Best Current Affairs Podcasts (2024)

1
Inside Europe 30 May 2024 55:01

2h ago55:01

55:01

Elections 101: with just one week to go before EU parliamentary elections, DW's Jack Parrock tells you all you need to know. The inside story of how a far-right masterplan was exposed in Germany, the 80th anniversary of D-Day in the shadow of the war in Ukraine. Plus: we mark June's Kafka centenary with a special half hour dedicated to one of the m…

1
What can the world’s biggest iceberg tell us? 23:01

1h ago23:01

23:01

The current record holder for the world’s biggest iceberg is the A23a. Back in 1986 this colossus broke away from an Antarctic ice sheet. This process of breaking off or ‘calving’ as it is known is a natural part of the life cycle of an ice sheet. But A23a then became lodged in the Weddell Sea for more than thirty years, until four years ago a grad…

1
Gaming Africa 26:37

1h ago26:37

26:37

Ghanaian gamer and broadcaster Kobby Spiky explores the video game landscape across Africa. He speaks to everyday gamers and developers about their experiences of playing and creating them. Although Asia and North America are usually seen as the hubs of the video game industry because they are the homes of the three major console manufacturers and …

1
How the judge instructed jurors as they started deliberations in Trump's hush money trial 6:24

2h ago6:24

6:24

Former President Donald Trump's future now rests in the hands of a jury in New York City. Jurors in the criminal hush money case began deliberating Wednesday morning. Seven men and five women received instructions from Judge Juan Merchan and were then sent off to decide this historic case. William Brangham has been covering the trial from the start…

1
News Wrap: Israeli official expects 7 more months of fighting in Gaza 5:41

36m ago5:41

5:41

In our news wrap Wednesday, Israel's national security advisor says he expects another seven months of fighting in Gaza, South Africans voted in what could be country's most significant election in decades, a volcano in Iceland erupted for a fifth time since December, charges against top golfer Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed and giant pandas…

1
Alito says he won't recuse himself from election and Jan. 6 cases after flag controversies 7:34

42m ago7:34

7:34

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito told lawmakers he won't recuse himself from cases involving the 2020 presidential election or the Jan. 6 Capitol riot despite concerns about two flags associated with far-right causes that have flown over his properties. Alito said his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was responsible for flying the flags. Geoff Bennett dis…

1
Far-right challenge to GOP incumbent in Texas highlights growing rift within party 6:17

1h ago6:17

6:17

A primary election in Texas got national attention for what it could mean for the future of the Republican Party and incumbents facing far-right challengers. Incumbent GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales, who has worked across the aisle on several issues, narrowly defeated a far-right YouTube personality. Laura Barrón-López discussed these growing divides with …

1
Sexual abuse of Native American children at boarding schools exposed in new report 8:42

1h ago8:42

8:42

For 150 years, the United States government sent Native American children to remote boarding schools as part of a systematic effort to seize tribal lands and eradicate culture. Dozens of these schools were run by the Catholic Church or its affiliates. A Washington Post investigation revealed widespread sexual abuse of generations of these children …

1
How open primaries and ranked-choice voting can help break partisan gridlock 12:03

1h ago12:03

12:03

How the parties select their candidates is a major factor in the increasing partisanship we've seen in recent years. Recently, Alaska has been trying something different. It's already showing results but facing some resistance. Judy Woodruff traveled there for her ongoing series about divisions in the country, America at a Crossroads. PBS NewsHour …

1
MLB recognizes Negro Leagues legends by adding their stats to official records 5:25

1h ago5:25

5:25

Baseball prides itself on statistics and it's how the sport recognizes its all-time greats. Those stats are now changing, in a big way. MLB officially incorporated statistics from the Negro Leagues into its record books. That means legendary hitter Josh Gibson is now atop several lists. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Gibson's great-grandson, Sean G…

1
True Crime Vault: Stranger Than Fiction 1:30:50

23m ago1:30:50

1:30:50

After Angie Dodge is murdered in her home, a suspect is identified and convicted. But her mother Carol becomes convinced he is not the real killer. Her quest to find the truth will take determination, a scientific search, and some dogged police work. Originally Broadcast 03/12/2021 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Trending: Love and deception in the age of AI 19:46

1h ago19:46

19:46

In a viral thread posted on X in January this year, a 23-year-old Russian man claims he used ChatGPT to filter through and chat thousands of women on Tinder, eventually proposing to one that was selected by the algorithm. The scale and success of his experiment sparked scepticism. Some raised doubts about the technical plausibility of it, while oth…

