William Brangham

President Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 prisoners on federal death row who will stay in prison for life but will not be subject to executions. Biden's move is likely motivated by the incoming Trump administration's expected hard line policy shift on federal executions. Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, joins William Brangham to discuss.

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join William Brangham to discuss the latest political news, including President Biden's big decisions with just weeks left in office and how a funding fight reveals potential cracks in the GOP as Republicans prepare to take power.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued new rules for food labels for the first time in three decades, an update the agency says will help empower consumers to make healthier choices in the grocery store. Lindsey Smith Taillie, a nutrition epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, joins William Brangham to discuss the changes.

The number of murders in the U.S. is declining at a rapid pace. While crime was a central focus of the election, with President-elect Trump alleging it was out of control in many cities, other crimes also saw declines. William Brangham discussed what the data tells us with Jeff Asher, the co-founder of AH Datalytics and creator of the Real-Time Crime Index.

The College Football Playoff, which was recently expanded to 12 teams, is pouring money into the sport in ways never before seen. ESPN is reportedly paying more than $1.3 billion to televise these games and some players are now receiving millions of dollars themselves. William Brangham discussed how this money is impacting the sport with Pablo Torre of "Pablo Torre Finds Out."

President Jimmy Carter channeled his work on the world stage through his non-profit Carter Center for more than four decades after leaving the White House. One of his key achievements was the near-eradication of Guinea worm disease that once affected 3.5 million people. William Brangham speaks with Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine to discuss Carter’s work on global public health.

It's been well known for many decades that exercise provides many benefits to our health. But a new scientific consortium is revealing new insights into just how profound exercise can be for the human body. William Brangham discussed more with Euan Ashley, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and genetics at Stanford University and the newly named chair of its department of medicine.

For weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, 2024 was a big year. More patients are relying on them to manage their weight, treat diabetes, or prevent heart attacks and strokes. And while they are highly effective, they also come with some concerns. William Brangham reports on the rising demand for these drugs.

The nation’s farewell to former President Jimmy Carter began Saturday in his home state of Georgia, launching six days of memorial events for the 39th president. The Carter family, joined by crowds of mourners, came together to honor the life and legacy of the longest-living president in American history. William Brangham reports.

Jan 5, 2025 5:40 PM EST More than 70 million Americans are under winter weather alerts Sunday night as a fierce storm barrels across the country.