Known by many to be a very bright legal mind, his legal theories and court cases have laid the groundwork which brought down Roe v. Wade.  Looking ahead to what is next, he has jumped into other lawsuits over everything from a contraceptive mandate to affirmative action and same-sex marriage.  His theories are based in textualism, which basically refers to the thought that if a constitutional right is not mentioned in the constitutional text, then it doesn’t exist.  Lauren McGaughy, investigative reporter at the Dalla Morning News, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Crimo III, the suspect in the Highland Park shooting, was able to purchase guns legally despite a suicide attempt in April of 2019 and another incident where Highland Park police were called to his family home after he threatened to “kill everyone.”  In 2020 and 2021 he passed four different background checks that cleared him to purchase the firearms after his father co-signed for him.  Monica Eng, reporter at Axios Chicago, joins us for how Crimo legally bought his guns.   Next, as we approach the midterm elections and beyond, a possible shadow race for 2024 that is developing is the back-and-forth between CA Gov. Gavin Newsom and FL Gov. Ron DeSantis.  Newsom just took out a $100,000 ad in Florida taking a shot at Florida’s politics and Republicans are eager to have the fight with him.  Jeremy White, CA politics reporter at Politico, joins us for the growing political ambitions for these two governors.   Finally, with all of our data constantly in jeopardy you might want to consider scrubbing your info from the internet.  Well, the bad news is that you’ll never fully be able to delete everything online, but you can minimize some of it.  More bad news, it is going to take time, money and patience.  Heather Kelly, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know about deleting your data. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been detained in a Russian prison since Feb. 17 when she was caught at an airport near Moscow with hash oil in vape cartridges.  She is on trial right now where a guilty verdict could carry a sentence of 10 years.  Her best hope of getting out could be a prisoner exchange, but the U.S. has long been wary of these and the DOJ usually opposes them.  Louise Radnofsky, sports reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, there are now enough doses of vaccine available globally to vaccinate all adults and children, but the demand has dropped so much that governments, vaccination sites, and even the drugmakers themselves are having to dispose of millions of doses.  One of the main problems is that vaccines are packaged in multi-dose vials, and once they’re opened, the rest must be discarded if not used in 12 hours.  Peter Loftus, Pharma reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the supply has now outstripped the demand.   Finally, Lake Mead has shrunk to record lows.  The reservoir supplies electricity to 350,000 homes as well as irrigation and drinking water to 25 million people.  But as the water levels continue to drop, people are more interested finding barrels with bodies or jewelry and other treasures that were once hidden.  Joshua Partlow, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tragedy in Highland Park, Illinois as yet another mass shooting took the lives of seven people and injured more than 30 others.  Officials say that 21-year-old Bobby Crimo opened fire on people gathered for a 4th of July parade perched from the roof of a building, more than 70 rounds were fired with a rifle that was purchased legally.  Police say he planned the attack for weeks and dressed as a woman to disguise himself so he could blend in with the crowd to escape.  Ben Collins, senior reporter at NBC News, joins us for what to know and the trail of violent imagery he posted online.   Next, the Federal Reserve is trying to bring inflation down with interest rate increases despite the risk of a possible recession.  However, the thing that the Fed is worried about more, is a psychological shift in consumers that could sustain high inflation.  If consumers suspect prices will remain high in the future, it changes the way they behave today.  The toughest calls for the Fed still lie ahead once the economy contracts and unemployment rises.  Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent at the WSJ and author of Trillion Dollar Triage, joins us for how inflation psychology is stocking more anxiety.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where have all the coupons gone? As record high inflation is still hitting us, many are looking for deals anywhere they can, but paper coupons and even digital ones are harder to come by.  Circulation is down and redemption rates have also plummeted as people just don’t have the time to sort them all and smartphones have made other shopping incentives possible.  Lydia DePillis, economy reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.   Next, according to a recent survey from Gallup, the world is unhappier and more stressed out than ever.  The second year of the pandemic seemed to be worse in many ways as people had more negative experiences and less positive ones.  They felt less rested and experienced less enjoyment.  Mohamed Younis, editor in chief at Gallup, joins us for the new highs reached in Gallup’s Negative Experience Index.   Finally, the airline industry was waiting for business travelers to come back to get them back up to pre-pandemic levels.  Well, some of that has returned, but flight cancellations and delays are causing some professionals to opt for the road trip instead.  To avoid delays and missing appointments, they are willing to drive up to 7 hours to get where they need to be.  Allison Pohle, travel reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrats have been torn over how aggressively they should respond to the end of Roe v. Wade.  President Biden wants to tie it to the midterm election and mobilize voters, but others in the Democratic party want Biden to be more aggressive and test the boundaries of executive power, to show their constituents how hard they are fighting.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and how President Biden is also pitching himself to Dems as he gears up to run for president again. Next, some concerning news when it comes to our all-volunteer military.  Every branch of the U.S. military is struggling to make its 2022 recruiting goals.  A few things are at play when it comes to this.  First, a record low percentage of young Americans are even eligible to serve due to obesity, drug use or criminal records.  Second, a very small percentage of those eligible are willing to join.  Generational shifts are also happening as there are fewer young people with parents who had served in the military.  Courtney Kube, national security correspondent at NBC News, joins us for how they are responding by offering incentives and targeting parents in recruiting efforts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix has a lot on the line with its latest installment of Stranger Things.  New data shows that Netflix subscribers are more likely to leave the service in the first month than subscribers of any other streaming competitors.  Big Media was sleeping on them for a long time, but now offer their own services and have taken their shows and movies with them.  Peter Kafka, senior correspondent at Recode, joins us for how they are responding… cheaper, ad supported version and splitting seasons into two parts. Next, booster shots coming in the fall will be tailored to the latest wave of the pandemic and target Omicron and its subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.  This would hopefully provide more short-term immunity protections as new variants have been better able evade current vaccines.  Pfizer would most likely be the first ready with these new boosters.  Carolyn Johnson, science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more. Finally, we are hearing a lot more about hiring freezes and layoffs as high inflation and fears of a recession persist.  The latest we have seen over the past few weeks are some companies rescinding jobs offers.  It’s not happening on a large scale yet, but what should you do if it happens to you.  Jennifer Liu, work reporter at CNBC Make It, joins us with some tips on how to get yourself back out there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, in a surprise hearing from the Jan. 6 committee, we heard from Cassidy Hutchinson who was an aide to WH Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.   At the hearing she detailed many instances that Trump knew of the possible violence at the Capitol and some examples of extreme anger from the president too.  She told a story about Trump grabbing the steering wheel of his security detail demanding that they take him to the Capitol and also an instance when he threw a plate at the wall after William Barr said there was no fraud in the election.  Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for what, if anything legally may come from the hearings. Next, since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, trigger laws in various states have been put into effect and focus has been turned to providing continued access for women if needed.  What we are seeing is an uptick in demand for abortion pills, which could also set up new legal battles in states with those bans.  Also known as medication abortion, it accounted for 54% of all abortions in 2020 because it is less invasive, less expensive and pills can be received by mail.  Pam Belluck, health and science reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to providing more security at schools, especially in the wake of recent mass shootings, one of the conversations always includes arming teachers.  In the small town of Utopia, Texas about 45 mins north of Uvalde, they have been arming teachers since 2013 and parents there they feel safer for it.  Volunteers must have a concealed carry permit and must be approved by the school board.  Moriah Balingit, national education reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know. Next, something you may not have known when you put gas in your car.  If you pay with a debit or credit card, gas stations put a hold on your card up to $175.  Holds used to be $125 but have shot up $50 because of inflation and rising gas prices.  Typically, these holds are released in about two hours, but can take longer in some cases.  Ayse Kelce, personal finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how some can be put at risk for overdraft fees because of these increases. Finally, a new AI image generation tool called Dall-E could be one of those new technologies that change the world.  A mix of the names Salvador Dali and Pixar’s Wall-E, this tool takes text prompts and generates images from them in a variety of art styles with very intuitive results.  It’s almost like using a Google search bar like it was Photoshop.  Casey Newton, contributing editor at The Verge, joins us for how this could spur a creative revolution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that the Supreme Court has struck down Roe v. Wade, questions are swirling about what could be next.  Concerns have been expressed about a nationwide ban on abortion, but while it could be possible, the road to get there is difficult.  More Republican gains would have to be made in controlling Congress and the presidency which is why Democrats are using the decision to call on voters to support them.  Nicole Narea, politics reporter at Vox, joins us for more. Next, could Q be back? After more than 18 months of silence, the leader of the QAnon conspiracy theory has returned online with three posts asking people if they want to “play the game again?” and “Are you ready to serve your country again?”  Stuart Thompson, reporter at the NY Times covering disinformation, joins us for what to know about the latest Q drops and what his return could mean for many who subscribed to his conspiracy theories. Finally, burnout and the struggle to maintain a better work/life balance is showing up at the highest levels in the workplace.  According to a recent survey, 70% of C-suite executives say they may seriously want to resign for a job that supports their well-being better.  The survey is also shining a light on the disconnect between how execs view their efforts with employees on mental health and well-being and what workers are really saying.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for how even your boss wants to quit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protests overtook the country once again as the Supreme Court ruled to strike down Roe v. Wade.  Pro-abortion advocates were enraged and anti-abortion advocates cheered the decision.  Trigger laws set to be enacted if Roe was struck down took effect in some states and quickly limited women’s access in those areas.  The focus now turns political as President Biden called on people to vote in elected officials that would do something about it.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for all the fallout and what this decision says about the politicization of the Supreme Court.   Next, we’ll tell you how the “Disney adult” became one of the most hated groups on the internet.  Everyone knows a Disney adult, someone who loves the parks and spends insane amounts of money on vacations, getting the latest merch, or limited-edition pins and Mickey ears.  These Disney superfans have been around for a long time, but the term is relatively new and the anti-Disney adult sentiment really took hold during the pandemic as fans were mourning the closures of the parks and online groups were just having none of that.  EJ Dickson, senior writer at Rolling Stone, joins us for more on the adult Disney fandom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court struck down a centuries-old New York law requiring those that want to carry a concealed weapon for self defense to show a specific need for doing so.  This decision also clears a way for legal challenges to similar laws in other states.  The ruling comes down as the country is grappling with a series of mass shootings and a new gun law making its way through the Senate.  Robert Barnes, Supreme Court reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.   Next, youth mental health has been a growing issue in the country that has only been amplified by the isolation and stress caused by the pandemic.  In collaboration with the award-winning podcast, Force Multiplier, we’ll hear from mental health advocate, digital strategist and content creator, Jorge Alvarez, about today’s challenges with global and mental health access.  He’ll also tell us why representation is a big factor in fighting the cultural stigma around mental health.   Finally, it’s the new layaway… Buy now, pay later.  It has been exploding in popularity as more retail stores are offering it and a slew of new apps also getting in on it.  It lets consumers take something home immediately and then pay off purchases in installments.  Payments are usually interest-free making it an enticing option for those trying to avoid credit cards.  Claire Ballentine, personal finance reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for why some experts are warning of overspending risks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for three months in an effort to ease prices that have been skyrocketing.  Biden is also calling on states to suspend their gas taxes, but it’s a tough sell as lawmakers and economists are skeptical it will provide enough relief.  He is also pinning the blame on oil and gas companies calling for them to increase oil production. Hans Nichols, reporter at Axios, joins us for what to know. Next, as fears of a recession loom, more companies are announcing layoffs or hiring freezes leaving current employees to think of ways to stand out and stay employed.  The pendulum is swinging back in favor of employers where the Great Resignation had empowered employees to jockey for better pay and benefits.  Ray Smith, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how to keep your job or find a better one should a recession come. Finally, the real estate market has begun to cool ever since mortgage rates have increased, but home prices are still going up.  The spring selling season has been slow, and the lack of supply is keeping prices up.  Rents are even on the rise, on average they are up 26% from before the pandemic.  Emily Peck, markets correspondent at Axios, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas prices may one of the most visible features of how the economy is doing.  We constantly see the rising prices on every street corner, but even as higher prices are a pain it isn’t really the best metric for understanding the broader economy.  It’s not always the case that the economy is falling apart as prices rise and that it speeds ahead if prices are lower.  Gas prices hit everyone differently, but as we see better fuel efficiency and richer households, a better indicator for how much pain is at the pump is how much disposable income people are spending on gas.  Rebecca Leber, senior reporter at Vox, joins us for how that number is still relatively low at the moment.   Next, a couple of recent stories about when an animal or even an artificial intelligence can be considered a person have sparked conversations on the evolving thought on who or what is deserving of moral consideration.  First, is Happy the elephant who was not granted legal personhood in a case in New York filed by the Nonhuman Rights Project.  Second, is the story of the Google engineer who believed that an AI language model had become sentient.  Expert consensus said that no, the AI had not gained sentience and the engineer was put on leave.  Kenny Torella, staff writer at Vox, joins us for what this says about us and how these questions will increasingly be raised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workers in the U.S. have a very strange relationship with working and not taking time off.  After going through the pandemic, Covid may have done away with the sick day.  Because of the pace of work or fears of getting in trouble, many people continued to log in for meetings and answered emails.  Managers also weren’t good role models as they took to working while sick too, this is coming despite many companies changing sick day policies to allow people more time to heal.  Emma Goldberg, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for why employees can’t seem to take a sick day.   Next, we’ll tell you about the anti-cult activism of Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.  She focused on this work after a “deprogramming” she went through after she fell in with a group she considered a cult.  She was involved with an organization called Lifespring which advertised training seminars that could help unlock hidden potential.  The group was accused of breaking participants down mentally and one man reportedly had a psychotic break.  Alex Seitz-Wald, senior politics reporter at NBC News, joins us for how Thomas got out and the controversial world of anti-cult activism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calling all bargain hunters…stores have too much stuff and will be cutting prices soon.  Large shipments of electronics, outdoor furniture, and loungewear that people wanted during the pandemic are finally coming in, two years late.  That means that retailers that can’t hold big items in their inventory will be slashing prices.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for where and when to look for these deals… just have to wait a little further into summer.   Next, there is a whole swath of young kids that have never known life without Covid.  Their formative years were spent masking and social distancing and the long-term effects remain unknown.  Studies and observations show that some kids are behind in speech, motor and social development and could need counseling, speech therapy and other support to adjust.  There is optimism in the resilience of young kids to adapt now that things are a little more back to normal and in some of the positive effects like spending more time with family.  Anna North, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for how the pandemic affected the country’s youngest children.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that over a 10-month period, there were nearly 400 car crashes that involved advanced driver-assistance technology.  Think of Tesla’s Autopilot or Full Self Driving Mode, and other tech like lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control.  Tesla was responsible for about 70% of the crashes, but they also have more vehicles on the road.  Neal Boudette, reporter for the NY Times, joins us for more. Next, with all the changing economic news, some workers don’t feel as powerful as they used to.  The tight labor market and the Great Resignation led employees to demand remote work and higher salaries, but as inflation continues and fears of a recession loom, people are looking for more security over flexibility and companies are taking note.  Callum Borchers, On the Clock columnist at the WSJ, joins us for this change in attitude. Finally, children are increasingly becoming targets of ID theft and it usually goes unnoticed until they apply for a student loan or first credit card and find their credit scores are in the dumps.  Identity theft affects about 1.25 million kids every year and most of the time these victims know the perpetrators personally, whether it is family member or caregiver.  Tatum Hunter, tech writer at The Washington Post, joins us for how to protect your kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an effort to help with inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by 0.75 of a percentage point, the largest increase since 1994.  We will see what the impact of this action will be, but many are still dealing with record high prices of goods and gas.  With all that is going on many experts fear a recession could be on the way.  Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist at The Washington Post, joins us for some financial moves you can make to prepare if a recession comes our way. Next, rolled into all the latest economic news are the big drops in the Crypto market.  Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices are plummeting and even crypto companies that were on hiring sprees are now laying off employees.  Cryptocurrencies were once marketed as a hedge against inflation, but we now see that they are very much tied to the overall market.  David Yaffe-Bellany, crypto reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know. Finally, another round of primaries this week brings us closer to the midterms.  We saw the first impeachment casualty in Rep. Tom Rice in South Carolina.  He voted to impeach Trump and now it cost him.  In Nevada, Republicans flipped a Democratic House seat as they made big inroads with Hispanic voters.  Mariana Alfaro, politics reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for top takeaways.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bear market is here!  The S&P 500 is more than 20% off its peak and its time for investors to reassess their risks in the stock market.  For many, these losses can be felt harder than gains after such a long period of increases.  Tech stocks are down and the crypto market, which was once seen as a hedge against falling markets and inflation is also seeing huge drops.  Suzanne Wooley, personal finance reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for more. Next, after more than 2 years of the pandemic, we are seeing that Covid is making the flu and other common viruses act in unfamiliar ways.  Behavioral changes like stay-at-home orders, masking and social distancing could be responsible for viral shifts.  For instance, at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, children are being admitted with a range of seven different respiratory viruses, many of which are out of season and seem to be more virulent.  Frances Stead Sellers, senior writer at The Washington Post, joins us for how everything is out of whack. Finally, President Biden is increasingly growing frustrated with rising prices and the inability of the WH to bring down inflation.  The American people are even more so frustrated as they continued to get hammered with no end in sight.  Tyler Pager, White House reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how Biden is worried about messaging and ineffective policies impacting the economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you weather the pandemic storm and stick with your employer over the last couple of years?  Well, you could be underpaid.  The hot job market and Great Resignation has led to a lot of movement and forced employers to lure new candidates with bigger paychecks and that has led to a divide with current employees.  Aki Ito, senior correspondent at Business Insider, joins us for how salaries for new hires are on average 7% higher than existing workers. Next, you’re booking a flight and want to pick a “preferred seat,” you click through and see an extra fee, in some cases it can be as high as $100, but it doesn’t come with any extra legroom or early boarding… so what are you paying for?  In most cases, it just helps you avoid the middle seat, but for airlines, it’s the second biggest source of revenue.  Dawn Gilbertson, Carry On columnist at the WSJ, joins us for what these fees are and how to get the free seats. Finally, get ready to see more robots in your daily life.  We see them all over the place now delivering food or cleaning your floors, but the ongoing labor shortage is fueling the demand for more robot workers.  They could have a bigger presence in restaurants and are poised to make a big difference in caring for the elderly.  Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios Media, joins us for the summer of robots.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senate negotiators have reached a deal on guns.  For now, it’s just a framework, a deal on principle.  Legislation still needs to be written, but it mostly centers around giving states incentives to create red flag laws and expanded background checks for those 18-21.  There would also be funding for mental health and school safety.  Ten Republican senators have signed on so far, but there is still a lot that can go wrong.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for what to know about the framework and what to expect from the rest of the Jan. 6 hearings.   Next, what does a road trip looks like in an all-electric vehicle?  For one reporter, it was kind of a nightmare.  The trip did cost less money for fuel, but more time was spent charging than sleeping.  To be clear, this trip used public-charging infrastructure on a trip from New Orleans to Chicago and back.  Not all chargers were fast chargers and not all of them are created equal, charging speeds varied every time.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for her four-day EV road trip.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of Monkeypox cases keep rising and some changing guidance from the CDC is causing confusion.  Cases are still very low overall and prolonged, close contact is needed to contract the virus, but it can be airborne too.  