Best Current Affairs Podcasts (2024)

1
Has US military aid come in time for President Zelensky? 22:57

32m ago22:57

22:57

The war in Ukraine has reached a pivotal moment. After months of an apparent stalling on the frontlines, Russia has recently made a series of critical breakthroughs. Now the race is on for Kyiv to get newly approved military aid to the front line before Russian forces attack Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv. The 60 billion dollar bill passed …

1
Twin towns 26:34

1h ago26:34

26:34

The small rural town of Igbo-Ora in south-western Nigeria proclaims itself to be the “twin capital of the world". It has an astonishingly high twin birth rate. Everyone here wants to have twins because in Yoruba culture they are believed to bring good fortune and are celebrated almost as deities. And yet, in another part of Nigeria, near the capita…

1
Biden administration defends suspending weapons to Israel over Rafah assault concerns 4:17

32m ago4:17

4:17

Many Republicans and some Democrats are criticizing the Biden administration for suspending the delivery of thousands of bombs to Israel. At a Senate hearing, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin defended the move which comes as the White House also delayed a congressionally mandated report on Israeli military adherence to international humanitarian l…

1
Democratic, GOP lawmakers react to Biden pausing bomb shipment to Israel 11:20

37m ago11:20

11:20

As the Biden administration puts a hold on sending thousands of bombs to Israel, we have perspectives from two members of Congress. Geoff Bennett spoke with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, who ser…

1
News Wrap: Marjorie Taylor Greene's attempt to oust House Speaker Johnson fails 5:13

43m ago5:13

5:13

In our news wrap Wednesday, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene failed in her attempt to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, parts of the Midwest surveyed damage after a night of extreme weather that spawned tornadoes, Russia unleashed a barrage of more than 50 missiles and drones on Ukraine and Live Nation settled nearly all of the wrongful death lawsuit…

1
College students on divisions over Israel, safety and what is considered free speech 12:20

1h ago12:20

12:20

The debate around how colleges are handling protests played out in Washington D.C. Wednesday as police cleared out encampments at George Washington University. This week, we visited that encampment and others to hear why students are protesting and explore a long-standing divide over the rhetoric and language used to describe the Israel-Palestinian…

1
Congress grills district leaders on rise in antisemitic incidents at high schools 5:12

1h ago5:12

5:12

While most of the national attention around protests lately has been focused on much larger college campuses, there have been some problems in some high schools as well. It was the focus of another charged hearing on Capitol Hill as leaders of some of the nation's largest districts were grilled about the rise in antisemitism in their schools. Lisa …

1
Where Trump's classified documents case stands after judge indefinitely postponed start 6:35

1h ago6:35

6:35

The classified documents case against former President Trump has been officially, and indefinitely, delayed by Judge Aileen Cannon. To many legal observers, this was considered the strongest, clearest-cut case against Trump. But now, a trial that was supposed to start in two weeks will almost certainly not begin before the election. William Brangha…

1
Ukrainian troops who lost limbs in war receive prosthetics and hope for the future 7:02

1h ago7:02

7:02

In addition to shortages of weapons and artillery in its war with Russia, Ukraine faces a critical manpower problem. Its troops are wounded and weary after more than two years of fighting and the military is struggling to replenish ranks. Amna Nawaz and producer Sam Lane report on both of those challenges. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www…

1
Bonus: World of Secrets: The Disciples investigation live show 44:53

8h ago44:53

44:53

A bonus episode from the World of Secrets podcast. Inside the World of Secrets investigation – the story of the journalism behind The Disciples. Hear from the journalists and the whistleblowers about the investigation into TB Joshua. A special episode with season 2 presenters Charlie Northcott and Yemisi Adegoke, producer Rob Byrne and whistleblowe…

1
True Crime Vault: Since The Day I Was Born 50:03

1h ago50:03

50:03

Three babies, abandoned at birth within blocks of each other, five years apart. Thirty years later DNA testing reveals they are siblings. Now, that technology is about to point them to their birth mother, who has been watching and waiting in plain sight. Originally broadcast 07/29/2019 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Israel seizes Gaza border crossing as cease-fire and hostage deal hangs in the balance 4:26

1h ago4:26

4:26

Delegations from Israel and Hamas returned to Cairo to resume fraught negotiations over a potential cease-fire and hostage deal. Meantime, Israeli tanks and troops seized the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, delaying aid shipments as 1.2 million Palestinians shelter in the city. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs…

1
News Wrap: TikTok sues to overturn law that could ban platform in U.S. 5:45

2h ago5:45

5:45

In our news wrap Tuesday, TikTok sued to overturn a law that could ban the platform inside the U.S., Ukraine's state security service says it foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Zelenskyy, Russian President Putin was sworn in for his fifth term after almost 25 years in power and a federal judge in Florida indefinitely delayed Donald Trum…

1
What Stormy Daniels revealed on the stand in Trump's hush money trial 6:11

2h ago6:11

6:11

Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress at the center of the criminal hush money trial against Donald Trump, took the stand Tuesday in New York. In sometimes graphic detail, she described the sexual encounter she alleges she had with Trump and the payment she received from his lawyer to buy her silence. William Brangham discussed the volatile day in…

1
How Israel's operation in Rafah affects aid for Palestinians and cease-fire talks 5:41

2h ago5:41

5:41

An Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo for crucial cease-fire talks a day after Hamas said it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari proposal. To explore what could happen next, Amna Nawaz spoke with Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/fun…

1
Biden condemns antisemitism, affirms support for Israel in Holocaust remembrance speech 7:34

2h ago7:34

7:34

President Biden marked the 75th anniversary of the Holocaust, remembering the six million Jewish people who were killed. In his speech Tuesday, Biden affirmed America's support for Jewish people, Israel and condemned antisemitism. Laura Barrón-López reports. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders…

1
Campus protesters are violating rights of other students, argues David French 7:45

19h ago7:45

7:45

Protests against the war in Gaza continue on college campuses across the country. Monday, we looked at the idea that colleges themselves fomented these demonstrations. Now, Lisa Desjardins speaks with New York Times opinion columnist David French who says colleges are not doing enough to crack down on protests. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https:…

1
Anita Hill discusses overturn of Weinstein's rape conviction and what it means for #MeToo 7:57

2h ago7:57

7:57

The recent ruling by New York's highest court to overturn Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction has sent a wave of shock and disappointment through advocates of the #MeToo movement. Weinstein remains jailed for a rape conviction in Los Angeles, but the New York ruling still raises questions about justice for sexual assault survivors. Amna Nawaz d…

1
Brittney Griner describes release from Russia and readjusting to life at home 6:48

2h ago6:48

6:48

Monday, we spoke with basketball star Brittney Griner about what it was like being detained by Russian authorities for ten months. In the second part of our interview, Amna Nawaz talks with Griner about her release from Russian custody, readjusting to life back in the U.S. and her new book "Coming Home." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.p…

1
Italy’s Mafia Whistleblower 28:52

2m ago28:52

28:52

Last year in Italy the biggest anti-mafia trial in 30 years reached a climax. On the stand were the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta: they are estimated to run 80 percent of Europe’s cocaine and to make more money in a year than McDonalds and Deutsche Bank put together. With access to mafioso-turned-collaborator Emanuele Mancuso, journalist Francisco Garcia l…

1
Wild Crime: The Skull | S2 Ep. 3 53:08

35m ago53:08

53:08

Wild Crime Season 2: Murder in Yosemite Episode 3: The Skull Hikers find a skull. Years later, Kim Tucker’s son Cullen takes on the case. After 40 years, Jane Doe is identified with new DNA technology. Produced by Lone Wolf Media for ABC News Studios, streaming on Hulu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Assignment: Italy's mafia whistleblower 26:38

1h ago26:38

26:38

Last year in Italy the biggest anti-mafia trial in 30 years reached a climax. On the stand were the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta: they are estimated to run 80 percent of Europe’s cocaine and to make more money in a year than McDonalds and Deutsche Bank put together. With access to mafioso-turned-collaborator Emanuele Mancuso, journalist Francisco Garcia l…

1
Israel launches operation into Rafah, says cease-fire agreement not reached with Hamas 5:36

1h ago5:36

5:36

It is a delicate and momentous day in the Middle East. The Israeli military says it has launched a new operation into parts of Rafah in southern Gaza. At the same time, the Israeli government says it's continuing negotiations to reach a cease-fire with Hamas in exchange for the release of hostages. William Brangham discusses the latest with Nick Sc…

1
News Wrap: Russia says it will hold drills to simulate nuclear weapon use 4:14

8m ago4:14

4:14

In our news wrap Monday, Russia publicly announced drills to simulate the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine, authorities in southern Brazil say at least 83 people have died in days of heavy rains and flooding with more than a hundred still missing and heavy rain across southeastern Texas began tapering off, but catastrophic…

1
Former Trump employees detail hush money payments at heart of his trial 5:07

13m ago5:07

5:07

Two former employees of the Trump Organization were on the stand in New York. Jeffrey McConney and Deborah Tasaroff were involved in the payments that are at the center of the charges filed against the former president in his hush money trial. Donald Trump also received another fine and a tough warning from the judge. William Brangham discussed the…

