The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

What went wrong in Afghanistan? Monitor correspondent Anna Mulrine Grobe helps dissect a new report that offers several explanations. Also: today’s stories, including one Ukrainian man’s desperate effort to save his neighbors from the Russians, NATO expansion, and Britain’s new plan to ship asylum-seekers to Rwanda. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Noelle Swan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

“Big John” Fetterman’s easy win in Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate primary came as no surprise, despite a last-minute health emergency. Now, the literally larger-than-life lieutenant governor – he’s 6-foot-8, and often clad in shorts and a hoodie – will test the idea that the “Democratic Party’s increasingly progressive brand can broaden its appeal, if it comes in radically different packaging,” as the Monitor’s Story Hinckley wrote in a recent profile. Also: today’s stories, including a look at Georgia’s primary race, why young workers have rising pro-union passion, and Shireen Abu Akleh’s lesson for young journalists. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann and Dave Scott for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Posts about the national baby formula shortage in a Facebook group for parents in my eastern Massachusetts town caught my attention recently. After several moms asked for help finding the formula brands their babies need, a robust team effort developed. Also: today’s stories, including a look at politics in China, Russia’s plan to teach patriotism in schools, and how Florida is fighting fire with fire. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The Buffalo supermarket shooter ranted about something called “Great Replacement” theory in his online diatribes before committing the atrocity on Saturday. We breakdown what it is and how to fix it. Also: today’s stories, including the women out protesting the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, Idaho’s gubernatorial race, and Russian disinformation in Ukraine. Join the Monitor's Clara Germani and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Recently the National Security Archive published new documents revealing aspects of the clandestine struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War in East Berlin. While old, these papers may illuminate some of the aspects of the shadow conflicts undoubtedly occurring now between U.S. and Russian spy agencies in Ukraine, cyberspace, and beyond. Also: today’s stories, including why many Republicans now oppose abortion exceptions for rape, Europe’s shifting strategic posture toward Russia, and how Washington is diving back into Libyan politics. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Clara Germani for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa once brought peace to the island nation. He resigned this week amid a storm of anti-government protests. We explain what happened. Also: today’s stories, including a leftist in Pennsylvania on the rise, a leftist in Chile with falling poll numbers, and Press Secretary Jen Psaki stops by for a Monitor Breakfast. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

In high school, when I started dating the woman who would become my wife, I was immediately attracted by her hilarious, off-color quips. And she totally got my wry jokes. Neither of us would make it on the stand-up comedy circuit. But a shared sense of humor, according to a new dating app, is key to a good relationship. Also: today’s stories, including a look at what motivates American veterans to help Ukrainians, why Finns are ready to embrace a NATO alliance, and a bakery that’s giving employees with a criminal record a fresh start. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and April Austin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

“We, the undersigned Princeton women of ’72, have been deeply shocked by the leaked Supreme Court draft authored by our classmate Justice Samuel Alito.” So begins a letter to be published Wednesday in The Daily Princetonian, the university’s student newspaper. Also: today’s stories, including a look at how Ukrainian refugees and Central American asylum-seekers are treated at the U.S. border, climate-smart agriculture in Somaliland, and how young Nigerians are tackling the stigma of mental health. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann and Jingnan Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

We love the wild. But just how wild do we want it? With mountain lions making a comeback in urban Southern California, many residents are asking that question. Also: today’s stories, including the constitution ripple effects the Supreme Court’s draft decision on abortion could have, misinformation in Brazil, and keeping the lights on in Puerto Rico. Join the Monitor's Clara Germani and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The Monitor’s Erika page thought that in high school, she had a fairly good sense of the big problems facing society. She had been trained to critique the status quo, but rarely asked to think deeply about where to go from there. Also: today’s stories, including the legal warfare surrounding abortion rights, people’s responses to China’s zero-COVID-19 regime, and an update from Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States. Join the Monitor's Noelle Swan and Jingnan Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.