Episodes

  • The 1A Movie Club Sees 'Wicked: Part 1'

    The 1A Movie Club Sees 'Wicked: Part 1'
    Nov 26 2024
    "Wicked: Part 1" follows the origin story of Elphaba, known in the original "Wizard of Oz" movie as the Wicked Witch of the West. And it follows her friend, Galinda, who eventually becomes the Good Witch.

    The movie is based on the Broadway musical which debuted in 2003. Last year, it became the fourth-longest running musical in Broadway history. And that musical comes from a 1995 novel of the same name. The new Wicked movie stars singer-actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the witches Elphaba and Galinda.

    The result this past weekend has been gravity-defying. "Wicked" brought in $114 million in North America and another $50 million internationally. That's the best-ever opening for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical.

    For this meeting of the 1A Movie Club, we discuss the new "Wicked" film.

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    32 mins
  • 'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Federal Workforce

    'If You Can Keep It': The Future Of The Federal Workforce
    Nov 25 2024
    Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire businessman Elon Musk are heading the president-elect's new Department of Government Efficiency – a non-governmental agency that they say will reduce waste and streamline the U.S. federal agencies.

    But the so–called DOGE is only one tool the president has in mind for slashing the federal workforce. And as more details emerge, the futures of the nation's career civil servants are in the balance.

    We discuss what these plans mean, not just for federal workers, but for the country as a whole.

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    35 mins
  • The News Roundup For November 22, 2024

    The News Roundup For November 22, 2024
    Nov 22 2024
    Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz announced Thursday he is withdrawing from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. And the Senate isn't paving the way for Trump to fill his administration with loyalists.

    Reporting indicates New York prosecutors are open to the possibility of pushing Trump's sentencing in his hush money case to 2029 when his second term in the White House will end.

    Meanwhile this week marked 1,000 days since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This week the Biden administration made a two major U-turns on Ukraine's military aid policy – allowing missiles to be used in Russia territory and a decision to supply Zelenskyy with landmines. Both decisions that have put pressure on the European Union.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a new nuclear doctrine that lowered his bar for using nuclear weapons.

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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • What The World Can And Can't Expect From COP29

    What The World Can And Can't Expect From COP29
    Nov 21 2024
    Leaders from nearly 200 countries are in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29 to talk about the state of global climate change mitigation efforts.

    As many nations flesh out their plans to reduce emissions, they're looking to secure new funding at this summit for their solutions — trillions of dollars' worth.

    Noticeably absent from the talks in Azerbaijan are some of the world's most influential voices on the subject — from President Joe Biden to the leaders of China, India, Brazil, Britain, Germany and France.

    We discuss the role the world's most powerful countries play in shaping our climate future.

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    38 mins
  • Donald Trump's Second Presidency And The LGBTQIA+ Community

    Donald Trump's Second Presidency And The LGBTQIA+ Community
    Nov 20 2024
    After President-elect Donald Trump's win on Nov. 5, those in the LGBTQ community have expressed worry and fear.

    The Trevor Project's crisis hotline saw a 700 percent spike in calls following the election. And The Rainbow Youth Project surpassed its monthly average of calls in just six days after Trump's win. Couples are also rushing to get married before Trump takes office.

    Trump spent millions on anti-trans ads during his campaign. Like his first term, he's promised to continue rolling back protections for LGBTQ people.

    We discuss what Trump will actually be able to do and how advocates are preparing.

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    34 mins
  • ICYMI: The US Is Closing Its Embassy In Ukraine

    ICYMI: The US Is Closing Its Embassy In Ukraine
    Nov 20 2024
    This week marks 1,000 days since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A lot has happened in that time.

    This morning, the U.S. shuttered its embassy in Kyiv due to specific information about a possible air attack.

    Recently, Ukraine fired American-made ballistic missiles into Russia. To use these missiles, Ukraine needed permission from the Biden administration.

    We discuss what the closure of the American Embassy in the country's capital mean.

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    11 mins
  • The Great Remote Work Rethink Of 2024

    The Great Remote Work Rethink Of 2024
    Nov 19 2024
    For many people, how you work now might seem unusual to your 2019 self, with hours spent in online meetings. Or maybe it's back to exactly how 2019 was, in an office cubicle. Or maybe, you never had the ability to work remotely during the pandemic.

    At companies across the country with employees who still work remotely some or most of the time, executives are slowly falling in line and sending the same message to their workforces: return to the office — sometimes for a few more days per week, sometimes for all five.

    Data for office occupancy across major U.S. cities shows that on average, about 50 percent of office seats are occupied. More workers are heading in during the middle of the week, and some cities in the South have more employees working in person compared to the Northeast, Silicon Valley, and Washington D.C.

    We take a look at the state of remote work.

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    35 mins
  • ICYMI: U.S. Flights Into Haiti Are Grounded. What Happened?

    ICYMI: U.S. Flights Into Haiti Are Grounded. What Happened?
    Nov 19 2024
    U.S. flights to Haiti are grounded for the next 30 days.

    Three U.S. airline flights were fired on last Monday as they attempted to land in Haiti. That led to the closure of Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration has suspended all U.S. flights to Haiti for the next 30 days.

    Last week's gunfire came from gangs operating out of Haiti's capital city. It's the latest example of the extent of gang control in the country. Haiti has been in a state of chaos for more than three years since its last president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated.

    Last Monday also saw a new president sworn into office after the country's interim leader was ousted. Between a new prime minister and the continued presence of foreign security officers in Haiti — we discuss how the country is faring.

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    11 mins