The Recount Daily Pod

The journalist Cokie Roberts left behind a tremendous legacy when she passed away in 2019. Her late husband Steven Roberts, who is also a journalist, grieved and honored her in his own way — by reporting on Cokie's life and work at organizations including NPR and ABC, and writing a book about it. "Cokie: A Life Well-Lived" chronicles the career, values, and personal faith of a journalist who proved to many other women that they had a place in the newsroom. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Severe staff shortages at Georgia prisons have contributed to a huge spike in violence, including at least 44 likely homicides since last year. In September, the Department of Justice opened an investigation into the violence and possible constitutional violations by the correctional system. Separately, a lawsuit filed by the Southern Center for Human Rights called the prison conditions “abysmal.” Sara Totonchi is the organization’s executive director, and Atteeyah Hollie is an attorney there. They join the podcast to shed light on the crisis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate envoy John Kerry described it as “the last best chance the world has" — this weekend world leaders and thousands of negotiators, journalists, and activists converge on Glasgow for COP26, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. In the span of two weeks, can world leaders pull off what they never have, committing to realistic carbon-cutting policies in order to limit the planet's disastrous warming? Those who fear the worst may be familiar with the feeling of “eco-anxiety.” Caroline Hickman — a practicing psychotherapist and board member of the Climate Psychology Alliance — defines the phenomenon... and tells us what we can do about it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Will was the first political columnist to call for President Richard Nixon’s impeachment, and he's lent a leading conservative voice to the Washington Post and other publications ever since. Most recently, he’s out with a collection of his work — "American Happiness and Discontents" — first published between 2008 and 2020. He joins the podcast to talk about polarization in America; former President Donald Trump's hold on the Republican Party; and a column he wrote about his son, Jonathan Will, who is living a full life with Down syndrome. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Yang drew attention to universal basic income as a Democratic candidate in the 2020 presidential election, and earlier this year in his run for mayor of New York City. Since then, he’s announced he’s leaving the Democratic Party to start a new one. The Forward Party will back certain candidates — Democrats and Republicans alike, Yang says — in favor of open primaries and ranked-choice voting, two policies he believes would free politicians from appealing to the extremes and “give rise to a more vibrant, dynamic, multi-polar democracy.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 40 million Americans are in debt for getting an education. The federal government holds $1.6 trillion in student loan debts, a sum roughly on par with Canada’s GDP. President Biden has canceled billions of dollars of debt, but plenty more remains. Plus, a freeze on payments, put in place by President Trump at the start of the pandemic, expires in late January. Unless Biden extends it, as he has done before, loan repayments will be coming due again. How did the student debt crisis in the U.S. get so bad in the first place, and what can we do about it? Persis Yu, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center and Director of the Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project, joins the podcast to explain the problem — and possible solutions. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2013, Mark and DeAnne Stidham founded LuLaRoe, a multi-level marketing firm that still sells women's clothing today. Pushing a feminist image, the company claims to give women the opportunity to become independent retailers. But it's faced plenty of lawsuits, including one from the state of Washington accusing it of operating a pyramid scheme. Amazon's documentary series "LuLaRich" uncovers the company's glamorous rise and empty promises, including through a sit-down interview with the founders themselves. Directors Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason join The Recount Daily Pod to tell the story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly two years into the pandemic, the U.S. is seeing a sustained drop in new COVID cases. And recent forecast models by researchers advising the CDC suggest we could see a steady decline in cases throughout the winter and into spring, rather than a seasonal surge. Is the country really edging toward an end to the crisis? Two leading voices in COVID research and analysis — Dr. Bill Ku (retired scientist and a former senior lecturer and researcher at Columbia University), and Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding (epidemiologist and senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists) join The Recount Daily Pod to catch us up on where we stand with COVID today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surprise: very little of the plastic you dutifully put in your recycling bin ends up actually being used again. The costs to successful recycling are prohibitive. And even then, recycling is a market with fewer and fewer buyers. So how can we really cut down on waste? Michael Cyr is the co-founder of Cup Zero, a company that seeks to cut down on waste, starting with all those cups we use and throw away at public events. He joins The Recount Daily Pod to break it all down for us. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A presidential assassination, a devastating earthquake and criminal gangs engaging in mass kidnappings. The problems plaguing Haiti today are many — and they’re often misunderstood. How can the U.S. and the international community help bring stability and economic renewal to the country? Garry Pierre-Pierre, founder and publisher of The Haitian Times, joins The Recount Daily Pod to share his insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The iconic Miss America pageant turned 100 this year, having crowned dozens of women who proudly went on to represent the institution across the U.S. But the contest was not without its controversies, including years of forcing women to walk across the stage in swimsuits. Is Miss America still relevant? Today we're talking with Amy Argetsinger, editor and staff writer for the Washington Post and author of "There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has exposed glaring inequalities in the healthcare industry. From access to medicine and providers to a lack of trust between doctors and patients, COVID revealed that systemic racism has a dramatic impact on the health and well-being of minority communities. What can be done to fix this? Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of MLK Community Healthcare, joined us to share her experiences and insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The infamous prison camp at the US Navy Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was opened in early 2002 to house alleged terrorists the U.S. apprehended in Afghanistan. The camp became notorious as a symbol of U.S. human rights abuses. President Joe Biden has pledged to finally close it. Will he succeed? Karen Greenberg, Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, joins us today to break it all down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Line 3, a once-decommissioned oil pipeline, was put into operation again earlier this month. The $4 billion dollar project, announced in 2014, met with fierce opposition from both environmentalists and Indigenous American tribes. Now, it's transporting over 600,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta, Canada, to the American Midwest. Nick Martin, editor of the Indigenous Affairs desk at High Country News — and a member of the Sappony Tribe of North Carolina — joins us to dig into it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facebook was all over the news this week for good reason: They knew they were harming our kids and they did it anyway. An explosive series published by The Wall Street Journal last week revealed the extent to which Facebook maintained silence while fully aware that flaws in its platform were hurting its users. Georgia Wells, one of the authors of that series, joins us to share her thoughts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 One of the few Trump administration policies that President Joe Biden has kept in place is a tough approach toward China. For one, Trump's tariffs are still in place. But China's recent military demonstrations against Taiwan haven't helped ease tensions. What does the future hold for US-China relations? Yukon Huang, a senior fellow in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins us to share his insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gun violence has risen to alarming new heights in recent years, becoming the leading cause of death for children since 2018. What can we do to keep our children safe? Nicole Hockley, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise, joins us to share her insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When New Yorker Staff Writer Evan Osnos, a veteran foreign correspondent, returned to the U.S. in 2013 he found a country that was unrecognizable from the one he'd left 11 years earlier. Suddenly, it was a place with deep political fissures and little to no common ground. Evan's new book "Wildland: The Making of America's Fury" is the result of his efforts to explain what had happened. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 15th, the first all-civilian spaceflight took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The commercial mission run by SpaceX successfully reached orbit and splashed down in the Atlantic three days later. Could the future of spaceflight be within reach for the non-wealthy? Christian Davenport, staff writer at The Washington Post, joins us to break it all down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Tech wields enormous power in today's global economy, from driving advances in technology to influencing our political and cultural conversations. Should that power be more tightly regulated and if so, how? Cat Zakrzewski, technology policy reporter at The Washington Post, joins us to share her insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2018, a video filmed at Carroll High School in Southlake, TX went viral. In it, several teenagers from the affluent, mostly white, suburban town were chanting the n-word. NBC's hosts of the podcast "Southlake," Antonia Hylton and Mike Hixenbaugh, join Reena to share their experiences diving deeper into the culture wars taking place across much of small-town America. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the pandemic has been difficult for all of us, the impact has been especially hard on K-12 students. Most fell behind in math and reading. Many suffered the consequences of limited socialization. Kids experienced severe emotional and psychological stress. Can they ever recover? Lauren Camera, Senior Writer at U.S. News & World Report, helps break it down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a two-year investigation by California's Division of Fair Employment and Housing, the state agency filed suit against Activision Blizzard for sexual discrimination and sexual harassment. The bombshell lawsuit is forcing a reckoning in the gaming industry. Will it succeed in changing the culture? Cecilia D'Anastasio, staff writer at WIRED, shares her insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement is a huge milestone — a time to put down your career and enter your sunset years. For older generations, the magic number for retirement is 65. But for younger people, the goal is 50. Can they succeed? Bobbi Rebell, host of the podcast "Money Tips for Financial Grownups," joins us to answer that very question. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The vast majority of Americans believe that every child should be given an equal opportunity to succeed, in school and life. Yet, according to our guest, American psychologist and behavior geneticist Kathryn Paige Harden, DNA itself gives some kids a leg up while making it really hard for others. Can we level the playing field through policy? