Dictionaries were once bestsellers, but between the internet and artificial intelligence, its role in our culture has changed. Stefan Fatsis is out with a new book called Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) The Modern Dictionary, which documents this shift. In today’s episode, he speaks with NPR’s Don Gonyea about embedding with the publisher of Merriam Webster, the history of lexicography, and what he anticipates for the dictionary’s future.
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All this week, What Next and What Next: TBD are re-airing some of our favorite conversations from throughout the year and checking back with the people in those conversations to see how things have – or haven’t – changed. This episode is from August.
More than a thousand rabbis and Jewish leaders have signed a letter calling for Israel to end “the use and threat of starvation as a weapon of war.” This New York rabbi, who has felt a connection to Israel her whole life, explains why she signed.
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Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther.
US officials have uncovered a million more documents which could be connected to the dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Department of Justice said that given the volume of material, its full release may take a few weeks. Also: Israel's parliament approves the first reading of legislation for a politically controlled inquiry into the October 7th Hamas-led attacks, disappointing families of the victims; Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank celebrates Christmas for the first time since the war in Gaza began; Californians evacuate their homes as an intense storm approaches; we look back on a year of AI; and tracking Santa's sleigh, will he deliver all those presents on time?
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Ukraine's president has floated a possible compromise to a key Russian demand that Kyiv give up territory in eastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal could address one of the main sticking points that have bogged down U.S.-led negotiations, but Moscow has given no indication whether it might agree. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
In our news wrap Wednesday, the Department of Justice says it's discovered over a million more documents possibly related to Jeffrey Epstein, an explosion in Moscow killed three people, investigators are searching for what caused a massive explosion at a Philadelphia-area nursing home and a powerful storm is slamming Southern California on the eve of what could be the wettest Christmas in years. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Thousands flocked to Bethlehem's Manger Square on Christmas Eve, the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born. It's in the occupied West Bank, and celebrations were canceled over the last two years because of the Israel-Hamas war. Producer Karl Bostic looks at what life is like for Palestinians who live there. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
David Baldacci has written more than 50 suspense and legal novels. His latest is "Nash Falls," a story about a successful businessman recruited by the FBI to expose a global crime network. But Baldacci and his wife are now tackling a major real-world problem: how to combat toxic political discourse. Geoff Bennett sat down with them both to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The labor market has been tightening all year, and Americans have grown increasingly anxious about their ability to find new jobs. A bit of good news? New unemployment claims fell last week. But that isn’t likely to signal a full job market turnaround in the new year. Plus: AI investment hasn’t slowed under Trump’s tariffs, a TikTok creator shares “recession recipes,” and we learn about the history of Legos.
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From "Silent Night" to "Jingle Bells," Christmas carols are some of the most familiar songs of the season, and some of the oldest. Stephanie Sy explores why most popular music changes with time, but many of these old tunes have endured. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy