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The FIFA 2026 World Cup kicks off in June and 11 American host cities are getting ready for an influx of fans. Juliette Kayyem, a national security expert and former DHS official, examines how the partial government shutdown has impacted preparedness for the mega event.

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It was edited by Sarah Robbins. 

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President Trump has called the affordability crisis a hoax, but the data shows the burden of rising costs really matters to Americans. NPR’s Jennifer Ludden talks about covering affordability issues and meeting people who struggle to find secure housing – or enough food to eat. 

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This episode was produced by Henry Larson. 

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The Strait of Hormuz is one of the global economy’s major arteries. It had been closed to most commercial traffic for about 6 weeks up to today.

The reopening is good news for hundreds of ships that have been stuck. 

But questions remain about the safety of the passage. Questions, like how many underwater mines are still out there? Or what happens if the ceasefire falls apart? 

And those questions are crucial for the people who insure these vessels. 

Hundreds of ships have been stuck in the Strait of Hormuz for weeks. Even though it’s now open, safety concerns remain. 

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This episode was produced by Avery Keatley and Karen Zamora.

It was edited by Barrie Hardymon and Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Almost a decade after the height of the #MeToo movement, intimacy coordinators are a fixture on film sets. As of this year, the job is now covered by SAG-AFTRA, the labor union that represents actors.

Their growing presence on set has led to more demand for intimacy coordinator training programs. NPR visited one of those programs in downtown Los Angeles, and met an assistant director  and a porn actor both training for the job.

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This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink and Karen Zamora.
It was edited by Christopher Intagliata.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Unease is growing in the ranks of the US military.

Since President Trump began his second term, his controversial use of the armed forces both at home and abroad has left some service members unsettled and demoralized. 

The Iran war made those feelings worse. 

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This episode was produced by Tyler Bartlam. 

It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Andrew Sussman.

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Two entertainment and media powerhouses are likely to become one. So why aren’t the artists happy about it?

Backlash against a possible merger between the media companies Paramount Skydance and Warner Brothers Discovery increased this week when more than 2,000 actors, writers and directors signed a letter opposing the deal. 

The letter warns that the merger will result in “fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world.”  

Damon Lindelof created “The Leftovers”, “Watchmen” and helped create the hit series “Lost.” He was one of the artists to sign the letter, and he explains his decision to NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly. 

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This episode was produced by Marc Rivers and Karen Zamora.

It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Rep. Eric Swalwell, of California, is the latest member of Congress accused of sexual misconduct. How common is a story like this?

Host Mary Louise Kelly speaks with PBS NewsHour Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins, who reported on the patterns of abuse in Congress eight years ago. In her reporting, Desjardins spoke to former staffers who were working to change the rules around reporting and consequences. 

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This episode was produced by Linah Mohammad and Karen Zamora.

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Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of both President Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, conceded defeat in an historic election in Hungary. The results of the vote will have far reaching consequences, potentially reshaping the central European country’s relationship with the EU and laying bare the weaknesses of Orban’s style of far-right, nationalist populism.

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This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, Mate Halmos and Daniel Ofman.

It was edited by Sarah Robbins.

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It took more than 50 years for humans to return to the moon. Will it take another 50 years before NASA can get back?

Fifty-four years. 

That is how long it has been since human last traveled beyond Earth’s orbit — since the crew of Apollo 17 left the moon behind in December 1972.

This week, NASA’s Artemis II mission changed that.

Why did it take so long? And given everything we know about the agency’s plans, budget battles and the growing shadow of China’s lunar ambitions — is the road ahead actually realistic?

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This episode was produced by Linah Mohammad and Karen Zamora.

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As a fragile ceasefire holds in the Middle East, all eyes are turning to Islamabad for high-stakes talks to end the war in Iran. Pakistan has emerged as a key player in bringing Iran and the US to the negotiating table. But will that be enough to bring peace?

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This episode was produced by Jeffrey Pierre and Tyler Bartlam.

It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas.

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