The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

President Donald Trump has aimed big with moves ranging from domestic deregulation to a deal for Venezuelan oil. But other factors, notably his war in Iran, have pushed some key energy prices up.

Also: today’s stories, including a look at a potential revision of whaling laws in Iceland; why two supreme court justices in Brazil are trading barbs – and allegations of illegal activity; and our essayist’s encounter with an alligator in the suburbs.

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

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Americans still see their country as an important player on the world stage. But their views on how the U.S. should engage globally have been shifting, driven in part by partisan politics.

Also: today’s stories, including why Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen are heading toward war; why the US appears to have given up on nuclear deal with Iran; and our photographer’s remembrance of one of her hardest shoots – and the light she found there.

Join the Monitor's Mackenzie Farkus for today's news.

After the 2001 attacks, pundits predicted a “clash of civilizations,” a geopolitical theory popular in the 1990s. The reality has been much more complicated.

Also: today’s stories, including a look at a debate in Rhode Island over a new tax law targeting vacation homes; how the U.N. will choose its next chief as pressure to prove its relevance mounts; and why urban foraging is rising amid an uptick in food prices.

Join the Monitor's Matthew Bell for today's news.

The success of the far-right Alternative for Germany in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt has led to disbelief in a country that has tried to avoid any repetition of its extremist past. Germans are now asking whether the party is a threat to democracy or if, after its electoral success, other parties should work with it.

Also: today’s stories, including why Israel’s “capital of the north” is struggling to recover financially and demographically; a look at how homebuyer programs and a new bipartisan housing bill could help hopeful homebuyers find a way into the market; and how Massachusetts is adjusting to hotter weather.

Join the Monitor's Chris Sherman for today's news.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is touring developing and middle-income countries. The visits are designed to show his clout and win support for Beijing’s agenda.

Also in today’s stories: A look at the latest U.S. jobs report; the complex legacy of Gloria Steinem; and the story of an ancient tapestry that binds two nations. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

The resignation of Army secretary Dan Driscoll highlights a pattern of moves by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that appears to prioritize political loyalty over expertise.

Also in today’s story: How flock cameras sparked a surveillance revolt; how Israeli-Turkish conflict of interests led to a strike on a Syrian air base; and how researchers made an unexpected discovery along Route 66. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The International Criminal Court was set up to bring individuals to justice for war crimes. But its future is now being questioned by the United States. At issue is whether the U.S. should maintain its commitment to international justice or try to end an organization it sees as flawed and overreaching its authority.

Also: today’s stories, including how a new round of strikes by the United States and Iran threatens to restart a conflict in the Middle East; a look at how Boston is making strides in composting; and how in Somaliland, a major book fair is putting the unrecognized country on the literary map.

Join the Monitor's Matthew Bell for today's news.

Iran’s economy was in ruins even before the war, and before U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest “D-Day” sanctions. So far, ordinary Iranians are bearing the brunt and feeling apathetic, meaning surviving leaders, for now, might face a lower risk of an uprising.

Also: today’s stories, including why tech leaders are moving to put data centers in space; why small-scale nuclear reactors are drawing interest as stable, economically feasible power generators; and a look at Côte d'Ivoire’s economic aspirations as its capital, Abidjan, will soon be home to Africa’s tallest building.

Join the Monitor's Chris Sherman for today's news.

Utah aims to be industry-friendly. But choosing a fragile ecosystem to house a sprawling data facility has generated intense grassroots opposition.

Also: today’s stories, including whether a U.S.-Venezuelan oil deal could bolster schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in the country; how farmers across Europe are trying to adapt to hotter summer temperatures and less rainfall; and how one former Marine is celebrating the lives of resilient public servants in his latest book.

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

Many countries and companies are competing to be the first to achieve “artificial general intelligence,” a theoretical AI that can match or beat humans in any task. China hopes that putting AI in a body – by investing in humanoid robots – will give their developers an edge.

Also: today’s stories, including what Iceland is weighing before it votes on whether to restart talks about joining the European Union; how a global initiative to pay-what-you-can for high end dining started by a restaurant in Mexico City has expanded; and a Monitor writer’s review of DéLana R.A. Dameron’s last novel, “Fairfield County.”

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