CNN One Thing

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16-year-old Colt Gray was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole this week for the killing of four people at his Georgia high school in 2024. The emotional hearing offered a sounding board for victims’ family members and a peek into Gray’s possible motivation, which investigators say included a desire to get the attention of a previous school shooter. Can this tragedy teach authorities anything about preventing the next one?  For more: Georgia school shooter Colt Gray sentenced to life in prison without parole  ---  Guest: Isabel Rosales, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Senior Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum  Photo: Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This midterm season, one issue has become something of a litmus test for Democratic candidates: support for Israel. However, some Jewish progressives fear the fine line between policy disagreements and antisemitism is starting to fray, leaving some to ask: should Jewish candidates should even try to run for president?  For more: As Israel becomes Democratic litmus test, Jewish progressives warn about a tilt into antisemitism  ---  Guest: Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The arrests of misogynist influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate in Miami have shaken the so-called manosphere and given hope to many women who say they were abused by the pair (allegations they strongly deny). While it appears Trump administration will not intervene in their extradition fight, there are still questions as to whether their brand of toxic masculinity is too deeply embedded in the culture to remove. We talk to a reporter who uncovered how the brothers allegedly exploited women and leveraged social media to make millions.  Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and violence.  For more: New documents detail rape charges against the Tate brothers in the UK. Here’s what we know  ---  Guest: Heidi Blake, The New Yorker investigate reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump gave a primetime speech on Thursday revealing what he said was new information related to foreign efforts to influence US elections. However, experts say the documents he declassified did not back up his claims and that his continued focus on the 2020 election could sow mistrust in the upcoming midterms. We hear from a federal election official recently fired by Trump and take a closer look at the elections security bill Trump is desperate for Congress to pass.  For more: Trump’s speech claiming US election vulnerabilities, annotated  ---  Guests: Benjamin Hovland & Zachary Wolf, CNN Politics Senior Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Ariel Edwards-Levy  Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The killings of two individuals in Houston and Maine in the span of a week are once again putting the tactics of federal immigration agents in the spotlight. In response, ICE is pausing most traffic stops, according to a source familiar with the guidance. On the ground, competing narratives and fights for access to crucial evidence are only increasing tensions. So is this an issue of training, or a push for more arrests? And is true accountability achievable in a department that has become politicized?  For more: Lack of body cameras on ICE agents fuels more uncertainty over fatal shootings ---  Guest: Josh Campbell, CNN Senior Correspondent Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Ryan Murphy/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been hospitalized for nearly a month, but it remains unclear why or what his condition is. His prolonged absence comes just after Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) disappeared for over 100 days, for what he later revealed was treatment for depression. These incidents are reigniting a prickly debate over what information lawmakers owe voters, the limits of medical privacy, and if Congress is just too old.  Note: This episode was recorded before McConnell's statement revealing that his hospitalization was due to a fall. Read more ⁠here⁠. It was also recorded before the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. ---  Guest: Casey Burgat, The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Tom Brenner/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump’s request for FIFA to review a controversial red card against US striker Folarin Balogun has raised questions about fairness and preferential treatment at the World Cup. But experts say soccer’s governing body has long been open to possible political influence and corruption. We explore how that came to be and why fans continue to love the tournament despite FIFA.  For more: Breaking down 36 disastrous hours for American soccer as World Cup bubble bursts  ---  Guest: Simon Kuper, Financial Times reporter and co-author, ‘Soccernomics’  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court finished its blockbuster term by striking down President Donald Trump’s executive order that would have limited birthright citizenship. But experts say it was not a total loss for Trump and some Republicans still want to push ahead. We break down the implications and examine how future presidents will also benefit from expanded executive authority thanks to this court.  For more: Trump’s audacious bid to end birthright citizenship was not an entire loss at the Supreme Court  ---  Guest: Joan Biskupic, CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of America’s 250th birthday, CNN tracked down multiple descendants of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence to ask: do you feel like we are living up to their vision? Their answers were as complicated as the country itself.  For more: Descendants in a divided America  ---  Guest: Catherine Shoichet, CNN Senior Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Tristen Rouse/CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the past few weeks, a small player protest over Pride uniforms has kicked off a controversy in Major League Baseball. Some LGBTQ fans and politicians are angry (for very different reasons), and the episode is raising questions about LGBTQ progress and whether professional sports should play a role. We look at whether this drama on the diamond can tell us anything about Americans’ shifting attitudes on social issues under the second Trump administration.  