Here & Now Anytime
1,796 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★ - 703 ratingsThe news you need to know today — and the stories that will stick with you tomorrow. Plus, special series and behind-the-scenes extras from Here & Now hosts Robin Young, Scott Tong and Deepa Fernandes with help from Producer Chris Bentley and the team at NPR and WBUR.
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Episodes
Angela Davis On Anti-Racism Protests; Drive-In Graduations
June 19, 2020 19:38 - 43 minutesHost Tonya Mosley speaks to legendary activist Angela Davis about her life in activism, the role of police and the current anti-racism protests across the globe. Also, there are about 300 drive-in movie theatres left in the U.S. One in Port Townsend, Washington, came to the rescue of the city's graduating high school seniors by hosting their virus-safe graduation. Tom Banse from the Northwest News Network reports.
DACA Advocate On SCOTUS Ruling; Fashion Week Goes Digital
June 18, 2020 18:16 - 42 minutesThe Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Thursday against the Trump administration's immigration actions on the Obama-era DACA program. We talk to Reyna Montoya, a DACA recipient and founder and CEO of Aliento, an immigrant aid group in Phoenix. Also, due to COVID-19, fashion weeks in Milan, Paris and London are going virtual this summer. We speak to Hannah Marriott, fashion editor at the Guardian, about the future of the fashion industry.
No, COVID-19 Is Not Saving The Environment; Athletes Speak Out
June 18, 2020 17:55 - 42 minutesA recent article co-authored by Colorado State University professor Edward Barbier is titled "The COVID-19 pandemic is not a break for nature – let's make sure there is one after the crisis." He joins host Robin Young to discuss how land grabs, illegal mining and lack of funding are devastating natural environments around the globe. Also, as sports resume in some places, members of one high school baseball team in Iowa knelt during the National Anthem to support the protests against racial in...
Black American Economic History; Georgia NAACP Reacts To Rayshard Brooks Killing
June 17, 2020 18:10 - 42 minutesDuke University Professor William Darity joins us to discuss the historic events that have set Black Americans back economically. And, prosecutors in Atlanta have yet to decide whether to file charges against the former police officer who shot Rayshard Brooks. Rev. James Woodall, who is head of the NAACP in Georgia, joins us to discuss.
Pandemic Hits Black-Owned Businesses; Fact Checking George Floyd Death Rumors
June 17, 2020 18:06 - 42 minutesAccording to new research, the COVID-19 shutdown has disproportionately impacted black-owned businesses. We talk with Ron Busby, president of U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Also, the police killing of George Floyd sparked hundreds of rumors and conspiracy theories, many circulated over social media. We speak with Snopes.com editor Bond Huberman about the various myths she and her colleagues have been dispelling.
#SayHerName Campaign; The State Of The Coronavirus Pandemic
June 16, 2020 18:14 - 42 minutesA new model out Tuesday from the University of Washington predicts that 200,000 Americans will die from COVID-19 by October 1. Pulitzer Prize-winning author and emerging disease expert Laurie Garrett joins us to discuss the latest developments on the coronavirus. And, the killings of Black men at the hands of law enforcement have sparked national outrage, but the killings of Black women don't tend to evoke the same response. The #SayHerName campaign works to bring awareness to these women.
Cuckoo Bird Migration Stuns Scientists; Daycares Face Reopening Challenges
June 16, 2020 17:24 - 43 minutesScientists have logged one of the longest animal migrations ever recorded. British ornithologists tracked cuckoo birds on a migration more than 7,500 miles, spanning southern Africa and East Asia. Chris Hewson, a senior research ecologist at the British Trust for Ornithology. Also, Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd is like a lot of other parents around the country, wondering when it's safe to send his daughter back to daycare. Meanwhile, childcare centers will reopen to a world of new restrictions th...
