Sometimes, people prefer a bad option -- when the cost is low. Read by Ron Butler.

One of the leading daily American newspapers, The Washington Post offers news and analysis on politics, business, world national news, entertainment, and much more.

The Washington Post

Why we love something that’s ‘so bad it’s good’

Breaking news moves fast online, and it can be difficult to tell what's real and what's purposefully misleading or fake. Heather Kelly explains how to sort through it all. Read by Gina Rogers.

How to avoid falling for misinformation and conspiracy theories

Today’s young adults spend more on housing and car insurance than millennials did. They’re also more likely to be in debt despite higher wages and more jobs. The Washington Post reflects on the significant stress this is causing many Gen-Z people. Read by 

Millennials had it bad financially, but Gen Z may have it worse

In 'When the Clock Broke,' John Ganz revisits the era of Pat Buchanan and Ross Perot to find the roots of America's populist moment. Becca Rothfeld reflects on the book's idea that economic inequality and political discontent in this era culminated in the success of figures like Donald Trump. Read by Sharon McCune.

Donald Trump didn’t spark our current political chaos. The ’90s did.

A Post-Schar poll finds that six in 10 key state voters turn out sporadically or are not firmly committed. The Washington Post explores the stories of sporadic or uncommitted voters in key swing states who are likely to play a pivotal role in deciding the presidential contest. Read by Deanna Anthony.



‘The 2024 ‘Deciders’: Who are they and what makes them tick?

After a precedent-breaking outcome from Trump’s trial, Dan Balz explains how his conviction has intensified the competition in the presidential campaign, defining the stakes and the choices for voters in November. Read by Karl Miller.

Trump’s guilty verdict sharpens the two big questions of this election

In Trump’s happy place, he gets to do what he wants, public approval is through the roof, and nobody is out to get him. The Washington Post examines how his Mar-a-Lago club serves as his refuge and contrasts with his contentious reality outside its walls. Read by Sean Crisden.

It’s always sunny at Mar-a-Lago

Yuval Noah Harari: will Zionism survive the war?

As Israel marks its Independence Day, its Zionist ideology faces hard questions. Yuval Noah Harari argues that to understand current developments in Israel - and the country’s tumultuous history - it is necessary to clarify what Zionism has really meant over its 150 years of existence. Read by Michael Satow.

Will Zionism survive the war?

Under Putin, a militarized new Russia rises

In Putin's bid to recast Russia as a global superpower, he champions a society built on pro-war activism, puritanical values, and scaled-back social rights. 

As he approaches his fifth term in power, Robyn Dixon reflects on Putin's anti-Western shift. Read by Marni Penning.

Under Putin, a militarized new Russia rises to challenge U.S. and the West

An outreach towards transgender sex workers is marking the most radical stage of Pope Francis' papacy. The Washington Post reflects on how his unprecedented opening to the LGBTQ+ community has reached its zenith — and ballooned into the most explosive issue of his tenure. Read by Michael Satow.

How Pope Francis opened the Vatican to transgender sex workers

What is behind the modern emergence of tradwives and stay-at-home girlfriends? Monica Hesse delves into the motivations behind women embracing patriarchal roles as a response to the challenges of modern adulthood. Read by Deanna Anthony.

Tradwives, stay-at-home girlfriends and the dream of feminine leisure

Is his performative masculinity genuine or a comedic ploy? Ben Terris meets with Nick Adams, a Trump-backed raconteur teaching America’s young men the art of being hard to deal with. Read by Mark Deakins.

The deeply silly, extremely serious rise of ‘Alpha Male’ Nick Adams

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a near-total ban from 1864 could go into effect in a battleground state that could play an outsized role in the presidential election and help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate next year. Maegan Vazquez and Mariana Alfaro report. Read by Gina Rogers.

Arizona’s abortion ruling threatens to upend 2024 races

No state has gone as far as Florida in restricting gender-affirming care for trans adults. Inside a clinic battling against their state, Casey Parks discovers how many patients are now reeling from not being able to access hormone treatments. Read by Emily Woo Zeller.

As Florida restricts treatment for trans adults, one clinic presses on

In a first among sports governing bodies, World Rugby is using smart mouthguards for real-time head impact monitoring. Jeffrey Tomik explains how the technology - which allows for more swift and accurate identification of concussions - is being closely followed by the NFL as they search for solutions to improve player safety. Read by Mark Deakins.

Are smart mouthguards the answer to better concussion protocols?

Inside the nervous day-to-day of Biden’s campaign manager

Julie Chavez Rodriguez seems pretty calm, all things considered. Amidst a campaign tour in key battleground states, she contemplates the dire consequences of a Trump victory, the Democrat's focus on galvanizing crucial voter demographics and the immense pressure of her pivotal role. Jesús Rodríguez reports. Read by Michael Satow.

Nervous about November? Imagine being Biden’s campaign manager.

Gen Zers are selling services, products and advice online to make extra money and build their skills. Danielle Abril reflects on the reasons behind this digital-side hustle trend. Read by Sharon McCune.

For Gen Z, side hustles are for the job you actually care about

Trump avoids mention of his father’s Alzheimer’s disease as he lashes Biden for being ‘cognitively impaired’. Michael Kranish reflects on the complexities of family, memory, and political strategy.  Read by Karl Miller.

Shadowing Trump’s attacks on mental fitness — his own father’s dementia

Public figures aspire to look perfect, and journalism aspires to tell the truth. 

The Washington Post explores how these two standards clashed upon the release of a much-anticipated photo of the Princess of Wales and fuelled a royal PR crisis on a global scale. 

Read by Michael Satow.

How a doctored photo of the Princess of Wales triggered a media crisis

After conversations with his grandchildren, fellow churchgoers and Delaware neighbours, the president brings their worries to the Oval Office. Tyler Pager reveals how this method shapes his policies on youth loneliness and public health, demonstrating his commitment to addressing concerns grounded in everyday experiences. Read by Mark Deakins.