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It’s been a massive year for AI — and it just got bigger. Anthropic, the company which makes Claude, filed its long-awaited Initial Public Offering on Monday in what could be the largest IPO ever. It was also a huge day for AI deals in general. SpaceX secured $40 billion in financing to lease chips to power modern AI. And Meta is seeking $95 billion for its AI buildout. Altogether, that’s about $2...

For weeks, people have been protesting across Europe. In France, high schoolers have staged blockades and organized major demonstrations demanding resources for underfunded schools — and rallied against high living costs in France’s major cities. Protests grew as labor unions, other activists, and also rioters joined in. The French protests have been marked by arrests, injuries, and violence. It’s...

Early voting for the midterm elections is underway all across America. And Election Day is just over a week away. Now the president, facing likely losses in the House and the Senate, is ramping up his campaign to intervene in midterm voting and vote counting like no other president ever has in history. The Department of Justice is alleging widespread non-citizen voting in California on flimsy evid...

This week, President Donald Trump announced that he’s spent $300 million on ads this midterm season, with plans to spend another $100 million before Election Day.  The battle between President Trump and the press continues. CNN is threatening legal action against the White House after its journalists were denied access to Air Force One. And on Thursday, the White House Correspondent from The Indep...

In just a dozen days, voters across the country will cast their ballots in midterm elections that could shift the balance of power in Washington. A lot of focus has been devoted to the contested races for Congress, with billions of dollars being spent on critical statewide contests and referendums. From governors’ mansions to statehouses to local ballot initiatives, voters will make their voices h...

The sticker shock on everything from gas to food to housing continues to push Americans into tough choices about how to stretch their money. We heard from hundreds of listeners during a show last month focused on how they are experiencing the current economy — and answered their questions about managing finances in this moment. In fact, we heard from so many… that we’re doing it again. We invited...

In the decades following the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. and Canada built strong economic ties across their border. That robust partnership — which accounts for billions of dollars of goods — made Canada a key trading partner for northern states, like Michigan. But that decades-long economic relationship is fractured. Depending on how the Trump administration navig...

1A comes to you from the Mitten State. We travel to the Midwest to talk about the Midterms. It’s a place that has become everything these elections are about: identity, power, and affordability. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the hotly-contested Senate race in which both candidates are talking about the effect of President Donald Trump’s economic policies on Michiganders. What’s at stake he...

In the last consumer snapshot before the 2026 midterm elections, the annual rate of inflation rose 3.7 percent. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to become the biggest donor of this midterm cycle, after spending more than $366 million on conservative candidates and causes. And the Trump administration is once again targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar, with federal agents issuing subpoenas to her family...

A new report released yesterday shows inflation is on the rise. Prices were up 3.7 percent in September over last year, the highest annual rate since May. The rising cost of fuel, specifically diesel, was a major factor in that jump.  Why are these prices so high? And what does that mean for businesses and for you? Find more of our programs online . Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+...

For those experiencing hearing loss, being able to discern the speech of other people in noisy environments can be frustrating. And hearing aids often don’t convey sound in every situation. Hearing loss affects 37.5 million adults in this country. And rates of hearing loss increase with age. Some 10 percent of those over the age of 55 have hearing loss that qualifies as a disability. And just over...

The U.S. Military educates, and trains some of the best and brightest across the U.S. The Pentagon is a complex, big, and bureaucratic machine. It moves slowly. But it has evolved over time, reflecting changes in our society and politics. From the integration of the military in the late-1940’s to women finally being admitted to military academies, in the mid-1970s. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth i...

Polls play a major role in U.S. politics. And in the months leading up to an election, they’re everywhere. Polling doesn’t just indicate which party has a competitive advantage in a race. They also tell us about the issues that are most concerning to voters. And how these concerns break down by race, gender, education, age, and political affiliation. They also tell us the level of trust people hav...

With less than one month to go until the midterms, Donald Trump is in Texas campaigning on behalf of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Senate Democrats scuppered a plan championed by their Republican colleagues that would have sought to lower surging energy prices driven by data center construction. And New York has declared a state of emergency due to a surge in measles cases. In global new...

It’s been a successful summer for Robert Prevost — one of Chicago’s most distinguished citizens. His essay on artificial intelligence was released in paperback to enthusiastic reviews. It was described by one prominent commentator as “beautifully written, hugely significant, speaks truth to power.” His three-city tour of France exceeded all expectations, drawing huge crowds. An estimated 800,000 p...

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men — and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. One in eight men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. And Black men are more than twice as likely to die from it. Between the social stigma and misconceptions about diagnostic methods, it’s not something many men want to talk about. Some 99 percent of people diagnosed earl...

Last week, a key stretch of the Pacific Ocean hit its highest temperature on record. And it’s still climbing. It’s a warning sign of the so-called Super El Niño, expected to bring floods, droughts, and heat waves. And higher prices for staples like coffee. What to expect from the super El Niño — and how states are preparing. Find more of our programs online . Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing u...

A veteran journalist covered the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol. That experience got her exploring the connection between stress, trauma, and our political choices. Our mental health might affect our politics. But our politics also definitely affect our mental health. In this edition of “If You Can Keep It,” we examine that intersection. Find more of our programs online . Listen to 1A sponsor-free...

The Department of Homeland Security has allocated $20 million to pay for pro-Trump ads glorifying the president, which have drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. The pay-to-play allegations plaguing Maine Sen. Susan Collins have swing voters in her state re-thinking their support for the five-term GOP incumbent. And top AI executives descended upon Washington this week for a meeting...

In five weeks, more than 100 million people will vote as part of the 2026 midterm elections. In New Hampshire and across the country, that means that voters will go to the polls to choose representatives, senators, governors, state legislators, city councilors, school board members, and more. So, what do we know about the basic nuts and bolts of our elections? Do we know who’s on our ballot and un...

Gas. Groceries. Housing. Almost everywhere you look in the U.S. economy right now, prices are up – and people are feeling the squeeze. As of July, six in ten Americans say Trump’s economic policies have worsened economic conditions in the country, according to a survey from Pew Research. That’s up from roughly 53 percent who said the same last fall. While the U.S. economy is strong on paper — with...

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests reached record highs this summer. And the full scope is just coming into focus. Some 43,000 people were arrested in June, more than 49,000 in July, and almost 51,000 in August — an agency record. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives last June passed a $70 billion package to fund ICE and the Border Patrol through the end of President Donald...

The midterms are just five weeks away. Ballots are already in the mail and in person voting is underway in some states. Meanwhile, the federal government’s role in this election is still being hashed out in the courts. This month, the Supreme Court blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to give the U.S. Postal Service greater control over mail in ballots. Then on Friday, it revived a federal cit...

President Donald Trump banned television networks he deemed adversarial from the White House press pool this week. Following a lawsuit, a judge issued a 14-day stay, temporarily restoring White House access to CNN, MSNow, and POLITICO. New reporting indicates that the ICE agent who shot a Venezuelan man in Austin, Texas, last Sunday was issued a body camera for use in the field, but wasn’t wearing...

World leaders have descended upon New York City for this year’s edition of the United Nations General Assembly. And a lot is happening. So far, we’ve seen some most pointed criticism of Israel’s conduct heard at the U.N. in years. This led to the Israeli delegation walking out during the Turkish president’s address. It’s been nearly three years since Oct. 7. And the Palestinian Authority’s preside...