The CDC recently deleted their guidance for travelers to wear masks to protect themselves, because they say it also caused confusion.  Apoorva Mandavilli, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know about monkeypox.   Next, when is a bumblebee a fish?  When a unanimous ruling by a California state appeals court deems it so.  Public-interest groups had asked the state to include four types of bumblebees on its list of endangered species, but the 50-year-old law only applied to birds, mammals, fish, amphibians or reptiles.  Because the legal definition of a fish was vague and had been used to include other animals in separate instances, the bee was added to the list. Matt Grossman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the legal wrangling it took to get there.   Finally, two senators this week proposed an industry friendly cryptocurrency bill.  The legislation would create a regulatory framework for the crypto markets, classify the majority of digital assets as commodities, and empower the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to regulate the industry.  Paul Kiernan, financial regulations reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what’s in the bill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is something special I did in conjunction with 23andMe and the SPIT podcast which you can hear on iHeartRadio.  I took a look into what my DNA says about me.  Beyond what my ancestry says, with a focus on my health.  Throughout this process I learned about two genetic variants that could impact myself or my family and also that I have a typical likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, which has always been a concern since it runs in my family.  There’s also fun stuff I learned from my DNA… I won’t be losing my hair anytime soon and why I experience itchier mosquito bites.  Stacey Detweiler and Alisa Lehman from the 23andMe team both join me to go over some of my results and help understand more about my DNA.   Next, I go a little deeper into what the results I got specifically mean to me.  Things I’ve experienced with my family and in my past and why this process has been eye opening in some cases.  The best thing to come out of this has been the information learned and knowing what to do next to improve my health.   Listen to more stories on the SPIT Podcast here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another round of primaries across the country teases more of what to expect once we get to the midterms.  In California, we saw a turnout problem for Democrats and a blow to progressive district attorneys with a successful recall of the San Francisco DA.  Crime and homelessness figures to be a top issue in the LA mayor’s race and we’ll tell you how Trump’s picks fared.  David Siders, national political correspondent at Politico, joins us for top takeaways.   Next, more than 90 women and girls have filed $1 billion in claims against the FBI for the mishandling of the Larry Nassar investigation. Nassar was the doctor to the national woman’s gymnastics team when concerns were reported to the FBI and they didn’t take the claims seriously, didn’t document evidence received and made false statements to cover their mistakes in the investigation.  Louise Radnofsky, sports reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Finally, a new study is showing that a drug approved to treat Type 2 diabetes is also extremely effective at reducing obesity.  The drug called tirzepatide works on hormones that help control blood sugar and sends signals to the brain that the stomach is full.  People in the study lost as much at 21% of their body weight, 50-60 pounds in some cases.  Karen Weintraub, health and medicine reporter at USA Today, joins us for how this drug has the potential to change the way doctors treat weight related issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent trial for a cancer drug yielded some amazing results for those that participated.  Complete remission for every patient.  It was a very small trial with only 18 patients with rectal cancer, so caution is encouraged as much work needs to be done to replicate the results, but there has been no other study in which a treatment completely removed cancer in every patient.  Gina Kolata, medical reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what we know about the latest study.   Next, we have seen what has been going on in the housing market and with sky high rents, but all these increases are also hitting one of the country’s most affordable housing options… mobile homes.  Costs of manufactured homes are on the rise, but so is the rent for the land that they sit on.  In some cases, those costs are doubling or tripling.  Abha Bhattarai, economics correspondent at the Washington Post, joins us for how high demand, low inventory and corporate owners are impacting it all.   Finally, vaccine experts advising the FDA have endorsed a new Covid vaccine made by Novavax saying that the shot’s benefits outweigh any risks associated with it.  The vaccine will still need full approval before coming on the market, but it will be the first one available using a more traditional, protein-based technology.  Liz Essley Whyte, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about its effectiveness and concerns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schools have been struggling to meet the mental health needs of students and new data is showing just how much the pandemic has impacted them.  7 in 10 public schools are seeing a rise in children seeking services and 76% of faculty and staff have expressed concerns about depression and anxiety in students since the start of the pandemic.  Laura Meckler, national education reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for how only about half of schools surveyed say they can effectively provide needed services.   Next, at the beginning of the year there was a lot of talk in California about vaccine mandates and requirements for employees and students.  Now, as politics and Covid fatigue have set in, those plans are all doomed.  Low vaccination rates in children and pushback from unions representing police and firefighters have also played big role in doing away with the plans.  Rachel Bluth, correspondent for Kaiser Health News, joins us for how the most popular vaccine legislation has been those to ban them.   Finally, after two years of the pandemic, many are reviving their efforts to connect with more people in their networks and it could be overwhelming.  But how many friends do you actually need?  Research says that the magic number of close friends is about 3-5.  Fostering these relationships take time and energy with research saying it takes 200 hours to become close with someone.  Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More gun violence over the weekend is still putting pressure on a bipartisan group of senators to come to a consensus on new gun laws.  This group of 9 say they have a framework for legislation that could deal with mental health services and school security, expanded background checks, and red flag laws.  Some feel that there could be momentum as polls signal that majorities of people support new laws after tragedies in Uvalde, Buffalo, and Tulsa.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this, President Biden struggling with multiple crises, and former President Trump could be on the brink of another run.   Next, for the past eight months we have seen hundreds of mysterious hepatitis cases in children around the world.  At least 38 children have required liver transplants and nine have died.  While these numbers remain low, it has changed the lives of those affected.  One such case happened in Ohio, were 4-year-old Liviah came down with hepatitis for still unknown reasons and deteriorated so quickly that she needed a transplant.  She survived and now her parents are now on a mission to inform others  about warning signs and encourage people to be donors.  Emily Anthes, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for the story of Liviah’s new liver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we continue to ride another Covid wave some people are testing positive for the coronavirus for 10 days or longer, leading them to ask questions about how long they might be infectious to others and if they need to continue isolating.  The answers are unclear because antigen tests could be picking up leftover viral debris but you can otherwise be free of symptoms.  Emily Anthes, science reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.   Next, Gen z is shifting their attitudes when it comes to work.  For a long time they were looking for work that could make a difference and that would align with their values, but as inflation and student loan debt continue to rise, they are willing to ditch some of those values for a better paycheck.  Callum Borchers, On the Clock columnist at the WSJ, joins us for how entering the workforce during the pandemic is changing some minds.   Finally, a productivity tool used by some with ADHD is gaining ground in online circles.  People looking for a way to stay motivated are turning to a virtual co-working model called “body doubling” on places like TikTok.  People needing help with work or even just doing chores like laundry are finding that this process helps keep them accountable and stay productive.  Kelsey Ables, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for why body doubling is catching on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you finally ready for things to be back to normal this summer?  Think again.  A worker shortage means that some businesses will work on limited hours or be closed altogether.  No one is applying for some of these summer job and that is leading to higher labor costs and higher prices.  Sarah Chaney Cambon, labor economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how many places are cutting back operations despite high demand.   Next, President Biden is expressing frustration over continued low approval ratings and not being able to catch a break as multiple crises have piled up.  Inflation, high gas prices, a baby formula shortage, and what to do about gun violence have all hit at the same time.  The focus now turns to how to fix the issues, but also what would be a winning message as we head into the midterms.  Peter Nicholas, senior national political reporter at NBC News, joins us for more.   Finally, as we get through the current wave of Covid infections, it seems that the effort to update vaccines can’t keep up with the changes in the virus itself.  While still dealing with the Omicron variant, we are seeing subvariants that appear to be more resistant to antibodies and evade protection from previous infection.  Clinical trials are under way for updated vaccines, but the FDA will decide this summer if we will move forward with them.  Caitlin Owens, healthcare reporter at Axios, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever tried to read the different privacy policies of all the apps on your phone?  No one has!  Our next guest tried to see how much reading he would have to do to get through all of it and it came out to 1 million words.  It’s one of the ongoing discussions around what data is collected and how it is shared, but rarely does anyone get through it, much less understand it all.  To that end, tech companies are trying to simplify the language of these policies and make it more digestible.  Lawmakers are even working on legislation that could make the policies clearer.  Geoffrey Fowler, tech columnist at the Washington Post, joins us for how we could use technology to protect our privacy, not just invade it.   Next, plant-based food has come a long way in the last decade and has much more to go, but it hasn’t always tasted the best and it’s a hurdle that companies will have to overcome as we look to the future.  Many companies are still banking on a plant-based future as they continue to pour billions of dollars into the industry, but to capture the stomachs of more customers they will have to battle rising meat consumption and continue to improve flavors.  Kenny Torrella, reporter at Vox, tells us what he’s learned from months of eating vegan food samples.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Census figures are showing that big cities have been in a decline.  The largest cities lost a greater share of people than small and mid-sized ones.  New York, San Jose, and Chicago saw the greatest numbers of people leaving, while Texas and Arizona had seven of the ten fastest growing cities.  All of these migrations were accelerated by the pandemic and work-from-home capabilities.  Paul Overberg, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why people are leaving.   Next, the market for NFTs has always been a volatile one, but lately investors have been questioning if some of these purchases have been worth it. In 2021 the NFT market blew up with people spending about $40 billion and now that some of the hype has died down, investors are looking at values that are only worth a fraction of what they initially paid.  There are still some that are holding their value, and the art world is also banking on an NFT future.  Pranshu Verma, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, we’ll tell you how PornHub changed the world.  It wasn’t the first tube site, but 15 years after it launched it still remains on top.  The site became a good partner for studios and creators as it was a big promotional tool for them.  It changed how people could enter and work in the industry and also influenced the content itself.  Anna Iovine, reporter at Mashable, joins us for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a tragedy like the one in Uvalde the conversation on guns ratchets up and people demand action, unfortunately not much ever gets accomplished.  This time a small group of bipartisan senators are trying to find common ground wherever they can, most likely on federal red flag laws which would keep guns out of the hands of people who could be a danger to others.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for why you shouldn’t get your hopes up, a new CBO report that says high inflation will be around into next year, and some more takeaways from primary contests around the country as we make our way to the midterms. Next, we’ll tell you about the ‘E-pimps’ of OnlyFans.  Most people think that when you go onto the site and subscribe to a content creator you are actually dealing with that person directly.  While that might be true in a lot of cases, some accounts are being managed by marketing agencies who handle every aspect of running an account.  Everything from marketing on social media, writing their daily posts, and chatting with subscribers and selling personalized content.  The chatters in particular, are sometimes outsourced from places like the Philippines.  Ezra Marcus, contributor to the NY Times, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebound Covid… it’s an issue that has been popping up for some getting sick, but it is also happening to people that were treated with the antiviral Paxlovid.  Some are getting better and testing negative, only to rebound with symptoms and test positive after the illness has dissipated.  It has caused the CDC to change its guidelines and tell people with rebound symptoms to isolate for another 5 days.  Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for what to know.   Next, testosterone therapy is changing the game for men and aging.  The hormone is responsible for regulating the male sex drive, generating red blood cells, making sperm and a host of other things.  As you get older these levels drop, but doctors are increasingly prescribing therapies to patients and other companies are even offering treatment plans to boost levels.  Andrew Zaleski, nutrition and health writer at GQ Magazine, joins us for how more men are looking to testosterone to improve their lives.   Finally, polyamorous couples… those who are open to romantic relationships with more than one person at a time are finding ways to make commitments official since they can’t get married.  It’s still illegal to marry more than one person at a time.  For these couples, some are turning to commitment ceremonies that share aspects of traditional marriages and others that are completely custom.  Suzannah Weiss, contributor to the Washington Post, joins us for how it all works.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another tragic mass shooting has many asking an all-too familiar question.  How could this happen again?  Why wasn’t odd behavior from the shooter flagged?  The shooter was able to legally purchase two rifles within days of him turning 18.  When it came to the massacre, the 19 children and two adults he killed were all in one classroom.  Relatives and former friends said he was bullied for a speech impediment and did not have a good relationship with his mother, which is why he was living with his grandmother, who he shot in the face.  Silvia Foster-Frau, national reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Next, as more are readying themselves to travel this summer, be prepared for anything.  A lot can go wrong with flight delays or cancellations or even rental cars not being available.  If a flight is cancelled, try everything you can from standing in line, checking the airline website, or even calling them out on social media and since speed is of the essence, grab the first thing that comes up or it could be gone very fast.  Dawn Gilbertson, ‘Carry On’ columnist at the WSJ, joins us for a worst-case scenario guide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How old are you really?  There is a growing interest in biological age vs. your chronological age.  The idea behind it is that your cells and organs age differently and knowing your biological age can help you postpone or avoid age related illnesses.  There is currently no standard way to measure it, but scientists and start-ups are developing ways through blood tests or saliva tests.  Betsy Morris, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.   Next, there is a lot of frustration when kids are misbehaving or acting out.  So how do you discipline when it happens, especially if you might be in a public place.  Is a timeout in order or a time-in?  It also helps to explain why their actions are a problem, many times we assume kids know better, but sometimes they don’t.  Deborah Farmer Kris, education journalist and founder of Parenthood365, joins us for how to discipline in the heat of the moment.   Finally, for all you fans of intermittent fasting, a new study concludes that it might not be all it’s cracked up to be.  Time restricted eating goes like this… eat anything you want as long as it’s only between a 6–8-hour time period.  The new study let one group of participants eat a set number of calories between 8a-4p and the other group the same number of calories at whatever time they wanted.  What they found was there was no difference.  Gina Kolata, medical reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what is all means.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NFTs have been facing criticism recently as some investors are being left with assets that are only worth a fraction of the value from when they first bought them.  The volatile market of NFTs and cryptocurrencies can make it easy to make money, but also lose huge amounts too.  The problem can be compounded when celebrities and influencers promote them without also informing followers of the risks.  Jesselyn Cook, investigative tech reporter at NBC News, joins us for more.   Next, its something families have been struggling with, the massive amounts of time kids are spending on their screens, but there is a small number of parents who are refusing to give their kids smartphones.  53% of kids have a smartphone by age 11 and that number swells to 89% once they hit 16.  It can be a hard dilemma for families to navigate as children often feel left out and face social pressure as well.  Ellen McCarthy, feature reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, why is it so hard to get a restaurant reservation right now?  It’s great for restaurants trying to make their rebound from the pandemic, but tough for customers as you need to plan a little better or have a bit of luck.  Everyone is trying to get back out and there could be fewer options because of pandemic closures.  Lane Florsheim, style reporter at the NY Times, joins us with some tips for nailing down that reservation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some relief is coming to families that have been grappling with a shortage of baby formula.  President Biden authorized Operation Fly Formula which delivered 78,000 pounds of formula from Germany to Indiana on Sunday.  More shipments are expected soon.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for what to know about this, Biden’s trip to Asia, and a judge blocking the end of Title 42.   Next, the number of Americans that quit their jobs during the pandemic spiked, and it could be a permanent fixture on the job market.  This has led to more opportunities for employees, but for employers it has been a nightmare.  They are dealing with high turnover and how to keep workers happy… simply offering a WFH model doesn’t work anymore.  Aki Ito, senior correspondent at Business Insider, joins us for the ‘Forever Resignation.’   Finally, the circus is coming back!  Five years ago, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus said it was closing due to sagging ticket sales and an outdated business model.  Now, they have announced a return in 2023 but with one notable absence, the animals.  The elephants and lions are gone, and the circus will take on a more narrative story based on human feats.  Sarah Maslin Nir, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pent-up inflation could be the next thing to drive up costs even higher.  Consumers have largely been shielded from the full brunt of expenses that producers, distributors, and small businesses have faced.  Especially in the restaurant industry, they have been hesitant to raise prices too much, but as their costs increase something has got to give.  Case in point, a Mississippi restaurant had had to start listing their order of 15 chicken wings as “market price.”  At its highest, an order cost $28, but the true cost was closer to $34.  Amy Yee, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for why even higher prices could still be on their way.   Next, many have already cast ballots in primaries across the country as we start getting closer to the midterm elections, but what are the key issues that people will be voting on.  Inflation and the economy continue to be top of mind, but other issues like abortion have vaulted to the top after the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion signaling it would overturn Roe v. Wade.  Crime and parental rights in education have also been seized upon by Republicans as top issues for them.  Marianna Sotomayor, congressional reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the top items voters will consider.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some were calling this week’s primaries “Midterm Super Tuesday” as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky, Oregon, and Idaho cast primary votes.  Former President Trump proved his endorsement is very much still coveted in Republican circles, but not all of his preferred candidates won.  We also saw the complete fall of Rep. Madison Cawthorn and a mixed bag of news for Democrats.  Aaron Blake, senior political reporter at The Washington post, joins us for top takeaways.   Next, the first public session in 50 years on UFOs took place in Congress this week.  We learned that the Pentagon has gotten hundreds of additional UFO reports since last summer bringing their database to about 400.  There was also a new video played that showed a spherical craft moving past a plane in broad daylight.  Lawmakers continue to look at these sightings as national security issues and intelligence agencies are vowing to thoroughly investigate sightings.  Bryan Bender, senior national correspondent at Politico, joins us for what we learned in the UFO hearings.   Finally, when we think of nanobots, our minds can begin to wander about incredible microscopic machines capable of repairing bone or healing an illness or even more nefarious things we see in sci-fi movies.  While we aren’t there quite just yet, scientists have been able to get nanobots to swim around a wound, deliver antibiotics and help kill bacteria.  Max Levy, contributor to Wired, joins us for how these nanobots work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York has a red flag law on the books that should have prevented the shooter in Buffalo from buying the firearm he used in the assault.  In 2021 when the gunman was still a minor, he was flagged for making comments about murder/suicide at school and taken for a mental health evaluation.  Not deemed a risk at the time, he was let go and no continued effort was made to keep guns out of his hands.  Melissa Chan, reporter at NBC News, joins us for what went wrong in this case.   Next, Sweden and Finland are formally trying to join NATO.  Having remained neutral for many years, the war in Ukraine has changed many attitudes in strengthening defenses against Russia.  Turkey has voiced skepticism in letting the two countries joins, but many think that are just holding out for other concessions.  NATO requires unanimous agreement for new nations to join.  Michael Birnbaum, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.   Finally, we are seeing a mad dash for the ultrarich to hire on private butlers, maids and estate managers.  Pre-pandemic, a salaried housekeeper in the Hamptons could earn up to $65,000, now many say the minimum is $85,000 or more.  High-end nannies can earn $110,000 in some cases.  Tracking along with some other pandemic working trends, these  workers have a lot more power than they used to.  Noah Kirsch, wealth and power reporter at The Daily Beast, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mass shooting in Buffalo, NY has once again seemed to follow an all too familiar path of online radicalization and planning leading to violence.  In this case the shooter acted as a lone wolf, but despite not have a direct collaborator, he had an online pack.  The shooters ideology is shared by others, whether it be those who subscribe to the Great Replacement theory or creators of the memes that influenced him.  Juliette Kayyem, former assistant secretary for homeland security, joins us for how despite acting solo, the shooter is not alone.   Next, when a tragedy like the one in Buffalo happens, questions arise of possible warning signs and why action wasn’t taken sooner.  In this case, the shooter was reported to police for a possible threat of violence and had a mental health evaluation in 2021.  There are also questions about writings and plans he had posted online and how one becomes radicalized.  Aaron Gregg, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the troublesome trail that led to terror.   Finally, it is the dominant model of modern parenting, and it might be time to quit it.  Intensive parenting, also known as helicopter parenting, is a model where parents try to overextend themselves in trying to maximize their child’s success, but research shows that it can lead to parental burnout and harm a child’s competence and mental health.  