President Trump said he called off an airstrike on Iran Thursday after Iran shot down a U.S. drone. Republican Sen. John Kennedy joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson to discuss. And, Cirque du Soleil performer Sante Fortunato discusses the challenges of doing aerial acrobatics on a swinging chandelier in the show, "Corteo."

June 21, 2019: GOP Sen. John Kennedy On Iran; Life As A Cirque Du Soleil Performer

The news you need to know today — and the stories that will stick with you tomorrow. Plus, special series and behind-the-scenes extras from Here & Now hosts Robin Young, Scott Tong and Deepa Fernandes with help from Producer Chris Bentley and the team at NPR and WBUR.

News

Workers at a Tennessee Volkswagen plant are voting on whether to unionize. Michael Martinez of Automotive News shares the latest. Then, are we in a new era of drone warfare? RAND political scientist Caitlin Lee weighs in. And, ProPublica's Craig Silverman talks about a coordinated gift card scam that totals hundreds of millions of dollars.

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Grift cards: The gift card fraud scheme costing consumers millions

We look at how Israelis are reacting to Iran's attack with Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas. Kerem Navot founder Dror Etkes talks about Israeli settlers in the West Bank attacking Palestinian villages. Then, one year into Sudan's civil war, we hear from one Sudanese-American whose family is trapped in Khartoum. And, NBA columnist A. Sherrod Blakely talks about the league's Play-In tournament and Caitlin Clark's WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever.

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He escaped Sudan in 1999. But his family is still trapped there

We discuss Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel with journalist Borzou Daragahi and security analyst Jim Walsh. Then, PolitiFact's Lou Jacobson breaks down the facts of Trump's hush money trial. And, distance-running legends Des Linden and Kara Goucher talk about their new podcast "Nobody Asked Us," the future of women's running and more.

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Runners Kara Goucher and Des Linden talk women in sports, doping

After fleeing the war in Gaza with the help of the American government, a family of four is denied entry into the U.S. Then, Dr. Neha Lalani tells us why popular diabetes and weight loss drugs like Ozempic may be impacting fertility. And, does everyone really need therapy to cope? Clinical psychologist Emily Edlynn explains why she says no. Ask your mental health questions here.

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Do I need therapy? Why one psychologist says maybe not

NPR's Deepa Shivaram breaks down the Biden Administration's new rule requiring anyone who sells guns to run background checks. Then, OJ Simpson has died at 76. Laurie Levenson, who was an analyst for CBS during Simpson's murder trial, joins us. And, director René Ormae-Jarmer and snare drummer Grant Lord tell us how the Kingsmen Thunder Drumline from Milwaukie, Oregon, is preparing for one of the biggest competitions of their lives.

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June 21, 2019: GOP Sen. John Kennedy On Iran; Life As A Cirque Du Soleil Performer

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