Ivan Kuraev

Kai Wright speaks with trauma surgeons Mark Perlmutter and Feroze Sidhwa about their work in Gaza amid inadequate electricity, water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. The doctors are featured in the documentary American Doctor, which also follows Thaer Ahmad and documents their return to the United States to describe their firsthand experiences to the media and Congress. The discussion takes place against a stalled ceasefire, with Israel insisting Hamas disarm before ending its military operation and Hamas linking disarmament to an Israeli withdrawal.

Kai Wright and Carter Sherman examine why abundant technological and consumer conveniences have not produced greater happiness. With academics Michèle Mendelssohn and Charlie Tyson, they argue that extreme inequality has created a form of decadence without pleasure, in which tools such as artificial intelligence and GLP-1 drugs expose society’s diminished ability to enjoy experiences. They suggest that reclaiming decadence and pleasure could offer a way out of the prevailing sense of emptiness.

A Stateside episode examines the rise of Trump-aligned right-wing leaders in Latin America, following the inauguration of Colombia’s president Abelardo de la Espriella. Kai Wright speaks with former U.S. ambassador to Panama John Feeley about why the region is moving rightward and how that shift may advance Trump’s foreign-policy goals concerning immigration and competition with China.

The video examines the growing backlash against Flock Safety’s automatic license plate reader network, which has more than 120,000 cameras across 6,000 US communities. Privacy campaigners argue that the systems enable mass surveillance and can be used to target immigrants, while Flock maintains that the cameras are important for public safety. As some cities cancel their contracts, an underground movement of vigilantes is destroying cameras, including a figure known as Nomark who aims to remove every Flock camera in the country.

The program examines whether progressive candidates can expand recent victories in liberal cities into major Democratic primary wins across the politically competitive Midwest. It focuses on Michigan’s Senate primary, where progressive Abdul Al-Sayed is challenging establishment candidate Haley Stevens, and considers what the contest, along with Democratic Socialist-backed victories in New York, Washington DC and Seattle, could mean for the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.

The video examines whether the 2026 US midterm elections will be free and fair as Donald Trump seeks changes to election rules, including restrictions on mail-in voting and a proposed Save America Act with strict voter-ID requirements. Voting rights groups warn that these measures could suppress voters. Trump has also accused China of interfering in the 2020 election without providing evidence. Host Kai Wright discusses the legal and democratic risks with Washington Monthly legal affairs editor Garrett Epps, including how voters might protect election integrity.

The US-Iran conflict has entered its fifth month after fighting resumed following a lull, with airstrikes killing at least 20 members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces. The latest escalation has raised concerns that the conflict is pushing the Middle East into uncharted territory. Carter Sherman, Julian Borger and Deepa Parent examine whether the war could become an open-ended or “forever” conflict.

A Guardian podcast examines a rapidly expanding cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands of people across at least 41 U.S. states. Health reporter Melody Schreiber and host Carter Sherman trace the role of a food supplier, argue that cuts to the CDC and FDA have weakened the federal response, consider the future of public health, and offer advice on safer food preparation and consumption.

Guardian reporter Madeleine Aggeler discusses her decision to bulk—intentionally gaining weight to become stronger—after years of trying to be skinny. In conversation with Carter Sherman, she examines how strength training and weightlifting have grown in popularity among women, whether they can improve relationships with food and body image, and whether they may also represent a new form of toxic diet culture.

The program examines whether US politics is approaching an inflection point after Congress reached a record 86% public disapproval rating. It discusses unusually strong support among House Democrats for withholding military aid from Israel, progressive candidates competing in primary races, and the growth of the Democratic Socialists of America. On the Republican side, Lindsey Graham’s sudden death and Mitch McConnell’s absence after a health scare have intensified questions about party leadership and a possible generational transition. The discussion also considers gerontocracy, political transparency and the implications for both parties ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Mary Beard discusses Christopher Nolan’s hit adaptation of The Odyssey, praising its scale while criticizing its treatment of women and lack of the original epic’s sensuality. The conversation explores the modern political impulse—especially among rightwing figures and tech leaders like Elon Musk—to appropriate imagery and ideas from the ancient world and raises questions about cultural ownership of the classics.

