World Jul 17 Russia ends grain export deal with Ukraine, raising fears about global food security Moscow announced it will not renew the deal that let Ukraine export its grain through the Black Sea. For the past year, Russian forces allowed Ukraine to ship more than 32 tons of food through the Bosporus Strait and onto…
Health Jul 03 First cases of malaria transmitted in U.S. in decades prompt concerns For the first time in 20 years, malaria has been locally transmitted within the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified five cases, four in Florida and one in Texas. William Brangham spoke with infectious disease epidemiologist…
Nation Jun 30 Colleges adapt admissions programs in wake of affirmative action ruling As colleges and universities digest the Supreme Court ruling that effectively ended affirmative action, schools are left to grapple with how to revamp their admission policies to ensure the diversity of their campuses. That will be a challenge and some…
Nation Jun 29 Texas power grid struggles with system-wide stresses caused by brutal heat wave A record heat wave, and its connections to climate change, are highlighting again the growing concerns around America’s electrical grid and whether it can withstand the added stress. In Texas, which operates its own electrical grid, power demand hit an…
Health Jun 28 American Black women face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality The sudden death of Olympic sprinter Tori Bowie at age 32 sent shockwaves around the world. The idea that a young, elite athlete could go into labor and die stunned many. But this problem is more common than many realize,…
Health Jun 27 How an aging population poses challenges for U.S. economy, workforce and social programs New numbers from the Census Bureau show the U.S. population is older than it’s ever been, with the nation’s median age over 38. William Brangham spoke with Philip Bump and Wendy Edelberg about how an older America could pose significant…
Nation Jun 26 Some retailers pull back Pride plans after conservative backlash June is Pride Month, a time when companies show their support for and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. But this year, right-wing backlash has forced some to rethink Pride. Boycotts, employee harassment and threats of violence prompted companies to pull…
Science Jun 22 Search for missing Titanic sub reaches tragic end with all 5 on board dead The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Thursday the missing submersible in the North Atlantic Ocean was destroyed in a "catastrophic implosion." Its debris was found on the ocean floor near the Titanic and all five people aboard were killed. William Brangham…
Health Jun 20 New drugs show small but positive results in fight against Alzheimer’s After years of work, there is progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, the incurable brain condition that affects more than six million Americans. Several new drugs have shown small but positive results in reducing the cognitive decline associated with…
Nation Jun 19 Group of young people sue Montana over inaction on climate change A first-of-its-kind trial is underway in Montana, where a group of young people argue the state's lawmakers aren't doing nearly enough to address climate change. Montana is one of the nation’s biggest coal producers and the industry there has strong…