For years, Black women have used synthetic braids to help style their hair. But a recent study by Consumer Reports found that these fake hair strands can contain dangerous chemicals that pose a health threat. Ali Rogin reports on the history of braiding in Black culture and speaks with Adana Llanos, co-leader of the Cancer Population Science Program at Columbia University, to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Today we bring you Story #6 in our Week of Citizening. We’ve already shown you how people are rethinking democracy through libraries, labor, and school boards. Now we’re headed to a place often overlooked but brimming with democratic possibility: West Virginia.
We’re told politics is about picking the lesser of evils. Ordering off a fixed menu. But what if we left the table… and headed for the kitchen? That’s what the folks behind West Virginia Can’t Wait are doing. And it’s a clear sign that democracy is evolving.
They’ve passed legislation that’s rare even in liberal strongholds
They don’t run candidates but communities
They help hold elected officials accountable and offer ongoing support
This is what Jon Alexander calls the shift from Consumer Democracy to Citizen Democracy. Not just new processes like Citizens’ Assemblies or Participatory Budgeting (though we love those too) — but real people getting a grip on the systems we’ve got, starting from where we are.
“One of the things I’m most proud of in my career is helping to demystify politics. It’s just everyday work for everyday folks.”
— Rosemary Ketchum, West Virginia Can’t Wait
This isn’t happening in some liberal stronghold. This is Appalachia — a place many assume to be too red, too rigid, too far gone. But that’s just not the whole story. I’ve seen firsthand the level of commitment and creativity in Appalachia through my recent travels there for my PBS America Outdoors show. Trust me, these stories are happening in all sorts of underestimated places.
đź’¬ Who else is opening politics to everyday people?
Today on The Gist. ITs a day dedicated to Chickens. Mikes 2017 opening about UK's Chicken places named after US States, and the British are squawking about a different kind of chicken — the chlorinated kind — with tabloids clucking and trade talks at risk of being deep-fried.
“AI wouldn’t exist without Nvidia, at least not in its current form.”
So argues Stephen Witt, a journalist and author of the book “The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World’ Most Coveted Microchip.” The Motley Fool’s Chief Investment Officer, Andy Cross, and Fool contributor Jose Najarro caught up with Witt for a conversation about:
- What Jensen Huang is afraid of.
- Whether anything can stop the current capex cycle.
- Where Nvidia’s next $3 trillion in market cap could come from.
Dumbest Thing of the Week: Turned to Stone; News Items: Where Did Earth's Water Come From, EPA Data on Emissions, Is Your Red My Red, Evolution of Complex Life, Crow Math Skills; Who's That Noisy; Your Questions and E-mails: Separate the Art from the Artists, Does the Moon Rotate; Science or Fiction
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelans. Also, President Trump this week raised the possibility of sending US citizens convicted of crimes to prison in El Salvador. And we'll hear the latest on the second round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran.
Charlie and Colin dive into the growing presence of crypto lobbying in Washington, D.C., analyzing CoinDesk's coverage and the staggering $119 million spent by the industry in 2024. They contrast national lobbying orgs like the Bitcoin Policy Institute with state-level players like the Satoshi Action Fund, discussing their roles, motivations, and effectiveness. The hosts also reflect on their own grassroots efforts in Oklahoma, the risks of regulatory capture, and the long-term implications of industry money shaping public policy.
0:42 Offensive lobbying: Crypto enters DC with money and momentum
1:50 From defense to offense: Lobbying works
3:13 CoinDesk chart: $119M spent by crypto in 2024
5:20 How past regulatory scares galvanized the industry
7:20 Two types of lobbying: Good faith vs regulatory capture
10:21 Inside look: Local lobbying efforts in Oklahoma
21:20 Arch
22:34 National vs state: Satoshi Action Fund vs Bitcoin Policy Institute
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After Dave's video rental store was forced to close, he created a space for his most loyal customer, Christina, so she could stick to her vital daily routine. Also: why millions of people are tuning in to watch the moose migration and what's the secret to 70 years of marriage?
Portillo’s is entering the breakfast space, rolling out a breakfast menu at five of its locations – and, yes, you can get an Italian beef in the morning now, too. For their breakfast twists on Portillo’s classics, you can try a Polish sausage egg sandwich and a chocolate cake donut. Reset team members try select items.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
