Jul 03 America's global legacy at 250 As the United States grew from a series of small colonies into a global superpower, it took bold, transformative steps on the world stage, but it has also stumbled. On this 250th anniversary, guest moderator William Brangham, Esther Brimmer, Michael…
Jun 19 Why some Russians are breaking with Putin as Ukraine war drags on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s iron grip on power is being challenged by the war in Ukraine and his government’s authoritarian crackdowns. He finds himself in unfamiliar political territory, questioned by some of the country’s elite and embarrassed by Ukraine’s strikes…
Jun 19 The science of 'Dad Brain' and how fatherhood changes men While most scientific research has focused on men, when it comes to parenthood, it's all about mothers. But new research shows that men undergo profound changes biologically and psychologically when they become fathers. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the surprising…
Jun 12 How Iran's 'Stolen Revolution' failed to live up to its promise Many supporters of Iran's revolution believed some form of democracy should govern the country. But over the decades, the Islamic Republic's radical religious rulers have launched brutal crackdowns on social justice and political freedom. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin discusses…
Jun 12 Why communities are revolting against data centers Artificial intelligence data centers are popping up across America, spurring fierce backlash because of their need for huge amounts of water and power. Is the AI revolution worth the price communities are paying? Horizons moderator William Brangham explores the impact…
May 22 Is it time for the U.S. to reassess its Iran strategy? With talks stalled and Iran maintaining its chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump is weighing whether to restart the war. Strikes failed to eliminate Iran’s regime or destroy its military and nuclear capabilities, so is it time for…
May 15 How Moscow's turbulent past shapes Putin's vision for Russia Moscow started as a fort on a hill and has survived invasion, revolution, civil war and Soviet collapse to transform into a formidable world power. But with the limits of Russia's power tested in Ukraine, is history doomed to repeat…
May 15 As the Colorado River dries up, how Western states are confronting the water crisis Roughly one in ten Americans gets their water from the Colorado River. But a worsening drought, driven in part by climate change, is drying up the river, and states are fighting over water rights. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what…
May 08 Inside the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden 15 years ago It’s been 15 years since the U.S. found and killed the world’s most notorious terrorist, Osama bin Laden. Compass Points moderator Nick Schifrin continues last week’s conversation with Mark Kelton, the CIA’s station chief in Pakistan at the time, for…
May 08 Why we need to talk more about menopause and its health consequences More than 1 million women in the U.S. start menopause every year, yet this biological certainty is too often shrouded in secrecy or ignored by many mainstream researchers. Horizons moderator William Brangham explores what we do and don’t know about…