Episodes

Thursday May 04, 2023
Thursday May 04, 2023
Facts & Spin for May 5, 2023 top stories: The White House hosts tech CEOs to discuss AI policies, US students’ history and civics scores reach a record low, a Human Rights Watch report claims China is monitoring the phones of Uyghurs, Senate democrats launch a renewed effort to counter China, India and Brazil are deemed to be among the most dangerous nations for activists, an Israeli raid kills three Palestinians accused of a deadly settler attack, the NYC subway death of a homeless man is ruled a homicide, four Proud Boys are charged with seditious conspiracy, the FDA approves the world's first RSV vaccine, and astronomers spot what appears to be a star swallowing its own planet.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Thursday May 04, 2023
Thursday May 04, 2023
Facts & Spin for May 4, 2023 top stories: Russia accuses Ukraine of attempting to kill Putin, a ceasefire is inked in Israel and Palestine, lawmakers hold a hearing on US Supreme Court ethics, Iran’s president begins a historic visit to Syria, an active shooter in Atlanta kills one, while a school shooter in Belgrade kills nine, a rights group says global risks to journalists are increasing, three McDonald's franchises are fined for child labor violations, an Alzheimer’s drug shows promise, and the US Surgeon General declares an epidemic of loneliness.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Wednesday May 03, 2023
Wednesday May 03, 2023
Facts & Spin for May 3, 2023 top stories: Biden approves the deployment of 1.5K troops to the Southern border, a senior member of Palestine’s Islamic Jihad on hunger strike dies in an Israeli jail, the US estimates that 20K Russians have been killed in Ukraine since December, the UN approves a travel exemption for Afghanistan’s Taliban, Biden calls a meeting as the Treasury Dept. warns of a June default, the White House announces plans to end most COVID vaccine mandates, Australia says it will ban non-prescription vapes, the "Godfather of AI" warns of looming AI dangers, Hollywood writers strike after negotiations stall, and a Korean student devours a $120K banana art piece.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Tuesday May 02, 2023
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Facts & Spin for May 02, 2023 top stories: JP Morgan buys First Republic Bank, Turkey claims to have killed the Islamic State’s alleged leader in Syria, Police continue their search for a Texas shooter, The Pope says the Vatican is involved in a secret Russia-Ukraine peace mission, Santiago Peña wins Paraguay's general election, Jordan hosts Arab normalization talks with Syria, UK chip giant Arm files for US share listing, A New York gun buyback program nets over 3K firearms, A report claims Epstein met with several high-profile individuals after being convicted, and several European organizations call for research into the health impact of racism.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Facts & Spin for April 29, 2023 top stories: Former US Vice President Pence testifies before a grand jury, at least 23 are killed in Russian strikes across Ukraine, the US announces plans to open Latin America migration centers, thousands rally in support of Israel’s judicial overhaul, Iran seizes an oil tanker headed for Texas, Turkey’s leader Erdoğan cancels a third day of election appearances, the BBC’s chairman resigns over Boris Johnson cronyism allegations, a poll finds that public support for the British monarchy is at a historic low, abortion bans are blocked in Nebraska and South Carolina, and scientists release the first direct image of a supermassive black hole.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Facts & Spin for April 28, 2023 top stories: US House Republicans pass a bill to raise the debt ceiling, Xi and Zelenskyy hold their first call since the start of the war, longtime talk show host Jerry Springer dies at age 79, an Iranian court orders the US to pay $313 million for 2017 ‘terrorist’ attacks, the UK House of Commons approves a controversial asylum bill, a Uyghur refugee dies after nine years of detention in Thailand, Chinese police question consultancy firm Bain & Co. staff, Tucker Carlson breaks his silence since departing Fox News, a study finds Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug leads to significant weight loss, and Pope Francis gives women the right to vote at bishops’ meetings.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Thursday Apr 27, 2023
Facts & Spin for April 27, 2023 top stories: The US and South Korea announce plans to cooperate on nuclear arms, The Taliban kills an Islamic State group leader, UK officials say China’s military build-up risks ‘tragic miscalculation,' Disney sues DeSantis, A British economist says people must tolerate financial stress, Half of New York City households face a cost-of-living crisis, The UK rejects Microsoft’s deal for Activision Blizzard, A trans lawmaker in Montana is censured, Singapore executes a man over two pounds of cannabis, and a Swedish rocket accidentally crashes into Norway.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Facts & Spin for April 26, 2023 top stories: US President Joe Biden announces his re-election bid, an explosion in Pakistan kills at least 17, a report claims the US talked Ukraine down from attacking Moscow, a panel alleges the US’ COVID response was “incompetent,” Russia hosts talks between Turkey and Syria, India rebukes a magazine’s depiction of its growing population, North Dakota’s governor signs a strict abortion ban, a mob burns 13 suspected Haitian gang members to death, Spain exhumes the remains of fascist leader Primo de Rivera, and Nepal issues a record 454 permits to climb Mount Everest.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Facts & Spin for April 25, 2023 top stories: Global military spending reaches an all-time high, Tucker Carlson leaves Fox News, Ex-Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo is extradited from the US, Australia unveils its biggest defense overhaul since WWII, Police investigate 70 deaths in an alleged starvation cult in Kenya, Fugitive Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh is arrested in India, China’s ambassador to France faces backlash over remarks on ex-Soviet states, Bed Bath & Beyond files for bankruptcy, Credit Suisse says it lost $68 billion in assets last quarter, and Biden’s team reportedly picks Julie Chavez Rodriguez as his 2024 campaign manager.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Saturday Apr 22, 2023
Facts & Spin for April 22, 2023 top stories: Hungary casts doubt on Ukraine’s long-term NATO membership, A whistleblower alleges the Hunter Biden tax probe is being mishandled, UK Deputy PM Dominic Raab resigns over a bullying probe, Russia accidentally bombs its own city, Manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin are dropped, Twitter starts removing blue ticks from verified users, Buzzfeed says it will close its news division, Sri Lankans protests on the fourth anniversary of the Easter bombings, Juventus's 15-point penalty for illicit transfer activity is reversed, and $15M worth of gold and other valuables go missing from Toronto Airport.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod