High-profile wins for Democrats in New York, New Jersey and Virginia showed how important affordability is to voters. The New York Times' David Leonhardt tells us more. Then, Salman Rushdie talks about his book "The Eleventh Hour," a quintet of stories set in India, America, and England. It's his first fiction he has published since he suffered a knife attack in 2022. And, the team at the New England Aquarium in Boston has created a “geriatric island” for their elderly penguin residents. Eric Fox, associate curator of penguins at the aquarium, discusses the benefits of the special retreat.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday she will not seek reelection after 20 terms. Scott Shafer from KQED in San Francisco details Pelosi’s storied career.And, Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey weighs in on the news of Pelosi’s retirement and how the record-long government shutdown is impacting his constituents.Then, the Federal Aviation Administration is cutting flights by 10% at 40 airports across the country starting Friday in an attempt to keep the airspace safe amid shutdown-induced staffing shortages. David Slotnick, contributing aviation editor at The Points Guy, explains what this means.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

According to New York City’s Board of Elections, more than 2 million people voted in Tuesday's mayoral race, the largest turnout in more than 50 years. The victor? Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. Spectrum News NY1's Ayana Harry joins us. Then, Democratic National Committee vice chair Malcolm Kenyatta talks about what Democratic election wins across the U.S. mean for the party's strategy going forward. And, President Trump's family made more than $800 million from its cryptocurrency ventures in the first half of 2025 alone, according to a Reuters report. We speak with Fortune’s Jeff John Roberts about the Trump family’s increasing presence in the world of cryptocurrency.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Dick Cheney was arguably the most powerful vice president in U.S. history and he served four presidents over his career. Cheney died at age 84, and former President George H.W. Bush biographer Jon Meacham shares a remembrance of Cheney’s work and legacy.And, Hawai’i is home to a high number of federal workers, and the ongoing government shutdown is weighing heavily on the state. Gov. Josh Green details what’s happening in his state, 35 days into the shutdown.Then, Hurricane Melissa killed at least 33 people in Jamaica and resulted in billions of dollars in damage. Ivonne Rodríguez-Wiewall, executive advisor to Direct Relief, joins us from Kingston, Jamaica, with a look at recovery efforts there.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump administration says it will restart SNAP food benefits for the nearly 42 million Americans that receive them, but that it will pay out only half the amount people normally get. A federal judge ruled that the government must continue funding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on an emergency basis after the food assistance program ran out of money this weekend. We get the latest from NPR's Jennifer Ludden. Then, as some Head Start early learning programs close across the country due to the government shutdown, we check in with how the community is coming together to keep doors open for a few hundred low-income children in Florida. Then, on Monday, International Criminal Court prosecutors at The Hague said they are collecting evidence of alleged mass killings and rapes in Sudan. The New York Times' Declan Walsh joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Open enrollment season is underway and many people looking to purchase their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act are seeing sticker shock. Health care subsidies that are at the center of the government shutdown are expected expire at the of the year, causing premiums to double. Health economist Katherine Baicker explains the cost of Obamacare, how it works, and claims being made about the program.And, listeners submitted their insurance questions about topics including affordable prescriptions and high-deductible plans. Hannah Frigand from HelpLine and Emilie Fauchet, an Affordable Care Act navigator, join us to answer those questions.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mohammed Abu Moussa, a radiology technician at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, was released from Israeli detention after being held for 20 months. We speak with him about his treatment in prison, the loss of his son, mother and sister, and what it is like for him to be free after almost two years being held without charges.Then, as the government shutdown grinds on, a federal program that provides millions of vulnerable mothers and their children with key nutritional assistance is expected to run out of money later this week. Omaha Nation WIC director Jessika Free-Bass joins us.And, the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of Major League Baseball's World Series on Wednesday night. Fox Sports' Rachel Nichols wraps up the latest action.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Pressure on lawmakers to end the 29-day government shutdown is mounting, and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin joins us to discuss where the shutdown stands and what his party expects from Democrats to reopen the government.And, Hurricane Melissa left more than 500,000 people in Jamaica without power. David Rose, reporter for The Jamaica Observer, details the latest rescue and recovery efforts.Then, as climate change reshapes the Blue Ridge Mountains, the iconic brook trout is in decline. Grist and Blue Ridge Public Radio reporter Katie Myers explains whether the native Appalachian trout can survive in a warmer world.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hurricane Melissa made landfall early Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 storm with wind speeds of 185 m.p.h. It is the most powerful storm to ever hit Jamaica. NPR's Eyder Peralta tells us more.Then, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Mayor Matt Tuerk talks about why he and a bipartisan group of mayors are urging the agriculture secretary to not let the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and other government food assistance programs run out of money during the ongoing government shutdown. And, on Tuesday, air traffic controllers are missing their first full paycheck because of the government shutdown, but they have to continue working without pay. Capt. Dennis Tajer, with the Allied Pilots Association joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If the government shutdown continues into November, 34-year-old Pennsylvania mother of three Sara Stone is one of the tens of millions of Americans set to lose food assistance. She joins us to discuss what it means for her family.And, some lawmakers are raising concerns about the Trump administration's airstrikes against alleged drug cartel boats off the coast of Venezuela. Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey weighs in on these military actions.Then, a redistricting war is going on across the country as Republicans and Democrats try to redraw congressional maps ahead of next year's midterms. California is asking voters to decide through Proposition 50. Maya C. Miller, politics reporter at CalMatters, explains more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy