A new study of long COVID-19 finds a disturbing cluster of symptoms well after infection: tremors, vibrations, debilitating pain and mental decline. One of the authors of the study joins us. And, Afghanistan's economic collapse has pushed the medical system closer and closer to a breaking point. Dave Michalski of Doctors Without Borders tells us more.

Though movies like "Dune" and "No Time to Die" are opening in movie theaters, attendance is still way down from pre-pandemic levels. KPCC entertainment reporter John Horn tells us more. And, researcher Dan Reicher joins us to discuss hydroelectric dams, which provide 7% of the U.S. energy portfolio.

More than a century ago, about 300 Korean American immigrants founded a new community in Riverside, California. But a little over a decade later, it vanished. Their stories were lost — until now. Professor Edward Chang rediscovered that history and joins us. And, because of genomic sequencing, researchers are able to track the spread of omicron and other ways COVID-19 is mutating. Dana Crawford, a genetic epidemiologist, explains.

Santa Claus is coming to town — or is he? There's a shortage of actors who play Santa at malls and company parties during the Christmas season. We speak with professional Santas Tom Carmody and Ed Taylor. And, this year, an impending book shortage has booksellers worried about meeting demand. Here & Now's Kalyani Saxena has more.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Catholic Church was criticized for its lack of response to the AIDS crisis. Author Michael J. O'Loughin talks about his new book, "Hidden Mercy: Aids, Catholics, and the Untold Story of Compassion in the Face of Fear." And, President Biden wants to bring solar energy production in this country from less than 4% of our nation's energy to 45% in the coming decades. The New York Times' Ivan Penn tells us that this is about more than numbers.

The new film "Writing with Fire" focuses on the Indian news organization Khabar Lahariya. Run by women of the Dalit — or untouchable caste — their Youtube channel now has 545,000 subscribers. Filmmakers Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh join us. And, Santa Clara University law professor Michelle Oberman talks about what happens when the right to an abortion is not guaranteed in every state, which might happen if the Supreme Court decides to uphold Mississippi's law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The new Policing Alternative and Diversion Initiative in Atlanta has a 311 line and sends out response teams to help people with non-emergency concerns like medical care, housing and financial issues. Lisa Hagen of WABE reports. And, Matthew Bunn of the Harvard Kennedy School joins us to talk about how nuclear power fits into a carbon-free energy future.

New documentary "Citizen Ashe" tells the story of the life and activism of tennis great Arthur Ashe. His brother Johnnie Ashe, who appears in the film, joins us. And, in Massachusetts, conservationists have worked for decades to protect endangered bog turtles. As Hannah Chanatry of WBUR reports, their efforts are leading to some success.

We revisit our conversation with Bluegrass musician Billy Strings from March when he was fresh off of his first Grammy win. And, American fashion designer Virgil Abloh died Sunday at the age of 41 after privately battling a rare form of cancer. Fashion journalist Greg Emmanuel joins us.

The James Webb Space Telescope — the most powerful of its kind — will launch into space on Dec. 22. Astronomer Laura Kreidberg talks about what she hopes to learn about the atmosphere and weather of exoplanets. And, aviation reporter Peter Robison talks about his new book "Flying Blind: The 737 Max Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing," a deep dive into what caused two fatal crashes of Boeing planes.