Black Clarinetist Anthony McGill; How Colleges Plan To Reopen
June 15, 2020 19:49 - 42 minutesIn a viral YouTube video, New York Philharmonic clarinetist Anthony McGill plays a mournful rendition of "America the Beautiful," then drops to both knees and holds his clarinet behind his back. Now the hashtag #TakeTwoKnees is spreading through the classical world. And, colleges across the country have announced plans for their fall reopenings. We hear about what next year will look like at The University of Texas at Austin with Professor Art Markman.
Calculating COVID-19 Health Risks; How 'Unbundling The Police' Would Work
June 15, 2020 17:29 - 42 minutesAlso, Derek Thompson, senior editor at The Atlantic, writes that the police are being asked to do many functions. Host Jeremy Hobson speaks with Thompson about how unbundling some of those functions from the police may improve policing. At least 22 states are now seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases. Yet in most cities, officials continue to ease restrictions despite warnings from some physicians that it might be happening too quickly. Host Robin Young talks to University of Massachusetts Dartmout...
How Black Lives Matter Resonates In Africa; Changing The Definition Of Racism
June 12, 2020 18:04 - 41 minutesCountries across Africa are joining global protests in response to the death of George Floyd. Moky Makrua, executive director of nonprofit Africa No Filter, explains why the Black Lives Matter movement is especially taking off in South Africa, where parallels of racism can be drawn with that in the U.S. Also, Merriam-Webster Dictionary will change its definition of racism after receiving a letter from Kennedy Mitchum, a recent graduate, who suggested that the definition should include a refer...
NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar On Protests; Some Troops Reconsider Service
June 12, 2020 17:10 - 42 minutesLong before Colin Kaepernick took a knee in protest of police brutality, retired NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar boycotted the 1968 Olympic Games to protest injustice against Black Americans. We talk to Abdul-Jabbar about his continued legacy of social activism. Also, when the National Guard was deployed during protests over the killing of George Floyd, some troops refused to go. Now, they may face disciplinary action. Others are reconsidering service.
Understanding Antifa; 'The Last Kings Of Shanghai' Book
June 11, 2020 18:02 - 41 minutesA new book called "The Last Kings Of Shanghai" looks at the history of China's development and the important role played by two Jewish families with massive business empires. Author Jonathan Kaufman joins us to discuss. And, NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny joins us to discuss her reporting into the threat of Antifa.
Child Vaccinations Drop During Pandemic; Violence As Form Of Protest
June 11, 2020 17:06 - 41 minutesThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting in a dip in the number of children who are getting routine vaccines during the pandemic, and there's concern about what this could mean for public health. Also, some have argued that violence has no place in the struggle for social change. Historian and author Kellie Carter Jackson says violence has long been a part of the movement for racial justice.
Future Of Policing; Oil Executive Criticizes Trump
June 10, 2020 19:54 - 40 minutesCities across the country are debating defunding police departments in the wake of protests over police brutality and the killing of George Floyd. Professor Lorenzo Boyd, director of the Center for Advanced Policing at the University of New Haven, joins us to discuss what the police department of the future could look like in practice. And, a longtime Republican donor and oil executive is calling out President Trump for his response to the pandemic and protests.
How To Talk About Race With Kids; Nurses Demand Congress Address Lack Of PPE
June 10, 2020 17:25 - 41 minutesProtests across the country over the death of George Floyd are forcing parents to have conversations with their children about racism. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, child psychologist and author of "Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together? And Other Conversations About Race," discusses how parents can talk to their kids. Also, the largest union of registered nurses in the country is testifying Wednesday to the House Oversight and Reform committee about the need for more PPE for medical worker...
New York Passes Bill Banning Police Chokeholds; Talking About Race
June 09, 2020 20:12 - 41 minutesThe New York state legislature passed the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act to ban police chokehold. Democratic State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie joins us to discuss. And, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has a new online exhibition called "Talking About Race." Museum educators Candra Flanagan and Anna Hindley join us.
