SmartHER News

By Jenna LeeNews Education

Favorites
130
Followers
Typical duration
29 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

SmartHER News episodes

October 19 Paris Burning? What's Happening In France & Why It Matters. Plus ~ Are We One Step Closer To Finding Amelia Earhart?
The latest on a rare owl nest in NYC, the shortest White House press secretary tenure in recorded history and how much the war in the Middle East has cost the average American household.

Your news update in 15 minutes! Quick. Concise. Nonpartisan. SmartHER.
16 min
October 14 A Missing Link: The Cases Of Lindsay Clancy, Nolan Wells and Cornell | With Unbiased Jordan
What do the cases of Lindsay Clancy, Nolan Wells and Cornell have in common? They highlight the importance of a legal procedure often forgotten in our justice system that's critical to whether or not a case heads to court: a grand jury. Join a wide-ranging conversation with attorney and founder of Unbiased, Jordan Berman, who uses her legal expertise to explain the importance of the grand jury process, why it matters and what it means in these 3 stories.

00:00 The Missing Link in Three Legal Cases 00:57 Finding Common Ground in Nonpartisan News 03:20 Meet Jordan Berman, Founder of Unbiased 06:12 What Gets Lost in the Headlines 08:37 Why Grand Juries Matter 09:45 Inside the Grand Jury Process 14:15 Nolan Wells: What No Indictment Means 18:29 Lindsay Clancy: Indictment vs. Trial 22:32 Cornell: The Decision Not to Pursue Charges 30:07 How Media Coverage Shapes Public Opinion 33:04 Ilhan Omar: Questions About the Search Warrant 37:17 What We Don't See Behind the Headlines
39 min
October 13 SmartHER On Rep. Ilhan Omar, Ambassador Guilfoyle & What Matters Most
Your catch-up on news after a holiday weekend!

**As we published this report, news broke of Ambassador Guilfoyle's resignation.

Want to go beyond the headline? Become a SmartHER News Insider and join the conversation — with our private community, exclusive podcast feed and more.
00:00 Columbus Day Backstory 01:12 One of the largest lynchings in U.S. history (Italians targeted) 02:28 Holiday Becomes Federal 03:15 Middle East Escalation 03:38 Houthis Target Airports 05:53 Trade Routes At Risk 06:15 Russian Diesel Deal 07:40 Fuel Prices Context 09:26 Leadership Controversies 10:13 Guilfoyle Resignation Push 12:39 Ilhan Omar Raid Probe 16:17 Wrap Up And Sign Off
17 min
October 07 SmartHER On: The Death Penalty & Three Years After Oct. 7
What does justice look like—and who decides?

Jenna and podcast host Mary Katharine Ham discuss Christa Pike's case in Tennessee and the broader questions it raises about the death penalty, including the time between sentencing and execution. They also reflect on three years since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the changing Middle East and the words news organizations use to tell these stories.

Along the way: the court of public opinion, a brief look at media coverage of the Cornell case, and how the information we receive shapes our understanding. Plus, parenting styles, a favorite hydration drink and making more time to read with our kids.

Want to go beyond the headline? Become a SmartHER News Insider and join the conversation — with our private community, exclusive podcast feed and more.

In this episode: 00:00 Welcome to SmartHER News 01:03 Real Life, Parenting & Consequences 04:34 What Does Justice Look Like? 07:01 Christa Pike & the Death Penalty 12:21 Fort Hood & the Execution Debate 14:45 The Eighth Amendment: Cruel & Unusual Punishment 16:29 Public Opinion, Cornell & Media Coverage 19:57 Three Years After Oct. 7 23:49 How the Media Describes Hamas 26:51 Israeli Politics & the Language of War 28:52 The Nova Exhibition & Remembering the Victims 32:01 Marco Rubio's Speech in Greece 35:24 Iran & the Ripple Effects Across the Middle East 37:08 Something SmartHER: Hydration 39:49 Less Scrolling, More Reading 43:11 Wrap-Up

Show Notes:

