A look back at the biggest news events that shaped 2023
There is no question that we live in historic, unusual times, and 2023 added to the list of unprecedented events. We look back at the events that defined the year.
Critics weigh in on the best podcasts of 2023
As 2023 comes to a close, we take a look at — or better yet, a listen to — some of the most engaging, enlightening and entertaining podcasts of the year. Vulture podcast critic Nicholas Quah and The New Yorker’s Sarah Larson, who pens the column Podcast Dept., join Lisa Desjardins to discuss.
What to know about Iowa’s school book ban halted by a judge
A federal judge in Iowa has temporarily blocked key parts of a state law that would ban books from school libraries if they depicted a “sex act.” The law also bars teachers from discussing gender identity and sexuality before seventh grade. Lisa Desjardins speaks with University of South Carolina law professor Derek Black and The Gazette’s Des Moines bureau chief Erin Murphy to learn more.
Critics look back at 2023’s epic year in music
2023 had it all when it came to music: record-breaking tours, unique songwriting and new artists on the rise. The Root’s senior writer Candace McDuffie and freelance music writer and critic Maura Johnston join Stephanie Sy to discuss the music that made 2023.
How a former police officer found direction rescuing horses
For more than two decades, Mark Kirwan served the people of Washington, D.C. as a police officer. But a few years ago, feeling lost amid the COVID pandemic and after the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, he made an unusual choice — moving from fighting crime to rescuing horses. With a mix of purpose and poetry, he shares his story.
The images that defined the historic and tumultuous year
As 2023 comes to an end, we take a look back at some of the images that have defined this historic and often tumultuous year and hear from the photojournalists who captured them.
Research links severe morning sickness to hormone
The extent to which women experience morning sickness can vary, and those with extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy often face stigma when trying to receive care. While the condition is notoriously understudied, new research is giving hope for better treatment. Amna Nawaz spoke with several women impacted by the condition and one researcher working to understand the cause.
How the economy upended expectations of a recession in 2023
It was a year in which many experts got a lot of things wrong about the economy. Many economists believed the Fed's battle to tame inflation with interest rate hikes would trigger high unemployment and a recession. Instead, inflation was cut in half, the economy added more than 2.5 million jobs and the S&P 500 rose to near record highs. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Roben Farzad.
Why reports of a surge in retail theft may be overblown
Most Americans think there’s more crime in the U.S. than there was a year ago, according to a recent Gallup poll. That’s despite clear data showing violent crime has actually dropped sharply in 2023. So why the misperception? Economics correspondent Paul Solman takes a deep dive into one type of crime that may be getting outsized attention.
Brooks and Capehart on states blocking Trump from ballot
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the backlash around Nikki Haley's comments on the causes of the Civil War, the question of whether Donald Trump should be barred from the 2024 ballot and 2023's political highlights.
Election law expert on states blocking Trump from ballot
Maine’s top election official ruled that Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s primary ballot, citing his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The secretary of state said she made her decision after receiving three challenges from voters. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Rick Hasen, an election law expert and Director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project At UCLA’s Law School.
Russia launches one of its biggest air attacks on Ukraine
Russia unleashed a massive, 18-hour aerial assault on Ukraine, killing at least 30 people and wounding more than 140 others. The barrage comes as Ukrainian officials are urgently pleading for more air defense systems from their Western allies. Stephanie Sy reports.
Trump's criminal and civil cases could shape the campaign
While Donald Trump holds a decisive lead in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, his 2024 calendar will be full of legal challenges and court appearances. In four major criminal cases, the former president faces 91 felony counts and two key civil cases could cost him millions of dollars in damages. Geoff Bennett discussed Trump's legal troubles with NPR's Carrie Johnson.
The war over fake content linked to Israel-Hamas conflict
The Israel-Hamas war is nearing its third month in Gaza, but there is another front in this war and it’s taking place on screens worldwide. Fake or mislabeled content linked to the conflict has been viewed online millions of times. Amna Nawaz discussed the disinformation war with Shayan Sardarizadeh and Valerie Wirtschafter.
How U.S. oil production reached an all-time high in 2023
As the year comes to a close, gas prices in the U.S are at their lowest point of 2023. And not coincidentally, domestic oil production is at a record level. But it comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to wean itself off fossil fuels. William Brangham examined the big changes and the implications with Clifford Krauss, the national energy correspondent for The New York Times.
State ballot measures could drive voter turnout in 2024
The 2024 race for the White House will take up a lot of time, attention and money over the next 11 months. But as Lisa Desjardins explains, other votes at the state level next year could significantly influence the presidential campaign and our day-to-day lives.
Israel and Hezbollah fight raises fears of a wider war
With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza showing no signs of stopping, exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanese border are raising fears of a widening conflict. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Paul Salem, the president and CEO of the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based non-partisan think tank.
A Brief But Spectacular take on music empowering communities
Andrés González is a conductor, musician, and advocate for youth music education. He was trained from a young age through El Sistema, a renowned music program in Venezuela, before moving to the United States. He is a mentor at Play on Philly, providing access to music education to low-income and minority students. González shares his Brief But Spectacular take on how music empowers communities.
Physician discusses demand for weight-loss drugs and risks
One of the biggest health stories of this past year is the surge in demand for popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Those drugs are in such demand that there’s a nationwide shortage of them. Pharmaceutical companies are scrambling to keep up at a time of rising obesity rates in the U.S. Ali Rogin reports.
Israeli bombardment of Gaza cities and camps kills dozens
An Israeli American Canadian who was believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas was actually killed during the attack on Oct. 7, according to the Kibbutz Nir Oz where she was from. At the same time, Israel continues its assault on Gaza and the war of words between Israel and Hezbollah is heating up. Stephanie Sy reports.
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