Black Birder On Central Park Video; Administrators Rethink Police In Schools
June 09, 2020 17:10 - 41 minutesMost people have seen the viral video that shows Amy Cooper falsely accusing birder Christian Cooper of threatening her life. South Bronx native and birder Jason Ward explains that black birders have to take precautions to stay safe. Also, members of the Denver Board of Education are debating a resolution that would curtail the role of police officers in schools. School administrators in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, have already gone a step further by moving to end or limit the use of po...
Sarah Cooper On Comedy In Trying Times; New YA Book 'A Song Below Water'
June 08, 2020 17:34 - 41 minutesComedian Sarah Cooper says her career was just gaining momentum as venues closed their doors to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Then a short clip of her lip-syncing to President Trump went viral. Cooper joins host Robin Young to talk about her comedy and her role as a black woman comedian during this historical moment. Also, host Tonya Mosley speaks with author Bethany C. Morrow about her new young adult book "A Song Below Water," which tells the story of two black girls with magical powers l...
Unemployment Rate Falls To 13.3%; Payday Loan Lenders Target The Poor
June 05, 2020 18:06 - 42 minutesFor the first time in months, the unemployment rate fell in May to 13.3% following record unemployment numbers sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. NPR's Scott Horsley joins us to discuss the surprisingly strong jobs report. And, some experts worry the millions of Americans who are unemployed will turn to high interest loans. Payday loan lenders have been aggressively targeting advertising to vulnerable communities during COVID-19.
How Protests Can Change Policy; New Book Recommendations
June 05, 2020 17:44 - 43 minutesThe protests sweeping the country for more than a week are calling for an end to racism and discrimination by police and in the law. Guy-Uriel Charles, professor of law at Duke School of Law, about how protests can lead to legislation and political change. Also, NPR Books editor Petra Mayer joins host Jeremy Hobson to talk about the new "Hunger Games" prequel, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," and a few other book suggestions.
Athletes Join Protests; 'Be Water' Explores Bruce Lee's Life, Legacy
June 04, 2020 18:09 - 42 minutesNew Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is apologizing for saying players who kneel in protest when the NFL season starts would be "disrespecting the flag." Brees was asked Wednesday how the league should react if more players kneel in protest during the national anthem, as Colin Kaepernick did in 2016. We get the latest from Here & Now sports analyst Mike Pesca. Also, we speak with Bao Nguyen, the director of "Be Water," the new ESPN documentary about the life of the late film star Bruce L...
Protest Music From 2Pac To Terrace Martin; Poet On Systemic Oppression
June 04, 2020 17:22 - 42 minutesBranden Peters and Maurice Garland, co-hosts of the podcast Day 1 Radio, share four rap songs that speak to this historic moment following the death of George Floyd. And, award-winning poet and author Claudia Rankine joins us to discuss how we might understand systemic oppression through the lens of daily personal exchanges.
Black Lives Matter Co-Founder; Black Police Officers
June 03, 2020 18:18 - 42 minutesCo-founder of Black Lives Matter Movement Patrisse Cullors at the United State of Women Summit in 2018. (Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images)
Addressing Kids' Grief During Pandemic, Protests; University Of California Drops SAT, ACT
June 03, 2020 17:38 - 41 minutesWe talk with Corinne Edwards, a child therapist specializing in trauma, on how adults can recognize and address children's stress due to life changes during the pandemic and now nationwide protests. Also, we discuss the University of California's recent decision to phase out the SAT and ACT test and what it could mean for the future of college admissions nationwide.
Protests As 'Acts Of Rebellion'; US Takes Aim At Huawei's Supply Chain
June 02, 2020 20:10 - 41 minutesAs protests continue across the country, Marc Lamont Hill, political commentator and professor at Temple University, explains why he believes its important to understand them as acts of rebellion instead of riots. Also, We talk to Ben Brock Johnson, who covers tech for Here & Now, about the U.S.'s latest attempt to handicap Chinese telecom rival Huawei by disrupting its silicon chip supply chain.
