This year, with vaccinations still climbing and public health pros telling us it's relatively safe to gather for the holidays, we explore just how "relative" that safety is, and how to minimize the (still present) risk. On today's show, Daniel Griffin, MD, PhD, infectious disease clinician and researcher at Columbia, ProHEALTH chief of the division of Infectious Disease, senior fellow for Infectious Disease at UHG Research and Development, and president of Parasites Without Borders, shares the latest guidance on balancing risks and rewards of holiday gatherings at this phase of the pandemic.

The annual inflation rate in the United States is running at a three decade high. So what's behind the inflation we're seeing throughout the economy? How is it landing on business owners and consumers, and what can be done about it? On today's show, Wendy Edelberg, director of The Hamilton Project and senior fellow, economic studies at The Brookings Institution, discusses the underpinning factors mostly related to the pandemic and weighs in on concern over long-term impact.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine, creator of the 1619 Project, now a book, The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (One World, 2021), and Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University, talks about the book based on the New York Times 1619 Project, why it's become a hot-button issue, and where we go from here.

The Jan. 6 insurrection was an attack on the democratic process. How is the investigation into the events that day a defense of that same process? On today's show, Kimberly Wehle, law professor at the University of Baltimore, former U.S. Attorney, author of What You Need to Know About Voting--and Why (Harper Collins, 2020) and an opinion writer for many publications including Politico and The Atlantic, discusses the latest developments in the House Select Committee's investigation of the January 6th Attack.

Many activist movements today are leaning on an old protest method: the hunger strike. So why is this tactic seeing a resurgence, and what makes these demonstrations effective? On today's show, Sharman Apt Russell, author of several books including Hunger: An Unnatural History (Basic Books, 2006) and Within Our Grasp: Childhood Malnutrition Worldwide and the Revolution Taking Place to End It (Deckle Edge, 2021), discusses the history of hunger strikes and explains how they work.

What does a progressive freshman member of Congress have to say about the politics of this past election, and the process of passing Democrats' agenda? On today's show, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY15, South Bronx) talks about the postponed vote on Build Back Better, and about the just-passed infrastructure bill.

COP26 is wrapping up, and some last-minute commitments from the U.S. and China could help push the world toward its emissions reduction targets. On today's show, Mark Hertsgaard, executive director of Covering Climate Now and environmental correspondent of The Nation, has the latest key developments from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Democrats don't have one single name for the legislative agenda that's working through Congress. They have many. Could more focused messaging help pass it more easily? On today's show, Anat Shenker-Osorio, strategic communications consultant and host of the "Words To Win By" podcast, discusses the Democratic party's messaging around the Build Back Better (or human infrastructure or reconciliation or $3.5 trillion social spending) bill and what she thinks they could do better, and listeners call in with their own suggestions.

The trials of Kyle Rittenhouse, accused of shooting Black Lives Matter protesters, and of Ahmaud Arbery's alleged killers are both in jury selection. On today's show, Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, joins to discuss the jury selection process, and how technicalities invite the possibility of racial bias into the courtroom.

As the climate changes, and famine, drought and other displacing forces get more frequent & more severe, how will the world deal with those forced to flee their homes for safer ground? On today's show, David Miliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee, discuss how climate change is fueling conflicts all over the world, and what solutions are being discussed at COP26 -- the United Nations Climate Change Conference.