For more: Americans are divided on ‘culture war’ issues, a new CNN poll finds. Republicans are trying to leverage that in the midterms  ---  Guests: Terri Hupfer & Hannah Keyser, CNN Sports Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo by: Scott Marshall/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new report from global energy think tank Ember found that solar generated more US energy than coal in May 2026 for the first time on record. It comes at a time when the Trump administration has been actively hostile towards the development of wind and solar projects, despite a growing need for more electricity as more AI data centers come online. So, is this a minor blip, or a sea change? And is the current political climate making talk of climate change taboo on the campaign trail?  For more: ‘Afraid to get my next bill’: Americans brace for higher costs to cool their homes this summer  ---  Guest: Jane Flegal, Searchlight Institute Senior Fellow  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By: RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California has long been a target of President Donald Trump dating back to Trump’s first impeachment trial. Now he is reportedly under investigation by Trump’s Justice Department for mortgage fraud (allegations Schiff denies). In a conversation recorded live at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, Schiff explains how he is preparing for possible legal action, how Democrats should respond if they take back the House of Representatives in the midterms, and if they have the right leadership in place to effectively push back against what he sees as a corrupt administration. ---  Guest: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is set to fully reopen on Friday after Iran and the US sign a memo of understanding to end hostilities that will end the war and kickstart further negotiations. But will it bring down gas prices for American drivers – and when? We look at the complicated business of unwinding a war’s unintended consequences.  For more: The tanks in Cushing, Oklahoma, are hitting bottom. The oil market is about to hit a tipping point  ---  Guest: David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Chris Isidore Photo By: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The recent Pentagon releases of declassified files detailing sightings of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) has piqued the interest of UFO enthusiasts and curious Americans alike. But despite increased transparency, a lack of hard evidence remains. Why do many of us want to believe there is intelligent life out there somewhere? And if scientists found that evidence, would we even accept it?  ---  Guest: Adam Frank, University of Rochester astrophysicist   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Mario Tama/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A scheduled UFC fight at the White House on Sunday is being billed as a kickoff for America’s 250th birthday celebrations. But some critics are calling it a disrespectful money grab, and those who follow combat sports closely believe it is just an extension of a relationship that has served both sides financially and politically for years. So beyond the optics of the octagon, what purpose does this event serve? And can it help Trump and the GOP win back young male voters?  For more: Young men are leaving Trump. Can a UFC fight at the White House get them back in the ring?  ---  Guests: Francisco Muñiz & Luke Thomas  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Kit Maher Photo by: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dramatic shakeup of 60 Minutes under CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss culminated this week in the firing of longtime correspondent Scott Pelley. He, and some other employees who have recently left, have accused management of editorial interference in an effort to curry favor with the Trump administration (claims CBS denies). So is this a long overdue shakeup of an aging medium, or a sign of corporate media meddling? And what does it mean for the rest of the content we consume on TV?  ---  Guest: Brian Stelter, CNN Chief Media Analyst  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early on in his second term, President Donald Trump called for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eliminated. Now, the White House appears to be cleaning up the mess left behind at the agency by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who sources say fostered a culture of fear, distrust, and operational chaos (an official who claims he teleported to a Waffle House also made an appearance). But with Atlantic hurricane season upon us, will FEMA be ready to answer the call after the next big disaster?  For more: Exclusive: Power struggles and paralysis: Inside FEMA’s lost year as storm season approaches  ---  Guest: Gabe Cohen, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By:  Al Drago/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erin Brockovich rose to fame after the release of a 2000 Hollywood movie, starring Julia Roberts, which told the story of her real-life fight to bring justice to a small town affected by a utility company’s pollution. Now, she is lending her voice to the growing opposition to AI data centers, which tech companies say are needed to fuel economic growth and national security. But who is the true villain in this story?  For more: Why Utah residents are protesting a massive AI data center project backed by Kevin O’Leary  ---  Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Alan Freed/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FIFA expects more than 6 million soccer fans will descend on North America in less than 3 weeks for the 2026 World Cup. But amid cuts to public health programs under the Trump administration, will Ebola, hantavirus or measles join the crowds? We hear from an infectious disease specialist leading a new initiative that will track public health threats during the tournament.  For more: Exclusive: Trump admin shutting key US researchers out of global virus response talks, documents and sources reveal  ---  Guest: Rebecca Katz, Director of Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science & Security  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Deidre McPhillips Photo By:  Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephen Colbert signed off from the “Late Show” for the final time Thursday after CBS ended the iconic late night franchise. While many believe his criticism of President Donald Trump played a factor, the network insists it was purely a financial decision. But can political comedy and media consolidation coexist? And how will pressure from Trump’s FCC influence broadcasters going forward? A working comedian weighs in.  For more: watch ‘The Last Laugh: Stephen Colbert’  ---  Guest: Michael Ian Black, “Have I Got News for You” team captain  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Support: Sophie Tran  Photo By: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a gunman killed two children and injured 27 others at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis at the start of the school year, parents, teachers, and students have been left to pick up the pieces. It is a process that might feel familiar to countless other communities who have encountered school shootings, but what does it look like for these families? How do you live the rest of your life after everything changes? CNN went to Minneapolis to find out.  For more: The shooting finally stopped. Then came everything else. ---  Guest: Michelle Krupa, CNN Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Emily Smith  Photo: Liam James Doyle for CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From tariffs to tough talk, President Donald Trump has long positioned himself on being tougher on China than any US president. Now, he heads to Beijing for a high-stakes state visit needing their help on a massive political problem: the war with Iran. We look at how both sides might navigate this moment and how Trump's pressure campaign may have helped China prepare for this moment of global instability.  For more: The shadowy network of Chinese oil refineries funding Iran  ---  Guest: Simone McCarthy, CNN Senior China Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the urging of President Donald Trump, multiple Republican-led states in the South have move quickly to redraw congressional maps in the wake of the Supreme Court decision last month that critics say will significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In Louisiana, the Black congressman who represents the district at the heart of that Supreme Court case says Democrats can't stand by and need to act. So what happens now? And with the midterms less than six months away, how could it impact voters across the country?  For more: How the Republicans pulling ahead in the redistricting war affects the midterms  ---  Guest: Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Ethan Cohen Photo by: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of CNN One Thing, we look back on the life and legacy of CNN founder and media pioneer Ted Turner. Photo: CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump has amplified (and been the subject of) many conspiracy theories during his time as a public figure. Online speculation, without evidence, that recent assassination attempts against him in Butler, Pennsylvania and the White House Correspondent’s dinner were staged have only grown in recent weeks. But the conversation around the death and disappearance of multiple top government scientists is perhaps the most curious item to grab Trump’s attention – in part because of the path it took to get to his desk. We look at how the story reached the White House and why conspiracy theories continue to fester in the age of Trump.  For more: How a speculative story about dead and missing scientists went from the fringe to the White House  ---  Guest: T.M. Brown, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the killings of two American citizens in Minneapolis and the firing of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation is attempting a bit of a reset. From calling ICE agents “NICE” agents on social media to reducing visible presence on the streets, it’s clear new Secretary Markwayne Mullin wants federal agents out of the spotlight. But are the goals of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation push any different? Plus, we hear from someone caught in the middle of the administration’s crackdown on legal immigration.  For more: Exclusive: Trump moves to accelerate deportations of migrant children in US custody  ---  Guest: Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

King Charles is in the midst of a four-day state visit to the US to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. The visit comes at a time when US-UK relations are notably strained, thanks to the war with Iran and calls for greater Jeffrey Epstein-related accountability. But President Donald Trump is usually receptive to royalty – so will this trip help mend fences, or give European allies more to worry about?  For more: Epstein scandal lingers in background of King Charles’ visit to Washington  ---  Guest: Jack Blanchard, POLITICO Playbook Author/Managing Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Henry Nichols/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman are set to face off in court this week in a case centered on OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model. Musk alleges Altman and his company have strayed from their founding mission to develop artificial intelligence for the good of humanity rather than corporate profit (OpenAI denies the allegations). But is this just petty billionaire beef, or could it tell us something about our own AI futures? ---  Guest: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Carlos Barria/Kenny Holston/Pool/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday aimed at beefing up research of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine that could be used in mental health treatments. Some veterans and people who have struggled with addiction who have used ibogaine say this could be a breakthrough that could lead to wider access, but some medical experts are warning approvals shouldn’t be rushed. We hear why a leading advocate group says while it’s a good start – much more has to be done.  For more: Trump accelerates research on psychedelic treatments and asks, ‘Can I have some?’  ---  Guests: Samantha Juan & Melissa Lavasani, Psychedelic Medicine Coalition Founder/CEO  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katherine Dillinger Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roughly 95,000 employees left federal science agencies between September 2024 and December 2025, according to the Partnership for Public Service. Former NASA climate scientist Kate Marvel recently joined that group, citing the administration’s funding cuts and attacks on climate and environmental regulations in her resignation letter. However, she remains hopeful about the future of the study of climate change – if her fellow scientists are willing to get angry about it.  