News
Up First from NPR: Foreign Aid Terminated, Migrants At Guantánamo, Legal Challenges To Federal Firings
The Trump administration says it will end more than 90 percent of the U.S. Agency for International Development's foreign aid contracts. NPR spoke to two immigrants sent to Guantánamo who allege mistreatment by detainment officers, and a federal judge will hear arguments over the Trump administration's firing of probationary employees.<br/><br/><em>Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/news"><em>Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.</em></a><em><br/><br/>Today's episode of Up First was edited by Jane Greenhalgh, Anna Yukhananov, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams, and Paige Waterhouse. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.</em><br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
The NPR Politics Podcast: Trump's Next Foreign Policy Challenge: Syria
Syria is in the midst of rebuilding after a long civil war and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime. What happens next in Syria poses a challenge for the U.S. and the Trump administration's goals, especially as roughly 2,000 U.S. troops are in Syria to help keep the peace.<br/><br/>This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, national security correspondent Greg Myre, and international correspondent Jane Arraf.<br/><br/><em>The podcast is produced by Bria Suggs & Kelli Wessinger and edited by Casey Morell. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.<br/><br/>Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at </em><a href="https://plus.npr.org/politics"><em>plus.npr.org/politics</em></a>.<br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
Talk and Interview
Fresh Air: Natasha Rothwell Checks Back Into 'The White Lotus'
In the new season of <em>The White Lotus, </em>Natasha Rothwell reprises her role of spa manager Belinda<em>, </em>a woman "on the precipice of change" as she straddles the line between guest and staffer. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about filming in Thailand, the cancellation of her show<em> How to Die Alone</em>, and getting cast as the hilarious Kelli on <em>Insecure</em>. <br/><br/>Also, we remember Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman who died this week at age 95.<br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
Science Friday: The Best Tail For Balance | Bindi Irwin Wants Kids To Become ‘Wildlife Warriors’
<p>The bone and joint structures in mammal tails help them keep their balance. Could those benefits be adapted for robots? And, in her first children’s book, conservationist Bindi Irwin takes little readers on a journey through Australia Zoo.</p><h2>In Search Of The Best Tail For Balance</h2><p>If you have met a cat, you’ve probably at some point been amazed by how acrobatic they are. They’re able to reorient themselves effortlessly, even in midair. It turns out that a lot of that twistiness comes down to <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/mammal-tails-balance/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">having a top-tier tail</a>. While most reptile tails can swing only in one plane of movement, mammal tails have more joints, leading to better inertial control. That lets mammals tweak their balance better, much as holding a balance pole can help an acrobat navigate a tightrope.</p><p><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/mammal-tails-balance/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">In a recent study </a>published in the <i>Journal of the Royal Society Interface</i>, researchers explored the biomechanics of different tails, and considered how a better tail could help <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/mammal-tails-balance/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">build a better robot</a>. Dr. Talia Moore, a roboticist at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Ceri Weber, a cellular and developmental biology postdoc at UC San Diego, join Host Flora Lichtman to talk tails.</p><h2>Bindi Irwin Encourages Kids To Become ‘Wildlife Warriors’</h2><p>Almost 30 years ago, conservationists Terri Irwin and the late Steve Irwin captured the world’s attention with their show “The Crocodile Hunter.” It introduced millions of people to Australia Zoo and the strange, often scary, sometimes cute, <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/bindi-irwin-book-wildlife-warriors/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">critters from Down Under</a>.</p><p>Now, Terri and her children—Bindi and Robert—are at the helm of the zoo, which is the setting for <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/bindi-irwin-book-wildlife-warriors/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">Bindi’s new children’s book</a>, <i>You Are a Wildlife Warrior!: Saving Animals & the Planet</i>. In it, Bindi takes little readers and her own daughter, Grace, on an adventure through the zoo.</p><p>Host Flora Lichtman talks with Bindi about her family’s legacy, how <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/bindi-irwin-book-wildlife-warriors/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">motherhood fuels her approach to conservation</a>, and what it’s like to run a zoo.</p><p><i>Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on </i><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/february-21-2025/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"><i>sciencefriday.com</i></a><i>.</i></p> <p><p><a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank"><i>Subscribe to this podcast.</i></a><i> Plus, to stay updated on all things science, </i><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank"><i><strong>sign up for Science Friday's newsletters</strong></i></a><i>.</i></p></p>
1A: ICYMI: Measles Outbreak Claims First Life In West Texas
An unvaccinated child in Lubbock, Texas died after being hospitalized last week due to measles. <br/><br/>It's the first death in the outbreak that began last month, and the first death from measles in the United States since 2015.<br/><br/>Along with a rash and fever, measles can cause a host of serious health complications – blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, and swelling of the brain. It's especially deadly for children younger than 5.<br/><br/>According to the most recent state data, at least 124 cases of measles have been reported in the state of Texas and at least nine cases in neighboring New Mexico. The majority of cases are in children aged 5 to 17 years old.<br/><br/>We share what you need to know about this recent outbreak, and the best ways to prevent transmission.<br/><br/>Want to support 1A?<a href="http://donate.npr.org/1A"> Give to your local public radio station</a> and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions?<a href="https://the1a.org/"> Connect</a> with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://plus.npr.org/1a__;!!IaT_gp1N!wOhW79EX-aPWlb0ult1k1kEov2nvCTjFuiZMsf2ABB1n7-WUz4Pfe0q1L1HdmIfb2xbIvng$">plus.npr.org/the1a</a>.<br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
1A: Oscars Run: 'Porcelain War' And Fighting Aggression With Art
Art, for many of us, is an escape.<br/><br/>Whether it's turning on your favorite album during a traffic-heavy commute or getting lost in your favorite book before bed – art helps us cope with the stresses of everyday life.<br/><br/>But how does the role of art shift when your way of life is turned upside down in an instant? That's what happened to Slava Leontyev, his wife, Anya, and their friend Andrey when Russia invaded Ukraine. Instead of leaving, the three Ukrainian artists chose to fight erasure and Russian aggression through their work.<br/><br/>A new documentary called "Porcelain War" follows their journey surviving and defending their country while holding onto their humanity.<br/><br/>Want to support 1A?<a href="http://donate.npr.org/1A"> Give to your local public radio station</a> and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions?<a href="https://the1a.org/"> Connect</a> with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://plus.npr.org/1a__;!!IaT_gp1N!wOhW79EX-aPWlb0ult1k1kEov2nvCTjFuiZMsf2ABB1n7-WUz4Pfe0q1L1HdmIfb2xbIvng$">plus.npr.org/the1a</a>.<br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
Diane Rehm: On My Mind: The fate of the CFPB and why we should care
<p>On February 7, billionaire Elon Musk posted a message on his social media platform X: “CFPB RIP,” along with a tombstone emoji.</p><p>In the days that followed, the workings of the government’s financial industry watchdog created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis essentially ground to a halt. </p><p>More than a hundred and fifty employees were let go, with more layoffs expected. Donald Trump has explicitly said he wants to get rid of the agency. And when you try to access the CFPB’s website, you get an error message. </p><p>So, can the Trump administration actually kill the CFPB? Mallory SoRelle says no. </p><p>SoRelle is an assistant professor of public policy at Duke University and author of “Democracy Declined: The Failed Politics of Consumer Financial Protection.” She explains that only Congress can shutter the agency. But, she adds, the actions the Trump administration have taken so far are “fundamentally shifting the playing field in favor of the financial industry and away from consumer protection.”</p><p>SoRelle joins Diane on this week’s episode of <em>On My Mind</em> to talk about the history of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and what would happen if it went away. </p><p><br><br></p>
On Point | Podcast: Lauren Ober was a juror on a Jan. 6 case. Then, she learned her new neighbors supported Jan. 6 insurrectionists.
<p>A conversation with journalist Lauren Ober about her experience on that jury, her podcast 'We Live Here Now,' and what Trump's pardons mean.</p>
Music
Fresh Air: Natasha Rothwell Checks Back Into 'The White Lotus'
In the new season of <em>The White Lotus, </em>Natasha Rothwell reprises her role of spa manager Belinda<em>, </em>a woman "on the precipice of change" as she straddles the line between guest and staffer. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about filming in Thailand, the cancellation of her show<em> How to Die Alone</em>, and getting cast as the hilarious Kelli on <em>Insecure</em>. <br/><br/>Also, we remember Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman who died this week at age 95.<br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
Fun and Sports
Fresh Air: Natasha Rothwell Checks Back Into 'The White Lotus'
In the new season of <em>The White Lotus, </em>Natasha Rothwell reprises her role of spa manager Belinda<em>, </em>a woman "on the precipice of change" as she straddles the line between guest and staffer. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about filming in Thailand, the cancellation of her show<em> How to Die Alone</em>, and getting cast as the hilarious Kelli on <em>Insecure</em>. <br/><br/>Also, we remember Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman who died this week at age 95.<br/><br/>Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a><br/><br/><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>