So much of what's been going on in this country seems performative and almost cinematic that we might need to consider how much Hollywood and pop-culture fantasy in general is leaching into our reality. Give a listen.
President Trump’s growing frustration with the Federal Reserve’s commitment to political independence reached fever pitch over the weekend when Fed Chair Jerome Powell annouced the DOJ has opened a criminal investigation into the Fed. Powell called the probe “unprecedented” and said the Fed uses data, not politics, to make interest rate decisions. In this episode, we get context on the situation from economist Julia Coronado — including how the investigation could have an impact on financial markets.
Founding director of the Critical Theory Workshop and professor at Villanova University Gabriel Rockhill is out with a new book that calls out many of the intellectual fathers of the academic left as insufficiently imperialist and often funded by the CIA. How have we been mislead by the "compatible left" -- a cohort of leftists that support marxism only in theory while inveighing against actually existing socialism? Where do Slavoj Zizek & Noam Chomsky fall in this analysis? How do we identify the contemporary "compatible left" in our media and political environment, and if the deep state is so effective at coopting left movements, what can we possibly do to evade them and achieve revolutionary change? This is a sprawling, three-hour episode you wont want to miss.
In his first interview since taking office on 1 Jan, the new head of the UN refugee agency, Dr Barham Salih, speaks to the BBC about US concerns over the organisation’s effectiveness and his push for reform. Speaking during his first working visit to Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp, he stresses the continuing scale of global civilian displacement and the need for more efficient humanitarian responses. We also look at how social media platforms are helping young people across Africa use running to build community, connection and wellbeing in cities including Abuja and Nairobi.
Presenter: Charles Gitonga
Producers: Blessing Aderogba, Ayuba Iliya, Keikantse Shumba, Bella Twine, Priya Sippy
Senior Producer: Daniel Dadzie
Technical Producer: Terry Chege
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
President Donald Trump says the US military is considering "very strong options" in Iran, as anti-government protests enter a third week. We'll hear from the organisation Iran Human Rights about how they are trying to find out how many people have been killed and injured amidst a government crackdown and communications blackout across the country.
Also on the programme: Jerome Powell, the chair of the US Federal Reservice, hits out at "unprecedented" probe by the US justice department; and we meet some domestic robots designed to take the drudgery out of housework.
(Photo: President Donald Trump looks on as he meets with members of the media aboard Air Force One en route from Florida to Washington on 11th of January, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are accused of forcefully dragging a Native American man from car and detaining him during the increasing tensions in Minneapolis, Minn. More than 2,000 ICE agents and other federal officers descended on the city in what the Trump administration insists is an immigration enforcement action. At least five Native Americans have been detained, several others have had confrontations with ICE agents. The crackdown is roundly condemned by local and state community leaders. We’ll talk to some of those caught up in the action and what more might be in store elsewhere.
We’ll also hear from the leader of Virginia’s Rappahannock Tribe about their opposition to a plan by county officials to use 9,000,000 gallons of water from the tribe’s namesake river for a proposed data center, a plan that tribal leaders say was drafted without proper consultation.
Federal probe into Federal Reserve chief. President Trump says Iran wants to talk. ICE reinforcements head to Minneapolis. CBS News Correspondent Steve Kathan has those stories and more on the World News Roundup podcast.
Officially, the Federal Reserve is being investigated by the Justice Department over office building renovations. But in a video statement Sunday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the investigation, which includes a threat of criminal charges, is “a consequence” of the Fed maintaining its independence from President Trump. Plus, later in the episode, how the Warner Bros. deal could affect moviegoers — at home and in theaters.
From the BBC World Service: Recent college graduates say they’re struggling to find entry-level positions. How much of the job market squeeze can be blamed on AI? Plus: Malaysia and Indonesia block access to Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, Meta urges Australia to rethink its youth social media ban, and foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland will meet with U.S. leaders.