1
How colleges are handling campus protests after embracing activism in the past 6:54

2h ago6:54

6:54

As protests over the war in Gaza continue on campuses, colleges are grappling with the balance of free speech, civil disobedience and concerns over student safety. We've heard some college officials argue arrests and crackdowns are necessary and overdue while protesters and some faculty say it's been too harsh in some cases. Lisa Desjardins discuss…

1
'You don't feel like a human,' Brittney Griner describes her life in Russian confinement 8:49

38m ago8:49

8:49

She went from being the center of attention on professional basketball courts to the center of a global power struggle. Two years after she was first detained in Russia, Brittney Griner is sharing new details about her time held captive and the fight to free her. Amna Nawaz met up with Griner to discuss that and her new book, "Coming Home." PBS New…

1
Hormone replacement safe and effective menopause treatment, study finds 6:23

42m ago6:23

6:23

It's time to reconsider hormone therapy as a treatment for menopause, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This new review suggests that for women in early menopause, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Dr. Lauren Streicher. PBS NewsHour i…

1
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Trump's latest controversies and Biden's jaded electorate 8:47

2h ago8:47

8:47

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join William Brangham to discuss the latest political news, including Republicans navigate the fallout from controversial remarks made by Donald Trump at a fundraising dinner over the weekend and President Biden continues to deal with a jaded electorate as he wrestles wi…

1
Americans Care About Inflation, but Politicians Don't 1:04:46

2h ago1:04:46

1:04:46

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman assess the mismatch between Americans' lingering concerns over inflation compared to politicians' failure to address it. 01:39—Americans still care about inflation. 16:49—Donald Trump to speak at Libertarian Party National Convention 4…

1
05/05/2024: Leader Jeffries, Work to Own, St. Mary’s 42:39

6h ago42:39

42:39

Norah O’Donnell profiles Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, who might become the first ever Black Speaker of the House, by tracing his Brooklyn roots to one of the most powerful positions in American politics. O’Donnell meets Jeffries on Capitol Hill to talk about his caucus’s decision to save c…

1
In the Studio: Abhishek Singh 26:29

6h ago26:29

26:29

Indian artist Abhishek Singh’s comic books have sold more than half a million copies and been translated into Italian, Spanish, French and English. His interpretation of the Indian myth, Krishna: A Journey Within, was the first graphic novel by an Indian writer and artist to be published in American comic book history. Abhishek has long included en…

1
News Wrap: Israel shuts down Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza after Hamas attack 2:45

9h ago2:45

2:45

In our news wrap Sunday, Israel closed Gaza's main point of entry for aid after Hamas fired rockets at Israeli forces nearby, Al Jazeera went off the air in Israel after the Israeli cabinet voted to shut it down, Kenya said the country's death toll from flooding and landslides has risen to 228, Ukraine marked its third Orthodox Easter at war with R…

1
How some colleges and students have reached agreements over pro-Palestinian protests 6:21

9h ago6:21

6:21

The prevailing images of college protests over the Israel-Hamas war in the past few weeks have been of escalating tensions, clashes with police and mass arrests. But students and administrators at several schools from Rhode Island to California have found common ground during negotiations. Erin Gretzinger, a reporting fellow at The Chronicle of Hig…

1
What a rapidly changing civil war means for the future of Myanmar 7:11

9h ago7:11

7:11

Myanmar is on the brink of becoming a failed state. For three years, the southeast Asian nation has been embroiled in an escalating civil war between the military junta and pro-democracy forces. Now, resistance groups have gained control of a significant part of the country after a long line of junta defeats. John Yang speaks with Burmese-American …

1
Patrick Kennedy's new book tells personal stories of mental health in America 6:52

9h ago6:52

6:52

For former congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, advocating for mental health care is part of his family's legacy. His uncle, President John F. Kennedy, signed the bill that established the nation's community-based mental health care system. Ali Rogin sat down with Patrick Kennedy to discuss his new book, which details the mental health struggles and tri…

1
News Wrap: Senior UN official warns famine in northern Gaza is moving south 3:27

1d ago3:27

3:27

In our news wrap Saturday, the head of the UN's World Food Program said there is "full-blown famine" in northern Gaza and it is spreading south, tensions remain high on college campuses across the U.S. amid anti-war protests, new drone footage reveals the damage Russia inflicted on a village in eastern Ukraine, and hundreds of people have been resc…

1
What Biden's expansion of health privacy rules means for people seeking abortions 6:26

1d ago6:26

6:26

In late April, the Biden administration issued new rules designed to keep prosecutors from obtaining medical records of patients who seek legal abortions. The expansion of HIPAA prohibits the disclosure of health information to state officials as part of a criminal investigation. Carmel Shachar, head of the Health Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard U…

