Best Current Affairs Podcasts (2024)

1
Assignment: Denmark’s weight loss boom town 26:55

40m ago26:55

26:55

The Danish town of Kalundborg should be a boom town, as the main manufacturing site for the weight loss drug Wegovy. The pharmaceutical company which makes it, Novo Nordisk, is the most valuable in Europe and has invested $8.5 billion dollars in a new plant there. Despite this economic bounty, Kalundborg’s schools are underperforming and entertainm…

1
News Wrap: Trump and Harris try to energize voters in final days of campaigning 4:23

15h ago4:23

4:23

In our news wrap Saturday, Trump and Harris spent the day in battleground states, Israel's military says it captured a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, Spain is sending 10,000 more responders to Valencia in the aftermath of deadly floods, a former Louisville officer was convicted of using excessive force in connection with Breonna Taylor's de…

1
A look at the state of the race in the critical battleground of Wisconsin 6:18

15h ago6:18

6:18

On Friday, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held dueling rallies just five miles apart in Wisconsin. Trump won the state in 2016 after it had gone for Democratic candidates for 28 years, and President Biden narrowly won it back in 2020. This year, it could help determine control of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. John Yang speak…

1
Why anti-transgender political ads are dominating the airwaves this election 6:26

15h ago6:26

6:26

If you've watched TV this month, you've likely seen campaign ads supporting Donald Trump by attacking Kamala Harris over transgender issues. From Oct. 7 to Oct. 20, Trump's campaign and pro-Trump groups spent an estimated $95 million on ads, more than 41 percent of which were anti-trans. Independent journalist and LGBTQ+ activist Erin Reed joins La…

1
'They're all dead': Haitians try to flee increasingly inescapable gang violence 6:34

19h ago6:34

6:34

Haitian immigrants have found themselves at the center of a political storm this fall, as former President Trump and his supporters repeatedly make unfounded claims about them. Most came to the United States to escape the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, brought on by wide-scale gang violence. Ali Rogin reports on how Haitian leaders are trying to res…

1
Her Last Halloween 1:25:53

2h ago1:25:53

1:25:53

A woman is found dead near a cemetery after a Halloween party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy ABC News

1
The Fifth Floor: Ikat fashion and other Uzbek wonders 17:33

1h ago17:33

17:33

How are the popular Ikat designs made? BBC journalist Ibrat Safo explores Uzbekistan's love story with textiles. Plus, Sanjaya Dhakal of BBC Nepali explains why a group of Kathmandu artists launched an inventive campaign to repatriate their country's stolen art. 'Silk Roads' is at the British Museum in London until February 2025. Produced by Alice …

1
What next for Georgia? 28:50

6m ago28:50

28:50

Kate Adie presents stories from Georgia, the US, Benin and Egypt. In Georgia, tens of thousands of people took to the streets this week amid claims of election violations, highlighting the rift between voters hoping for closer ties to Europe and those wishing to retain relations with Russia. Rayhan Demytrie reports from the capital Tbilisi. Immigra…

1
Remembering a White Supremacist Coup 50:51

7m ago50:51

50:51

In the late 1800s, Wilmington, North Carolina, was a city where African Americans thrived economically and held elected office. This did not sit well with White supremacists, who during the election of 1898 used violence to intimidate voters and overthrow the elected government. It’s considered the only successful coup d’etat in US history. The lea…

1
BBC OS Conversations: US voters and the cost of living 23:07

1h ago23:07

23:07

Throughout the presidential election campaign, we have been hearing from voters across the political spectrum. One issue keeps coming up: how much it costs to live, to feed the family, to fuel a car, or to pay the rent or mortgage. Surveys have consistently indicated the economy is a top concern for Americans – transcending age and political affili…

1
Harris and Trump focus on battleground states entering final weekend of campaign 4:57

1d ago4:57

4:57

With four days to go, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have dueling rallies planned in battleground Wisconsin, mere miles away from each other. But the home stretch is not without bumps in the road as foreign threats of election interference sprang up in Georgia. Laura Barrón-López reports. PBS News is supported by - h…

1
What early voting data signals about this year's election 4:29

1d ago4:29

4:29

With just days left of this election cycle, millions of voters across the country have already cast their ballots by absentee or early in-person voting. Lisa Desjardins breaks down what this early turnout tells us. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/fundersBy PBS News

