Robin Young
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CoHost of NPR's midday news program @hereandnow interested in all creatures great and small. Human and otherwise.
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Articles by Robin Young
Why Utah is taking on Kalshi
Why Utah is taking on Kalshi : Here & Now Anytime Utah is suing Kalshi, the prediction market company, accusing the platform of gambling, which is illegal in the state. Utah's Attorney General Derek Brown tells us about the lawsuit. Then, New York Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained by Israeli defense forces Wednesday morning while picking olives in a pro-Palestinian protest in the West Bank. Lander joins us.
The history of the 'October surprise'
The history of the 'October surprise' : Here & Now Anytime An ‘October surprise’ is a scandal or newsmaking event that can influence voters just weeks before Election Day. Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer looks back at historic October surprises since the term was coined in the 1980s and before. Then, the number of people receiving federal food assistance has hit its lowest point in nearly 20 years.
What matters most to midterm voters?
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'The Muppets' turn 50
'The Muppets' turn 50 : Here & Now Anytime "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," Kiran Desai's 2025 novel, is a sprawling, multi-generational family saga that plays out across four continents in the late 1990s. Desai talks about her epic second novel and the power of solitude. Then, "The Muppets Show" is turning 50. We speak with Bonnie Erickson, the creator of the Miss Piggy puppet, and Dave Goelz, the only human who has played Gonzo.
What Republican spending reveals about state of midterms
What Republican spending reveals about state of midterms : Here & Now Anytime Midterm elections are three weeks away, and recent polls show more excitement from Democratic voters than Republicans. The Boston Globe’s James Pindell weighs in on if that matters, what Republicans want from elections and where big donors like Elon Musk are putting their money.
Is universal child care working in New Mexico?
Is universal child care working in New Mexico? : Here & Now Anytime Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller reflects on the state of child care access and affordability in New Mexico, and why he's opening up underused city spaces for child care providers. Then, three years since Israel’s war in Gaza began, more than 80% of the region’s infrastructure has been damaged, according to the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees.
Data centers are making noise in American politics
Data centers are making noise in American politics : Here & Now Anytime The construction of data centers in Ohio has become a contentious issue in the Senate race there. The issue at the center of several races across the country this November. Ohio Public Media's Karen Kasler tells us more. Then, in the Ukrainian frontline town of Oleshky, residents can't get out, and food and medical supplies can't get in. Kyiv Independent reporter Yuliia Taradiuk tells us about the dire humanitarian situation.
Facebook whistleblower says it's time for AI whistleblowers to speak up
Facebook whistleblower says it's time for AI whistleblowers to speak up : Here & Now Anytime In 2021, Frances Haugen released tens of thousands of internal Facebook documents showing the company knew its algorithms were promoting extremism and contributing to teen mental health concerns. Her story is now the focus of the upcoming film “The Social Reckoning.” Haugen explains how whistleblowers inside artificial intelligence companies could regulate the technology.
What we know about the death of a Russian plague lab worker
What we know about the death of a Russian plague lab worker : Here & Now Anytime Russian officials have reportedly placed 200 people under medical observation and quarantined the hospital where a 28-year-old lab worker died of a suspected case of plague in Siberia. We learn more about the mysterious illness and the lab it may have originated from with Dr. Ashish Jha. Then, we get the latest on Iowa politics ahead of the midterm elections.
The case that could make big oil pay for climate change
The case that could make big oil pay for climate change : Here & Now Anytime The Supreme Court is weighing Boulder, Colorado's lawsuit against oil companies over the effects of climate change. We hear from Colorado rancher Kathleen Kelley and Mesa County commissioner Cody Davis. Then, this term, the Supreme Court is also preparing to take on cases involving immigration and religious pre-schools. Georgetown law professor Stephen Vladeck tells us more.
Why some Americans are getting surprise medical-debt relief
Why some Americans are getting surprise medical-debt relief : Here & Now Anytime When Brittany Gurney’s son was 14 months old, he had a medical emergency. The bill came out to $15,000. Gurney paid what she could, but it wasn’t enough. Her debt went to collections. But, a surprise letter arrived in the mail: Her debt had been forgiven.
Inside Tennessee's botched execution
Inside Tennessee's botched execution : Here & Now Anytime Death row inmate Christa Pike survived two injections intended to kill her. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has now paused the state's remaining executions pending an independent review. We get an eyewitness account of the botched execution from WPLN's Catherine Sweeney. And, newly obtained documents by The New York Times reveal the timeline between the alleged assault and when Jane Doe filed a report with Cornell University campus police.
