1A
by NPR
Listening to the news can feel like a journey. But 1A guides you beyond the headlines – and cuts through the noise. Let's get to the heart of the story, together – on 1A. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for 1A.
Episodes
-
The News Roundup For November 6, 2026
Massive Democratic midterm wins on Tuesday flipped control of the U.S. House and Senate across the country. Democrats will go to Congress in 2027 with a clear directive from voters — for change. The Affordable Care Act marketplace opened Sunday and millions of Americans are facing double-digit...
-
Health: How Can Congress Combat The Rising Cost Of Healthcare?
The cost of most necessities is rising right now. And healthcare is no exception. In 2026, the average employer-based family healthcare plan cost a little over $28,000. And employees contributed over $7,400 more to those plans than in 2025. That’s according to analysis from the health research...
-
'If You Can Keep It': The 2026 Election Roundup
The polls predicted a “blue wave.” And this time, the voters followed through. Democrats have taken control of the U.S. House and Senate, along with a slew of governorships, in what proved to be a stunning reversal of political power nationwide. In the Senate races, the Dems flipped seven seats,...
-
'If You Can Keep It': Election Day 2026
It’s election day in America. All 435 districts in the House of Representatives and 33 seats in the Senate are up for grabs. And five of the House’s six non-voting members are also in play. Democrats will need to gain a net of four seats to win a majority in the Senate. Meanwhile, Republicans can...
-
Politics: The Final Weekend Before The Midterms
The final weekend of campaigning before Election Day has passed. President Donald Trump attended rallies in Kansas and Iowa on Sunday — despite initially announcing those rallies were cancelled. The president said they were back on the schedule on Friday. In more than two dozen campaign stops in...
-
The News Roundup For October 30, 2026
President Donald Trump hit the campaign trail in the final stretch of midterm season. And he’s made a number of promises to Republican voters this cycle, looking to shore up support in the communities he’s visiting. This week, in Texas, he promised to undo Biden-era methane regulations and to...
-
The future of the Haitian community in America
The Trump administration successfully ended Temporary Protected Status (or TPS) for more than 350,000 Haitians – people who’d had fled violence and upheaval in their home country. The Obama administration first offered TPS to Haitians after a devastating earthquake struck the country in 2010.…
more -
Tech: The AI Bubble Has Already Burst In China. Could The U.S. Be Next?
It’s been a massive year for AI — and it just got bigger. Anthropic, the company which makes Claude, filed its long-awaited Initial Public Offering on Monday in what could be the largest IPO ever. It was also a huge day for AI deals in general. SpaceX secured $40 billion in financing to lease…
more -
What Do The Protests Across Europe Mean For The Continent?
For weeks, people have been protesting across Europe. In France, high schoolers have staged blockades and organized major demonstrations demanding resources for underfunded schools — and rallied against high living costs in France’s major cities. Protests grew as labor unions, other activists…
more -
'If You Can Keep It': The DOJ’s Midterm Moves
Early voting for the midterm elections is underway all across America. And Election Day is just over a week away. Now the president, facing likely losses in the House and the Senate, is ramping up his campaign to intervene in midterm voting and vote counting like no other president ever has in...
-
The News Roundup For October 23, 2026
This week, President Donald Trump announced that he’s spent $300 million on ads this midterm season, with plans to spend another $100 million before Election Day. The battle between President Trump and the press continues. CNN is threatening legal action against the White House after its...
-
Politics: The Midterm Races You Aren’t Hearing About
In just a dozen days, voters across the country will cast their ballots in midterm elections that could shift the balance of power in Washington. A lot of focus has been devoted to the contested races for Congress, with billions of dollars being spent on critical statewide contests and…
more -
Money: The 1A Economy Call-In
The sticker shock on everything from gas to food to housing continues to push Americans into tough choices about how to stretch their money. We heard from hundreds of listeners during a show last month focused on how they are experiencing the current economy — and answered their questions about...
-
What Does Donald Trump’s Tariffs Mean For Michigan? Plus, The Israeli Election
In the decades following the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. and Canada built strong economic ties across their border. That robust partnership — which accounts for billions of dollars of goods — made Canada a key trading partner for northern states, like Michigan.…
more -
'If You Can Keep It': The View Of The Midterms From Michigan
1A comes to you from the Mitten State. We travel to the Midwest to talk about the Midterms. It’s a place that has become everything these elections are about: identity, power, and affordability. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the hotly-contested Senate race in which both candidates are...
-
The News Roundup For October 16, 2026
In the last consumer snapshot before the 2026 midterm elections, the annual rate of inflation rose 3.7 percent. Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to become the biggest donor of this midterm cycle, after spending more than $366 million on conservative candidates and causes. And the Trump...
