The Anthrax Threat I 1. Scramble the Jets

In a timely episode of NPR News Now, speakers Louise Schiavone, Lauren Frayer, Windsor Johnston, Steve Hobbs, and Jennifer Homendy dive deep into several pressing global and domestic issues. The discussion begins with the dire situation in Gaza, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken, from New Delhi, expresses grave concerns over the loss of Palestinian lives and the dire need for humanitarian aid. The episode paints a stark picture of the conflict, emphasizing the importance of civilian safety as Israeli forces push into populated areas, and the temporary ceasefire that offers a slight reprieve in the face of adversity.

Back on U.S. soil, the podcast shifts its focus to address internal threats — the disturbing trend of fentanyl-laced threats to election officials and the concerning string of near-misses on U.S. runways. Washington's Secretary of State Steve Hobbs sheds light on a dual threat: physical harm and the undermining of democratic stability, highlighting the urgent need for security in electoral processes. Aviation safety is thrust into the conversation as Johnston and Homendy discuss recent disconcerting events and the contribution of understaffing among air traffic controllers to these dangers. This episode of NPR News Now provides a seamless connection between the turbulence abroad and the undercurrents of risk within America's own borders, calling attention to critical matters that need immediate and focused consideration.

In Manufacturing Consent, authors Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman explore how the American media frames events and creates narratives that serve the interests of the nation’s political, economic, and social elite. They argue that control of the media in the United States does not take the form of direct state censorship or a formal conspiracy to manage the news. Rather, there is a powerful set of informal restrictions and controls that limit what journalists cover—and how they cover it.

In this guide, we’ve streamlined and updated the authors’ 1988 analysis of the mainstream media to incorporate themes, topics, and examples that are more relevant for today’s audience, including the internet, social media, and the rise of “fake news.”

Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Catch Predators is journalist Ronan Farrow’s memoir of his experiences uncovering one of Hollywood’s biggest scandals—the decades of sexual abuse and assault by entertainment industry power broker Harvey Weinstein. Farrow overcame surveillance, intimidation, blackmail, and even the resistance of his employers at NBC to break this story. He and the women who came forward to share their experiences exposed how Weinstein was able to use his power, wealth, and influence to intimidate and silence his victims, and how the media and legal systems allowed him to operate with impunity for decades.

The Ebola virus is greatly feared, but not well understood. Ebola virus has appeared only a handful of times and, despite being highly infectious, it has never spread to become a full-blown epidemic. However, Ebola’s brutal attack on victims’ bodies, astronomical kill rates, and ability to mutate make it a constant potential threat.

The Hot Zone explores how Ebola and its family of viruses affect humans, the history of known outbreaks, and the possibility of a future epidemic.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is about the Osage Reign of Terror—the 1920s organized killings of members of the oil-rich Osage Indians. Powerful and bigoted whites systematically exploited and murdered the Osage people to expropriate their wealth, showing us the horrors that result when racism and greed align. The murders were also a major catalyst for the growth of the FBI, and the triumph of its rational and scientific vision of law enforcement—and a shift away from the era of frontier justice, corrupt and incompetent local sheriffs, and rogue “lawmen.”

Over a half-century after the civil rights movement sought justice for African Americans, prominent movements such as Black Lives Matter continue fighting to expose and resist injustice. In this social landscape, Bryan Stevenson’s message is timely: The US justice system consistently denies justice to society’s most vulnerable members.

In his 2014 book, Just Mercy, Stevenson examines the justice system’s pervasive failures toward marginalized populations, especially Black Americans. To illustrate these failures, Stevenson discusses numerous criminal cases, most prominently the 1989 case of Walter McMillian, a Black man wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Alabama.

In this guide, we’ll discuss Stevenson’s analysis of the McMillian case and his evidence of extreme punishments doled out more broadly by the justice system. Moreover, we’ll consider Stevenson’s diagnosis of the root problems with the American conception of justice and his suggestions for repairing it. We’ll also examine arguments from other sources about how to improve the justice system and provide further context for the cases that Stevenson cites.

Immerse yourself in the gripping world of Bailey Sarian's 'Murder, Mystery & Makeup' podcast. This unique blend of chilling crime narrative and light-hearted beauty routine make for a complex, riveting listening experience. In this episode, Sarian presents the baffling mystery surrounding a woman named Stacey Ruth Daniels, linking the ordinary and the extraordinary, the homely and the horrific, in a tale filled with unexpected twists and turns. On the one hand, the audience is held captive by the grave mystery of Stacey's two deceased spouses; on the other, Sarian invites listeners into her personal space with playful segments about her life and hobbies.

Balancing the severity of the crime tale with a lighter touch, Sarian excels at drawing listeners into her world. This episode goes beyond just recounting the gruesome facts of the case, providing a comprehensive exploration of the narrative that includes an investigation into Stacey's ordinary suburban upbringing and her transformation into a suspected murderer. In addition, Sarian dives into the psychological aftermath of the crimes on Stacey's daughters, underscoring the far-reaching impact of such heinous acts. Keeping listeners engaged until the very end, the episode concludes with a dive into the cultural relevance of Stacey's disturbing acts on popular culture. Tune in to Sarian's 'Murder, Mystery & Makeup' podcast to take part in this compelling journey through the darker aspects of human nature.