Jocko Fuel Hydrate (commissionable link)
45 min
October 05 SmartHER On The Plague, U.S. Military Moves & Jobs
Become An Insider

Jenna of SmartHER News highlights three key stories:

Jobs Report Miss, U.S. Pulls Bombers from UK Base After Alleged Plot, and Russian Lab Plague Concerns September's U.S. jobs report disappointed, showing 29,000 jobs added versus expectations about three times higher (with the next jobs report arriving just before Election Day). She then discusses RAF Fairford in the UK, a strategically important base hosting U.S. B-1 bombers; the U.S. has since pulled the bombers back to the United States, signaling concern despite limited public details on a suspected terrorist plot near the base reportedly tied to Iran (which Iran denies) Finally, she covers reports from Russia of a lab worker dying of a pneumonia-like illness, quarantines at a hospital, and concerns about pneumonic plague. 00:00 Plague Headlines Tease

00:55 Jobs Report Miss 02:17 Why Jobs Data Matters 03:58 US Base UK Plot 06:26 Bombers Pulled Back 07:23 Russia Lab Plague Fears 09:01 What Pneumonic Plague Is 10:08 US Response and Monitoring 11:29 Wrap Up and Thanks
13 min
September 30 SmartHER On: The Cornell Lawsuit, The Midterms, and A Loophole In U.S. Law (And Beyond)
Jenna hosts the SmartHER Podcast with political commentator, podcast host Mary Katharine Ham and war correspondent, writer Holly McKay to discuss a smarter take on this week's major news stories AND share SmartHER Tips! They examine a disturbing Cornell University incident from October 2024 now highlighted by a recent civil lawsuit alleging an overlooked, under-investigated assault. A new twist to the story raises more questions and Jenna shares some insight on the challenges reporting on stories like this one. Hollie adds to our reporting on a surrogacy custody case the Supreme Court declined to hear and shares broader concerns about largely unregulated U.S. commercial surrogacy, including vetting gaps and birthright citizenship questions. Mary Katharine offers a midterm "cheat sheet" on competitive House and Senate seats, turnout, and money. They close with product tips: Naked Sundays SPF, Trader Joe's skincare, and Merit makeup. Our SmartHER Recommendation: Hollie's SmartHER Rec: Naked Sundays Jenna's SmartHER Rec: Merit Makeup (Fall Kit) 00:00 Welcome to SmartHER Podcast 00:41 Cornell Case Overview 02:41 Conflicting Accounts Explained 03:53 How Lawsuits Shape Narratives 07:15 Journalism and Due Process 12:05 What to Watch Next 14:29 Parenting Lessons from Tragedy 16:08 Surrogacy Case Headlines 17:14 Commercial Surrogacy Risks 22:04 Regulation and Political Crosscurrents 25:17 Midterms Cheat Sheet Tease 25:48 What a Wave Year Means 27:23 House Battlefield Math 29:04 Senate Map and Trump Seats 30:18 Key Question for 2024 32:14 Money and Party Funding 33:57 Yard Signs and Enthusiasm 35:46 SmartHER Tips Skincare Picks 36:21 Sunscreen Over Makeup 38:11 Budget Skincare at Trader Joes 39:43 Merit Makeup Fall Reset 41:12 Wrap Up and Farewell
42 min
September 28 A Baseball Field In Grand Teton National Park?
How to become an Insider.

Baseball in a national park? Here's the story that's floating that idea.

Plus, a word of warning for this news cycle and the Supreme Court decides to NOT take a closer look at a surrogacy case that spans three different states. Curious your thoughts on this!

14 min
September 24Austin ICE Shooting, 9/11 Trial Delays & Parents’ School Dilemmas
What don’t we know about the ICE-involved shooting in Austin? Why is the 9/11 case still awaiting trial? And what happens when a parent’s beliefs about education collide with her child’s experience?

Jenna welcomes journalist and war correspondent Holly McKay and political commentator Mary Katharine Ham for a new SmartHER Roundtable: three women, three stories, and something SmartHER to take into your week.