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to climate change, the U.S. has experienced a summer like none before. Fires raged in the west. Massive flooding washed away homes, cars and lives. Hurricanes left devastation and destruction in their wake. Are we prepared for this new reality? Washington Post Climate and Science reporter Sarah Kaplan helps us dig into it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 For many, September has marked a return to a new sort of normal. Workers are starting to head back to the office and the majority of kids are back in school. That leaves many pets now facing a stark new reality: spending most of their days home, alone, for the first time in 19 months. What can you do to help your pet cope? Animal behaviorists Dr. Nicholas Dodman and Dr. Stephen Zawistowski share their advice. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans' fascination with cults has been piqued in recent years by a deluge of podcasts and documentaries about the phenomenon. But what exactly is a cult? How do they recruit their members? And why are people so attracted to them? Author and cult expert Rick Alan Ross joins us to share his insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 29th, as the deadline for the U.S. to complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan approached, the U.S. military carried out a deadly drone strike in Kabul. While the Pentagon claims it hit ISIS-K, a New York Times reporter investigated and found evidence of only a heartbroken family with 10 dead, including 7 children. Mattieu Aikins, the journalist who broke the story, joins us to dig into it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taliban's rapid takeover of power in Afghanistan precipitated an exodus like none ever before. It was the largest airlift evacuation in U.S. history with many tens of thousands of refugees now facing an uncertain future. What are the biggest challenges they face? JC Hendrickson, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, joins us today to explain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York Times Columnist and thought leader Nicholas Kristof has been writing about poverty, education, women's rights and immigration for 20 years. President Joe Biden promises to advance an agenda that many progressives like Nick hold dear. Can he succeed? Nick Kristof joins us today to share his impressions on the progress so far and the road ahead. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL) is on the political frontlines of the US fight against COVID, a battle that is playing out in media across the nation. Crist joins us to talk about how his state is faring against the virus, the fight against climate change and his upcoming challenge to current Governor Ron DeSantis.List of websites with links for 9/11-related events:Flight 93 National Memorial: https://www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice/9/11 Memorial and Museum: 911memorial.org/webinar9/11 Day: 911day.org/mealpacksAmerican Kennel Club Museum of the Dog: museumofthedog.org Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017, a bombshell report surfaced that the Department of Defense was funding a secret $22 million program for investigating UFOs. Are UFOs real and what does the government know about them? A new docuseries on Showtime called "UFO" delves into these questions and more. Series Director Mark Monroe and one of the show's featured guests, Penn State University History Professor Greg Eghigian, join us to dig into it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases nationally, children are, or will soon be, largely back to in-person education. The issue of vaccinating them has risen to the forefront of the debate on how to keep both them and us safe. Should vaccines be mandated? UC Hastings Law Professor Dorit Reiss joins us to break down the legal and persuasion arguments on both sides. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the pandemic forced technology workers across the US to work from home, many reconsidered their location options. Some moved to cheaper cities, others to be near family. What does this mean for the tech industry and how will it change cities? Jessica Lessin, founder of The Information, joins us today to help us make sense of the trend. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stress and trauma are normal parts of life that only rarely get the level of attention they deserve. The past 18 months have given us all experience with the former, some of us with the latter as well. How we process these complex emotions is crucial to getting through a challenging time. Psychologist and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Lisa Damour joins today to share her insights. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2015, Elizabeth Holmes was a media darling, a tech startup figure who was the world's youngest self-made billionaire. Her company Theranos promised to revolutionize the blood testing business. Turns out, it was a lot more hype than reality. Rebecca Jarvis, host of “The Dropout'' podcast and ABC News chief business, technology & economics correspondent, helps us dig into the details. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it's about US elections or COVID vaccines, misinformation continues to spread like wildfire on social media with very real and, in some cases, dire consequences. But some people are more vulnerable than others. Why? And what can be done to keep people safe? Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, breaks it all down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The issue of how the Taliban intends to treat women and girls under its rule has garnered international attention and scrutiny. A generation of women and girls have grown up with liberties and rights unimaginable under the previous Taliban regime. The new regime claims that they will respect women's rights. But can we trust them? Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of "The Dressmaker," joins us to lay out the stakes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While there is little disagreement among political pundits that Trump is still the leader of the Republican party, some party stalwarts see a different path forward. In "Two Roads Diverged," former South Carolina Congressman and Governor Mark Sanford lays out his vision for how the Republican party can reclaim its conservative ideals while reaffirming its place in American politics. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The Line" is a podcast about the war crimes case of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher. More broadly, it's also about the Forever Wars and what they've done to the hearts and minds of those we've sent to fight them. Documentarian Dan Taberski, executive producer of "The Line", joins us to talk about the blurry moral boundaries our soldiers are confronting on and off the battlefield. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seventeen plus months in, the global pandemic continues to upend institutions of learning, including higher education. With many schools cancelling in-person classes some students were stuck going to college from their high school bedrooms. That made many rethink the value proposition. Was taking on the enormous debts that going to college requires still worth it? Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing at NYU’s Stern School of Business, helps us break down the issues. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deep divisions in American politics and culture are everywhere these days, from Congress to state capitals, from school boards to city councils. But are these divisions threatening the very survival of our liberal democracy? And if so, what can be done about it? Tom Nichols, contributing writer at The Atlantic, talks with us about his new book "Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from Within on Modern Democracy." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More abortion restrictions were passed by state legislatures in 2021 than in any other year in history. Meanwhile, a now firmly conservative U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to hear a landmark case challenging Roe v. Wade this fall. What does the future hold for abortion rights? Dr. Mary Ziegler, law professor at Florida State University, lays out the legal landscape. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Floyd's murder and the groundswell of protests that followed have led communities across the US to question the purpose and role of police in society. Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, Co-Founder and CEO of the Center for Policing Equity and a Yale professor of African-American studies and psychology, joins us to share his insights in his decade plus of working to reimagine public safety. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Taliban now firmly in control of the Afghan capital Kabul, it's impossible not to look at America's longest-running war and not ask: Was it all worth it? In today's daily deep dive, we re-air a recent interview with terrorism expert Colin P. Clarke, Director of Policy and Research at The Soufan Group, who puts the US war in Afghanistan into context. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the religious activities of cults are protected in the US by the First Amendment, the leader of secretive sex cult NXIVM committed crimes when he exploited and manipulated its adherents. What is it about cults that some find so attractive? Author and cult expert Rick Alan Ross speaks with Reena Ninan about the strategies NXIVM used to recruit and indoctrinate its members. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shadowy world of Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who hung himself in his jail cell two years ago, was in many ways guarded by his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Veteran journalist Vicky Ward, host of the new podcast "Chasing Ghislaine," joins us to share her experiences investigating it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vice President Kamala Harris has blazed an unconventional and remarkable path in politics. First woman Vice President. First Black Vice President. First South Asian Vice President. Will the media ever give her a fair shake? Jen Palmieri, former White House Communications Director and fellow podcast host at The Recount, gives us an insider's lens on the issues. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cybercrime, ransomware and brute force attacks - each has risen dramatically over the past year and a half, threatening both individuals and critical infrastructure around the world. Who are these attackers, what is the US doing about it and what do you need to know to protect your data? We dig into it with Bloomberg Cybersecurity Reporter Jamie Tarabay. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, Hollywood, and its glamorous legion of movie stars, got comfortable as the premiere power brokers of American culture. Today, Hollywood's star has dramatically waned while social media's star only continues to rise. How is this classic story of power politics playing out in Hollywood? New York Times Technology Reporter Taylor Lorenz joins to help us make sense of it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NCAA rule change that college athletes can now use their name, image and likeness for financial benefit is a game changer. Sports fans have no idea what's coming. Terence Moore, national sports columnist for Forbes.com, helps us break it all down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID cases are still surging. Meanwhile, schools across the country are on the cusp on reopening. What do you need to know about the Delta variant? Dr. Monica Gandhi, Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, helps us dig into it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As US forces draw down in Afghanistan and Iraq, the possibility that Al Qaeda and the Islamic State will now have the room to reconstitute looms large. Should we be worried? Colin P. Clarke, Director of Policy and Research at The Soufan Group shares his sober assessment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty million Americans don’t have enough to eat according to the US Census Bureau. An additional 42 million can’t always afford the kinds of food they want. The pandemic exacerbated both, particularly for Black and Latinx Americans. How can one of the richest countries in the world address this shocking disparity in wellness? Reena Ninan is joined by Washington Post Economics Correspondent Heather Long to dig into it.