1
U.N. officials say situation in northern Gaza 'apocalyptic' as Israel continues offensive 2:16

1d ago2:16

2:16

Top United Nations officials today called the situation in northern Gaza "apocalyptic," an unusually stark warning as Israel enters the second month of an operation targeting the area where Hamas has regrouped. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
News Wrap: Labor Department releases final jobs report before election 4:06

1d ago4:06

4:06

In our news wrap Friday, the Labor Department released its final jobs report before the election, the death toll from flooding in Spain spiked to at 205 with many still missing, New Delhi's air quality plummeted as smoke from firecrackers used to celebrate Diwali polluted the air and a judge rejected Elon Musk's bid to move a Pennsylvania lawsuit o…

1
How Nebraska's 'blue dot' could be the deciding factor on Election Day 4:31

1d ago4:31

4:31

Once the votes of the 2024 campaign are cast and tallied, the final chapter of this election season may hinge on a blue dot far from any swing state battleground. Lisa Desjardins explains why a district in Nebraska is so important. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
Exploring what the partisan divide over trusting election results means for the country 12:44

1d ago12:44

12:44

The Pew Research Center recently released a survey showing that more than four in 10 Trump supporters don't believe next week's election will be run well despite efforts by lawmakers and election officials to address their concerns since 2020. Judy Woodruff explores what the gap in election trust may mean for her series, America at a Crossroads. PB…

1
Brooks and Capehart on who holds the upper hand in the presidential race 10:34

1d ago10:34

10:34

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including what to watch in the final days of voting, the rhetoric of the campaign, what will happen after a winner is declared and which candidate has the momentum. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.…

1
Universities transform art museums into spaces for voting and political discourse 7:27

1d ago7:27

7:27

During the final days of this tense election, we take a look at a project fostering a different type of civic space to encourage young people to discuss issues, engage each other and vote. Jeffrey Brown visited the University of Michigan to see how this works. It's part of our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy a…

1
Heart and Soul: How the war in Gaza helped me find God 26:30

1h ago26:30

26:30

Vanessa’s Fridays saw her dancing the night away in the night clubs of Liverpool, having drinks with friends, sometimes staying out all night. But now Fridays are times of prayer with new friends at the mosque. She took her vows – shahada – to become a Muslim within a month of Hamas attacking Israel and the resulting military campaign in Gaza and s…

1
Harris warns health care on the line as Johnson eyes 'massive reform' if Trump wins 5:35

3d ago5:35

5:35

Both presidential candidates brought their campaigns to the Southwest on Thursday. Donald Trump stopped in New Mexico, a detour from battleground territory, while Kamala Harris jetted off to Arizona. But before she left, Harris spoke with reporters about what's on the line with five days until Election Day. Laura Barrón-López reports. PBS News is s…

1
How Virginia's voter roll purge could impact the election 5:12

3d ago5:12

5:12

Just days before the election, the Supreme Court ruled Virginia will be able to continue to purge people from the state's voter rolls. The state has argued it is part of an effort to remove noncitizens from the rolls, but voting rights advocates have found several U.S. citizens were also removed from the rolls at the same time. Amna Nawaz discussed…

1
News Wrap: At least 158 confirmed dead from devastating flash floods in Spain 7:40

3d ago7:40

7:40

In our news wrap Thursday, crews in Spain are searching for bodies in abandoned cars and swamped buildings after devastating flash floods, rocket attacks from Lebanon into northern Israel killed at least seven people, including four foreign workers and U.S. officials say about 8,000 North Korean troops are now at Russia's border with Ukraine and ex…

1
Examining the divide between Harris and Trump on Social Security and Medicare spending 6:50

3d ago6:50

6:50

In the final days of this election, both presidential candidates are trying to win over older voters with their plans for entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Social Security is at risk of being depleted as soon as 2034 and Medicare could be insolvent by 2036. Lisa Desjardins has a look at how both campaigns say they'll tackle th…

1
The potential economic impact of Trump's mass deportation promise 9:22

3d ago9:22

9:22

Immigration is a key issue of this campaign. Vice President Harris says if elected, she will pass a bipartisan bill strengthening border security. Former President Trump promises a much larger crackdown including mass deportations. Paul Solman examines the potential economic impact of deportations and Trump's claims that immigrants take jobs and lo…

1
How election workers are fighting back against bad actors trying to undermine the process 6:43

3d ago6:43

6:43

From rampant disinformation, foreign adversaries trying to sew chaos and ballot boxes set ablaze, there are many bad actors trying to undermine our elections process. There's also an army of non-partisan election officials who are collecting ballots and pushing back, confident that this election, like the last, will be secure. William Brangham disc…

