Month: May 2022

Some immigrants never look back. Some spend their lives look back. All Things Considered Senior Producer Miguel Macias has done both.

For the last decade, Macias has documented his life as an immigrant from Spain. His story of migration, of being in limbo is, in some ways, unique, but also similar to that of many immigrants. Over the years, he has wondered time and time again about his decision to leave his country, and whether to return one day.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

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In the past two weeks the nation has borne witness to the tragedy of two mass shootings. In Uvalde, Texas, a gunman killed 19 students and their two teachers inside a fourth grade classroom at Robb Elementary School. At least 17 were wounded.

In Buffalo, New York, a man is accused of shooting and killing 10 members of the Black community who were shopping at Tops supermarket. In a long internet screed, he wrote about how online racist ideology and white supremacist conspiracy theories fueled his violence. Witnessing the aftermath of these horrific acts leaves us wondering, once again, what can be done to identify the warning signs of those who plan to commit mass violence—before it’s too late?

We speak with Joanna Schroeder about ways to protect young people from being indoctrinated into violent white supremacist groups. Schroeder chronicles her sons’ exposure to content from online racist hate groups and how she intervened.

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This week marks two years since George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a white police officer and the subsequent racial justice protests and calls for police reform that spread from Minneapolis across the country. President Joe Biden has signed a new executive order meant to change how police use force among other measures, which experts say is a small — but important — step in preventing more tragedies like Floyd’s death.

But as Minnesota Pubic Radio’s Matt Sepic reports, some Minneapolis residents say they’re still waiting on the reform that leaders promised.

Also in this episode, Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa of The Washington Post discuss their new biography, His Name Is George Floyd, and how those who knew Floyd best want to make sure his legacy covers more than his murder.

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This is a fragile moment for the U.S. economy. Many people are feeling the steep rise of the cost of gas and groceries, and some are having to decide whether to buy food or fill up their tanks. Food banks and local non-profits are seeing more people than ever. And experts worry that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to combat inflation by raising interest rates could tip the economy into recession.

NPR’s Scott Horsley covers the big-picture economy, Chris Arnold covers housing and Brittany Cronin covers energy. They explain what sectors are feeling the most impact and how it’s playing out for different people.

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At least 19 children were shot and killed by a man who investigators say was armed with assault rifles legally purchased after his 18th birthday. It was the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut nearly 10 years ago. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy tells NPR that lawmakers in Washington — including himself — bear responsibility for inaction on gun violence over the last decade.

Also in this episode, gun control activist Sandy Phillips, who spoke to NPR’s Steve Inskeep on Morning Edition; and Uvalde City Manager Vince DiPiazza, who spoke to NPR’s Leila Fadel on Morning Edition.

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Dozens of states could soon take steps to ban or restrict abortion. But there are a lot of unanswered questions about how those laws would be enforced if they vary from state to state, Kim Mutcherson tells NPR. That patchwork of laws is the most likely outcome if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade, leaving the U.S. without a federally-protected right to abortion.

That’s the reality in Poland, where abortion is almost entirely illegal. NPR’s Ari Shapiro reports on an underground network of reproductive rights activists who risk prison time to help abortion patients.

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It’s 2022, but the 2020 election is on the ballot in Georgia, where several Trump-backed candidates are running in Republican primary races.

WABE’s Rahul Bali explains how the former President looms over Tuesday’s elections, and WABE’s Sam Gringlas looks at a race between two Democratic incumbents, forced to face off after their districts were redrawn by Republicans.

For more political coverage from member station WABE, listen to Georgia Votes.

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Last year the remains of 215 children were found in unmarked graves on the site of a former residential school for Indigenous children in British Columbia. The news was shocking, but among Indigenous people of Canada and survivors of the country’s boarding school system, it was not a surprise. For generations there had been stories of children taken away from their parents never to be heard from again. Those who did return told of neglect, abuse, and forced assimilation.

It’s a brutal history that the United States and Canada share.

Shortly after the unmarked graves were found in Canada, US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland called for an investigation into US boarding schools. Her first report, released last week, identified more than 400 institutions operated or supported by the US government. At 53 of these schools, there are marked and unmarked burial sites with the remains of children who died there.

We hear stories from some of the survivors of the boarding schools and speak with Secretary Haaland about the ongoing investigation and a year-long listening tour to bear witness to survivors and facilitate healing.

This episode contains discussions of child abuse that some listeners may find disturbing.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has used possible NATO expansion to justify invading Ukraine. Now, that invasion might expand the alliance. Finland and Sweden, both formerly neutral Russian neighbors, are applying for membership.

NPR’s Steve Inskeep speaks with Finland’s ambassador to the U.S., Mikko Hautala, about the stakes of his country’s bid to join.

NPR’s Emily Feng also talks to historian Mary Elise Sarotte about how we reached this impasse between NATO and Russia.

You can also hear — and see — more on how war games and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are impacting life in Norway from NPR’s Quil Lawrence here.

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A Polish school in Warsaw has taken in Ukrainian refugee students and teachers. The school provides safety and a place of hope as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.

Poland’s minister of education says the country has absorbed more than 75,000 Ukrainian students into Polish schools.

NPR’s Ari Shapiro visited schools in Poland and spoke to teachers and students about what their life is like right now.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

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