1
What was said during closing arguments in Trump's hush money trial 7:44

17m ago7:44

7:44

The prosecution and defense made their final cases to jurors in the criminal trial against Donald Trump. Prosecutors argued Trump falsified business records to conceal an alleged affair that could've harmed his chances of becoming president. Trump's defense team said the charges are baseless and the prosecution's case relies on the testimony of an …

1
News Wrap: Court fast-tracks TikTok's legal battle against potential ban 5:24

6m ago5:24

5:24

In our news wrap Tuesday, an appeals court has fast-tracked the timeline for TikTok's legal battle against a potential ban, violent storms swept across Texas, President Biden will be formally nominated as the Democratic nominee through a virtual roll call, the Treasury Department is easing some financial restrictions on Cuba and Belgium committed $…

1
Israeli tanks reach central Rafah amid outrage following deadly strike on refugee camp 9:10

28m ago9:10

9:10

Israel kept up its operations in Rafah despite global outrage over an airstrike on Sunday that killed displaced Gazans sheltering in tents. Nick Schifrin reports on Israel's initial investigation into that incident and speaks with Amb. David Satterfield, a senior State Department advisor on the Middle East, about the humanitarian situation in Gaza …

1
Pope apologizes for using slur while discussing opposition to gay men in priesthood 5:49

32m ago5:49

5:49

Pope Francis issued a rare apology after word broke that he used a derogatory Italian slur referring to gay men while reaffirming his position against their admission to seminaries and priesthood. The Pope made the remark in a closed-door meeting with bishops. Reactions are divided over whether the slur was intentional or a linguistic gaffe. Geoff …

1
Biden considers temporarily closing southern border to curb flow of migrant crossings 6:01

38m ago6:01

6:01

The Biden administration is preparing an executive action that would allow the president to temporarily shut down the southern border. This comes amid pressure from both sides of the aisle to curb the flow of border crossings. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/fun…

1
Millions living through nightmare as Sudan's civil war brings killings, torture, famine 7:30

43m ago7:30

7:30

Sudan's civil war has left tens of thousands dead, and displaced millions over the nearly 14 months since the Sudanese military and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces plunged the country into a devastating war. Lindsey Hilsum of Independent Television News reports from the city of Omdurman. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour…

1
How marijuana's reclassification could change U.S. drug policy 5:36

1h ago5:36

5:36

This month, President Biden announced the Justice Department is planning a shift in the federal approach to marijuana, reclassifying it from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. This would put it in the same category as Tylenol and ketamine. It would classify it as a drug that has the potential for abuse but has medicinal benefits. Amna Nawaz discuss…

1
Māori poet Tayi Tibble draws on guidance of Polynesian ancestors in 'Rangikura' 5:26

1h ago5:26

5:26

There's a new, original voice in the world of poetry. Indigenous New Zealander Tayi Tibble's poems about what it means to be a young Māori woman have resonated with audiences far beyond her home in the Pacific. Jeffrey Brown met up with the acclaimed poet in New York City as part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS NewsHour is supported by …

1
Libertarian National Convention: Are You Not Entertained?

1h ago

—

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and special guest Zach Weissmueller rehash the events that took place this past weekend in Washington, D.C., during the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, where former President Donald Trump addressed the crowd ahead of the Libertarian presidential ca…

1
The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror | Episode 1 : Don’t Talk to Strangers 47:22

9m ago47:22

47:22

The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror Episode 1 : Don’t Talk to Strangers Breaking a nearly 40 year silence, Tina Risico reveals a harrowing account of captivity with a killer who left a trail of death in his wake. The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror was produced by Ample Entertainment and 101, the producers of Yellowstone, for ABC News S…

1
The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror | Episode 2 : His Next Victim 50:22

9m ago50:22

50:22

The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror Episode 2 : His Next Victim After days of torture and terror on the road, 16-year-old Tina says she is forced to help Wilder capture his next victim. The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror was produced by Ample Entertainment and 101, the producers of Yellowstone, for ABC News Studios. The series is now s…

1
Assignment: Myanmar - Rise of the resistance 26:33

7m ago26:33

26:33

Myanmar is in the grip of a country-wide insurgency as armed resistance groups, including many young people from the cities, attempt to overthrow a military regime which seized power in a coup three years ago. As much as two thirds of Myanmar, mostly the countryside, may now be under the control of the resistance. Access is extremely difficult, hun…

1
Perfume’s dark secret 26:29

3d ago26:29

26:29

The global perfume industry is worth billions. Some luxury brands sell for hundreds of dollars a bottle. But BBC Eye Investigations has discovered that, when the sun goes down in Egypt, there is a hidden human cost to this industry. In the summer of 2023, the BBC visited four different locations in Egypt’s main jasmine-growing area, Al Gharbia, and…