On the table:
Austin’s ICE shooting: What’s known, what remains unanswered, and how to follow developing news when competing accounts emerge.
The 9/11 prosecution: Holly shares her firsthand experience reporting from Guantanamo Bay and discusses why the case has yet to reach trial.
Parents and public schools: Mary Katharine shares her take on Nikole Hannah-Jones’ personal New York Times Magazine essay about her daughter’s education, sparking a conversation about school choice, accountability, and parental involvement.
Plus, motherhood, a thought-provoking book, a favorite sweater, and a home organization idea: the little things helping us live SmartHER.

Enjoy this SmartHER Roundtable? Share it with a friend and tell us: What helped YOU live SmartHER this week?

Show Notes:

Nikole Hannah-Jones: In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own? (New York Times Gift Link)

Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick by Maya Dusenbery

Perelel Collagen+ Defense

Zara Basic Knit Sweater

Arch Magnetic Wall Decal

SmartHER News may earn a small commission from purchases made through our links. Thank you for supporting a free press!
49 min
September 24SmartHER Roundtable: Austin ICE Shooting, 9/11 Trial Delays & Parents' School Dilemmas
What don't we know about the ICE-involved shooting in Austin? Why is the 9/11 case still awaiting trial? And what happens when a parent's beliefs about education collide with her child's experience?

Jenna welcomes journalist and war correspondent Holly McKay and political commentator Mary Katharine Ham for a new SmartHER Roundtable: three women, three stories, and something SmartHER to take into your week.

On the table:

Austin's ICE shooting: What's known, what remains unanswered, and how to follow developing news when competing accounts emerge.

The 9/11 prosecution: Holly shares her firsthand experience reporting from Guantanamo Bay and discusses why the case has yet to reach trial.

Parents and public schools: Mary Katharine shares her take on Nikole Hannah-Jones' personal New York Times Magazine essay about her daughter's education, sparking a conversation about school choice, accountability, and parental involvement.

Plus, motherhood, a thought-provoking book, a favorite sweater, and a home organization idea: the little things helping us live SmartHER.

Enjoy this SmartHER Roundtable? Share it with a friend and tell us: What helped YOU live SmartHER this week? Email [email protected].

Show Notes:

Nikole Hannah-Jones: In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own? (New York Times Gift Link)

Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick by Maya Dusenbery

Perelel Collagen+ Defense

Zara Basic Knit Sweater

Arch Magnetic Wall Decal

SmartHER News may earn a small commission from purchases made through our links. Thank you for supporting a free press!
49 min
September 16 Are We Safer Now? 25 Years After 9/11: Al-Qaeda, AI, and Drone Threats
Twenty-five years after 9/11, how safe are we—and what threats are national security officials watching now?

Jenna breaks down testimony from two congressional hearings examining the evolving terrorism landscape, including Al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan, reports of new training sites, and concerns about how extremist groups could use artificial intelligence, drones and other emerging technologies.

She also explains who now leads Al-Qaeda, why officials are focused on drone threats at major public events, and what lawmakers' questions—and the answers they didn't receive—reveal about America's current security challenges. Plus, one practical takeaway: Is your family prepared if an emergency makes travel or communication difficult?

00:00 Are We Safer Now

03:44 Afghanistan and Al Qaeda

05:45 UN Report and New Terrorist Training Camps

10:36 Who Leads Al Qaeda Now

12:48 Drones as the New Risk

16:03 Big Events and Mass Panic

18:42 What to Watch Next

19:55 Family Emergency Planning

21:06 Thanks and Final Sign Off

SUPPORT OUR MISSION:

Love nonpartisan news? Want a bigger serving of the serious headlines? Here's how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/

Shop our gear!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/

Website: https://smarthernews.com/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews

27 min

About SmartHER News

From the publisher's feed

Life is too short to waste time filtering through headlines searching for the facts. That's when we realized the need for a quick, trustworthy news source that makes staying up-to-date easy and…