Best Carolina and Robin Podcasts (2025)

1
Why the Supreme Court is allowing controversial deportations to continue 20:53

8m ago20:53

20:53

A divided Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans that it claims are members of a gang. Law professor Amanda Frost joins us to explain the decision. Then, Nintendo canceled U.S. preorders for the Switch 2 days after President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. We discuss headwinds …

1
Why one toy manufacturer says tariffs will be 'fatal blow' to small business 24:11

13h ago24:11

24:11

David Mauro, creator of the Talking Jesus Dolls, is an American who stands behind President Trump's 'America First' ideology. But he worries about the impacts Trump's tariffs will have on his business. And, President Trump last week removed the head of the National Security Agency and Cyber Command. Gen. Michael Hayden, former director of the NSA j…

1
How AI, crypto and social media are making online scams more sophisticated 28:52

3d ago28:52

28:52

The Economist podcast "Scam Inc." tells the story of the global online scam industry, which is growing larger and more sophisticated. Host Sue-Lin Wong tells us about speaking with victims and perpetrators of online scams. Then, the vast global industry designed to perfect cyber scams takes in some $500 billion a year. Alona Katz, chief of the Broo…

1
Seven Samurai 1:04:41

3d ago1:04:41

1:04:41

Robin and Carolina discuss the best samurai film of all time, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954). The bandits are mean, our heroes are heroic, and the farmers are just trying to survive. Politics include: how Jaws and Star Wars blatantly copied this film, the making of a seven-person army, and a village trying to stay safe in an uncertain world …

1
Trump's trade war goes big 27:37

3d ago27:37

27:37

Can tariffs be an effective economic tool? Former U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai says yes, when used strategically. Tai explains what President Trump's sweeping new tariffs mean for American consumers. And, Mark DiPlacido, a policy adviser at the conservative think tank American Compass, makes the case for why Trump's new tariffs make sense. Then, m…

1
The Supreme Court case that could close Planned Parenthood in South Carolina 23:04

6d ago23:04

23:04

The Supreme Court heard a case on Wednesday about South Carolina's efforts to stop Planned Parenthood clinics in the state from getting Medicaid funding. Mary Ziegler, law professor at the University of California, Davis, joins us. Then, Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat from Colorado, is leading a push to allow new parents in Congress to vote by…

1
Trump administration sends man to notorious El Salvador prison because of 'error' 23:04

6d ago23:04

23:04

In a court filing Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pointed to an "administrative error" for why it deported a man to a prison in El Salvador, even though he has protected legal status in the U.S. We speak with Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, who is a lawyer for the man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Then, Kevin Griffis, former director of the Ce…

1
Why billionaires are trying to swing a Wisconsin Supreme Court election 19:44

8d ago19:44

19:44

The money spent on the Wisconsin Supreme Court election is likely to reach $100 million by the end of Election Day on Tuesday, which would make it the most expensive judicial race in American history. We check in on what's at stake with WUWM's Chuck Quirmbach. Then, Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, joins us to discuss the Trump admini…

1
The future of special education under a dismantled Education Department 29:52

10d ago29:52

29:52

A special education leader under George W. Bush says the dismantling of the Department of Education will impact students with disabilities. Stephanie Smith Lee talks about what's at stake for the federal law that helped people with disabilities go from institutionalization to institutions of higher education. Then, Medicaid helps lessen financial a…

1
Tufts University student detained by masked federal agents 21:30

11d ago21:30

21:30

A Tufts University student from Turkey was arrested by plainclothes agents from the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday in Somerville, Massachusetts. We speak with attorney Ramzi Kassen. Then, President Trump on Wednesday announced a 25% tariff on cars and car parts assembled outside the United States. Bloomberg's Keith Naughton explains wha…

1
The group chat heard 'round the world 25:41

12d ago25:41

25:41

The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg talks with us about why he released nearly all of the transcript of the Signal group chat that he was included in, where administration officials planned a deadly military strike on Yemen earlier this month. Then, former deputy assistant secretary of defense Mick Mulroy talks about why he thinks the S…

1
Who are the Venezuelans imprisoned in El Salvador by the Trump administration? 25:53

14d ago25:53

25:53

The Trump administration has sent flights of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. NPR's Sergio Martínez-Beltrán shares what we know about them.Then, while Kansas voted overwhelmingly for President Trump, police are reticent to advance his deportation agenda. Kansas News Service's Zane Irwin talks about why the state is an outlier on immigration enfo…

