The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

President Donald Trump has kept election security a front-burner issue since his loss in 2020, though his claims of fraud have been disproved. He is again elevating the issue ahead of this year’s midterms, which could see Democrats regain control of at least one chamber of Congress.

Also: today’s stories, including how federal law enforcement participating in immigration operations have killed four people this year; how each side in the U.S.-Iran war is internally divided on the way forward, making resolution of the conflict problematic; and how England’s national soccer team was dealt a semifinal loss to Argentina in the World Cup.

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

With many of the hawkish voices on China muted or sidelined, the Trump administration has a dearth of seasoned China hands, raising questions about who is helping guide U.S. policy toward China. Other countries may be taking note.

Also: today’s stories, including why Syrians are voicing confidence in public safety even as some distrust official accounts of recent bombings; how Utah residents are reacting to President Donald Trump’s proclamations that dramatically shrink two of Utah’s national monuments; and our film critic’s round-up of great classic literary film adaptations.

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

A U.S.-Iran deal in mid-June caused oil prices – and inflation rates – to plunge globally. What happens next depends on the antagonists vying over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Also: today’s stories, including how Senator Mitch McConnell’s ongoing recovery could keep him away at a time Republicans need all the votes they can get; why Africa has overtaken Europe as the region with the largest number of French speakers; and how a black-and-white rescue dog named Tsunami has become a symbol of promise.

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

No one else in Congress had the kind of relationship with President Donald Trump that Senator Lindsey Graham, who died Saturday, had. The Republican from South Carolina influenced the president’s thinking on consequential matters, particularly in the realm of foreign policy.

Also: today’s stories, including how Ukrainians in Odesa finding hope after its worst winter of Russian attacks in recent years; how voters respond when politicians face allegations of sexual misconduct; and a peek into a day in the life of a World Cup volunteer.

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

Norway punches far above its weight as a sporting nation. The success of its athletes might be rooted in the way young Norwegians learn sports – by first focusing on the process, rather than on wins and losses. “It’s a human-centered blueprint,” a sports wellness expert tells our writer. “It puts the person first by looking at the player pathway as a human journey, not just a sports journey.”

Also: today’s stories, including how residents of one Memphis neighborhood are weighing challenges with an AI data center; a look at new cuts to U.S. intelligence operations; and our reviewer’s thoughts on “The Wreck of the Mentor,” a strange, true story of a shipwrecked crew on a South Pacific island.

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

The collapse of Graham Platner’s Senate campaign in Maine has state Democrats wrestling with questions over candidate vetting and whether the next nominee should come from the party’s moderate or progressive wing.

Also: today’s stories, including how Turkey is becoming a bigger player in NATO and the Middle East; why other election changes could affect U.S. midterms besides President Donald Trump’s focus on proof of citizenship; and a look at an automobile festival on Route 66 that’s the ultimate event for gearheads.

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

The back-and-forth talk of strikes and ceasefires in the Iran conflict at the NATO summit this week risks straining the alliance's renewed efforts at partnership and unity, a cornerstone of Western defense for decades.

Also: today’s stories, including how the Iran war’s cost to Americans has already climbed well beyond early estimates; how Venezuela’s earthquakes have created a new test for the exiled political opposition; and how aboard the train to Kashmir, a Monitor writer sees a region at a crossroads.

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

Polls show younger voters are less fearful of socialism and more likely to question the benefits of capitalism as it relates to their lives. But while anti-communist rhetoric is red meat for the Republican base, it might not persuade many other voters.

Also: today’s stories, including why French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s is again appealing her embezzlement conviction; a look at the launch of the new “Little House on the Prairie” series on Netflix this week with a broader diversity of characters; and how government officials, local volunteers, and others are offering support to people and their livestock after a large wildfire in Southern Colorado.

Join the Monitor's Stephanie Hanes for today's news.

The Supreme Court’s latest term featured landmark cases on presidential authority. While the high court deepened the president’s power over the executive branch, the justices also restrained it in some areas.

Also: today’s stories, including how the fall of Iran’s former regime has led to growth in the country’s confidence; how one Italian island is offering a compassionate response towards migrants; and how World Cup fans are building community by trading stickers.

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

Democracy requires civic engagement – and it can sometimes seem to be falling short. But the seeds of renewal are visible, from potluck dinners to youth programs.

Also: today’s stories, including the role of higher education in shaping the first leaders of the United States and the Revolutionary War; how Americans are feeling about their country headed into its 250th anniversary; and a review of books written about the American Revolution.

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