The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

President Donald Trump’s brief mention of Iran in his State of the Union address was still short of a complete argument for how and why striking Iran, which would risk a wider Middle East conflict, would further U.S. interests.

Also: today’s stories, including how U.S. President Donald Trump’s new retirement plan builds on a bipartisan model; what Trump’s view of U.S. military power could mean for Iran-US talks; and how some prominent U.S. universities are paring back campus spending in response to endowment tax hikes.

Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

The United States has amassed the largest force since the war in Iraq. Iran threatens an all-out response to any attack, even if limited. As they prepare for nuclear diplomacy in Geneva to avoid conflict, each side appears to be misreading the other.

Also: today’s stories, including how as the world fights over Greenland, its people double down on their own values; a look at space-based data centers; and how mobile libraries are upending the belief among many Pakistanis that reading is a pastime reserved for the elite.

Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

President Donald Trump tried to respond boldly with new tariffs to counter a Supreme Court ruling that went against him. But the White House’s economic calculus is in flux as global leaders reconsider trade deals.

Also: today’s stories, including how violence that often follows the takedown of a drug cartel leader is a public reminder that peace might not be imminent; how some economists see income taxes as a drag on productivity; and how one Monitor reporter fell in love with the roses in the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.

Join the Monitor's Kurt Shillinger for today's news.

The hostages, living and dead, are home, yet the war in Gaza is unfinished business for Israelis. As the country pivots toward election-year politics, how is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to authorize an independent state inquiry into Oct. 7 playing?

Also: today’s stories, including why the Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s use of an emergency economic law to set broad tariffs; how schools that support undergraduates’ basic needs are reporting better retention and achievement rates; and our reviewers’ favorite books of February.

Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Artificial intelligence is developing so rapidly that some industry insiders fear safety concerns aren’t getting enough attention. That’s sparking conversation about how to balance innovation, competition, and safeguards.

Also: today’s stories, including how recent internet blackouts in Iran, Uganda, and beyond highlight a new front emerging in conflicts around the world; how missing the Winter Olympics podium can be the motivation athletes need to do better next time; and how a great “de-risking” is underway among some of the oldest allies of the United States, writes our columnist.

Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace is convening amid doubts about this approach to diplomacy. Muslim and Arab countries, hoping to influence Gaza’s path forward, have signed on. Western democracies, wary of further weakening international institutions, are staying away.

Also: today’s stories, including how refugees in Minnesota are challenging the Trump administration; a look at some Democratic U.S. governors emerging as top contenders for their party’s 2028 presidential nomination; and how India wants to shape the AI era – not just service it.

Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Ukraine and Russia may be at the negotiating table, but for the Ukrainian public, the idea of giving up territory for peace is still anathema. What would make Ukrainians consider such concessions? Guarantees of security against future Russian aggression.

Also: today’s stories, including how yellow cement blocks demarcating Israeli-held territory in Gaza are making Palestinians feel trapped; how women Olympians are making their mark in the Winter Games at ages well past what is considered the prime for elite athletes; and how support for tribal members has surged among residents of the Twin Cities.

Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.

Recent votes on tariffs and blunt public criticisms signal a GOP that’s more willing to defy President Donald Trump – and worried about this fall’s midterm elections.

Also: today’s stories, including a look at community ski hills in New Hampshire; how British politicians are finding no place to hide in the wake of the Epstein files; and why Democrats are pressing for immigration enforcement reform as a Department of Homeland Security shutdown nears.

Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

As U.S. and European security officials gather for key meetings this week, leaders are taking steps to navigate shifts in the traditional transatlantic alliance.

Also: today’s stories, including: why the Trump administration is rescinding a rule that enables the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases; how a Portuguese election hints at the potential limits of U.S. President Donald Trump’s brand of far-right populism in Europe; and a look at the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban a Ukrainian Olympian trying to honor those who had lost their lives at home during the Winter Games.

Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The release of documents surrounding sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has stirred massive media attention, but it remains unclear if prosecutions will result. Instead of the files providing clarity, one result so far is a frenzy of speculation and conspiracy theories.

Also: today’s stories, including why a positive January jobs report leaves economists uncertain; why women are notably absent from this week’s ballots in Bangladesh; and the importance of this year's location for the Winter Olympics.

Join the Monitor's Christa Case Bryant for today's news.