John J. Sullivan served as U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2019 to 2022. He was there during Russia's invasion of Ukraine – and he writes about that time frankly in his new memoir, Midnight in Moscow. But in today's episode, he also opens up to NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about some of the other strange, even funny moments during his service, like what it's like to sit across a table from Vladimir Putin or how difficult it is to walk into a store and buy an iPad as a diplomat in Russia.
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One of the most significant figures in 16th-century Britain was Mary Stuart, aka Mary, Queen of Scots.
Mary’s life was one of the most fascinating of the period. Depending on which historian you consult, she was a schemer, a traitor, a pawn, or a victim. According to some, she was all of these things.
What is certain is that Mary was ultimately responsible for the union of the Scottish and British crowns and the creation of the United Kingdom that we know today.
Learn more about Mary, Queen of Scots, and her incredible story on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
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For thousands of years, humans all around the world have coveted gemstones.
Gemstones have been used as symbols of authority by kings, queens, and emperors, have been central to religious ceremonies, and have served as adornments for the wealthy.
While you may have heard of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, what exactly are they, and where do they come from?
Learn more about gemstones, what they are and how they’ve been used throughout history on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
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Indicators of the Week is a show dedicated to highlighting some of the most interesting numbers in the news. Today, we break down our favorite indicators in Google's antitrust defeat, the currency trade in Japan that jolted global markets and another way of creating an Olympic medal tally.
Related episodes: Is Google search getting worse? (Apple / Spotify) Why the Olympics cost so much (Apple / Spotify)
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Located on the tips of our fingers are features known as friction ridges. We evolved them to get a better grip on objects.
It just so happens that those friction ridges are unique to every person.
That allows us to use friction ridges as unique identifiers and for authorities to use them to catch criminals, and in some ways, we have been doing so for centuries.
Learn more about fingerprints and fingerprinting on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
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Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says her new book, The Art of Power, is not a memoir. Instead, she says, it's an inside look at specific moments in American history – like the 2008 financial crisis and January 6 – and how she navigated them. In today's episode, the Speaker Emerita sits down with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly to discuss why she didn't want to run for office in the first place, how she looks back on some of the biggest decisions she's made while in power, and what role she played in President Biden's decision to step down from the 2024 race.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
The International Olympic Committee has developed a reputation over the years for stringently enforcing its trademarks during the summer games. It has good reason to, with brands like Coca-Cola and Visa paying top dollar for exclusive sponsorship rights. Today on the show, the lengths the IOC will go to protect its trademarks and how smaller brands try to avoid their dragnet.
Related episodes: Why the Olympics cost so much (Apple / Spotify) Peacock, potassium and other Paris Olympics Indicators (Apple / Spotify)
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.