Best Help Desk Central Podcasts (2025)

1
China's astronauts land safely after space debris collision 2:33

Play Pause

2h ago2:33

2:33

Three Chinese astronauts are back on earth after they had to prolong their stay in outer space due to space debris hitting their spacecraft.By Emily Feng

1
White House pivots to affordability as President Trump confronts voter discontent 4:04

1h ago4:04

4:04

President Trump says he's going to make America affordable again. It's a pivot to focusing on the economy as voters express discontent.By Tamara Keith

1
Redistricting in Missouri revives a century-old racial fault line 3:35

1h ago3:35

3:35

A new Trump-backed voting map reopens Kansas City's racial divide along Troost Avenue.By Celisa Calacal

1
Mexico's new generation takes to the streets, accusing leaders of protecting cartels 3:44

1h ago3:44

3:44

Gen Z activists are marching in Mexico City today against what they call a narco-state, while Mexican President Sheinbaum alleges the protesters are backed by right-wing parties.By Eyder Peralta

1
Will air travel be back to normal before Thanksgiving? 3:49

3h ago3:49

3:49

The shutdown is over, but a 3% cut in flights remains as air traffic staffing slowly rebounds.By Joel Rose

1
Inside the unlikely origins of NPR's Tiny Desk concerts 9:23

2h ago9:23

9:23

From a spontaneous jam to a global series, this is the story of Tiny Desk told by its creators.By Sacha Pfeiffer

1
Her phone alarm still rings in Lebanon, days after an Israeli strike killed her 6:33

1h ago6:33

6:33

An Israeli air strike killed three children and their father weeks before they were due to emigrate to the U.S.By Jane Arraf

1
A new film envisions a future where reality TV turns lethal 7:25

1h ago7:25

7:25

Director Edgar Wright talks about his new film, which imagines a world where every encounter could mean death in a dark, action-packed dystopia.By Sacha Pfeiffer

1
Major League Soccer has a new schedule to align with international leagues 3:00

1h ago3:00

3:00

MLS is switching from a spring-to-fall calendar to a summer-to-spring calendar. The move aligns with the rest of international soccer but could pose a challenge for teams in wintry locations.By Becky Sullivan

1
Do foreign gifts to Trump that align with policy changes raise ethical concerns? 5:02

5h ago5:02

5:02

NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter about gifts from foreign governments or corporations that President Trump has accepted.By Brianna Scott

1
The U.S. didn't send delegates to COP30, but California is filling the void 2:56

1h ago2:56

2:56

The U.S. didn't send high-level delegates to COP30, but states like California are sending representatives and having an impact on the world climate stage.By Laura Klivans

1
How NPR edits remarks by the president 3:27

1h ago3:27

3:27

The BBC recently apologized for a documentary it aired in 2024 featuring remarks by President Trump. In light of this news, we wanted to share how NPR handles editing remarks by the president.By Tony Cavin

1
Questions remain as Australia moves to ban social media for kids under 16 3:39

1h ago3:39

3:39

In a few weeks, Australia will become the first country to ban children below the age of 16 from having social media accounts.By Kristina Kukolja

1
How to scare off hungry gulls 4:19

2h ago4:19

4:19

Neeltje Boogert, an associate professor at the University of Exeter in the U.K., is the senior author of a new scientific study about how to best scare away gulls, out now from the Royal Society.By Brianna Scott

1
Relatives of late artist Norman Rockwell push back on DHS use of paintings 5:07

2h ago5:07

5:07

Norman Rockwell's granddaughter Daisy has condemned the Department of Homeland Security's use of his paintings, saying DHS is misappropriating his art to support policies he would not have endorsed.By Linah Mohammad

1
This week in Washington: End of shutdown, Epstein emails and affordability crisis 5:54

2h ago5:54

5:54

The government reopened, more files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released, and the White House is shifting some attention to affordability.By Danielle Kurtzleben

1
Chile's election sets up a stark left–right showdown 4:01

1h ago4:01

4:01

Chile heads to the polls on Sunday, in a fiercely polarized election that mirrors the region's struggles with crime, inflation, and economic stagnation.By John Bartlett

