Best WWL First News Podcasts (2025)

* LSU has been on a roll on the recruiting trail. We’ll get an update on the Tigers from WWL.com columnist Jeff Palermo.* Officials in St. Tammany say the parish is at an elevated risk for West Nile virus.

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LSU football got a huge commitment from ESPN's #1 recruit 9:03

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20h ago9:03

9:03

LSU football has been on a roll on the recruiting trail. We get an update on the Tigers from WWL.com columnist Jeff Palermo.

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St. Tammany is at an elevated risk for West Nile virus. Here's how officials fight the mosquitoes 13:52

20h ago13:52

13:52

Officials in St. Tammany say the parish is at an elevated risk for West Nile virus. We find out why from Kevin Caillouet, Executive Director of St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement

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Measles cases rising and French Quarter sanitation saga: 7am hour 22:52

3d ago22:52

22:52

* Measles cases already hit a 33 year high in the US, and it's only July* Councilmember Freddie King gives us the rundown on the French Quarter sanitation saga

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Freddie King on the French Quarter trash mess and how the Council responded to the Mayor 11:03

21h ago11:03

11:03

We check in with Freddie King about the French Quarter sanitation, what the Mayor’s doing, and what the Council’s doing.

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Measles cases hit a 33 year high in the US...and it's only July 11:49

21h ago11:49

11:49

Measles cases in the US have hit their highest level in 33 years. We talk with Dr. Fred Lopez from LSU Health New Orleans about the disease and the importance of getting your kids vaccinated.

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Birthright citizenship and the storied USS New Orleans: 6am hour 23:16

22h ago23:16

23:16

* A judge blocked President Trump’s birthright citizenship order. We break down what it means and what the Supreme Court recently* The bow of the USS New Orleans was blown off during World War II...and it was just recently discovered.

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The USS New Orleans had its bow shot off in WWII. They just found it 11:00

22h ago11:00

11:00

The bow of the USS New Orleans was blown off during World War II...and it was just recently discovered. We talk with Cory Graff, a curator and restoration manager at the World War II Museum, about the history of the ship and an exhibit they’re preparing on it

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Making sense of what the courts are doing with a birthright citizenship case 12:16

22h ago12:16

12:16

A judge blocked President Trump’s birthright citizenship order. We break down what it means and what the Supreme Court recently said with David Schultz, Professor of Political Science and Law at Hamline University

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TSA says you can leave your shoes on and other changes to know, plus these spots should be on your travel bucket list 30:57

4d ago30:57

30:57

ITSA is changing its rules to let people keep their footwear on. But that’s not the only thing that’s changing in the world of travel this summer. We dive into topics from which spots in the world are overrun right now to place you should add to your bucket list.

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Too many parades, painful pests, and how dogs communicate with us: Full Show 7-10-25 1:39:06

2d ago1:39:06

1:39:06

* Everything you need to know about training your dog* Do we have too many Mardi Gras parades?* Another painful pest has made its way to Louisiana* Do third parties ever succeed in the US?* How can our dogs tell what we're thinking and feeling?* Breaking down some good news on our redfish population

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Everything you need to know about training your dog and how they can tell what you're feeling 31:22

3d ago31:22

31:22

Can we tell what our dogs are thinking? How much do they understand what we say to them? What are the best ways to train a puppy...or teach an old dog new tricks?Vanessa Woods, Director of the Puppy Kindergarten at Duke University, joins us.

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Breaking down some good news on our redfish population 9:55

3d ago9:55

9:55

A new study shows the menhaden industry has been less harmful to redfish populations than originally thought. We go over the good news with State Representative Joe Orgeron.

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Lots of Mardi Gras parades and good redfish news: 8am hour 20:07

3d ago20:07

20:07

* How hard is it to get a new Mardi Gras parade going? Do we have too many as it is?* A new study shows the menhaden industry has been less harmful to redfish populations than originally thought.

