The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

As we return to indoor dining, group gatherings, and in-person school, we can count on one “institution” rebounding – the lost-and-found. Who knew that a bin full of gloves, sunglasses, and keys would be a welcome sign of recovery. Even better is what’s lost, found, and returned. Also: today’s stories, including fragile gains for women in Senegal, how the U.S. education system’s ‘best-kept secret’ stays afloat, and how time can be denied to people because of race, gender, and disability. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Jingnan Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan that the Biden administration announced last week is about more than building new roads. It’s also about addressing the harm that came about decades ago when some communities – often Black neighborhoods – were destroyed for the sake of building interstate highways. Also: today’s stories, including the geopolitical implications of the alleged coup in Jordan, women who have reconsidered having a baby amid the pandemic, and a look at the unsung heroes who helped break the color barrier in professional baseball.

The world’s maritime nightmare is over: the Suez Canal is unplugged. People on the Internet can stop suggesting weird ways to free the Ever Given, or using it as a metaphor for other immobile problems of our times. But here’s a last comment on Suez news: You know who might have had something interesting to say about it? Abraham Lincoln. Really. Also: today’s stories, including why cities are experimenting with giving people cash payments, Russian and Chinese vaccine support in Latin America, and how land acknowledgements help indigenous peoples. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Justine Siegal dreamed as a girl of playing professional baseball. She never got to test that dream because of her gender. Instead, she became the first female coach in Major League Baseball. Why does this matter? The world of sports is both a reflection and a driver of cultural trends. Seemingly small changes send ripples of broader movement across society. Also: today’s stories, including whether or not a bullying comedy routine should be legal, how to defuse tensions between China and the U.S., and the second installment in a series about hunger in America. Join the Monitor's Noelle Swan and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Why is giving so infectious? Social scientists have a name for the unique feeling of joy people get when they see acts of kindness. They call it “moral elevation.” That feeling, in turn, fosters more giving. And generosity can be a powerful community change agent. Also: today’s stories, including a path forward for college affordability, the face of hunger in America, and an essay on being Asian American in the U.S. today. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Jessica Mendoza for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

For the past week, the world has gotten a glimpse of a spring campfire, Iceland-style. When the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted, people did not flee in terror. They came by the thousands to watch. Also: today’s stories, including why Minneapolis activists are looking beyond the verdict, our latest “It’s About Time” podcast episode on how the clock became king, and classrooms that are oddly old-school in Germany. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Molly Jackson for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

What do you do when your democracy is struggling? The Monitor is reexamining this question with a series on democracy, kicking off today. While the 2020 U.S. presidential election and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol have sparked deep concerns, there are also reasons to be optimistic. Also: today’s stories, including the implications of the Amazon union drive in Bessemer, Alabama, cooperation among West African countries in the fight against piracy, and a campaign to upcycle used tires to create playgrounds in India. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The classical music world is wrestling with how to build awareness of Black American contributions and foster greater diversity. For one scholar, that involves deeply exploring the legacy of a composer who was not even American. Also: today’s stories, including how Myanmar protesters are bridging religious divides, how Colorado is grappling with the legacy of mass shootings, and the possibility of an independent Russian internet. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

President Joe Biden made plenty of news at his first press conference since taking office. But the focus was on today’s most pressing issues. Mr. Biden set a new goal of 200 million COVID-19 vaccination shots in his first 100 days. That’s up from 100 million, in keeping with a time-honored political strategy: underpromise and overdeliver. Also: today’s stories, including a look at filibusters, personal liberties during the pandemic, and how Canada is reckoning with its slavery history. Join the Monitor's Jessica Mendoza and Noah Robertson for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The headlines proclaimed Evanston, Illinois, the “first US city to make reparations to Black residents.” Well, yes, and no. Also: today’s stories, including Biden’s no-win situation on the border, how schools are helping with student well-being, and how colorism affects Britain’s minority communities. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Samantha Laine Perfas for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.