Here & Now Anytime

The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that consumer prices increased by 3.8% in April compared to a year ago. That's the fastest pace of price increases in around three years. Wailin Wong, host of the Indicator from NPR’s Planet Money, joins us. 

Then, the subject of Taiwan is one of the main priorities for Beijing in the upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. How will Trump approach the topic of Taiwan? We hear from Eyck Freymann, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford and the author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China."

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Host Scott Tong is reporting from China this week as President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a high-profile summit in Beijing. He joins us from Shanghai to share his first impressions of the country since the last time he was there.

Then, the summit is set for later this week. Senior research fellow Yu Jie from Chatham House explains the power dynamic going into the meeting.

And, Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on Saturday. It was scaled back compared to previous years, with the country's military might displayed not in person but on giant TV screens, out of fear of a possible attack from Ukraine. Nina Khrushcheva, New School professor and great-granddaughter of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, details Russian President Vladimir Putin's hold on power.

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The Virginia Supreme Court has thrown out a voter-approved redistricting referendum that could have helped Democrats pick up several U.S. House seats this fall. NPR’s Larry Kaplow explains more about the fight over congressional maps ahead of midterm elections.

And, Alabama is one of many states moving forward with redistricting after the Supreme Court’s decision last week dealt a blow to the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, joins us.

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Ten years ago, Iroro Tanshi found something incredible in a cave in Nigeria: a colony of short-tailed roundleaf bats, a species that hadn’t been seen there in almost 50 years. We learn how her discovery helped kickstart a conservation movement in West Africa to protect rare species of bats from threats like poaching and wildfires. 

Then, North America has lost billions of birds since 1970, but some species are actually bucking this concerning trend and returning to places where humans hadn't seen them in decades. Ornithologist Scott Weidensaul shares some global success stories of bird recovery. 

And, Mark Kurlansky has been fishing for as long as he can remember, and writing about it almost as long. He tells us about his essay collection on why people fish. (Hint: It's not for sustenance.)

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"Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary wants to build a huge data center north of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The project was greenlit, but still needs to obtain water usage rights as lake water supply is nearing a new low. KUER reporter Macy Lipkin shares more.

Then, New Orleans may have crossed a “point of no return,” according to new analysis. Report co-author Jesse Keenan explains how rising seas, sinking land and stronger storms could point to a catastrophic environmental future.

And, ahead of the year's biggest day for birders, host Robin Young visits the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to learn how the lab is helping birds as they face new challenges.

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Ohio and Indiana voters offered an early glimpse at the political mood heading into the midterms. NPR's Stephen Fowler joins us to talk about the results. 

Then, the Trump administration says it is investigating Smith College, the women's school in Massachusetts, over its policy of admitting transgender students. The 19th's LGBTQ+ beat reporter Kate Sosin tells us more. 

And, Melanie Turner, a special education teacher in Oakland, Calif., shares how a nonprofit is helping her pay for housing closer to work amid an affordability crisis.

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The Food and Drug Administration says it is offering an “ultra-fast review” of two psychedelic drugs intended to treat serious mental health disorders. This follows a White House executive order directing the FDA to speed up research on psychedelics, which right now are illegal under federal law. Dr. Gail Saltz talks about the latest news surrounding psychedelics. Then, what happens when we open our eyes? Is consciousness something that can be pinpointed and studied? These are the questions science author Michael Pollan explores in his new book. He talks about "A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness."

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On Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily restored mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone. It puts aside a lower court ruling in Louisiana on Friday that ended national telemedicine access to the pill. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, an OB-GYN based in New Orleans, explains what this means for nationwide abortion access.

And, after talks for a government bailout fell through, Spirit Airlines shut down on Saturday morning. CNBC’s Leslie Josephs details the ramifications for Spirit's customers, employees and equipment.

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A new exhibit called “Water’s Edge” at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian showcases work by late artist Truman Lowe of the Ho-Chunk nation. Exhibit curator Rebecca Trautmann details how a sculpture titled “Feather Canoe” represents Lowe’s work and what his artistic style contributes to the story of America.

And, how did you check the weather this morning? Back in the late 1800s and 1900s, people traveled to their local post office to see the forecast in a Farmers’ Bulletin. Smithsonian National Postal Museum curator Lynn Heidelbaugh explains how the Farmers' Bulletin system first developed and why it was so critical for a growing nation.

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The average price of gas in the U.S. hit a wartime high of $4.30 on Thursday, according to AAA. Bloomberg's Michael Regan breaks down the latest numbers. 

And, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent global energy prices skyrocketing and led to oil and gas shortages in parts of the world. Economic historian, author and S&P Global vice chairman Daniel Yergin says the Hormuz oil shock will lead to a new global balance of power. He joins us.

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