The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

This morning Monitor editors had an interesting exchange with a dozen Polish journalists, historians, and academics that reminded us of the power of an open-minded conversation. Also: our five stories, addressing hate, soft power on the global stage, suburban women voters, race in college admissions, and how ranchers are changing their relationship to wolves. Join the Monitor's Amelia New for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Today was as good a day as any for us all to have a Howard Beale moment from the 1975 movie, “Network” – to get mad and not to take it anymore. Start with the conversation around the migrant caravan moving through Mexico toward America. Also: an explosion of online donations says about American politics, why the words of spirituality are being heard less often, and how the best way to tackle a problem in Chicago was to make it even bigger. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Eva Botkin-Kowacki for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

The 2018 World Series opens Tuesday night and there are a host of great narratives. Also: our five stories, including paths to progress on women’s rights in Iran, US political polarization, and understanding the Battle of the Alamo in Texas. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Before a pivotal election in Afghanistan on Saturday, there were signs that the effect of this one might be different. Also: our five stories, including a look at Roger Stone, the role of culture in a nation’s ability to handle an influx of refugees, and our need to connect with the natural world. Join the Monitor's Kim Campbell and Mark Sappenfield for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Slowly, the law is catching up with internet trolling. Also: why the United States is not heading towards a second Civil War, how smoking laws succeed at the local level, and one reporter’s musings on a dinner of camel stew in the Sahara desert. Join the Monitor's Arthur Bright and Noelle Swan for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

Carroll Spinney, better known as Big Bird, is retiring this week from “Sesame Street.” His last day of filming is today – for the 50th anniversary episodes of the show. Also: our five stories, including an era of surging activism, furor over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, and the future of fracking in Colorado. Join the Monitor's Yvonne Zipp and Clay Collins for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

“What’s wrong with democracy?” is a common question these days. We’ve asked it ourselves. No matter your political bent, there’s a fear that politics has become so polarized that democracy might be broken. Also: our five stories for the day, including the complicated narrative of the Khashoggi affair, the reputation of Russia’s intelligence agencies, and demand for more early childhood education. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Eva Botkin-Kowacki for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

If you remember the ’70s, you remember Sears. It was where your dad went for tools, your best friend’s mom bought clothes for the family, and where everybody shopped for a Kenmore stove or refrigerator. Also: our five stories, including a look at the deeper strategic US-China conflict, Arab women in Israel running for office, and how art revived an Italian town. Join the Monitor's Laurent Belsie and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

How should nations address migration? Our new series, “On the move: the faces, places, and politics of migration,” will share a variety of perspectives in pivotal places across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Also: our five stories, including worker activism, rethinking how we address climate change, and the Monitor’s new “Perception Gaps” podcast. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Clay Collins for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.

For the first time in 10,000 years, the majority of humankind is no longer poor or vulnerable to falling into poverty. That's big. And that's progress. Also: how hurricane Michael could affect Florida's high stake midterms, a potential end to the dollar's rule as global currency, and how China's clampdown on the internet could ripple beyond its borders. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Eva Botkin-Kowacki for today's news. For more information, visit csmonitor.com/daily.