Canada is having its worst fire season in modern history. The fires have burnt more than 20 million acres, casting hazardous smoke over parts of the U.S. and stretching Canadian firefighting resources thin. Public officials and many news headlines have declared the fires as "unprecedented," and in the modern-sense they are. But NPR climate correspondent Nate Rott has been talking to researchers who focus on the history of wildfire in Canada's boreal forests and they say the situation is not without precedent.

Want more stories on the environment? Drop us a line at [email protected].

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Republicans set Jan. 15, 2024, as the date for their Iowa caucuses, but candidates have already been camping out in the Hawkeye State trying to win hearts and minds. What messages are they sending, and are they resonating with the state's voters?

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, politics correspondent Susan Davis, and Iowa Public Radio lead political reporter Clay Masters.

The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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Companies are making investment decisions based on environmental, social and corporate governance factors, also known as ESG. Those financial choices can include backing greener technologies, which rankles leaders in some Republican-led municipalities and states, who are skeptical of climate change.

This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, climate and corporations correspondent Michael Copley, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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In the Port of Baltimore, a ship is docked that hasn't transported passengers for more than 50 years. It's the NS Savannah and it's designated a National Historic Landmark. That's because it was the first—and only—nuclear-powered passenger ship to have ever been built. Science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel tells us about his recent tour of the ship and why it was a symbol of peace in it's time.

To see more pictures of Geoff's visit to the NS Savannah, including one from 1962 when the ship was operational, click this link.

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The government's ability to fight disinformation online has suffered a legal setback that experts say will have a chilling effect on communications between federal agencies and social media companies.

A ruling by a federal district judge in Louisiana could have far-reaching consequences for the government's ability to work with Facebook and other social media giants to address false and misleading claims about COVID, vaccines, voting, and other issues that could undermine public health and erode confidence in election results.

This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and disinformation correspondent Shannon Bond.

The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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20 years ago, the cult classic movie 'The Core' was released in theaters. From the start, it's clear that science is more a plot device than anything — but some scientists love it anyway. Today, Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber has a friendly laugh with geologist Jackie Caplan-Auerbach about the creative liberties writers took to make the movie's plot work.

P.S. We're biased here, but we don't think you need to have seen the movie to enjoy this episode.

This edition of our periodic 'movie club' series, where we separate fact from fiction, was highly requested by you, our audience. If you want us to do the same for another movie you love, write us! We're at [email protected].

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There are a number of Republican investigations looking into President Biden and his son, Hunter, ongoing in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers say that they are under pressure from their base.

This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and national justice correspondent Carrie Johnson.

The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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In Atlanta, dozens of activists who oppose a new police and fire training facility are being accused of domestic terrorism. That has alarmed civil liberties and human rights groups — and reignited a national discussion over policing.

Protestors have alleged that law enforcement are targeting out-of-state visitors for arrest. In an interview on WANF-TV, Georgia's Attorney General Christopher Carr said "if you come to this state, engage in acts of violence to destroy infrastructure and property with the intended effect of changing public policy, it is a domestic terrorism charge." Carr's office did not respond to NPR requests for an interview.

This episode: national political correspondent Sarah McCammon, domestic extremism correspondent Odette Yousef, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.

The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

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We hope you had a restful holiday! Maybe even got outside for some relaxing fresh air. If so, you might've come across cute and not-so-cute critters like ticks. With ticks in mind, we're heading to Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas. Among the trees and trails, researchers like Adela Oliva Chavez search for blacklegged ticks that could carry Lyme disease. She's looking for answers as to why tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease are spreading in some parts of the country and not others. Today, what Adela's research tells us about ticks and the diseases they carry, and why she's dedicated her career to understanding what makes these little critters ... tick. (encore)

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The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act is a $1.2 trillion law meant to spur a massive infrastructure renewal and rebuilding program complete with new bridges, railroads and highways.

It also allocates $65 million to expand internet access to all.

Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans, is the man Biden tapped to make sure the massive job gets done.

In this episode from Consider This from NPR, Scott Detrow speaks with Landrieu about the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides monthly $30 subsidies for lower-income individuals to buy Internet access, and with Kathryn de Wit, project director for the Pew Charitable Trust's Broadband Access Initiative, about why accessing the internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

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