NPR's Book of the Day - Two writers on friendships and how they shape us

In this episode, NPR's Scott Simon interviews two writers whose books about friendship reckon with how people, and what we experience with them, make us who we are. First, Hua Hsu talks about his memoir Stay True which focuses on one of his formative college friendships, and how that friendship was cut tragically short. Then, we hear from Kamala Shamsie about her novel Best of Friends. It follows the push and pull of a friendship between two girls from when they were teenagers in Karachi to when they're older and working in London.

Short Wave - IVF Has Come A Long Way, But Many Don’t Have Access

Since the first successful in vitro fertilization pregnancy and live birth in 1978, nearly half a million babies have been born using IVF in the United States. Assisted reproductive technology has made it possible for more people to become parents, but it's not accessible to everyone. Reproductive endocrinologist Amanda Adeleye explains the science behind IVF, the barriers to accessing it and her concerns about fertility treatment in a world without the legal protections of Roe v. Wade.

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It Could Happen Here - The UK’s Cost of Living Crisis

The gang talk about Liz Truss, the Conservative party, and how the British government has consistently made life worse for most of its citizens

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This Machine Kills - 197. The Limits of Tech Inquiry

We discuss recent events of a report by Tech Inquiry about big tech’s military contracts was pulled by its funders — a major union and a major social democratic party — over Tech Inquiry’s refusal to censor its criticism of Microsoft. We offer our own critical analysis of organizations focused on building short-term, self-interested alliances with capital instead of ones focused on building long-term, worker power that is antagonistic to capital. Some references: ••• On the censorship of our report on government purchasing from Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet https://techinquiry.org/?about=UNI-censorship&guard= ••• Labor union censored report criticizing Microsoft’s military contracts https://theintercept.com/2022/09/07/microsoft-military-union-cwa/ ••• German SPD politician justifies murder of Rosa Luxemburg https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/01/18/thie-j18.html Subscribe to hear more analysis and commentary in our premium episodes every week! patreon.com/thismachinekills Grab TMK gear: bonfire.com/store/this-machine-kills-podcast/ Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (www.twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (www.twitter.com/braunestahl)

The Gist - Misplaced Civil War Anxiety

Once more, a major media article offers incomplete and misleading evidence about the threat of a civil war. Mike offers not a dismissal but a reinterpretation. Plus, Michele Tafoya, former sideline reporter for NBC Sports, has a new podcast called ‎Sideline Sanity, and she has some opinions about Colin Kaepernick’s punishment for speaking out. Plus, Joe Biden pardons the 0 people in federal prison for simple marijuana possession.

Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - We Need A Better Farming System Before The Food Chain Breaks

Agriculture is a vital industry that we all rely on — after all, it’s what feeds us. But in 2020, the industry was responsible for 11.2% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to a warming planet. This, in turn, creates challenges for growers whose seasons are impacted by intense rainfall and warmer night time temperatures. Reset learns more about this with Illinois state climatologist Trent Ford; Liz Moran Stelk, executive director of Illinois Stewardship Alliance; and Andy Hazzard, founder of Hazzard Free Grain farm in Pecatonica, IL.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Yes, Dwarves, Mermaids And Hobbits Can Be Black

There has been no end in sight to the debate around a Black actress playing Ariel in the upcoming live-action “Little Mermaid.” But the debate, the backlash, and the never-ending nitpicking doesn’t end there. Reset talks through the problematic reasoning against Black actors in recent fantasy shows and films, and the importance of diversity on screen.

Focus on Africa - Global alert over cough syrups

The World Health Organisation issues a global alert warning that four cough syrups manufactured in India could be linked to the deaths of dozens of children in The Gambia. We hear from the director of Health Services.

Also, why does the insurgency in Northern Mozambique continue five years on?

Plus, the prestigious Makrere University is 100 years old.

More on those and other stories in this podcast with Paul Bakibinga.

Consider This from NPR - Is Independence The Answer For Puerto Rico?

As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico is perpetually stuck in limbo.

The people there are subject to federal laws, but don't have a vote for president or Congress.

This is a major problem when it comes to responding to disasters like Hurricane Fiona, which hit the island last month.

Many Puerto Ricans are deeply frustrated by what they claim has been a slow and inefficient response from a federal government that they have no say in.

Some want statehood, some want more autonomy. A small, but growing, group of people want independence.

Jaquira Diaz's essay "Let Puerto Rico Be Free" for The Atlantic looks back at key moments in the history of Puerto Rico and argues for the island's independence.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

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Pod Save America - “The Herschel Walker Abortion Fund.”

Herschel Walker gets caught paying for a girlfriend's abortion while advocating for a national abortion ban and control of the Senate hangs in the balance. Maggie Haberman joins to talk about being Donald Trump's psychiatrist. Then later, Jon and Dan play another round of Take Appreciator.

 

If YOU want to directly support abortion access for those who need it most, head to theherschelwalkerabortionfund.com/ 

 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.