-
Money: What Rising Diesel Prices Mean For You
A new report released yesterday shows inflation is on the rise. Prices were up 3.7 percent in September over last year, the highest annual rate since May. The rising cost of fuel, specifically diesel, was a major factor in that jump. Why are these prices so high? And what does that mean for...
-
In Good Health: Are We Solving Hearing Loss?
For those experiencing hearing loss, being able to discern the speech of other people in noisy environments can be frustrating. And hearing aids often don’t convey sound in every situation. Hearing loss affects 37.5 million adults in this country. And rates of hearing loss increase with age. Some...
-
Military: Pete Hegseth’s New Pentagon
The U.S. Military educates, and trains some of the best and brightest across the U.S. The Pentagon is a complex, big, and bureaucratic machine. It moves slowly. But it has evolved over time, reflecting changes in our society and politics. From the integration of the military in the late-1940’s to...
-
'If You Can Keep It': The Purpose Of The Polls
Polls play a major role in U.S. politics. And in the months leading up to an election, they’re everywhere. Polling doesn’t just indicate which party has a competitive advantage in a race. They also tell us about the issues that are most concerning to voters. And how these concerns break down by...
-
The News Roundup For October 9, 2026
With less than one month to go until the midterms, Donald Trump is in Texascampaigning on behalf of Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Senate Democrats scuppered a plan championed by their Republican colleagues that would havesought to lower surging energy prices driven by data center...
-
Religion: Pope Leo XIV, So Far
It’s been a successful summer for Robert Prevost — one of Chicago’s most distinguished citizens. His essay on artificial intelligence was released in paperback to enthusiastic reviews. It was described by one prominent commentator as “beautifully written, hugely significant, speaks truth to…
more -
In Good Health: The Evolution Of Prostate Cancer Treatment
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men — and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. One in eight men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. And Black men are more than twice as likely to die from it. Between the social stigma and misconceptions about...
-
Weather: What To Expect From The Super El Niño
Last week, a key stretch of the Pacific Ocean hit its highest temperature on record. And it’s still climbing. It’s a warning sign of the so-called Super El Niño, expected to bring floods, droughts, and heat waves. And higher prices for staples like coffee. What to expect from the super El Niño —...
-
'If You Can Keep It': Mental Health And Democracy
A veteran journalist covered the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol. That experience got her exploring the connection between stress, trauma, and our political choices. Our mental health might affect our politics. But our politics also definitely affect our mental health. In this edition of “If You…
more -
The News Roundup For October 2, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security has allocated$20 million to pay for pro-Trump ads glorifying the president, which have drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. The pay-to-play allegations plaguing Maine Sen. Susan Collins haveswing voters in her state re-thinking their support for...
-
Midterms: The Connection Between Civics And Democracy
In five weeks, more than 100 million people will vote as part of the 2026 midterm elections. In New Hampshire and across the country, that means that voters will go to the polls to choose representatives, senators, governors, state legislators, city councilors, school board members, and more. So,...
-
Economy: Managing Your Money Ahead Of The Midterm Elections
Gas. Groceries. Housing. Almost everywhere you look in the U.S. economy right now, prices are up – and people are feeling the squeeze. As of July, six in ten Americans say Trump’s economic policies have worsened economic conditions in the country, according to a survey from Pew Research. That’s…
more -
Policy: ICE And The Pregnant Women It's Detaining
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests reached record highs this summer. And the full scope is just coming into focus. Some 43,000 people were arrested in June, more than 49,000 in July, and almost 51,000 in August —an agency record. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives last…
more -
'If You Can Keep It': How The Midterms Will Run
The midterms are just five weeks away. Ballots are already in the mail and in person voting is underway in some states. Meanwhile, the federal government’s role in this election is still being hashed out in the courts. This month, the Supreme Court blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to give...
-
The News Roundup For September 25, 2026
President Donald Trumpbanned television networks he deemed adversarial from the White House press pool this week. Following a lawsuit, a judge issued a 14-day stay, temporarily restoring White House access to CNN, MSNow, and POLITICO. New reporting indicates that the ICE agent who shot a…
more -
Conflict: Israel and Gaza at the 2026 UN General Assembly
World leaders have descended upon New York City for this year’s edition of the United Nations General Assembly. And a lot is happening. So far, we’ve seen some most pointed criticism of Israel’s conduct heard at the U.N. in years. This led to the Israeli delegation walking out during the Turkish...
-
Education: The Decline of American Higher Education on the World Stage
For decades, U.S. colleges and universities have been regarded as among the best in the world. From the Ivy League to state research institutions, thousands of students and professors from around the globe flocked to America year after year to study, teach, and innovate. International students...
-
Mr. Xi Goes To Washington
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet this week in a highly anticipated sit down as the U.N. summit continues in New York. This conference comes amid stark warnings over AI safety, U.S.-China trade anxiety, and the ongoing war in Iran. What‘s on the agenda and…
more -
'If You Can Keep It': ‘Empire of Grift’
No two words defined President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign more than “America first.” The name of this country has been at the center of President Trump’s rhetoric. But his administration’s approach to foreign policy tells a different story. The Trump administration has done...
