The Exchange

Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster joins The Exchange on Thursday to discuss the $2 trillion infrastructure spending plan unveiled by President Biden this week.

American First Ladies are some of the most powerful unpaid and unelected women in the world. Many of their accomplishments have gone unrecognized. We discuss how these women were partners in the nation’s leadership from the very beginning, and in many instances, continued their leadership after leaving the White House. Which first lady do you find inspiring? Airdate: Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Violent attacks against Asian Americans have invigorated an examination of our nation's long history of racism against people from this wide, diverse group. In New Hampshire these conversations arose at Stop Asian Hate rallies earlier this month. We reflect on this current moment, and welcome Asian American Granite Staters to join the conversation. Air Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

We explore ways to attract birds and the best birdwatching spots in the state. We also discuss more casual birding and ways to start if you've never done it before. Air date: Monday, March 29, 2021.

Governor Chris Sununu announces he will renew the state's mask mandate that was set to expire this week, given the rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. A second mass vaccination effort is planned for this weekend at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As the House continues its work the state budget, Republican leaders add an amendment that would give the legislature more power over a governor’s emergency orders -- a move criticized by Governor Sununu. And the state Supreme Court weighs in on

As school staff across the state are vaccinated, many districts are considering a return to fully in-person learning. We ask how these decisions are being made, what the hopes and concerns are, and what changes to education might be here to stay. This show is part of NHPR's COVID & the Classroom coverage. Air date: Thursday, March 25, 2021.

We talk with Dr. Benjamin Chan and Dr. Elizabeth Talbot about the latest news related to COVID-19 in New Hampshire, including new variants of the virus, vaccination progress, and how to behave after vaccination, from travel to school to expanding quarantine pods. Air date: Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

We talk with an ICU doctor, traveling nurse, and chief nursing officer about this year of loss and struggle -- dealing with staffing and PPE shortages, working to understand and combat COVID-19 as more and more patients arrived, with so many succumbing. The new vaccines have brought hope -- but also concerns about complacency, given the spread of variants. Air date: March 23, 2021

Music's benefits for those with dementia are well-known, but it is also therapeutic across the board. We discuss the complex impacts that music has on our brains and how this knowledge is being used in medical treatment and therapy. Air date: Monday, March 22, 2021.

About a year ago, as the country entered a state of emergency due to the pandemic, offices shutdown - in some cases, seemingly overnight. Those who could transfer work to their homes, set up laptops in their dining rooms, living rooms, or areas with some amount of quiet. For many -- although at first a necessity for safety reasons -- the change has become a preference, with some unexpected benefits, including a steep decline in commuting. It appears more emphasis on remote work is here to stay.