A winter storm with heavy snow is forecast for much of the U.S. this weekend
Blasts of Arctic air are poised to bring below-average temperatures to much of the central and eastern U.S. throughout the first half of January. Here's what to expect and how to prepare.
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Worst. Tariffs. Ever. (update)
The Smoot Hawley Tariffs were a debacle that helped plunge America into the Great Depression. What can we learn from them? Today on the show, we tell the nearly 100-year-old story of Smoot and Hawley, that explains why Congress decided to delegate tariff power to the executive branch in the first place. It's a story that weaves in wool, humble buckwheat, tiny little goldfish, and even Ferris Bueller... Anyone? Anyone? It's also what set the stage for the Trump tariffs. President-elect Donald Trump enacted a heap of import taxes in his first term, in particular on goods from China. President Biden's administration largely kept those tariffs in place, and levied new tariffs as well, on electric vehicles and solar panels. And now, as Trump's second presidency is on the horizon, he has promised even more tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China, and even on all imports across the board. And now, as Trump's second presidency is on the horizon, he has promised even more tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China, and even on all imports across the board. We update this classic episode about the Smoot Hawley Tariffs, and review the impact of more recent efforts from Trump and Biden alike. Help support Planet Money by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney. You get bonus episodes! -
How Kash Patel has used children's books and podcasts to promote conspiracy theories
Trump's pick to head the FBI has parlayed his time serving in various national security roles in the first Trump administration to building a brand promoting pro-Trump conspiracy theories. -
What we know about Luigi Mangione, the suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing
Manhattan prosecutors filed murder and other charges against Luigi Mangione Monday night. Earlier in the day Mangione was arraigned on firearms and forgery charges in Pennsylvania after his arrest. -
Renowned poet and Black arts movement icon Nikki Giovanni dies at 81
The poet and activist was a leading figure of the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni was working on her upcoming book of poetry, set to publish in the fall. -
Lawsuit: A chatbot hinted a kid should kill his parents over screen time limits
Two families are suing AI chatbot company Character.AI for allegedly encouraging harm after the kids became emotionally attached to the bots. One chatbot allegedly exposed them to sexualized content. -
'We're absolutely in panic mode': Toymakers are bracing for Trump's tariffs
Toy companies are preparing for tariffs in the new Trump administration. Nearly all toys sold in the U.S. are imported — mostly from China. -
The best movies and TV of 2024, picked for you by NPR critics
Our critics gather together their favorite films and TV shows of 2024. You can search by genre and where you can see it. -
What science tells us about aging and exercise
Getting or staying active has a wide variety of health benefits as people age. They can include everything from stronger bones to improved mental wellbeing.
![Retirees should aim to have a year's worth of essential spending at their disposal, unbound from any longer-term investments, since they "may not have a [Social Security] check anymore," says Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning and wealth management at Charles Schwab.](https://cdn.grove.wgbh.org/dims4/default/e45c395/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2650x1476+0+255/resize/280x156!/quality/70/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-gbh.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F07%2Fb4%2Fbe30b6b5197492f695a1f4aea07d%2Fgettyimages-51192120-229ea45f444a3b9a5a6034788259f19240f90a76.jpg)