-
The News Roundup For September 18, 2026
This week the nation woke up to the potential danger of runaway tech — that AI is behaving in ways its creators don’t intend and can’t control. And that we might be as little as six months to a year away from AI being capable of acting on its own. The midterm election is coming. Prices are high....
-
Health: State Abortion Bans And Ectopic Pregnancies
Between 2020 and 2025, nearly 200 women have died from ectopic pregnancies. That’s almost double the number of deaths in the previous six years. Ectopic pregnancies happen when an embryo implants outside the uterus and can’t develop properly. If left untreated, the embryo can rupture, causing...
-
AI: Should We Slow AI Innovation Down?
Last week, a researcher at the artificial intelligence company Anthropic announced his resignation on X, formerly known as Twitter. Jacob Coxon wrote that his former company — along with Open AI, where he also recently worked — are acting irresponsibly and “racing straight to self-improving...
-
Policy: The Human Cost Of Third-Country Deportations
The administration is expanding its third-country deportation campaign. Since President Donald Trump took office last year, more than 25,000 people have been sent to over 29 countries they’re not from. That includes places like Liberia, Guatemala, South Sudan, Guyana, Ghana, and Honduras. Now…
more -
'If You Can Keep It': The Deal With Dark Money
At least a billion dollars of untraceable cash is flowing into this year’s midterm elections. That’s according to an analysis by The New York Times from late last month. These funds – referred to as dark money by campaign finance experts – are coming from super PACs, non-profits, and wealthy...
-
The News Roundup For September 11, 2026
Despite President Donald Trump’s historic unpopularity, Republicans are betting on him big ahead of this year’s midterms. The partystaged a first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas this week. Following renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, the price of crude oil has risen to over $100…
more -
In Good Health: The Matter Of Maternal Mental Health Care
The Lindsay Clancy murder trial captivated the American public for weeks. Prosecutors charged Clancy with murdering her three children. They say she then tried to take her own life and that her injuries left her paralyzed from the waist down. Clancy’s lawyers say she was experiencing postpartum...
-
Jobs: What It Means To Be ‘Disposable’ At Work
The way we work has changed dramatically over the last decade. Using AI is quickly becoming the norm in many workplaces when, just a few years ago, it felt closer to science fiction. And the hybrid work model that began during the pandemic has made remote work much more common. We’ve also seen...
-
Health: The Fight For The Health Of 9/11 First Responders
A quarter century after 9/11, the health of those who responded to the attacks continues to be affected. Some 3,000 people died across three locations that day. An estimated 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants and risked physical injury in the hours and days that followed. That’s...
-
America’s Next 50 Years: A 1A Call-In Special (REBROADCAST)
How did you celebrate July 4 this year? What did the country’s landmark 250th anniversary, in honor of the founding of the United States, mean to you? The next 50 years likely hold a lot of change for our country where democracy, economic uncertainty, technology, and our social fabric are...
-
The News Roundup For September 4, 2026
Following months of a tenuous ceasefire and several rounds of failed negotiations, the U.S. and Iran traded military strikes this week threatening to once again plunge the surrounding region into conflict. A whistleblower inside the United States Postal Service is warning that the agency is…
more -
Surveillance: What Fleets Of Flock Cameras Mean For American Privacy
If you’ve driven on any road in the U.S. lately, chances are your license plate has been captured by a Flock camera. Flock lets police around the country track your car. The company’s cameras can even help determine whether you’ve committed a crime. Now, it’s is facing big time backlash for what...
-
Religion: ‘Our Town’ And A Christian Nationalist Takeover In Tennessee
Imagine a small town in rural Tennessee — a town square, a yellow brick courthouse, a family-owned restaurant, a café, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets across the Appalachian foothills. Now, imagine a group of far-right real estate developers — backed by Silicon Valley venture capital and with...
-
Special Call-In: Teaching In 2026
For some of you, it’s still a week away. For others — the doors are already open. It’s back to school. But in this edition of 1A, it’s all about the teachers. They’ve been called heroes. They’ve fought for better salaries and benefits. They‘ve been asked to do more with less. They’ve started...
-
Family: ‘My Mother’s Daughter’ And Uncovering Long Buried Family Stories
Between 1950 and 1975, an estimated 1.5 million women were sent to homes for unwed mothers across the United States. There, most were hidden away from their families and communities until they gave birth and placed their babies for adoption. Some of those adoptions were involuntary. That type of...
About this show
Listening to the news can feel like a journey. But 1A guides you beyond the headlines – and cuts through the noise. Let's get to the heart of the story, together – on 1A.
Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening for 1A.
Hosted by
NPR
Categories