Best Robin Allender Podcasts (2025)

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Reverse Course: Life after the levee breach in Dogtooth Bend, Illinois 31:31

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1d ago31:31

31:31

In 2016, the Mississippi River punched a hole in the Len Small levee, built to protect farmland along an S-shaped curve in the river known as Dogtooth Bend. That hole was never repaired. Here & Now's Chris Bentley reports on how some farmers in the area have had to give up their land. And, John Ruskey calls the Mississippi River "a creative force" …

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Reverse Course: Can massive pumps tame Mississippi River flooding? 27:48

2d ago27:48

27:48

In 2019, an unrelenting flood swamped more than half a million acres in the Mississippi Delta's Yazoo Backwater. It took more than six months to recede. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd reports on a pumping station project that could protect against destruction from future floods. And, after a yearslong journey, Anderson Jones is back at home. The sandbag…

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The democratic socialist who could be the next NYC mayor 22:17

3d ago22:17

22:17

Progressive state lawmaker Zohran Mamdani stunned the political world after he defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Tuesday's hotly contested Democratic primary for NYC mayor. Errol Louis, host of NY1's Inside City Hall, joins us to discuss what it means for New York and the rest of the country. And, when California Rep. Jimmy Gomez tried to visit …

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Is there room for diplomacy to keep Iran's nuclear program in check? 29:09

4d ago29:09

29:09

Ernest Moniz, former energy secretary under President Obama and lead negotiator on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, talks about what comes next now that a shaky ceasefire is underway between Iran and Israel. Then, new research highlights that indoor air quality can have a powerful impact on the health and development of babies and young children. D…

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'A really bad mistake': U.S. strikes spark protests, patriotism in Tehran 21:40

5d ago21:40

21:40

We get the view from inside Iran with former news editor Ali Safari, a resident of Tehran who unpacks how Iranians are responding to the conflict. And, Here & Now's security analyst Jim Walsh joins us to explain what the U.S.'s strikes and Iran's response mean for national security. Then, in the wake of escalating conflict in Iran, Republican senat…

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The U.S. and Iran used to be allies. What happened? 12:40

9d ago12:40

12:40

Though the U.S. and Iran were once allies, their relationship has since turned tense in the last 40 years. Now, President Trump is weighing U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. Historian and author John Ghazvinian joins us to unpack decades of history in U.S.-Iran diplomacy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: pod…

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Trump's former surgeon general on RFK Jr.'s vaccine panel purge 25:29

9d ago25:29

25:29

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently fired all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's independent vaccine panel, prompting criticism from health experts. One of those experts is Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as surgeon general in the first Trump administration. And, New York City's mayoral race is coming down to the w…

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Sen. Tim Kaine on why he wants to limit Trump's war powers 20:43

10d ago20:43

20:43

President Trump said on Wednesday that he hasn't decided whether the U.S. will strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine joins us to discuss a resolution he introduced that would require approval from Congress before the U.S. military could get involved in Iran. And, as Ukraine continues to endure deadly air strikes, the G7 confer…

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Middle East crisis tests Trump's 'art of the deal' 23:45

11d ago23:45

23:45

President Trump is calling for a "real end" to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Vali Nasr, a professor of Middle East studies and international affairs at Johns Hopkins University, joins us to talk about how Trump is navigating the crisis. And, the Trump administration's immigration raids have targeted farm workers. California farme…

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Why Israel's attacks might not stop Iran's nuclear program 19:45

12d ago19:45

19:45

As Iran and Israel continue to lob airstrikes at each other, civilian casualties are climbing in both countries. Negar Mortazavi from the Center for International Policy shares how Iran sees the escalating conflict. And, authorities in Minnesota have arrested a suspect in the killing of State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shoot…

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How Apple helped China become a world leader in electronics 26:24

13d ago26:24

26:24

Apple sent engineers to China to make its sophisticated products cheaply. The company sent engineers to train workers and paid for expensive specialized equipment at factories there. This helped push China to become the world's leader in high-tech electronics manufacturing and helped Apple create the iPhone, one of the most iconic products of the 2…

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LA reverend on the 'emotional terror' driving protestors to the streets 28:34

16d ago28:34

28:34

Rev. Zachary Hoover explains what's motivating protesters to go out and oppose the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles. And, in 2016, the Mississippi River punched a hole in the Len Small levee, built in 1943 to protect farmland along an S-shaped curve in the river known as Dogtooth Bend. That hole was never repaired. Here & Now…

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'We don't do police work': Retired general on LA military presence 25:46

17d ago25:46

25:46

The Trump administration has deployed a military presence to Los Angeles amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Retired 4-star General Barry McCaffrey explains his concerns about how Trump is using the armed forces in an American city. And, as Trump's tax bill makes its way through the Senate, the food assistance program S…

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'Do what you have to do': Behind the ICE tactics in LA raids 26:33

18d ago26:33

26:33

The ongoing protests in Los Angeles started after immigration raids and workplace arrests in the city. The Wall Street Journal's Michelle Hackman explores the decision-making that led the Trump administration to carry out recent immigration actions. And, hundreds of scientists with the National Institutes of Health have signed a letter calling to p…

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Legal questions abound as Trump deploys National Guard on LA protestors 24:13

19d ago24:13

24:13

President Trump ordered the Pentagon to send around 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration raids in the city. Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, explains the legal implications. Trump ignored California Gov. Gavin Newsom's…

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The trial of Sean Combs: 4th week reveals more details of alleged abuse 19:17

22d ago19:17

19:17

The federal trial of media mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is ending its fourth week. Combs faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. We get the latest from the Washington Post's Samantha Chery. Then, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, the Kenyan writer who is considered to be one of the founders of African literature, died last week at the age of 87.…

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What Trump's travel ban means for Afghans who helped the U.S. fight 20-year war 20:24

24d ago20:24

20:24

President Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday to ban nationals of 12 countries from entering the U.S. One of those countries is Afghanistan, where thousands of Afghans helped the U.S. military fight its 20-year war there. Zia Ghafoori, a former interpreter for the U.S. military, and Shawn Van Diver, founder and president of AfghanEvac, a group th…

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Ms. Rachel on why advocating for children in Gaza is worth the career risk 18:48

25d ago18:48

18:48

Ms. Rachel became a YouTube star with her educational videos for toddlers. Now, she's getting attention and some pushback over her advocacy for children in Gaza.Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Accurso, tells us why she's willing to risk her career to stand up for children in war-torn Gaza. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoi…

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Why ICE arrested a teenager with no criminal record 20:26

26d ago20:26

20:26

Nearly 1,500 migrants in Massachusetts have been arrested by immigration officials over the past month. Federal agents say most were criminals, but many were not, including 18-year-old high school student Marcelo Gomes Da Silva. WBUR's Simón Rios explains more. And, Ukraine launched a major drone attack on airbases in Russian territory over the wee…

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Inside Badar Khan Suri's 2-month 'nightmare' ICE detainment 20:56

27d ago20:56

20:56

Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri was arrested in March by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while walking toward his Virginia home. The Trump administration has called him a threat to foreign policy, but Suri has not been charged with a crime and ICE agents never showed him a warrant. Suri speaks with Asma Khalid about his …

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These scientists were fired by DOGE. What are they doing now? 27:39

30d ago27:39

27:39

Tens of thousands of researchers are out of work amid President Trump's ongoing purge of the federal workforce. One of those workers is Peggy Hall, a biologist who worked at the National Institutes of Health. Hall joins us with freelance reporter Virginia Gewin, who recently wrote about fired workers for Nature. And, a study from the Rochester Inst…

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Trump administration to 'aggressively' revoke visas from Chinese students 30:59

1M ago30:59

30:59

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Wednesday that the State Department "will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." NPR's Emily Feng joins us to explain what it means. Then, Presi…

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Why proposed Medicaid cuts could decimate rural hospitals 18:20

1M ago18:20

18:20

Rural hospital CEO Kevin Stansbury talks about what the Medicaid cuts being debated by lawmakers could mean to his 25-bed county-owned hospital in Hugo, Colorado. Then, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Tuesday that the CDC would no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children or healthy pregnant women. OBGYN Dr. Lin…

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NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sue Trump administration 23:43

1M ago23:43

23:43

NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging President Trump's executive order to bar federal funding from going to NPR and PBS. NPR's David Folkenflik explains more. And, the Trump administration on Tuesday ordered federal agencies to unwind all federal funding to Harvard University. Trump claims the university …

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Meet the new teacher of the year 28:33

1M ago28:33

28:33

This year's National Teacher of the Year is wrapping up classes with her students and getting ready to embark on a yearlong tour to inspire fellow teachers around the country. Ashlie Crosson, an English teacher from Pennsylvania, joins us. Then, if you are feeling stressed about speaking in front of others, you can transform that pressure by playin…

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The state of civil rights in the United States 31:26

1M ago31:26

31:26

The year 1963 was a watershed moment for civil rights, with Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers leading the movement. But rollbacks of civil rights and racial justice ideals abound in 2025. Author Peniel Joseph unpacks the progress made in 1963 and the political climate in the U.S. now that is undoing some of that progress. And, the …

