Our Across America team is digging into the issues that resonate with voters, and Kansas is a good place to look.

We spoke with Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, about passing laws in a predominantly red state. Then, we zoomed out to discuss the role Kansas will play in the 2020 presidential race.

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1A Across America: Kansas Governor Laura Kelly

Listening to the news can feel like a journey. But 1A guides you beyond the headlines – and cuts through the noise. Let's get to the heart of the story, together – on 1A.

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News

The Biden campaign is growing increasingly nervous over the growing trend of campus protests in support of Palestinians. 

Party strategists are predicting a torrid time at this summer's Democratic National Convention as President Biden comes under fire for his handling of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza and recent incursion into Rafah.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government ordered the removal of Al Jazeera from within its borders this week. Officials confiscated broadcast equipment from the network, and Israeli television stopped broadcasting the channel.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been making the rounds in Europe this week. He was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Xi also praised Hungary's "independent" foreign policy ahead of a meeting with the country's president, Viktor Orbán.

We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup.

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The News Roundup For May 10, 2024

Jen Psaki wants everyone to work on their communication skills.

She's the former press secretary for the Biden administration. She's out with a new book called "Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World."

In it, she points to deteriorating communication skills as one source of our intractable political disagreements.

We talk to Psaki about talking, politics, and talking politics.

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Jen Psaki On Talking, Politics, And Talking Politics

For the last 50 years, the government has classified Marijuana as a schedule one drug.

Last Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland did initiate the process to reclassify marijuana as a schedule three drug. Those substances are considered by the Drug Enforcement Agency to have moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.

This recommendation does not make marijuana legal at the federal level. But for the first time, the government is acknowledging marijuana's potential medical benefits.

We discuss what this move means for marijuana research, and drug policy more broadly.

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What Reclassifying Marijuana Could Mean For Research And Drug Policy

In less than two months, two whistleblowers who came forward about Boeing's unsafe production standards have died. Then on Tuesday, an emergency slide that fell off a plane mid-air was found near the residence of a lawyer who was already suing the company.

While flying over Oregon, a piece of a Boeing 737 MAX came off mid-flight. There were no fatalities, but an audit by the Federal Aviation Administration found dozens of issues in the manufacturing process. This led to two senate panel hearings on Boeing's safety culture, where more whistleblowers came forward.

So, how concerned should consumers be about airplane safety? What is being done to prevent further incidents? And can Boeing turn things around?

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Boeing, Whistleblowers, And Consumer Concern Over Airplane Safety

Third parties and third-party candidates are not a new phenomenon in American politics. But this year, the stakes of their candidacies are especially high.

The list of third-party candidates running this year includes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, both of whom are running as Independents. Jill Stein returns to the campaign trail as a representative of the Green Party.

What role do third parties play in elections? And how could they influence this year's presidential one—even if they don't win it?

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1A Across America: Kansas Governor Laura Kelly

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