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US immigration policy has been broken for decades. But with migrants surging at the border and COVID restrictions still in place the clamor for fixing it has grown louder. Can the Biden administration fix what’s most broken? LA Times Immigration and Security Reporter Molly O’Toole joins us to break it all down. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fight over voting rights has evolved into one of the most heated and partisan battles of the year. Democrats claim the Republicans are trying to disenfranchise voters in order to benefit their party. Attorney Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket, is helping them make their case. What’s their strategy? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While cryptocurrencies have been around for over a dozen years now, there has yet to be a central bank digital currency. Should there be? And how might that impact global markets? Rob Cox, global editor of Breakingviews, helps us dig into it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we look to Tokyo, where thousands of elite athletes are getting ready to compete in what might be the event of their lifetimes, we wanted to look at the emotional and mental strains that these people endure. Dr. Jessica Gold, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry at Washington University in St Louis, helps us dig into it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The issue of whether or not to include Critical Race Theory in curricula has become a political and social lightning rod. Heated conversations have been taking place at school boards and capitals across the nation for months now with little agreement, including what Critical Race Theory even is. We’re digging in to it today with David Kirkland, Professor of Urban Education and Executive Director of NYU Metropolitan Center. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The business of spying is booming as investigators around the world dig into trash bins, tail subjects and, in some cases, impersonate journalists to get incriminating information. Their findings are upending politics, business and personal lives. Reena Ninan speaks with journalist and author Barry Meier to pull back the curtain on this highly secretive industry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amassing gargantuan fortunes has been an American way of life for well over a century. When the super rich then turn around and donate large sums of money, we call them generous. But are they really? Journalist and author Anand Giridharadas joins us to dig into the dirty details of the world of big philanthropy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unaffordable childcare, unpaid leave, inflexible workplace policies and unequal pay are just some of the unsustainable work realities that the pandemic brought into relief. The Marshall Plan for Moms campaign was created to address them. Its founder Reshma Saujani joins us to talk about the campaign’s ambitions and how policy makers from across the spectrum are reacting.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the spring of 2020, when coronavirus cases were surging in New York City, NYU's soon-to-be-graduating medical students got an email: Did they want to graduate early and work in the COVID wards? Reena Ninan speaks with Emma Goldberg about her new book "Life on the Line: Young Doctors Come of Age in a Pandemic," a gripping account that chronicles the stories of six doctors who, at great risk to their own lives, accepted the challenge that would forever change how they approached medicine. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extreme heat waves that bring record-setting temperatures are becoming more frequent and are proving especially dangerous to people in urban areas. Kathy Baughman McLeod, Senior Vice President and Director of the Adrienne Arsht - Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center at the Atlantic Council, helps us better understand the dangers and how we might be more resilient. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of low wage jobs continue to go unfilled in the leisure, entertainment, retail and manufacturing industries. Is the $300 weekly federal unemployment benefit to blame, as some Republicans argue? Or is a fear of COVID, along with childcare issues at fault, as some Democrats contend? According to Harvard Professor of Practice Jason Furman, the truth is much more complicated. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The balance of power is shifting to workers across the country as millions of employees call it quits. The pandemic has prompted many to rethink their priorities, including holding out for better pay, shifting to work that is more rewarding and looking for jobs with enhanced work/life flexibility. The question is, will corporations get the message? Journalists and authors Anne Helen Petersen and Charlie Warzel help explain what's going on. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of Oregon's landmark legislation to legalize possession of an array of drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, LSD and oxycodone, other states are considering following suit, hoping to dramatically reduce arrests and lower prison populations. But will the change in policy lead to less drug use or more? Vox's Senior Correspondent German Lopez joins us to dig into the details. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2016 election of Donald J. Trump to the US presidency marked a significant shift into authoritarian politics that challenged democratic norms. While Trump is no longer in power, according to political scientist Daniel Ziblatt, the threat to our democracy is greater than ever. What can we do to prevent democracy’s erosion? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every morning on The Recount Daily Pod, host journalist Reena Ninan will break down the most important news of the day, both domestically and abroad. In 5 minutes or less, you’ll walk away feeling smarter and more in sync with the world. Then, tune in for an interview with journalists who are on the forefront of the stories that affect us all.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.