The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

Climate activists have taken their protests into art museums, employing tactics such as gluing themselves to the frames of famous paintings. Last month, two young women from the group Just Stop Oil threw tomato soup on the glass-protected surface of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at London’s National Gallery. Also: today’s stories, including a potentially productive divided Congress, rising rent, and artists working in collage. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Ali Martin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Despite brutal government crackdowns, protests in Iran against the death of Mahsa Amini have continued, inspiring members of the Iranian diaspora abroad. Also in today’s stories: Though results are still trickling in, the “red wave” analysts had predicted in the US midterm elections appears to have fallen flat, president Biden grapples with a potential economic uncoupling with China, and engineers in Spain are capturing fog to harvest water. Join the Monitor’s Amelia Newcomb and Clara Germani for today’s news.

Over the past week, as Monitor journalist Story Hinckley has traveled almost 1,000 miles across Nevada and Arizona, states with a number of close, potentially decisive races, one thing has become clear to her: Voters for the two major political parties are living in different realities. Also: today’s stories, including what democracy would look like if it broke down, harsher U.S. restrictions on the export of semiconductor chips to China, and volunteers helping rehabilitate owls after they collide with windows and power lines. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Ali Martin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Our Washington correspondent Noah Robertson shares his impressions from his four-day, seven-city campaign barnstorming tour with President Biden. As a pool reporter aboard Air Force One, he wrote 65 pool reports documenting the trip for other media. Also: today’s stories, including the view of America’s underfunded election system from Nevada, the backdrop for COP27, and an upcoming legal challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act. Join the Monitor's Clara Germani and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Amid legal troubles, rumors swirl that former president Donald Trump will announce his third presidential run. Also in today’s stories: As a high-stakes midterm election approaches, split ticket voters make a comeback, a coalition of veterans steps up to help election workers nationwide, and a recent assassination attempt on former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan underscores a culture of political mistrust. Join the Monitor’s Linda Feldmann and Sarah Lang for today’s news.

At first blush, the conference for writers and artists this weekend at the Chaldean Cultural Center in West Bloomfield, Michigan, might seem rather unremarkable. But for Weam Namou, it is nothing less than groundbreaking, if not historic. Also: today’s stories, including a look at if U.S. political support for Ukraine will continue after midterms, the obstacles people with disabilities face when voting, and Britain entering the orbital launch business. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

In England, Rishi Sunak’s conservative government wrestles with its centrist electorate, as Americans count down the days until an inevitable political shakeup of their own. Also in today’s stories: though it’s unlikely nations can enact policy quick enough to prevent the Earth from warming more than 1.5 degrees C, scientists and environmental leaders say we should still try. And a new installment in the Sherlock Holmes movie series shines a light on the detective’s prolific younger sisters. Join the Monitor’s Clay Collins and Ken Kaplan for today’s news.

Grandma Brown’s baked beans have been a family tradition since Laurent Belsie married his sweetheart in western New York. Substantial regional fare, not syrupy like the national brands, the beans were always on the to-buy list whenever they returned to New York State. But after the pandemic, Grandma Brown’s shut down, and the iconic yellow, red, and brown cans disappeared from store shelves. Also: today’s stories, including a pastor and a football star running for Senate, a president facing a deeply divided Brazil, and authentic tortilla making. Join the Monitor's Laurent Belsie and Ali Martin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

What do you most want to improve about your own society and how? Teens tackle the question in the Heart of a Nation Teen Essay Competition. Also: today’s stories, including increasing threats against members of Congress, Russian society’s response to mobilization, and the Utah Senate race. Join the Monitor's Trudy Palmer and Clara Germani for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Election season in Israel is testing the country’s faith in its own democracy. Also in today’s stories: Scientists at Cornell drill a deep hole in the ground to harness geothermal energy, a German director reckons with his country’s history of war in a new film, and in Latvia, young people see a unique military draft system as an opportunity for personal growth. Join the Monitor’s Peter Grier and JJ Wahlberg for today’s news.