United States debt has long been considered the safest of all safe havens. But, Washington has just lost its pristine reputation as a borrower. Moody's has downgraded the nation from its top-notch AAA rating, becoming the last of the big three agencies to do so. The ratings agency has cited the United States's growing debt - now at $36 trillion, almost 120 percent of gross domestic product - and rising debt service costs. Against this backdrop, President Donald Trump is pushing what he calls the "one big, beautiful bill".

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

Josh Paul, the first US official to resign over Israel's war on Gaza, joins The Take to explain why he stepped down, his new efforts lobbying in Washington, and why he believes that US support for Israel’s war fuels conflict abroad and makes Americans less safe at home.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

Is it still art if it wasn’t made by a human? And if art is truly about creative expression, who gets to decide what counts? From text-to-image generators to AI-composed art, these technologies are being embraced, critiqued, and sometimes feared. We hear from creators and critics grappling with the rapidly changing landscape.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

US President Trump’s relentless attacks on institutions, the rule of law and the press have left many fearing for the future of American democracy. So is the United States sliding into authoritarianism?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

US President Donald Trump announces his latest defence plan: The Golden Dome. Estimated at a cost of $175 billion, it is designed to shoot down advanced missiles heading towards the United States. Using both ground and space to detect incoming projectiles, it will far surpass a similar system used in Israel known as the Iron Dome. But critics say it could prove ineffective and upset the balance of world power. So might the scheme lead to the militarisation of space and threaten the global order? And could there be other motives behind Trump's announcement?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

The world was shocked when a gunman shot and killed Mexican influencer Valeria Marquez while she livestreamed herself at a beauty salon. President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government says it will investigate the murder as a possible case of femicide. Will it mark a turning point for a nation that has long struggled with staggering levels of gender-based violence?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

Centre Stage speaks to Andrew Manuel Crespo, the lead counsel for Harvard's faculty in their lawsuit against the US administration's threatened cuts.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

Israel is facing condemnation from some of its strongest allies over its increasing aggression in Gaza. The UK is cancelling new trade talks and the EU is reviewing old agreements, while both are imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers in the Occupied West Bank. The two powers say they cannot standby while Israel expands military operations, increases air strikes and starves Palestinians in Gaza with its total blockade. But critics are asking why they did not step in before. Will the new measures be imposed? And most importantly, will any of this change the reality on the ground for the Palestinians?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets Donald Trump in Washington, DC, amid tensions over Washington’s resettlement of Afrikaners, who the US president claims are the victims of “genocide”. Ramaphosa’s office says Trump must prove the charge that white South Africans are persecuted if it continues to push the claim after Ramaphosa’s government has repeatedly rejected it.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is facing one of the deepest crises in its history. United States President Donald Trump sanctioned lead prosecutor Karim Khan earlier this year, grinding the court’s work to a crawl. Khan is now on leave as he faces a sexual misconduct investigation. How is the court functioning in his absence, and what does it mean for the future of international accountability?

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-truth--6487495/support.