Karen Ward and Karen Cotter live in the town of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. There is one thing on which they really don’t agree: politics, and in particular, Donald Trump. Yet despite everything that sets them apart, these two women have become close friends and believe there is a way to heal the political rift that has torn apart so many communities in the past four years. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The Karens: can friendship trump politics?

Hosted by Michael Safi and Helen Pidd, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining personal storytelling with insightful analysis, this podcast takes you behind the headlines for a deeper understanding of the news, every weekday. Today in Focus features journalists such as: Kiran Stacey, Pippa Crerar, Alex Hern, Peter Walker, Luke Harding, Andrew Roth, Shaun Walker and Jim Waterson. The podcast is a topical, deep dive, explainer on a story in the news, covering: current affairs, politics, investigations, leaks, and scandals. It might cover, for example, topics such as: the environment, green issues, climate change, the climate emergency and global warming; American politics including: Biden, Trump, the White House, the GOP, the Republicans and the Republican Party, the Democrats and the Democratic Party; UK politics including: parliament, Labour, the Conservative party, the Liberal Democrats, Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer; culture; the royals and the royal family, including King Charles III; HS2; the police; Ukraine; Russia; and Bangladesh

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Police have arrested dozens of students across US universities this week after a crackdown on pro-Palestine protests on campuses. Erum Salam and Margaret Sullivan report from New York. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The US college protests and the crackdown on campuses

Ukraine has been granted a multibillion-dollar lifeline in military aid. But it will need more than that to prevail in the conflict with Russia. Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and Shaun Walker report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

What Ukraine needs to change the course of the war

Keir Starmer’s deputy is facing questions over the sale of her former home. But do voters care? Gaby Hinsliff reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Could a row over a council house bring down Angela Rayner?

While conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have captured global attention, the civil war in Sudan has been largely ignored. That can’t be allowed to continue, says the Guardian’s Nesrine Malik. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Sudan’s forgotten war

Dr Hilary Cass’s review of NHS gender identity services has been published. Amelia Gentleman reports on what it means for children at the centre of it all. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

The Karens: can friendship trump politics?

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