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Here & Now Anytime

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The news you need to know today — and the stories that will stick with you tomorrow. Plus, special series and behind-the-scenes extras from Here & Now hosts Robin Young and Scott Tong with help from Producer Chris Bentley and the team at NPR and WBUR.

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Boston, MA

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NPR

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The news you need to know today — and the stories that will stick with you tomorrow. Plus, special series and behind-the-scenes extras from Here & Now hosts Robin Young and Scott Tong with help from Producer Chris Bentley and the team at NPR and WBUR.

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@hereandnow

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English

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Episodes
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Immigration lawyers report 'chaos' over Trump’s new green card rules

5/26/2026
The Trump administration put out new rules last Friday that require people to apply for green cards from abroad instead of from inside the U.S., which has been custom for immigrants seeking permanent residency status. Immigration attorney Richard Herman explains what he’s hearing from his clients and what remains unclear. Then, protests continue outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in New Jersey as detainees inside stage a hunger strike over poor conditions. Bergen Record reporter Ricardo Kaulessar shares more. And, a new report from the Brookings Institution found about 145,000 children have been separated from their families during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Author Tara Watson details the impact of separation on those families. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:20:47

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What the Queen of Salsa's red satin heels say about America

5/25/2026
A pair of red, satin, sky-high heels that Celia Cruz, or the “queen of salsa” wore on stage is part of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Ranald Woodaman, exhibitions and public programs director at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, shares more about the exhibit and Cruz’s lasting legacy. And, throughout the early 20th century, East Coast musicians developed a finger-picking, ragtime-style called the Piedmont blues. Singer and guitarist John Cephas and harmonica player Phil Wiggins were modern ambassadors of the genre. Smithsonian Folkways director Maureen Loughran details their influence in American music. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:18:32

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Reverse Course: Sheep meet solar, AI detects wildfires

5/22/2026
When farmer Bryant Parker noticed solar farms popping up in his area, he spotted an opportunity. Now, Parker brings his flock of sheep to several solar farms to chow down on grass. Here & Now’s Chris Bentley reports from central Illinois about the practice called agrivoltaics, or the combination of solar power and farming, where both industries benefit. And, as a historic drought desiccates the West, artificial intelligence has proved beneficial for detecting wildfires long before humans can. Here & Now’s Peter O’Dowd visits facilities in Arizona, Colorado and California to report on the effectiveness and the potential risks of using AI cameras and satellite footage to track wildfires. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:29:47

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Why Jan. 6 officers are suing to stop Trump's $1.8 billion allies fund

5/21/2026
President Trump's administration has created a nearly $1.8 billion fund designed to pay out people who say the government unfairly investigated or prosecuted them, including people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Two police officers who defended the Capitol that day are suing, calling the fund a way for Trump to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence” in his name. Brendan Ballou, who is representing the officers, explains more. Then, the U.S. continues to put pressure on Cuba, indicting former president Raúl Castro and sending an aircraft carrier to the southern Caribbean. Associated Press reporter Cristiana Mesquita shares the reactions she’s hearing from Cubans. And, on May 22, 1856, tensions over slavery boiled over on the Senate floor when a slave-owning representative from South Carolina used a cane to beat Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner, an outspoken opponent of slavery. David Freudberg talks about his new radio documentary which explains how Sumner was “ahead of his time.” See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:23:01

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Trump administration says the IRS can't audit Trump

5/20/2026
A last-minute addendum to a Department of Justice deal with President Trump says the Internal Revenue Service is “forever barred” from auditing Trump, his family members and his businesses. The deal also created a $1.8 billion fund to pay out Trump allies who say they were unfairly investigated. Law professor Mary McCord explains the implications. Then, Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, lost his primary on Tuesday. The president on Tuesday also endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn ahead of Texas Senate runoff elections. Republican pollster Whit Ayres discusses Trump’s power over his party. And, the Trump administration is using the Pentagon and concerns about national security to stall wind energy projects across the nation. David Carroll, CEO of ENGIE North America, details the state of the wind energy industry. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:20:35

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Who gets the money in Trump‘s new ‘weaponization’ fund?