Protesting Amid A Pandemic; Houston Pastor Honors His Friend, George Floyd
June 02, 2020 20:06 - 42 minutesSome public health officials are concerned that we could see an increase in coronavirus cases as a result of the protests over the death of George Floyd. We speak with Dr. Seema Yasmin. Also, Floyd's family is planning to march with community leaders in Houston, Texas, Tuesday afternoon to honor him. Floyd was a Christian and involved in mentoring young men in the city before moving to Minnesota. Patrick "P.T." Ngwolo, lead pastor of the church Resurrection Houston, plans to march to honor hi...
Hawaii's Food Supply; Carvell Wallace On Protests
June 01, 2020 18:13 - 42 minutesThe coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact on Hawaii's food supply and agriculture. Albie Miles, assistant professor of Sustainability Community Food Systems at the University of Hawaii West Ohau, joins us to discuss how the state is working to rebuild its agriculture system. And, author and podcaster Carvell Wallace argues that the cries for justice and the destruction of property in 1967 and today are an inevitable reaction to the weight of racism and white supremacy.
Perfume Genius's New Album; Americans Struggle To Pay For Air Conditioning
June 01, 2020 17:33 - 42 minutesPerfume Genius is out with a new album titled "Set My Heart On Fire Immediately." Lead singer Mike Hadreas explains the music and what it's like to release an album in the midst of a pandemic. Also, as we head into the hot summer months, many Americans will struggle to pay for utilities, like air conditioning, which in parts of the country is not a luxury but a necessity. We speak with Mark Wolfe of the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, which represents state directors who ar...
Racial Bias In Policing; California Fire Threat
May 29, 2020 18:02 - 41 minutesThe deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have raised questions about the future of policing and the role bias plays in police work. Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt joins us to discuss her extensive work with police officers on racial bias. And, a heat wave in parts of California could bring the threat of fire. It's a reminder that this could be a busy summer ahead for fire crews battling wildfires while they also juggle new challenges posed by COVID-19.
Biden's Vice President Search; 'The Wedge' By Scott Carney
May 28, 2020 18:07 - 41 minutesJoe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, says he hopes to announce his pick for vice president by August. Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons joins us to discuss the factors Biden will have to consider in choosing his running mate. And, journalist and author Scott Carney joins us to discuss his new book, "The Wedge: Evolution, Consciousness, Stress, and the Key to Human Resilience."
The Future Of Theater; Training Guide Dogs During A Pandemic
May 28, 2020 17:06 - 41 minutesOn Monday, New York's Public Theater heads in a new direction with a star-studded, free, one-night-only virtual gala performance. Hosts Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Oskar Eustis join us to talk about the event and the future of theater in a post-coronavirus world. Also, many of the 90 accredited schools around the world that train guide dogs for the blind have been closed by the coronavirus pandemic. Journalist Jon Kalish reports on how one school in New Jersey is coping with the pandemic.
Etiquette In The Age Of COVID-19; North Carolina Inmates File Suit
May 28, 2020 15:32 - 41 minutesIs there a nice way to say, "You're standing too close to me?" Judith Martin aka "Miss Manners" has written a new book about etiquette in the COVID-19 age. She joins us to discuss her new e-book that she co-authored with her adult children. And, attorneys have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of inmates at a federal prison in Butner, North Carolina. The prison houses inmates with special health needs and at least 10 have died of COVID-19.
Food Waste Made Worse By Pandemic; 'Death Care' Industry
May 27, 2020 17:06 - 40 minutesAccording to the USDA, 30% to 40% of the food goes to waste in the U.S., and the coronavirus pandemic has made this problem worse. We talk to ReFED's executive director about how to reduce waste by food producers and in our own kitchens. Also, the pandemic has strained the capacity of funeral homes and cemeteries. In New Jersey, which has the second-highest rate of COVID-19 deaths, it's having a big impact on workers in the so-called "death care" industry.
QVC, HSN Viewership Rises; Missing Sounds Of New York
May 26, 2020 18:06 - 40 minutesRetail sales have dropped significantly since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but viewership has gone up for QVC and HSN. Mike George, president and CEO of the networks' parent company Qurate, joins us to discuss how the retail landscape has changed. And, Carrie Welch of the New York Public Library joins us to discuss the library's new release, "Missing Sounds of New York: An Auditory Love Letter to New Yorkers."