For more: Trump admin is pulling supercomputers out of key weather and climate research center  ---  Guest: Kate Marvel, former NASA climate scientist  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Andrew Freedman Photo: Reid Wiseman/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, US Vice President JD Vance was dispatched abroad for a pair of high-profile assignments. But after stumping for Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister suffered a huge election loss and marathon talks Vance led to end the war with Iran wrapped up without a deal. So what does this say about the political power of the MAGA movement’s heir apparent? And how does someone shaped by Catholicism feel about President Donald Trump’s beef with the Pope?  For more: How Vance is navigating peace talks with Iran — and his own political future  ---  Guest: Alayna Treene, CNN White House Correspondent   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration’s effort to build a national citizen database is running into roadblocks in court and alarming some election officials on both sides of the aisle. But what is this data for? And how could it be used? We hear from one election official about why he’s pushing back, and look at how election integrity concerns are playing out in other parts of the country.  For more: Trump is trying to build a massive voter database. Election officials are afraid of what he’ll do with it  ---  Guests: David Yates, Jefferson County (KY) Clerk & Tierney Sneed, CNN Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Carlos Osorio/Reuters/File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The firing of the US Army chief of staff and two other generals is just the latest personnel shakeup under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But why do this during wartime? We examine whether disagreements between Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll are behind the move, and how Hegseth’s ongoing fixation on so-called “culture wars” and loyalty could impact service members.  For more: Trump and Hegseth on Iran war: ‘God is good’  ---  Guest: Haley Britzky, CNN National Security Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amid a stalled Surgeon General nomination, a federal court ruling striking down vaccine overhauls (at least for now), and anger from ‘Make America Healthy Again’ activists, some are wondering whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lost his grip on the movement that helped propel President Donald Trump back to the White House. We hear from one activist outraged by an executive order about weedkiller who says some voters “will not be coming back.” Plus, what’s going on with all the whole milk hype videos?  For more: How RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda keeps hitting roadblocks  ---  Guests: Kelly Ryerson, ‘Glyphosate Girl’ & Sarah Owermohle, CNN Health Policy Reporter  Host/Producer: David Rind  Senior Producer: Matt Martinez  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A crew of four astronauts are preparing for a historic mission that will take them around the far side of the moon and back, the furthest human space travel in more than 50 years. Like any space mission, the run-up has been filled with delays and safety concerns, but experts say this mission is a key part of an ambitious plan from the Trump administration to establish a lunar colony and eventually visit Mars. But is any of this feasible? And can Americans still be inspired like they were during the Space Race of the 1960s? For more: Why haven’t humans been back to the moon in over 50 years?  ---  Guest: Pam Melroy, former astronaut & NASA Deputy Administrator  Host/Producer: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Sam Lott/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable on all counts in a case that accused the tech giants of intentionally addicting a young woman and injuring her mental health. Experts say the landmark decision could open the door to a flood of other litigation that could reshape how these companies operate. But will anything actually change? We also hear from one of the hundreds of other plaintiffs suing social media companies who are hoping this verdict bodes well for them.  Note: this episode contains discussions of eating disorders.  For more: Listen to CNN’s “Terms of Service” podcast  ---  Guest: Caroline Koziol & Clare Duffy, CNN Tech Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war with Iran has sent shockwaves through the global oil markets and jacked up gas prices in the US. But it has also caused a surge in fertilizer prices, which is straining US farmers who were already dealing with the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. We hear from one Iowa soybean and corn farmer who says his industry is suffering from the Trump administration’s self-inflicted wounds.   For more: Fertilizer prices bring more pain for American farmers amid war in Iran  ---  Guest: Joshua Manske, Iowa soybean and corn farmer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Gordon Ebanks Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prediction markets are opening new doors to bet on pretty much anything - even outcomes during war. But things can get pretty heated when money is on the line, and now at least one state is stepping in to accuse a major prediction market of running an illegal gambling operation. WIRED’s Kate Knibbs talks about the “casino-ification” of everything and what this could mean for the future of politics and betting.    For more: Iran-related bets on prediction sites scrutinized over ‘death markets’ and possible insider trades  ---  Guests: Jesus Martinez & Kate Knibbs, WIRED Senior Writer   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not been shy about how his Christian faith has shaped him. However, some activists fear his views could be encroaching on the secular military in unprecedented ways and influencing how commanders are framing the war in Iran. We explore a controversial pastor connected to Hegseth who is leading a growing movement rooted in Christian nationalism and the idea that women should be “submissive” to their husbands.  