1
Why the American abortion debate is affecting access in Kenya 8:44

3d ago8:44

8:44

Abortion is a closely watched issue in this year's election, and not just in the U.S. As president, Trump cut funding for international groups that offer and counsel on abortion services. With support from The Pulitzer Center, special correspondent Neha Wadekar reports from Kenya where advocates are watching for who wins. A warning, this story cont…

1
American Voices 2024 1:27:03

2h ago1:27:03

1:27:03

In this enhanced audio version of "American Voices 2024," FRONTLINE follows the changing views and experiences of Americans from the 2020 election season to the present day. The documentary returns to voters first featured in 2020’s "American Voices: A Nation in Turmoil" as they dealt with COVID-19 in their communities that spring, responded to Geo…

1
Inside Europe 31 October 2024 54:59

3h ago54:59

54:59

Georgia’s disputed election, EU rhetoric vs reality, US overseas ballots in Berlin. Also: Brussels and Ankara have different takes on the US election, VW is in trouble, and Spain is on the frontline of Europe's climate crisis.By DW

1
The jaguar's last stand 26:29

17m ago26:29

26:29

The Pantanal, in western Brazil, is the world’s largest tropical wetland, and home to tens of thousands of animal species. But expansion of shipping and development is causing an increase in wildfires, and the loss of unique habitats. The Jaguar is the apex predator in the Pantanal, roaming over vast hunting grounds, but the changing environment me…

1
Harris and Trump swing through North Carolina with less than a week of campaigning left 5:09

4d ago5:09

5:09

The presidential campaign trail ran through the Tar Heel State on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both rallied in North Carolina, one of the crucial swing states that could secure a victory in next week's election. Amna Nawaz reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
Pivotal races that will determine the balance of power in Congress 6:07

4d ago6:07

6:07

While all eyes are on the presidential race, there also are several key down-ballot races that will determine the balance of power in Congress. Republicans in the House hold a razor-thin majority but Democrats are honing in on a handful of races to help them win back the lower chamber. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www…

1
News Wrap: Catastrophic flash floods kill at least 95 in Spain 6:15

4d ago6:15

6:15

In our news wrap Wednesday, catastrophic flash floods killed at least 95 people in Spain, Israel is expanding its military campaign beyond Lebanon's south as it targets what it says are Hezbollah strongholds, North Korea's top diplomat is in Russia for talks and authorities in Oregon say the suspect behind a series of ballot box fires is likely an …

1
A look at Harris' and Trump's positions on health care policy 6:41

4d ago6:41

6:41

With less than a week until election day, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are making their final case to voters, laying out starkly different visions on a number of key issues. White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López takes a deep dive into the candidates' positions on health care. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/fu…

1
How a college degree is one of the best predictors of which candidate voters support 10:05

4d ago10:05

10:05

American politics are divided in many ways, including based on their education background. To explore this so-called diploma divide, Judy Woodruff visited two neighboring, but very different, counties in Michigan where both candidates have repeatedly made their case as this year's campaign nears the end. It's part of her series, America at a Crossr…

1
New airline refund rules could ease travel hassles for American passengers 4:33

4d ago4:33

4:33

Just weeks before the holiday travel season, new airline refund rules went into effect across the country. They can mean big changes for when, and how, Americans get paid back for things like flight delays or mishandled baggage. They would also put an end to some haggling, communication breakdowns and frustration for passengers. Geoff Bennett discu…

1
American volunteers fighting in Ukraine share views on how election could affect the war 7:10

4d ago7:10

7:10

The U.S. election is being closely watched in Ukraine. Vice President Harris has promised to continue supporting Ukraine if she wins, while former President Trump has ridiculed military aid and claimed he could negotiate an end to the conflict. Special correspondent Jack Hewson met with American volunteer fighters who are considering whom to vote f…

1
'Purpletown' documents what people in politically divided areas still have in common 4:52

4d ago4:52

4:52

With the election days away, there is no shortage of reflections on American politics and democracy. Photographer Paul Shambroom has a unique view. His "Purpletown" project uses photos to examine the cities and towns most evenly divided politically. We spoke with Shambroom for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democra…

1
True Crime Vault: The Devil In Disguise 49:07

2h ago49:07

49:07

It was a case that made national headlines. Shanann Watts and her two daughters, missing. Her husband Chris on television, pleading for their return. Then their bodies found at the oil site where he worked. What secret had Chris Watts been keeping? Originally aired: 12/07/2018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Why Elon Musk Went Full MAGA 21:28