1
Departure of U.S. troops from Chad and Niger raises regional security concerns 7:16

1d ago7:16

7:16

The African nations of Niger and Chad have both been key partners with the United States in combating terrorist groups in the region. But now that both countries are ruled by military regimes, that cooperation is in question. Ali Rogin speaks with J. Peter Pham, former U.S. ambassador and special envoy for the Sahel region, to learn more. PBS NewsH…

1
Ukrainian family rebuilds life in Minnesota after fleeing Russian invasion 5:41

1d ago5:41

5:41

Since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, about 6.5 million Ukrainians have left the country. One of them is 10-year-old Artem Fedorenko, who lost part of his arm in a Russian bombing that killed his father and brother. Today, he and his mother Oksana are rebuilding their lives in suburban Minneapolis with help from the Minnesota-based …

1
The Hungryland Homicide 1:26:34

1d ago1:26:34

1:26:34

When a young mom goes missing, police question a pastor, the ex-husband, and even a local ventriloquist. But authorities are left wondering – who would want to harm Tricia Todd? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy ABC News

1
The Fifth Floor: Love and politics in Russia 26:32

2d ago26:32

26:32

Nataliya Zotova of BBC Russian tells us how Yulia Navalnaya has stepped in for her husband since his death and how there is somewhat of a precedent for this in Russia. Plus Ikechukwu Kalu explains how the BBC Igbo social media team use proverbs to connect with their audience. Produced by Caroline Ferguson and Alice Gioia (Photo: Faranak Amidi. Cred…

1
US student protests and the youth vote 28:57

2d ago28:57

28:57

Kate Adie introduces stories from the US, Portugal, the South China Sea, Argentina and Antarctica. University campuses across the US have been gripped by protests over the war in Gaza, with students demanding their schools divest from Israeli interests. Nomia Iqbal considers the ramifications of the protests for Joe Biden, who will need the youth v…

1
We Regret to Inform You 50:16

2d ago50:16

50:16

Bruce Praet is a well-known name in law enforcement, especially across California. He co-founded a company called Lexipol that contracts with more than 95% of police departments in the state and offers its clients trainings and ready-made policies. In one of Praet’s training webinars, posted online, he offers a piece of advice that policing experts…

1
BBC OS Conversations: Student protests in the US 23:11

2d ago23:11

23:11

The war in Gaza has triggered demonstrations at dozens of universities thousands of miles away in the United States. There have been hundreds of arrests as police have gone in to break them up and remove the protest camps that have been set up. Amid the heightened tensions, three Jewish students with different views towards Israel and its governmen…

1
News Wrap: Labor report shows high interest rates finally slowing job growth 5:32

2d ago5:32

5:32

In our news wrap Friday, there are signs that high interest rates could finally be slowing U.S. job growth, Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were arrested on federal charges of bribery and conspiracy, three people in Canada were charged with the murder of a Sikh leader in British Columbia and a Palestinian hospital reported at least…

1
Why the Google antitrust trial could change how we use the internet 5:31

2d ago5:31

5:31

A landmark antitrust trial between the Department of Justice and Google is coming to an end. The tech giant is accused of monopolizing the internet search market, sidelining competitors and harming consumers. The DOJ claims Google struck illegal deals, but the company argues it has the best search engine. Stephanie Sy discussed the case with Rebecc…

1
What Hope Hicks said on the stand in Trump's hush money trial 4:48

2d ago4:48

4:48

One of former President Trump's most senior aides took the stand during his trial in New York. Hope Hicks served as Trump's press secretary during the 2016 campaign and was his White House communications director. She detailed how Trump handled revelations about alleged extramarital affairs and the payments made to bury those stories. William Brang…

1
Palestinian journalist describes fight to protect his family while covering war in Gaza 5:01

2d ago5:01

5:01

On World Press Freedom Day, the Committee to Protect Journalists says some two dozen journalists have been killed so far this year, the vast majority of them dying in Gaza. At least 97 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, Israel and Lebanon since the start of the war. Nick Schifrin has a look at the life of our journalist in Gaza…

1
Prisons holding ISIS members in Syria a breeding ground for radicalization, officials say 9:14

2d ago9:14

9:14

It's been five years since the Islamic State was defeated by a U.S.-led military campaign in Syria. But today some 10,000 ISIS fighters remain jailed inside Syrian detention centers. Human rights groups call conditions in the prisons abusive and local authorities warn they are a breeding ground for radicalization and an Islamic State revival. Speci…

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