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Some 67 million people tuned in to watch Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump face off in their first and maybe only debate of this election season on Tuesday. On Wednesday, state and local officials across the country warned that issues with the U.S. postal service could result in disenfranchised voters this election. Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on a U.N. school complex sheltering 1,200 displaced Palestinians killed six U.N. staffers at a refugee camp in Central Gaza. At least 18 Palestinians were killed in the attack. The Department of Justice exposed Russian ties to right wing social media influencers. U.S. prosecutors say the Kremlin media company RT funneled nearly $10 million to a platform for content creators. We cover all these stories and more during this week's News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

You've likely heard the saying "all politics is local." But here's the hitch. For many local offices, there's often just one candidate running in a race. Sometimes, nobody's running at all. In 2022, 67 percent of races went uncontested. That's according to the nonpartisan research organization BallotReady. That not only leaves voters with a lack of choice, but also raises questions about how and where we choose to live and who influences local policies. We discuss uncontested races and why they matter. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took to the debate stage in Philadelphia last night. It was the first debate between the two presidential candidates this election cycle and it could be the last before November. And the stakes were high. According to the latest NPR-PBS Newshour-Marist poll, Harris leads Trump by one point among voters nationally. Thirty percent of voters polled said the debate would decide which candidate they vote for. We discuss the big takeaways and what the debate could mean for the election. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

It's NPR Climate Solutions Week. Across the network, we're talking about how to slow the effects of climate change. Offshore wind is a powerful source of clean, renewable energy. But it's deployment along U.S. shores has been slowed by supply chain challenges and significant local opposition. Just last week, the Biden Administration approved the nation's tenth offshore wind project. It's part of the president's goal to power 10 million American homes with offshore wind by the end of the decade. But Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has vowed to cancel all projects on his first day in the Oval Office. We discuss how offshore wind can help slow climate change. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A growing number of voters in swing states are saying that abortion could sway their decision in the election this November. But the presidency isn't the only place abortion is relevant on the ballot. At least 11 states—including Arizona, Montana, and Florida—are voting directly on the issue this fall. It's been two years since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. For this installment of 'If You Can Keep It,' we discuss how the abortion rights landscape has changed and what those changes mean for the election. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Officials last night in Georgia charged the father of the suspected Apalachee High gunman with two counts of second-degree murder. On Wednesday, his 14-year-old son was arrested and charged with four counts of felony murder after he allegedly killed two students and two teachers at his high school. Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Govs. Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo was charged this week with being an agent of the Chinese government. Meanwhile, overseas, Israel has been carrying out large-scale raids in the occupied West Bank, which it says are aimed at dismantling militant groups and preventing attacks. The U.N. says Israeli forces have killed at least 30 Palestinians in the West Bank, marking the area's highest weekly death toll since November. The U.S. is accusing Russia of perpetrating a widespread election interference campaign. Two states in Germany's former Communist east held elections on Sunday. The far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AFD, made big gains in both elections. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

It's one of the world's most serious current crises – and yet, this conflict is being deemed "forgotten." But it's certainly well known by the more than 25 million people in Sudan who are facing starvation and the 11 million who have been displaced from their homes. Since April of last year, conflict has raged between two Sudanese military groups, putting civilians in the middle of 500 days of violence and causing greater humanitarian crisis. One report predicts that more than 2.5 million people could die of hunger by the end of this month. At least 150,000 people have been killed and the International Criminal Court has accused both warring parties of war crimes. We talk to a group of experts about the crisis. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Both the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, and their vice-presidential picks, are talking about a big issue on the stump: housing. Why is housing a central issue in this campaign? Both presidential campaigns are focusing more on affordability, including for housing. So, what can the federal government do to make renting or buying a home more affordable? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

In a time of widespread suspicion and cynicism, everyone has a role to play in strengthening social trust and building bridges. How can we create optimism about the present and the future? That big question was central to a conversation at the Aspen Ideas Festival in June. We discuss how individuals and organizations can work together to repair the fundamental bonds of a healthy society. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

You're listening to a public radio show. There's a good chance you're into books and the stores that sell them. And what's not to love? There might be few greater joys in life than a warm drink, a kind clerk with good recs, and the scent of freshly printed pages wafting through the air. But in the age of the internet (and especially of Amazon) the future of the world's independent book sellers looks murky. But not hopeless. We discuss what the future holds for these brick and mortar institutions. Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have wrapped a two-day campaign swing through Georgia. They also gave their first major TV interview. It's been an eventful week for Donald Trump. Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a revised criminal indictment against the real estate mogul this week. The former president's campaign is also under fire for breaking protocol at Arlington National Cemetery. Meanwhile, the Israeli military launched its most intense operation in the north of the Occupied West Bank since 2002. Four Palestinian journalists – Motaz Azaiza, Hind Khoudary, Bisan Owda, and Wael Al-Dahdouh – have been nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of their reporting during the war. So far, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has registered 285 candidates. On Saturday, French police arrested the CEO of the messaging app Telegram at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris after he arrived on an international flight. He was held until Wednesday and released on bail. We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