The video previews the 2026 World Cup final while arguing that the tournament already produced clear winners and losers beyond the pitch. Carter Sherman speaks with Max Rushden about Argentina’s semifinal victory over England, Lionel Messi’s legacy and the upcoming Argentina–Spain final. Guardian soccer editors Alexander Abnos and Ella Brockway review memorable tournament moments and judge the World Cup “vibes” winners, excluding Donald Trump. A correction clarifies that Cape Verde player Roberto “Pico” Lopes—not teammate Vozinha—was recruited via LinkedIn.

Two immigrants were fatally shot by ICE officers in Texas and Maine, with officials claiming self‑defense despite a lack of supporting evidence. Journalist José Olivares discusses how the deaths reflect a broader pattern of violence tied to Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda and growing public calls for accountability and removal of ICE from US streets.

Pollution, overpopulation and the climate crisis are accelerating severe water shortages in the western United States, heightening conflicts over dwindling resources. The Colorado River Basin, which supports 40 million people, is rapidly drying, raising debate over whether damming or diverting its remaining wild tributary, the Yampa River, could alleviate shortages while risking major ecological harm. The program also notes reactions to the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and related political developments.

Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, suspended his campaign after a former partner accused him of sexual assault, allegations he denies. The move followed earlier controversies involving a Totenkopf-like tattoo, racist, misogynist and homophobic Reddit posts, and allegations from former partners of toxic and intimidating behavior, which he also denied. The discussion examines why voters initially supported Platner, why some continued backing him after the scandals emerged, and what the episode reveals about political redemption, gender expectations and the Democrats’ prospects in the 2026 Senate elections.

The discussion examines the US supreme court’s decision allowing Idaho and West Virginia to enforce bans on transgender athletes, describing it as part of a broader political and legal campaign targeting trans youth. Guests outline the strategies behind anti-trans legislation and warn that the ruling could undermine wider civil liberties, while highlighting ongoing resistance from affected students and advocates.

The Trump administration’s new child savings accounts are described as a vehicle for a growing pronatalist movement supported by influential right‑wing figures. The discussion highlights the movement’s push for higher birth rates among women, its political backers, and its connections to the racist ‘great replacement’ conspiracy theory.

The discussion examines how recent US Supreme Court rulings on voting rights, immigration and birthright citizenship have reshaped daily life, with Elie Mystal arguing that the court holds excessive power. He outlines why structural reforms are both constitutional and necessary, while Kai Wright explores how the court accumulated its authority.

A Guardian video examines the prosecution and sentencing of activists involved in an anti-ICE protest that became violent. The Trump administration framed the case as part of its effort to prosecute antifa activists for domestic terrorism, while critics argue that decades-long prison sentences represent a serious threat to the First Amendment and the future of protest in the United States. Carter Sherman speaks with reporter Lex McMenamin, who interviewed the activists, alongside background from Sam Levine on the Prairieland trial.

Carter Sherman and Laura Snapes examine how Taylor Swift has shaped the music industry and cultural ideas about girlhood through songs such as “Fifteen” and “Mirrorball.” With Swift’s upcoming marriage and the 20th anniversary of her debut album, they consider whether she is moving beyond the girlhood-centered phase of her career and what her next artistic era might look like.

Eddie Glaude Jr discusses whether the American project has failed as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. He argues that Black Americans have been central to creating the country while also exposing the fiction of a purely white republic. Glaude and Kai Wright examine how the Trump administration has normalized white supremacist rhetoric and sought to sanitize or rewrite American history.

Carter Sherman interviews journalist Shirin Jaafari about Iranians enduring war, economic devastation and government repression, including executions of protesters. The discussion considers the possibility that negotiations could leave Iran’s regime stronger and examines the war’s lasting consequences for Americans. Related analysis addresses the global cost of the conflict and the emerging US-Iran peace agreement.