ICE raids make a 'ghost town' in Kansas
ICE raids make a 'ghost town' in Kansas : Here & Now Anytime The U.S. Supreme Court decided Tuesday the Trump administration can resume deporting immigrants to countries they have no ties to. Michelle Mendez from the National Immigration Project explains the decision and what it means for immigrants who are fighting to stay in the country. Then, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids are sparking concerns among residents and business owners in the town of Liberal, Kansas.
Security concerns prompt OpenAI to scrap latest model Original
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How to navigate the housing crisis
How to navigate the housing crisis : Here & Now Anytime We’re taking a closer look at the problem of housing affordability. Housing expert Christina Stacy answers questions we received in our inbox, and provides tips on renting and buying in this market. And, less than a tenth of people diagnosed with glioblastoma survive five years after diagnosis. That might change.
Melting glaciers, crumbling mountains, and Alaska's climate crisis
Melting glaciers, crumbling mountains, and Alaska's climate crisis : Here & Now Anytime Across Southeast Alaska, landslides have killed at least a dozen people since August 2015. Landslides happen across the U.S., but geologists say they’re inescapable in Southeast Alaska. In the latest installment of our climate series Reverse Course, Here & Now’s Chris Bentley reports on the role of climate change in landslide risk, and what can be done to mitigate it.
How foreign aid cuts have sparked a humanitarian crisis
How foreign aid cuts have sparked a humanitarian crisis : Here & Now Anytime As wars rage and the United States slashes humanitarian aid, the world finds itself unable to help the people most in need. Former UK foreign secretary and head of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband talks about the implications. And, for many Palestinians in Gaza, the ceasefire reached last October between Israel and Hamas is only a ceasefire in name.
'Godfather of AI': How to create an AI that won't kill us
'Godfather of AI': How to create an AI that won't kill us : Here & Now Anytime Geoffrey Hinton is a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist and cognitive psychologist. He’s helped develop the mathematical engine behind today’s artificial intelligence. But, Hinton is now calling for slowing the development of that technology. He explains how he sees the existential threat of AI and what the future could look like. Geoffrey Hinton is a Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist and cognitive psychologist.
DoorDash driver detained with bullet in back after ICE shooting
DoorDash driver detained with bullet in back after ICE shooting : Here & Now Anytime A Venezuelan immigrant still has a bullet in his back, two days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and injured him, according to his lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. Lincoln-Goldfinch says Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is being kept in a regular bed in a detention center and treated with Tylenol and Ibuprofen. We speak with Lincoln-Goldfinch.
Why is diesel so much more expensive than gasoline?
Why is diesel so much more expensive than gasoline? : Here & Now Anytime The average price of diesel fuel is at a record high in the United States. This means the cost of transporting goods is also going up, and consumers will feel it. Tom Kloza, chief energy advisor for Gulf Oil, talks about how high prices might get and the factors driving them up. Then, in Michigan, many small businesses are facing rising health care costs.
In 'Mule,' Orville Peck chronicles a year coming back from the brink
In 'Mule,' Orville Peck chronicles a year coming back from the brink : Here & Now Anytime Country musician Orville Peck's new album "Mule" tells the story of a transformative year that began in the summer of 2023, when Peck nearly died of an overdose before a show. He tells us more. Then, Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen says her new album, "Day and Night," stands as the proudest creative achievement of her career.
UN investigators say US likely committed war crimes in Iran
UN investigators say US likely committed war crimes in Iran : Here & Now Anytime Experts commissioned by the UN report that they have "reasonable grounds" to believe the U.S. committed war crimes during two airstrikes in Iran, including one that hit a school in February. We speak with Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of "The Iran Podcast." Then, the House of Representatives is heading home and won't be back in session until the midterms.
Why China isn't (as) worried about an AI apocalypse
Why China isn't (as) worried about an AI apocalypse : Here & Now Anytime China watcher Kevin Xu explains the myths and realities of China's capabilities in artificial intelligence amid concerns in the U.S. that regulating it here would cause the U.S. to fall behind China in AI development. Then, Jesse Appell describes himself as an independent creative, entrepreneur and intercultural comedian based in Beijing, using comedy to bridge cultural divides.
The Russian oligarch who bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding
The Russian oligarch who bankrolled Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding : Here & Now Anytime Reporting by ProPublica recently found that Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to President Vladimir Putin, secretly paid for part of — and attended — Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. Experts say he’ll likely want something from the Trumps in return. Joshua Kaplan co-reported the story and explains more of the implications.
AI leaders want to slow development. Can they actually do it?
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The story behind the photo that captures the horror of 9/11
The story behind the photo that captures the horror of 9/11 : Here & Now Anytime In the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, photographer Richard Drew took a now-famous photo of a man falling from the north tower. The photo garnered attention and backlash, with the subject never definitively identified. Drew shares more about experiencing 9/11 and capturing it in photos.
