Frank Herbert’s 1965 epic Dune was once the domain of sci-fi diehards. But in recent years, the book has crossed over into the mainstream. In today’s Books We’ve Loved, Andrew Limbong and B.A. Parker are joined by Throughline’s Ramtin Arablouei, who makes a personal case for the story’s appeal – despite its density. Then, special guest, author Pierce Brown, shares whether he thinks Dune has reached Star Wars levels of cultural saturation.
Ramtin’s Recommendation: ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ by Arthur C. Clarke
Parker’s Recommendation: ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ by Ursula K. Le Guin
Andrew’s Recommendation: ‘Saga’ by Brian K. Vaughn
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1A - The News Roundup For December 5, 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was under the spotlight this week. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are demanding video and audio of a “double-tap” strike he ordered on a boat allegedly carrying drugs into the U.S.
The Trump administration has halted immigration applications from 19 countries. This comes after the shooting of two National Guard members by an Afghan national in Washington D.C.
The city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against food manufacturers over ultra processed products. It’s the first of its kind and argues that cities and states have been burdened with treating the diseases the food causes.
Meanwhile, graphic depictions of at least two survivors being killed by a second U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat sparked outrage on Capitol Hill. This comes as tensions between Caracas and Washington reach a fever pitch.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro confirmed that he did speak with President Donald Trump in a phone call that he described as “cordial.”
An American delegation attended talks in Moscow, hoping to end the war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to compromise during negotiations.
And the Israeli government announces it will reopen the Rafah border crossing, but only to for Palestinians to leave Gaza.
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The Trump administration has halted immigration applications from 19 countries. This comes after the shooting of two National Guard members by an Afghan national in Washington D.C.
The city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against food manufacturers over ultra processed products. It’s the first of its kind and argues that cities and states have been burdened with treating the diseases the food causes.
Meanwhile, graphic depictions of at least two survivors being killed by a second U.S. military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat sparked outrage on Capitol Hill. This comes as tensions between Caracas and Washington reach a fever pitch.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro confirmed that he did speak with President Donald Trump in a phone call that he described as “cordial.”
An American delegation attended talks in Moscow, hoping to end the war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to compromise during negotiations.
And the Israeli government announces it will reopen the Rafah border crossing, but only to for Palestinians to leave Gaza.
Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Planet Money - How hurricanes became a hot investment
A few years ago, the Jamaican government started making an unusual financial bet. It went to investors around the world asking if they'd like to wager on the chances a major hurricane would hit the island in the next couple of years.
In finance terms, these kinds of wagers are called "catastrophe bonds." They're a way to get investors to share the risk of a major disaster, whether that's a Japanese earthquake, a California wildfire, or a Jamaican hurricane.
This market for catastrophe has gotten really hot lately. And it’s changing the way that insurance works for all of us.
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This episode was produced by Willa Rubin and edited by Marianne McCune. It was engineered by Jimmy Keeley and Kwesi Lee. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez and Vito Emanuel. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.
Music: Universal Music Production - “Lagos to London,” “Sleazy Does It,” “The Sundown Set.”
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Consider This from NPR - To AI or not to AI? Do college students appreciate the question?
Students are using AI tools more than ever.
An Angelo State University professor designed a way to figure out if his students were using artificial intelligence on a recent paper.
We speak with Will Teague, who says students are sacrificing their own agency to artificial intelligence. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at
considerthis@npr.org.
An Angelo State University professor designed a way to figure out if his students were using artificial intelligence on a recent paper.
We speak with Will Teague, who says students are sacrificing their own agency to artificial intelligence. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at
considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Henry Larson and Karen Zamora, with additional reporting by Ayana Archie and Lee V. Gaines. It was edited by Justine Kenin and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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State of the World from NPR - Two Surprising Economic Stories from China
Today’s episode explores a pair of business stories in China that may be unexpected. We hear about the robust service industry springing up as young people in China increasingly choose having pets over having children. And we go to the Chinese town where nearly all of an iconic Russian handicraft are actually produced.
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Up First from NPR - Hegseth Scrutiny, Jan 6th Pipe Bomb Suspect, Texas Redistricting Ruling
A Pentagon watchdog report and video of a deadly boat strike in the Caribbean deepen scrutiny of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions.
Federal agents arrested a Virginia man accused of planting the Jan. 6 pipe bombs after a years-long investigation that uncovered new forensic leads.
And the Supreme Court cleared Texas to use a Republican-drawn congressional map that could shift multiple House seats and reshape the 2026 midterms.
Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Federal agents arrested a Virginia man accused of planting the Jan. 6 pipe bombs after a years-long investigation that uncovered new forensic leads.
And the Supreme Court cleared Texas to use a Republican-drawn congressional map that could shift multiple House seats and reshape the 2026 midterms.
Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Anna Yukhananov, Ben Swasey, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.
Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor
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The Indicator from Planet Money - Chips up, rent down, and are people really skimping on holiday gifts?
It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news.
On today’s episode: A big goshDRAM memory problem, a holiday spending mystery, and apartment rental prices … decline?!
Related episodes:
The highs and lows of US rents
Taking the temperature of the US consumer
We Buy A Lot Of Christmas Trees
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Corey Bridges and Julia Ritchey. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
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Short Wave - Americans Are Not Going To The Dentist Enough
An estimated 5-10% of the U.S. population experiences a disorder with their TMJ, the joint that connects their jaw to their skull. The good news? Relief is possible. The secret? Go see your dentist. Today on the show, Emily talks with Justin Richer, an oral surgeon, about the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders.
Got a question about your teeth or dentistry? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
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Got a question about your teeth or dentistry? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
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NPR's Book of the Day - In new novels, marriages are tested by a last request and a moment in the spotlight
In two new novels, marriages are tested by unusual circumstances. First, in Ann Packer’s Some Bright Nowhere, a woman dying of cancer makes a big ask of her husband. In today’s episode, Packer speaks with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly about the uncertainty of illness and what writers do between books. Then, Craig Thomas, the co-creator of How I Met Your Mother, is out with a novel. In today’s episode, he tells NPR’s Sacha Pfeiffer about That’s Not How It Happened, in which a feel-good movie threatens to destroy the family who inspired it.
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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
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Consider This from NPR - After 50 years, is the future of special education in jeopardy?
Fifty years ago, special education in America was born.
In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the landmark law known today as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.
It guaranteed all children with disabilities the right to a "free appropriate public education."
Now, amid the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, there's growing concern that protections for students with disabilities are in jeopardy.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink. It was edited by Jeanette Woods and Nicole Cohen. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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