Short Wave

Even as Democrats see their support swell, they are still in real danger of losing control of the House to Republicans. The sitting president's party often loses more than two dozen House seats during midterm elections — and Democrats have just a single-digit majority.

This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, political reporter Deepa Shivaram, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

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People experiencing a mental health crisis have a new way to reach out for help in the U.S. — calling or texting the numbers 9-8-8. Today, health correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee joins Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber to talk about how the hotline works, the U.S. mental health system and what this alternative to 911 means for people in crisis.

Further Reading:
- The new 988 mental health hotline is live. Here's what to know
- Social Media Posts Criticize the 988 Suicide Hotline for Calling Police. Here's What You Need to Know

Below is a non-comprehensive list of other hotlines and resources from our colleague Aneri Pattani at Kaiser Health News. Some resources may geographically limit services.
- BlackLine is a hotline geared toward the Black, Black LGBTQ+, brown, Native, and Muslim communities
- Kiva Centers offers daily online peer support groups
- M.H. First Oakland and M.H. First Sacramento operate during select weekend hours in the California cities of Oakland and Sacramento
- Peer Support Space hosts virtual peer support groups twice a day Monday through Saturday
- Project LETS provides support by text for urgent issues that involve involuntary hospitalization
- Samaritans of New York is a hotline based in New York City
- Trans Lifeline is a hotline for trans and questioning individuals
- Wildflower Alliance has a peer support line and online support groups focused on suicide prevention

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The Justice Department released a redacted affidavit justifying the FBI search of former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. What's in it, and what's not?

In Washington state, an election security device is the subject of conspiracy theories.

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In a crater at the top of a dormant volcano lies a place so quiet, the ambient sound is right near the threshold of human hearing. Visitors to the crater say they can hear their own heartbeats. This spot, in Haleakalā National Park, has been nicknamed the "quietest place on Earth."

Getting there is no small feat--the ascent involves hiking upward through five different climate zones. But the reward is an experience of natural silence that is increasingly difficult to find.

Conservationists, park scientists, and communities all over the United States are working to conserve their pristine soundscapes while noise pollution from planes, vehicles, and other human sources increases. Today, Regina G Barber talks with producer Margaret Cirino about the history, culture, and sound of the Haleakalā crater, and why it should matter to all of us.

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The federal government will forgive federal student loan debt – up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, and up to $10,000 for others who qualify. We discuss what that means for borrowers, for the economy and how lawmakers are reacting to the president's announcement.

This episode: political reporter Deepa Shivaram, education reporter Sequoia Carrillo, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.

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Humans haven't set foot on the moon in 50 years, but NASA hopes to take one step closer with the launch of a new rocket and space capsule on Monday. Today, science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce joins Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber to talk about what NASA hopes to learn from this test flight and why it might be difficult to justify the program's cost.

Planning to tune in for Monday's launch? Email us at [email protected].

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Trump has gobs of money is his political action committees and as long as he's not officially running for office he can basically spend it however he wants. The rules get more complicated if he announces his reelection bid, but — on the other hand — an official announcement would put immense political pressure on the people investigating him.

This episode: political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, political reporter Deepa Shivaram, and justice correspondent Ryan Lucas.

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Plunge into the ocean off the west coast of Ireland...and then keep plunging, down to where there's no light and the temperature is just above freezing. That's where underwater chemist Sam Afoullouss sends a deep sea robot to carefully collect samples of marine organisms. The goal? To search for unique chemistry that may one day inspire a medicine.

Sam talks giant sponges, dumbo octopuses and bubblegum coral with host Emily Kwong – how to use them as a source for drug discovery while also protecting their wild, intricate ecosystems.

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The Biden administration concluded the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan a year ago this month. What has happened to the tens of thousands who fled the country, and what is life like for those who stayed behind?

This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and international correspondent Diaa Hadid.

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Sweating can be unpleasant, but consider the alternatives: You could roll around in mud. You could spend all day panting. You could have someone whip you up a blood popsicle. Sweating turns out to be pretty essential for human existence, AND arguably less gross than the ways other animals keep from overheating.

On today's episode, a small army of NPR science reporters joins host Emily Kwong to talk about how humans developed the unique ability to perspire, how sweat works in space and the neat things other animals do to beat the heat.

How have you (and the animals in your life) stayed cool this summer? Let us know at [email protected].

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