Two new books add context to changes at federal agencies under the Trump administration. First, Irene Vega interviewed 90 ICE agents over a number of years for her book Bordering on Indifference. In today's episode, she speaks with NPR's A Martínez about the frequent tension between agents' professional and personal backgrounds. Then, Tim Weiner's new book The Mission considers how the CIA is reimagining the art of espionage in the modern era. In today's episode, he talks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about what he calls an "ideological purge" at the CIA under President Trump and how technology can make spying more difficult.
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Short Wave - Climate Change Is Here For Your Chocolate
Last year, we reported how extreme weather events may be dwindling the future of chocolate. Just last week, we saw an inkling of that: The Hershey Company announced it would significantly raise the cost of its candy in the face of historically high cocoa prices. So, we're revisiting host Emily Kwong's conversation with Yasmin Tayag, a food, health and science writer at The Atlantic. They get into the cocoa shortage: What's causing it, how it's linked to weather and poor farming conditions and what potential solutions exist. Plus, they enjoy a chocolate alternative taste test.
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Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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What Could Go Right? - The Progress Report: Japan’s Tsunami Tech Saves Lives
On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma dive into some optimistic stories you may have missed during your doomscrolling. From tsunami-stopping tech in Japan to social media-powered rescue missions in Ghana and the groundbreaking frontiers of male birth control, this isn’t your usual ocean of depressing news.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetwork
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What Next | Daily News and Analysis - TBD | The Death of an Online Whisper Network
A shadow app for the dating world had its data hacked and exposed, and it laid bare the perils of creating safe spaces for women online — and of relying on tech companies.
Guest: Kate Lindsay, host of Slate’s ICYMI
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Chapo Trap House - BONUS – The Bitter Buddha feat. Eddie Pepitone
Will welcomes comedian Eddie Pepitone to the show for a bonus interview. They rap on keeping comedy political, celebrity sell-outs, veganism, Bill Maher vs. Billy Joel, trying to calm the rage, and of course, being Just Kids From New York.
Check out Eddie’s new special at: https://veeps.com/eddiepepitone
It is your last day to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1!
Serious Inquiries Only - SIO486: Good News! According to The Economist, College Is Totally Affordable!
... what? Yep that's right. They say there is no college affordability crisis. And I guess then, presumably no student debt crisis as well? You can read for yourself here, and/or you can sit back and let Dr. Jenessa Seymore break down why this article is so... incorrect.
Audio Mises Wire - Why Governments Burned Money
While it is true that colonial era governments sometimes burned paper money after receiving it in the form of taxation, why they burned the money is for reasons other than what MMT advocates are claiming. In the end, the MMT promoters are telling a false history.
Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-governments-burned-money
Engines of Our Ingenuity - The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1415: Right Hand / Left Hand
Episode: 1415 Right and left handedness: some new ideas about origins. Today, why do you write with your right hand?
The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester - Breaking the Huddle: Reframing Resilience in Uncertain Times
Laura Bennett, host of the Coach’s Corner Podcast and a principal at BDL Consulting joins the show for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and how to take meaningful steps forward amid uncertainty. Together, we explore what it truly means to be resilient—not just to withstand challenges, but to actively navigate through them and emerge stronger. Laura shares insights from her coaching work and podcast guests, discussing the power of small, intentional steps, emotional detachment, and being selective about what we consume—especially in today’s distraction-heavy environment.
It Could Happen Here - Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #27
The gang discuss Ghislaine Maxwell's meetings with Trump's DOJ, executive orders banning 'Woke AI' and promoting the involuntary institutionalization of homeless people, the forced starvation of Palestine, and a prisoner swap releasing 230 Venezuelans from CECOT.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/23/nx-s1-5477365/israel-gaza-aid-casualties
https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/countries-in-focus-archive/issue-133/en/
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.238.0.pdf
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.tnmd.104622/gov.uscourts.tnmd.104622.97.0.pdf
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.tnmd.104622/gov.uscourts.tnmd.104622.98.0.pdf
https://abcnews.go.com/US/deputy-ag-blanche-set-meet-2nd-day-ghislaine/story?id=124064062
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5330709/autopen-biden-pardon-void
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/07/white-house-unveils-americas-ai-action-plan/
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