SmartHERNews

What "Big Media" misses and what you say happened! Members of our SmartHER News community share their invaluable insight about what they believe is the TRUE story of the 2026 elections.  Spoiler Alert: You're better than any political analysts out there! Plus ~ What to watch for next as we turn the page to the 2028 elections (gulp). 00:00 Blue Tsunami Hype 01:09 Why Words Matter 03:02 Reality Chec...

36 gubernatorial races, 35 Senate seats up, and all 435 House seats ~ your cheat sheet for the midterm elections wtih a dash of history and a look at what's next. Jenna recaps two high-profile election stories, including key developments in the Alaska race for Senate with a ballot featuring two candidates named "Dan Sullivan" and  Michigan's race where a Democrat breaks with her party to endorse t...

This past week, an arson set ablaze Hitler's Eagle's Nest - a mountaintop teahouse built for the Nazi dictator in a mountainous region of Bavaria.   A symbol of darkness and of light, "The Eagle's Nest" has important ties to both the Nazi regime AND the victory of the Allied Forces in World War II.  Historian and The History Underground storyteller, JD Huitt, explains why this site matters and how...

A quick catch-up on the news, including a historic spacewalk (sort of) and an early heads up on flu season. Plus, a breakdown of the Justice Department lawsuit that pulls an Alaska midterm election into the national spotlight: a story of two "Dans" and what it may mean for who controls the Senate. BTW - Correction: Sometimes you say things while adlibbing and they don't make sense, like when I sai...

Some describe this exchange as the "most viral moment" fo the 2026 election cycle. It happened at a campaign event with Senate candidate, Democrat, Abdul El-Sayed - and a question to "disavow" the Muslim Brotherhood.  Why does the Muslim Brotherhood really matter? What should you know about it? Jenna is joined by war correspondent Hollie McKay to explain the group's origins (listen for the story a...

The latest on a first of its kind bird in NYC, the shortest press secretary tenure in recorded history and how much the war in the Middle East has cost each American household. Your news update in 15-minutes! Quick. Concise. Nonpartisan. SmartHER.   

What do the cases of Lindsay Clancy, Nolan Wells and Cornell have in common? They highlight the importance of a legal procedure often forgotten in our justice system that's critical to whether or not a case heads to court: a grand jury. Join a wide-ranging conversation with attorney and founder of Unbiased, Jordan Berman, who uses her legal expertise to explain the importance of the grand jury pro...

Your catch-up on news after a holiday weekend! **As we published this report, news broke of Ambassador Guilfoyle's resignation . Want to go beyond the headline? Become a SmartHER News Insider and join the conversation — with our private community, exclusive podcast feed and more. 00:00 Columbus Day Backstory 01:12 One of the largest lynchings in U.S. history (Italians targeted) 02:28 Holiday Becom...

What does justice look like—and who decides? Jenna and podcast host Mary Katharine Ham discuss Christa Pike's case in Tennessee and the broader questions it raises about the death penalty, including the time between sentencing and execution. They also reflect on three years since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the changing Middle East and the words news organizations use to tell these stories...

Become An Insider Jenna of SmartHER News highlights three key stories: Jobs Report Miss, U.S. Pulls Bombers from UK Base After Alleged Plot, and Russian Lab Plague Concerns September's U.S. jobs report disappointed, showing 29,000 jobs added versus expectations about three times higher (with the next jobs report arriving just before Election Day). She then discusses RAF Fairford in the UK, a strat...

Jenna hosts the SmartHER Podcast with political commentator, podcast host Mary Katharine Ham and war correspondent, writer Holly McKay to discuss a smarter take on this week's major news stories AND share SmartHER Tips! They examine a disturbing Cornell University incident from October 2024 now highlighted by a recent civil lawsuit alleging an overlooked, under-investigated assault. A new twist to...

How to become an Insider . Baseball in a national park? Here's the story that's floating that idea. Plus, a word of warning for this news cycle and the Supreme Court decides to NOT take a closer look at a surrogacy case that spans three different states. Curious your thoughts on this!  

What don't we know about the ICE-involved shooting in Austin? Why is the 9/11 case still awaiting trial? And what happens when a parent's beliefs about education collide with her child's experience? Jenna welcomes journalist and war correspondent Holly McKay and political commentator Mary Katharine Ham for a new SmartHER Roundtable: three women, three stories, and something SmartHER to take into y...

Twenty-five years after 9/11, how safe are we—and what threats are national security officials watching now? Jenna breaks down testimony from two congressional hearings examining the evolving terrorism landscape, including Al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan, reports of new training sites, and concerns about how extremist groups could use artificial intelligence, drones and other emerging technolog...

On September 11, 2001, Linda started her morning like many others. As a 23-year-old equity research associate on Wall Street, she headed to work on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center's South Tower for the boutique investment firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW). What unfolded in the early hours of that workday would change Linda's life forever and alter the course of American history. Twenty-f...

My father passed away last week. I know many of you got to "meet" my dad through our broadcasts during the various Super Bowl news cycles that we've covered ~ and I'm sorry to have to share this development with you as I know many of you enjoyed our time together as well.  These are three things I've learned from the last 8-months that I felt an urgency to share with you and your family, in the im...

Jenna interviews Dr. Lynn Silver, a pediatrician and co-author of a new large California study examining how adolescent cannabis use relates to later mental health outcomes.  Using Kaiser Permanente screening data from 463,000 teens ages 13–17 and following them up to seven years (or until age 25), the study compared youth who reported past-year cannabis use with those who did not, excluding those...

With the success Democratic Socialists of America candidates (and those adjacent with progressive platforms) in the early Midterm primary races, is the Democratic Party having a reckoning? And what does Pres. Trump have to do with it? A quick, but thorough overview so you have what to know and why it matters for the weeks ahead.  00:00 Socialists Storming Gates? 01:23 Why Politics Matters 02:35 Tr...

Become a SmartHER News Insider and listen to this podcast ad-free, get additional context from Jenna and join a private community for thoughtful conversations about the news — away from the noise of social media. Plus, your membership also helps keep SmartHER News independent! Six months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home, the case remains unsolved. Jenna speaks with...

Hear the incredible backstory from Santa Cruz resident and photographer Scott Vander Dussen who found himself at the right place, at the right time, with the right camera. Scott captured the video that made news around the world of 16-year-old Santa Cruz lifeguard, Ryder, rescuing a 10-year-old from a "sneaker wave." Scott provides incredible perspective on the rescue that even got the attention o...

Become An Insider Shop Our America250 Gear! The Cyclospora outbreak has hit *at least* 45 states and thousands of people, and while we have more questions, we have fewer answers about the cause. University of Delaware professor and food safety researcher Dr. Kali Kniel joins SmartHER News to explain what makes this outbreak different — and why the parasite is so difficult to detect and trace.  She...

BECOME AN INSIDER — SUPPORT A FREE PRESS AND LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST AD-FREE The number of states reporting people sick from the parasite cyclospora has risen to 41. Many questions remain about: The source of the outbreak. Why cyclospora presents such a challenge to track as a foodborne illness. What proper precautions every family should apply to keep its food as parasite-free as possible! Food sa...

Become An Insider A SmartHER Review of the President's Thursday primetime address on election integrity. What To Know; Why It Matters; What's Missing From The Coverage; What Questions We Have. 00:00 What He Said 01:16 Style Versus Substance 02:50 Setting The Stage 07:00 China Data Breach 09:40 Voting Machines Risks 11:29 Michigan Fraud Claim 14:08 Noncitizen Voting Questions 16:47 Messaging And Pr...

Shop Our New America250 Gear and Support SmartHER News! Get an AD-FREE Podcast and become an Insider! CDC Reports Historic Spike in Cyclospora Cases; No Single Source Identified. Your latest news from the CDC Media Briefing yesterday, plus answers to your biggest questions. 00:00 CDC Outbreak Alert 01:05 Personal Cyclospora Story 03:12 CDC Briefing Key Facts 05:06 Symptoms Testing Timeline 07:49 T...

How To Become An Insider Shop Our NEW America 250 Gear Sen. Graham's sudden passing - the details and ramifications. The Case Of The Alleged Murderer of Charlie Kirk: An overview of what happened in Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing last week and why we have to wait until September 1 for more. Questions About The Death Of A Young Man In Mississippi: What happened to Nolan Wells? What we know an...