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Jewish advocacy group says 'unchecked antisemitism' led to D.C. killings 20:21

1M ago20:21

20:21

On Wednesday, two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed following an event at a Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Police say the suspect shouted "free Palestine" after being detained. We hear from Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, the organization that hosted the event that the victims were leaving when they were killed…

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Why these caregivers say Medicaid is vital to families 23:56

1M ago23:56

23:56

This week, families of infants and toddlers rally in Washington, D.C., in favor of protecting Medicaid as the program faces potential cuts by President Trump and House Republicans. Two caregivers share their experiences: Jaid Greene, a mother from Colorado, and Felicia Harvelle, a grandmother from Virginia. And, Medicaid expert Adrianna McIntyre of…

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Israel allows limited aid into Gaza. Is it enough to help the humanitarian crisis? 24:16

1M ago24:16

24:16

Israel says it will start allowing some aid to flow back into Gaza after a nearly three-month blockade. UNRWA's Juliette Touma joins us. Then, researchers have come up with a device to take the guesswork out of a common breastfeeding challenge: figuring out how much your baby is actually drinking in real time. Dr. Jennifer Wicks tells us more. And,…

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Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis: What to know about treatment 20:54

1M ago20:54

20:54

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. We learn more about the disease and its treatments from Dr. William Dahut. Then, the FBI warned last week about what they call "an ongoing malicious text and voice messaging campaign" that uses artificial intelligence to impersonate U.S. government officials. Axios' Ina Fried joins…

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How a program for migrant children is being used to carry out immigration arrests 31:19

1M ago31:19

31:19

New reporting from ProPublica finds the Trump administration is subtly changing the mission of a government agency tasked with helping migrants and protecting kids who cross the border alone. We hear from investigative reporter Lomi Kriel. Then, Author Anthony Horowitz is out with a new book that takes jabs at mystery novels, while still being a gr…

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What the Supreme Court said about birthright citizenship 21:12

1M ago21:12

21:12

The Supreme Court has been hearing arguments about President Trump's executive order trying to end birthright citizenship, which has been paused by numerous federal courts. Law professor and former U.S. attorney Kim Wehle joins us. Then, Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, explains why he thinks House leaders should cut more from the spe…

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The trade war is on pause, but the supply chain is still shaky 21:35

2M ago21:35

21:35

The U.S. and China have agreed to a 90-day pause on steep tariffs, though products from China will still be taxed at 30%. Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, shares what he's seeing as businesses navigate an uncertain trade climate. And, President Trump is in Qatar, the second stop on his trip in the Middle East. But Democra…

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What to know about the first days of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial 21:15

2M ago21:15

21:15

The trial of Sean Combs, the media mogul known as Diddy, is underway. Claudia Rosenbaum, a freelance writer for Vulture who is covering the proceedings, joins us. Then, dozens of white South Africans landed outside of Washington on Monday after the Trump administration granted them refugee status. Journalist Kate Bartlett tells us why President Tru…

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U.S. and China call a trade truce, for now 20:43

2M ago20:43

20:43

The U.S. and China have agreed to a ceasefire in a trade war that has rippled across the global economy, with both nations slashing tariffs for the next 90 days as trade negotiations continue. Cornell University's Eswar Prasad explains more. And, President Trump will soon visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Jon Gambrell, Gulf an…

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AI tools want to be your friend or personal assistant 28:21

2M ago28:21

28:21

An update to Meta's AI chatbot gives users a more social experience, but it'll be a long time before chatbots are able to solve the nation's loneliness crisis. Axios' Ina Fried explains more. And, for as little as $50, you can have a personal assistant. The catch? It's powered by artificial intelligence and records everything you say. The Wall Stre…

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Habemus papam Americanum 28:32

2M ago28:32

28:32

After the white smoke emerged above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon, Chicago native Robert Prevost was introduced as the new pope. Prevost is the first pope from North America. National Catholic Reporter executive editor James Grimaldi joins us. Then, President Trump has come to an agreement with the United Kingdom, marking the first trade…

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Cardinals gather to pick next pope 23:11

2M ago23:11

23:11

We go to St. Peter's Square as Roman Catholic cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to select the next pope. David Gibson of Fordham University is there, along with NPR's Daniel Burke and Claire Giangravè of Religion News Service. And, India launched what it called retaliatory missiles at Pakistan early Wednesday morning. Pakistan is considering i…

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What chaos at Newark Airport says about air safety 20:23