Elliot Haspel, early-childhood policy expert and contributor to the Atlantic, joins us for how to get away from anxiety-driven intensive parenting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mass shooting that took the lives of 10 people over the weekend in Buffalo, New York seems to be a racially motivated attack.  An 18-year old gunman seemed to target Black shoppers at a Tops supermarket.  A manifesto was posted online by the shooter where he talked about the ‘Great Replacement’ theory which says that white Americans are being replace with nonwhites through immigration, interracial marriage, and violence.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this latest tragedy, and new poll numbers that look bad for President Biden as debates about abortion and student loan forgiveness continue.   Next, there’s a new startup that wants to get into your ears and monitor your brain. NextSense wants to eventually have earbuds that can stream music, take phone calls, and pick up brain waves. The startup’s aim is to focus on brain health, improve sleep, and even help patients with epilepsy. The company also hopes to collect data from various users in order to learn more about what’s between our ears. Steven Levy, editor at large at Wired, joins us for the story of how it all got started at Google.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A baby formula shortage has caused parents to scramble to find alternatives to keep their kids fed with the appropriate nutrition.  The FDA has shut down Abbot Nutrition’s factory in Michigan amid an investigation into bacterial infections which has been the biggest problem with supply as they are the largest producer in the country.  Dr. Steven Abrams, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Texas, joins us what to know about the shortage as the FDA will start allowing Abbot to releasing some formula.   Next, the bird flu is currently wreaking havoc on farms across the country wiping out 36 million chickens and turkeys.  The virus itself is really bad for the birds and has a near 100% mortality rate, but it’s actually the culling that is claiming so many of them.  If one bird gets infected, the whole flock must be taken out.  Kenny Torella, staff writer at Vox, joins us for what to know as the bird flu has already spread to 32 states.   Finally, Happy the elephant will have her day in court next week.  The 51-year-old elephant currently lives in the Bronx Zoo, but her lawyers are arguing that she be granted legal personhood.  If she wins, her detention at the zoo would be considered unlawful and she would be sent to a sanctuary.  She is part of a small but growing group of animals and natural entities like lakes and wild rice fighting for legal rights.  Corinne Ramey, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Very soon you could be seeing ads on your favorite streaming platform.  Netflix has long been a holdout when it came to placing ads during their content, but a huge loss of subscribers has them scrambling for how to make up the lost revenue.  To that end, a cheaper pricing tier with ads could be coming by the end of the year.  Peter Kafka, senior correspondent at Recode, joins us for why it makes sense and if viewers will stick around for it.   Next, the withholding of recess has long been a punishment tactic for teachers when kids misbehave or miss assignments.  Now, there is growing momentum to pass laws that protect recess time and prohibit schools from taking it away to punish kids.  Research has shown that unstructured free time is important for child development as it fosters good social, communication, and coping skills.  Jackie Mader, early education reporter at The Hechinger Report, joins us for the fight for recess.   Finally, we all know that coworker who might not be the brightest or hardest worker, but still gets promoted anyway.  Whether it’s schmoozing, brown-nosing, or riding coattails, some have mastered the art of ‘failing up.’  As more are going back to the office and after too many pandemic Zoom meetings, it is becoming more evident again.  Callum Borchers, On the Clock columnist at the WSJ, joins us for how some are turning failure into success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High inflation persists as President Biden points to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine as top causes for high prices.  Each month we get updated numbers on the Consumer Price Index, but how is that number calculated?  477 government workers spend their days going to grocery stores and other businesses to track the costs of over 100,000 goods and services each month.  Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how we calculate inflation.   Next, what is the largest source of stolen guns in country?  Stolen guns from cars.  From 2019-2020, 180 cities saw a rise in gun thefts from vehicles.  This new trend is very concerning and simply a crime of opportunity.  Thieves are rolling through neighborhoods and pulling on door handles looking for open cars and laws vary from state to state on how guns should be secured in unattended vehicles.  Melissa Chan, reporter at NBC News, joins us for this disturbing trend.   Finally, a new report confirms that most working parents are burned out.  Research from Ohio State University says that 66% of working parents meet the criteria for parental burnout, meaning they feel they have nothing left to give.  This study was conducted at the height of the pandemic, but researchers think high rates of burnout are here to stay.  Catherine Pearson, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers are constantly working on new vaccine delivery methods for Covid and are hoping that nasal vaccines could be better at preventing transmission and infection.  Several candidates are in the works and in early clinical trials but the hope is that it could work better by taking hold in mucus membranes where the virus enters the body.  Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for how you next booster could be taken up the nose.   Next, many people took advantage of programs that paused federal student loan payments and interest and saved money or put it into other financial priorities.  But there were also some that remained diligent and continued to make payments as they could.  The result for them was being able to pay off completely or a huge chunk of their federal loans.  For those that did pay them off, now it’s about building new savings since this debt is now gone.  Julia Carpenter, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Finally, less than six months ago, Netflix launched a website called Tudum that was supposed to build more fandom for their properties.  Billed as place to offer news about shows, in-depth interviews, and exclusives, they site has had to lay off employees already.  Current and former employees say that it suffered from lack of direction and strategy.  Mia Sato, reporter at The Verge, joins us for what happened at Tudum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, we saw another high-profile U.S. visitor go to the country to show support.  First Lady Jill Biden met with her counterpart Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s first lady.  The met at a school and showed support for mothers across the war-torn country.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and a look at the fallout since the leak of the draft opinion of the Supreme Court.  Justice Clarence Thomas has said the court can’t be bullied and that young people now show no respect for the law.   Next, we’ll tell you about a man named Vaughn Smith who cleans carpets for a living. Vaughn is also a hyperpolyglot. A hyperpolyglot is someone who can speak 11 languages or more, but Vaughn is special, by his count her can speak closer to 37 languages. To see what makes his brain tick, he decided to undergo an MRI at MIT and found that his brain does not function like that of a monolingual person. Jessica Contrera, reporter at The Washington Post, joins for more about Vaughn and what drove him to learn so much, a deep need for understanding others. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UFOs continue to be in the news as classified briefings have begun on Capitol Hill, but some lawmakers are frustrated saying that intelligence agencies are not taking it seriously enough.  Lawmakers see these sightings as national security issues and want more analysts and surveillance systems dedicated to finding the origins of these aircrafts instead of just more reports of sightings.  Bryan Bender, senior national correspondent at Politico, joins us for what we know about these briefings.   Next, the war in Ukraine continues as Russia keeps intensifying its attacks on multiple fronts.  On the cyber front however, Russia has not been able to make the impact it had hoped.  Ukraine has managed to stay online with the help of Elon Musk’s Starlink terminals, crowdsourced intelligence collection, and even deployed facial recognition programs to identify captured or killed Russian soldiers.  Justin Ling, contributor to Wired, joins us for the ongoing digital battle.   Finally, a check in on the gig economy as we are in this next phase of the pandemic.  A rebound in travel has led Uber to post revenue at a 136% increase from pandemic lows making $6.9 billion in the first quarter.  Still, drivers are having a tough time with high gas prices.  On the other side of things, companies like Instacart are having a tough time finding their footing as people are ordering less groceries to be delivered.  Kellen Browning, tech reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The big story of the week is the draft opinion by the Supreme Court that was leaked on Monday.  The draft may still undergo some changes, but everything points to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and with it, the constitutional right to an abortion.  So how did we get here?  Lawsuits over the years haven’t explicitly challenged that ruling, rather they have asked the Court to uphold restrictions that make is more difficult and expensive for clinics to provide abortions.  If overturned, there are 22 states with laws on the books that could outright ban or ban abortions in the very early stages of pregnancy.  Ian Millhiser, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for what to expect.   Next, the leak of this draft opinion has been a rare breach that many say has never happened before.  There have been calls for the leaker to be identified and criminally charged, but legal experts say that is unlikely.  The draft opinions are not classified materials and if the person who did leak it had legitimate access to the document, then there is little that could be done.  Also in question is how much the Justice Department could become involved in an investigation.  Matt Zapotosky, national security correspondent at The Washington Post, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The education culture war is raging with discussions on everything from how we teach history, gender and sexuality and race.  We are seeing textbooks being banned and laws being implemented restricting certain conversations in school settings.  While some of these discussions have been loud and very contentious, a new poll says that for most parents, its more background noise.   Majorities of parents, across party lines say that many of these issues are being taught in a way that does align with their personal values.  Anya Kamenetz, education correspondent at NPR, joins us for how leading into the midterms, a very vocal minority is driving the discussion around education.   Next, it was one of the main tools that helped us transition to a work from home model during the pandemic, Zoom and other video conferencing apps.  They helped us connect and collaborate when we could not do so in person.  But a new study shows that compared to meeting in-person, creativity did take a bit of a hit.  Because we are so focused on the video screen during these meetings, we lose sight of our environments and move less, both of which stimulate creativity.  Erica Pandey, business reporter at Axios, joins us for the toll that video conferencing took on workplace creativity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police records are showing that across the country, women are being stalked with Apple AirTags. When released the devices were touted as a way to help users keep track of missing items like your keys, wallet or car, but police reports are showing that some women were getting notifications that their phones were tracked by an AirTag they didn’t own. In some of those cases they could identify a man in their lives, usually an ex-partner, they suspected were trying to track them. Samantha Cole, tech reporter at Motherboard, joins us for how some are using them as stalking tools.   Next, the military has long had a special relationship with the Jeep, specifically the WWII Jeep. In 1940 the Army was taking bids for a new military vehicle and settled on a design by the Willys-Overland company that would be produced by Ford. How it got its name? The common belief is that it comes from the abbreviation of “G.P.” which was a common term of any military vehicle. The Jeep even drove up the Capitol steps. Miranda Summers Lowe, contributor to Task and Purpose, joins us for how the Jeep became America’s favorite military vehicle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite some positive signs in the economy, record high inflation, rising interest rates, and the GDP shrinking 1.4% has led many to worry about a possible recession coming our way.  While it doesn’t seem like we are there quite yet, economists are mixed in their views of what to expect.  This is also reflected in ongoing, sagging poll numbers for President Biden.  He still has very low marks on the economy and voters say they trust Republicans more to fix it which doesn’t bode well for the midterms.  Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us this and Nancy Pelosi goes to Ukraine to show support.   Next, Gen Z doesn’t seem like they want to work and they are broadcasting it over social media.  Many have said that they don’t have a dream job because they “don’t dream of labor.”  The past few years of the pandemic have changed many attitudes when it comes to the work/life balance and young people entering the workforce at this time don’t want to get bogged down in toiling away with nothing to show for it.  They have gained reputations as job hoppers and aren’t afraid to air grievances on social media with hashtags like #QuitTok.  Terry Nguyen, reporter at Vox, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Start saying goodbye to menthol cigarettes.  The Biden administration has moved to ban the sales of menthols and flavored cigars, although it most likely would not take effect until 2024.  A third of all cigarettes sold in the U.S. are menthols with $20 billion in annual sales and 18.6 million Americans who smoke them.  We have already seen signals that at least one tobacco company plans to sue over the order.  Menthols have been seen as especially dangerous to minorities who smoke them in greater numbers and also harder to quit.  Jennifer Maloney, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.   Next, social media influencers are being given free or discounted beauty procedures in exchange for posts and some are beginning to regret it.  Surgeons, clinics and med spas cannot advertise through official channels on platforms like TikTok, but they have gravitated toward exchanges with influencers to target larger and younger audiences.  For the influencers themselves, they say it can be addictive starting with fillers and Botox and progressing into other surgical procedures, all in the bid to look perfect because of social media pressures.  Kat Tenbarge, tech and culture reporter at NBC News, joins us for what to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fentanyl continues to spread rapidly through the U.S. drug supply and the community groups that work closely with those most at risk of overdosing say that Naloxone is needed in greater quantities and closer to users. Naloxone which reverses the effects of opioids comes in a nasal spray and an injectable, but cost has always been a problem. Speed is also of the utmost importance as the drug can quickly prove to be fatal. Julie Wernau, health and medicine reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the strategy is changing on overdose-reversal drugs.   Next, a sound hack called 'binaural beats' is helping people to get a digital high. Our ears process sounds one before the other to figure out where the sound is coming from and the 'binaural beats' disrupts that with two similar but different sounds with no greater than a 30 Hz difference. People have said that these beats are helping them with focus, sleep, sexual arousal and even getting high. Sofia Quaglia, contributor to the Daily Beast, joins us for how it all works.   Finally, the country is drowning in spam. We are getting more spam in all its forms... texts, emails, social media and robocalls. In March alone, the average American received 42 spam texts. For spammers, it's all about the money and it's working as Americans reported losing $131 million to fraud schemes that were initiated by texts. The difficulty is that even as service providers try to crack down, spammers change their tactics. Sara Fischer, media reporter at Axios, joins us for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netflix is scrambling to figure out a way to retain subscribers as they ended the first quarter with 200,000 less people paying for their content. Netflix has long sold itself as a commercial free space for TV shows and movies, but is now exploring a lower priced option that is ad-supported. Another area the company hopes to cut back on is rampant account sharing. They estimate that 222 million households pay for the platform and it is being shared with another 100 million more homes. Price sensitive customers are also leaving for competitors with cheaper subscriptions. Joe Flint, media reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, let’s talk about death… specifically what happens to your body. Cremation is now more popular than a traditional casket burial with 56% of Americans being cremated. Estimates say that by 2040, 80% of people could go that way. A number of factors are influencing these decisions such as the significantly cheaper cost and increasingly secular population. There have also been an increase in green burials where the body is put into biodegradable containers or even reduced to soil. Karen Heller, national features writer at The Washington Post, joins us for the rise of cremation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A software startup named Classroom Technologies has teamed up with Intel to monitor student emotions on Zoom. The system can detect whether students are bored, distracted or confused by looking at facial expressions and how they interact with content. There are a lot of critics of this “emotion AI” technology that say you can’t properly read students in this manner and also concerns over privacy and student surveillance. Real psychologists were brought in to teach the AI however. Kate Kaye, senior reporter at Protocol, joins us for more.Next, there has been renewed attention on what the country does with its nuclear waste. Currently there are 80 sites in 35 states where spent nuclear fuel is being stored, but the problem is there is no long-term plan for its disposal. The ultimate goal would be to have an underground geological repository where it can be buried, but there have been many obstacles to getting it done. And if you wondered what this waste looks like, it’s not the glowing green ooze that you think. Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, contributor to The Washington Post, joins us for what to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In less than two weeks, Richard Bernard Moore is set to be executed in South Carolina. The method he chose is firing squad. If this goes through he will be fourth prisoner in the country to die that way since 1976. Because of a law passed last year, it made the electric chair the default method of execution if lethal injection drugs could not be obtained. Moore chose firing squad because he opposes the electric chair, but still said that his two choices were unconstitutional. He is scheduled to be shot in the heart by 3 riflemen on April 29. Andrea Salcedo, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more.Next, California may have reached a turning point when it comes to crime and homelessness. One of the bluest states in the country, CA has voted for policies aimed at reshaping criminal justice, but polls are showing a growing dissatisfaction with the direction that the state is going and has fueled recall efforts of progressive district attorneys in LA and SF. Christal Hayes, national correspondent at USA Today, joins us for how crime data tells a complicated story despite all the headlines and crimes that people have witnessed. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has a number of issues that continue to bog down his approval ratings. Starting with the war in Ukraine, Biden recently said that Putin is a war criminal and that he is committing genocide there. Biden projects calm about Covid publicly, but officials are nervous another wave could hit. And approval rating are the lowest they have been, especially with young people. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for what to know.Next, there is a top-secret world to the lavish and private gigs of music stars. While these have always been around and evolved over the years, music stars can get paid millions to play private parties, weddings and more. The key thing in all of this is secrecy. Attendees to these parties usually sign NDAs to protect all parties from criticism of wealth inequality and how much money is transferred. Experts say this trend will continue as it has moved beyond old rock and nostalgia acts to pop stars. David Browne, senior writer at Rolling Stone, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk continues to take Twitter on a roller coaster ride as he has now made an offer to buy the rest of the company. Musk has offered to buy it for $43 billion and said that Twitter has extraordinary potential and wants to unlock it. He is worth about $259 billion, so he can afford it, but says that to make the changes he thinks are necessary, the company needs to go private. Aaron Gregg, business reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for Musk’s hostile takeover bid.Next, the CDC’s latest round of Covid guidelines are facing their first test. The guidelines now reflect a shift in priorities. They are moving away from trying to eliminate the transmission of the virus to reducing deaths and strain on the healthcare system. We will know if the guidelines fail right away, but a measure of success may be harder come by. Keren Landman, senior reporter for health and science, joins us for more.Finally, more states and school districts are making moves to address the mental health of children, but there are some parents and activists that are pushing back saying school officials are acting in inappropriate roles and pushing progressive thinking. A lot of this stems from people wanting more parental rights in education. Caitlin Owens, health care reporter at Axios, joins us for how kids’ mental health could be America’s next culture war. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next big treatment for addiction may have presented itself. Several psychedelic drugs have been touted as effective treatments for alcohol and drug abuse, but psilocybin also known as magic mushrooms seems to be the most effective when combined with therapy. Psilocybin still remains illegal under federal law, but there are some clinical trials running to study the drug and how it can address the psychological needs of addiction. Brenden Borrell, contributor to the NY Times, joins us for more.Next, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, many thought it would be a swift victory for Putin, but the Ukrainian military has fought valiantly and pushed them back as best they can. The secret to that success… years of training with NATO and other Western allies. For more than eight years, NATO and its members have worked with them to become a modern military with Western standards where soldiers are taught to think on the move rather than the rigid Soviet style of war that they came from and one that Russia currently employs. Daniel Michaels, Brussels Bureau Chief at the WSJ, joins us for how Ukraine’s military has improved over the years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation ticks up again to a new four-decade high of 8.5%. This is now the sixth straight month of inflation over 6%. The current rate of inflation continues to be driven by high energy costs and more rises in grocery prices. Some economists hope that we are hitting a peak as prices in some sectors begin to ease, but the overall problem persists. Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, a new proposal in California would shorten the work week to four days and force overtime beyond that. The plan would apply to companies with more than 500 employees and could in effect raise employees’ wages by 25% increasing costs for employers. There are currently pilot projects with 38 companies exploring the effects of switching to a four day work week. Wes Venteicher, reporter at The Sacramento Bee, joins us for what to know.Finally, health experts with the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force will be issuing draft guidance that all children as young as 8 years old should be screened for anxiety. One of the things they point to is the effect that the pandemic has had on young kids and also an increase in numbers of kids aged 6-17 that have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Brianna Abbot, health reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what’s in the recommendations. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of Etsy sellers have gone on strike. Protesting an increase of transaction fees, we are seeing as many as 14,000 sellers put their shops into vacation mode. The impact is unclear at the moment as Etsy has about 5 million sellers on the platform. Charity Scott, e-commerce reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more on this strike as the company makes efforts to become a bigger destination for shoppers.Next, there’s another massive cargo ship that is stranded in Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and it has been there for a month now! The circumstances aren’t as disruptive as the last time a cargo ship was stuck in Suez Canal, but it is becoming somewhat of a destination for gawkers and those bored enough wanting to see a stranded ship. Julie Bykowics, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the Coast Guard will be making a third attempt to get the ship free.Finally, the Army wants to build new barracks for its soldiers at Fort Bliss in Texas, but to save time and money, they will be using a 46-foot 3D printer. A machine called the Vulcan uses a special kind of concrete called Lavacrete to build the walls of the building at a lower cost than traditional construction. David Roza, Air Force reporter at Task and Purpose, joins us for what will be the largest 3D printed building in the western hemisphere once it’s done. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a Covid outbreak in Washington D.C. where many that are close to the president have tested positive in recent days. A number of people attended a high profile dinner last week including the Attorney General and Agriculture Secretary. President Biden continues to test negative. Also as the midterm elections are on the horizon, former President Trump is endorsing Dr. Oz for Senate and Democrats are scrambling to change the narrative on the economy as many experts say they will have a tough time keeping majorities in Congress. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for more.Next, Epic Games has just released the latest version of their 3D software development tool called Unreal Engine 5. This tool allows gaming and movie developers to present intricate 3D details, facial realism, and large-scale world building. Epic says that the new update will make it the backbone of everything from movies and video games to metaverse experiences. It is free to download and use, but Epic will take a cut once projects developed using Unreal Engine 5 make over $1 million in revenue. Andrew Chow, culture and tech reporter for Time magazine, joins us for the impact it might have. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the war in Ukraine continues we are seeing a new surge of refugees at the border. More than 2,000 Ukrainians have reached the U.S. border with Mexico and more migrants from other countries are expected to seek asylum as the coronavirus public health order known as Title 42 will be lifted soon. Ukrainians have also been frustrated as there hasn’t been official guidance on how they can enter the U.S. Miriam Jordan, national immigration correspondent at the NY Times, joins us for more.Next, drone deliveries are now a thing in Texas. ‘Wing’ is a division of Alphabet, Google’s parent company and just launched the first commercial service in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. People will be able to order things like small items from Walgreens, pet medication and even ice cream and have it delivered straight to their door in a matter of minutes. Harry Guinness, contributor to Popular Science, joins us for how it works and whether it will catch on beyond a novelty.Finally, we have a jobs alert! Walmart is raising the starting salary of its truck drivers to at least $95,000 and up to $110,000 for their first year. Walmart will also start a training program to help people earn their commercial driver’s license. As consumer buying habits have changed, Walmart needs to beef up its supply chain workers to make sure stores are stocked. Melissa Repko, retail and consumer reporter at CNBC, joins us for what to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for those with federal student loans. The Biden administration has extended the suspension of loan payments through August 31. This is the sixth time it has been extended. This will benefit about 41 million people so they don’t accrue interest on their loans. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know about the extension what politics are at play.Next, as people made the shift to working from home during the pandemic and starting new jobs because of the Great Resignation, everyone was using their cell phones instead of their old business lines and caller ID has been outing people. Because caller ID is linked to the plan holder, many young professionals are being outed as still being on their parents’ phone plane. Lindsay Ellis, careers reporter at the WSJ joins us for more.Finally, young men have been driving the rebound of movie theaters. As studios have begun to release big budget movies in theaters, the films that have made the most money are those catering to this demographic. Young men have been more comfortable returning than older people and women after shutdowns. Erich Schwartzel, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how this is influencing what entertainment looks like for everyone else. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk has acquired a 9.2% stake in Twitter making him the largest shareholder. That’s 73 million shares worth about $3 billion and now, he also has a seat with the board of directors. Musk has about 80 million followers and has been critical of Twitter in the past. Sarah Needleman, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for where many think Elon could play a big role at the company… issues of content moderation.Next, are some people ‘super immune’ to Covid? There are many who have had Covid multiple times, while others have avoided infection all together. Researchers are currently studying health care workers whose bodies fought off infection, but never created specific antibodies for it. The hope is that understanding what kept them from getting sick could lead to better vaccines. Madison Muller, health reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for more.Finally, the use of certain drugs in small amounts is beginning to be claimed by wellness culture. Microdosing of magic mushrooms or even MDMA is getting more attention and even rewriting the definition of what it means to be sober. While research remains limited, many feel that the positive effects of small doses can be beneficial to their lives. Luke Winkie, contributor to Vox, joins us for the new sober-ish. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation continues to be at a 40-year high with no signs of letting up. In response, shoppers are starting to change their buying habits and cutting back on staples. Consumers are buying things in smaller quantities and also switching to store brands to save money. The big question is whether consumer product giants will adjust prices after betting big that people would stick with them. Sharon Terlep, consumer products reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, there is an estimated 7.7 to 23 million people that might have had long Covid. In an effort to find root causes and treatments, patients suffering from these prolonged symptoms are joining with researchers to come up with answers. While that might seem like a given, that is not the usual partnership in place when studying diseases.. Frances Stead Sellers, senior writer at The Washington Post, joins us for how long Covid is changing medical research.Finally, why are people acting so weird? We are seeing more crime, unruly people and other strange behavior recently and it begs the question, what’s up with that? Experts suggest a range of things have been influencing people with stress as the main culprit. People are also drinking more and are dealing with isolation. Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for what’s going on with all this weird behavior. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid shutdowns during the pandemic, the government stepped in quickly to provide much needed financial support to Americans and business owners, but maybe they moved too quickly. One of the plans to help was the Paycheck Protection Program also known as PPP which we now know has been looted by fraudsters to the tune of billions of dollars. The true amount may not be known, but in this program alone it could be about $80 billion and much of it is unrecoverable. To scam the government people inflated the number of employees they had or even created companies out of whole cloth and there was little verification. Laura Strickler, national investigative reporter at NBC News, joins us for the looting of the PPP.Next, in an update to a story that was first reported on last fall, teen girls are still going to doctors offices with TikTok-related tics and other disorders as well. While some of these tics might seem like Tourette's, they are actually being diagnosed with functional neurological disorders which can include verbal tics and abnormal body movements. New research is supporting other theories that some of these girls were also susceptible to other disorders. Once they got treatment for the tics, other disorders began to develop, but doctors still think that social media videos play a factor. Julie Jargon, family and tech columnist joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Positive drug tests have hit a two-decade high mostly driven by an increase of positive marijuana tests. A couple of things are at play here. First, attitudes about marijuana are changing as more states move to legalize recreational use. Secondly, due to labor shortages, many businesses loosened drug screening policies to open themselves up to a wider pool of applicants. Will Feuer, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, President Biden has unveiled his plan to try and help ease gas prices across the country. We will be releasing one million additional barrels of oil per day from the national Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the next six months. The plan also includes putting pressure on energy companies to ramp up domestic production of oil. Jeff Stein, White House economics reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the plan to lower gas prices.Finally, over 5,000 sellers on the Etsy platform are planning a strike starting on April 11 to protest an increase in transaction fees that will be implemented on the same day. Sellers say that the company is making record sales and revenue but continues to saddle them with more fees and an influx of resellers and drop shippers on the site. Mia Sato, reporter at The Verge, joins us for why you might not be able to buy from your favorite sellers very soon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people who left their jobs during the Great Resignation are having regrets. About 20% of those that left didn’t think it was a good idea after all and many aren’t even planning on staying very long in their new positions. Reasons why they aren’t happy range from the new role being different from what they expected or even missing the culture of their old job. Paul Davidson, economics and jobs reporter at USA Today, joins us for more.Next, according to the U.N. an estimated 4 million Ukrainians have fled the country mostly to nearby countries, especially Poland, which has taken in about 2.4 million people. Most of them have been women and children because of a law barring men of fighting age from leaving. While the numbers have begun to slow down, the refugee crisis will have long lasting effects. Joanna Sugden, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the number of those fleeing is larger than they first predicted.Finally, the battle for your toilet paper is on. Due to the scarcity of traditional toilet paper during the pandemic, many people tried alternatives such as recycled toilet paper and paper made out of bamboo. Now these alternative companies are trying to maintain the momentum they have gained. Daniela Sirtori-Cortina, consumer goods reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for how they are marketing to you, making sure you know it’s sustainable and most importantly, soft.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The FDA has authorized a second Covid booster shot for people 50 and older and those 12 and older that have weakened immune systems. The decision was mostly based on data from Israel that shows it could be lifesaving for those over 60 but has only marginal benefits for younger people. Carolyn Johnson, science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the latest and also how the FDA will soon meet to discuss the long-term booster strategy for the rest of the population.Next, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, known to opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. One of the key stories that influenced the formation of the bill is a lawsuit by January Littlejohn and her husband against Leon County Schools where they claimed that school officials helped their child transition to a different gender without keeping them informed. The conversation on this will continue as it doesn’t go to trial until next year and for Republicans, they see parental rights as a winning issue for the midterms. Andrew Atterbury, Florida education reporter at Politico, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation continues to be a problem with a not so easy solution. Part of the problem is not everyone agrees on the absolute causes so the fixes are also not agreed upon. Most can agree that supply chain issues, rising oil prices and shifting consumer demands are all contributors. While the Fed and the White House try to help, they are limited in what they can do. Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for the complicated issue.Next, a new supply chain issue could be on its way soon to one of the busiest ports in the world. New contract negotiations for more than 22,000 union dockworkers will begin soon and if history is any indicator, we are in for some disruptions. These workers have been working around the clock for most of the pandemic and some points of resistance could be more automation at the ports. Peter Goodman, global economics correspondent at the NY Times, joins us for this possible supply chain risk.Finally, crime concerns in Los Angeles are leading to wealthier homeowners to seek out panic room installs in their homes. Depending on the build-out, the price can range anywhere from $100,000 to a million dollars. These safe rooms can be outfitted with biometric scans for entry and even with high-end amenities. Hadley Meares, contributor to the Hollywood Reporter, joins us for the rising demand for safe rooms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden wrapped up his European trip with a message of unity for European allies, reassurances for Poland and a gaffe that some thought was him calling for regime change in Russia. We also saw a new round of poll numbers that don't look good for Biden. Approval rating is low and confidence in handling of Russia and the economy also took hits. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for more.Next, the return to in-person learning for students this year has yielded some improvement in test scores in reading and math, but still not to pre-pandemic levels. Young students still seem to be struggling, especially those that were learning to read in the last two years. Many teachers were alarmed to see how behind some were academically and emotionally when returning. Sara Randazzo, education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how test scores are rising.Finally, last June the Department of Defence released its much hyped UFO report and it landed without much information. Now an activist has published a longer and redacted report that members of Congress were briefed with. While still lacking a lot of clear information we did get an idea of other sections in the report that focused on possible new advanced technologies and most interestingly, the most common shapes of UFOs observed. Jason Koebler, editor in chief at Motherboard, joins us for this latest development. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could stimulus checks for gas be headed your way soon? Consumers could see increased costs of $2,000 this year due to gas prices. Three different plans have been proposed on the federal level to help ease the pain of high prices. But while lawmakers are trying to hand out more money, there are concerns it could make inflation worse. Aimee Picchi, reporter at CBS Moneywatch, joins us for what’s in these plans.Next, President Biden is in Europe meeting with NATO and European allies to discuss next steps with Russia and how to help Ukraine. In response to the refugee crisis, Biden said that the U.S. will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and is looking for ways to expedite the process. Biden also pledged more than $1 billion in new humanitarian assistance. Stef Kight, politics and immigration reporter at Axios, joins us for how the refugee process could work.Finally, Hollywood loves its sequels, so much so that they barely even bother to change the name. Take the latest “Scream” or “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” often new movies in the same franchise just add or subtract “the” or it remains exactly the same. Filmmakers say it’s not being lazy, rather it pays homage to the original and gets a new generation interested in a franchise. Chris Kornelis, contributor to the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you traded in crypto or bought NFTs last year, don’t forget you might be on the hook for all those taxes. NFTs in particular are posing a problem for consumers and accountants. Depending on the crypto used to buy it and who’s doing the selling, NFT transactions can be taxed as income, short or long-term capital gains, collectibles or dividends. Sam Sutton, reporter at Politico, joins us for the confusing classifications of NFTs.Next, according to a review of patient data, people who had Covid-19 were at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within a year, than those who avoided getting sick. Looking at the records of over 180,000 VA patients researchers calculated that those that got Covid were 46% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes for the first time or prescribed medication to control blood sugar. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at The Washington post, joins us for more.Finally, as sanctions hit Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine, we have seen their yachts try to get to friendlier waters. Yacht watchers have been tracking their movements as they try to avoid being seized and as they even get denied fuel. Benoit Faucon, senior reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how some Russian oligarchs’ yachts are on the run. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war in Ukraine has caused a refugee crisis where the U.N. says that over 3.5 million people have fled the country, but we are also hearing that Russians are also leaving because of the invasion. While most are going to nearby countries some have made the trip here to the southern border with Mexico attempting to seek asylum and frustration has been mounting that they are not getting in like Ukrainians are. For those that do get in, they are being given a 1-year stay in the country. Steve Gregory, reporter for KFI News in Los Angeles, took a trip to the border and spoke to one Russian family seeking asylum.Next, as we progress through the pandemic and we see some positive trends with fewer cases and hospitalizations, the concern is always what could be coming next. A new strain circulating in Europe and quickly spreading here may not lead to a new wave, but vaccine makers have asked for approval for a 4th round of booster shots and the question is, where does that end? We could be in store for boosters every year until we can develop a universal coronavirus vaccine. Robert Langreth, science and health reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for the future of booster shots. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest debates of the pandemic was how to proceed with school as the virus disrupted everything. Everything from learning remotely or in person to wearing masks was a point of contention, but at the Lewis-Palmer school district in Colorado, they chose to keep kids in class and made masks optional. What resulted were students who flourished and boosted some of their test scores when other districts in the state lagged behind. Perry Stein, education reporter at The Washington post, joins us for how this district tried to proceed as normal.Next, for many people that have experienced long Covid, they have had to deal with not only prolonged symptoms, but the hassle of trying to fight for disability benefits. We still understand very little about long Covid and how severe the effects are can be difficult to measure. Insurers demand that there be evidence that a person cannot work, and some medical tests may not clearly show an impairment leading to denials of benefits. Christopher Rowland, business of health reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the fight for disability payments. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war in Ukraine stretches on as reports come in that Russia is using hypersonic missiles as well reports that they shelled an art school where 400 residents were taking shelter. Despite the continued onslaught, some experts say that the war could be headed toward a stalemate. Russia has mounting casualties, loss of equipment, and had their progress on the ground slow down. The thought is that Ukraine might not be able to push them out of the country, but Russia can't take more of Ukraine. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and a preview of the confirmation hearings for Kentanji Brown Jackson.Next, the country runs on Amazon deliveries and we have all seen the Amazon branded vans in our neighborhoods. Back in 2018, they launched their Delivery Service Partner program as an opportunity for people to build small businesses using Amazon's technology, processes and experience in logistics. While definitely an opportunity, it can be tough to turn a profit as partners must foot the cost for worker compensation claims, leases on vans, and damage repairs. Amazon also holds control on almost all aspects of the business. Lauren Kaori Gurley, reporter at Vice News, joins us for how some Amazon delivery companies are being crushed by debt. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Secret Service has released a new report on the growing terrorism threat of incels. These are men that call themselves “involuntary celibates” or “anti-feminists.” The report looked into incidents of violence linked to this type of extremism including a series of red flags before a man opened fire inside Hot Yoga Tallahassee killing two and injuring four in 2018. Nicole Sganga, Homeland Security reporter at CBS News, joins us for the findings of the report.Next, the surging prices of used cars are turning them into profitable investments for those willing to part with them. Used car prices have surged 41% since last year and some are finding that they can make money on what was once a rapidly depreciating asset. Claire Ballentine, personal finance reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for used car flipping and what to watch out for… taxes!Finally, most of the world has rallied behind Ukraine in their struggle to fight off the Russian invasion. Ukrainian President Zelensky announced the creation of the International Legion of Territorial Defense for foreigners looking to support them and we have seen some Americans and veterans answer the call to serve. Jeff Schogol, senior Pentagon reporter at Task and Purpose, joins us for how some vets are in search of a just war. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. will provide $800 million in new military aid to Ukraine, totaling over $1 billion so far to help them fight back against Russia. This comes after Ukrainian President Zelensky made an impassioned plea to Congress for more help including a no-fly zone. It still doesn’t seem that the U.S. or European allies are ready to take that step, hoping to avoid a wider conflict. Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for more.Next, more than a third of the CDC’s wastewater samples across the U.S. are showing rising Covid trends the first two weeks of March. Sewer samples can often spot increasing virus levels before official tests results. It’s unclear if this points to an upcoming wave, but we currently have 98% of the U.S. population that is in places with a low community level rating. Drew Armstrong, senior editor for healthcare at Bloomberg News, joins us for what the wastewater is signaling.Finally, the Covid pill made by Merck has been prescribed heavily despite some concerns. Regulators and doctors think that the Merck pill should be one of the last options in treating Covid because concerns that it could cause birth defects and cause more variants to form. But with Pfizer’s pill in limited supply, many doctors have turned to molnupiravir. Jared Hopkins, pharma reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know about the Merck Covid antiviral. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation is keeping the prices of goods high and the Russian invasion of Ukraine is causing oil and gas prices to rise, but your electric bill is also soaring. Natural gas prices are being affected by the Ukraine crisis and raising the costs for utilities to produce electricity. As a result customers are seeing increases of up to 20%. Katherine Blunt, energy reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why your electric bill is going up.Next, rising crime has been on everyone’s mind lately and in California, the conversation over criminal justice reform and crime policies will play out over the next state attorney general race and also a pair of efforts aimed at recalling two progressive district attorneys in LA and SF. The crime issue will also be made a centerpiece for the midterm elections nationally. Jeremy White, writer for the CA Playbook at Politico, joins us for more.Finally, the workplace has gone through drastic changes as a result of the pandemic and even attitudes about work have changed. With more job openings than people looking for work, employees feel like they have all the power, but how long can that last? There is also a movement for better pay transparency, but would you disclose how much you make to others? Tess Vigeland, host of the new WSJ podcast “As We Work” joins us to talk about the changing dynamics of the workplace. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