3 Recipes To Make Multiple Meals; The Politics Of Face Masks
May 26, 2020 17:09 - 41 minutesIf you're getting bored in the kitchen, Here & Now resident chef Kathy Gunst shares ideas about stretching one dish over several meals without having it taste like leftovers. Also, Fox News analyst Brit Hume tweeted a photo mocking Joe Biden for wearing a face mask. President Trump retweeted it. Host Robin Young speaks with NPR senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro about the political benefit of mocking face masks.
Remembering A Husband, Father On Memorial Day; Grand Canyon Geology
May 25, 2020 18:06 - 40 minutesArmy Maj. Paul Voelke was killed in Afghanistan in 2012. His wife Traci Voelke's and their son Ben Voelke join us to remember him. Also, the Grand Canyon in Arizona is among the world's most amazing natural wonders. We talk with geologist and author Wayne Ranney about the geology of the Grand Canyon, how it formed and how it's changing.
Rising Voices Of Black And Latino Boys; COVID-19 Toll On 'Death Care' Industry
May 25, 2020 17:42 - 41 minutesScholastic's Rising Voices Library is a collection of fiction and nonfiction books dedicated to black and Latino boys. We speak to the curators about the new collection. Also, the pandemic has strained the capacity of funeral homes and cemeteries. In New Jersey, which has the second-highest rate of COVID-19 deaths, it's having a big impact on workers in the so-called "death care" industry. Nick Pugliese of WHYY reports.
Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 5 Million; Poet's Advice For Graduates
May 22, 2020 18:07 - 42 minutesThe number of COVID-19 cases worldwide surpassed 5 million this week, with most of the new cases coming from just four countries: the U.S., Russia, Brazil and India. Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, professor at Columbia University, joins us to discuss the state of the coronavirus pandemic. And, commencement speeches this year have taken on additional weight as graduates try to imagine what the future holds. Poet and author Sonya Renee Taylor joins us with some inspiring words for the graduating class of ...
Telemedicine During Pandemic; 3rd Grader Says Online Learning Is Technological Disaster
May 21, 2020 17:24 - 42 minutesAddiction experts are turning to telemedicine to offer their services to patients amid the pandemic. We speak to Stephen Loyd, Chief Medical Officer of Cedar Recovery in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, about the role of telemedicine in addiction treatment. Also, we've heard a lot from adults about the struggles of online learning, but how are kids feeling? Well, New York third-grader Ginger Lidskey thinks homeschooling desperately needs a redesign. She tells us what she's thinking.
Dentists Begin Reopening; Animal Habitat Destruction
May 20, 2020 18:10 - 42 minutesDentist offices in some states are beginning to reopen for non-emergency services this week. Dr. Romesh Nalliah, clinical professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan, joins us to discuss the challenges dentists and hygienists are facing in the era of coronavirus. And, there's growing consensus that human destruction of pristine habitats is driving animals into new environments where they can spread viruses and incubate new ones.
Disney Issues Warning To Visitors; Newspaper Unions Push Back On Tribune
May 20, 2020 17:18 - 41 minutesDisney is putting rules in place like requiring visitors to wear face masks and undergo temperature checks. The company has also issued a warning — saying come at your own risk. Martin Lewison, known as Professor Roller Coaster, joins us. Also, newspapers owned by Tribune Publishing have been forced to accept furloughs and pay cuts that will last beyond the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Newsroom unions are pushing back, fearful of the investment firm about to take over the company. ...
Hydroxycholoroquine Shortages; Reopening Offices
May 19, 2020 18:08 - 42 minutesNearly 1.5 million lupus patients depend on hydroxycholoroquine, but since the coronavirus pandemic caught fire in March, the drug has been hard to come by. Lupus patient Stacie Beland joins us to discuss how she has been affected by the shortages. And, SalesForce executive Elizabeth Pinkham joins us to discuss the ways that offices and office culture at the software and cloud computing company are being reshaped by the coronavirus.
