Carter Sherman

The video examines the trial of former nurse Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of strangling her three children and has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility. It explains postpartum psychosis as a rare, devastating condition that can go unrecognized or untreated, and explores why Clancy’s case has attracted strong support and opposition on social media. The discussion also connects the case to broader failures in the US maternal healthcare system.

Hosts Kai Wright and Carter Sherman discuss why abundant modern conveniences have not produced greater happiness. Academics Michèle Mendelssohn and Charlie Tyson argue that extreme inequality, artificial intelligence and GLP-1 drugs are symptoms of a decadent era marked by access without genuine pleasure, and suggest that reclaiming decadence may help people recover the ability to enjoy life.

Andrew and Tristan Tate may be extradited to the UK, where they face charges including rape and trafficking that they deny. Rebecca Solnit and host Carter Sherman examine what the Tates’ influence and reported ties to the Trump administration reveal about misogyny, sexual violence and Republican politics in the United States, including the broader cultural appeal of hostility toward women.

The video examines the backlash against Flock Safety’s automatic license plate reader network, which includes more than 120,000 cameras across 6,000 US communities. Privacy campaigners criticize the technology as a mass-surveillance system that can target immigrants and private citizens, while Flock argues that it supports public safety. Against a backdrop of cities cancelling contracts, reporter Carter Sherman investigates an underground vigilante movement whose members are destroying cameras, including a figure known as Nomark who claims to be targeting every Flock camera in the country.

The program examines whether progressive Democrats can replicate recent victories over establishment moderates beyond liberal urban centers. It focuses on Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, where progressive Abdul Al-Sayed is challenging Haley Stevens, and considers what the contest and similar races in the Midwest could reveal about Democratic anger after Donald Trump's return to the White House, the 2026 midterms and the next presidential campaign.

With Republicans facing uncertain prospects in the 2026 midterms, Donald Trump is seeking changes to U.S. election rules, including restrictions on mail-in voting and support for the Save America Act, which includes strict voter ID requirements. Voting rights groups warn that these efforts could suppress voters. Trump has also accused China of interfering in the 2020 election without providing evidence. Kai Wright discusses the legal and practical risks to election integrity with Washington Monthly legal affairs editor Garrett Epps, including how voters and advocacy groups might respond.

Renewed US-Iran airstrikes after a lull in fighting reportedly killed at least 20 members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces. As the conflict enters its fifth month with no clear end in sight, analysts warn that escalating violence is pushing the Middle East into uncharted territory. Carter Sherman discusses whether the conflict could become a prolonged “forever war” with Guardian correspondent Julian Borger and Iran-focused journalist Deepa Parent.

Guardian reporter Madeleine Aggeler discusses with Carter Sherman how intentionally gaining weight to build strength, or bulking, challenged her previous beliefs about body size and changed her relationship with food. They examine the growing popularity of strength training and weightlifting among women and question whether it promotes healthier body acceptance or reproduces toxic diet-culture pressures.

The program examines whether US politics is entering an inflection point. It highlights record public disapproval of Congress, unusually strong House Democratic opposition to military aid for Israel and competitive progressive primary campaigns. On the Republican side, Lindsey Graham’s death and Mitch McConnell’s health-related absence raise questions about generational change and a possible leadership transition. The discussion also considers transparency, gerontocracy and the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Mary Beard discusses Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of The Odyssey, noting its commercial success but criticizing its treatment of women and the loss of the original story’s sensuality. The conversation examines modern political and cultural attempts to claim ownership of the ancient world, including by right‑wing figures and tech leaders, and considers broader questions about who controls the narrative of classical history.

The episode reviews the 2026 World Cup before the final, focusing on Argentina's semi-final victory over England, Lionel Messi's legacy and the expected Argentina–Spain matchup. Guardian contributors also debate the tournament's most memorable moments and identify winners of its broader cultural “vibes contest,” while a correction clarifies that Vozinha was recruited via LinkedIn by his teammate Roberto “Pico” Lopes, not by Vozinha himself.

The discussion focuses on the severe water shortages facing the western United States as the Colorado River Basin continues to dry, threatening the 40 million people who rely on it. Environmental correspondent Gabrielle Canon describes the stakes surrounding the Yampa River, one of the last free‑flowing tributaries, and the tension between meeting water demand and protecting the surrounding ecosystem. Additional segments address reactions to the death of Senator Lindsey Graham.

Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, suspended his campaign after a former partner accused him of sexual assault, allegations he denies. The episode examines earlier controversies involving a Totenkopf-like tattoo, racist, misogynist and homophobic Reddit posts, and allegations from former partners of toxic and physically intimidating behavior. Kai Wright and Carter Sherman, joined by Guardian reporters Lauren Gambino and Shrai Popat, explore why voters initially backed Platner, why some remained reluctant to abandon him as the scandals emerged, and what the episode reveals about political redemption, accountability and the Democrats’ struggle to appeal to male voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The launch of new child savings accounts is linked to a pronatalist movement supported by influential right‑wing figures, with critics warning that the initiative advances an agenda encouraging higher birth rates and drawing on rhetoric associated with the ‘great replacement’ conspiracy theory.

A Stateside video examines the sentencing of anti-ICE protesters to decades in prison after a protest escalated dangerously. It connects the convictions to the Trump administration’s pledge to prosecute antifa activists for domestic terrorism following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and considers the implications for the First Amendment and future protests. Carter Sherman interviews Guardian reporter Lex McMenamin, who spoke with activists involved in the case, while Sam Levine provides additional background on the Prairieland trial.

Carter Sherman and Laura Snapes examine how Taylor Swift has shaped popular music and cultural ideas about girlhood over two decades, highlighting songs such as “Fifteen” and “Mirrorball.” With Swift’s upcoming marriage and the 20th anniversary of her debut album approaching, they consider whether she is moving beyond the life stage that has defined much of her work and what her next artistic era might bring.

Carter Sherman speaks with journalist Shirin Jaafari about how Iranians are enduring the war, economic devastation and government repression, including executions of protesters. The discussion considers the possibility that negotiations could leave Iran’s government stronger and examines what that outcome would mean for ordinary people. Sherman and Kai Wright also discuss the war’s lasting effects in the United States and the losses already experienced by Americans.

The episode examines “remigration,” a far-right, white supremacist ideology that seeks to make life so difficult for immigrants that they leave the United States. It reports that the Trump administration has embraced the concept through an alleged State Department office and public support from the Department of Homeland Security. Carter Sherman interviews journalist Paola Ramos about immigrants who have chosen to leave the country and considers how this reverse migration could undermine the idea of the American Dream.

The video examines how Donald Trump’s presidency is affecting the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, noting that organizers’ assumption that Trump would not be president during the tournament proved incorrect. Guardian soccer correspondent Jeff Rueter explains how the administration is changing the tournament’s political context, previews teams to watch, and joins hosts Kai and Carter as they discuss which teams they support.

Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens discusses his opposition to major AI data centers planned in local communities. After residents contacted him about the projects’ potential effects, he investigated, created a viral comedy video and became involved in activism against data centers, arguing that local people are not being adequately represented in negotiations.

The US Supreme Court has preserved nationwide access to mail-order abortion pills for the time being, but the legal and political battle is expected to continue. Carter Sherman discusses how litigation has affected patients across the country with Dr Angel Foster of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project, while warning that a near-total nationwide abortion ban could threaten access in the future.

The US Supreme Court has temporarily preserved nationwide access to mail-order abortion pills, but legal challenges remain. Carter Sherman speaks with Dr Angel Foster of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project about how the litigation has affected patients and the possibility that a nationwide near-total abortion ban could emerge.

States that passed ballot measures to protect abortion rights continue to face legal and legislative challenges, with Missouri’s trial over longstanding abortion restrictions illustrating how slowly access can be restored. Similar battles are unfolding in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Ohio, where lawmakers and state officials pursue new or existing policies that could limit the impact of voter-approved protections. Conservative legislators in several states are advancing or considering measures such as fetal personhood bills and expanded restrictions, often contradicting recent electoral outcomes. Advocates warn that constitutional amendments alone cannot ensure access without sustained legal and political efforts, as opposing groups prepare new ballot measures and legislative initiatives to reverse recent gains.