What children in poverty could lose from the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Republicans want to change or reduce key social safety net programs that provide health care, food benefits and financial assistance for millions of children.
Divisions grow among Trump supporters over possible U.S. strikes on Iran
President Trump says he'll decide in the next two weeks whether launch military strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, the conflict is creating divisions among some of Trump's most vocal supporters.
The story behind the arrest of 87-year-old veteran John Spitzberg at the Capitol
The video of John Spitzberg's arrest has been shared widely across social platforms, becoming a crystalizing moment for those protesting the Trump administration.
MAGA is split over potential U.S. involvement in the Middle East
Republican strategist Sarah Longwell says getting involved in the Israel-Iran conflict would be an "unforgivable sin" to many Trump supporters.
Trump is silent about Juneteenth on a day he previously honored as president
President Trump honored Juneteenth in each of his first four years as president, even before it became a federal holiday. On this year's Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, the president kept silent.
The debt limit, the origins of the X Date, and why it all matters
Note: A version of this episode first ran in 2023.
Every year, the U.S. government spends more money than it takes in. In order to fund all that spending, the country takes on debt. Congress has the power to limit how much debt the U.S. takes on. Once we reach that limit, Congress has a few options so that the government keeps paying its bills: Raise the debt limit, suspend it, or eliminate it entirely.
Which is daunting, because if lawmakers don't figure something out in time, the ramifications for the global economy could be huge.
Shai Akabas, of the Bipartisan Policy Center, has become something of the go-to expert in calculating the exact date America would hit the wall and not be able to pay all its debts. This day is so terrifying it has a special name, the X-Date.
Today's episode is about how Akabas and Jay Powell — long before he became chair of the Federal Reserve — worked to create a system to determine the X-Date with the hope of helping us all never reach it.
We also have an update on this year's looming X-Date, which could arrive as soon as this summer.
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Lessons from Iraq, as Trump teases attacks on Iran
In 2003, the U.S. launched a war in Iraq based on what turned out to be bad intelligence about weapons programs, then spent years mired in a conflict with no clear end.
Today, President Trump is threatening to bring the U.S. military into another Middle East conflict. As with Iraq, the justification for a potential attack on Iran is the alleged threat of a nuclear weapon.
We talk to journalist Steve Coll, author of The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq about how this moment echoes the run-up to the war in Iraq and how it differs.
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Trump administration cuts specialized suicide prevention service for LGBTQ+ youth
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline included a service that provided specialized suicide prevention support by phone and text for LGBTQ+ kids. That's ending.
The U.S. could use 'bunker buster' bombs in Iran. Here's what to know about them
Iran's most fortified nuclear facility, called Fordo, is buried deep inside a mountain. Only the U.S. has the 30,000-pound bombs — often referred to as "bunker busters" — capable of reaching it.
Pro-Trump media figures split over the U.S. role in the Israel-Iran conflict
Many of President Trump's nominal media allies are breaking with him over his backing of Israel, arguing it will lead to a wider war.