1
Amid a wave of deadly tornadoes, experts also expect an active hurricane season 6:42

21h ago6:42

6:42

A wave of tornadoes cut brutal paths of destruction through many towns over the weekend, killing at least 21 people, including two children. Some experts say this tornado season is looking like the most active since 2017. Geoff Bennett discussed what's happening now and the concerns as hurricane season approaches with Jeff Berardelli, chief meteoro…

1
Israeli airstrike on Rafah tent camp kills 45, triggers new wave of condemnation 3:09

1h ago3:09

3:09

Global outcry continued Monday after an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed dozens of Palestinians. Israel said it was targeting two Hamas leaders. The strike comes just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah. Amna Nawaz reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by…

1
News Wrap: At least 2,000 killed in Papua New Guinea landslide 4:52

1h ago4:52

4:52

In our news wrap Monday, a government official in Papua New Guinea says more than 2,000 people were buried alive in Friday's landslide, Spain pledged to supply Ukraine with more air defense missiles, the IAEA says Iran has further enlarged its stockpile of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels and basketball legend Bill Walton died after a …

51
Netanyahu says Rafah camp strike was a 'tragic mistake.' Experts weigh in on what happened 8:26

3h ago8:26

8:26

Israel's airstrike on a tent camp in Rafah killed scores of civilians and led to more global outcry. To discuss how it happened and its wider significance, Amna Nawaz spoke with Noura Erakat, an associate professor at Rutgers University and a human rights lawyer, and retired Israeli Col. Pnina Sharvit Baruch, a senior research fellow at the Israel …

1
How policing has changed 4 years after George Floyd's murder 6:56

2h ago6:56

6:56

This month marked four years since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. Floyd's killing sparked a global uprising and sweeping promises of racial justice and police reform. But four years later, there's been some backlash to the changes that were set into motion and in some cases, public attitudes have changed. Geoff Be…

1
New technology helping identify remains of fallen U.S. service members 7:34

2h ago7:34

7:34

On this Memorial Day, nearly 81,000 American service personnel remain missing from previous wars. The vast majority were lost some 80 years ago in World War II. Cutting-edge technology is allowing the military to identify remains thought to be unidentifiable. It is allowing the military to fulfill its promise to leave no one behind. Nick Schifrin r…

1
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on the state of the presidential race heading into the summer 8:49

1d ago8:49

8:49

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including where the 2024 presidential race stands ahead of the summer campaign season, where President Biden is trailing in the polls, a shift in the electorate and misconceptions about the economy. PBS NewsHour is su…

1
The class of 2024 reflects on their unique school experience 5:13

2h ago5:13

5:13

With graduation season in full swing, the class of 2024 is reflecting on a highly unusual four years of school. Their freshman experience was marked by pandemic lockdowns, but that was just the first in a chain of momentous global events. We spoke to some members of this class about how they're looking back and forward. PBS NewsHour is supported by…

1
05/26/2024: Operation Lone Star & The Isle of Man 41:06

10m ago41:06

41:06

After President Biden and former President Trump’s visits to the Texas-Mexico border, correspondent Cecilia Vega reports from Eagle Pass, Texas, where she interviewed Governor Greg Abbott. The governor’s controversial border enforcement effort, known as Operation Lone Star, has led to a showdown with the federal government. Bill Whitaker reports fr…

1
Mad Women: Portraying mental health in theatre 26:31

1d ago26:31

26:31

As a unique creative experiment, Chilean director and playwright Constanza Hola Chamy is directing in parallel both a professional cast and a community cast of her new play Mad Women. Highlighting bipolar disorder, it’s inspired by the lives and deaths of three outstanding Latin American artists: the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Chilean singer-song…

1
News Wrap: Severe storms across central U.S. kill at least 14 people, delay Indy 500 3:21

34m ago3:21

3:21

In our news wrap Sunday, powerful storms killed at least 14 people across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and delayed the start of the Indy 500, Israel and Hamas exchanged fire across Gaza's border, at least 123 people died in intensified fighting in Sudan, the UN estimates more than 670 people are buried beneath Papua New Guinea's massive landslide, …

1
Wastewater from Tyson meat processing plants is polluting U.S. waterways, report says 5:47

39m ago5:47

5:47

Tyson Foods is one of the world's biggest meat and poultry producers. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, it's also a major polluter in the United States. A new report from the group says Tyson plants dumped more than 371 million pounds of pollutants into U.S. waterways between 2018 and 2022. John Yang speaks with UCS research director …

1
Why SNAP benefits aren't keeping up with the rising cost of food 6:44

43m ago6:44

6:44

The five-year farm bill is working its way through Congress, and one major sticking point this year is funding for the federal program that helps low-income people buy food. An analysis by the Urban Institute found that SNAP benefits in 2023 did not cover the rising cost of groceries in 98 percent of U.S. counties. Ali Rogin speaks with Urban Insti…

1
Grammy-winning teacher Annie Ray on the importance of music education for all 7:28

1h ago7:28

7:28

The end of the school year often means year-end concerts for student orchestras and choirs. For high school music educator Annie Ray, it's time to look back on a busy year that included a Grammy award and look ahead at her vision of what education should be. Ali Rogin sits down with Ray for the latest installment of our "Weekend Spotlight" series. …

1
Shadow War: China and the West 49:28

1h ago49:28

49:28

The rise of China is a defining challenge for the West. How far should it co-operate, compete or confront Beijing? And were Western countries slow to respond to China’s growing assertiveness? The BBC’s Security Correspondent, Gordon Corera, delves into the worlds of espionage, surveillance, technology, the theft of commercial secrets, free speech a…

1
News Wrap: New Israeli attacks reportedly kill more than 40 Palestinians across Gaza 1:57

8m ago1:57

1:57

In our news wrap Saturday, Israel pressed ahead with its assault on Rafah despite international criticism, a Russian strike on a residential area of Kharkiv killed at least two people, Secretary of Defense Austin resumed his duties after undergoing a medical treatment at Walter Reed, and the TSA says it screened nearly 3 million passengers at airpo…

1
What's changed in Minneapolis four years after George Floyd's death 6:13

13m ago6:13

6:13

Four years ago today, the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers ignited international protests over racism and calls for police reforms. Despite that global reach, it is still very much a local trauma for Minneapolis. John Yang speaks with Minnesota Public Radio senior reporter Jon Collins about how the lasting effects of Floyd's d…

1
Exhausted Ukrainian forces fight to contain Russian advances on the eastern front 4:25

18m ago4:25

4:25

Along the Russia-Ukraine border, badly stretched Ukrainian forces are struggling to deny Russia a foothold. The town of Vovchansk, three miles inside the border, has seen some of the fiercest fighting since Russia launched its offensive in 2022. John Ray of Independent Television News joined soldiers from Ukraine's 57th Brigade there and has this r…

1
Sex education 'is under attack' by a wave of proposed legislation, advocate warns 7:27

23m ago7:27

7:27

What constitutes sexual education and the grade in which it's taught varies greatly in America, and 2024 is shaping up to set a record for legislative proposals mostly aimed at restricting the subject in schools. Sara Flowers, vice president of education at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, joins Ali Rogin to discuss the increasingly compli…

1
The struggles and breakthroughs of Chinese American movie star Anna May Wong 3:47

28m ago3:47

3:47

Anna May Wong was a pioneering actress considered to be the first major Asian American film star, despite the limits imposed by Hollywood's racism. As this year's Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month draws to a close, we bring you her story as part of our "Hidden Histories" series. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https…

1
The Case of the Killer Clown 1:26:27

28m ago1:26:27

1:26:27

A clown murders a Florida mom, leading to a 30-year journey to solve the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy ABC News

1
The Fifth Floor: Life in exile 26:34

1h ago26:34

26:34

What's the price journalists pay for telling the truth? For many it's exile. We'll hear from two colleagues, TV presenter Shazia Haya from BBC Pashto and Nina Nazarova from BBC Russian, both living and working in exile. Produced by Alice Gioia and Caroline Ferguson. (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich) Show less…

1
Myanmar’s Jungle Revolutionaries 28:29

1h ago28:29

28:29

Kate Adie introduces stories from Myanmar, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Mexico. In Myanmar, tens of thousands of people have been killed since the military seized power in a coup in 2021, halting the country’s tentative transition to democracy - a further 2.5m people have been displaced. Quentin Sommerville has spent a month in the east of the country, …

1
Not All Votes Are Created Equal 47:30

5d ago47:30

47:30

As any schoolkid might tell you, U.S. elections are based on a bedrock principle: one person, one vote. Simple as that. Each vote carries the same weight. Yet for much of the country’s history, that hasn't been the case. At various points, whole classes of people were shut out of voting: enslaved Black Americans, Native Americans and poor White peo…

1
BBC OS Conversations: Beauty pageants 23:04

5d ago23:04

23:04

In the United States, questions are being asked after two beauty queens, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, stepped down in as many weeks. The sudden and controversial resignations have put the spotlight on a global, multi-million dollar business. We get a broader overview of what it is like to take part with former winners from Germany, Finland and Niger…

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