The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

What does justice look like? Today, a Salvadoran writer looks at the president of El Salvador's consolidated approach, including having the power to arrest and detain suspected criminals without warrants or evidence. Also: today’s stories, including how Israelis are far less unified in support of war nearly a year and a half after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, an Indonesian foundation's work keeping alive their diverse textile traditions, and how President Donald Trump is providing a real-time test of whether courts can actually rein in the executive branch. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Today’s Daily tells two stories of the struggle to find agency amid despair, from the power of a pen to the search for a diamond ring among the ashes. Our stories also include the Kurds getting mixed messages about their role in the ‘new’ Syria, and whether politics outrank merit as Trump molds military leadership. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield for today's news.

Moscow says it agrees with the U.S. proposal for a Ukraine ceasefire, but wants to know the details of the plan. The kicker: it’s not clear whether those exist. More discussions will be needed to clarify whether President Vladimir Putin’s slow-walking approach is an attempt to bury the U.S. plan, or just evidence of an abundance of caution.

Also: today’s stories, including our interview with Marissa Resa, a longtime critic of former Philippines President Michael Duterte, in the wake of Duterte’s trial at the Hague; a five-year plan to reconstruct Gaza, organized by leaders of the Arab world; and a review of two books focused on America’s post-Civil War era.

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

President Donald Trump has steered the United States firmly back into the realm of power politics. Three of our stories today offer varied views of leverage – from Democrats’ lack of it in Congress, to Saudi Arabia’s ability to be a major player in the global game, to the complex calculations of tariffs. Also, we have a story on a new Broadway show’s towering co-star: Stella the tree. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield for today's news.

Less than a week after immigration officials in New York arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist and a green-card holder, much remains unclear about the government’s specific accusations against him. Some immigration advocates are wary of government retaliation against First Amendment-protected speech; others see Mr. Khalil’s case as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

Also: today’s stories, including what cuts to the U.S. Department of Education may mean for U.S. education; investigations into Israeli intelligence failures after the Oct. 7th, 2023 Hamas attacks; and whether European businesses are following U.S. companies in scrapping DEI programs.

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

Dominance in international scientific research has long been a national, bipartisan priority that underpinned U.S. economic and military prowess. But amid the Trump administration’s war on government waste, this year has become a season of turmoil at institutions that rely on federal funding, with cuts that could curtail the kind of work that has led to significant scientific achievements.

Also: today’s stories, including rising threats against judicial branch members; western immigrants to Russia; and how one former NFL player started a family farm in North Carolina that gives away most of its harvest to those in need.

Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb for today's news.

Five years on from the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is a changed place. Stephanie Hanes and Monitor staff look at the myriad ways the pandemic was a momentous period in history. Also: today’s stories, including how President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing will affect Ukraine, new efforts to help LGBTQ+ elders feel like a part of the community, and how series of coordinated ambushes in Syria is affecting their pathway to transitional justice. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield for today's news.

President Donald Trump’s proposal to create a strategic reserve using the cryptocurrency bitcoin, an idea discussed at a crypto “summit” March 7, represents a bold idea with a host of details to address. The move could be a breakthrough for the U.S. to lead in developing and establishing the next generation of money; but besides crypto’s boom-and-crash performance, there are legal and ethical concerns.

Also: today’s stories, including how a tariff spat with the United States adds to economic headwinds in China; how doubts over security promises in Haiti have caused neighborhoods to form vigilante groups; and a preview of the new six-part sequel series to “Eyes on the Prize.”

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

As Indonesia becomes more prone to wildfires, the threat to its natural abundance has grown. Lindsey McGinnis and Sara Miller Llana report on how a group of women monitors fire risks and urges farmers to follow rules about slash-and-burn clearing. Also: today’s stories, including President Donald Trump’s fundamental changing the core expectations that guided America’s eight-decade transatlantic alliance, how several states, including Texas, had already begun dismantling DEI initiatives even before President Donald Trump took office, and the ongoing arguments about daylight saving time in most of the United States. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield for today's news.

Since President Trump’s inauguration, Moscow has experienced a dramatic return from the diplomatic wilderness. The Monitor’s Fred Weir looks at how the challenge for Russia is to figure out how to exploit the opportunities that have opened up. Also: today’s stories, including an online columnist who skewers hypocrisy and absurdity on both sides of the aisle, a film showcasing an all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan, and how severe sanctions stand in the way as Syrians are trying to rebuild homes and communities after years of civil war. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.