WSJ What’s News - U.S. Prosecutors Investigate Fed Chair Powell

A.M. Edition for Jan. 12. The Justice Department is threatening Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell with a criminal indictment, in what Powell is calling an attack on the central bank’s independence. WSJ finance editor Alex Frangos discusses how markets are reacting and what the investigation means for the Fed’s future leaders. Plus, President Trump mulls intervention in Iran as anti-regime protest deaths rise. And bank stocks sag after Trump calls for capping credit-card interest rates. Luke Vargas hosts.

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Start the Week - The arts and health

What is the purpose of the Arts? Can music, literature and visual art change our lives physically and socially, as well as personally? Adam Rutherford explores the power of the arts and how it might be defined and explained.

Engaging with the arts is one of our most powerful tools for unlocking health and happiness argues Daisy Fancourt. She is is Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London and Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. In her new book, Art Cure, she shows how songs support the development of children's brains; how dance can build neural pathways; how theatre and exhibitions can decrease pain, stress and depression and how the arts can improve the functioning of every major organ system in the body. Drawing on the latest research research in a range of scientific fields, she traces a connection between the arts and human flourishing.

Earliest Stories: Stories, Novellas, Humoresques, 1880-1882 is a collection of the Russian writer Anton Chekhov's work while he was still a student of medicine. In his juvenilia we see flashes of insight alongside comedy, compassion and a developing narrative voice. Rosamund Bartlett, translator, biographer and cultural historian writes about how stories have long been dismissed, but written as his family faced financial crisis, reveal much about the threads that connect together in his life and work.

BBC Radio 3 presenter Tom Service explores how music transports and defines us in his new book. In A History of the World in 50 Pieces, he examines how classical music reflects our changing politics, society and technological advances - and how composers, musicians and listeners have shaped history. From Bach to Beethoven via the Happy birthday song, he explores the power of music to connect and and challenge us.

Producer: Ruth Watts

The Daily Detail - The Daily Detail for 1.12.26

Alabama

  • Gov. Ivey indicates she would sign a bill that restricts SNAP purchases
  • Former Pentagon insider spills beans on Army sound weaponry re:J6
  • State senator says West Corridor already draining funds from other projects
  • Four arrests made in Dothan after cold blooded murder of teenager at home
  • CBS "48 Hours" covers case of chiropractor poisoning wife in Hartselle
  • Tuscaloosa City Council approves a new police cadet program in the city

National

  • Federal judge strikes down parts of Trump's election intercity executive order
  • DHS releases more video leading up to fatal shooting in Minneapolis by ICE
  • Treasury Secretary heads to MN to track all fraud payments and transactions
  • USDA Secretary will give no federal funds to MN until fraud is stopped
  • SCOTUS to hear oral arguments on Tuesday re: transgender athletes in high school and collegiate sports programs

Strict Scrutiny - Debunking Trump’s Bullsh*t Legal Arguments for Invading Venezuela

Leah, Kate, and Melissa preview January’s major SCOTUS cases, including disputes over trans kids' participation in team sports, a concealed-carry ban in Hawaii, and Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The hosts are then joined by Georgetown Law Professor Marty Lederman to break down the administration’s flimsy legal case for the regime-change operation in Venezuela, as well as the Court’s shadow docket ruling on the federalization and deployment of the National Guard in Chicago. Finally, some news: the horrific murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis, the Court’s opinion in an important habeas case, and an unhinged tweet from Trump’s Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

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Short Wave - These little microbes may help solve our big problems

Microbes are little alchemists that perform all manner of chemical reactions. A team of microbiologists co-founded a non-profit to try to harness those abilities to solve some of the world’s big problems — from carbon capture to helping coral reefs to cleaning up waste. Recently, the team turned their attention to the microbes living in people’s homes — on and in shower heads, drip pans, and hot water heaters. These rather extreme environments may have pressured microorganisms into surviving in ways that could be advantageous to humans. Science reporter Ari Daniel takes us on a treasure hunt in miniature.

This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez.


Interested in learning more about the weird and wonderful world of microbes? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.


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The Best One Yet - 🧠 “Air Brain” — Nike’s neuro-sneaker. Zuck’s nuclear reactors. NYC Congestion Pricing’s Birthday. +Planuary

Nike’s mind-altering brain sneaker just sold out… because it’s a “Paul Revere Product.”

Meta is buying enough nuclear energy to power 5 Vermonts… Zuck’s gone radioactive.

NYC’s Congestion Pricing been a huge success… but you haven’t heard that because of “negative news bias.”

Our New Year’s Resolution? It’s called “Planuary”...


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What Next - What Next | Daily News and Analysis – Emperor Trump Wants Greenland

Is Trump genuinely interested in expanding America’s borders or is this all just to further their mission of “looking tough online”? For the people surprised to suddenly find themselves on America’s bad side, does it matter? 


Guest: Jonathan M. Katz, journalist and the author of Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedley Butler, the Marines, and the Making and Breaking of America’s Empire and author of theracket.news newsletter.


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The Indicator from Planet Money - How far can philanthropy go to fill government gaps?

While Americans are known for their generosity, the U.S. government, increasingly, is not. The Trump administration’s cuts to SNAP benefits among other aid programs have forced states, foundations and donors to fill the gaps. But can they? On today’s show, the limits of philanthropic efforts to supplant federal aid. 

Related episodes: 
Why tech bros are trying to give away all their money (kind of) 

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