The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Today, the Navajo Nation has been hit harder by COVID-19 than any other Native American reservation. And many Irish have responded by supporting a GoFundMe campaign that’s raised more than $1.9 million for the Navajo and Hopi nations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Also in today’s news: protecting both meat packers and the US food supply, the value of an online college class, and the rise of reconciliation within families. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Rebecca Asoulin for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Face coverings, worn out of respect for those who don’t have the luxury of physical distancing, get a lot of creative attention. It’s more than pretty patterns. Tokujin Yoshioka, the Japanese designer behind the 2020 Olympic torch, just developed a free template for a plastic full-face shield. Also in today’s news: Americans’ shifting perspectives on China, the line between expressions of freedom and intimidation, and today’s Supreme Court precedent. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

COVID-19 forced the cancellation of in-person commemorations of the Elbe handshake: the historic moment when allied American and Soviet soldiers met on a bridge over the Elbe River – cutting Germany in two and signaling the Nazis’ defeat. Also: the racial disparities underlying the pandemic, Joe Biden’s #MeToo uproar, and how a Monitor writer beat COVID-19. Join the Monitor's Jessica Mendoza and Peter Grier for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

A report estimates students are likely to return in the fall, after nearly a half-year out of school, with only about 70% of typical reading progress. The number drops to less than 50% for math. Also: how countries are rethinking relations with China, how to spot fake news related to COVID-19, and what Ramadan looks like when Muslims worldwide are self-isolating. Join the Monitor's Kim Campbell and Mark Sappenfield for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Worldwide, the coronavirus is revealing the bedrock of kindness in human nature. Customers at a small shop in Rome pay ahead for groceries, with a twist: They’re paying for those who can’t afford it. Also: how Russia sees the post-Soviet world order, why the left doesn't trust Joe Biden, and poetry's calming voice during the pandemic. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Noelle Swan for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

A new generation is being introduced to drive-in movies amidst the COVID pandemic. Also: a Canadian profile in leadership during crisis, history lessons about navigating financial hardship, and challenging medical misinformation with an African song. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Jerusalem’s chief rabbis and Muslim and Christian leaders gathered to offer a prayer for the world, urge people to rise above differences. Also: Trump courts both sides as tensions mount over lockdowns, officials consider how to adjust rules for now-crowded parks, and Sweden draws on its blend of individual freedom and collectivist values as it tries to stifle a pandemic. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Clay Collins for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

The Hubble Space Telescope launched 30 years ago today. Hubble’s images stand not only as a spectacular illustration of the beauty of deep space, but also of its mind-blowing science. Also: Nova Scotia’s strength amid grief, the surprising effects of the oil price plunge, and the comfort of foster pets. Join the Monitor's Jessica Mendoza and Peter Grier for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

At a time when perspectives on what constitutes “common good” vary wildly, it’s worth looking at communities that bring real intensity to their intentionality. A social challenge like the coronavirus calls for making community the top priority at the global, national, and state levels. Also: five stories, including nuclear weapons chess, governors working together to fight COVID-19, and a ground-level take on the unemployment spike. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Samantha Laine Perfas for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

As of April 2, two things stood out to entrepreneur Roya Mahboob: First, that her country, Afghanistan, had a grand total of 12 working ventilators. And second, across the border in Iran loomed one of the worst coronavirus hotspots on the planet. So she and her team got to work. Also: our five stories, including a look at efforts to end the humanitarian disaster in Yemen, why a backlash against lockdowns is flaring, and our latest list of comfort films. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Rebecca Asoulin for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.