1
Columbia agrees to Trump's demands: What's next for universities? 27:50

15d ago27:50

27:50

Columbia University has agreed to overhaul its student protest policies to win back $400 million in federal research funding that the Trump administration pulled from the university. Columbia Professor Reinhold Martin joins us to discuss the implications of the university's decision. Then, we catch up with Mohammed Hatem, a young man in Gaza. He te…

1
Environmental cuts hit poor communities 19:57

17d ago19:57

19:57

Lee Zeldin, the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, says he's eliminating environmental justice jobs that were largely focused on addressing pollution in low-income and minority communities. Grist's Lylla Younes explains the impact of these cuts. Then, more than 400 Fish and Wildlife Service workers — or about 5% of the agency…

1
Wallace & Gromit 57:46

18d ago57:46

57:46

Carolina and Robin discuss two of Wallace & Gromit's fabulous films: The Wrong Trousers (1993) and Vengeance Most Fowl (2024), two films that confirm that dogs really are better than human beings. Politics include: a murderous penguin that uses technology for evil, a robot that is terrifyingly pliant until it's not, the turbulent Yorkshire-Lancashi…

1
Why it may become harder to collect Social Security 25:27

18d ago25:27

25:27

At the end of March, Social Security recipients will no longer be able to verify their identities over the phone. They'll have to go online or in-person to a Social Security office. AARP's Bill Sweeney explains what the change means for the 72 million Americans who rely on Social Security. And, President Trump is dismantling the Department of Educa…

1
Why Trump is going after green card holders and valid visas 28:43

19d ago28:43

28:43

We look at two high-profile immigration cases under the Trump administration with Doris Meissner, senior fellow and director for the U.S. immigration policy program at Migration Policy Institute. Then, Democrats have struggled to reach a consensus on the best way to counter President Trump during his second term. Matt Bennett of Third Way, a Democr…

1
Israel ends ceasefire with series of airstrikes into Gaza 24:59

21d ago24:59

24:59

Israel launched a series of surprise airstrikes into Gaza on Tuesday, killing more than 400 people, according to Gaza health officials. NPR's Daniel Estrin shares the latest. And, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine. Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko explains the prospects of a pea…

1
She was set to graduate from Columbia in May. Then ICE came knocking 27:42

21d ago27:42

27:42

Ranjani Srinivasan was an international Columbia University student finishing up her doctoral program in urban planning. But then ICE came knocking on her door, as a result of President Trump's recent crackdown on foreign nationals who took part in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. Srinivasan talks about the circumstances that led to he…

1
Lockdown lessons: How COVID-19 reshaped the country 29:17

24d ago29:17

29:17

It's been 5 years since COVID-19 began rapidly spreading around the world. A Pew Research study surveyed almost 10,000 Americans, and 72% of respondents said the pandemic drove the country apart. Pew Research Center's Alec Tyson shares the impact of this political divide. And, millions of people lost loved ones to COVID-19. One of the first to die …

1
Government shutdown looms as Democrats unite against GOP spending bill 18:54

26d ago18:54

18:54

Senate Democrats say they will not provide the support needed to pass a funding bill that House Republicans muscled through their chamber. If the bill fails, the government could shut down this weekend. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) joins us Robin Young to explain his party's strategy. Then, Stephanie Hoopes, the national director of United For ALICE…

1
What mass firings at the Education Department mean for students 17:37

26d ago17:37

17:37

The Department of Education is cutting nearly half of its staff as part of President Trump's plan to reduce the federal government's role in education. Chalkbeat's Kalyn Belsha explains how this could impact schools, students and the future of education. And, federal employees were ordered to remove pronouns from their email signatures. Some states…

1
Philippines ex-President Duterte arrested for alleged crimes against humanity 23:45

27d ago23:45

23:45

Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant from the International Criminal Court, charging him with crimes against humanity for the thousands killed in a drug war that Duterte waged across his political career. We get the latest from The New York Times' Sui-Lee Wee. Then, Lt. Cmdr. Geirid Morgan, a t…

1
Republicans control Congress. Why can't they easily pass a spending bill? 29:14

29d ago29:14

29:14

Republican and Democrats in Congress must agree on a short-term spending bill before the government runs out of money on Friday night NBC's Scott Wong gives us the latest on negotiations. And, as people remember Roberta Flack, we meet the songwriter who wrote the lyrics to "Killing Me Softly": Lori Lieberman. Then, Mississippi mother Brandy Moore u…

1
The loneliness cure: How to cope with isolation at work 29:33

1M ago29:33

29:33

A recent report from Gallup found that one in five people across the world said they felt lonely on a daily basis. People are lonely in every aspect of their lives — at home, in social settings, and at work. Researcher Constance Hadley joins us to discuss isolation at work. Then, losing your job can be devastating and overwhelming. Career coach Eli…

