The demand for power is growing, but the grid can't handle it. Now, the governors of 11 Western states are trying to move forward with a $60 billion plan to upgrade transmission lines. Joel Ferry, Utah’s commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, joins us to explain what the plan would do.

Then, many teachers say performance pay unfairly pits teachers against one another. But two new studies say it could benefit students. Chalkbeat’s Matt Barnum breaks down the controversy.

And, The Hollywood Reporter's Gary Baum shares what he found in an investigation into Objection, a tech startup backed by Peter Thiel that holds artificial intelligence tribunals to scrutinize journalism.

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NBA and two-time Olympic champion Jayson Tatum talks about "Baby Dunks-A-Lot: The Day the Basketballs Stopped Bouncing," his new children's picture book. 

Then, the razorback sucker has been swimming in the Colorado River for an estimated 5 million years before humans nearly fished them out of existence. Now, high schoolers are teaming up with a local baseball team and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to save this beloved fish. Colorado Public Radio's Stina Seig reports. 

And, food writer Karen Solomon tells us about why consumers are embracing all sorts of pickled-flavored products on store shelves.


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Reuters reporter Michelle Conlin details how President Trump and his family have made billions off the cryptocurrency industry, while most ordinary investors have lost money.

And, Ai Weiwei, an acclaimed artist and activist, has faced censorship and surveillance throughout his career. He joins us to talk about his short book, “On Censorship.”

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Former Biden administration deputy national security adviser Jon Finer talks about the latest from the NATO summit in Turkey, where President Trump vowed to escalate military strikes against Iran. Trump also offered new security guarantees to Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

Then, of the 48 teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, only eight are left. Soccer commentator Sean Wheelock shares what he expects as the competition heats up.

And, the Emmy nominations are out, with "The Pitt" and "Hacks" leading the way. We break down the biggest shows, surprises and snubs with NPR's Eric Deggans.

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Democratic Socialists have had a string of primary wins across the country, and Megan Romer, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, weighs in on how the Democratic Party is reacting to the rise of the left.

Then, millions of people in the U.S. are affected by harmful levels of air pollution. Harvard University professor Mary Rice explains how hotter temperatures can make air quality even worse.

And, a third-party review found that major artificial intelligence companies have quietly backed away from safety protocols. Ina Fried, chief technology correspondent for Axios, shares more details of the review, which found none of the companies ranked above a C+ in an AI Safety Index.

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FIFA's Disciplinary Committee suspended Team USA’s Folarin Balogun's one-game red card ban in exchange for a probationary period of one year. The suspended suspension means the striker can play in Monday night's win-or-go-home match in Seattle versus Belgium. Reporter Steve Futterman joins us. 

Then, in Tehran on Monday, Iranians thronged the funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike in February. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast Full Disclosure, reflects on Khamenei's decades of iron rule and the regime his son is continuing as peace talks stall between Iran and the U.S.  

And, are we living through an unprecedented time in U.S. history? Historian Heather Cox Richardson thinks so, up to a point. As we turn the corner on America's 250th birthday, Richardson talks about the current, unparalleled "attempt to dismantle our democracy," as she sees it, versus the long American tradition of fighting back.

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As America turns 250 this year, the American flag has become more than just a symbol of the country. Some see it as a totem of freedom, power and patriotism. Others see it as an emblem of politics and far-right ideology.

We heard from listeners across the country about what the flag means to them. Here & Now producers Ashley Locke and Chris Bentley discuss the responses they received and the various perspectives they represent.

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George Washington could have stayed president for a third term, yet in his famous Farewell Address, he wrote that he would “decline being considered." He penned that address by candlelight in 1796, and curator Lisa Kathleen Graddy explains why the brass stand that held those candles is a significant part of American history.

Then, Ethel Payne was the first Black American woman to become an international news correspondent. A flowered, wide brim hat made her stand out in a room full of male reporters, and Smithsonian curator Jennifer Sieck shares how this hat represents Payne’s legacy.

And, few musicians have changed American music quite like John Coltrane did. He pushed jazz in new directions over his short career. Smithsonian curator Krystal Klingenberg talks about a tenor saxophone that Coltrane played in his final years.

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Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democratic Socialist, won the Democratic primary in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, in Denver, over 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette. KUSA politics reporter Kyle Clark breaks down more primary takeaways.

Then, a large part of the U.S. is under extreme heat warnings as temperatures are expected to hit triple digits this week. Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy, explains the dangers and causes of this potentially record-breaking heat.

And, Bobby Bonilla retired from the MLB in 2001. But every July 1, he gets a $1.19-million check from his former team, the New York Mets. Planet Money’s Kenny Malone breaks down one of the strangest contracts in baseball history.

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The Supreme Court has struck down President Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, explains the decision, which is in line with the longstanding legal interpretation of the 14th Amendment.

Then, Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, explains why he still believes birthright citizenship should be limited.

And, in another major decision, the Supreme Court ruled against two transgender athletes by saying schools can determine sports eligibility based on biological sex. Orion Rummler, LGBTQ+ reporter for The 19th, shares more.

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The president can now fire most independent regulators, ending a nearly century-old precedent. Mark Joseph Stern, who covers the courts and the law for Slate, weighs in on the consequential opinion.

Then, Alan Blinder, former vice chair of the Federal Reserve, talks about a separate but related decision that upholds the independence of the Federal Reserve.

And, a new bridge between the U.S. and Canada has been built but the Trump administration won't allow it to open. Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta explains how it may be an apt metaphor for a low point in U.S.-Canada relations.

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