The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Sidney Powell, the Trump lawyer who filed several election fraud lawsuits that she called the “kraken,” pleaded guilty on Thursday to six misdemeanor counts of election interference in Georgia. Now, it is possible she could appear as a witness in special counsel Jack Smith’s federal election interference case. In today’s stories, we also look at how civilians in Israel are mobilizing to fill a void left by the government, why one Maryland farmer remains committed to growing rice, and how China’s Belt-and-Road initiative has shifted from its original goals. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Over three decades, education in rural China has improved drastically. Still, the pace of development in the countryside has lagged significantly behind that of cities. Today’s stories also include President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East, culture wars in the Chino Valley Unified School District in California, and a Q&A with a Rwandan playwright and director. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Ali Martin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

As Biden arrives, Israel’s goals are simple – but incomplete. Also: today’s stories, including a look into whether the Geneva Convention still has influence in the time of the Israel-Hamas war, author Alexandra Hudson’s take on the difference between politeness and civility, and a win for democracy in a Polish medley. Join the Monitor's Ira Porter and Lindsey McGinnis for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

As if the military difficulties of Israel’s war to destroy Hamas were not daunting enough, the tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers massed around the Gaza Strip are facing another, but equally formidable challenge – a moral one. Also: today’s stories, including the Prison Arts Program helping inmates in Connecticut grapple with the past and future, a humanitarian crisis that’s also boosting local economies, and a former French soldier who is donating to the country he fought against. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Mark Sappenfield for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Hamas is believed to be holding more than 150 hostages in Gaza after Saturday’s attack. Finding them and securing their release poses an unprecedented challenge for Israel, which is poised for a major ground offensive. Also: today’s stories, including NASA’s latest mission to a metal-rich asteroid, the impact of Ukraine-Russia war fatigue on Poland, and how college students are thinking about the conflict in the Middle East. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince has prompted the nation to prioritize progress over conflict and is willing to talk to all sides of the Israel-Hamas war, but how much leverage does it have? Also: today’s stories, including the Speaker of the House election, how the world managed to avoid a grain shortage, why Yazidi herders still take to the mountains, and a review of the film “Anatomy of a Fall”. Join the Monitor’s Mark Sappenfield and Ali Martin for today’s news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Food is more than just fuel, it can be the heart of a community. Iche, an Ecuadorian restaurant and culinary school that opened in 2021, is trying to boost economic prospects for youth and protect them from small-scale drug trafficking through giving them job training and experience. Today’s stories also include the impact of Hamas’ attack on Israel, Ecuador's presidential election, and a Q&A with author Nicola Griffith. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Jing Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Afghanistan on Saturday, leveling entire villages and claiming nearly 3,000 lives. Though the impoverished, war-battered country saw an exodus of humanitarian groups after the Taliban took power, aid is still managing to trickle in. In today’s stories, we also look at the world-shaking impacts of Hamas’ attack on Israel, a movement to protect Indonesia’s indigenous land, and the growing popularity of flag football across the United States. Join the Monitor's Lindsey McGinnis and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Amid political tension and battles over what kids are taught in schools, Banned Books Week highlights books as essential tools for educators, though some parents rights groups argue that children can do better when their parents have a say in what they are reading. Also: today’s stories, including a look into Indigenous People’s Day, the art of film criticism, Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, and the civil court case against Donald Trump. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann and Stephen Humphries for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The Ukraine war is a new inflection point in European history. There’s a new desire for the EU to expand its tent of membership – to bring more countries in and trust the influence of the EU to drive change where democratic or economic progress is needed. In today’s stories, we also look at the Supreme Court’s deepening conservative tilt, a split between the Taliban and its longtime supporters in Pakistan, and the first-in-the-nation primary controversy in New Hampshire. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Clara Germani for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.