For more: Inside one pastor’s crusade for Christian domination in the age of Trump  ---  Guests: Pamela Brown, CNN Anchor/Chief Investigative Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Shoshana Dubnow Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took a chainsaw to the federal government, slashing jobs and cutting programs in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. While it did not reduce spending, current and former government officials tell CNN that some of the cuts are hampering government readiness amid the Iran war. Now, the government is looking to ramp up hiring again – but only with workers who align with the Trump administration’s priorities. We hear from a former federal worker about how last year’s cuts impacted her, and from an expert who says he's concerned about adding more political appointees to the mix.  For more: ‘A shell of our former self’: How Trump and Musk’s spending cuts are hampering US government readiness amid the Iran war  ---  Guests: Melissa Patsalides & Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service President and CEO  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil. As a result, ships are stuck and gas prices are climbing in the US. We look at the Trump administration’s possible solutions, and the key psychological benchmark that could push their political problem to a breaking point.  For more: The grim choice facing the Trump administration: Economic or naval collapse?  ---  Guests: Martín Izaguirre Salgado & David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Vanessa Yurkevich Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anger directed at OpenAI is spreading after it struck a deal with the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after its rival, Anthropic, refused. OpenAI said it had shared Anthropic’s concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, so why did they sign? And what does this mean for other companies looking to do business with the Trump administration?  For more: Some OpenAI staff are fuming about its Pentagon deal  ---  Guests: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent & Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: WH Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Iran continues to retaliate against the US and Israel, civilians in major Gulf countries are caught in the crossfire. Will these nations be forced to respond? And do they have the military firepower needed to keep up? We break down what we can learn from the military operations thus far and look at how an Iranian power vacuum could complicate the endgame.  For more: The rationale for striking Iran was already a mess. Trump just made it worse.  ---  Guests: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Chief International Security Correspondent & Mark Kimmitt, Brigadier General (Ret.)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Natasha Maguder, Natalie Wright Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of planning, the US and Israel struck Iran as part of a massive operation aimed at unseating the hardline Iranian regime. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, according to Israeli sources. Iran has retaliated, hitting US military bases and major population centers across the region. So how long will the conflict last? And is regime change even feasible? We break down what we know as of Saturday afternoon.  For more: Trump launches the regime-change effort in Iran that he pledged to avoid  ---  Guest: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The killing of Mexican cartel boss Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes shocked the country and set off cartel violence in the streets, trapping American tourists in the process. However, experts say the operation could say even more about President Donald Trump’s war on drugs than Mexico’s.  For more: The death of ‘El Mencho’ exposed the reach of Mexico’s cartel crisis. Will US tourists stay away?  ---  Guest: Steven Dudley, InSight Crime co-founder  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: @morelifediares via REUTERS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein say the historic arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles III, is a step in the right direction. But high-profile figures in the US still have not faced similar consequences, weeks after the Justice Department released more than 3 million documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. We hear from a group of survivors who say this feels like the beginning of the story, not the end.  For more: ‘This is not over.’ Corporate America’s Epstein reckoning gathers steam  ---  Guest: MJ Lee, CNN Senior National Enterprise Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson Photo: Kent Nishimura/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A raft of resignations from some of Silicon Valley’s top AI companies came with some dire warnings about user safety and potential impacts on the American workforce. Are these concerns worth paying attention to, or overhyped? We hear from one former safety researcher who says companies are not fully grappling with the implications of advertising within chatbots.  For more: AI researchers are sounding the alarm on their way out the door  ---  Guest: Zoë Hitzig, former OpenAI researcher  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Hadas Gold Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Those words from ICE attorney Julie Le to a federal judge earlier this month underscores the toll the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis is taking on the Justice Department. But what happens now that the surge is winding down? And will any new prosecutors want to sign up for this work?  For more: Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his Justice Department and judges  ---  Guest: Doug Kelley, former Assistant US Attorney  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katelyn Polantz Photo: Steve Karnowski/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the Winter Olympics in Italy, American athletes are speaking out, Vice President JD Vance was booed, and some locals are protesting against ICE. Some are asking if the US has achieved “villain” status. Experts say moments like these underscore the loss of American standing on the world stage under President Donald Trump. But is this a brand problem, or something deeper?  For more: Trump’s growing volatility is putting the world on edge  ---  Guest: Stephen Collinson, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Amber Searls / Imagn Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices