The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

As Iran urges attendance at rallies Wednesday marking the anniversary of the revolution, many citizens could not be further estranged. On one side are grieving families and others infuriated by the regime’s brutality, and on the other, officials who voice no expressions of regret.

Also: today’s stories, including how upcoming elections offer a chance for a democratic reset in Bangladesh; how AI-generated music, writing, and images are generating questions about the nature and source of creativity itself; and how joy was the point for skiers flying through the air at the Livigno Snow Park on Tuesday afternoon.

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

The SAVE Act would require Americans to prove citizenship before voting in federal elections, and Republicans are eyeing a new strategy to advance it. Opponents say it would disenfranchise millions.

Also: today’s stories, including how some Olympic athletes want to preserve artistry in the quest for “faster, higher, stronger” maneuvers; whether Brazil’s leftist leader can stay on Donald Trump’s good side; and how thousands of dogs and people convened in Colorado for the “world’s largest unofficial gathering” of golden retrievers.

Join the Monitor's Story Hinckley for today's news.

Prediction markets, where people can bet on outcomes of real-world events, often forecast better than traditional polls. But the evolving markets also raise concerns about cheating and corrosion of trust.

Also: today’s stories, including why Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and her party are expected to sweep in Japan’s upcoming election, what one Monitor correspondent recalls from past Winter Olympics coverage, and why USPS chose poet Phillis Wheatley for the latest stamp in its Black Heritage series.

Join the Monitor's Audrey Thibert for today's news.

U.S.-Iran talks set for Friday were briefly canceled, then revived, at the urging of Arab governments. But the two adversaries’ preferred agendas are very different. Amid reciprocal threats, does each side have a realistic grasp of what is at stake?

Also: today’s stories, including how pricey offerings aimed at the wealthy have changed football fans’ stadium experiences; how the International Olympic Committee is testing an affordable approach for host cities; and our film critic’s take on the Cannes favorite, “The President’s Cake.”

Join the Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news.

Reforms following Watergate strengthened the Justice Department’s independence and restored public confidence. Now, amid the Trump administration’s pressure on DOJ norms, polls show that half of Americans doubt that federal law enforcement is fair and impartial.

Also: today’s stories, including why a Reagan-appointed judge resigned over actions by the Trump Administration, why the United States needs to replenish its weapons stockpile, and what role India could play in the emerging global order.

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

After more than a decade of economic crisis and authoritarian rule in Venezuela, President Donald Trump and Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez are banking on oil for the success of their political futures. But that may not be enough for Venezuelans who want more than just economic relief.

Also: today’s stories, including how Republicans are pushing back as Democrats target Department of Homeland Security funding; how Russian forces have been advancing in Ukraine; and how bipartisan opposition to massive data centers is playing out in Wisconsin.

Join the Monitor's Scott Baldauf for today's news.

In cases that haven’t gotten a national spotlight, U.S. citizens and legal residents say they’ve been injured by federal immigration enforcement personnel. Their lawyers say these cases are part of a rise in the use of excessive force, tied to the administration’s efforts to detain and deport unauthorized immigrants.

Also: today’s stories, including how one bridge challenges President Donald Trump’s view that Canada is freeloading; and how schoolchildren may see food and fitness change through the “Make America Healthy Again” movement; how in at least one part of the city, Cape Town’s gangs face a formidable foe: the neighborhood “aunties.”

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

President Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to head the Federal Reserve calmed markets, but the former member of the board of governors could also set the Fed on a new course.

Also: today’s stories, including how an electoral victory in Myanmar offers hope to some for the restoration of democratic norms; a theme of resistance from 1960s Mississippi to 2020s Minnesota civil rights protest history, as examined by our cultural commentator; and one essayist’s take that winter has much more to offer than snow and slush.

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

Amassing military forces and bolstered by Iran’s perceived vulnerability, President Donald Trump says “time is running out.” Replying with threats of its own, the Islamic Republic is trying to restore its deterrence and survive what it realizes is an existential challenge.

Also: today’s stories, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s appearance at the Monitor Breakfast; how members of the public and lawmakers are investigating use of force by local and federal law enforcement in the U.S.; and whether President Donald Trump’s energy policy cedes the future of energy production to China

Join the Monitor's Audrey Thibert for today's news.

The seizure of Nicolás Maduro has encouraged Venezuelans, especially in terms of economic growth, but they are unsure what it means for the state of democracy in the South American nation.

Also: today’s stories, including how the U.S.’ National Defense Strategy is pledging “more limited” U.S. support to friendly nations and deterring China “through strength, not confrontation”; how, for a group of young musicians in the Republic of Congo, their orchestra is a cherished opportunity of a lifetime; and our immigration reporter offers more information about the roles various federal agencies play in immigration enforcement.

Join the Monitor's Victoria Hoffmann for today's news.