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Do we have too many Mardi Gras parades? 12:01

2d ago12:01

12:01

We talk with Arthur Hardy about some possible changes to Mardi Gras for 2026 after a City Council hearing this week and what he’s been hearing from krewes

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Painful pests and AI craziness: 7am hour 21:50

2d ago21:50

21:50

* Another bug that can hurt us has made its way to Louisiana* Elon Musk’s Grok AI started praising Hitler and calling itself “MechaHitler.” We try to sort out what happened

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Why did Elon Musk's AI chatbot start spewing pro-Hitler messages? 9:35

2d ago9:35

9:35

Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot started praising Hitler and calling itself “MechaHitler.” We try to sort out what happened with Phil Napoli, Professor of Public Policy at Duke and author of Social Media and the Public Interest: Media Regulation in the Disinformation Age

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Another painful pest has made its way to Louisiana 12:14

2d ago12:14

12:14

Another bug that can hurt us has made its way to Louisiana. Stinging Asian needle ants have been spotted in the state. We explain what those are...and some of the other invasive insects we have with Aaron Ashbrook, Assistant professor of urban/peri-urban entomology at LSU

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Third parties and checking in with the Ag Commissioner: 6am hour 23:47

2d ago23:47

23:47

* Elon Musk says he’s going to create a third party...do third parties EVER work in the US? * Chemicals, screwworms, and more

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Ag Commissioner Mike Strain on the EPA and chemicals, screwworms, and more 11:56

2d ago11:56

11:56

Tommy talks with Mike Strain, Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry, about chemicals that can be harmful, dogs getting sunburnt, and those dang screwworms

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Elon Musk wants to start a third party. Does it have any chance of working? 11:51

2d ago11:51

11:51

Elon Musk says he’s going to create a third party...do third parties EVER work in the US? We break it down with political scientist Todd Belt.

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Picking the next mayor, banning left turns, and more: Full Show 7-9-25 1:43:09

5d ago1:43:09

1:43:09

* Who's the favorite in the New Orleans mayoral race?* Why we should get rid of left turns* What goes into developing a good homicide unit for police departments?* Redeveloping Charity Hospital hit a snag because of Mayor Cantrell* Flood protection leaders are confident in our system* How will President Trump's big bill impact Louisiana's energy in…

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The next mayor of New Orleans and French Quarter sanitation: 9am hour 33:31

5d ago33:31

33:31

* Qualifying for the New Orleans mayoral race gets underway. Who's the frontrunner? * The French Quarter Management District is looking for an emergency contract amid the sanitation dispute

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French Quarter leaders are looking for an emergency sanitation contract 5:48

5d ago5:48

5:48

The French Quarter Management District is looking for an emergency contract amid the sanitation dispute. We talk with chairperson Jane Cooper about the mess and what they’re looking for.

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Qualifying to be the next Mayor of New Orleans is underway. Who is the favorite? 27:41

5d ago27:41

27:41

Qualifying for the New Orleans mayoral race gets underway. Is Helena Moreno the frontrunner? Who could surprise?We break it down with Rosalind Cook, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Tulane

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Solving murders and chatting with JP Morrell: 8am hour 21:20

5d ago21:20

21:20

* What makes a good homicide detective?* Talking with JP Morrell about redevelopment Charity Hospital and about Mardi Gras

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Redeveloping Charity Hospital hit a snag because of Mayor Cantrell 9:54

5d ago9:54

9:54

Tommy spends some time with Councilmember JP Morrell talking about Mayor Cantrell vetoing a deal for Charity Hospital renovations and about Mardi Gras krewes.

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What goes into developing a good homicide unit for police departments? 11:27

5d ago11:27

11:27

Tommy talks to Ronal Serpas, Professor of Practice in the Department of Criminal Justice at Loyola and a former NOPD chief

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Louisiana energy and flood protection: 7am hour 10:27

5d ago10:27

10:27

* Louisiana has been making big advances in wind, solar, and other energies. How will President Trump’s new tax bill impact those?* Flood protection leaders are confident in our flood protection system

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Flood protection leaders are confident in our system 10:27

5d ago10:27

10:27

Tommy talks with Roy Carubba, President of the Flood Protection Authority - East, about our flood protection system.

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How will President Trump's big bill impact Louisiana's energy industry? 13:40

5d ago13:40

13:40

Louisiana has been making big advances in wind, solar, and other energies. How will President Trump’s new tax bill impact those? We take a look with Greg Upton from LSU’s Center for Energy Studies.

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Economic uncertainty and banning left turns: 6am hour 24:10

5d ago24:10

24:10

* Interest rates and tariff uncertainty have some economists a little worried about the job market* There’s a way to save lives, reduce traffic jams, and make commutes faster – ban left turns.

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Why we should get rid of left turns 11:29

5d ago11:29

11:29

There’s a way to save lives, reduce traffic jams, and make commutes faster – ban left turns. What? We explain Vikash Gayah, Professor of Civil Engineering at Penn State University

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Why are economists worried about unemployment going forward? 12:41

5d ago12:41

12:41

Interest rates and tariff uncertainty have some economists a little worried about the job marketStephen Kates, a Bankrate financial analyst, joins us to break it down.

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The Epstein client list: Does it exist? And if so, why is the White House denying it? Plus, why too many murders go unsolved 40:00

6d ago40:00

40:00

A surprise reversal in the Jeffrey Epstein narrative has many people wondering what's going on and why Attorney General Pam Bondi went from saying a list of the sex offender's clients were on her desk to saying the list doesn't exist. Plus, more than half of American murders go unsolved and Red Meat digs into why.…

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Real estate woes, Cajun Navy assistance, and parenting: Full Show 7-8-25 1:40:17

6d ago1:40:17

1:40:17

* How the United Cajun Navy is helping with the Texas flood efforts* Why is the New Orleans real estate market "tough" and not competitive?* What are the best ways to discipline your kids?* Louisiana lawmakers loosened ethics and campaign finance rules for themselves* Law enforcement fatalities are DOWN 50% compared to last year…

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What are the best ways to discipline your kids? 22:28

6d ago22:28

22:28

Dave Cohen in for Tommy.What are the best ways to discipline your kids? How did your parents do it? We spend some time with our friend Dr. Judy Ho, a licensed clinical therapist, talking parenting and punishments.

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The Summer League starts soon for the Pelicans. Here's what to know 11:00

6d ago11:00

11:00

Dave Cohen in for Tommy Tucker.Dave and Jake Madison, Host of Locked on Pelicans, break down the Pelicans roster and what to expect for Summer League play.

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More trips for lawmakers and the Cajun Navy helping Texas: 8am hour 20:06

6d ago20:06

20:06

* There was a massive overhaul of ethics and campaign finance laws during the session. It may not be sexy, but it’s important to understand.* Checking in with the Cajun Navy

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How the United Cajun Navy is helping with the Texas flood efforts 11:54

6d ago11:54

11:54

Dave Cohen in for Tommy Tucker.We check in with Brian Trascher from the United Cajun Navy about the work they’re doing to help with the Texas floods

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Louisiana lawmakers loosened ethics and campaign finance rules for themselves 8:11

6d ago8:11

8:11

There was a massive overhaul of ethics and campaign finance laws during the session. It may not be sexy, but it’s important to understand. We go over the changes with Julie O'Donoghue, a senior writer at the Louisiana Illuminator

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Good law enforcement news and tough real estate news: 7am hour 23:52

6d ago23:52

23:52

* Law enforcement fatalities are down 50% compared to last year.* The “toughest” real estate market...the “least competitive” real estate market. That’s how New Orleans has been described in recent weeks. What gives?

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Why is the New Orleans real estate market "tough" and not competitive? 11:38

6d ago11:38

11:38

Dave Cohen in for Tommy.The “toughest” real estate market...the “least competitive” real estate market. That’s how New Orleans has been described in recent weeks. What gives? We break it down with Ali Bustamante, professor in the department of economics and finance at UNO

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Law enforcement fatalities are DOWN 50% compared to last year 12:13

6d ago12:13

12:13

Dave Cohen in for Tommy Tucker.Law enforcement fatalities are down 50% compared to last year. We talk about this good news with Bill Alexnader with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

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Tariffs and why we bombed centrifuges: 6am hour 22:50

6d ago22:50

22:50

* We get an update on how inflation was in the first half of the year...and how things are looking for the rest of the year* Why did the US bomb a bunch of metal tubes in Iran?

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Why the US bombed a bunch of metal tubes in Iran 9:36

6d ago9:36

9:36

Why did the US bomb a bunch of metal tubes in Iran? We explain what centrifuges are and the role they play in making a nuclear weapon with Anna Erickson, Woodruff Professor in Nuclear and Radiological Engineering at Georgia Tech

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What can we expect from consumer prices and inflation the rest of the year? 13:13

6d ago13:13

13:13

We get an update on how inflation was in the first half of the year...and how things are looking for the rest of the year.Patrick Penfield, Professor of Supply Chain Practice at Syracuse University, joins us.

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Where were the sirens? Questions rise in devastating Texas floods as hope wanes for more survivors 25:38

7d ago25:38

25:38

At least 89 people are dead in Texas after flash floods tore through over July 4th, wreaking havoc in the region and killing girls at a popular summer camp. Get the latest updates and insight from Texas leaders and reporters on the ground for KRLD Radio in Dallas, Texas.