Studio 2

As negotiators from the U.S. and Iran begin to hammer out a deal, what exactly is on the table? Who stands to win and lose?

The Supreme Court will soon hand down decisions on major cases like birthright citizenship, mail-in ballots, and transgender sports bans. What should we expect?

Why American consumers are tired of tipping and why many workers can’t get by without it.

New York Times investigative reporter Eric Lipton on the unprecedented ways in which President Trump is profiting from the presidency.

How much do democrats really care about questions of character for potential political leaders? And in an era of hyper-polarization… has the calculus changed?

With the nation’s birthday just around the corner, will the city’s infrastructure will hold up as well as the Declaration of Independence?

In a world with seemingly infinite competition for our time and attention, how do we decide what to prioritize?

Protests at Newark’s Delaney Hall are drawing public attention to conditions in ICE detention facilities.

As America’s billionaire class grows, some states and some in Congress are proposing a wealth tax. Polls show most Americans think the rich aren’t paying their fair share.

Kurt Vile’s latest album, an ode to his Philly roots, drops May 29. He joins Avi Wolfman-Arent to talk about his signature lo-fi, DIY, rock and roll sound.

The filmmakers behind a new PBS documentary share the stories of indigenous people, enslaved Africans, and other diverse communities that helped shape our nation.

Can we make technology safer and healthier for kids and teens? Do social media and phone bans actually work? And who should be responsible for setting the boundaries?

We’re hosting two political reporters to dig into fault lines in the GOP, debates over the future of the Democratic party, and rapidly evolving tensions abroad.

A linguistics expert on the history and complexity of accents and subtle social cues that underpin them. Plus, a fascinating look at 90s TV hits like Martin and Living Single.

In Our Missing Hearts, writer Celeste Ng meticulously crafts a near-future American dystopia, not far removed from the real world. It’s the ‘One Book, One Philadelphia’ pick.

It’s commencement speech season, when politicians, CEOs and celebrities impart words of wisdom to new graduates. What makes a speech resonate? How did this tradition evolve?

What do yesterday’s primary results signal about the current political landscape? We’re unpacking local and national results and looking ahead at the key races to come.

Why are so many Americans turning to influencers for medical advice? And which online health trends are truly backed by science?

According to a recent Gallup poll, 45% of Americans now consider themselves independent. What’s behind the rise?

In an uncertain economy with rising inflation, Americans are finding creative, even unorthodox ways to save money. Our experts share budgeting tips and tricks.

Why are patients stuck in the emergency department for days waiting on a hospital bed? We’re talking about the chronic overcrowding that is ailing American hospitals.

Inflation hit its highest level in three years — driven by surging costs for energy, food and housing, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Tuesday morning. Just a few days ago, the Trump administration declared an economic victory thanks to a stronger than expected jobs report. Still, the latest data shows prices rising faster than wage growth, and a new CNN poll showed President Trump at a career low approval rating on the economy. Those polled put much of the blame on the war in Iran, putting Republicans on the defensive heading into the midterms. Against that backdrop, the recent Supreme Court ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act has unleashed a new round of redistricting wars, with several southern states moving swiftly to break up minority-majority congressional districts that reliably vote Democratic. Locally, Pennsylvania is seen as key in the fight to control the House of Representatives, with four seats currently held by Republicans that Democrats think they can flip, including in Bucks County and the Lehigh Valley.  In Philadelphia, voters have their eyes on the heated 3rd Congressional District democratic primary, plus new immigration bills signed by Mayor Cherelle Parker.  On this hour of Studio 2, we get perspectives from both sides of the aisle about these headlines and more.

Who are the billionaires redrawing the maps of our media ecosystem? What will change if some of the biggest names in entertainment and news fall under the the same umbrella?

The New York Times Magazine released a list of the top 30 living American songwriters, from Taylor Swift, to Stevie Wonder, to Jay-Z. Who made the cut and who didn’t?

Soon, 1 in 3 incarcerated people will be over 50. But prisons are not equipped to handle the aging population. A new podcast by Studio 2’s Cherri Gregg explores this dilemma.

We’re diving into the top local news stories impacting Philadelphians.

A recent Supreme Court decision is shaking the American political landscape. What does it mean for the midterms and for the future of democracy?

We’re talking about the role of Hessian soldiers in the American Revolution. Plus, an astonishing recent discovery at the site of a 1777 battle.

State Rep. Chris Rabb and State Sen. Sharif Street debated the issues and made their case for why Philly voters should send them to Congress.

