1A

The latest omicron variant, BA.5, is now the dominant COVID strain in the U.S. It's also the most transmissible yet.

And as much of the country went maskless this summer, COVID surged. President Joe Biden tested positive twice in July.

As cities and states cope with another spike, the Biden administration is also responding to an outbreak of monkeypox. The WHO said the outbreak of the disease is a global health emergency. The CDC has identified more than 5,000 known cases of monkeypox in the U.S., the highest number of cases globally.

Some cities and states have declared their own public health emergencies as they wait for the federal government's response. The first U.S. case was identified in May and the caseload is now outpacing the rollout of vaccines.

We discuss the latest on the BA.5 variant. We also discuss the spread of monkeypox and what can be done to limit the spread.

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Close your eyes and imagine for a moment that you're on the beach in an outfit that Diane Keaton would wear, looking through a book of Ina Garten recipes with a cashmere sweater tied across your shoulders.

If any of this appeals to you, you might be what's known on TikTok as a "coastal grandmother."

It's a term coined by 26-year-old TikTok creator Lex Nicoleta to describe a beachy, romantic aesthetic.

We discuss the coastal grandmother vibe and what it can tell us about how trends circulate online. We also get into how trends like these encourage consumerism.

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Republican politicians are embracing the term "Christian nationalist." Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for the GOP to promote the ideology multiple times in recent weeks.

The Washington Post reports the Justice Department is investigating former President Donald Trump as part of its criminal probe into the Jan. 6 insurrection. Attorney General Merrick Garland told NBC this probe is "the most wide-ranging investigation in [department] history."

President Joe Biden tested negative for COVID this week. He used his recovery as an opportunity to promote vaccines, citing the mildness of his illness compared to that of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, the matter of where the COVID-19 pandemic began has been settled: the virus' origin has been pinpointed to a wet market in Wuhan, China.

Pope Francis apologized to indigenous communities in Canada over the church's past abuses of Native people. However, the Pope's decision to don a headdress on the trip has raised eyebrows in the communities to whom he and the Church are trying to apologize.

We cover the most important stories from the week during the News Roundup.

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A handful of high-profile election deniers are taking their conspiracy theories on the road. It has election officials from both parties worried.

Since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, NPR documented hundreds of events around the country where speakers pedaled false information about the 2020 Election before an in-person audience.

Now, election workers say they're seeing an uptick in disinformation around election security. Poll workers are also facing increased threats ahead of the midterms.

We look at what happens when disinformation leaves the Twittersphere and the effect this has on the health of our democracy.

This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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More than 2 million high school and middle students reported using e-cigarettes in 2021. A quarter of them say they vape daily. Now, the Food and Drug Administration is trying to do something about it.

Last month, the agency ordered one of the largest vaping companies in the country, Juul, to pull its products from the market so it could conduct a sweeping review. But a day later, an appeals court blocked the FDA's plan. The temporary stay suspends the ban on marketing Juul products, but it doesn't rescind it.

We discuss the role of federal agencies in regulating e-cigarettes and vaping products and what restrictions—if any—should be placed on them.

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A new bill is making its way through Congress that would protect the right to same-sex marriage on the federal level. The Respect for Marriage Act passed the House with the support of 47 Republicans.

The push in Congress comes after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurring opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health decision suggesting that the court should reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges. The right to same-sex marriage has been protected under the Obergefell decision since 2015.

We discuss what's in the bill and whether it has a chance to pass a gridlocked Senate.

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Recent congressional action on climate change stalled after Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin pulled his support from a bill that would have created $300 billion in new subsidies for alternative energy and electric cars. Manchin pointed to country-wide inflation and the bill's high price tag to justify his decision.

Unable to push his climate policy through Congress, President Joe Biden instead took executive action, though he fell short of declaring a full-on "climate emergency."

The politicking comes as America and the world suffer through the deadly effects of climate change, including sweltering heat waves and devastating droughts.

We look at the politics at play as the federal government fights over environmental policy, then zoom out for a global picture.

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It took 30 years for "Dark Winds" to be adapted for television. The Tony Hillerman series revolves around the Navajo Nation and two tribal policemen trying to solve the murder of a Navajo woman.

The show has already made history for its predominant Native cast and crew, already cinching up a second season. All episodes of the first season are available for streaming on AMC+.

But this series isn't alone this summer in presenting Native Americans in a more authentic way. "Rutherford Falls" and "Reservation Dogs" are both returning for second seasons.

Last year, UCLA's Hollywood Diversity Report found that indigenous people made up less than one percent of acting roles. They were virtually nonexistent in creative roles behind the camera.

We talk about the evolution of the representation of Native people in movies and TV. We also discuss what the future of Native stories on screen looks like.

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President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms on Thursday.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to protect same-sex and interracial marriage. It comes after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote an opinion suggesting the high court should reconsider its rulings on same-sex marriage and contraception.

Heat waves driven by climate change are ravaging the U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled a plan to keep Americans cool as temperatures climb. Record-breaking heat is also ravaging Europe, killing 1,900 in Spain and Portugal so far.

Meanwhile, Russia is signaling its intentions to annex southern parts of Ukraine following military victories in the country.

China is warning that it would be forced to take "strong and resolute measures" if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan during a trip planned for this August.

We cover the most important stories from around the globe on the international portion of the News Roundup.

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So-called "trigger" laws in 13 states were on the books when Roe v. Wade was overturned. But abortion is still legal in some of these places due to legal battles playing out in state courts.

But weekly changes in legality are wearing down both patients seeking this care and those who provide it.

Some district attorneys in urban areas in these states say they won't prosecute abortion crimes in their jurisdiction, though that reassurance has not been enough to keep clinics open.

We talk about legal liabilities, abortion providers, OBGYNs, and patients in these two states.

This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.