A.M. Edition for Dec. 19. Europe throws Kyiv a fiscal lifeline in a move officials say could give Kyiv more leverage in negotiations over ending the war, but fail to agree on a plan to tap frozen Russian assets. Plus, OpenAI aims to raise as much as $100 billion to pay for its ambitious growth plans in a market that has started to cool on the artificial-intelligence boom. And WSJ Tokyo bureau chief Jason Douglas explains how interest-rate rises in Japan could push up borrowing costs in the U.S. Luke Vargas hosts.
With anxieties building over affordability, President Trump made a push to reassure Americans just as the government released long-awaited data that raised new questions about the economic health of the nation.
Tony Romm, who covers economic policy for The New York Times, discusses how Mr. Trump is trying to take control of the issue, and Ben Cassleman, The Times’s chief economics correspondent, explains what the latest numbers tell us about why people are still so frustrated.
Guest:
Tony Romm, a reporter in Washington covering economic policy and the Trump administration for The New York Times.
Ben Casselman, the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times.
The hunt for a mass shooting suspect ends with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but not before police connect him to a killing at MIT. Today is the deadline for the DOJ to turn over its files on Jeffrey Epstein. And President Trump downgrades the criminal classification of marijuana.
Mary Katharine Ham makes cocktails for spirits expert Vic Matus. It's nerve-wracking. Did she succeed?! We mixed a LOT of liquors, with a
garnish of news, plus favorite and hated Christmas carols and movies! On the drink menu: A Cranberry Snow Globe Spritzer, a Gingerbread Martini, a Cranberry Margarita, a Peppermint White Russian, and a Cider with Bourbon. We even had fresh-roasted chestnuts!
What will America’s story be after President Trump? My colleague David Leonhardt did a great series on that question this year, talking to a number of leading politicians. I thought two of those episodes, with Senator Bernie Sanders and with Senator Ruben Gallego, would be of particular interest to you.
And they’re great to listen to as a pair. Sanders and Gallego have strong views about where the Democratic Party went wrong and how it can win back working-class voters in particular — views that have a lot of overlap but also some interesting shades of difference. So I wanted to share both conversations.
You can learn more about our sister show “The Opinions” here — and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts.
Mary Katharine Ham makes cocktails for spirits expert Vic Matus. It's nerve-wracking. Did she succeed?! We mixed a LOT of liquors, with a
garnish of news, plus favorite and hated Christmas carols and movies! On the drink menu: A Cranberry Snow Globe Spritzer, a Gingerbread Martini, a Cranberry Margarita, a Peppermint White Russian, and a Cider with Bourbon. We even had fresh-roasted chestnuts!
The end of Australian soap opera Neighbours has us wondering why a television series ending makes us sad. Also, what does science say about how to engage with screens while still protecting your vision?
Also on the show, visual ecologist Daniel Hanley has created a camera to help us visualize the world animals see, and why are there green birds, green insects, but no green mammals?
All that plus more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, and Ella Hubber
HO! HO! HO, Y'ALL! In this episode, Rivers is snowed-in at Disgraceland Studios hangin' out and roasting some chestnuts with our ol' pal, comedian Justin Lain! We test out Sprite + Tea and talk about Christmas in Justin's hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana. We also chat about some of the worst gifts ever given according to folks on Reddit, and we've got a new batch of horrible Christmas songs to check out. Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" is our JAM OF THE WEEK! Happy Holidays, folks! Hope it's a good one. Thank you for listening. Follow Justin on social media @TheJustinLain Follow our show @TheGoodsPod on absolutely everything! Rivers is @RiversLangley Sam is @SamHarter666 Carter is @Carter_Glascock Subscribe on Patreon for an UNCUT video version of the show as well as HOURS of bonus content! http://patreon.com/TheGoodsPod Pick up a Goods from the Woods t-shirt at: http://prowrestlingtees.com/TheGoodsPod
From canoes on the beach at Dzidzilalich to steamships and piers, Seattle's waterfront was the center of the city's economy and culture for generations. Its tumultuous history reflects a broader story of immigration, labor battles, and technological change. The 2001 Nisqually Earthquake brought fresh urgency and opportunity to remake this contested space, sparking intense debates over history preservation, the environment, and Indigenous connections long ignored. Today, the revitalized Waterfront Park offers a new chapter in this ongoing story. The removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the reconstruction of the seawall have redefined how the city interacts with its shoreline. With its blend of historic structures and forward-looking public spaces, the waterfront will continue to shape Seattle's identity. Street signs now mark Dzidzilalich, acknowledging the presence of Coast Salish peoples, while restored piers recall the area's industrious past. In Where the City Meets the Sound: The Story of Seattle's Waterfront (HistoryLink, 2025), Dr. Jennifer Ott details the waterfront's history, from its deep past to its complex present. Her book reveals how battles over control, identity, and space have forged one of the city's most iconic places, with a history that mirrors Seattle itself—rich, diverse, and constantly evolving.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.
