Here & Now Anytime

The Eaton fire destroyed the home of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, a congregation that has served Southern California for more than a century. Melissa Levy, the temple's executive director, talks about what was lost to the fire and how her members are faring. Then, the Supreme Court heard arguments Friday on whether the government can force TikTok to be sold or effectively banned in the U.S. because its parent company is Chinese. Slate's Mark Joseph Stern joins us. And, Congress appears close to passing the Laken Riley Act, which would compel the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants accused of crimes like shoplifting and give states more rights to contest certain immigration-related decisions. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego from Arizona explains why he's voting for it. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles has burned thousands of structures and forced the evacuations of thousands. Two of those evacuees are Caitlin Doran and her 175-pound tortoise Tiptoe. Doran shares her experience. And, as Jimmy Carter is honored at a state funeral in Washington, D.C., his former chief speechwriter James Fallows joins us to remember his life and legacy. Then, faith played an important role in Carter's life. Randall Balmer, professor of religion at Dartmouth College, explains its impact on the former president. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

At least two people are dead and tens of thousands are under mandatory evacuation orders as massive wildfires rage across the Los Angeles area, spread by Santa Ana Winds. NPR's Steve Futterman joins us from LA County. Have you been forced to evacuate from your home due to the wildfires? If so, we want to hear from you. Click here. Then, Florida gets a lot of rain, but climate change and breakneck development are draining the state of its water supply. Grist's Sachi Mulkey tells us more. And, to true believers, the real Dr. Martens boots aren't called Dr. Martens. They're actually called Solovair. The New York Times' Jacob Gallagher explains. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A new rule finalized by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would remove close to $50 billion in medical debt from millions of Americans' medical bills. CFPB director Rohit Chopra explains. And, Minneapolis signed off on a federal agreement to reform the city's police department following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Rachel Marshall of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice talks about what's in the plan. Then, journalist Jesse Holland joins us to talk about "Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson," his new book about the state of the Black superhero universe. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Four years ago Monday, a mob fueled by President-elect Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election stormed the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election by Congress. Harvard professor Alex Keyssar talks about how the story of the Jan. 6 attack has been reframed by Trump and his supporters. Then, after nearly a decade as Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation. The Globe and Mail's Marieke Walsh joins us. And, the start of a new year means many people are thinking about New Year's resolutions — including financial goals for 2025. CBS News' Jill Schlesinger discusses how you can meet your financial targets this year. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says there's a link between alcohol and cancer. And on Friday, he called on Congress to put warning labels on alcoholic drinks. Dr. Celine Gounder from KFF Health News explains. And, the Biden administration blocked the controversial takeover of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel. Bloomberg's Joe Deaux explains why. Then, a 2023 case involving a controversial diagnosis of "shaken baby syndrome" turned a family's life upside down. Pamela Colloff, reporter for ProPublica and the New York Times Magazine, joins us. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Counterterrorism expert Javed Ali shares what we're learning about Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the U.S. army veteran behind Wednesday's deadly truck attack in New Orleans. The FBI says Jabbar posted videos before the attack saying he was inspired by the extremist Islamic State group. Then, one mother whale from Washington state's Puget Sound became famous for carrying her dead calf on her nose in a "tour of grief." Now, her pod has had another baby. KUOW John Ryan's tells us more. And, Jimmy Carter spent only one term as president, but his time in the White House made a lasting contribution. Biographer Kai Bird joins us to talk about Carter: the man, the president and the humanitarian. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A 7.0 earthquake off the coast of Northern California in early December triggered a tsunami warning for parts of the California and Oregon coasts. We ask Lori Dengler, professor emeritus of geology at Cal Poly Humboldt, how prepared the area is for a tsunami. Then, François Brunelle has spent nearly 25 years photographing pairs of nearly identical strangers. His work has caught the eye of other artists, researchers and geneticists interested in the phenomenon of doppelgangers. Also, Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdés talks about his new album, "Cuba and Beyond." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