The conservative movement, one year after the killing of Charlie Kirk
The conservative movement, one year after the killing of Charlie Kirk : Here & Now Anytime Thursday marks one year since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA. We speak with Michael Knowles, who was a friend of Kirk. Then, as Ukraine strikes Russian gas plants in a grinding war of attrition, Russian drones are suspected of flying over European countries.
9/11 and the long shadow of Islamophobia
9/11 and the long shadow of Islamophobia : Here & Now Anytime Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called on current Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend an annual ceremony commemorating the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Giuliani also made false claims about Islam, Mamdani’s religion. Mamdani said he will attend the ceremony. Moustafa Bayoumi, professor at Brooklyn College, explains more. Then, in the months following the Sept.
Israel faces global outrage over West Bank violence
Israel faces global outrage over West Bank violence : Here & Now Anytime Britain, France and Canada moved to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. This comes amid the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory and a wave of deadly violence against Palestinian civilians. The U.K. accuses the settlers of "ethnic cleansing." We hear from Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group.
How eagles, bears and salmon keep Alaska wild
How eagles, bears and salmon keep Alaska wild : Here & Now Anytime At Eagle Beach outside of Juneau, Alaska, salmon, bald eagles, dragonflies and signs of bear are everywhere. Here & Now’s Peter O'Dowd and Chris Bentley invite naturalists and wildlife experts along to learn more about the sights and sounds of this special place. Then, the National Park Service turned 110 this year.
How the soaring coast of diesel is hitting school budgets
How the soaring coast of diesel is hitting school budgets : Here & Now Anytime The cost of diesel gas is at record highs as the war in Iran continues. We hear what it means for school districts trying to budget for school bus transportation from Trevor Greene, superintendent for Yakima School District in Yakima, Washington. Then, homeschooling numbers continue to rise in the U.S. Retired professor Kenny Anthony explains the trend.
The legacy Gloria Steinem leaves behind
The legacy Gloria Steinem leaves behind : Here & Now Anytime Trailblazing journalist and activist Gloria died on Wednesday at age 92. She championed gender equality, fought for abortion rights, and co-founded Ms. Magazine, the first national magazine written for and run by women. Astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen shares a remembrance of Steinem and reflects on the impact she had on the nation.
AI is everywhere. NYC schools want to keep it away from young kids
AI is everywhere. NYC schools want to keep it away from young kids : Here & Now Anytime New York City is putting a one-year moratorium on the use of artificial intelligence for its youngest students in the city’s public schools. Kids won’t be allowed to use the technology until they enter high school. The Hechinger Report's Jill Barshay joins us to discuss.
Arizona AG on the future of Flock
Arizona AG on the future of Flock : Here & Now Anytime More and more communities are pushing back against the use of Flock cameras by law enforcement. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is reviewing the automated license plate readers and shares what she hopes to learn. Then, as the United States Postal Service plans to implement President Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting, an anonymous federal official is blowing the whistle.
The hidden death toll from extreme heat
The hidden death toll from extreme heat : Here & Now Anytime NPR did an investigation with Boston University and found that deaths related to heat are being undercounted in the U.S. BU researcher Quinn Adams tells us more. Then, at least two people are dead, and more than a dozen are missing in the Grand Canyon after flash flooding along the Colorado River on Saturday, according to the National Park Service. We get the latest from KNAU's Chris Clements.
Flock cameras and chatbots: How AI is reshaping emergency services
Flock cameras and chatbots: How AI is reshaping emergency services : Here & Now Anytime Flock, the company behind automated license plate reading cameras popping up across the U.S., is drawing criticism over reports of police misuse, misidentification and surveillance. Kevin Collier from NBC News explains more. Then, for emergency call centers facing staff shortages and a high number of non-emergency calls, some are turning to artificial intelligence.
New FDA-approved drug offers hope in pancreatic cancer treatment
New FDA-approved drug offers hope in pancreatic cancer treatment : Here & Now Anytime The Food and Drug Administration approved a new medication to treat pancreatic cancer. In trials, it extended the survival rate of patients by a median of 13.2 months. Dr. Brian Wolpin from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute explains how the drug works and what it could mean for the future of cancer treatment.
Drag performer who impersonated Dolly Parton for decades remembers her
Drag performer who impersonated Dolly Parton for decades remembers her : Here & Now Anytime On the whole, the LGBTQ+ community loved and admired Dolly Parton. And she reciprocated; in 2016, she told Larry King, “We are all God's children. We are who we are, and we should be allowed to be who we are.” Drag performer Jason CoZmo has been impersonating Parton for decades and shares a remembrance of her.
Trump is trying to restrict mail-in voting. Will it matter in the midterms?
Trump is trying to restrict mail-in voting. Will it matter in the midterms? : Here & Now Anytime The conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court sided with President Trump’s executive order to tighten rules around mail-in voting. Rick Hasen, director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project, explains how the battle over these ballots could influence midterm elections. Then, a powerful storm knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of people in Indiana.
Trump’s economic policies hit Iran, Canada and U.S. workers
Trump’s economic policies hit Iran, Canada and U.S. workers : Here & Now Anytime As the U.S. war in Iran reaches the six-month mark, the Secretary of the Treasury announced new economic measures against Iran. Negar Mortazavi from the Center for International Policy shares more details about what’s to come. Then, President Trump’s new 50% tariff on $20 billion of Canadian goods went into effect after trade talks between the two countries fell apart last Friday.
Why Amanda Knox is using comedy to reclaim her story
Why Amanda Knox is using comedy to reclaim her story : Here & Now Anytime It’s been 15 years since Amanda Knox was released from Italian prison after a court overturned her conviction in the murder of her study-abroad roommate. In the time since, she’s become a writer, an activist for the wrongfully convicted, a mother and now, a stage performer. Knox joins us to talk about her one-woman comedy “Cartwheel," which she debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Trump declared ‘economic warfare’ on Iran. What does that mean for Americans?
Trump declared ‘economic warfare’ on Iran. What does that mean for Americans? : Here & Now Anytime On social media, President Trump announced he'll launch “economic warfare and isolation” against Iran. We talk to Edward Fishman, senior fellow and director of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations, about what economic warfare is and the downstream consequences it'll have on both Americans and also the global economy.
The personalized vaccine that could revolutionize cancer treatment
The personalized vaccine that could revolutionize cancer treatment : Here & Now Anytime Merck and Moderna have announced that a new mRNA vaccine has succeeded in blocking the return of one of the deadliest cancers. Wall Street Journal reporter Xavier Martinez explains more about the trial and why its giving cancer researchers hope. Then, primaries are underway, and in many races, progressives are prevailing.
The trillion-dollar case against Meta
The trillion-dollar case against Meta : Here & Now Anytime Opening statements began on Tuesday in a massive case against Meta that alleges the social media giant crafted its Instagram and Facebook platforms to hook children. We discuss the lawsuit with Russell Coleman of Kentucky, one of the state attorneys general suing Meta. Then, construction on a controversial border wall in Big Bend National Park in Texas is on hold after bipartisan opposition.
Historic flooding kills at least 7 in Indiana
Historic flooding kills at least 7 in Indiana : Here & Now Anytime At least seven people have died after heavy rains and historic flooding in Indiana. IndyStar’s Sophie Hartley shares more about what she’s seeing on the ground. Then, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has targeted people with no criminal record who have been living in the U.S. for years.
Why monotasking can make you more productive
Why monotasking can make you more productive : Here & Now Anytime Modern workplace culture pressures us to multitask even though research shows multitasking makes most people less productive, more stressed out and worse at their jobs. Journalist and author David Epstein joins us talk about why we need to prioritize monotasking over multitasking.
Why does ICE want to use electronic shock gloves?
Why does ICE want to use electronic shock gloves? : Here & Now Anytime U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to spend up to $20 million to equip its officers with gloves that can deliver electric shocks. The agency says the new tools can help with de-escalation, but critics aren't so sure. Former officer trainer and ICE attorney Ryan Schwank discusses what the new devices say about ICE's policing tactics.
What tight Democratic primaries reveal about midterm voters
What tight Democratic primaries reveal about midterm voters : Here & Now Anytime The Democratic Party is fracturing over how best to combat President Trump. Tuesday night’s primaries underscore the divide between mainstream Democrats and progressives. Strategist Katrina Gamble joins us. Then, former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman is in frail condition after his release this week from a Russian prison.
Former secret service agent on ruse to smuggle Trump out of Turkey
Former secret service agent on ruse to smuggle Trump out of Turkey : Here & Now Anytime Lawmakers are calling for more details after The Washington Post reported that an Iranian assassination threat against President Trump prompted the Secret Service to use a catering truck and a secret plane to smuggle President Trump out of Turkey. Paul Eckloff, former supervisor of the Presidential Protective Division of the Secret Service, joins us.
AOC’s egg freezing sparks conversation about fertility
AOC’s egg freezing sparks conversation about fertility : Here & Now Anytime Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she will be freezing her eggs and will be taking followers along with her on social media. For more on why this matters and the state of egg freezing, we hear from journalist and author Emi Nietfeld. Then, oldest siblings tend to have higher educational achievement and lifetime earnings than their younger siblings.
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