California’s high speed rail is an ambitious infrastructure project that is behind schedule, billions of dollars over budget, and struggling to maintain support as the political energy behind it is murky at best. Plenty of work is being done right now, but it doesn’t completely match what was originally sold. Jill Cowan, California reporter at the NY Times, joins us for a look at where the biggest infrastructure project of them all is currently standing.Next, the war in Ukraine is threatening the economic recovery here at home. Supply chains haven’t fully recovered from the pandemic and inflation is at record highs. Sanctions on Russia are crippling their economy, but also hurting us when it comes to energy, cars and food. Emily Peck, markets correspondent at Axios, joins us for more.Finally, the CDC wants to monitor everyone’s poop, but states are not all on board. During the pandemic, state and local health officials were able to detect Covid in their communities before residents developed symptoms and the CDC wants to expand those programs to stay ahead of variants and other viruses too. States would need a widespread buy-in for this to be successful, but may logistical challenges remain. Katherine Foley, healthcare reporter at Politico, joins us for the plan to monitor the nation’s sewage. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia continues its assault on Ukraine this time targeting a military base just miles away from the Polish border. The airstrike killed at least 35 and injured over 130 people. The two major concerns at the moment are that Putin is inching closer to a NATO ally which would draw the U.S. into a conflict if attacked, but also there is a fear that Russia might be gearing up to use chemical weapons. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this latest attack, social media platforms being banned and inflation and high gas prices could endanger economic recovery here at home.Next, there is a hidden cost to taxpayers for accusations of repeated police misconduct. The Washington Post collected data on nearly 40,000 payments at 25 of the nation's largest police and sheriff's departments and found that about $3.2 billion has been paid out to people claiming police misconduct. Many of the officers had multiple accusations. In most cases it is easier to just settle claims rather than long drawn out defenses and in paying a settlement, the officer or the department don't have to admit wrongdoing. Steven Rich, database editor for investigations at The Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation continues to be the highest it has been in 40 years driving costs up, but drivers nationwide are also having to contend with spiking gas prices which are the highest since 2008. The invasion in Ukraine and bans on Russian oil and natural gas are keeping these prices high with no end in sight. Michael Laris, transportation reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how people are adjusting as gas keeps going up.Next, President Biden’s ‘test to treat’ program started rolling out this week to praise and also many questions. People will be able will be able to walk into participating pharmacies or clinics and if they test positive for Covid, they will be given a free course of Pfizer or Merck’s antiviral pills. Questions are still floating around about supply of pills, rapid tests, and concerns over drug to drug interactions. Katie Shepherd, health and science reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.Finally, the cost of going out is also going up with inflation creating problems for the nightlife industry. The increased costs for supplies and labor for restaurants and bars is leading to raising entrance fees and charging more for food and drink. The need to socialize and go out is high post-pandemic, but the high cost is making people reconsider. Anna Kambhampaty, styles reporter at the NY Times, joins us for nightlife inflation. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. and European allies have done as much as they can to support Ukraine except for getting their militaries involved. The challenge is not engaging in fighting with Russia for fear it could spur WW3. Military analysts think that the risk of use of nuclear weapons is low, but it’s not a chance anyone wants to take. Stephen Fidler, bureau chief at large for the WSJ, joins us for how the West continues to help without getting directly involved in fighting.Next, a sad follow up to a story that was a medical first. David Bennett, the first patient ever to receive an animal organ genetically modified to prevent rejection in a person, has died. He died two months after being implanted with a pig heart. The heart was working fine for weeks, but Bennett’s health deteriorated in the last few days. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for what we know.Finally, Disney has been hearing from upset fans angry about the high cost of tickets and fees for line-cutting apps that used to be free. Pent up demand is sending people to both Disney World and Disneyland in droves, but many increasingly feel that fun trips are out of reach without some serious investment. Hannah Sampson, travel reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has announced the latest steps to maintain pressure on Russia as Putin continues the Ukrainian invasion… banning the imports of Russian oil and natural gas. In his announcement Biden acknowledged two key things: First, we will see increased gas prices as a result and secondly, some of our European allies won’t be able to take the same steps right away because of their dependence on Russian energy. Russia is the world’s third-largest oil producer and Europe is their biggest customer. Justin Scheck, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the oil bans will affect prices in the U.S.Next, the Great Resignation saw many people choose to leave their toxic jobs for better ones or leave for jobs that offered a better work-life balance. But not everyone left and some just opted to take it a little easier and work less. Employers struggling to retain workers are just having to deal with it. The Hustle culture is over and the challenge for employers is to figure out how to navigate changing workplace attitudes. The new hybrid work life might be one that accommodates both types of employees. Aki Ito, senior correspondent at Business Insider, joins us for the new coasting culture at work. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation keeps rising for the moment and could get worse before it gets better as the situation in Ukraine shows no signs of slowing down. Trying to figure out when prices will come down is tough and depends on many factors affects cars, rent, and energy costs. Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what’s coming down and what’s going up this year.Next, a new study looking at brain scans of people before and after contracting Covid shows that they had more loss of gray matter and tissue damage than those who did not get infected. Notably, the study looked at those that were older and had more mild infections, meaning they did not have to go to the hospital. The shrinkage and damage was primarily in areas associated with smell. Pam Belluck, health and science writer at the NY Times, joins us for more.Finally, more Americans are reporting that they are starting to feel the health worker shortage. Demand in health services is going back up as people are getting into their regular checkup routines, but they are finding it difficult navigating canceled appointments or delayed surgeries. More than one in five people said they skipped annual checkups and getting back hasn’t been so smooth. Tina Reed, healthcare editor at Axios, joins us for how the health worker shortage continues to affect us. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Putin and Russia continue their attacks on Ukraine with civilians increasingly getting targeted in the fighting. A short-lived ceasefire was supposed to let people flee safely, but the shelling continued again. In Russia, anti-war protesters are being detained and a new law was just passed giving someone 15 years in prison for spreading what they call fake news about the invasion. Ukraine's President Zelensky in the meantime made pleas to NATO for a no-fly zone and to the U.S. to provide more support including an embargo on Russian oil. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and the latest on Trump and the Jan. 6 committee.Next, for months many parents have been waiting for Covid vaccines for their children under 5. Instead there has been growing confusion and frustration at shifting timelines, delays, and poor communication from the FDA. Also in question is whether the vaccine for very young children will be a two or three dose protocol. Pfizer and Moderna say more data for this age group will be coming very soon and that authorization could hopefully come by April or May. Caroline Chen, healthcare reporter at ProPublica, joins for what's holding up the vaccine for kids under 5. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educators have been experimenting with new grading systems since before the pandemic, but when everything switched to remote learning and students were having a tough time keeping up, many teachers did away with the traditional A-F grades. Some experiments include relaxing penalties for late or incomplete work and retaking exams once an understanding of the material had been established. Valerie Strauss, education reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for the hunt for a fairer grading system.Next, New York City is about to let non-citizens vote in elections for mayor, City Council and other local elections. This will not include undocumented immigrants, but is open to about 800,000 green card holders and others authorized to work in the country. Lawsuits have already been filed and opponents say it could dilute the power of Black voters. Erin Durkin, reporter at Politico New York, joins us for more.Finally, the office romance might have made a comeback, and it happened all over Zoom. Two years of isolation led to many making more connections over video chats and Slack with co-workers. Even for front-line workers, smaller social circles meant spending more time with and falling for your fellow employee. Callum Borchers, On the Clock columnist at the WSJ, joins us for how workplace loved bloomed despite being at home. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden tried to strike a tone of unity during his State of the Union speech and at key points it seems he succeeded. Speaking about the country’s support for the Ukrainian people and opposition to Putin’s invasion Biden received applause from both sides of the aisle. He later highlighted issues that do garner bipartisan support like fixing the opioid epidemic, funding the police, mental health and fighting cancer. The Republican response focused on what we might be seeing during the midterm elections… a focus on parents and education and hammering Biden on inflation. Julia Manchester, national political reporter at The Hill, joins us for all the fallout.Next, in another preview of what we could be seeing in the midterm elections, Texas had its primary and the establishment seems to have maintained the momentum for now. No incumbent Republican was ousted especially Gov. Greg Abbott who won easily despite some early pushback from the right. President Trump was also a player in the primary as he supported some 16 House incumbents and 2 candidates in open seats. David Siders, national political reporter at Politico, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We could be in store for a more brutal phase of fighting in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We have seen some civilian targets be hit and deaths as a result, but all eyes are on this Russian convoy headed toward Kyiv. In the meantime, the isolation of Putin and his country continue as financial and social sanctions hamper the economy and keeps Russians from participating in world events. Dave Lawler, world editor at Axios, joins us for more.Next, the refugee crisis as a result of the Ukrainian invasion is shaping up to be a huge concern. Over 600,000 people have fled to nearby countries and the numbers are rising. The good news is that Europe is opening its doors when they had been more reluctant in situations past. Lara Jakes, diplomatic correspondent at the NY Times, joins us for how the U.S. and others are handling the influx of Ukrainians.Finally, with cases of Covid dropping and mask mandates going away, it does seem that we are moving to the next phase of the pandemic, but how many people have actually been infected with coronavirus? A new analysis of blood tests that reveal antibodies from infection estimates that 140 million people have come down with it, that’s 43% of the country that has had a natural infection. Dan Keating, health reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for this and how a majority of children have also been infected. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The West has pressed on with more sanctions and economic punishment for Putin and Russia causing the ruble to crash and closing down their stock market. The big question still remains, how long can Putin let his country feel the economic effects of a prolonged attack. For now, U.S. officials have ruled out imposing a no-fly zone, for fear of a larger conflict. The invasion is even affecting other countries such as Germany which has pledged to dramatically increase its defense spending. Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent at Politico, joins us for how a harsher strategy is being taken with Putin.Next, we are seeing doctors around the world reporting that patients are coming in with the sudden onset of Tourette’s-like tics. Particularly they are seeing more teenage girls which do not fit the typical profile of someone with Tourette’s and more interesting, many of them seem to share the same outbursts, leading some to believe that social media could be behind it. Theories have gone around suggesting it could be mass psychogenic illness or another condition called functional neurological disorder. Helen Lewis, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for what could be behind these new-style tics. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukraine has agreed to talk with Russia hoping to end the invasion, but say they want peace talks and are not ready to surrender. There is little hope for a resolution as Putin has ratcheted up the tensions by ordering his nuclear deterrent forces to be on high alert and with Ukrainians banding together, Russian forces are having a more difficult time taking over the country. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for more.Next, as Covid infections are dropping, Americans are going back to bars, movies and sporting events but one place they aren't going back to is the office. Employers are doing everything they can to get their workers back, but many have found a work-life balance that they don't want to let go of. It's not even about Covid as 61% of remote workers are doing so by choice. Callum Borchers, On The Clock columnist at the WSJ, joins us for why workers just don't want to go back.Finally, the days of the International Space Station are numbered as NASA plans to retire it by 2031. It will be quite a spectacle as the plans are to gradually lower it closer to earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. With this massive hole in low Earth orbit, it will also set off the race for private companies to be the next big space research hub. Amanda Schupak, contributor at The Daily Beast, tells us what's next for the ISS. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues as we see President Biden announce even stricter sanctions imposed on Russian banks and oligarchs hoping to deter Putin from his mission. But things have progressed too much with reports of Ukrainian deaths, Russia capturing nuclear site Chernobyl, and worries of how far this can go. We are even seeing reports of anti-war protests in Russia. Julia Manchester, national political reporter at the Hill, joins us for the latest sanctions, the impact they might have, and the politics surrounding the invasion.Next, we will tell you about the Nocturnals. The ultra-introverts that prefer to go about their lives at night relishing in the solitude and quiet. The people that seek out this lifestyle by choice go against what many psychologists think is an important part of human interaction and also against their own natural circadian rhythms. But some feel that the inconveniences of operating at night or even the possible health effects are acceptable trade-offs because it makes them happier and truer to themselves. Faith Hill, associate editor at The Atlantic, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia continues to make moves for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with reports that troops are ready to go. In the meantime the U.S. is considering tougher sanctions and even going a step further with export control methods that could keep Russia from obtaining U.S. and foreign made tech. This would degrade industrial production in Russia by keeping things like commercial electronics, semiconductors, and aircraft parts out of their hands. Alexandra Alper, White House reporter at Reuters, joins us for more.Next, new research shows that everything we see could be from 15 seconds in the past. Our eyes and brains create an illusion of stability so we don’t feel dizzy or nauseated. Instead of analyzing every single visual snapshot, we perceive an average of what we saw in the past 15 seconds. Caroline Delbert, contributing editor at Popular Mechanics, joins us for what this new research says.Finally, a feel good story about community coming together to help without even asking why. Claire Rowan’s 16 year-old son Will, depends on a specific powdered infant formula as his only source of food. The problem happened when the FDA recalled that formula. That led to Rowan scrambling to find a replacement and posting to online groups where the community took it upon themselves to help track down more. Sydney Page, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how everyone came together to help. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has said that we are seeing the “beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine” as Putin has moved troops into two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. In response to that, President Biden announced a round of sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs to keep them from conducting financial transactions with the West. Mariana Alfaro, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know about the sanctions and how it could affect gas prices here in the U.S.Next, in this unrelenting U.S. housing market, renting a home could be harder than buying a home. With a high demand and continuing low supply we have seen rental prices for single-family homes rise 7.8% last year. With people being priced out of owning a home, many resort to renting, only to find the same problems… a rental listing pops up, and an immediate flood of applications for that property. Allison McNeely, personal finance reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for more.Finally, get ready to start hearing the term megadrought more often when talking about the American Southwest. A new study shows that the past two decades have been the driest in 1,200 years. The study also illustrates the role that temperature plays, more so than precipitation, when it comes to fueling these megadroughts. Henry Fountain, climate reporter at the NY Times, joins us for how we could be in store for this for possibly another ten years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone wants a service dog and the demand for these helpful pups has led to the rise of an industry with almost no regulation and it can be pricey. Organizations can charge anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000 for a fully trained service dog depending on the type of ailments they are supposed to help with. Trainers for their part do incur a lot of costs for boarding, training and feeding and must also account for some 60% of dogs that don't make it through the training process. Some families in desperate need of these services opt for buying their own dog and then getting them trained which could be a gamble. Markian Hawryluk, senior Colorado correspondent for Kaiser Health News, joins us for the 'Wild West' market of service dogs.Next, like many industries, the pandemic has taken the plant-based food industry on a rollercoaster ride. Early on, regular meat prices rose by about 40% which led to sales of plant-based meat as an alternative rise by 65%. However, by the end of last year sales were down leading many to think that maybe the novelty had worn off and the industry had peaked. The reality is that there is still a lot more to come, whether it be in the form of more fast food launches or other products beyond meat alternatives such as chicken, seafood, and bacon. Kenny Torella, reporter at Vox, joins us for the pandemic highs and lows of the plant-based food industry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The center for many of the discussions surrounding covid policy, race and gender is your local school board. School districts are having to navigate constantly changing health guidelines and other hot button issues while they face threats of violence often from anonymous harassers. One school board member in Virginia named Brenda Sheridan was the target of many letters and voicemails in which she and her children received threats of death. School board members are asking for increased security during meetings and police are having a difficult time tracking down the anonymous threats. Gabriella Borter, U.S. national correspondent at Reuters, joins us for more.Next, many metaverse early adopters are finding themselves accident prone as they play with VR headsets. It can make for some funny videos on social media, but the injuries can be very real. One teen fell and fractured his kneecap within hours of opening his new headset, others have broken vases and even injured innocent bystanders. There is even a Reddit group called VRtoER where people share stories and videos of their mishaps. Salvador Rodriguez, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how you still need to be careful even in virtual spaces. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine still looms with officials saying it could happen within several days. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, appearing at the United Nations, laid out what a Russian invasion could look like saying that missiles and bombs could drop across Ukraine, communications would be jammed, and cyber-attacks could shut down key institutions. Officials said that Russia could be trying to set up a pretext such as a violent event that would justify an invasion. Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent at Politico, joins us for more.Next, gunshot detection devices that are used in cities across the U.S. are getting criticism for their high cost and whether they are effective at reducing crime. One such company is called ShotSpotter who has contracts with about 120 police agencies who pay $65,000 to $90,000 a year for each square mile of service. The other angle to this is that ShotSpotter helps police departments apply for federal grants so they can afford the technology. Jon Schuppe, reporter at NBC News Digital, joins us for how ShotSpotter is winning police contracts and fighting criticism. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In good medical news, a woman in New York City appears to have been cured of HIV. The woman also had a form of leukemia which made her a candidate for a transplant of stem cells that carry a rare genetic mutation that blocks HIV. She received those stem cells in the form of umbilical-cord blood from a newborn. While scientists are encouraged by this development, treating HIV with transplants is still risky and costly and really only an option for those that need them for treatment for other diseases like cancer. Betsy McKay, senior writer at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, we are learning more about a massive human smuggling ring that was led by U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. This story dates back to 2019 where Marines were recruited to pick up immigrants near the border and drive them inland to be released. They made perfect smugglers because no one would suspect them and wave them passed various checkpoints. It was obviously all about money and soldiers could make anywhere from $500-$750 per immigrant that they picked up. In the end, many of the Marines involved in the plot were let go on technicalities. Emily Green, reporter for Vice News, joins us for how it all went down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DoorDash is bumping up its fees on the restaurant side of things. Specifically when it comes to McDonald’s, the delivery platform will charge higher commissions when orders are taking longer to fill and if drivers are kept waiting. It is all an effort to improve efficiency and cut losses. We all know that getting food delivered is more expensive, but we are also learning that you are being charged more for the food itself than if you ordered it in-store. Heather Haddon, restaurants reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, Tesla is currently running a beta test of its “Full self-driving” mode on certain models and looking at footage posted by beta testers, it is not going as smooth as Tesla might have hoped. No injuries or major accidents have been recorded, but what we see is a system that is still hesitant in certain situations, struggle to control the system, and a near miss with a pedestrian. Faiz Siddiqui, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for a look at how this mode handles in real-world situations. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public health experts are worried about the next crisis that could overwhelm the healthcare system… a wave of cancers that we didn’t catch. The rates of cancer screenings dropped over the pandemic and have not recovered. Many put off regular screenings and may have missed a diagnosis that could save their lives. Dylan Scott, senior correspondent at Vox, joins us for this problem which we might not see the extent of for years.Next, the search for Dillon the Pickle is on. The costume for the Portland Pickles mascot is missing and police are on the hunt to get it back. After being lost on a plane on a trip back from the Dominican Republic, the duffel bag with the costume was found by the airline and placed on the porch of the team’s general manager, only to have the bag stolen by a man with a mask on. Joseph Pisani, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the hunt for this pickle mascot.Finally, after leaving their jobs in the Great Resignation what are the jobs that people actually want? According to Google search data, some of the top “How to become” searches last year were real estate agent, flight attendant, therapist and notary. While the search data doesn’t indicate if people actually picked up those jobs, it does track with other pandemic trends. Rani Molla, senior data reporter at Recode, joins us for more on the jobs Americans want. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The threat of a Russian invasion in Ukraine is still keeping Western officials on high alert. President Biden and Vladimir Putin held an hour-long discussion over the weekend where Biden said there would be "swift and severe" consequences should they attack Ukraine. In the meantime, Russia has other ways of maintaining pressure through a destabilization campaign of cyber attacks, fake bomb threats, and economic disruption. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and former President Trump's penchant for destroying records.Next, a woman in San Antonio named Jane became one of the first to undergo surgery for a treatment of Alzheimer's called deep brain stimulation. This is not a treatment to reverse the disease, rather it is aimed at helping people maintain their memories and independence. The surgery involved implanting electrodes in the brain to keep the memory areas stimulated. The process uses a very sophisticated robotic system to make the precise movements needed while the patient is awake. Dr. Alexander Papanastassiou, associate professor of neurosurgery at UT Health San Antonio, was involved in this surgery and joins us for how it all works. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation has crept up to 7.5%, the highest it has been in 40 years. Prices of food, energy and used cars are all up, and in practical terms, the average U.S. household is spending an additional $276 a month. The middle class also continues to be hit harder than other groups. Gwynn Guilford, economics reporter at the WSJ joins us for how much inflation is costing you.Next, Russia has begun conducting military drills on the Ukraine border worrying Western officials that they are readying for an invasion. In the meantime, President Biden has approved a plan to help Americans flee Ukraine if Russia does invade. Biden has warned Americans in the area to get out because things could go crazy quickly. Nancy Youssef, national security correspondent at the WSJ, joins us for more.Finally, a New York City couple was arrested Tuesday on charges that they laundered some $4.5 billion that was stolen in a breach of a cryptocurrency exchange. In 2016 almost 120,000 Bitcoin was stolen from crypto exchange Bitfinex. Federal officials wanted to make clear that despite the security of crypto, it is still highly traceable and criminals should beware. Justin Rohrlich, reporter at the Daily Beast, joins us for the largest financial seizure ever by federal officials. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High inflation is now hitting you in another place you might not expect, your car insurance. Many insurers are raising their rates by 6%-8% and in extreme cases are asking for double digit increases. Rates are going up to offset higher costs for car repairs, replacements and rentals. Leslie Scism, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for these increases coming at a time when traffic and accidents have risen from pandemic lows.Next, a new attitude is beginning to take shape with the pandemic… people are over it and ready to move on. 64% of the U.S. is fully vaccinated and many have natural immunity from prior infection, Democratic governors are beginning to relax pandemic rules, and cases are dropping at a rapid rate. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the shifting attitude toward the pandemic.Finally, a story about a man who unknowingly left behind almost $230,000 at a Las Vegas slot machine. Robert Taylor hit a jackpot in January, but then the machine malfunctioned. Thinking he didn’t win, he walked away. After the casino fixed the machine, they found he did indeed win the money and then took on the difficult task of tracking him down. Andrea Salcedo, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mask mandates are beginning to fall in states across the country, particularly when it comes to schools. Democratic governors in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon are lifting statewide rules leaving the final say to school districts on how to proceed. Some still want more guidance from the CDC, but the trend is shifting away from the mandates. Laura Meckler, national education writer at The Washington Post, joins us for more.Next, the Biden administration wants more students to become butchers. It’s an effort to scale up local and regional meat processing to foster competition in the industry. Training workers would help address labor shortages, but some say it could be a difficult sell getting students into an industry with so much manual labor done mostly by immigrants at the moment. Ximena, Bustillo, reporter at Politico, joins us for more on these agricultural programs.Finally, some states are putting forth proposals that would accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as acceptable tax payments bringing them closer to the mainstream. Proposals in Wyoming and Arizona are in the early stages and could be a benefit for retailers, but there will most likely be some legal hurdles. Ben Schreckinger, national political correspondent at Politico, joins us for how states are considering accepting digital currency. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rollout of the Pfizer’s Covid pills has faced shortages and criticism that state health departments are not prioritizing those at the highest risk of serious illness. The Biden administration has purchased 20 million courses of the treatment but has only been able to release 265,000 courses due to production delays. Benjamin Ryan, contributor to NBC News, joins us for a look inside the U.S. rollout.Next, Frontier and Spirit Airlines have agreed to a merger worth $6.6 billion that would make them the fifth largest airline in the country. The move will see them keep their ultra-low fare business model and cause some worry for other airlines who have not rebounded with business and international travel customers. Leslie Josephs, airline reporter at CNBC, joins us for this deal that could create 10,000 jobs by 2026.Finally, full-frontal male nudity is going mainstream in Hollywood. With the rise of streaming platforms that are largely free from ratings rules, more men including some big stars are becoming more comfortable with baring it all. Be warned however, it may not be the real thing as many times prosthetics are used. Ellen Gamerman, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what it takes to make a nude scene happen. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The situation in Ukraine remains tense as Russia has assembled at least 70% of the forces they would need to launch a full scale invasion. Officials worry that there could be a huge amount of casualties and the Ukraine capital could fall quickly. With the Winter Olympics as a backdrop, Russia and China have expressed support for each other. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this, criticism of the Covid protocols at the Games and the RNC censuring Rep. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.Next, the condiment business is hyper competitive and one of the major players in the spice game, McCormick, has been making acquisitions to take over the world of hot sauce. They recently bought Frank's Red Hot and Cholula in deals worth millions of dollars each. The pandemic proved to be beneficial for McCormick as many people stayed in and cooked more at home, but they were not immune to supply chain issues that affected the industry. Austin Carr, features writer at Bloomberg BusinessWeek, joins us for the fight for hot sauce supremacy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a dramatic raid in Syria that President Biden approved, U.S. special operations forces conducted a nighttime mission to take out the Islamic State’s leader. After a shootout between an ISIS lieutenant and U.S. forces, the IS leader detonated what is believed to be an explosive vest killing himself and his own family. Gordon Lubold, WH and national security reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how the operation went down.Next, we are learning more about the mysterious ‘Havana syndrome’ after a panel of experts determined that an external energy source could be behind the symptoms affecting U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers abroad. No device or country has been identified as being behind it, but the experts said the pulsed electromagnetic energy could come from a portable device. Shane Harris, national security reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.Finally, as the Winter Olympics get under way a lot of focus will be on the venues and snow needed for some 66 medal events that require it. All of the snow for the Games will be completely man-made using special snow guns that use specific air and water ratios to make the perfect snow for each event. Bonnie Berkowitz, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how they make a bulletproof downhill course. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the science behind the sharp rise in Omicron infections and then the rapid decline? It seems we might have hit a peak here in the U.S. and are already seeing new infections drop in places like the U.K. and South Africa. Umair Irfan, reporter at Vox, joins us for how more immunity could be building up in the population and the variant is running out of new people to infect.Next, the IRS wants to scan your face. Starting this summer anyone that wants to access their records on the IRS website like tax transcripts, child tax credits or payment plans, they will need to record a video of their face and send it to private contractor ID.me to confirm their identity. Drew Harwell, tech reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.Finally, many questions still remain about the Jan. 21st accident involving a truck transporting research monkeys that crashed in Pennsylvania. The latest update is that Kenya airways that flew the monkeys to the U.S. will not renew its contract to continue to their transport. There are also still questions about Michele Fallon’s health, the woman who fell ill after contact with them. Michael Levenson, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what we know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the longest running mysteries of the pandemic has been long Covid and what causes it. Studies have found that 10-20 percent of people that have recovered from the coronavirus get long Covid which can appear up to 3 months after recovery and last for 6 months or more in some cases. Researchers are zeroing in on the causes and the two leading theories are that the virus turns the immune system against the body and despite recovering, the virus could be lingering in the body not in the blood, but in the body's’ tissues. Yasmin Tayag, contributor to Vox, joins us for what could be behind long Covid.Next, Los Angeles is hoping to build a future where water won’t run out and comes from mostly local sources. Currently Southern California gets most of its water from the Colorado River and up north, but there have been billions of dollars in investment to double down on water recycling, reclamation, and storage. The goals are lofty to treat water locally, but it could set LA up to be water independent as droughts continue. Laura Bliss, reporter at Bloomberg CityLab, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police departments across the country are dealing with resignations and retirements from their officers and struggling to replace them. Some officers describe the job as more stressful and less rewarding than in the past amid increased scrutiny over police actions. Kris Maher, reporter at the WSJ, joins us how police departments are short-staffed and their efforts to recruit.Next, the fight over Covid misinformation continues on Spotify as Joe Rogan and the company have both responded after Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and others demanded their music be taken off the platform for misinformation spread on Rogan’s podcast. Spotify said they will be more transparent with its rules for what is allowed on the platform as well as add content advisories to podcasts that talk about Covid. Travis Andrews, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.Finally, ransomware hackers are increasingly adding a new tactic to get paid, contacting you directly. After the Allen Independent School District in Dallas was hacked, parents started getting emails threatening to release the sensitive information of their children unless they were paid off. Kevin Collier, cyber security reporter at NBC News, joins us for the evolving practices of ransomware gangs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You are seeing them everywhere and oddly there still aren’t enough to get Americans all the stuff they want. Tractor trailers and delivery trucks have taken over the roads. While all these deliveries are solving one problem and getting us what we need, it is creating new problems such as damage to roads and even homes as they take up more space on residential streets. Atlanta in particular has been hit hard as it has two of the top five truck bottlenecks in the country. David Harrison, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how this trend will continue with infrastructure projects on their way and no slowing of online orders.Next, Idaho is sitting on one of the most important elements on Earth… cobalt. Needed for the production of lithium-ion batteries for use in electric vehicles, mining companies are beginning to set up operations in what is known as the Idaho Cobalt Belt. It is an interesting development and look at how the clean-energy revolution is reshaping the landscape and posing some environmental risks. Most of the cobalt supply is mined in the Congo and sent to China, so it’s important that we are able to mine domestically. Michael Holtz, contributor to the Atlantic, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tension with Russia continues as fears mount that they could invade Ukraine. But what are all the motivations behind it? Putin wants guarantees that NATO will not expand further eastward. For the U.S., China seems to be a bigger threat, but we are bound to help because of our involvement with NATO. Jonathan Guyer, senior foreign policy writer at Vox, joins us for more.Next, the crypto crash has erased more than $1 trillion in global value for cryptocurrencies and the drops have hit everyday investors pretty hard. Some are rethinking their investments, others are in it for the long term thinking it could be the financial platform of the future. Tory Newmyer, economic policy reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more on all the crypto volatility.Finally, the road to filming and producing all those excellent Super Bowl commercials that many love, has been very stressful this year. The average price for 30 seconds of ad time during the game is up to $6.5 million, an increase of a million from last year. However, because of Covid surges, delays and price hikes have affected commercial shoots. Suzanne Vranica, advertising editor at the WSJ, joins us for all the disruptions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Supreme Court news as we found out Wednesday that Justice Stephen Breyer will be retiring after 27 years, giving President Biden a chance to nominate a new judge. Conservative judges will still control the majority, but it could provide Democrats with some much needed enthusiasm before the midterms. Sam Baker, senior editor at Axios, joins us for some possible front-runners for the job.Next, the SAT is going digital soon in an effort to make the test easier to take, administer, and be more relevant. The test will go from three hours down to two in part due to a process called “adaptive testing” that will tailor the difficulty of questions to what is appropriate for a student’s performance level. Nick Anderson, higher education reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for all the changes.Finally, inflation remains at a 40 year high and many are having to adjust their buying habits more than just the simple, switching to generic brands at the grocery store. People are scaling back on other life events and picking up new skills to make due. You can’t make cuts on things like medication, so the savings need to come from other areas. Veronica Dagher, personal finance reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NFTs have taken over the art world and millions of dollars are being spent on these digital artworks, but how much are they really worth? Right now the Institute for Contemporary Art Miami is going through the difficult process to determine the value of a CryptoPunks NFT named Priscilla in case it gets destroyed, but also for tax purposes for the donor. Kevin Dugan, reporter at NY Mag, joins us for more on what determines an NFTs value.Next, according to a recent survey of mayors across the country, 73% of them believe that voters hold them accountable for handling homelessness in their cities, but many of them don’t feel like they have control over the issue. A third of mayors said they don’t even have staff dedicated to it. Jennifer Kingson, chief correspondent at Axios, joins us for how some mayors feel powerless to reduce homelessness.Finally, one of the common themes of the pandemic keeps persisting… nurses stretched too thin and looking for help to avoid burnout. The healthcare sector has lost about 500,000 workers since February of 2020. The staffing shortage coupled with medical workers getting sick with Covid themselves is pushing them to the brink. Julie Wernau, health and medicine reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next week marks the beginning of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and one thing to watch for will be how the weather behaves. China will be deploying weather modification technology at new levels of scale to make sure the games go off without a hitch. Could-seeding to produce rain and ‘blueskying’ to make sure the skies are beautiful and wiped away of clouds and smog. This is on top of already using millions of gallons of water to create the snow needed for outdoor events. Steven Zeitchik, tech and innovations reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for China’s efforts to control the weather.Next, in an effort to keep overdoses at a minimum and provide people safe spaces to use drugs without having to be on the street corner, New York has opened two locations where people can use drugs with supervision. If something goes wrong, trained workers can step in with oxygen or other life saving measures. There is opposition where the fear is that these facilities may lessen the incentive for people to enter treatment programs. Meryl Kornfield, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more on these safe consumption sites that could be on their way soon in other places like Rhode Island and California. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent polls by NBC News don't paint a good picture for people's views about the country or the party in power. Large majorities feel that the country is not going in the right direction, households feel like they are falling behind economically, and that political polarization will continue for some time. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for bad polls and Sen. Joe Manchin ready to negotiate on the Build Back Better plan.Next, what does it mean to be asymptomatic? As Covid guidelines constantly change around us and infections keep spreading, many don't want to believe a sniffle or scratchy throat could be a symptom. To be clear, being asymptomatic means you feel your best and aren't taking any medications to manage symptoms such as a headache. If anything seems amiss, a Covid test might be a smart choice. Allie Volpe, contributor to Vox, joins us for what to know.Finally, supply chain issues continue to affect many industries, and for anyone that has been trying to buy furniture, you know the pain all too well. Deliveries on couches and other furniture can be up to seven months in some cases and people are having to get by with bean bags and beach chairs until their orders come. Rachel Wolfe, consumer trends reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why you might be waiting a while for that couch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CIA has issued an interim report saying that they found no ‘worldwide campaign’ by any foreign power that was behind the mysterious Havana syndrome. While another report has said that a “directed, pulsed radio frequency” could be the cause, the CIA said that most incidents could be attributed to preexisting medical conditions of those affected or environmental factors. Shane Harris, intelligence and national security reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more on Havana syndrome.Next, health experts are warning that nations could be giving up too soon in the fight against the pandemic. Many are looking forward to a time when the virus will be endemic and we can just live with it, and certain policies have already begun to reflect that. Joel Achenbach, science reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for why experts say it’s not time to let your guard down just yet.Finally, this week we saw Microsoft make a huge deal worth $69 billion to buy videogame company Activision Blizzard. While this will bolster their game catalogue, Microsoft execs also see the acquisition as a pathway to the metaverse. The metaverse is so much bigger than gaming, but it will still need gaming first-adopters to help it take off. Sarah Needleman, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden has officially been in office for one year and it has definitely been uneasy at best. He started with early successes in passing the Covid relief bill and the vaccine distribution program, but then hit problems with the Delta and Omicron surges, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and record high inflation. Jonathan Lemire, WH Bureau Chief at Politico and host of ‘Way too Early’ on MSNBC, joins us for more on Biden’s first year.Next, the 5G rollout from Verizon and AT&T has been hit with delays and caused flight cancellations as we hear about worries from the FAA that the 5G frequencies can possibly interfere with radio altimeters that aircraft use to help land when visibility is low. Rebecca Heilweil, reporter for Recode by Vox, joins us for more.Finally, we’ll tell you about the hypermilers. People who are trying to get as much fuel efficiency out of their vehicles whether it be gas or electric. Recently, there has been a closer look at EVs, and they found that the sweet spot for making the most of a charge can be very slow… sometimes below 30 mph. Mike Colias, autos reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the hypermilers.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some good news when it comes to jobs and the pandemic. Texas, Arizona, Idaho and Utah have recovered all the jobs they lost since the start of the pandemic and another dozen states could hit that mark by the middle of this year. A lot of this was driven by population growth due to companies and workers shifting away from coastal cities. Bryan Mena, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, for those working remotely, the sick day may be gone. As the Omicron variant continues to cause disruptions, some remote workers experiencing mild symptoms are opting to work through it. Some figure that since they are not in the office posing a risk to others, they are taking the posture of, “If I can work, I’ll work.” Kathryn Dill, reporter at the WSJ, joins us Americans complicated relationship with taking time off.Finally, crime tourists have been targeting wealthy Asian and Middle Eastern residents in the D.C. area. Law enforcement experts say cells of professional burglars are entering the country, targeting residents, and then move on to another city or state to steal more. In once particular case, the burglars were linked to more than 50 thefts stealing more than $2 million. Justin Jouvenal, justice reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for the wave of crime tourists. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone knows there is money to be made by going viral on TikTok, and it's enough to make some reconsider the line of work they are in. To bolster that idea, you can look to some TikTok stars that are making more money than many of the top CEO's in the country. Charli D'Amelio, who gained notoriety for dancing and spun her fame off into a clothing line made more money last year than the CEO's of Exxon Mobil, Starbucks, and McDonalds. Joseph Pisani, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Next, we have been seeing the effects of climate change on humans, animals and our environment, but one place that has been overlooked are insects. For many they can be seen as pests, but they are an integral part of the ecosystem. Once thought to be very resilient, we are seeing their life cycles change, some on the verge of extinction like bumble bees, and the rise of damaging pests like locusts and mosquitoes. Oliver Milman, reporter for the Guardian, joins us for how the speed of climate change is causing an imbalance in the insect world.Finally, you might think that marijuana and parenting don’t mix, but there is a growing movement of ‘cannamoms’ who say that consuming weed helps them to calm down, reduce anxieties and be more present in their kids’ lives. They want to fight the stigma around it and also make clear that they aren’t getting blazingly high and consider it low risk, just like a glass of wine. Jesse Staniforth, contributor to the BBC, joins us for more on ‘cannamoms.’ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we hit the one year mark for Joe Biden's presidency and it has been one marked with many roadblocks and only incremental agenda achievements. The two main promises of his campaign have eluded him... ending the pandemic and bringing the country together. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News joins us for Biden one year in, the Supreme Court halting vaccine mandates for larger employers, at-home Covid test going out this week, and the Texas synagogue hostage situation.Next, a grieving family trying to make connections after the death of their son found that his biological father had psychiatric problems. They wish his hospitalization and condition was disclosed on the questionnaire the father filed out when he donated sperm. Turns out Donor 1558 had schizophrenia and later the Gunner family also had to deal with their son Steven when he was also diagnosed with the same disorder and died of an opioid overdose. The Gunner's are now using their story to push for legislation to get better disclosures from sperm donors. Amy Docker Marcus, health and science reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Omicron surge is putting a heavy strain on hospitals around the country with many hospital workers themselves testing positive, forcing them to stay home. To help with serious staffing shortages, California is implementing a temporary and controversial new policy that allows asymptomatic healthcare workers who have tested positive to return to work immediately. Hayley Smith, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for Covid-positive medical workers staying on the job.Next, the disruptions from the latest Covid surge continue as college campuses are changing plans for the start of the semester. In-person instruction has been delayed, boosters are being mandated, and they are even restricting student travel. Yale University is asking students not to go to local businesses, restaurants or bars until later in the semester. Melissa Korn, higher education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Finally, businesses are still having a hard time gaining new employees and are looking to automation and cashier-less checkouts to stay in business with fewer or no employees. New startups are now able to outfit any small business with AI-powered checkout systems. Erica Pandey, business reporter at Axios, joins us for how the future of Main Street could be one without workers. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In some grocery stores around the country we are again seeing empty shelves. Some of the reasons remain the same as early in the pandemic, others have changed slightly. The Omicron surge coupled with labor shortages is making it difficult to keep things stocked. Supply chain issues in other countries are affecting us, and more people are eating at home. Laura Reiley, business of food reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for what to know.Next, the head of human resources at your place of work could be some of the most important people as we face constantly changing guidelines when it comes to the pandemic. They are key figures in setting new policy on mask wearing, testing and vaccine mandates and have had to quickly become experts on public health. Emma Goldberg, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for all the new complexity brought to the world of H.R.Finally, there are a lot of unexpected ways that children change their parents. There is a growing body of research that shows that a child’s behavior has a much stronger influence on their parents’ behavior than the other way around. It is a phenomenon called bidirectional parenting. Melissa Hogenboom, science journalist at the BBC and author of The Motherhood Complex, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health experts see at-home Covid tests as a key tool in the fight against the pandemic. Starting Saturday, Jan. 15th people with private health insurance will be able to get reimbursed for up to 8 tests per month. The administration is also encouraging insurers to create networks of preferred stores or pharmacies so that costs can be covered up front. For those without private insurance, 500 million at-home tests will soon be available for people to request online. Despite all this action, limited supply of tests is still a concern. Annie Nova, personal finance reporter at CNBC, joins us what to know about free at-home Covid tests.Next, the University of Maryland Medical Center has successfully transplanted a gene-edited pig heart into a man named Dave Bennett. Bennett was not cleared to be on the heart transplant waiting list and then opted for this very experimental procedure. The pig who gave his heart for this had ten specific genes edited so that the body wouldn’t reject the organ, to help prevent blood from coagulating in the heart, and to keep the pig from growing too large. Karen Weintraub, health reporter at USA Today, joins us for this medical first and what it could mean for the future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Omicron variant continues to surge, but we aren’t hearing the same calls for shutting things down again, at least not from Democratic mayors and governors. We have seen an attitude shift and recognition that Covid fatigue is real and people just want to get back to normal. This fight is especially playing out with school closures in Chicago. Susannah Luthi, reporter at Politico, joins us for why many Democratic leaders are changing their tune.Next, Pfizer is looking to start human trials of their Omicron specific vaccine by the end of this month. A key goal of this research will be to compare the protections between the current formulation and one tailored to Omicron. If needed still, the shot could be ready by March. Andrew Dunn, senior healthcare reporter at Business Insider, joins us for more.Finally, researchers are getting excited for the possibility of sci-fi types of medical implants becoming a reality soon. Blurring the lines of tech wearables like Fitbits, researchers and doctors are thinking up of more ways to bring these technologies to monitors inside the body. Kenneth R. Rosen, contributor to the Washington post, joins us for how new medical implants may not be far off. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new office has been established in the Pentagon to study UFOs. Spearheaded by Sen. Kirsten Gilibrand and tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act, the office is positioned as a national security issue. While many welcome this new office, some activists fear that without some civilian involvement we could see cover-ups of vital info. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this, Covid at-home test being sent to Americans, and Joe Biden heads to Georgia on Tuesday.Next, for the first time in nearly 50 years, the number of dialysis patients shrunk, not because more people were healthy, but because Covid struck. People with kidney failure and the associated illnesses are more prone to severe infection, but many people also neglected getting their treatments during the pandemic. And despite dialysis centers implementing Covid precautions, some facilities didn't follow their own infection control policies. Duaa Eldeib, reporter at ProPublica, joins us for how dialysis patients were the pandemic's perfect victims and how few people took notice. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid testing is once again becoming an issue as the demand for tests is growing. Specifically, at-home rapid tests are very hard to come by and when you do find them the prices can be inflated. Some are resorting to buying the tests at triple the retail price as they are becoming a necessity for returning to work and school. Kelsey Butler, equality reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for the unpredictable market for rapid tests.Next, President Biden began the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots by denouncing the violence and pinning all the blame on former President Trump. Many Republicans on the other hand handled the day in a variety of ways. Some tried to depict what happened that day as acts of patriotism or defending freedom, others held rallies in support of protestors at the Capitol. One year later, some of the participants are even running for elected office. David Siders, national political correspondent at Politico, joins us for more.Finally, the current wave of Omicron infections is forcing businesses to scramble to cover their bases while people are calling out or quarantining and it could threaten the economic recovery. Some estimates say that more than 5 million American are in quarantine. The markets have not reacted that way and like with the Delta surge, they hope the rebound will be quick. David Lynch, global economics correspondent at the Washington Post, joins us for how businesses are reacting to the latest wave. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30,000 active-duty service members still have yet to be vaccinated despite mandates and some deadlines already passing. To be clear, the vaccination rate stands at more than 97%, but some are instead resigning or facing honorable discharges. Lawsuits are pending and thousands have requested religious exemptions, although none have been granted. Melissa Hernandez, reporter at the LA Times, joins us for more.Next, CES 2022 is here and it’s time to take a look at the tech we could be using very soon or prototypes of things to come. The Metaverse featured well at CES with products like the Pebble Feel, which is a hot and cold simulator that can replicate shifting weather. We also saw a fully autonomous tractor from John Deere that could revolutionize farming and a stuffed animal robot that nibbles your finger. Dalvin Brown, personal tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what’s at CES.Finally, plant-based fried chicken is coming to KFC. Beyond meat has partnered with them and are debuting faux chicken nuggets that are made using “whole muscle” technology that imitate cuts of meat like chicken breasts. Amelia Lucas, restaurant reporter at CNBC.com joins us for KFC’s new Beyond Fried Chicken. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots is upon us and members of Congress are still investigating all that went down on that day, but how has some of the extremism that took place that day shifted a year later? Much of it has moved to the local level. The shift has gone to local politics, school boards, and county health boards. Ben Collins, senior reporter at NBC News, joins us for how this shift to a local level has a purpose.Next, looking back at 2021, we saw a big drop in engagement with news content. 2020 was a huge year with Trump still in office and the onset of the pandemic and people were tuned in all the time. But a year later as Covid fatigue set in, people diverted their attention elsewhere like streaming content and sports. Neal Rothschild, Director of Audience and Growth at Axios, joins us for how many tuned out in 2021.Finally, Omicron has definitely thrown a wrench into back-to-school plans for students as many districts shifted last minute to remote learning after the holiday break. For parents, the constant changes have left them frustrated trying to adjust to evolving plans and confused on what to do. The students aren’t faring better either. Maggie Astor, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid cases continue to rise in the U.S. as the Omicron variant proves to be highly transmissible. The rise in infections has reignited the conversation over masks which now has some doctors and healthcare systems saying cloth masks may not be enough, recommending that you pair them with surgical masks or upgrade to other options like KN95 masks. Nidhi Subbaraman, science reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.Next, we have seen a rise in violent incidents at schools both minor and major, everything from fights to gun possession and drug use. On top of other difficulties facing schools, administrators are dealing with tough questions on how best to respond to disciplinary issues and advocates fear that suspensions and expulsions could add to problems for vulnerable students. Erin Einhorn, national reporter at NBC News, joins us for more.Finally, a lot has been made of the Metaverse and the blurring of lines between our real world lives and our digital lives. One of the latest things we have seen in this realm is getting married and there could be a lot of perks to having a digital marriage such as unlimited guests or even out of this world destinations. Steven Kurutz, features reporter at the NY Times, joins us for one couples’ wedding in the Metaverse. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Checking in on our furry friends and the people who help keep them healthy… the pandemic has caused all sorts of backlogs at veterinary offices. Vet staff has been increasingly stressed out as there have been spikes in demand for services, slowed-down curbside protocols, labor shortages, and pets having to be turned away in some cases. HG Watson, contributor to the Guardian, joins for what to know.Next, every wonder why you feel like you might not fit into a particular political party? Americans are divided for sure, but it goes beyond a left or right thing. Even within each party there are deep divides. Pew Research sorted American ideologies into nine distinct categories, four that lean left, four that lean right, and stressed sideliners in the middle. And for those that do fit into the center, they often hold little common ground. Baxter Oliphant, senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, joins us for the wide spectrum of political beliefs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Work burnout has been an issue for some time, but the pandemic has shown many people just how much their work has taken over their lives. With constant meetings and new pressures people are struggling to take control. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a life-changing event to realize it. Rachel Feintzeig, work and life columnist at the WSJ, joins us for why maybe you should care a little less to get your life back.Next, what happens when you order things online and send them back? You may think it makes its way back to the shelf and on its way to another person, but that is rarely true. Oftentimes items make their way to bulk resellers overseas, stripped for parts, or just thrown away. Returns are a big problem for companies that are expected to have generous return policies as a default. These reverse logistics are many times cost prohibitive to deal with. Amanda Mull, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins us for the nasty logistics of returning your online items. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent top-secret cable was sent to C.I.A. stations across the world saying that dozens of informants used as spies for the U.S. have been captured, killed, or compromised. According to one expert, because of technology, the old way of spying has become obsolete. Biometric scans, facial recognition and even cell phones are revealing key facts about movements, patterns, and life associations. Ken Dilanian, national security correspondent at NBC News, joins us for more.Next, famed TV artist Bob Ross is one of history's most prolific painters racking up almost 30 thousand paintings in his lifetime, but you'd be hard pressed to find one of his original works in the open market. There are a few reasons why you might not find these paintings being sold. First off, Bob Ross Inc. which owns the majority of his work, has them locked away in a warehouse, but they make more money selling paints and painting supplies using his name. Secondly, many of his paintings are already sitting in homes across the country. His paintings can sell for over $10 thousand. Zach Crockett, senior writer at The Hustle, joins us for why it's so hard to find an original Bob Ross painting. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where have all the restaurant and retail workers impacted by the pandemic gone? Many of them went to work in the marijuana industry. There is now an estimated 321,000 workers in the legal cannabis industry. Workers in this industry say they are finding better hours, benefits, and more opportunities to advance. Abha Bhattarai, national retail reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for marijuana jobs have been a refuge for retail and restaurant workers.Next, could “luxury mystery boxes” be the future of high-end discount shopping? A new solution for selling off overstock and off-season clothing has emerged in these mystery boxes which can sell anywhere from $700 to $2000. The only catch is that you don’t know what is in the box until you open it. The high-end merch in these boxes is said to be 2-3 times the retail value of the box, but there’s a chance it could always be a bust. This has even spilled over into the online arena with unboxing videos. Jacob Gallagher, fashion reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what these mystery boxes mean for the fashion economy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re not crazy… you are spending more time in that fast food drive-thru and they are also a little less accurate. A new study done with mystery shoppers found we are spending about a minute more in these lines than we were last year. When it comes to accuracy, Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell top the list. Amelia Lucas, restaurant reporter at CNBC.com, joins us for what to know.Next, when things go wrong at an Airbnb, a specialized safety team mobilizes to help the problems go away. In some cases violent crimes or even severe property damage is taken care of by this secretive PR who is armed with NDAs and millions of dollars in settlement money. Team members have said that the job is nerve-wracking trying to balance the interests of the guests, hosts, and especially the company. Olivia Carville, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for how Airbnb is spending millions to make bad news go away. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NFTs are all the rage in the art market right now with about $2.4 billion worth of NFTs being traded in the second quarter alone. But with all this money comes scammers and hackers taking advantage of people by selling fake art, stealing credit card numbers, and even spreading viruses that can drain crypto wallets of all their funds. Kelly Crow, art reporter at the WSJ, joins us for why you should be wary of NFT scams.Next, Facebook knows that Instagram can be a problem for teen girls. According to their own internal research, 32% of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse. While there are many social media platforms out there, some of these problems are worse on Instagram. TikTok is focused on video and performance, Snapchat keeps the focus on the face with filters, but Instagram centers on the body and lifestyle making the social comparisons worse. Georgia Wells, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for Facebook has consistently played down the apps negative effects, despite research showing it has been a problem. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professional dog trainers are having to deal with an increase in misbehaving pandemic puppies. Because of quarantines and shutdowns many first time dog owners didn’t properly train or socialize their pups which led them to be overly reactive or have separation anxiety. The big worry for these trainers is that if people can’t get dogs under control, they may be surrendered. Bailey Berg, contributor to Vice News, joins us for more.Next, how many times have you gone to McDonald’s for a nice frozen treat only to be told that the ice cream machine is broken? One couple attempted to get to the bottom of why the Taylor ice cream machines that McDonald’s uses are always breaking and found that there is a secret repair menu that most workers don’t know how to access which forces them to contact the manufacturer for maintenance. This couple eventually created a way to hack the machines, only to have Taylor and McDonald’s stop them. Andy Greenberg, senior writer at Wired, joins us for the fight over hacking McDonald’s ice cream machines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have been seeing a decline in those identifying as religious for some time now and in the absence of religious belief many have channeled that into political belief. What is America supposed to mean or what does it mean to be un-American? Politics has become the new religion and ideological intensity has risen driving a divide in the country. Shadi Hamid, contributing writer at The Atlantic, joins us for more.Next, another story of students taking on mountains of debt only to have the high paying jobs they were promised out of reach. Law school, which was once seen as a great path to a well-paying job is the latest to be scrutinized as students often take out six figure federal loans. Recent graduates of the University of Miami School of Law borrowed a median of 163,000 and two years later, half of them were earning 59,000 or less, making it difficult to pay down their loans. Just 15% of recent grads were able to begin repaying their student loans after two years. Andrea Fuller, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a seller's market out there and in some cases they are flexing their muscles to squeeze the most out of selling their homes. There have been some unusual demands such as taking all of the kitchen cabinets, mid-range appliances, and even toilets. Sometimes it's for sentimental reasons, but sometimes it's just because they can. Buyers, worn out from bidding wars, just accept the terms. Ronda Kaysen, NYT columnist and co-author of Right at Home, joins us for more.Next, be careful when you see your favorite influencers and personalities promoting cryptocurrency. With all the hype around crypto right now, many are promoting “alt-coins” or “meme-coins” and unfortunately they are often tied to what are known as pump and dump schemes. Influencers pump up the altcoins in their networks, the value rises for a very short period of time, major investors dump the coins when it hits their peak, and everyone else is left with these crypto coins worth nothing. Matt Binder, reporter at Mashable, joins us for the shady world of influencers promoting cryptocurrency. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 60 miles north of Los Angeles, Lockheed Martin has a super-secret aircraft and weapons facility called Skunk Works. The U-2 spy plane and F-117 Nighthawk were both developed there and Lockheed is currently jockeying for a role in the Air Force’s next fighter jet program. Skunk Works has just opened a new state-of-the art factory and invited journalists to tour it, albeit in a very secretive manner with much of the travel around the campus through underground tunnels. Lee Hudson, defense reporter at Politico, joins us for a peek inside this very secretive facility.Next, the WSJ set up 31 TikTok accounts registered to teenagers to see what the algorithm would serve them up. What they saw after thousands of videos was a never ending stream content related to sex, drugs, and eating disorders. TikTok’s algorithm is engagement based, so spend any amount of time on a video or re-watch it, and get ready for a flood of similar content. The company uses 10,000 people and other algorithms to police content, but the app does not restrict certain videos based on age. Georgia Wells, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how TikTok serves up videos to minors. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new treatment known as optogenetic therapy has given a blind man some of his vision back. Light- activated proteins were inserted into eye nerve cells and paired with specials goggles that emit flashes of amber-hued light. This combination allowed the man with a degenerative eye disease to see and count objects, when he could previously just detect some light. Tina Hesman Saey, senior writer at Science News, joins us for more.Next, ghost kitchens or virtual restaurants have taken over America’s restaurants. The new world is search optimized and data-driven. Often these restaurants have no storefront and no place to dine-in. Instead, they can be found on food delivery apps like Uber Eats and GrubHub. Some experts say that these virtual restaurants will be a $1 trillion industry in the next ten years. At a time when restaurants are struggling due to the pandemic, this expansion can be a lifeline for many. Adam Chandler, contributor to Marker, joins us for the rise of ghost kitchens. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many are expecting the Metaverse to be the next phase of the internet where our real lives increasingly mesh with our digital lives and companies are taking notice. Investors are already spending millions to buy up virtual real estate and just like in real-life, location matters. While the internet is infinite, virtual plots of land are not, and companies are buying up what they can in online worlds like Decentraland hoping to develop those areas into shopping centers and more. Debra Kamin, contributor to the NY Times, joins us for this new virtual land boom.Next, there is a secret unit within the Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center called the Counter Network Division. This division has very few rules and used various databases at its disposal to investigate Americans. This division still operates today and would gain access to the personal information of journalists, government officials, congressional members and their staff. Jana Winter, investigative correspondent at Yahoo News, joins us to talk about Operation Whistle Pig and the investigation into journalist Ali Watkins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has made history by being the first spacecraft to touch the Sun. The probe launched in 2018, but just this past April on its eighth flyby it flew through the Sun’s upper atmosphere also known as the corona. There it was able to sample particles and the magnetic fields. The next flyby will be in January 2022 and scientists expect it to get closer still. Justin Kasper, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of BWX Technologies and professor at the University of Michigan, joins us for how humanity has touched the Sun.Next, waves of Covid infections continue to cause problems for hospital systems facing staff shortages and that are already full treating people with other ailments. In most cases, those locking up the system are patients who are unvaccinated and it doesn’t stop in just one area. The ripple effects of transferring patients to different locations with space to treat them also puts a strain on hospital workers. Drew Armstrong, senior editor for healthcare at Bloomberg News, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are getting more information on the Omicron variant from the first large real-world study in South Africa and see protection from hospitalization fall to 70% and against infection fall to 33%. This study pitted the new variant against two shots of Pfizer, which has been widely used in the area. Denise Roland, healthcare reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what we are seeing from Omicron, more transmissible and so far, milder infections.Next, many parents and guardians of school shooters unfortunately ignore some of the warning signs that something bad is imminent. We are seeing it with the parents of the shooter at Oxford High School in Michigan who have both been charged with involuntary manslaughter. But in once case in 2018, a grandmother took action and reporter her grandson, averting a disaster. Steven Rich, database editor for investigations at The Washington Post, joins us for more.Finally, we are learning more about what was happening in President Trump’s inner circle during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Through text messages provided by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, we are seeing Trump’s son, Fox News personalities and even lawmakers plead with Meadows to convince Trump to do something to stop those storming the Capitol. Josh Gerstein, senior legal affairs reporter at Politico, joins us for what to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2021 has been the ultimate seller’s market with a number of housing records set this past year. The pandemic sent remote workers into a rush looking for bigger places and mortgage rates were at an all-time low. Median home sales reached a high and the speed at which homes sold also set a record. Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, joins us for all the housing records set this year.Next, we are in the era of the celebrity meal and it could be an ongoing trend. We’ve seen partnerships with celebrities and influencers with fast-food restaurants and it has been a big benefit for both parties. Restaurants get plenty of promotion on social media and collect tons of customer data. The celebrities, get undisclosed amounts of money. Anna Kambhampaty, styles reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more.Finally, some employers have been tracking remote workers with things like keyboard or mouse-tracking software and it is making them feel like they can’t step away from their desk, even for a restroom break. Enter ‘mouse movers,’ small devices that jiggles your mouse to make it look like your active. Samantha Cole, senior staff writer at Vice, joins us for how sales are taking off. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biden administration has directed federal resources and FEMA to affected areas after devastating tornadoes hit six states in the South and Midwest, hitting Kentucky especially hard. As many as 30 tornadoes wreaked havoc over Friday night. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for the response, tensions rising with Russia, and Chris Wallace moves to CNN+.Next, months of pandemic learning and then switching back to in-person instruction has left many students without the social maturity needed to advance to the next grade. As a result schools are having to deal with a wave of misbehavior with minor incidents but also major things like fights and gun possession. Ben Chapman, national education reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how schools are responding... more counseling, increased patrols and fewer suspensions.Finally, we have been seeing a lot of action with the 'Great Resignation' as people quit their jobs for better opportunities. But people aren't just leaving, they're broadcasting it to social media and finding a community with others who have done the same. Traditionally career coaches wouldn't recommend speaking ill of former employers online, but all the rules have changed. Emma Goldberg, reporter at the NY Times, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the start of the pandemic, the testing infrastructure in the U.S. has been marred by stumbles. Now, as President Biden is putting more emphasis on rapid tests to help fight Covid, these tests are often out of stock and still too expensive for many. Even as the new rules say insurers would pay for these tests, it could be difficult to get the reimbursements. Lena Sun, health reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more on rapid Covid tests.Next, the tiny town of West Hollywood is going all in on cannabis and wants to rebrand as the Emerald Village. The city is planning on approving as many as 40 cannabis permits for dispensaries and high end lounges. The effort also has star power investors with people like Jay-Z, Patricia Arquette, and Woody Harrelson. Hugo Martin, business reporter at the LA Times, joins us for how West Hollywood wants to be a global destination for pot tourism.Finally, President Biden and Democrats have been having serious messaging problems. The administration has delivered on a very fast economic recovery getting out of the pandemic, with good jobs numbers and rising wages. The big problem holding them back is inflation with many Americans worried about the rising costs of food and everyday goods. Max Burns, contributor to The Hill, joins us for why voters are still pessimistic about the economy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Gallup’s annual Health and Healthcare survey, among all U.S. adults, confidence in advice from doctors is down. More reported losing trust in their doctors over the past year and Republicans in particular had a 13% drop from a decade ago while Democrats’ trust increased. Jeffrey Jones, senior editor at Gallup joins us for what to know as this data is consistent with changing attitudes of trust in science.Next, Amazon Web Services had a nine hour outage on Tuesday which led to website and streaming service disruptions, delays in package deliveries, and many smart home devices to stop working. In some cases people had to sweep their own floors or turn on their own lights, and it highlighted just how many internet-connected devices people have in their homes and the reliance on a connection to the cloud. Sarah Needleman, tech reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Finally, before the pandemic, most people probably wouldn’t let a scratchy throat or even a mild cold interfere with plans, now even the sniffles can derail plans. What happens now could be an over-explanation of symptoms to rationalize missing out on something, or even the simple “It might be Covid” to get out of plans. Allie Caren, reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samuel Little, the most prolific serial killer in the U.S. died at the end of last year and had confessed to a slew of murders that have yet to be closed. Many of those murders took place in the Los Angeles area leaving detectives chasing ghosts as they try to connect dots and corroborate the killings. There is one final push for any information in these cases as one of the lead investigators is retiring this month and any evidence and confessions are hard to verify because of time and changing cityscapes. James Queally, criminal justice reporter at the LA Times, joins us for more.Next, we’ll take a look at one woman’s path through rehab as she tries to fight the effects of long Covid. Samantha Lewis got Covid in October 2020 and has been dealing with issues such as brain fog, fatigue, balance issues and more since then. She had to reduce time at work and place reminders in her house of even the simplest tasks such as brushing her teeth to get by. She was finally on the path to recovery after seeing doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Neuro Covid-19 clinic in Chicago who recommended cognitive rehab. Pam Belluck, health and science writer at the NY Times, joins us for how Samantha is doing a year later. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The medical field is still experiencing a shortage of nurses and as Covid persists, some are leaving staff jobs to become travel nurses and in some cases tripling their salaries. As shortages occur in hospitals, the demand is rising for travel nurses and it can be very lucrative for those that can be flexible enough to move around for weeks and months at a time. Lenny Bernstein, health and medicine reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how travel nursing is taking off even more.Next, lingering concerns about the pandemic and inflation is making Americans hoard cash. Over the past two years, Americans have saved close to $1.6 trillion in money they would not otherwise have saved. Covid relief and stimulus payments have helped many in saving the excess money. The trend might even continue as many are wary of dipping into their savings. Julia Carpenter, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the super savers.Finally, a new survey is shedding light on how some Latino voters feel about the term Latinx and it could be problematic for those using the term to reach out to the community. Only 2% say they refer to themselves at Latinx and worse yet, about 40% of them say they are bothered or offended by the term. Marc Caputo, national political reporter at Politico, joins us for the big question, how effective is this language when communicating with Latino voters? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Cuomo's time at CNN is done. He has been fired by the network after more details emerged about the extent in which he helped his brother former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo amidst sexual misconduct allegations. Chris offered up to reach out to sources to see if any more accusers would come forward and also counseled his brother on his media responses. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for Cuomo's ouster, GOP infighting, and former Republican senator, presidential candidate and WWII hero Bob Dole dead at 98.Next, decentralized finance also known as DeFi is a fast growing market that is worth over $100 billion. With no regulation, it is like the wild west where anyone can mint a new cryptocurrency coin and pull a scam relatively easily. Enter the RugSeekers, a group of crypto vigilantes hunting the markets for scams. After being burned by a rug pull scam and not wanting others to fall for the same schemes, Robert Browning and his team examine source code, crypto wallets and price charts for red flags that could indicate fraud. Misyrlena Egkolfopoulou, reporter at Bloomberg News, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White House has detailed its new strategy to fight coronavirus and keep Omicron at bay. One of the big changes is to tighten up the testing timelines for international travelers coming to the U.S. People will now have to test within a day of departure regardless of vaccination status and continues to wear masks on planes through mid-March. Sabrina Siddiqui, White House reporter at the WSJ, join us for what else is in the plan, testing reimbursements and booster shots.Next, new Census data shows that more Americans are living alone as milestones keep slipping to later in life. 28% of all U.S. households are people living alone. The trend of delaying big life events also continues. The median age of men getting married is now 30.4 years old and women at 28.6 years old. Birth rates also continue to drop from an already record low last year. Reid Wilson, correspondent at The Hill, joins us for more.Finally, better check to see if you are still paying for antivirus software protection. Many experts say you probably don’t need to anymore. Computer security has evolved, most personal computing happens over the internet, and hackers are more interested in taking over your accounts for email, social media, or financial websites. Kevin Collier, cybersecurity reporter at NBC News, joins us for what to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of getting some professional degrees are leaving students with high debt and without the high salaries to match. Programs for veterinarians, dentists, chiropractic medicine, physical therapy, and even optometry are producing graduates with high debt and very modest beginning salaries. Beyond the debt, it is also hurting those very occupations in some areas as graduates avoid lower paying rural areas which causes shortages. Andrea Fuller, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for a look at how the cost of professional degrees are still hurting students.Next, as we enter the holidays there are more chances than ever to reconnect with old friends and it can be a very powerful thing. Research has shown that psychological stress often causes nostalgia and reconnecting can give us a sense of stability. A good exercise could be to make a list of old friends you miss and then reach out… it could increase your positive mood, self-esteem or self-confidence. Elizabeth Bernstein, author of the “Bonds” column at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supreme Court begins hearing arguments today in the Mississippi abortion case that bans abortions after 15 weeks. There is a lot of scrutiny on what will happen with this decision as it could overrule Roe v. Wade. There could also be a scenario where they overrule that decision while still not abolishing the constitutional right to an abortion. Ian Millhiser, senior correspondent at VOX, joins us for what to know.Next, there is still much we don’t know about Omicron, the new Covid variant spreading through the world. We don’t know if it is more transmissible or most importantly, if it causes more severe illness, preliminary observations show that it could cause milder infections. If so, that could be good as we get on our way to the virus being endemic. Andrew Joseph, reporter at STAT News, joins us for the bottom line, it will take weeks and more data before we know.Finally, the midterms haven’t hit yet and no formal announcement has been made, but speculation is already swirling on who could be former President Trump’s pick for VP if he should run again. There are three lanes he could pick from, a woman, a person of color, or even a consigliere type. Marc Caputo, national political reporter at Politico, joins us for the two most important factors, loyalty and embracing his views on the 2020 election. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big shakeup for Twitter’s leadership as CEO Jack Dorsey stepped down on Monday with the company’s technology chief, Parag Agrawal assuming the top post. Dorsey had been serving as the CEO of both Twitter and digital payments company Square and said he decided to leave, because the company is ready to move on from its founders. Salvador Rodriguez, technology reporter at CNBC, joins us for what to know about the leadership change.Next, some hospitals have been preparing to lose staff over vaccine mandates. Up to 30% of hospital workers aren’t vaccinated and could face termination. In some areas, a reduction of staff could cause disruptions to services. We are also learning that a federal district court in Missouri just issued an injunction temporarily blocking the mandate in 10 states. Julie Wernau, health and medicine reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more.Finally, love them or hate them the holiday office party is back. This year employees could be in store for a few iterations. The virtual parties are back, but with lessons learned. They won’t run as long and could include a box of food or crafts. The in-person party also makes its return, but much in much smaller groups. Rani Molla, senior data reporter for Recode at Vox, joins us for what to expect. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Covid variant Omicron is beginning to spread across the world. No confirmed cases here in the U.S. just yet, but it has already caused the government to ban travel from 8 African countries. This new variant is concerning because it has a large number of mutations, which could make it more transmissible, but no data on whether it is more deadly. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this, Republicans seizing on inflation, and the Mississippi abortion case will be heard by the Supreme Court this week.Next, the great California exodus continues, but not in the way you think. Many people are moving, but not necessarily out of state. Instead they are moving inland to the east. The Inland Empire tied Phoenix for 2020's biggest gain in households as people are looking for bigger properties and cheaper home prices. This is also causing some of those currently living in that area to also move out east more. With this influx of new households also comes more economic opportunities and more diverse neighborhoods. Christine Mai-Duc, state politics and housing reporter at the WSJ, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and a lot has changed since the pandemic began. The biggest shift is that businesses are expecting to see more customers in-person, so expect big crowds. E-commerce is expected to slow, but only slightly as it should top the $200 billion mark for the first time. Customers will have more buy now, pay later options and get ready for live-streaming shopping events. Melissa Repko, retail reporter at CNBC, joins us for what to expect this season.Next, the snowball effect in the supply chain is raising prices and making it harder to get some of the items you want. The biggest challenge that beer and liquor makers are facing is obtaining glass bottles. America loves their chicken tenders, and prices have jumped because of delays at meat processing plants and in Tyson’s case a bad rooster. Medical equipment, toys, video game consoles, and even your favorite athleisure wear are all facing setbacks. Phil McCausland, reporter at NBC News, joins us for a look at some specific items hurt by back backlogs and rising prices. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supply chain issues have plagued various industries as we continue on our way back from the pandemic. Now it is coming for America’s supply of pies! Compounding the issue is climate and bad weather effects on pretty much every ingredient in our favorite pies. Case in point is Tampa-based Mike’s Pies who is struggling to fulfill orders and maintain stock of ingredients, starting with their graham cracker crumb vendor. Laura Riley, business of food reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for how even after supply chain issues get resolved, climate change still poses a problem.Next, Thanksgiving is here and it’s time to talk about our favorite foods! To end the show today we will give you the official Thanksgiving food power rankings. We will speak to Lucas Kwan Peterson, food columnist at the LA Times, for his take on where all your favorite Thanksgiving foods rank. A little preview of what you are in for… Turkey ranks dead last in his list, pumpkin pie doesn’t fare much better, and cranberries might just be the most controversial food item.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden is tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to release 50 million barrel of oil in hopes that it will bring down the price of gas. This is an effort done in coordination with 6 other countries to bring down prices which is a big contributor to inflation. The only snag is that it still may take some time before we see the effects or if it works at all. Tim Puko, energy policy reporter at the WSJ, joins us for what to know.Next, the Bay Area and Los Angeles have been hit with a spat of flash-mob style robberies targeting luxury retail stores, jewelry stores, and even marijuana dispensaries. In coordinated efforts large groups of people rush a store, grab as much as they can, and then retreat to cars waiting outside. It underscores the huge challenge that law enforcement has and many also point to Prop 47 which reduced some property crimes to misdemeanors. Rachel Swan, reporter at the SF Chronicle, joins us for more.Finally, the Democratic Party is going through an identity crisis. Recent polls and focus groups of voters who supported President Biden are hard pressed to know what they currently stand for. Even passing the infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better plan in the House isn’t fixing the issue as voters don’t feel Biden is getting it done. David Siders, national political reporter at Politico, joins us for how the Democratic brand is broken. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Michigan woman named Wendy Wein is going to prison after trying to hire a hitman to kill her ex-husband. She didn’t want to kill him herself and didn’t trust the people she knew, so she went online and landed at RentaHitman.com. She went as far as meeting someone and paying a $200 down payment. The problem was that that it is a fake website. Jonathan Edwards, reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more.Next, booster shots have been approved for anyone over 18 that has already been fully vaccinated. Protection from getting infected starts to wane after about 6 months especially for those that are older or immunocompromised. But what should you do if you are healthy and not at risk? Does getting a booster shot take away someone’s opportunity to get their first shot? Kelsey Piper, staff writer at Vox, joins us for what to know about boosters.Finally, you might think that marijuana and parenting don’t mix, but there is a growing movement of ‘cannamoms’ who say that consuming weed helps them to calm down, reduce anxieties and be more present in their kids’ lives. They want to fight the stigma around it and also make clear that they aren’t getting blazingly high and consider it low risk, just like a glass of wine. Jesse Staniforth, contributor to the BBC, joins us for more on ‘cannamoms.’ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The House has passed President Biden's $1.7 trillion Build Back Better plan and it will now move on to the Senate where it will most likely undergo some changes before it gets voted on. The Senate is aiming for a vote before Christmas. While it was passed along party lines, everyone came out with a win as progressives will get to expand the social safety net, moderates got the CBO score they wanted, and even House minority leader Kevin McCarthy drew the praise of Donald Trump for his 8 hour speech delaying the vote. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this and how the U.S. is spending billions on Covid treatments other than vaccines.Next, Pfizer recently struck a licensing deal with the Medical Patents Pool which in turn can strike deals with other manufacturers to make generic versions of its Covid antiviral pill for poorer countries, but when it comes to its mRNA vaccine, Pfizer has not been so willing to share the recipe. They stand to make $36 billion in revenue this year and have said that they will increase their shipments to poor countries at adjusted prices. Stephanie Baker, senior writer at Bloomberg News, joins us for the fight over profits and the lopsided global supply of vaccines. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid disruptions to classrooms continue to happen across the country, but many schools are turning to testing over quarantine to keep kids in class. Test-to-stay programs are screening students regularly after exposure to known cases rather than sending them straight home. This allows them to remain in class while they continue to test negative. Sabrina Siddiqui, White House reporter at the WSJ, joins us for how schools are finding ways to keep kids in the classroom.Next, the iconic Staples Center in Los Angeles will have a new name come Christmas day. In a branding deal worth $700 million, it will now be known as Crypto.com Arena. Crypto.com allows people to trade in popular cryptocurrencies and boasts over 10 million users. Anna Hirtenstein, reporter at the WSJ, joins us for the larger play… the crypto industry’s latest move to get mainstream recognition.Finally, CVS said it will be closing 900 stores over the next three years as it shifts its strategy to focus on digital sales and more healthcare services. They will be spinning off into three different kinds of stores. One will be their traditional retail locations, one will offer primary care services, and the last will be HealthHubs that offer mental health services and other wellness features. Melissa Repko, retail reporter at CNBC, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of American are expected to travel for Thanksgiving and if you are heading out, you should expect delays. One of the biggest mysteries is how many TSA agents will be in compliance with vaccine mandates for federal workers set for Nov. 22nd. The government doesn’t think there will be any delays, but long wait times are inevitable as TSA employees are leaving for other reasons too. Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, staff writer at Forbes, joins us for how holiday travel could be a mess.Next, President Biden has been on the wrong side of the polls recently amid missteps and verbal flubs. According to a Politico/Morning Consult poll, just 44% of voters approve of his job performance and worse yet, 48% say he is not mentally fit. Beyond that, voters didn’t find him to be a clear communicator or a strong leader. Marc Caputo, national political reporter at Politico, joins us for more bad poll numbers for Biden.Finally, everyone has done it at some point, but it might be wise to stop sucking in your stomach all the time, it could be bad for your health. We’re not talking about the occasional time when taking a picture or trying to fit into an outfit, but prolonged stomach gripping can affect your pelvic floor muscles, make it harder to take deep breaths, or cause soreness and stiffness in you lower back. Allyson Chiu, wellness reporter at The Washington Post, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman in Argentina known as the “Esperanza patient” has become only the second documented person whose own immune system possibly cured her of HIV. She is what’s known as a so-called elite controller of HIV. This happens in an estimated 1 in 200 people and their immune systems are able to suppress the virus from replicating to very low levels without using antiretroviral treatments. While still unknown how this occurs, it does provide hope for the 38 million people living with the virus. Benjamin Ryan, contributor to NBCNews.com, joins us for what to know about the “Esperanza patient.”Next, where have all the public bathrooms gone? Going through the pandemic and seeing the closures of bars, restaurants and other public spaces, it laid bare how very few places there are for a person to relieve themselves. It was a trend that was definitely happening before the pandemic with many places being closed or just neglected which also gave public restrooms bad reputations. According to a “Public Toilet Index,” the U.S. only has eight toilets per 100,000 people overall. Elizabeth Yuko, contributor to Bloomberg CityLab, joins us for what to know about the lack of public bathrooms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former congressman from El Paso and Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, has thrown his hat in the ring again… this time into the Texas governor’s race. He has an uphill battle in a solidly red state that hasn’t chosen a Democratic governor since 1991 and there is also a wild card factor if actor Matthew McConaughey chooses to run. David Siders, national political reporter at Politico, joins us O’Rourke’s announcement.Next, President Biden and his administration have had a messaging problem when it comes to inflation, coronavirus and Afghanistan. It is causing Democrats to worry whether his is underestimating the scale of the challenges we face in the country. Constant re-branding of legislative priorities have also made it tough to gain traction all while approval ratings keep dropping. Tyler Pager, White House reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for what to know.Finally, phone notifications are driving people crazy. The constant pings and chirps are causing distractions as our communication has become more fragmented. Work and personal messages are blurring together for a non-stop flow of distractions and when we lose out focus, it can take an average of 25 minutes to get back on track. Rachel Feintzeig, work and life columnist at the WSJ, joins us for how it can be hard to get anything done. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation is the latest issue that Biden and his administration need to get under control. Everything is more expensive right now and supply chain issues continue to affect the economy. While Democrats try to bring prices down, there is also more urgency to pass Biden's Build Back Better plan, with some notable holdouts like Sen. Joe Manchin who is concerned with how it could impact inflation. Ginger Gibson, deputy Washington digital editor at NBC News, joins us for this, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stepping into the spotlight, and Steve Bannon being indicted for contempt of Congress.Next, every wonder why you feel like you might not fit into a particular political party? Americans are divided for sure, but it goes beyond a left or right thing. Even within each party there are deep divides. Pew Research sorted American ideologies into nine distinct categories, four that lean left, four that lean right, and stressed sideliners in the middle. And for those that do fit into the center, they often hold little common ground. Baxter Oliphant, senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, joins us for the wide spectrum of political beliefs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a compilation of some of the most compelling stories of the week. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices were up 6.2% last month which is the largest rise in 30 years. Inflation is making everything more expensive and the era of cheap everything is over. Supply chain issues continue to be the main culprit for most of our post-pandemic woes, but inflation could wipe away wage gains and savings that many Americans are now having to spend. Kevin Dugan, reporter at NY Magazine, joins us for how everything is more expensive.Next, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and we are hearing that it will be more expensive than in years past and also that there might be a turkey shortage. The expensive part is true, but there won’t be a mass shortage of turkeys. Rather, it might be difficult to find the turkey you want. Last year, small birds were all the rage because of smaller family gatherings, this year is all about the mid-size birds. Emily Stewart, senior reporter at Vox, joins us for why you should start shopping now.Finally, electric vehicle company Rivian Automotive just went public and is proving to be a very attractive stock netting about $12 billion on an $80 billion valuation. Rivian has had a slower and more deliberate approach to its rollout which will also be a good test of the meme stock craze that has lifted various companies’ value. Andrew Hawkins, transportation reporter at The Verge, joins us for more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.