The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

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...

In a pair of rulings, the Supreme Court expanded the president’s ability to fire officials at agencies with purview over things like nuclear technology and consumer safety, while preserving the independence of the Federal Reserve. Also: today’s stories, including how the U.S. House of Representatives may pass legislation to protect kids online; why South Korean leaders are looking to expand their...

The authorities in Venezuela say that foreign search-and-rescue teams are arriving to help with the aftermath of two major earthquakes. But Venezuelans are relying on one another right now, because many are skeptical of their government’s ability to respond. Also: today’s stories, including how Russian studies are coming back at some Ukrainian universities under the philosophy of “to defeat a stro...