American Democracy: Where it Started and How it's Going

Some recent health headlines surround the federal government's changes to SNAP benefit programs, vaccine guidance for infants and others, and Obamacare.On Today's Show:Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent, KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast, and Jude Joffe-Block, reporter at NPR, discuss the latest in health-related news.

An education advocate, who formerly supported school vouchers and charter schools, is now speaking in support of public education.On Today's Show:Diane Ravitch, education historian, former research professor of education at New York University, blogger at dianeravitch.net and author of the recent book An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else (Columbia University Press, 2025), talks about the changes that led her to become a promoter of public schools.

Senator Mark Kelly appeared in a video alongside other veterans now serving in Congress, telling service members, “Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.” The Pentagon has since opened an investigation and even raised the possibility of recalling him to active duty for potential discipline. On Today's Show:Zachary Cohen, senior reporter on the national security beat for CNN, talks about what Kelly said, why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the probe, and how this all fits into other Pentagon headlines this week, including reports of U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats.

On World AIDS Day, a look at the impact of foreign aid cuts on HIV prevention programs, particularly in South Africa.On Today's Show:Pratik Pawar, Future Perfect fellow at Vox, talks about a new HIV prevention drug the U.S. is making available worldwide, except to South Africa, the country with the most people living with HIV.

President Trump and his allies are framing the kidnappings and other attacks in Nigeria as Islamic attacks on Christians, and even threatening military actionOn Today's Show:Emmanuel Akinwotu, international correspondent for NPR, talks about the situation, including how extremist groups are killing people of all faiths in the country, not just Christians.  

On points where he disagrees with the scientific concensus, what makes RFK. Jr so sure he's right?On Today's Show:Michael Scherer, staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about his Atlantic cover story on HHS Secretary RFK, Jr., and other news. 

After a busy weekend for national political headlines, a local congressional leader weighs in.On Today's Show:House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY8) offers his take on how the meeting between President Trump and Mayor-elect Mamdani went, and more national political news.

President Trump and NYC's Mayor-elect Mamdani are meeting in DC today after many traded barbs and concerns over how the two very different administrations will work with, or against, each other.On Today's Show:Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW, writer for MSNOW and contributing writer to The Atlantic, talks about the national political news of the week.

For our monthly 'Call Your Senator' series, NJ listeners asked about their healthcare prices, and other national issues.On Today's Show:U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) talks about his work in the Senate and the issues in New Jersey, including the debate over ACA subsidies, the Gateway tunnel funding, and the Epstein files. 

President Trump has reportedly reversed course on the Epstein investigation over the weekend, now urging his party to baack a vote to release a large tranche of emails and other documents. On Today's Show:Eleanor Mueller, congress reporter at Semafor, talks about the latest national political news from Congress, including the shutdown winners and losers, the upcoming vote in the House on the Epstein files and more.