Episodes

Saturday Feb 25, 2023
Saturday Feb 25, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 25, 2023 top stories: Zelenskyy pledges victory on the one-year anniversary of the war, A Nigerian Senate candidate is killed days before the elections, A US government agency concludes the Ohio train derailment was preventable, North Korea claims to have fired long-range cruise missiles, The Taliban confirms the conditional reopening of a key Pakistan-Afghan trade route, Russia launches a rescue ship to the international space station, Australia announces plans to limit early access to retirement funds, New data shows that US strikes increased by nearly 50% between 2021 and 2022, The IMF unveils a crypto plan advising against legal tender status, and Southern California faces a blizzard warning for the first time since 1989.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 24, 2023 top stories: The WHO warns that one woman dies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth, tensions between Russia and Ukraine rise over the breakaway region of Transnistria, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are subpoenaed by a Special Jan. 6 Counsel, the US reportedly plans to send more troops to Taiwan, Google blocks news content from some Canadian users, a report says US extremist mass killings spiked over the last decade, Turkey fines broadcasters for criticizing the government’s earthquake response, the Horn of Africa faces a severe drought, an app designed to protect children online gets £1.8 million in EU funding, and scientists predict robots may do 39% of domestic chores by 2033.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 23, 2023 top stories: 10 Palestinians are killed and over 100 injured in an Israeli raid, a British woman who joined IS loses her UK citizenship appeal, fresh attacks and air raid sirens are reported across Ukraine, Mexico's ex-security minister is convicted of drug trafficking, the US Supreme Court hears a case on internet freedom, Malcolm X's daughter sues government agencies for their alleged role in his murder, China and Japan hold their first security talks in four years, a North Korean paper warns against accepting 'poisoned candy' amid a food shortage, the foreperson on a Georgia grand jury says indictments were recommended in a Trump probe, and fertility rates drop to a new record low in South Korea.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
Wednesday Feb 22, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 22, 2023 top stories: Putin blasts the West and withdraws from a nuclear treaty in a major address, Kevin McCarthy gives Tucker Carlson Jan. 6 footage, Israel’s Knesset passes the first reading of a judicial reform, eight police officers are killed by suspected rebels ahead of Nigeria’s election, the Russian economy and banks are reportedly performing better than anticipated, final arguments begin in Elon Musk's $56 billion Tesla pay plan trial, a South Korean court recognizes same-sex couples' rights, prosecutors downgrade Alec Baldwin’s charges in the Rust shooting case, a fifth person is confirmed to be cured of HIV, and Venice canals run dry amid drought concerns.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 21, 2023 top stories: A new 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits southern Turkey, At least 53 civilians are killed in an attack in the Syrian desert, Biden makes a surprise visit to Ukraine, A report finds that Trudeau's use of emergency powers to quell protests was justified, North Korea warns of turning the Pacific into a 'firing range' as it tests more missiles, A report finds that US prison deaths rose nearly 50% during the pandemic, Roald Dahl books are edited for more inclusive language, Meta announces plans for paid verification for Instagram and Facebook, Idaho state lawmakers propose a ban on mRNA vaccines, and dozens in Brazil are killed in deadly storms.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Saturday Feb 18, 2023
Saturday Feb 18, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 18, 2023 top stories: A study finds energy costs could drive 141 million people to extreme poverty, Microsoft Bing’s AI chatbot provides unsettling responses, the US sends mixed signals on Crimea as Zelenskyy rules out land concessions, ex-officers plead not guilty over the death of Tyre Nichols, the World Food Program announces plans to cut aid for Rohingya refugees, North Korea warns against joint US-South Korea drills, court filings show Fox stars privately doubted 2020 election fraud claims, Tiktok announces plans to open European data centers, Tesla recalls more than 362,000 cars over self-driving software concerns, and a study finds that prior infection offers similar protection against COVID as vaccination.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 17, 2023 top stories: A Georgia judge releases a grand jury report on a Trump election probe, the Congressional Budget Office warns the US could default as soon as July, Russia launches renewed missile strikes on infrastructure facilities, China sanctions Lockheed Martin and Raytheon over arms sales to Taiwan, Armenia proposes a peace treaty project with Azerbaijan, the US and Iran are reportedly in indirect talks on a prisoner swap, Israel passes a new law revoking citizenship for terror convicts, Chinese retirees protest over plans to cut health benefits, the FBI searches for more classified Biden docs at the University of Delaware, and the FDA considers making an opioid addiction drug available over-the-counter.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 16, 2023 top stories: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon resigns, An investigation claims Israeli hackers meddled in over 30 global elections, Ukraine is said to be re-enforcing its troop numbers in Bakhmut, Mike Pence confirms he’ll challenge a special counsel's subpoena, Iranian Pres. Ebrahim Raisi visits China, Human Rights Watch condemns UK and US actions on the Chagos Islands, The US says the three unidentified objects recently shot down were likely 'benign,' The House GOP launches a probe into the origins of COVID, The White House says Tesla will open its EV charging network to rivals, and a reversible male contraceptive pill shows promise in mice.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Wednesday Feb 15, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 15, 2023 top stories: Three are killed in a Michigan State University shooting, thousands of fish are found dead after an Ohio train derailment, Ukraine seeks warplanes from NATO, Syria agrees to open two more border crossings for earthquake aid, the Philippines accuses China of using a laser at sea, Nikki Haley announces her 2024 US presidential bid, BBC offices in India are searched by tax authorities, EU lawmakers approve a ban on gas-powered cars from 2035, New Zealand declares a state of emergency over a cyclone, and the CDC finds mental health issues are rising in teens.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod

Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Facts & Spin for February 14, 2023 top stories: A Georgia judge orders a partial release of a Trump grand jury report, Turkey investigates 131 people over building collapses, Russia claims gains along Ukraine’s frontline, China says it has detected at least 10 US spy balloons in the last year, Israel legalizes nine West Bank settlement outposts, The Bank of England says Brexit has cost $29 billion in lost investment, The FBI finds another classified document at Pence's home, The US military says it killed 12 al-Shabaab fighters, The US government warns Americans in Russia to leave 'immediately,' and Cambodia shuts down its last independent broadcaster.
Sources: https://www.improvethenews.org/
Brief Listener Survey: https://www.improvethenews.org/pod