The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Mango diplomacy? Maybe. Howard LaFranchi leads today’s Daily with some observations from an embassy-festival meeting in Washington that prominently featured Pakistan’s “king of fruits.” Also: today’s stories, including Abortion and Ohio’s fight over direct democracy; Shoplifting is on the rise. So are solutions; and 'Pink parks': Delhi's bid to build safer city for women sparks debate. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Jingnan Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Some stories are just worth revisiting. Take our story from Malawi today by contributor Xanthe Scharff. It grew out of a journey that started in 2005. Also, today’s stories, including: Netanyahu defiantly curbs Supreme Court power, Odesa’s unity and resolve in the face of Russian missiles, and Legacy admissions move into the spotlight. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and April Austin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Unionizing can be seen as an inconvenience – disruptive to commerce and to many Americans’ daily lives. But it can also be a crucial part of a restoration of community. Putting down tools gives us time to reflect, to reassess what really matters to a society. Also: today’s stories, including How Texas power grid is powering through, Ukraine’s summer camps offer ‘childhood during war’, and ‘Oppenheimer’: An ambitious – and epic – cautionary tale. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Stephen Humphries for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

A student of the Bhagavad-Gita from ancient India, J. Robert Oppenheimer famously uttered one line this way: “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” Tonight a biographical movie about the nuclear physicist opens at a timely moment. Also, today’s stories, including: A hotter planet from the Antarctic to Arizona, Iran seized the chance to flip the script with its powerful patron Russia, becoming a supplier of drones for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Has it been worth the diplomatic cost?, and Spain’s national vote tests rising power of the hard right. Join the Monitor's Mark Trumbull and JJ Wahlberg for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The ninth Women’s World Cup kicking off Thursday in Australia and New Zealand promises to be the biggest – and perhaps the most competitive – yet. Also: today’s stories, including On strike: Can Hollywood find a happy ending? ; In Congress, Democratic criticism of Israel grows ; The smokejumpers of McCall, Idaho. Join the Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato and Mark Sappenfield for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Has Ukraine expressed sufficient gratitude to the American people for all the support they have provided since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022?

The question has lingered since the NATO summit in Lithuania last week, when a nettled White House official burst out, “The American people do deserve a degree of gratitude.” Also: today’s stories, including “House Republicans ramp up investigation into Hunter Biden”, “Computer-generated prayer? How AI is changing faith”, and “A spicy taste of freedom in China”. Join the Monitor's Jingnan Peng and Noelle Swan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The Monitor’s Ira Porter has been a big contributor to our ongoing reparations project. Today he writes about the depth of the source materials on race-based discrepancies that California used to inform its recent recommendations. And about how widely he thinks those should be seen. Also, today’s stories, including: the GOP’s loss of trust in the FBI, why democracy protests have surged in Israel, and voices of hope in India’s violence-wracked Manipur state. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The excitement at the National Zoo’s meerkat exhibit was palpable, as people celebrate the first meerkat births at the zoo in 16 years. Today, our stories include: Japan’s plan for Fukushima wastewater; how the Monitor covers the Supreme Court; and how one senator blocked hundreds of nominations at the Pentagon. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

A report alleging anti-LGBTQ+ behavior by school guidance counselors shocked Amherst, Massachusetts, a town long regarded as liberal. But there’s a silver lining: The exposé was written by high schoolers. Also, today’s stories, including: the West’s balancing act on Ukraine; older Argentines’ savvy amid financial crises; and a British orchestra that’s changing classical music. Join the Monitor's Lindsey McGinnis and JJ Wahlberg for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Cricket has made major inroads in much of the world, but has shown few signs of ever cracking into the North American sports scene. Simon Montlake, who grew up swinging a cricket bat in London, writes about why that just might change. Also, today’s stories including: Ambitious Democratic governors appear to be laying the groundwork for presidential campaigns, US consumers get welcome news on inflation, and African tech workers press social media giants for better conditions. Join the Monitor's Ken Kaplan and Clara Germani for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.