Politics

Natick Town Meeting member Suzanne Ianni wraps herself in the group called Super Happy Fun America's so-called "Straight Pride" flag as she and other supporters of President Trump wait for him to address them during a rally in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Natick official to serve 15 days in jail for her part in the Jan. 6 attack

Local Coverage

Dec 2, 2022

Biden signs rail worker contract that some union members rejected

We discuss the latest moves in the lame duck Congress to avert a rail strike.

Here & Now

10:40Dec 2, 2022

Shown in the Spanish language are "He Votado Hoy" stickers or I voted today at a polling place in Philadelphia, May 21, 2019. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Spreading lies in Spanish: Congress wants answers on misinformation

While misinformation is a big problem in English, it is even worse in Spanish.

Here & Now

09:43Dec 2, 2022

Democrats seek out voters in rural areas

Democrats have struggled to gain support from rural voters in previous elections. But this year's midterms revealed their efforts to improve their margins in rural areas paid off.

Here & Now

02:17Dec 2, 2022

A woman marks down her vote on a ballot for the Democratic presidential primary election at a polling place in Armstrong Elementary School on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in Herndon, Virginia. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Why Democrats are shaking up the primary schedule for 2024

President Biden and the Democratic National Committee are changing the order of state primaries in 2024 — making South Carolina the first primary state.

Here & Now

05:49Dec 2, 2022

President Biden stands on the stage during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Dec. 1, 2022. (Alex Brandon/AP)

To boost Georgia's Warnock, Biden heads to Boston

Days before polls close on Tuesday, Biden still has no plans to visit Georgia. Instead he’ll aim to help Sen. Raphael Warnock’s reelection campaign from afar with appearances Friday at...

Local Coverage

Dec 2, 2022

XiaoIce, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence system designed to create emotional bonds with its 660 million users worldwide, at the company's office in Beijing. XiaoIce was an inspiration for Microsoft's Tay, an AI chatbot modeled to be a typical teenage girl. (Courtesy AFP and Getty Images)

Good Bot, Bad Bot | Part IV: The Toxicity of Tay

Next up in our bots series, we bring you the tale of Tay, a Microsoft AI chatbot that has lived on in infamy. Tay was originially modeled to be the...

Endless Thread

28:14Dec 2, 2022

President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron stand on the stage during a State Arrival Ceremony. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Macron visits Biden at the White House

The two heads of State have much to discuss, including their positions on Ukraine and China, and what they may disagree on.

Here & Now

05:26Dec 1, 2022

What new House leadership means for Democrats and Congress

Hakeem Jeffries will become House Minority Leader in January. He's the first Black man to lead a party caucus to leadership.

Here & Now

03:49Dec 1, 2022

A Cambridge poll worker prepares to hand out "I voted" stickers. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

City Council backs lower voting age in Boston

By a 9-4 vote, councilors passed a petition to allow Boston residents aged 16 and 17 to vote in municipal elections, as long as they meet all other legal qualifications.

Local Coverage

Dec 1, 2022

FILE - Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, and Prince William, Prince of Wales, leave the Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after taking part in an event with Coach Core, in London, Oct. 13, 2022. Prince William and the Princess of Wales will make their first trip to the U.S. in eight years this week, hoping to focus attention on his Earthshot Prize for environmental innovators. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Prince and Princess of Wales draw thousands to City Hall

Thousands braved the wind and rain to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales at their first stop on their three-day tour in Boston. Some have been lifelong admirers of...

Local Coverage

02:41Dec 1, 2022

“I’ve been living in the U.S. ever since I returned for college, so I watched all of this unfold from the opposite side of the globe, knowing my family and friends were in the direct line of fire.” Pictured: the author in Taiwan, in 2019. (Courtesy Denise Lin)

I live in the US now, but diplomacy in Taiwan is personal

When your country is an island roughly the size of Massachusetts, in the shadow of two world superpowers, the “status quo” is a balancing act, performed on the world geopolitical...

Cognoscenti

Dec 1, 2022

In this image from video, Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, April 23, 2020. (House Television via AP)

Katherine Clark elected No. 2 Democrat in U.S. House

Democrats elected U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark to become the House Democratic whip in the next congress. She said Wednesday that Democrats hope to find solutions to problems facing the country.

Local Coverage

Nov 30, 2022

Early voters' ballots wait to be counted at East Boston High School polling station. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

2 Mass. House races to be decided by hand recounts

Massachusetts plans to conduct hand recounts for two House elections decided by narrow margins. Candidates are separated by just 10 votes in one race and 17 in another.

Local Coverage

Nov 30, 2022

Democrats and Republicans fight for control of South Texas

Republicans tried and failed to flip control of South Texas in the recent midterm elections. Still, Democrats might want to pay attention as voting trends are changing.

Here & Now

03:33Nov 30, 2022

Congress takes up legislation protecting same-sex marriage and rail workers

On Tuesday, the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act in an unusual bipartisan fashion.

Here & Now

05:13Nov 30, 2022

A sign by casks containing spent fuel on a concrete pad near the Pilgrim reactor building, warns of the presence of radioactive materials. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Company decommissioning Pilgrim edges closer to dumping contaminated wastewater in Cape Cod Bay

Holtec, the company in charge of decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear power plant, is moving ahead with plans to discharge 1.1 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.