What would you sacrifice to push efforts forward on eliminating diseases? What about to make sure our products and medicines are safe, especially for our most vulnerable?
These questions lead us to ethical quagmire and, oftentimes, to the use of animals for research, testing, and experimentation. We’ve long heard the term “lab rat.” Its popularity in conversation belies an understanding that these creatures are popular subjects for experimentation. But they’re far from the only ones.
Around 40,000 dogs were used as test subjects in labs last year, according to a leading advocacy group. The most common breed used are beagles.
Journalist Melanie Kaplan adopted Hammie in 2013, a lab beagle who had been used for research for nearly four years. It led her down a years-long rabbit hole to find out more about her companion’s past. It took her to a sanctuary farm for former research animals in Wyoming, a naked mole rat lab at Boston University, and the homes of former researchers.
We discuss her book, “Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research.”
Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
CBS News Roundup - 12/11/2025 | World News Roundup Late Edition
Catastrophic flooding in western Washington state has the potential to be deadly, says governor. Indiana Republicans reject President Trump's redistricting push. Senate fails to advance competing Democratic and Republican measures to address health care costs.
To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
PBS News Hour - World - Ukraine pushes for security guarantees against Russia as pressure grows on peace plan
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday floated a possible compromise to a Russian demand that Kyiv give up territory in the eastern Donetsk region. Zelenskyy spoke after he met with senior administration officials and sent new edits to the document at the heart of the U.S. push to end the war in Ukraine. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
PBS News Hour - Art Beat - A look at some of the best video games of 2025
The video game industry is getting ready to celebrate its top achievements at the annual Game Awards, an awards show dedicated to honoring the very best in game design, storytelling, music and more in gaming. The show draws millions of viewers from around the world to see which of their favorite games will win any awards. Jeffrey Brown has more for our arts and culture series, Canvas. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Marketplace All-in-One - Why the Fed is thinking about immigration
Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s latest presser was all about the job market. Buried among the usual talking points, like hiring sentiment and the unemployment rate, was immigration. That’s because the current administration’s immigration policies are complicating Fed measures of labor market health. In this episode, falling immigration turns jobs data on its head. Plus: Robust economic growth comes without typical job creation, U.S.-China trade tensions cool, and one company teaches AI to sort your trash.
Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.
Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.
Consider This from NPR - How a once fringe idea became a Trump administration mantra
The Trump administration is leaning into the once fringe idea of "reverse migration."
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink and Brianna Scott.
It was edited by Andrew Sussman, Justine Kenin and Courtney Dorning.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
The Gist - Not Even Mad: Anthony Weiner & John Ketcham
Anthony Weiner and John Ketcham break down a Congress being flayed by its own fringes, where the "crazies" sometimes deliver the sharpest institutional critiques. They then assess Pete Hegseth and the possible release video of a lethal Caribbean boat strike, the challenges reshaping New York politics, and what it really means to govern a city you once nearly ran. Goat Grinders takes on Waymo running over a dog , taxing pet food and fare-evasion crackdowns.
Produced by Corey Wara
Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com
To advertise on the show, contact ad-sales@libsyn.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist
Subscribe to The Gist: https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/
Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g
Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: GIST INSTAGRAM
Follow The Gist List at: Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack
Federalist Radio Hour - ‘The Kylee Cast’ feat. Walt Heyer, Ep. 21: There’s No Such Thing As Transgender
On this episode of “The Kylee Cast,” author and speaker Walt Heyer joins Kylee Griswold to tell the story of how he lived eight years as “Laura Jensen,” only to become a Christian and rediscover the man God designed him to be. They also discuss why cross-dressing kids is child abuse, how trans activists manipulate language, and how to find a good trauma therapist.
Find more of Walt’s work here: https://waltheyer.com/
Buy Walt's latest book, "Embracing God's Design" here: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Gods-Design-Psychological-Transgender/dp/1956454993?sr=8-6
Find “Embracing God’s Design” companion videos here: https://embracethedesign.com/
The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.
Find more of Walt’s work here: https://waltheyer.com/
Buy Walt's latest book, "Embracing God's Design" here: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Gods-Design-Psychological-Transgender/dp/1956454993?sr=8-6
Find “Embracing God’s Design” companion videos here: https://embracethedesign.com/
The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.
Newshour - Could Maria Corina Machado’s influence wane now she’s out of Venezuela?
The Trump administration is ramping up its efforts to derail the government of President Nicolas Maduro, which he has accused of turning Venezuela into a "drug-running regime". The leader of the country's opposition, Maria Corina Machado, travelled to Norway in secret to collect her Nobel Peace Prize. We ask if her influence could wane now that she is out of the country.
Also in the programme: intense rain is wreaking havoc on thousands of Gazans living in displacement camps; and UNESCO declares Swiss yodelling a form of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
(Photo: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado attends the opening of the official Peace Prize exhibition at the Nobel Peace Center, in Oslo. Credit: Lise Åserud / NTB)
WSJ Minute Briefing - Dow and S&P Close at New Record Highs
Plus: a sharp decline in Oracle stock dragged down the Nasdaq composite. And Disney stock rises after announcing new investment and partnership with OpenAI. Danny Lewis hosts.
Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter.
An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices