TWO REPORTERS

When you see students across the nation struggling with learning and behavioral problems, it might be partly because their families can’t afford enough good food. Dr. Megan Sandel has a bold idea, which Congress tried briefly - and successfully - but then scuttled: give low income parents more money.

Dr. Megan Sandel takes us into the GROW clinic in Boston, where kids look like malnourished children in poor countries. Some 2 year olds look half their age. The Biden administration eased the crisis by expanding child tax credits, but Congress has let those credits expire. So, it's back to crisis.

Officer Shanette Hall and Lt. Ray Rice joined St. Louis County's police department because they were passionate about making things better, by exposing racial injustice and bringing the police and community closer together. They told us in this moving interview that instead, department officials punished them for speaking out. (PS Since our interview, Hall quit the force.)

Boris Bondarev says he wanted to quit his job as a Russian diplomat long ago, to protest Putin's policies, but it took years to gather courage to take that life-changing step. Putin's war in Ukraine pushed him to act - and now he and his wife are living under protection in Switzerland (with their cat; more about that in our episode). In Part 2 of this introspective conversation, Boris explains why resigning was a moral act of “redemption” after a career serving policies he thought unworthy of his country.  Is Boris right that the invasion of Ukraine won’t strengthen Putin but destroy him? 

Boris Bondarev represented Russia as a diplomat for more than 20 years. But after Russia invaded Ukraine, he took a rare and potentially dangerous step: he resigned, to protest the horrors of Vladimir Putin's "fascist state." In Part 1 of this candid chat, Boris explains why he overlooked Putin's crimes for years - and why the invasion of Ukraine propelled him to act.

Republicans and their allies are banning books, courses and even brief lessons about "divisive topics" - and passing laws to punish teachers who disobey. They're also spending big money to elect school boards that embrace their extremist visions. Jonathan Friedman of PEN America describes some of the most threatening developments across the country.

Librarian Suzette Baker refused to ban books on racial and LGBTQ issues. So, as she recounts in this moving episode, right-wing parents and local officials in Texas got her fired. Meanwhile, librarian Martha Hickson was fighting her own battle against censorship 2000 miles away in New Jersey - but she describes how she organized supporters to rally against censorship, and won.  

Specialists in “behavioral threat assessment” have been quietly trying to spot potential killers for decades, in places from schools and companies to government agencies. Our guests, practitioners Monique Boudreaux and Matt Talbot, say everybody in America  needs to help them - and could.