Billions in potential cuts to the National Institutes of Health could dramatically reshape the future of American science. The Trump administration’s latest budget proposal calls for a 10% reduction in funding to NIH funding and additional cuts to other science agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and NASA. Congress ultimately beat back steeper proposed cuts to NIH last year and appears poised to do so again, but the science reductions that have gone through have left many doctors and researchers reeling. Labs have tightened budgets, clinical trials are being scaled back or delayed, and a generation of young scientists faces an increasingly uncertain future. The Trump administration has specifically targeted initiatives it sees as political, including researching health outcomes for women and minorities, as well as climate change and mRNA vaccines. Amid other priority shifts, experts worry there could be ripple effects that stall progress on cancer, Alzheimer’s and other rare diseases. This isn’t a typical partisan fight. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised alarms about what’s at stake, framing NIH funding as essential to public health, economic growth, and America’s global leadership in science. So why are cuts still on the table and where will the impact hit hardest?  On this episode of Studio 2, the fight over health, science and our country’s global edge.  Guests:  — Max Kozlov, science journalist at Nature — Allie Sinclair, Joan Bossert Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and an incoming Assistant Professor of psychological sciences at Rice University

Are doomsday predictions of AI’s impact on workers overblown?

Consumer sentiment reached an all time low last week, according to a long-running University of Michigan survey. Are Americans right to be glum about the economy? President Donald Trump has waved away economic concerns, pointing to a thriving stock market and continues to call for interest rate cuts. And if his nominee for Federal Reserve chair gets the green light in Tuesday’s Senate Banking Committee hearing, he just might get them. So who is President Trump’s pick to lead the central bank? And what might new leadership mean for inflation and the economy? Guests: Lydia DePillis, economics reporter for the New York Times Patrick Harker, Former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and professor at The Wharton School

As temperatures rise and flowers bloom, we’re talking all things gardening.

May/December romances are back in the spotlight thanks to a reality TV series pairing singles decades apart in age. With an average age gap of 4 years between couples in the U.S., partners with 10, 20 or even 30 years between them face persistent assumptions – and the occasional disapproving stare. But when two adults fall in love, does an age difference matter?  Guests: Justin Lehmiller, Senior Research Fellow at the Kinsey Institute and host of the Sex and Psychology Podcast Christine and Eduardo, an engaged couple with a 26 year age gap

We dig into the week’s big headlines — US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo, Orbán’s defeat in Hungary and the 2026 midterms.

LIVE from Penn Carey Law School at the University of Pennsylvania, Avi and Cherri take a closer look at SCOTUS and its most famous rulings in history. As The Court evolves with our democracy, how do different generations view constitutional rights and democratic ideals? Guests: Kermit Roosevelt, Professor of administrative justice at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and author of The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America’s Story Amanda Shanor, Associate professor at the Wharton School. Before coming to Penn, she was a practicing civil rights lawyer at the ACLU

Making friends as an adult can be awkward. Even if you get an introduction, busy schedules often get in the way of nurturing a new connection. Here is what you can do.

One in three older Americans will get some form of dementia – and the toll doesn’t stop with the patient. Tens of millions of family members and friends become caregivers, often at enormous personal cost to their own health, careers, and financial security. The economic impact to the country is also enormous, at hundreds of billions of dollars each year. For decades, people diagnosed with dementia had little hope, but that’s beginning to change with breakthroughs in diagnosis, treatment, and even potentially prevention. We unpack the latest advances and talk about the impact on people who are living with the disease and the people who care for them.

Have we gotten too casual with our clothing? A restaurant chain encourages business casual and the transportation secretary wants to return “courtesy and class” to air travel.

From the pews to the big stages, the producer and pianist reflects on his career and how the grit of Philly gave him a jumpstart.

President Trump’s speech had a clear goal: convince increasingly skeptical Americans that the war in Iran is worth fighting.

New Jersey’s own Senator Cory Booker joins us to discuss his new book, “Stand,” as well as foreign policy, turning anger into action, and the future of the democratic party.

What does it mean to be an American? And how should we decide who gets to be one? Those are the questions facing the Supreme Court this week.

Can we make a fairer, simpler and more effective tax system? We debate the merits of a billionaire tax, a flat tax and a national sales tax.

According to a recent report, ransomware victims are increasing 58% year over year. How can essential infrastructure like schools and hospitals safeguard against attacks?

President Trump is postponing strikes on power plants and claims productive negotiations are under way. However, Iranian officials are telling a different story.

Senate Republicans are pushing to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act this week, including a key provision that requires proof of citizenship.

Manuel Godoy turned a comic into a cultural movement. Black Sands is redefining African history without Hollywood and without compromise.

If you were alive during the American Revolution, which side would you have been on? Would you have been a patriot? A loyalist to the crown? Maybe somewhere in between?

Only a third of Americans say they feel financially prepared and just over half have retirement savings accounts. So what should you do if you’re feeling behind?