Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan are authors known worldwide for their contributions to the genres of romance and horror. But in 2025, they brought these genres together for a collaborative book and movie project titled Remain. In today’s episode, we kick off Book of the Day’s 2026 romance week with a discussion between Sparks, Shyamalan, and NPR’s Leila Fadel. The two join Fadel at NPR’s New York Bureau to talk about their co-authored novel, its inspirations, and the heartfelt, supernatural roots of storytelling itself.
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Short Wave - Iran offline: How a government can turn off the internet
There’s an ongoing, near-total blackout of the internet in Iran. The shutdown is part of a response by the government to ongoing protests against rising inflation and the value of the nation’s currency plummeting. Since protests began more than two weeks ago, only an estimated 3% of Iranians have stayed online through the satellite internet system Starlink. Doing so is a crime. So, today on the show: Iran offline. We get into how the internet works, how a government can shut it down and how scientists are monitoring the nation’s connectivity from afar.
Check out more of NPR's coverage of Iran:
- Iran Protests Explained
- There's an internet blackout in Iran. How are videos and images getting out?
- Iran blocked the internet amid deadly protests. Some voices are still getting through
Interested in more science behind the headlines? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org – we may tackle it in a future episode!
Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
This episode was produced by Berly McCoy, edited by Rebecca Ramirez and fact checked by Tyler Jones. Robert Rodriguez was the audio engineer.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
Check out more of NPR's coverage of Iran:
- Iran Protests Explained
- There's an internet blackout in Iran. How are videos and images getting out?
- Iran blocked the internet amid deadly protests. Some voices are still getting through
Interested in more science behind the headlines? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org – we may tackle it in a future episode!
Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
This episode was produced by Berly McCoy, edited by Rebecca Ramirez and fact checked by Tyler Jones. Robert Rodriguez was the audio engineer.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
What Next - Everyone Saw CBP Kill Alex Pretti
Once again, federal agents have shot and killed a legal observer in Minneapolis. Once again, the shooting is on video. And once again, the Trump Administration has closed ranks around the officers. But could the fallout from Alex Pretti’s death be different? And Minnesotans want to know – when will the feds finally leave?
Guest: Will Stancil, lawyer and observer in Minneapolis
Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Engines of Our Ingenuity - The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1515: Oxygen
Episode: 1515 The would-be discovery of oxygen and scientific revolution. Today, let's try to find out who discovered oxygen.
Global News Podcast - Growing outrage over second Minneapolis killing
President Trump says his administration is "reviewing everything" as outrage grows over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by US federal immigration agents. State and federal officials have provided conflicting accounts of the moments prior to his death. Also: a huge winter storm in the United States leaves more than a million households and businesses in the United States without power; Interpol is accused of not doing enough to stop Russia pursuing its political opponents abroad; thousands of people have queued at a zoo in Japan to see the country's final two giant pandas before they leave for China on Tuesday; and we look back at the life of BBC Delhi correspondent Mark Tully, who has died at the age of 90.
The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
It Could Happen Here - Gaza and the Board of Peace feat. Dana El Kurd
Dana breaks down what’s being planned for Gaza, the so-called Board of Peace, and how this is a model for global conflict in the future.
Sources:
UNOCHA on ceasefire violations - https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/humanitarian-situation-update-353-gaza-strip
BBC on the Yellow Line - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgxl6zkenqo
Aljazeera on the 20 point plan - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/16/us-declares-phase-two-of-gaza-ceasefire-but-what-did-phase-one-deliver
The Huffington Post on Putin’s invite - https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/donald-trump-has-invited-vladimir-putin-to-join-his-gaza-board-of-peace-kremlin-says_uk_696e0478e4b0fb912e9948f8?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1768820090
Aljazeera on Board of Peace - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/18/trumps-board-of-peace-appears-to-seek-wider-mandate-beyond-gaza
Who is Nikolay Mladenov - https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/1/15/who-is-nickolay-mladenov-the-diplomat-tasked-with-disarming-gaza
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/78d30acb-8463-4c40-a5ae-ae2d0145c9ff/image.jpg?t=1751824393&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }The World in Brief from The Economist - Minnesota’s governor urges federal agents to leave; China purges two top generals, and more
Tim Walz, Minnesota’s governor, urged Donald Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state “before they kill another American in the street”, following the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Good Bad Billionaire - Lucy Guo: The woman training AI
She skateboards to work, has a skydiving license, and was the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire. Journalist Zing Tsjeng and BBC Business Editor Simon Jack tell the story of Lucy Guo and trace her trajectory to becoming one of the tech titans. From dropping out of college to join Peter Thiel’s Fellowship, to couch-surfing as a millionaire, they follow Lucy Guo's journey to found Scale AI, a company that trains artificial intelligence for giants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google, and Microsoft.
Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics, and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility. Simon and Zing put their subjects to the test with a playful, totally unscientific scorecard — then hand the verdict over to you: are they good, bad, or simply billionaires?
Here's how to contact the team: email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com or send a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176. Find out more about the show and read our privacy notice at www.bbcworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire
The Economics of Everyday Things - 8. Delaware License Plates
Vanity plates might be 2KUL4U, but in the Blue Hen State, low-digit plates command high-digit prices. Zachary Crockett sums up a big market in a small state. This episode was originally published on June 2nd, 2023.
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The Source - Tapping into the power of the protest
In recent months the United States has witnessed a resurgence of protesters taking to the streets calling for change on social, political and environmental issues. These marchers are walking in the footsteps of other protesters who fought for civil rights, labor and peace. What makes a protest successful? How can a mass demonstration lead to substantial and long-lasting change. We discuss "A Protest History of the United States" by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall.