The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

In Afghanistan, courageous teachers and students are finding ways to educate girls right under the Taliban’s nose. These underground networks reflect Afghans’ hopes for a better future. Also: today’s stories, including the recent issues that are reigniting debate over the role of the death penalty in the U.S. justice system; how an ICE shooting in New York highlights the varying levels of cooperat...

Some members of Congress have been criticized for staying on the job so long that they lose touch with issues affecting many Americans. Retirements and other departures, however, are opening the door for younger lawmakers who may prioritize different issues. Also: today’s stories, including why Russian gas isn’t getting pricier, but is getting harder to buy; why an alleged sexual assault at Cornel...

AI agents are being given more autonomy. A new report says that companies need better tools to see what their digital workers are doing – or stop them if things go wrong. Also: today’s stories, including how three young families in Ukraine are striving to live full lives amid Russia’s military invasion; a look at Memphis as a case study for how redistricting in the south is playing out; and a Moni...

Driven in part by a shared hostility toward the U.S.-led international order, Russia and Iran have cultivated a full-spectrum partnership through an exchange of tactics and technology, benefiting each country in their respective conflicts. Also: today’s stories, including why Europe struggles to put military power to work as the Iran war widens; how Harvard resisted Trump’s pressure while making r...

In election after election, conventional wisdom holds that the economy is the most important issue for American voters. But in these midterms, voters are feeling the impact of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy choices on their pocketbooks. Also: today’s stories, including how some Supreme Court justices are reacting to lawsuits in state courts to hold energy companies accountable for climate...

A case of alleged sexual assault Cornell University has drawn national attention. The different roles that colleges, the criminal justice system, and media play in such cases is not always clear. Also: today’s stories, including how artificial intelligence is playing a central role in Brazil’s upcoming elections despite regulations meant to keep AI-generated information at bay; why an eviction in...

Record low approval of the U.S. Supreme Court puts pressure on the justices, who need to retain support from the public and other branches of government for their rulings to be enforced. Also: today’s stories, including why Republicans are losing support among some Latinos; why more young Indians are doubting the value of education; and why Howard Zinn became a “people’s historian,” according to a...

A pilot on a commercial flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv with more than 150 Israeli passengers reportedly attacked his co-pilot and tried to crash the plane Wednesday. Israeli officials say the incident was a thwarted terrorist attack. Also: today’s stories, including how some residents of the Spanish city Ceuta are trying to build true equity; what changes to China’s economy mean...

Where and how to cut wasteful government spending is an enduring debate among politicians and voters. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been a focus for Republicans, and new requirements for states already appear to be having a ripple effect on recipients. Also: today’s stories, including how America’s role in the Middle East and beyond is shifting; why an Israeli rabbi sees...

Along Route 66, as in the rest of America, cities and towns often see their economic pillars flourish and fade, driving them to seek new ways to thrive. As wind energy produces more electricity, it spurs the creation of jobs that are needed to sustain a growing industry. Also: today’s stories, including how colleges are grappling with a call to action from the federal government; why a rare sign o...

There were no concrete breakthroughs on trade, AI, or Taiwan. But Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s trip to Washington was an opportunity for him and President Donald Trump to strengthen their rapport. Beijing also used it to promote more people-to-people ties. Also: today’s stories, including why Russia is showing confidence in its position on the battlefield as peace talks grow more likely; why public...

President Donald Trump’s muscular approach to presidential power aimed to score big wins for his agenda. Polls suggest voters are largely dissatisfied, from the Iran war to the economy. Also: today’s stories, including why Europe is opting for a safe and steady course in the AI race; a look at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s U.N. speech; and how lawmakers are reassessing road rules for...

The competition between the U.S. and China around AI is about more than technology. It’s about soft-power influence. The Monitor investigates what messages China's increasingly popular AI models are promoting. Also: today’s stories, including how Vivek Ramaswamy’s platform of shared ideals is playing in a party roiled by debates over diversity; why graduate’s earnings mean their schools could lose...

President Donald Trump has once again used aggressive rhetoric against Iran, telling delegates at the United Nations he could “annihilate the Islamic Republic.” But he also suggested the conflict could be heading to a resolution “one way or the other.” Also: today’s stories, including how valuable biodiversity is to the world’s economy; efforts to steady ties as Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Presi...

The United Nations is trying to adapt to major cuts in its funding, affecting its ability to provide humanitarian aid to countries in need. This is one of the key challenges facing global leaders and diplomats traveling to U.N. headquarters in New York this week. Also: today’s stories, including how some members of Congress’s track records with technology could play a part in regulating artificial...

Diesel fuel is key to the American economy because it’s used by trucks and railroads to move most goods across the country. Analysts say the steady rise in diesel’s price per gallon means consumers and businesses should expect to see even higher prices. Also: today’s stories, including how Houthi threats to Saudi Arabia's oil exports are having an impact on global energy markets; why a two-part bi...

This weekend’s parliamentary elections in Russia appear set to be even more predictable than usual. But that predictability hints at what is worrying the Kremlin, and how little it has to offer the public right now. Also: today’s stories, including Mark Carney turning across the Atlantic to seek a partnership with the EU, a look at a Navy SEAL trying to reform FEMA, and what a University at risk o...

Norway punches far above its weight as a sporting nation. The success of its athletes might be rooted in the way young Norwegians learn sports – by first focusing on the process, rather than on wins and losses. “It’s a human-centered blueprint,” a sports wellness expert tells our writer. “It puts the person first by looking at the player pathway as a human journey, not just a sports journey.” Also...

The collapse of Graham Platner’s Senate campaign in Maine has state Democrats wrestling with questions over candidate vetting and whether the next nominee should come from the party’s moderate or progressive wing. Also: today’s stories, including how Turkey is becoming a bigger player in NATO and the Middle East; why other election changes could affect U.S. midterms besides President Donald Trump’...

The back-and-forth talk of strikes and ceasefires in the Iran conflict at the NATO summit this week risks straining the alliance's renewed efforts at partnership and unity, a cornerstone of Western defense for decades. Also: today’s stories, including how the Iran war’s cost to Americans has already climbed well beyond early estimates; how Venezuela’s earthquakes have created a new test for the ex...

Polls show younger voters are less fearful of socialism and more likely to question the benefits of capitalism as it relates to their lives. But while anti-communist rhetoric is red meat for the Republican base, it might not persuade many other voters. Also: today’s stories, including why French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s is again appealing her embezzlement conviction; a look at the launch o...

The Supreme Court’s latest term featured landmark cases on presidential authority. While the high court deepened the president’s power over the executive branch, the justices also restrained it in some areas. Also: today’s stories, including how the fall of Iran’s former regime has led to growth in the country’s confidence; how one Italian island is offering a compassionate response towards migran...

Democracy requires civic engagement – and it can sometimes seem to be falling short. But the seeds of renewal are visible, from potluck dinners to youth programs. Also: today’s stories, including the role of higher education in shaping the first leaders of the United States and the Revolutionary War; how Americans are feeling about their country headed into its 250th anniversary; and a review of b...

Israeli attitudes toward U.S. President Donald Trump, once seen as the nation’s savior, have shifted dramatically. The initial U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal is already seen as a blow to Israel’s strategy and standing, and the backlash on the Israeli right has been harsh. Also: today’s stories, including how controversy over the Washington Reflecting Pool are being shaped by politics; how the Trump admi...

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship as unconstitutional. The audacious order was linked to the president's wider effort to curtail illegal and legal immigration. Also: today’s stories, including how Venezuelans jumped to respond to two recent earthquakes, prepared by years of institutional decline; how Ukraine’s drone attacks are making...