Science Teachers Get Creative; Air Conditioning During COVID-19
May 19, 2020 17:45 - 42 minutesAs students of all ages adjust to online classes during the pandemic, one course that can be hard to teach virtually is science. But for some teachers, where there's a will, there's a way. WBEZ's Kate McGee reports. Also, some increasingly popular air conditioning systems don't bring in enough fresh air. University of Maryland environmental health professor Donald Milton joins host Robin Young to discuss one type of ultraviolent light system that disinfects inside air called upper-room UV.
Lifeguard On Beaches Reopening; Nursing Home Staff Live In On-Site RVs
May 18, 2020 19:16 - 43 minutesIn mid-March, nursing home owner Tyson Belanger decided to take a unique approach to prevent the spread of COVID-19: offering staff up to $20,000 a month to move into RVs he rented and placed on site. Belanger talks to host Robin Young about his plan and how other facilities could make it work. Also, beaches in Los Angeles reopened after closing to the public for social distancing. As Memorial Day draws closer, beaches are looking at how to reopen. We talk with retired lifeguard Gus Avila, w...
Mother On Pediatric Inflammatory Syndrome; Rats Adapt To New Reality
May 18, 2020 18:08 - 42 minutesAt least 150 children in the U.S. are now believed to have contracted pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome, a new illness thought to be connected to COVID-19. Amber Dean, a Hornell, New York, mother of three joins us to discuss her 9-year-old son Bobby who is recovering from the illness. And, we hear from an exterminator about how rats have adapted to life during the pandemic.
WHO Warns Coronavirus 'May Never Go Away;' How Much Salt Is Too Much?
May 15, 2020 18:21 - 41 minutesThe World Health Organization warned this week that the coronavirus "may never go away," even after there is a vaccine. We analyze this and other news with Lawrence Gostin, professor of law at Georgetown University and director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. And, most Americans eat far more salt that they should and it's in all kinds of food products. But how much is too much? Dr. Dariush Mozzafarian, a cardiologist at Tufts, joins us to discuss how people can r...
Kirk Franklin's Message Of Hope; EU Official Promises Summer Travel Season
May 15, 2020 17:06 - 41 minutesGrammy award-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin is flooding social media with at home concerts and entertaining videos to uplift people in these difficult times. We chat with him about his message of hope, expansive career and activism. Also, an official from the European Union is proposing a gradual lifting of border restrictions to kick start summer tourism after the industry's been hit hard by the pandemic.
Americans Report Mental Health Concerns; Social Justice In A Pandemic
May 14, 2020 17:56 - 41 minutesA recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found more than 4 in 10 Americans say stress from the pandemic has negatively impacted their mental health. Ken Duckworth of the National Alliance on Mental Illness joins us to discuss growing concerns over the nation's mental health. And, social justice organizations are assessing how to mobilize while adhering to the constraints of the pandemic in the wake of Ahmaud Arbery's death. Opal Tometi, one of the co-founders of #BlackLivesMatter, joins us.
'80s Music Made For Quarantine; Housing Market Stalls
May 14, 2020 17:55 - 41 minutesFrom "U Can't Touch This" to "Don't Stand So Close To Me," husband and wife DJ duo John and Heidi Small from South Dakota share the perfect '80s songs for the moment. Also, spring is supposed to be a busy time for the U.S. housing market. But the coronavirus has upended plans for buyers and sellers across the country. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd reports.
Gaming In Isolation; Coronavirus Antibody Drugs
May 13, 2020 18:08 - 42 minutesSeveral pharmaceutical companies hope to harness the power of antibodies in a drug that could help treat and prevent COVID-19 in the general population. We hear about one such possible treatment from the drug maker Regeneron. And, while much of the real world remains shut down, the virtual world is thriving. Ben Brock Johnson, who covers tech for Here & Now, reports that video gaming companies are releasing more immersive features that go beyond your typical virtual adventure.