1
Trump takes aim at Social Security 22:30

1M ago22:30

22:30

The Social Security Administration is facing a "significant workforce reduction" amid President Trump's government cuts. Martin O'Malley, commissioner of the Social Security Administration under former President Joe Biden, explains the impact of these cuts. And, Randy Carr, the CEO of a company that manufactures patches for uniforms, shares how Tru…

1
The Shining 58:02

1M ago58:02

58:02

Carolina and Robin discuss The Shining, the terrifying (but always beautiful) tale of a family falling apart in a remote Colorado hotel in the 1970s. Politics include: the hotel owner who looks like a young Trump, the grim reality of the film being about domestic abuse more than it is about ghosts, and how Jack Torrance represents the broken dreams…

1
Supreme Court rejects Trump's foreign aid freeze 21:48

1M ago21:48

21:48

In a 5-4 ruling on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's push to freeze nearly $2 billion in foreign aid payments for work that has already been completed. Georgetown Law professor Mary McCord joins us to explain what the decision means. Then, it's the height of tax season, but the Internal Revenue Service is down th…

1
What Trump's tariffs mean for you 23:50

1M ago23:50

23:50

President Trump imposed tariffs on goods coming in from Canada, Mexico and China. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast "Full Disclosure," explains what the move means for consumers, while NPR's Eyder Peralta reports on how Mexico is preparing to respond. And, the tariffs are expected to make cars and trucks in the U.S. more expensive. Bloomberg's Keit…

1
Israel blocks aid to Gaza as it pushes new ceasefire terms 27:31

1M ago27:31

27:31

Israel has stopped humanitarian aid to Gaza as the first phase of the ceasefire deal expired this weekend. The Guardian's Julian Borger talks about why Israel has stopped that aid and ongoing negotiations with Hamas. Then, New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, discusses what he thinks needs to hap…

1
The loneliness cure: How 'third spaces' help people build connections 34:44

1M ago34:44

34:44

A café. A dog park. A gym. A library. A playground. A bar. We often take these spaces for granted, but they're vital for fighting the loneliness epidemic. We look into how these spaces help people combat isolation and form new connections. And, birds serve as a guide for social advocacy and joy in Tracy O'Kane's memoir "Birding to Change the World.…

1
What to know about the Texas measles outbreak 31:32

1M ago31:32

31:32

The country's first measles death in a decade was recorded Wednesday in Texas. Health and Human Services head Robert F. Kennedy Jr said Wednesday that the outbreak is not "unusual," something disputed by infectious disease experts such as Dr. Peter Hotez, who joins us. Then, the Trump administration says it's cutting 90% of USAID's foreign aid cont…

1
Recent plane crashes spark anxiety. Flying is still safe 27:45

1M ago27:45

27:45

Recent alarming close calls, near-collisions and fatal airline crashes have sparked worry in plane passengers. Transportation analyst Seth Kaplan explains that statistically, flying is no more dangerous than it has been in recent years. And, the U.S. rejected a UN resolution calling for Russia to immediately pull troops out of Ukraine this week. Uk…

1
The conservative case for Trump's new world order 25:47

1M ago25:47

25:47

President Trump said this week that U.S. tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will go forward when a month-long suspension expires next week. Peter Navarro, Trump's senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, joins us to discuss Trump's trade agenda. Then, U.S. allies have been expressing frustration with some of President Trump's foreign po…

1
Former NATO chief says Putin 'won't stop' with Ukraine 22:00

1M ago22:00

22:00

As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, President Trump is moving closer to Russia, rattling the United States' relationship with Europe and NATO. Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen joins us to discuss. And, Elon Musk sent an email to federal workers on Saturday demanding they detail their weekly accomplishments or be fired. …

1
The loneliness cure: How new apps are helping people combat isolation 29:04

2M ago29:04

29:04

The United States is in an "epidemic of loneliness," according to the former U.S. surgeon general. The internet and social media have played a part in Americans suffering from isolation and mental health declines. But technology isn't all bad. We hear about apps that can help people make friends. Then, in her book "Do You Still Talk To Grandma?," B…

1
Will Trump's IVF executive order lower costs? 24:15

2M ago24:15

24:15

President Trump this week signed an executive order aimed at expanding access and reducing costs for people seeking in vitro fertilization treatments. The 19th's Shefali Luthra explains what that means. And, some Republicans are talking about cutting Medicaid access to pay for President Trump's proposed tax cuts. Former Ohio Medicaid director Barba…

1
Cleo from 5 to 7 45:51

2M ago45:51

45:51

Carolina and Robin discuss Cleo from 5 to 7, an outrageously French film about a young woman who may or may not be terminally ill in 1950s Paris. While she waits for her diagnosis, she discovers who she is and her place in the world, politics and all. Politics include: the beret-wearing, tarot-reading difficulties of being a beautiful woman in Pari…

1
Trump sides with Russia, tossing decades of U.S. foreign policy 23:38

2M ago23:38

23:38

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says President Trump is spreading disinformation after Trump falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia. The comments come as the United States begins talks with Ukraine to end the war. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins us from the former Soviet republic of Lithuania to talk about the shift in U.…

1
Mass government firings leave workers 'disappointed,' 'heartbroken,' 'afraid' 24:51

2M ago24:51

24:51

The Trump administration has fired thousands of federal workers in recent days. We speak to one of them: Nina Emlemdi, who worked in a division of the Department of Education. And, Lizz Wright always dreamed of performing at the Kennedy Center. But just as she was about to take the stage this week, she learned of President Trump's takeover of the f…

1
Federal layoffs hit National Parks, veterans' health care and more 25:08

2M ago25:08

25:08

Thousands of federal workers have lost their jobs in recent days. The Washington Post's Lisa Rein talks about the impact of the Trump administration's big cuts to the federal workforce. Then, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will not recognize any peace agreements made without its participation, as top Russian and American offici…

1
The loneliness cure: How to break the cycle and build connections 28:10

2M ago28:10

28:10

A recent Gallup Poll showed that 1 in 5 American adults reports feeling lonely every single day. It's something that former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called a "national epidemic of loneliness and isolation." We hear from Murthy about the broader impact of loneliness. Then, experts say that loneliness and social isolation carry the same …

1
Trump and Putin will negotiate peace talks. But will Ukraine be at the table? 20:45

2M ago20:45

20:45

President Trump says Russia has agreed to negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Ukraine's European allies insist any peace talks must include Ukraine. Ukrainian security analyst Maria Avdeeva joins us. And, after the devastating wildfires in Southern California torched thousands of homes, experts are worried that already-high real estate prices w…

1
What does it really mean to run government 'like a business'? 26:20

2M ago26:20

26:20

The idea that running the federal government like a business would improve how it functions has been around for many decades. Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a former Clinton administration who worked on government efficiency efforts, talks about President Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to streamline the government. Th…

1
Have Democrats given up on opposing Trump? 19:33

2M ago19:33

19:33

Minority Whip Katherine Clark explains what the Democratic Party is doing to push back on President Trump and Republican leadership in Congress. And, After President Trump signed an executive order for 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, many U.S. trade partners threatened retaliation. Roben Farzad of the podcast "Full Disclosure" discus…

1
Courts can't keep up with Trump and Musk 27:34

2M ago27:34

27:34

Federal judges have paused some Trump administration efforts to slash government programs and fire federal workers, but cases are piling up. Politico's Kyle Cheney tells us more. Then, the National Institutes of Health just announced a funding cap for universities, research hospitals and other scientific institutions. Biomedical researchers have cr…

1
Trump to put most USAID employees on leave 21:12

2M ago21:12

21:12

President Trump is set to put all but a few hundred USAID employees on leave, prompting lawsuits from unions that represent foreign service officers. Politico's Nahal Toosi joins us to discuss. And, produce importers in the border city of Nogales, Arizona, are feeling spooked by Trump's lingering threat of tariffs on goods from Mexico. Here & Now's…

1
Trump's plan to detain migrants at Guantánamo Bay before deportation 25:59

2M ago25:59

25:59

Ten migrants have been sent from the U.S. to Guantánamo Bay to be held in a military prison that has housed al-Qaida members. NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks about the first people sent there and the legal challenges that loom around President Trump's plans for the migrants. Then, many Nicaraguan farmworkers in Wisconsin are staying home, keeping a low …

1
The Substance 59:24

2M ago59:24

59:24

Carolina and Robin discuss The Substance, a very modern classic about a Hollywood actress who will do anything to be young and beautiful again. Politics include: the late-stage capitalism of beauty standards, how not having an inner life will ruin your outer life, and why most men in this film are morons. If you like what you hear, please rate and …

1
'Destruction, drama and delusion': Trump wants the U.S. to 'own' Gaza 21:40

2M ago21:40

21:40

During his meeting with Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump suggested the U.S. take over the Gaza Strip after displaced Palestinians are relocated. Palestinian American journalist Rami Khouri joins us. And, the Trump administration gave federal employees a Feb. 6 deadline to quit their jobs in exchange for pay and benefits through Septembe…

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Carolina And Robin Podcasts

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