The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Last week, an international climate change report found that the only way to avoid the worst impacts of climate change is for the world to act quickly and dramatically to reduce heat-trapping gas emissions. And like dozens of other climate reporters around the world, I wrote about it. But I’ll admit – it wasn’t my favorite assignment. Also: today's stories, including a look at workers speaking up about high inflation through union action, the road to recovery after a tornado in the South, and how the first Black presidential candidate paved the way. Join the Monitor's Stephen Humphries and Clara Germani for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Certainly, a lot has happened in the last few years to shake our belief in shared values and institutions. But a recent poll revealed a bedrock of tolerance of those who are different from us. Also: today’s stories, including Joe Biden’s pro-democracy initiative two years in, how Niger welcomes Nigerian refugees, and the possibility of bringing back extinct species. Join the Monitor’s Simon Montlake, Ali Martin, and JJ Wahlberg for today’s news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Who would you consult for an informed take on the travails of current Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu? If you were veteran foreign affairs columnist Ned Temko, you might share a meal with Ehud Barak, a former Israeli PM and a close acquaintance. Ned helped Mr. Barak write a memoir five years ago. They caught up about Israel, in London, this week. Also, today’s stories, including: Protests against President Macron's retirement reforms have inflamed France. Yet in a country where demonstrating is practically de rigueur, how much difference does marching really do in a situation like this? Climate action can be politically divisive. But a love for nature is bringing people together – even in Washington. March is Women’s History Month in the United States. But our contributor honors Constance Baker Motley all year long, appreciating her groundbreaking efforts to ensure civil rights for all. Join the Monitor’s Clay Collins and Ali Martin for today’s Christian Science Monitor Daily.

In their book “Gradual: The Case for Incremental Change in a Radical Age,” Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox counter the argument that bold action is the best way to reform unjust or broken systems. Incrementalism rooted in honesty, humility, nuance, and respect can begin to move the needle on even the most intractable problems. Also: today’s stories, including: how can AI be used for responsible journalism?, President Carter’s legacy for refugees in rural Georgia, and the march to equality of Iran and Israel. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

As a regular traveler to Florida, our Linda Feldmann is always on the lookout for offbeat tourist spots. Not Disney or South Beach, but quirky places with Old Florida charm or historical significance. Also: today’s stories, including a look at parental bills of rights, the prudence of Biden's allowance of new oil development, and the potential attack of the chatbots. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Ramadan, which begins today, is the month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, a time of spiritual discipline, deep contemplation of the Quran, and increased worship and charity. Also: today’s stories, including the anti-immigrant sentiment in Turkey amplified by February's earthquake; courage, bravery, and hope of the Uyghurs, and the future of TikTok in America. Join the Monitor's Kendra Nordin Beato and Jingnan Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

​​We’re adding a new way to navigate CSMonitor.com. When we go beyond the headlines, we find the place where news can begin to unite instead of divide, and can be constructive rather than demoralizing. Also: today’s stories, including the summit between leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, U.S. foreign policy 20 years post-Iraq War, and the final days of Broadway’s iconic musical “The Phantom of the Opera.” Join the Monitor’s Mark Sappenfield and JJ Wahlberg for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Four decades ago, a Maine fifth grader named Samantha Smith, who was worried about nuclear war, wrote a letter to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov. Her post script, in neat schoolgirl block letters – “Please write back” – eventually worked its charm: Mr. Andropov invited her on a free trip to the USSR to see, he said, that “everybody in the Soviet Union stands for peace and friendship among nations.” Also, today’s stories, including: NATO has quietly taken the step of putting its strategic headquarters on what military officials there describe as “war fighting” footing. A violent standoff between supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistani authorities has put pressure on the country’s legal system. What would justice look like to each side? As the culture wars drift further into the education realm, they’re spawning questions fundamentally tied to American democracy. Join the Monitor’s Clara Germani and Ali Martin for today’s Christian Science Monitor Daily.

In today’s issue, Washington Bureau Chief Linda Feldmann is giving us an (almost) front-row seat at the latest Monitor Breakfast – a conversation between Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and members of the Washington press corps. Also: today’s stories, including a look at a looming indictment of former President Donald Trump, Peru persisting in prosecuting high-level leaders for corruption, and an uptick in BIPOC bookstores. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Clay Collins for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Would Ronald Reagan recognize today’s Republican Party? The party establishment, including many Senate Republicans, remain Reaganesque in support of aiding Ukraine. But the top candidates for the GOP presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the United States has no vital interest in that fight.

Also: today’s stories, including Why Biden is tacking to the center, Finding agency and hope in the news, and how Odesa’s entrepreneurs flourish amid war. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Noelle Swan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.