The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Is it right to require someone to take drugs to compete in international sports? Also: We examine how existential fears are changing the behavior of Iran's regime, a more human look into the first days of slavery in America, and how geeks took over the entertainment world. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Sarah Matusek for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

For all you inventors – and those of you upset by the seeming intransigence of politics – this one’s for you. Archaeologists say they have discovered the oldest human footprint yet found in the Americas. Also: today’s five stories, which include a look at why Venezuela’s coup is happening now, intriguing ideas to rebuild rural America, and Peter Rainer’s picks for best April movies. Join the Monitor's Laurent Belsie and Samantha Laine Perfas for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

The Poway, California, synagogue shooting this past weekend paints yet another vivid portrait of hate and violence. But self-sacrifice and unity were also on display. Also: why U.S. offshore drilling faces bipartisan opposition, why the end of an imperial era spurs new beginnings in Japan, and how military vets are finding fulfillment in farming. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Maybe the Mueller Report is a challenge for democracy to solve. This idea isn’t original to us. It comes from a thought-provoking essay on the site “Lawfare” by Yale Law School Prof. Samuel Moyn. Also: our five stories, including the effects of regime change in Iran and Venezuela, why Uncle Sam is popping up on Instagram, and the environmental impact of meal kits. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Sarah Matusek for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

The strength of a well-functioning community can seem just … organic. But before you arrive at a set of people who have confident agency, you need someone with a vision for creating it. Also: today’s stories, looking at a peacemaking twist on the Korean Peninsula, ingenuity in opposition tactics in Latin America, and the playoff perseverance of a pro athlete. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Molly Jackson for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Very quickly, Justin Wolfers realized that his tweet had not gone according to plan. Earlier this month, the economist had meant to say that good sociologists are needed to better shape vital policy discussions. Instead, he’d basically called them all lazy. Also: our five stories for the day, including a critical look at the death penalty, the morality of public officials, and how genetic modification could restore the American chestnut. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Rebecca Asoulin for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Earlier this year, 1,000 Yale University students hosted a “browse-in” in defense of the printed word. They were protesting a plan to reduce the stacks of 150,000 books in the undergraduate library to 40,000 volumes and relocate the rest to another campus library. Also: our stories for today, including a look at the Sri Lanka terror attacks, a controversial census question, and novel ways to boost student counseling. Join the Monitor's Laurent Belsie and Eva Botkin-Kowacki for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

As Sri Lankans take stock of the weekend terrorist attacks on Catholic churches and popular hotels, they are starting to remember those killed. The attacks, coming on a weekend of deep significance for Jews and Christians, point to the global need to more actively confront a slew of violence targeting not only synagogues and churches, but mosques as well. Also: our five stories, which address gender issues in politics, persistence, and giving credit where credit is due. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Ken Kaplan for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

At 11:03 a.m. yesterday Peter Grier received a ping on our internal email system from Liz Marlantes, our Washington editor. “Report just went live,” it said. The Justice Department had pushed the button and posted on its website special counsel Robert Mueller’s report. What followed were five and a half hours of teamwork that produced Thursday’s lead Monitor story. Also: our five stories for the day, which include an exploration of how members of Congress are looking at the implications of the Mueller report, and a counternarrative challenging the notion that a cleaner energy future must come at workers’ expense. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

How freely should we innovate when we are restoring historic buildings? More precisely, should the future Notre Dame Cathedral, when it has been restored after this week’s fire, look exactly like the old one? Also: our stories for today, including a look at the Mueller report, the finale of our yearlong series in Tulsa, and how oysters are cleaning up New York Harbor. Join the Monitor's Peter Ford and Molly Jackson for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.