The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

If you like the World Cup, you’re a globalist. And you might just represent the best hope this century has to offer. Just listen to Yuval Noah Harari, a historian at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who cited the World Cup as an event that brims with both national fervor and “global harmony.” Also: our five stories, which include how President Trump is managing impeachment, how Harry and Meghan are managing their new life, and how a library is literally divided by international affairs. And visit csmonitor.com for our tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Ken Kaplan for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

“It’s not magic, and it’s not saintly.” That’s what Jim Lehrer said about his approach to covering the news. For almost 40 years Mr. Lehrer, who passed away Thursday, was a beacon of integrity in journalism.Also: Our five stories, which include the strains on Australia’s century-old volunteer bushfire fighting force, the question of whether a community can have too much diversity, and the struggles of Mexico’s president to tamp down national violence. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Lindsey McGinnis for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

On February 6th, Bob Vollmer will report for duty as an Indiana land surveyor for the last time. The 102-year-old says he’s finally ready to enjoy retirement. Instead of a gold watch, the World War II Navy veteran will retire with Indiana’s highest honor, the Sagamore of the Wabash, which he shares with David Letterman and Harry Truman. Also: our five stories, which explore restrictions on media access during the impeachment trial, the transformation of a Hungarian village into a Hasidic pilgrimage destination, and a rapper who is defining beauty for herself. Join the Monitor's Yvonne Zipp and Ken Kaplan for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Last week, we published a video on members of the DeafBlind community crafting a language that speaks to their remarkable talents and perception of the world. It was genuinely moving. Also: our five stories, which look at the uncertainties about Bernie Sanders, a path to reconciliation in Colombia (maybe), and music empowering African women. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Molly Jackson for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Hate can fade, but tattoos are permanent. That’s where Zanesville, Ohio, tattoo artist Billy Joe White comes in. Also: Our five stories, including the politics of impeachment, a court case on the separation of church and state, and France’s role in African security. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Eva Botkin-Kowacki for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

We can think of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial as a learning opportunity — a process that will test the system of self-governance the Founding Fathers laid out. Also: a recurring thread in U.S. Mideast strategy, a new battlefront in the gun-rights debate, and a power struggle between two factions within Shia Islam. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann and Jingnan Peng for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

The first woman to step on the moon could be an Iranian American. Also: a look at President Vladimir Putin’s leadership transition plan, talking about faith with Democratic presidential candidates, and a delightful film about “The Woman Who Loves Giraffes.” Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Eva Botkin-Kowacki for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Political polarization, it turns out, might not really be what we think it is. Also: why the U.S.-China trade war is thawing, a new bid to protect wild horses, and the remarkable language being invented by the deaf-blind community. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

What role should politics play in the lives of children? Across the United States, parents are grappling with how to shepherd their children through the contentious 2020 election cycle. Also: our five stories, including China’s emerging role in the Middle East, Quebec’s ban on religious symbols, and how offbeat science leads to new thinking. Join the Monitor's Kim Campbell and Dave Scott for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

When news came Saturday that Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Gulf nation’s ruler since 1970, had died, Monitor editors began trading messages. At a time of great regional polarization, the sultan’s decades of quiet mediation deserve notice. Also: our five stories, including Israel’s Iran dilemma, the fallout of Latin American protests, a city’s reach to save its schools, and a deeper take on women’s self-defense. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Samantha Laine Perfas for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.