It's back to school season, which means America's students are back to studying. And some kids are turning to energy drinks to handle their workload. But energy drinks aren't the same as your morning cup of coffee. In one serving, there's way more caffeine and other ingredients to enhance the "energizing" effect. But that's nothing new. They've been around for years, with flashy branding and the promise of a quick jolt of activity. But they might not be the healthiest option for those of us whose bodies are just beginning to develop. Doctors advise against children drinking them, yet between 30 and 50 percent of adolescents do. For this installment of our "In Good Health" series, we break down down what exactly an energy drink is and how they interact with the bodies of young people. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Ten months into Israel's war with Gaza, Vice President and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris is highlighting the White House's work towards a ceasefire deal. But negotiations have stalled. The most recent talks in Cairo, sponsored by the U.S., ended without an agreement. And as tensions escalate on the border between Israel and Lebanon, the path forward seems even more unclear. Organizers and uncommitted delegates at the Democratic National Convention protested for a ceasefire in Gaza, an arms embargo for Israel, and the party's decision to deny the request of a pro-Palestinian speaker at the convention. What does this moment mean for the Biden White House? And what do we know about what Middle East foreign policy would look like under a potential Harris presidency? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Paralympic Games in Paris kick off today. Athletes with varying physical disabilities from 177 countries are heading to the city of light to compete in 22 different sports. NBC promises record coverage of the Paralympic Games, but it wasn't until the Tokyo Games when the Paralympics received prime time coverage. This summer's competition promises plenty of other firsts such as the largest refugee Paralympic team in history, a record number of women athletes, and more. We sit down with some Paralympians and give you the full Paris Paralympics preview. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

In May of 2021, archaeologists discovered over 200 unmarked graves at an Indigenous residential school in Canada. The discovery exposed the dark history of systemic abuse faced by Canada's Indigenous community. At least 150,000 Indigenous children attended Indigenous residential schools in Canada. For decades, they were removed from their homes and families and held in institutions run by the Catholic church and Canadian government. "Sugarcane" is a new documentary that follows one of those schools – St. Joseph's Mission near the Sugarcane Reservation of Williams Lake in British Columbia. We speak with the film's directors. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Ranked choice voting is a way of electing candidates that's different from what most Americans are used to. As a voter, you get to rank your preferred candidates. So, you don't just choose one name. You may have a first, second, and third preference for who represents you. When voting is over, a process of elimination takes place. The lowest vote-getter in the first round is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to higher vote-getters, according to how voters ranked the other candidates. The process continues until you end up with a winner. Ranked choice voting systems are already in place for some races in Alaska, Maine, and cities like Minneapolis and New York City. What's driving reformers to push for these ranked choice voting systems in more states? And how are voters responding? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Democratic Party gathered in Chicago this week for the party's national convention ahead of November's election to ceremonially confirm their nominee in the 2024 presidential race: Vice President Kamala Harris. Elsewhere and across the aisle, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the GOP vice presidential nominee, made an appearance in Wisconsin Tuesday, criticizing Democrats over crime in communities like Kenosha. Meanwhile, after further talks between mediators this week, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remains elusive. Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unscheduled visit to the region of Chechnya this week, his first trip to the mainly Muslim republic within the Russian Federation in nearly 13 years. He was there to inspect Chechen troops and volunteers preparing to fight in Ukraine. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Dr. Ruth Westheimer was unassuming – a small woman with a friendly smile and an ever-present German accent. As she would say, she could be someone's mother or grandmother. But a grandmother who told you what you needed to know about sex. She died in July at the age of 96. She spent more than 50 of those years teaching America how to talk about sex, using straightforward medical terms and rejecting a sense of shame around the subject. We look at her legacy, and how she impacted the way Americans talk about sex and relationship issues. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

As climate change continues to warm the world, the aging systems and outdated infrastructure that help bring us clean water are buckling. Severe weather events like floods and droughts also disrupt our water infrastructure and supply. How are America's communities dealing with water-related challenges like boil advisories and contaminations events? How is it changing the day-to-day lives of the people who live there? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Joe Biden recently unveiled his plan to reform the Supreme Court. The proposals aim to counteract what he sees as a crisis of public confidence caused by decisions like the the overturning of a longstanding precedent in Roe v. Wade and the decision to grant broad immunity to presidents. Polls show most Americans are behind reform. According to a July Fox News national survey, approval of the court dropped to a record low of 38 percent. And according to a poll from earlier this month by USA Today and Ipsos, 76 percent of Americans support a binding code of Supreme Court ethics. What kind of reforms would bring back trust to the court? And is change even possible? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy