Viewpoints Radio
Award-winning reporting on current issues featuring America's leading experts.
Antibiotics can feel like the fastest way to get better, but for many common illnesses, they’re the wrong tool entirely. We cover how antibiotics are chronically overused and its long-term consequences.
For generations, the starter home was the first real step into the American dream. Now, with prices climbing, inventory shrinking and builders incentivized to go bigger, we look at how that first rung of homeownership has moved out of reach for many first-time buyers.
For nearly a century, the diamond trade has carved up the coastlines of South Africa and Namibia, turning remote communities into mining towns and workers into the engine of a luxury industry most will never benefit from. We look at the human and environmental cost behind natural diamonds, from dangerous labor and low pay to what’s left behind after the industry leaves.
For a child, a parked car can become dangerous in just minutes during the summertime. We explain why the best prevention often comes down to building in one extra reminder before you walk away.
The world of youth sports can be incredibly taxing. Strenuous practices, hefty investments and increasingly selective teams can add up to parents pushing their kids to the brink. We speak with Rich Cohen, a longtime hockey dad, about the modern pressures of competitive sports and why some parents seem to end up caring more about winning than their child does.
Imagine being born into slavery in the South. You don’t have a dime to your name, don’t have any education and all you know are the surrounding fields of the plantation you worked on for years or decades. What would you do after the abolishment of slavery? How would you start over? Historian Richard Cahan joins us this week to share a few of the firsthand stories of former slaves living in the …
Men account for nearly 80 percent of suicide deaths in America. We look at the crisis behind the numbers.
Driverless cars are no longer a futuristic experiment but are already picking up passengers in cities across the country. We look at how the fast expanding rideshare company Waymo works| why some people trust it more than human drivers and the questions that remain as autonomous vehicles become part of everyday life.
After the sudden death of her daughter, journalist Danielle Crittenden found herself questioning nearly everything she thought she knew about grief. We explore what loss and grief look like when it doesn’t follow any sort of timeline.
Some couples are starting therapy before there’s a crisis, using it to find out what they really need to know before committing to a lifetime together.
Political comedy used to feel like a shared national pressure valve, but it feels far more fractured now. This story looks at how satire is changing in Trump’s second term and why the freedom to mock people in power still matters beyond the punchline.
Plastic may feel like a problem of personal habits, but this story pulls the lens back to the industry that keeps making more of it. Journalist Beth Gardiner explains how disposable plastic became one of Big Oil’s biggest future bets and why so much of the cost lands far from the companies that profit from it.
Venus looks almost frozen in time, but scientists say the planet may be quietly remaking itself. New research suggests volcanic activity is reshaping its surface from below, giving Earth’s hostile twin an unusually young face.
Words like “rizz” and “unalive” may sound like internet throwaways, but they demonstrate how quickly social media is reshaping language. We’re joined by linguist Adam Aleksic who breaks down how slang spreads online, why emojis still matter and how algorithms are changing the way we communicate.
What if the best building practices go against the urban norm? This week, we look at how architects and developers are rethinking modern construction through natural materials, healthier spaces and designs that account for their long-term impact on both people and the environment.
Cases of hantavirus are on the rise – is this the start of another pandemic? Here’s everything you need to know about the rare infection.
As extreme heat intensifies, outdoor and factory workers are facing risks their jobs were never built to handle. With protections still varying by state, advocates are pushing for updated national standards on shade, water, rest and retaliation-free reporting.
Money decisions are rarely just about math. Financial expert Lev Mandel explains how early family lessons, anxiety and repeated habits can shape the way people view money and approach these conversations, and why understanding those patterns can help build a healthier relationship with finances over time.
Matcha’s rise in the U.S. has turned a centuries-old tea tradition into a café staple and Gen Z favorite. We look at what’s fueling the boom and why not every green latte is the same quality.
Edgar Smith was convicted of murder, but from prison, he built a powerful case for his own innocence. We speak with writer and author Sarah Weinman about how his story captured public attention and why so many people wanted to believe him.
The United Arab Emirates departure from OPEC signals a shift in how global oil production is coordinated, potentially making energy markets less predictable over time.
The financial impact of America’s white-collar crime dwarfs that of street level offenses, yet these cases are less visible and often less punished. We examine some of the structural reasons behind this big gap in enforcement.
Longtime Apple CEO Tim Cook is out after 15 years at its helm. Now, there are some hefty expectations facing the next leader of this legacy tech giant.
We speak with two gardening experts to better understand what happens once planting begins, why results depend so heavily on local, year-to-year conditions and how to slowly implement more native species into your own personal gardens and yards.
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