We look back on 2024's most interesting science stories with Smithsonian's Joe Spring, from Bird Flu to the hunt for life on the moons of Jupiter. Then, film critic Ty Burr reviews his favorite movies of the year. Also, it was Brat Summer, but what happened the rest of the year? NPR's Aisha Harris surveys the year in pop culture. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Journalist Mélissa Cornet and photographer Kiana Hayeri documented the daily lives of more than 100 Afghan girls and women in an attempt to reveal what they have called the "different shades of oppression" under Taliban rule. Then, Suzanne Jones runs Eco-Cycle, a recycling center in Boulder, Colorado that specializes in hard-to-recycle materials. It finds new uses for products like books, toilets, bikes, foam, fire extinguishers and mattresses. And chef Kathy Gunst offers tips for New Year's Eve entertaining. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Chappell Roan has had a big year. She joined us back in 2023 to talk about her debut album, the magic of drag shows and queer joy. And, Joni Mitchell's career has spanned more than 60 years. Her legacy is detailed in "Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell" by NPR's Ann Powers. Powers joins us to discuss the biography. Then, French singer Yseult captured the hearts of millions worldwide by singing "My Way" by Frank Sinatra at this summer's Olympics closing ceremony. She talks about her new album "Mental." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist, looks back on the year in world news. Then Mara Kardas-Nelson's book "We Are Not Able to Live in the Sky" explores whether microcredit hurts more than it helps. Microfinancing was once hailed in the U.S. as the ultimate bipartisan solution to global poverty. And we talk to Jessica B. Harris, the author of "A Kwanzaa Keepsake and Cookbook" on the first night of Kwanzaa. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Robin Young and Karyn Miller-Medzon revisit their 2019 trip to Iceland when they explored the enduring presence of elves, or "hidden folk" in Icelandic culture. Also, on the first night of Hanukkah, Leah Koenig offers some recipes for the Jewish Festival of Lights. She's the author of "The Jewish Cookbook." And for dessert, Peter DiMario reflects on the new cookbook he co-wrote with Judith Choate. "Jiggle!" expands the repertoire of gelatin far beyond the Jell-O mold. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Charles King's new book "Every Valley" tells the backstory of "Messiah," a staple of the Christmas season widely considered George Frideric Handel's masterpiece. Then, musicologist Martin Clarke discusses the moment of musical ecstasy that accompanies a particular arrangement on "O come, all ye faithful." Find out why the "word of the father" chord has been called "the best chord of Christmas." Also WBUR editor Sara Shukla shares an appreciation of "The Muppet Christmas Carol," and reflects on why it's especially significant to her this year. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

David Wallace Wells, author of "The Uninhabitable Earth," reviews the year in climate. The head of the United Nations has described 2024 as a "master class in climate destruction." Then, author Tana French leaves the Dublin police squad where she's set her previous books and sets out for the country in a series of novels where small town politics conceal deadly secrets. "The Hunter" is out in paperback. Also, NPR's James Mastromarino recommends some of the best new board games to play with friends and family this holiday season. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The House voted down a second try at reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown at midnight on Friday. ABC's Rick Klein discussed what's to come. And, striking Amazon workers — members of the Teamsters Union — are seeking recognition of their union, better working conditions and higher pay. Randy Korgan — the Teamster's National Director for Amazon shares more about the ongoing strike. Then, data centers are driving a huge surge in electricity demand as artificial intelligence and cloud computing grow. Brian Singer, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, looks to the future of data and electricity usage. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. This comes as California Governor Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency to deal with an outbreak spreading among dairy cows in California. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services in Michigan joins us to discuss. And, two experts on human rights violations recently visited suspected mass graves in Syria. Stephen Rapp, former U.S. ambassador at large for war crimes, and Mouaz Moustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force share what they saw. Then, terminally ill children got to take a magical plane ride to Santa's Workshop. We speak with Captain Bob Zimmerman, who piloted the trip. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A new report released by House Republicans backs President-elect Trump's push to criminally investigate former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney for her role in investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. And, Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been indicted on terrorism charges. WNYC reporter Samantha Max shares what we know so far. And Wendell Potter — former Cigna executive-turned-whistleblower — explains how Wall Street has driven up health care costs. Then, is there a teacher on your holiday shopping list? The Washington Post's Michelle Singletary shares some gift ideas that teachers will love. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President-elect Donald Trump is assembling a cabinet of wealthy business people and holding meetings with some of the nation's most powerful CEOs. Political science professor Stephen Nelson joins us to explain why it could be a sign of oligarchy in the United States. And, Trump's lie about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio helped define a fiery presidential campaign. Now, PolitiFact is calling it the "Lie of the Year." Editor-in-chief Katie Sanders joins us to discuss the impact the lie has had on Haitian immigrants. Then, four-time Grammy-winning musician Zakir Hussain died Saturday at the age of 73. We pay tribute to his legacy by revisiting Hussain's 2023 conversation with host Deepa Fernandes. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Negotiations have stalled among seven states trying to reach a deal on how to use a dwindling supply of water from the Colorado River. Arizona State University's Kathryn Sorenson tells us what's at stake. And, we look into President Biden's wave of commutations and pardons with University of St. Thomas School of Law professor Mark Osler. Then, for an 18-year-old in Gaza, keeping up his workout routine is one of the ways he copes with war in his homeland. Mohammed Hatem joins us to share how exercise provides solace. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy