The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

The passing yesterday of Tina Turner, who hurdled adversity to become both icon and inspiration, prompted Ken Makin to recall that powerful artist’s biggest role – as “an expression of emancipation.” Also: today’s stories, including How to keep cyberspace civilized? US, EU take different routes; For Turks in Germany, ‘home’ is a complicated concept, and 16 weeks to a new job: Certificate programs as game changers. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Lindsey McGinnis for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Grief is a journey – and a long, complicated one at that. Uvalde, Texas, will never be the same after the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School last May. It has been a difficult, surreal year for a town that, like so many others, never thought it would be anything other than a quiet, anonymous town.

Also: today’s stories, including How much would debt default damage US?, Ukrainians in a Russia-tied church, a crisis of faith, and How to get absentee students their diploma. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and April Austin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Today’s lead story almost didn’t happen. When Taylor Luck, the Monitor’s Middle East reporter, heard that Saudi Arabia was attempting to “go green,” he was intrigued – but dubious. But at the same time, Taylor saw a nation striving to become a global leader in renewable energy technologies. Also, today’s stories including: The effort to abate climate change has a new player: Saudi Arabia, Russia is integrating its military draft to make new mobilizations for its war in Ukraine more efficient, and to address the fashion industry’s rampant waste problem, innovators are processing old clothes into brand-new textiles – inspiring both clothing brands and consumers who care about environmental sustainability. Join the Monitor’s Noelle Swan and Ali Martin for today’s Christian Science Monitor Daily.

Last week, celebrated musician Otis Taylor finally received his high school diploma in his 70s. The occasion was more than a graduation ceremony. It was an act of atonement. Also: how the military is helping new parents, why many young Chinese are seeking a simpler life, and two views of elephant tourism in Thailand. Join the Monitor's Stephen Humphries and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Salman Rushdie’s surprise appearance at last night’s PEN America Literary Gala – a celebration of free expression – ended a week of controversy on a high note. It was the author’s first public appearance since he was attacked and gravely wounded last August at a literary festival in western New York. Also: today’s stories, including How Biden’s curtailed trip affects his goals for Asia and democracy, Turkish opposition clings to election hopes and How truth about debt sets a nation free. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Last Thursday, a few hours before midnight, our Ken Makin left his house in a folktale-like fashion. As moonlight draped the bedroom, he tucked his oldest boy into the covers. Then, he picked up a sword in search of adventure. What he found was sweet nostalgia. Also: today’s stories, including a look at office buildings turning into apartments, an influx of immigrants, and the debt limit conflict. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Sara Lang for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Sometimes asking questions is as important – maybe even more important – than finding answers. This week Robert Lucas, a University of Chicago economist who died Monday, is being remembered by his peers as perhaps the most important economist of his generation. Also: today’s stories, including the world’s responses to growing food insecurity, India’s wrestlers taking a stand for women’s safety, and a California piano teacher who teaches kindness to school communities. Join the Monitor’s Mark Trumbull and JJ Wahlberg for today’s news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

When writing or editing stories from Latin America, our Whitney Eulich often finds herself reflecting on the human connections she made 14 years ago in Venezuela. That happened again around recent work by her, and by colleagues, from the US-Mexico border. Also, today’s stories including: Many were bracing for a ballooning of already record-high levels of illegal immigration last week, sparking renewed efforts to address border security and a broken immigration system. What does it mean that a mercenary leader has been engaged in very public criticism of Russia’s war effort? Experts say that it’s not a challenge to Vladimir Putin, but positioning for the post-war order. And the season of diplomacy blooming in the Middle East is reforging Syria’s ties to the Arab world. Each has something the other wants. Join the Monitor’s Clay Collins and Ali Martin for today’s Christian Science Monitor Daily.

Jackie Valley, one of our education writers, offers a reported piece in today’s Daily about a library’s innovative forms of outreach. But the roots of her story in some ways run all the back to her own Indiana childhood.

Also: today’s stories, including ‘Saudi First’: Kingdom’s bailouts now carry price tag, Picket lines: Three writers on why they’re striking, and Dark sky in China, TV lessons for Afghan girls. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

What should we make of a recent report from Tesla reminding us that, even though its cars have no tailpipes, there are significant carbon emissions associated with getting them built and on the road? Also: today’s stories, including Will Erdoğan win? Turkey’s youth vote may hold key, One small nation’s big lesson for democracies, and Pandemic emergency is over. Societal shifts remain. Join the Monitor's Clayton Collins and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.