Health Mar 30 D.C. phases out its COVID-era hotel housing program for homeless people At the start of the pandemic, we were all urged to stay at home and avoid crowds. But for homeless people, packed shelters made COVID transmission nearly unavoidable. Many cities used federal money to house people in vacant hotels to…
Health Mar 23 The state of COVID in the U.S. three years into pandemic Three years into the pandemic, cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all declining. But questions remain about new variants and whether some people may need a spring booster shot, and there are many concerns about the impact of long COVID. Epidemiologist…
Health Mar 22 West Virginia doctors work to bridge healthcare gap in rural areas When it comes to health, rural America lags far behind the country’s urban and suburban areas. The reasons are complex and these challenges are the focus of a new series called Rural RX. With support from the Pulitzer Center and…
Nation Mar 21 Irvo Otieno’s mother says video shows deputies, workers ‘smothered the life out of him’ Video from a mental hospital in Virginia shows the overpowering use of force that led to the death of a 28-year-old patient. A grand jury indicted 10 people on second-degree murder charges in connection to Irvo Otieno's death. William Brangham…
Health Mar 16 CDC data shows rise in maternal mortality and deaths of Black infants in U.S. The CDC released two reports about mortality rates for mothers and babies in America and they include some stark racial divides. New mothers are dying at higher rates than mothers in any other industrialized nation. And while the overall rate…
Economy Mar 15 Global markets tumble as Credit Suisse acknowledges signs of instability Trouble at a major European bank injected fresh fear into global financial markets. Shares in Credit Suisse plunged after its largest lender ruled out a rescue. That touched off a broader sell-off a day after Wall Street appeared to weather…
Arts Mar 13 How the Oscar wins for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ could change Hollywood The 95th Academy Awards proved to be an evening of wins for Asian and Asian American actors with “Everything Everywhere All at Once” sweeping up many of the Oscars. Los Angeles Times film critic Justin Chang joined William Brangham and…
Nation Mar 01 Parents concerned as new state laws restrict rights of transgender children Across the country, at least 150 bills have been filed by Republican legislators targeting transgender Americans. Roughly 100 of those bills specifically restrict doctors and other providers from offering transition-related health care for minors. We hear from concerned parents whose…
Nation Feb 28 Food banks prepare for spike as pandemic SNAP benefits come to an end In the last three years, households eligible for food assistance received at least $95 more per month as part of a pandemic-era increase to combat hunger. But Wednesday, those benefits will expire, meaning a smaller monthly food budget for nearly…
Health Feb 21 Avian flu strain raises concerns after outbreaks among mammals A highly contagious avian flu is infecting birds all over the globe. In the U.S., farmers have lost, or had to kill, over 58 million birds to try and prevent the spread of the virus. The H5N1 strain hasn’t caused…