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Join Shumita Basu every weekday morning as she guides you through some of the most fascinating stories in the news — and how the world’s best journalists are covering them.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 24, 2020 • 10min
Life in Lockdown: Parenting
For the Atlantic, Joe Pinsker talks with Melissa Mazmanian about the unrealistic societal expectations on working parents.
The Washington Post reports on how the pandemic is specifically affecting working moms. And a Wall Street Journal survey found that nearly two-thirds of fathers say they’ve become closer to their kids during this time, which is great for the whole family.
Vox breaks down how the child-care crisis in the United States comes down to economics. The Atlantic explains the limited child-care options for parents who are essential workers. And Time Magazine warns that the pandemic has devastated the U.S. child-care industry and that these losses may be difficult to come back from for years to come.
For NPR, Sesame Workshop’s Rosemarie Truglio offers some advice on parenting during the pandemic.

Nov 23, 2020 • 10min
Life in Lockdown: Loneliness
NBC News has the stories of elderly people who have died from long periods of isolation duringthe coronavirus pandemic. And former surgeon general Vivek Murthy talks with NPR about the negative effects of loneliness and the power of human connection.
Social scientist Kasley Killam writes for Scientific American about a recent study that found that levels of loneliness have mostly remained unchanged during the pandemic, despite increased isolation.
Astronauts tell USA Today their strategies for coping with anxiety and loneliness during long periods of isolation. And Vox spoke with Murthy about his suggestions for addressing feelings of loneliness.

Nov 20, 2020 • 10min
Why is Trump still challenging the election?
The Washington Post explores President Trump’s plans to overturn the results of the election by delaying and disqualifying votes in key states, while Politico explains that the strategy is almost certain to fail. Meanwhile, Georgia finished its statewide recount, confirming Joe Biden’s victory there. CNN has the story.
Vox’s Anna North explains why so many schools in the United States are closing, even as bars and restaurants are allowed to stay open.
ABC News tells the stories of three young people who died of COVID-19.
The Wall Street Journal reports that public officials are urging people not to travel for Thanksgiving. But if you are planning to visit family, PBS NewsHour has some guidance on how to think about navigating the holiday safely.

Nov 19, 2020 • 10min
As COVID-19 cases rise, U.S. leaders enact new restrictions
CBS provides an overview of some of the coronavirus-related restrictions announced by state and local leaders this week. And the Washington Post reports that, as escalating outbreaks threaten to overwhelm hospitals across the country, Republican governors are among those implementing stricter public-health measures.
PBS Newshour spoke with former national security adviser H.R. McMaster about the Trump administration’s announcement that it is to reduce U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. And the L.A. Times spoke with young Afghans who have only known their country with an American military presence, and worry a withdrawal will mean the return of Taliban rule.
Jill Lepore writes for the New Yorker about how U.S. presidents have avoided making some of their papers and files public record — and what we might be able to expect from the current president.
Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov was consulted with for Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit. He talks with Slate about what the show got right.

Nov 18, 2020 • 10min
Trump’s attempts to overturn the election are not working
In Wayne County, Michigan, on Tuesday, the local board of canvassers temporarily withheld certification of the presidential election. The Detroit Free Press has the story. And the Wall Street Journal documents the Trump campaign’s continuing efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory.
The Washington Post reports that local governments are struggling to distribute Cares Act funding to people in need, even as the December 30 deadline to use the funds approaches.
Quartz highlights a significant step in San Francisco to reign in executive compensation: a ”CEO tax.”
The Washington Post’s food critic collected advice from Alaska, Scandinavia, and the South Pole on how to embrace eating outdoors in the cold this winter.

Nov 17, 2020 • 10min
Who is first in line for a COVID-19 vaccine?
CNET breaks down who is first in line to receive a COVID-19 vaccine once one is approved. National Geographic explains the recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for who should be given priority when distributing a future vaccine. And the Washington Post reports on what global cooperation — or lack there of — could mean for the disease.
Tens of thousands of abuse allegations have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America. The Wall Street Journal provides some background on the history of sexual abuse within the organization, while NPR has the story of one victim who was abused by a scoutmaster in the 1970s.
James Arkin writes for Politico that the Senate runoff elections in Georgia will present an even tougher challenge for Democrats than flipping the state in the presidential race. Politico also reports on the strategies from each party to win the elections and establish a majority in the Senate. And Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger tells the Washington Post that Republican efforts to invalidate legally cast ballots in the presidential elections could depress voter turnout in the upcoming special elections.

Nov 16, 2020 • 11min
As the pandemic worsens, health-care workers are burning out
Ed Yong writes for the Atlantic that doctors and nurses have become our most valuable resource in fighting COVID-19 — and warns that these health-care workers are burning out.
Texas Monthly says Rice University has been able to prevent major spread of the coronavirus on its campus by putting enforcement of public-health rules into the hands of students.
Today, the Miami Marlins will officially introduce their newest general manager, Kim Ng. She is not only the first female GM in Major League Baseball, but also in all of men’s professional sports in North America. The Miami Herald and the Washington Post profile Ng and her accomplishments.
Vox and the Washington Post explain why turkey farmers are bracing to see how the pandemic will change Thanksgiving celebrations.

Nov 13, 2020 • 11min
Despite challenges, Biden moves ahead with transition
The Washington Post explains how the Biden team is planning to work around obstruction from the Trump administration as it prepares for office. The Post also says there is acknowledgment within Trump's inner circle that he lost the election and that his attempts to change the results are all dead ends. And several Republican senators, including Chuck Grassley and Lindsey Graham, told CNN that Biden should start getting classified intelligence briefings.
Politico breaks down the tensions between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party. And John Harris points out for Politico that the party’s leadership is not yet ready to hand over the reins to the next generation.
USA Today and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting are out with revelations from a five-month investigation into a COVID-19 outbreak at a Triumph Foods pork processing plant.
Vox answers your questions about planning for Thanksgiving. And NBC’s Today spoke with people who’ve pivoted away from traditions this year and opted for safer options instead.

Nov 12, 2020 • 9min
What seat-belt laws can teach us about mask mandates
The Atlantic explains the implications of news that the U.S. hit a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations this week. And the Wall Street Journal reports that hospitals in rural areas are particularly overwhelmed.
The mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, recently cast a decisive vote during a city council meeting against the implementation of a mask mandate, even though he has urged residents to wear masks in the past. The Washington Post has the story. And the medical publication Stat says masks have become the new seat belts.
CNN has a profile of the husband and wife behind Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Nov 11, 2020 • 9min
Why a peaceful transfer of power matters
The Wall Street Journal and NPR explain the implications of delaying the transfer of power from one administration to the next. And the Washington Post reports that the White House is preparing the Trump administration’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year, even though Trump will not be president during that time.
Vox breaks down what Trump can do during his final days in office.
Sarah Zhang writes in the Atlantic about how rollout of an eventual COVID-19 vaccine during the lame-duck period between two administrations could work.
The National Park Service announced that veterans and Gold Star families will have free lifetime access to all national parks, the Washington Post reports.Vox breaks down what Trump can do during his final days in office.
Sarah Zhang writes in the Atlantic about how rollout of an eventual COVID-19 vaccine during the lame-duck period between two administrations could work.
The National Park Service announced that veterans and Gold Star families will have free lifetime access to all national parks, the Washington Post reports.