2M ago20:23

20:23

Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti talks about concerns for flight safety nationwide following an incident last week at Newark Airport, where air traffic controllers briefly lost all contact with airplanes trying to take off and land there. Then, a new immunotherapy drug could help some cancer patients avoid surgery. Oncologist Dr. Andrea Cer…

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How a decline in shipping from China will ripple through the economy 20:32

2M ago20:32

20:32

As consumers brace for fewer options and higher prices on store shelves, Northwest Seaport Alliance co-chair and Port of Tacoma president John McCarthy explains the ripple effect that an expected decline in shipping will have on the U.S. economy. And, Israel has a new plan to "capture Gaza" and take control of the distribution of humanitarian food …

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Isabel Allende on her new book — and 2 more titles for your summer reading list 32:48

2M ago32:48

32:48

Author Isabel Allende talks about her new book, "My Name is Emilia Del Valle," a historical romance set in the late 1800s about a young female journalist who goes to Chile to cover a brewing civil war. Then, author Zara Chowdhary tells her deeply personal story of growing up in India during a period of anti-Muslim violence in "The Lucky Ones." The …

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What is the real cost of cheap goods from China? 23:22

2M ago23:22

23:22

As President Trump's tariffs take effect, many American consumers will have to wean themselves off cheap goods made in China. Former President Joe Biden's economic adviser Jared Bernstein joins us for more. And, as climate change makes heavy rainfall in London more frequent, Here & Now's Chris Bentley reports on the city's "super sewer" system, des…

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100 days of Trump: Economy, government cuts and why supporters are sticking with him 28:10

2M ago28:10

28:10

Wednesday marks Trump's 100th day in office. NPR's Scott Horsley looks at the economy after 100 days of the second Trump administration. Then, government programs that serve kids are among the many being slashed by the Trump administration. ProPublica's Eli Hager tells us how those cuts will affect the nation's most vulnerable children. And, we che…

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Is the Trump administration deporting U.S. citizen children? 25:32

2M ago25:32

25:32

Several American citizen children have been sent out of the U.S. in recent days, alongside a parent who was deported, including a four-year-old with late-stage cancer. Doris Meissner of the Migration Policy Institute shares more about what's happening. And, Trump border czar Tom Homan visited Rochester, New York Tuesday, after President Trump signe…

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Marco Rubio's State Department cuts take aim at human rights programs 22:38

2M ago22:38

22:38

Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a plan to reorganize the State Department that would eliminate human-rights-focused bureaus and reduce U.S. staff. Jessica Stern, former U.S. special envoy for the human rights of LGBTQ+ persons, joins us. Then, concern is growing that extremism and white supremacism in the military may now be going unchecked…

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Reverse Course: Creating clean water, from extreme recycling to solar desalination 34:19

2M ago34:19

34:19

Chicago is set to break ground on a pipeline that will bring water from the Great Lakes to some suburbs whose groundwater is running dry. Joliet, Illinois, is one of those suburbs. Here & Now's Chris Bentley reports on the question of who is allowed to use Lake Michigan's water. And, as cities across the West brace for a drier future, they're inves…

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What Russia's deadly attack on Kyiv means for peace talks 24:58

2M ago24:58

24:58

President Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia's latest attack on Ukraine. NPR Ukraine correspondent Joanna Kakissis shares the latest from Kyiv. And, Trump announced that he would have a private dinner with the top 220 holders of his meme coin. The Wall Street Journal's Josh Dawsey explains more. Then, musician Anoushka Sha…

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Sen. Bernie Sanders on 'fighting oligarchy' and rebuilding the Democratic Party 26:24

2M ago26:24

26:24

Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders talks about his Fighting Oligarchy Tour and explains where the political battle lines are right now on hot-button cultural issues, health care and more. And, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for ensuring a safe food supply. But cuts to the FDA have called into question the agency's ability to m…

1
International Monetary Fund downgrades economic growth, blaming Trump's tariffs 22:45

2M ago22:45

22:45

The International Monetary Fund warns global economic growth is projected to slow due to uncertainty over Trump's trade war. The news comes as the Dow heads for its worst April since the Great Depression. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast "Full Disclosure," breaks down what's happening economically. And, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia details his tr…

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'Determined to the very end': Francis' legacy as a progressive, Jesuit pope 26:01

2M ago26:01

26:01

We reflect on Pope Francis and his legacy with John Allen, longtime Vatican reporter and Crux editor. And, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants over the weekend. Georgetown University law professor Stephen Vladeck explains more about the ruling. Then, as Colorado River water le…