5/19/2026
The Trump administration announced a new Justice Department fund of more than $1.7 billion to compensate people it says were harmed by “weaponization” under the Biden administration. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter talks about the legal and ethical questions surrounding the move. Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are getting quicker at finding people to arrest, thanks to tools provided by the tech company Palantir. Investigative journalist Joseph Cox tells us more. And, giant utility rivals NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy are planning to merge. Why now, and what could this mean for your energy costs? We learn more from Roben Farzad, host of the podcast Full Disclosure. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:21:06

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What to know about a new Ebola outbreak

5/18/2026
The World Health Organization has declared an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to be a global health emergency. We hear from Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician with experience in Ebola outbreak response. And, on Saturday, one prominent critic of President Trump, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, lost his primary, and on Tuesday, another Republican Trump critic, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, will see if he can survive Trump's wrath in what's being called the most expensive primary race in the country. ABC News Washington bureau chief Rick Klein talks about expectations for primaries in six states tomorrow, and the prospects for Republicans who criticize President Trump and want to win re-election. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:19:31

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Introducing "The Midnight Rebellion," a new climate fiction podcast

5/16/2026
From WBUR, here's a new kind of story, one that's all about the big questions and decisions we face. The Midnight Rebellion is a pick-your-own-path podcast set 100 years in the future, where the stakes are nothing less than the planet itself. It is fiction rooted in real science, built for the kids in your life (ages 7 and up) — and the whole family. You're listening to Chapter 1 of The Midnight Rebellion. Each chapter ends with a choice. YOU decide what’s next. Choose wisely. If you like what you heard, listen to the rest and follow The Midnight Rebellion wherever you get your podcasts. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:19:38

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What life in China looks like

5/15/2026
Host Scott Tong checks in with us from Beijing, China, where he's been reporting from all week. Then, Melinda Liu moved to Beijing in 1980. Scott talks with her in a historic neighborhood about the ways China has transformed since the 1980s and the rural poverty that remains despite the modern leaps forward. And, Tong never met his grandfather, who was a political prisoner and died in a labor camp. It was seen as a shameful chapter in his family's history and was never talked about, but 70 years later, Scott tells the story. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:27:42

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What do American businesses want from China?

5/14/2026
Thursday's meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded with a banquet. Seated at tables in the ballroom were more than a dozen CEOs, among them SpaceX's Elon Musk, Apple's Tim Cook and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. It was also attended by Trump's son Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, and his wife, Fox News host Lara Trump. The Financial Times' Joe Miller tells us more. Then, during the summit, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have focused on trade, security, and stability.NPR China correspondent Jennifer Pak in Beijing shares the latest from the summit. And, Scott Tong reports from China on a podcast called StoryFM, modeled after This American Life. He speaks with Kou Aizhe, the show's creator, about being inspired by American podcasts and how he's able to get Chinese people to tell frank, honest stories that might be embarrassing or shameful, in a culture that is conformist where private things stay private. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:21:45

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How to keep your chatbot from stealing your money

5/13/2026
While artificial intelligence can be helpful for synthesizing complicated information, financial analysts urge consumers to avoid sharing personal financial information with chatbots. Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary outlines the risks. And, amid an unpopular war in Iran and states pushing to redraw congressional maps, midterm elections are approaching. Republican analyst Charlie Dent and Democratic analyst Jamal Simmons weigh in on what it's going to take for their party's candidates to win. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:21:53

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Why consumer prices are rising fast

5/12/2026
The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that consumer prices increased by 3.8% in April compared to a year ago. That's the fastest pace of price increases in around three years. Wailin Wong, host of the Indicator from NPR’s Planet Money, joins us. Then, the subject of Taiwan is one of the main priorities for Beijing in the upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. How will Trump approach the topic of Taiwan? We hear from Eyck Freymann, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford and the author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China." See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:20:13

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When 'America First' meets 'China First'

5/11/2026
Host Scott Tong is reporting from China this week as President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a high-profile summit in Beijing. He joins us from Shanghai to share his first impressions of the country since the last time he was there. Then, the summit is set for later this week. Senior research fellow Yu Jie from Chatham House explains the power dynamic going into the meeting. And, Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on Saturday. It was scaled back compared to previous years, with the country's military might displayed not in person but on giant TV screens, out of fear of a possible attack from Ukraine. Nina Khrushcheva, New School professor and great-granddaughter of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, details Russian President Vladimir Putin's hold on power. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:25:34

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Virginia's top court deals huge blow to Democrats

5/8/2026
The Virginia Supreme Court has thrown out a voter-approved redistricting referendum that could have helped Democrats pick up several U.S. House seats this fall. NPR’s Larry Kaplow explains more about the fight over congressional maps ahead of midterm elections. And, Alabama is one of many states moving forward with redistricting after the Supreme Court’s decision last week dealt a blow to the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, joins us. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:13:56

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The rare bats that helped spark a conservation movement

5/8/2026
Ten years ago, Iroro Tanshi found something incredible in a cave in Nigeria: a colony of short-tailed roundleaf bats, a species that hadn’t been seen there in almost 50 years. We learn how her discovery helped kickstart a conservation movement in West Africa to protect rare species of bats from threats like poaching and wildfires. Then, North America has lost billions of birds since 1970, but some species are actually bucking this concerning trend and returning to places where humans hadn't seen them in decades. Ornithologist Scott Weidensaul shares some global success stories of bird recovery. And, Mark Kurlansky has been fishing for as long as he can remember, and writing about it almost as long. He tells us about his essay collection on why people fish. (Hint: It's not for sustenance.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:27:06

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Drought fears spur big fight over Utah data center

5/7/2026
"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary wants to build a huge data center north of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The project was greenlit, but still needs to obtain water usage rights as lake water supply is nearing a new low. KUER reporter Macy Lipkin shares more. Then, New Orleans may have crossed a “point of no return,” according to new analysis. Report co-author Jesse Keenan explains how rising seas, sinking land and stronger storms could point to a catastrophic environmental future. And, ahead of the year's biggest day for birders, host Robin Young visits the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to learn how the lab is helping birds as they face new challenges. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:26:53

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What the Ohio and Indiana primaries hint about November's midterms

5/6/2026
Ohio and Indiana voters offered an early glimpse at the political mood heading into the midterms. NPR's Stephen Fowler joins us to talk about the results. Then, the Trump administration says it is investigating Smith College, the women's school in Massachusetts, over its policy of admitting transgender students. The 19th's LGBTQ+ beat reporter Kate Sosin tells us more. And, Melanie Turner, a special education teacher in Oakland, Calif., shares how a nonprofit is helping her pay for housing closer to work amid an affordability crisis. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:20:09

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Psychedelics and the future of medicine

5/5/2026
The Food and Drug Administration says it is offering an “ultra-fast review” of two psychedelic drugs intended to treat serious mental health disorders. This follows a White House executive order directing the FDA to speed up research on psychedelics, which right now are illegal under federal law. Dr. Gail Saltz talks about the latest news surrounding psychedelics. Then, what happens when we open our eyes? Is consciousness something that can be pinpointed and studied? These are the questions science author Michael Pollan explores in his new book. He talks about "A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness." See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:23:58

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Mifepristone access is back. But for how long?

5/4/2026
On Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily restored mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone. It puts aside a lower court ruling in Louisiana on Friday that ended national telemedicine access to the pill. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, an OB-GYN based in New Orleans, explains what this means for nationwide abortion access. And, after talks for a government bailout fell through, Spirit Airlines shut down on Saturday morning. CNBC’s Leslie Josephs details the ramifications for Spirit's customers, employees and equipment. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:16:03

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The history of America's weather forecasts

5/1/2026
A new exhibit called “Water’s Edge” at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian showcases work by late artist Truman Lowe of the Ho-Chunk nation. Exhibit curator Rebecca Trautmann details how a sculpture titled “Feather Canoe” represents Lowe’s work and what his artistic style contributes to the story of America. And, how did you check the weather this morning? Back in the late 1800s and 1900s, people traveled to their local post office to see the forecast in a Farmers’ Bulletin. Smithsonian National Postal Museum curator Lynn Heidelbaugh explains how the Farmers' Bulletin system first developed and why it was so critical for a growing nation. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Duration:00:15:20