1A

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 evidence. The DOJ is also filing high-profile criminal charges alleging non-citizen voting. Department authorities are also threatening local officials in California, saying they could face legal action if the department disapproves of how they handle ballots.

In this edition of “If You Can Keep It,” we look at what these unprecedented moves from the Justice Department mean for the midterms and for our democracy.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 Independent was removed from the aircraft.

With the midterms less than two weeks away, Trump is putting the pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to end the war with Russia.

And, in global news, demonstrations in France began last month with students across the country protesting deteriorating school conditions, staff shortages and dilapidated buildings. But over several weeks, they’ve tapped into broader anger over living costs, public services, and economic and social discontent.

The European Commission estimates the Iran war has cost Europe more than $112 billion through disrupted ?trade and energy markets.

An estimated 1.4 million people – more than two thirds of Gaza’s population – are facing food insecurity.

We cover the most important stories from around the globe in the on the News Roundup.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 heard.

We gather a panel of experts and zero in on some midterm races that aren’t necessarily making national headlines.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 a new panel of experts to help answer your questions about money and the economy.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 navigates its trade war with our northern neighbor, that relationship may not return to what many businesses and consumers consider normal.

In August, the administration imposed 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, taxing $20 billion of Canadian products like dairy, beverages, cement, and more. Canada hit back in September, matching them dollar-for-dollar with new tariffs on American dairy, steel, aluminum, agricultural product, and electronics.

What have those tariffs meant for Michigan’s economy, especially given Michigan is at the center of the midterm elections?

Plus, in one week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces voters for the first time in four years. They’ll answer one question: Does he deserve a record seventh term as leader based on his time in office?

After the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, he launched a three-year-long war with Hamas. He’s maintained Israel’s democracy while relying on the most far-right political coalition in the country’s history.

So, what are the stakes of this election in Israel? And how could the parties that win it shape the country’s current military operations in and around its borders?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 here? And what can it tell us about the rest of the country?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 as they searched her family history for instances of fraud.

And, in global news, fighting between the Saudis and the Yemeni Houthis is intensifying. A building owned by major Saudi energy company was the latest casualty as it was set ablaze late Tuesday. On Thursday, a presidential palace in Aden was also hit

Also in the Middle East, Iranian drone and missile attacks are heating up in the Strait of Hormuz. At least six cargo vessels were attacked and sunk this week.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron is accusing student protesters demonstrating against conditions in the nation’s schools of harboring political motivations and being exploited by his enemies. And in India, protestors put pressure on Prime Minister Modi.

We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 half of all people over the age of 75 have disabling hearing loss.

In this edition of “In Good Health,” we talk about the health issues that most affect us and put your questions to the experts. This time, we tackle hearing loss.

Here are some resources shared by our experts during this discussion:

- HearAdvisor.com – a hearing aid comparison and review site
- Hear & Beyond by Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan – a guide to navigating hearing loss
- Hearing Number app – a free smartphone app by Johns Hopkins University for measuring how much sound you can hear

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

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 is on a mission to change what he calls a “woke” and “weak” military. He says he wants to bring back a “warrior ethos” and “lethality” to the military.

His strategy? Rolling back inclusive policies, firing high level officials, and overhauling military education. He’s been explicit about the kind of Pentagon he envisions, using vulgarities and slurs to make his point.

What do Hegseth’s reforms mean for service members, cadets, military families, and the next generation of recruits?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy