1A

Some Americans are turning to a group of diabetes medications for something other than relief from the disease. Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are making headlines for their ability to stimulate weight loss.

This is a problem for diabetes patients who need the medication and can't get it. A rise in demand for these medications has led to shortages.

But should potentially life-saving medication be available to those whose lives aren't at risk?

We speak to two doctors getting at the heart of these questions and a woman who's been using these medications to improve her health.

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Dozens of Democratic senators voted alongside their Republican counterparts last week on the issue of crime and safety in our nation's capital. The Senate voted 81-14 to block a criminal code rewrite that was unanimously approved by the D.C. City Council.

The criminal code overhaul included major changes to criminal sentencing – including reducing maximum sentences for carjacking and eliminating mandatory minimums.

We discuss the intersection of politics and criminal justice policy and what say Congress should have over D.C.'s affairs.

This show was part of 1A's Remaking America collaboration with six partner stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

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We partnered with our friends at WIRED to bring you a special episode of their podcast Gadget Lab.

For this episode of Gadget Lab, the team takes a look at recommendation algorithms.

The modern internet is powered by recommendation algorithms. But some of these algorithms can lead to some weird places, occasionally taking users down dark internet rabbit holes or showing harmful content.

Lawmakers and researchers have criticized recommendation systems before, but these methods are under renewed scrutiny now that Google and Twitter are going before the US Supreme Court to defend their algorithmic practices.

We hear how recommendation algorithms work, how they're studied, and how they can be both abused and restrained.

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In domestic headlines, the Biden administration is considering reviving a policy that would detain families of migrants who enter the country outside conventional channels.

In Texas, five women are filing a lawsuit against the state claiming the abortion ban put their lives, and well-being, at risk by denying them necessary medical procedures.

Meanwhile overseas, reports from U.S. intelligence officials suggest that a pro-Ukraine group was responsible for blowing up the Russian-controlled Nord Stream pipelines. Ukraine, has denied any involvement in the matter.

Four Americans were attacked in Mexico after traveling to the country for cheaper medicine. Two are dead and two are injured after being kidnapped by members of a drug cartel.

We cover some of the biggest headlines during the News Roundup.

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It's been over a year since Russia's launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Cyber weapons have continued to play a major role in the war.

Both countries have leveraged 21st-century technologies like smartphones, artificial intelligence, and drones to aid their war efforts.

Now, experts are saying Russia plans to scale up its cyber threats, into attacks capable of crippling Ukraine's digital infrastructure and impacting NATO allies.

We discuss how we can better understand the cyber tools and tactics Russia is using in this war and what can we do to limit their effects.

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Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced on March 1 that it would cut the cost of its insulin at retail pharmacies by 70 percent. That's for patients with or without insurance.

Eli Lilly is one of three pharmaceutical companies that supply insulin in the U.S.

For years, people in the U.S. who are insulin-dependent have had to ration their insulin or drive to Canada or Mexico to afford it. The patent to insulin was initially sold for $1.

We discuss insulin prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed over the years and how much Eli Lilly's decision affect people across the country.

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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has become a leading voice in the American left during his 30 years in Congress. He's been staunchly opposed to increases in military defense spending, has been a strong advocate for gay marriage, and has called on Congress to invest trillions more to combat climate change.

But the signature issue that drove two presidential campaigns and garnered millions of followers on social media is his fight against economic inequality and the power of America's billionaire class.

It's the focus of his new book, "It's Ok to Be Angry About Capitalism." Sanders details the ways in which our country's current state of capitalism is endangering our healthcare system, our environment, our media ecosystem, our politics, and America's working class.

We speak with him about the book, social security, Medicare, ageism in politics, and more.

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Children are working some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. according to a new investigation by The New York Times.

Child labor violations have nearly quadrupled since 2015, according to data from the Labor Department. This includes some migrant children who are working throughout the manufacturing industry. Interviews with 60 caseworkers found that two-thirds of unaccompanied migrant children end up working full-time.

Even with those statistics, some states are still looking to loosen child labor restrictions to meet hiring needs.

We discuss how we got here and what needs to be done to address child labor violations.

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On Wednesday, Eli Lilly, one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, announced it was slashing the price of its most widely prescribed insulin by 70 percent.

The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments this week related to President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan.

Meanwhile, tempers did not calm in the West Bank this week. Following settler attacks on Palestinian villages, the violence has continued, causing Israeli officials to appeal for calm.

And President Biden welcomed a new trade deal on Monday, between the European Union and the United Kingdom, saying that its implementation would be vital in maintaining the Good Friday Agreement.

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The American West is experiencing its worst drought in over 1,000 years. That's making a lot of farmers rethink their sustainability practices and reimagine land that has become infertile.

One way to innovate is via solar energy. Solar panels can make use of depleted land and help offset a farm's energy costs. They also preserve groundwater and help with crop growth.

But the transition isn't always cheap. Could expanding solar on farmland make it harder and more expensive to feed America?

We go to California where there's plenty of sun and an appetite to reach aggressive climate goals to hear about the possibilities.

This show was part of 1A's Remaking America collaboration with six partner stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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