1
Amid ICE crackdowns, migrants are sending more money to some Central American countries 4:47

1h ago4:47

4:47

Planet Money talks to immigrants in the U.S. and people in Honduras to try to figure out why remittances are surging to some countries right as it is harder for immigrants here to find work.By Erika Beras

1
Sean Ono Lennon shares 'John & Yoko' documentary, and family memories 8:16

1h ago8:16

8:16

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Sean Ono Lennon about what his mom taught him, and the new documentary about his famous parents, One to One: John and Yoko.By Sarah Handel

1
Young brain researchers ponder other careers amid federal funding cuts 3:53

2h ago3:53

3:53

Cuts and disruptions to federal research funding are causing many young brain scientists to reconsider their career choice.By Jon Hamilton

1
Jordan prays for rain as drought hits olive harvest 3:03

1h ago3:03

3:03

As world leaders meet in Brazil to discuss climate change, Jordanians pray for rain.By Jane Arraf

1
A storm devastated Alaska Native villages. Now their public media lost funding 4:33

20h ago4:33

4:33

A public TV and radio station in Western Alaska serves dozens of villages damaged by Typhoon Halong. But with federal funding eliminated, KYUK faces severe cuts to its staff and news department.By Jeff Brady

1
Catholic bishops talked about immigration and transgender care at U.S. gathering 4:03

2h ago4:03

4:03

U.S. Catholic bishops gathered in Baltimore, where they elected new leaders, responded to Pope Leo's call to speak on immigration and issued new directives on transgender care for Catholic hospitals.By Jason DeRose

1
Tragedy looms 40 years after a volcano wiped out a Colombian village 4:34

2h ago4:34

4:34

Forty years after the Nevado del Ruiz volcano wiped out the town of Armero, the ghosts of Colombia's deadliest tragedy still haunt its slopes, and families are still searching for lost children.By John Otis

1
The government can now get back to measuring the economy with shutdown over 3:43

2h ago3:43

3:43

Now that the government shutdown is over, federal number crunchers are back at work. It could take time, though, to make up for the jobs reports and inflation scorecards we missed in the last 6 weeks.By Scott Horsley

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1
China's astronauts land safely after space debris collision 2:33

1
White House pivots to affordability as President Trump confronts voter discontent 4:04

1
Redistricting in Missouri revives a century-old racial fault line 3:35

1
Mexico's new generation takes to the streets, accusing leaders of protecting cartels 3:44

1
Will air travel be back to normal before Thanksgiving? 3:49

1
Inside the unlikely origins of NPR's Tiny Desk concerts 9:23

1
Her phone alarm still rings in Lebanon, days after an Israeli strike killed her 6:33

1
A new film envisions a future where reality TV turns lethal 7:25

1
Major League Soccer has a new schedule to align with international leagues 3:00

1
Do foreign gifts to Trump that align with policy changes raise ethical concerns? 5:02

1
The U.S. didn't send delegates to COP30, but California is filling the void 2:56

1
How NPR edits remarks by the president 3:27

1
Questions remain as Australia moves to ban social media for kids under 16 3:39

1
How to scare off hungry gulls 4:19

1
Relatives of late artist Norman Rockwell push back on DHS use of paintings 5:07

1
This week in Washington: End of shutdown, Epstein emails and affordability crisis 5:54

1
Chile's election sets up a stark left–right showdown 4:01

1
Amid ICE crackdowns, migrants are sending more money to some Central American countries 4:47

1
Sean Ono Lennon shares 'John & Yoko' documentary, and family memories 8:16

1
Young brain researchers ponder other careers amid federal funding cuts 3:53

1
Jordan prays for rain as drought hits olive harvest 3:03

1
A storm devastated Alaska Native villages. Now their public media lost funding 4:33

1
Catholic bishops talked about immigration and transgender care at U.S. gathering 4:03

1
Tragedy looms 40 years after a volcano wiped out a Colombian village 4:34

1
The government can now get back to measuring the economy with shutdown over 3:43