Short Wave

Maddie and Emily wish you Happy Holidays and share some science facts you can show off at your next holiday party. Plus, a little reminder of how you can show your support for the show. Find and donate to your local public radio station at donate.npr.org/short. Follow Maddie and Emily on Twitter, @maddie_sofia and @emilykwong1234. Email the show at [email protected].

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This week, the NPR Politics Podcast investigates defining moments in the lives of four top Democratic presidential candidates to understand how those experiences shape their politics today.

In deep conversations in college dorms at the height of the Iraq war, Pete Buttigieg joined friends to create an informal group with a mission: rebuild a Democratic Party that would live up to progressive ideals.

Now a top contender for the Democratic nomination, Buttigieg has cultivated a more moderate brand — and faces criticism from a new generation of college-aged activists.

Read more: Pete Buttigieg Spent His Younger Days Pushing Democrats Off Middle Ground

This episode: campaign correspondent Asma Khalid, campaign correspondent Scott Detrow, and White House correspondent Tamara Keith.

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On Christmas Eve, scientists at field stations across Antarctica sing carols to one another...via shortwave. On today's episode, the Short Wave podcast explores shortwave radio. We speak with space physicist and electrical engineer Nathaniel Frissell about this Antarctic Christmas Carol tradition and his use of shortwave radio for community science.

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Earlier this year, Ukraine elected a comedian as its new president, kicking off a wave of reform that swept the country. Just as Ukrainians felt as though they finally had a chance at ending corruption in their country, they found themselves embroiled in a corruption scandal here in the United States.

NPR's Gregory Warner of the podcast Rough Translation joins the NPR Politics Podcast to share his reporting from Ukraine. He shares the story of one newly elected parliamentarian as he races to fix a broken system before time runs out.

Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of Rough Translation's mini series on Ukraine.

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The story of how a father and son team - one a physicist, one a geologist - helped solve a big scientific mystery. What brought the reign of dinosaurs to an end? NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris tells us how they turned to an element, iridium, for answers. Plus, how iridium could help prevent another potential future global catastrophe. It's our celebration of 150 years of the periodic table of elements. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia. Email the team at [email protected].

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are locked in a procedural fight over the format of President Trump's impeachment trial.

The Senate was expected to begin the trial in January, but cannot do so until they have officially received the articles of impeachment from the House.

After some Democrats expressed concerns that Senate Republicans would not conduct the trial in good faith, Pelosi has held off on transmitting the articles as senators negotiate the trial's format.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, Congressional correspondent Susan Davis, senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro, and senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving.

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In the early 20th century, a blight fungus wiped out most of the 4 billion American chestnut trees on the eastern seaboard. The loss was ecologically devastating. Pod reporter Emily Kwong tells us how scientists are trying to resurrect the American chestnut tree — and recent controversy over a plan to plant genetically modified chestnuts in the wild.

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The last Democratic presidential debate of 2019, sponsored by the PBS NewsHour and Politico, has concluded.

After an hour without direct clashes, Sen. Elizabeth Warren attacked South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg over his willingness to hold fundraisers with wealthy donors. Buttigieg in turn accused Warren of hypocrisy, saying she raised money in a similar way while serving in the Senate.

The candidates also differed sharply over health care, exposing the debates over pragmatism versus big ideas within the Democratic party.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, campaign correspondent Scott Detrow, campaign correspondent Asma Khalid, and political reporter Danielle Kurtzleben.

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In 2013, Robert Chelsea was hit by a drunk driver and sustained third-degree burns on more than half of his body. Nearly six years later, he became the first African American recipient of a full face transplant. We talk with Chelsea and Jamie Ducharme, a Time staff writer who followed his journey, about the procedure and how his story could help encourage organ donation by African Americans. Follow Maddie on Twitter @maddie_sofia. And email the show at [email protected].

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For just the third time in American history, the House of Representatives has voted to impeach the president of the United States. The chamber approved both proposed articles of impeachment — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Trump is accused of pressuring the president of Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joseph Biden, a political rival, and will soon face a trial in the Senate.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, Congressional correspondent Susan Davis, and National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson.

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