The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Funding the government is ultimately a must-pass priority for Congress. But with votes from both parties needed, it’s also an opportunity for the minority Democrats to seek leverage. And pressure from their base is pushing them toward taking a hard line.

Also: today’s stories, including Russia’s new rival to Eurovision; one Monitor writer’s reflection on his first trip to Tokyo; and our Monitor film critic’s remembrance of Robert Redford’s career and legacy.

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

The sidelining of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show could signal a wider chilling effect on free speech, under pressure from President Donald Trump and regulators under him. But the move also comes as media companies are facing a difficult financial environment.

Also: today’s stories, including how a French-Saudi initiative supporting an independent Palestine keeps discussion alive; what comes next after youth-led protests brought down Nepal’s government; and why visiting Canada's Yukon is a privilege — and an adventure.

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

The Federal Reserve’s mission, outlined by Congress, is to spur job growth while keeping inflation under control. Its objectives have grown trickier this year amid political pressure from the White House, a slowing job market, and still-high inflation.

Also: today’s stories, including how moves to codify religious draft exemptions to Israeli military service have fanned resentments; how Canada and Mexico seek to renew connections with each other; and why California’s Governor Gavin Newsom's is a test case for Democratic presidential candidacy.

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

Republicans have long railed against “cancel culture” and blamed the left for seeking to curb free speech. Now, they are catching criticism on the same grounds in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination – and potentially going further by having government officials involved.

Also: today’s stories, including how Charlie Kirk’s allies are vowing to continue his political legacy, how some Syrians are taking steps to build a democratic legislature, and our review of “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival," by Stephen Greenblatt.

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

By 2027, the hard right could govern economies worth roughly half of European GDP, the Economist said earlier this month. “It’s about time the government listened to what the British people want,” one hairdresser tells the Monitor.

In today’s stories, we also look at the new U.S.-China deal on TikTok, a strike by bar advocates in Massachusetts, and a program to train rural and Indigenous filmmakers in India.

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

The U.S. has entered a new age of political violence, evidenced by the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Those who work in conflict resolution say Americans need to engage in the hard work of seeing those we disagree with as fully human and worthy of respect.

Also: today’s stories, including how the U.K. is grappling with the controversial public display of St. George’s flag; how Moscow is ignoring war in favor of nonstop celebration this summer; and how one essayist chooses to cherish September.

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

Inflation posted a 2.9% annual rate in August, up from 2.3% in April. Job creation has slowed sharply. These key indicators put pressure on Republicans as the party in power – even as they push blame toward the Federal Reserve and Democrats.

Also: today’s stories, including how gruesome footage of the killings of Charlie Kirk and a Ukrainian refugee has renewed debate about safeguards for online content; whether Israel and Syria can find common ground on border issues; and how the U.S. Department of War will differ from the Defense Department.

Join the Monitor's Cameron Pugh for today's news.

Chinese students and scholars have long made up the largest foreign scientific community in America, a major talent pool. The Trump administration has not made them feel welcome; can Beijing tempt them to return home?

Also: today’s stories, including whether Gaza peace talks are possible after a failed Israeli Hamas assassination; how residents of Gaza City are struggling to find places to go after an Israeli evacuation order; and our film critic’s guide to the Toronto International Film Festival.

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

Rather than replacing workers, AI is making humans more productive, the evidence so far suggests.

In today’s stories, we look at the Trump administration’s plan to downsize the State Department, the potential U.S. government shutdown, and how New England states are dealing with a Canadian travel boycott. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.

Reading and math skills among U.S. high school seniors have fallen to their lowest levels on record, according to an upcoming report. “If we are serious about helping kids to learn … we need to carve out the time for it,” an advocate of science and math learning tells the Monitor.

In today’s stories, we also look into the U.S. missile attack against an alleged crime boat, the lives of Ukraine’s front-line medics, and the horror film boom in Indonesia.

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