5h ago21:28

21:28

Just a few years ago, Elon Musk seemed to be just another Silicon Valley billionaire with no true political compass. He once described himself as “half-Republican, half-Democrat” and often donated money to candidates from both parties. But all that seemed to change during the Covid-19 pandemic when Musk started taking much more right-wing stances a…

1
BBC Trending: The cost of an addiction to Somali TikTok battles 18:10

7h ago18:10

18:10

They call it the Big Game. Somali influencers are taking part in clan-based battles on TikTok. A US college student who spent $4000 in just four minutes tells the BBC she regrets ever getting involved. She felt addicted to the draw of defending her clan and says she was later harassed by an influencer. The trend is taking Somali social media by sto…

1
Candidates race to get final messaging to voters with one week until Election Day 4:01

5d ago4:01

4:01

Election Day is one week away and both candidates are racing to get their final messaging out to voters. Vice President Harris is delivering a major speech in Washington while former President Trump held events in Florida and Pennsylvania. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
What to expect from Kamala Harris' closing argument to voters 3:44

5d ago3:44

3:44

An estimated 52,000 people are expected to be in attendance on the National Mall for Vice President Harrris' speech Tuesday night, according to DC Metropolitan Police. White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports from The Ellipse with a preview of Harris' closing message. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
News Wrap: Hezbollah picks cleric Naim Kassem as its new leader 6:27

5d ago6:27

6:27

In our news wrap Tuesday, Hezbollah has chosen cleric Naim Kassem as its new leader, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned that Russia's planned use of North Korean troops on the front lines would push the war "beyond the borders" of Ukraine and Russia and President Biden is awarding nearly $3 billion to reduce air pollution from the nation's ports.…

1
Israel bans U.N. agency helping Palestinians as northern Gaza healthcare system collapses 5:36

5d ago5:36

5:36

In northern Gaza, it was another day of mass death with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 88 people. Hundreds of thousands remain trapped and no substantial food or aid has been allowed into the besieged area for weeks. It comes as Israel's parliament passed measures that outlaw the UN agency charged with aiding Palestinians. Nick Schifrin report…

1
Comparing the education policy proposals from Harris and Trump 6:33

5d ago6:33

6:33

The issue of education in America has barely been discussed in this campaign, despite there being very sharp differences between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on how best to teach children into the future. William Brangham looks into their positions on K-12 education for our promises and policies series. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.…

1
How southeastern Georgia became a political hotspot in the presidential campaign 7:23

5d ago7:23

7:23

Georgia is one of the most closely divided states in the country, where President Biden beat Donald Trump by fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020. This year, voters have shattered early voting records, casting more than 2 million ballots so far. Lisa Desjardins reports on how some of those voters are feeling in Savannah, the center of a growing region t…

1
Examining how economic plans from Trump and Harris could affect inflation 5:59

5d ago5:59

5:59

The economy and concerns around costs remain the top issue for many voters. Both candidates want to extend tax cuts, but they also have some big differences. Donald Trump wants to impose broad tariffs and deport undocumented workers, Kamala Harris has focused on creating tax credits and tackling price gouging. Geoff Bennett discussed how these plan…

1
Florida teen forced to collect her own evidence to prove she was sexually abused 10:58

5d ago10:58

10:58

We're told if you're a victim of a crime, to go to the police and report it. But what happens when they don't believe you? From the Center of Investigative Reporting, Rachel de Leon tells how far one child had to go to prove her innocence. A word of caution, this story involves details of child sexual abuse. PBS News is supported by - https://www.p…

1
Death in the Dorms Season 1: Episode 5: Samantha Josephson 1:04:42

1d ago1:04:42

1:04:42

South Carolina University senior, Samantha Josephson, enjoyed a night out with friends. Then she called for a rideshare and never made it home. Originally Aired 01/05/23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy ABC News

1
From Saturday Night Live to Sunday with 60 Minutes | 60 Minutes: A Second Look 43:40

6d ago43:40

43:40

Name a successful comedian of the last five decades and chances are, they got their start on Saturday Night Live -- under the direction of Lorne Michaels. As SNL enters its 50th season, we share never-before-heard audio from Lesley Stahl's 2004 interview with the show’s famously private creator and executive producer, who allowed 60 Minutes cameras…

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