Arts Dec 30 Critics look back at 2023’s epic year in music 2023 had it all when it came to music: record-breaking tours, unique songwriting and new artists on the rise. The Root’s senior writer Candace McDuffie and freelance music writer and critic Maura Johnston join Stephanie Sy to discuss the music…
Arts Dec 24 The business of Christmas music and why some songs become classics Christmas music is a big part of the music industry. John Yang speaks with Nate Sloan, an assistant professor of musicology at the USC Thornton School of Music and co-host of the podcast Switched On Pop, about what makes Christmas…
Nation Dec 17 How Arizona is responding to a record surge of migrant crossings at the border White House officials and Senate Republicans resumed talks Sunday aimed at a deal on new border security measures. A record number of migrants on the southern border could push President Biden to consider restrictions he’s previously denounced. John Yang speaks…
Science Dec 10 How the black-footed ferret is making a comeback from the brink of extinction When President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law 50 years ago, one of the first on the endangered list was the black-footed ferret, North America’s rarest animal. Once thought to be extinct, they are making their way back…
Health Dec 09 Why the FDA’s approval of revolutionary sickle cell gene therapy is a ‘big deal’ Sickle cell disease is a chronic, debilitating condition that affects nearly 100,000 Americans, most of them with African ancestry. Now, the FDA has approved a groundbreaking treatment for it that uses the gene-editing tool CRISPR. John Yang speaks with Yale…
World Dec 09 What to know about escalations in Venezuela and Guyana’s territorial dispute Tensions are rising in South America as Venezuela threatens to take over a large region of Guyana that’s rich in resources. Venezuela on Saturday signaled openness to “high-level” talks to resolve the standoff, but Guyana has yet to respond. Ali…
World Nov 26 Relief, joy as more hostages are released on 3rd day of Israel-Hamas truce Two Americans, including a 4-year-old girl, were among the 17 hostages Hamas released in the third exchange for 39 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons. The four-day cease-fire deal is also allowing aid trucks to cross into Gaza and deliver crucial…
Health Nov 26 Researchers find strong relationships protect long-term health and happiness A decades-long Harvard study has concluded that good relationships and close friendships are the key to lifelong health and happiness. Ali Rogin speaks with Dr. Robert Waldinger, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the study’s director,…
World Nov 18 More Palestinians flee south as Israeli troops search Gaza’s largest hospital Israel is again urging Palestinians in northern Gaza to move south, while patients, staff and displaced people leave Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City amid conflicting claims of what triggered the departure. There is little refuge from the war in…
World Nov 05 How Israel’s judicial reform protesters shifted focus to aiding victims of Hamas For months, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan triggered massive protests across the nation. But after Hamas’ bloody assault on Israel on Oct. 7, groups protesting Netanyahu’s government turned their resources toward aiding Israeli soldiers and civilians affected by…