Protecting Judges Protects Justice (0:33)

Guest: John Muffler, Retired US Marshal, Faculty at National Judicial College

The man who showed up at the home of federal judge Esther Salas a week ago and killed her son on the doorstep had a hit list that included several other judges. Judge Salas was not injured in the attack, but her husband was seriously wounded and her 20-year-old son was murdered. The killer was apparently unhappy with a ruling by Judge Salas. The US Marshals Service has noted a three-fold increase in threats and inappropriate communications to judges since 2012.

COVID-19’s Effect on the Plastic Waste Problem (20:46)

Guest: Kate O’Neill, Professor of Global Environmental Politics, University of California Berkeley

As soon as the pandemic became widespread in the US, grocery stores stopped allowing customers to bring re-useable bags, coffee shops and gas stations banned refillable cups and mugs. Will this return to using and discarding plastic bags, cups and utensils be permanent?

Portland Protests and Border Patrol (36:35)

Guest: Patrick G. Eddington, Research Fellow in Homeland Security and Civil Liberties, The Cato Institute.

The Trump Administration is sending more federal agents – including US Customs and Border Patrol officers – to Portland where protests have continued nightly for two straight months. The Department of Homeland Security says the federal agents are there to protect the federal courthouse in Portland, which has been targeted by protesters with sledgehammers, fireworks and slingshots. Federal officers have also been injured by what Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf calls “violent anarchists.” State and local officials in Portland say the federal response has only escalated the tensions. What authority does the federal government have to send in law enforcement officers against the wishes of local authorities in a community?

Controlling Plants With Colored Light (52:50)

Guest: Ben Miller, Research Fellow in Synthetic Biology at the University of East Anglia

Researchers have developed a way to turn certain genes in genetically modified plants on and off using colored lights instead of chemicals. The new method has a lot of potential, both for plant scientists and farmers.

How Avocados Fund Mexico’s Deadliest Cartel (1:03:31)

Guest: Falko Ernst, Senior Analyst for the International Crisis Group for Mexico

Since the notorious drug lord El Chapo was incarcerated in 2016, the fall of his Mexican empire left room for a new cartel to take his place: The Jalisco New Generation cartel. Mexico has now seen record highs for homicides – analysts believe these numbers to be directly linked to this cartel. They also believe they control a third of the drugs in the US and have expanded their operations to Europe. Where does this cartel receive some of its funding? Avocados.

The Role of Super Spreaders in Pandemic (1:17:53)

Guest: Sarah Fortune, Professor, Chair, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Most people who get COVID-19 will not pass it on to someone else. That may seem crazy with how quickly the virus has spread. But there’s a small number of people who are “superspreaders” – most infections stem out from them.

Using Speech-To-Text Technology With Kids (1:32:51)

Guest:   Rachel Wadham, Host, Worlds Awaiting on BYUradio, Education and Juvenile Collections Librarian, BYU