Here & Now

During an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, White House officials expect more hostages to be released. Christoper O'Leary, the U.S. government's former director of hostage rescue and recovery, about tactics and strategies to release Americans and others still held. And, Amazon has become the top shipper in the U.S. surpassing the UPS. The feat has only heightened concerns about Amazon and monopolization. Roben Farzad, host of public radio's "Full Disclosure," joins us. Then, there have been debates in many states about what constitutes an exception to strict abortion bans. Very few exceptions have been granted, largely because of successful lobbying by anti-abortion religious activists.

As Palestinian prisoners return as part of the hostage exchange with Israel, The Washington Post's Louisa Loveluck tells us about it. And, Hagai Levine, head of the medical and resilience team for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, talks about working with the freed hostages. Then, it's been decades since the government set how much money someone with a disability can keep in savings and still be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Now a bipartisan proposal in the Senate seeks to raise asset limits from $2,000 to $10,000. Disability rights advocate Patrice Jetter is supportive of the change, but says it's complicated.

This final episode features a conversation about what it means to survive a shooting. And, host Alain Stephens discusses the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and how the federal government can better support survivors. Find the full podcast on Here & Now Anytime.

After spending much of Thanksgiving day cooking, you've probably got some leftovers taking up space in the fridge. From a vanilla pudding to a frittata, our resident chef Kathy Gunst offers recipes to transform those leftovers into something possibly even better than the first time you ate them. And, it's been 10 years since Kevin Kwan's novel "Crazy Rich Asians" hit bookstore shelves. The author joins us to break down the inspirations behind the book, the film adaptation that came after and Asian representation in media. Then, there are thousands of wild horses running free on Native American reservations. Tribal governments are left in charge of managing them. On the Spokane Reservation, one woman is working to rehome the animals. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Mark Kurlansky's new book "The Core of an Onion" includes the history, interesting facts and recipes including the allium. He tells us about it. And, if ever a book was meant to be savored, it's Dwight Garner's new memoir"The Upstairs Delicatessen: On Eating, Reading about Eating, and Eating While Reading." In it, the New York Times literary critic takes readers on a journey through his food and book-obsessed childhood. Then, "Magic: the Gathering" released a huge new product inspired by Aztec, Mayan, and Olmec history. Guatemalan-American art director Ovidio Cartagena explains how he incorporated Mesoamerican cultures into "Lost Caverns of Ixalan."

How does climate change shape wildfires? That's the question John Vaillant's book "Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World" seeks to answer. He joins us to talk about fire and the warming planet. And, the war between Israel and Hamas has become increasingly polarized, leading some to question whether we've lost empathy altogether. Jamil Zaki, a psychologist who's devoted his career to studying empathy, joins us to discuss. Then, the new book "Critical Hits: Writers Play Video Games" features essays about video games from acclaimed writers. Authors and "Critical Hits" editors Carmen Maria Machado and J. Robert Lennon join us.

New reporting from STAT says the nation's largest insurer, UnitedHealth Group, pushed staff to limit insurance payments by strictly following calculations by an algorithm. It meant some Medicare patients didn't get the rehabilitative care they needed. STAT's Casey Ross talks about the investigation. And, Qatar is mediating hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The country is a U.S. ally, but also home to a Hamas office and a number of Hamas leaders. Professor Gregory Gause talks about Qatar's balancing act. Then, at least 33,000 people in Gaza have stayed connected thanks to the grassroots efforts of people donating electronic sim cards. Egyptian writer and activist Mirna El Helbawi has been leading efforts to get people across Gaza connected to their loved ones and the rest of the outside world.

The United Nation's latest Emissions Gap Report reveals that inadequate policies could lead to three degrees Celsius of global warming this century, a scenario described as "hellish." Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry joins us. And, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter died at age 96 on Sunday. Historian and biographer Scott Kauffman joins us to talk about Carter's life and work, including mental health advocacy and international humanitarian efforts. Then, starting to prep for Thanksgiving? These show-stealing slides will complete your holiday table and even outshine the bird. Our resident chef Kathy Gunst offers recipes for a bright salad, stuffed squash and olive breadsticks.

This episode of "The Gun Machine" looks at the agency charged with regulating guns, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, known as the ATF. Find the full podcast on Here & Now Anytime.

Amid fuel shortages and blackouts in internet access, Palestinians in Gaza are disconnected from much of the world, and aid organizations cannot get in contact to help. NPR international correspondent Aya Batrawy joins us. And, the Wall Street Journal has named Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport the best airport this year. Wall Street Journal travel reporter Allison Pohle joins us to break down the rankings. Then, Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop, also known as Larry & Joe, are combining bluegrass music with traditional Venezuelan music in a sound they call 'Latingrass.' The duo joins us to talk about and perform some of their music.

U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns joins us to discuss President Biden's four-hour meeting with President Xi Jinping of China on Wednesday. And, peace activist Gershon Baskin is called Israel's most famous hostage negotiator. He talks about a deal that's said to be in the works for the release of some hostages being held by Hamas. Then, in NBC's "Found," one woman makes it her job to find missing people who have slipped through the system. We hear from creator and showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll.

Helal Kaoud spent over a month pleading with American officials to help her father, brother and uncles — all American citizens — get back home after they were trapped in Gaza when the war broke out. She talks about the struggle to get her family back home and how they're doing now. And, Yael Braudo-Bahat, co-director of the group Women Wage Peace, remembers her mentor Vivian Silver, who dedicated her life to building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. Silver was believed to have been taken hostage on Oct. 7 by Hamas, but was confirmed dead this week. Then, Iceland has thousands of active volcanoes and seismic activity is common there. But over the past few weeks, there have been thousands of small earthquakes, a town had to be evacuated and scientists believe an eruption could happen at any moment. Volcanologist Thorvaldur Thordarson joins us.

The fifth annual National Climate Assessment was released and reveals that climate change is already making people sick in the U.S., and sometimes killing people. Grist's Zoya Teirstein joins us. And, a new investigation from ProPublica and The Desert Sun found that just 20 farming families in California's Imperial Valley use more water than some Western states. Janet Wilson, senior environment reporter with The Desert Sun who worked to identify those families, joins us. Then, after devastating wildfires on Maui killed at least 97 people and leveled whole towns, the island is reopening to tourists. Brandon Chu, general manager of the Paia Inn on Maui's North Shore, joins us to talk about recovery efforts.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as hospitals struggle to maintain operations with little fuel and dwindling medical supplies. We speak The Washington Post's Sarah Dadouch and Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan about the latest from Gaza as conditions deteriorate inside the area's two largest hospitals. And, Florida Democratic Rep. Angie Nixon faced condemnation from post parties after introducing legislation last week calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Then, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston talks about the challenges the city is facing from large numbers of migrants seeking asylum.

This episode of "The Gun Machine" looks at how the National Rifle Association grew to have the power and influence it has, and helped ensure the firearm industry's unique legal protections. Find new episodes every Saturday on Here & Now Anytime.

Abortion wins on election day are at the heart of many political debates. Additionally, the third GOP presidential candidates debate took place this week, with frontrunner former President Donald Trump absent. Politico's Eugene Daniels and Axios' Margaret Talev join us. And, the National Women's Soccer League final will see OL Reign and NY/NJ Gotham FC face off in San Diego on Saturday. The Gist's Ellen Hyslop joins us. Then, two-time Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya joins us to talk about her new memoir "The Race to Be Myself." Because of Semenya's elevated testosterone levels, she fought to be recognized as a woman and compete in women's races.

Pediatrician Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, who is with the humanitarian aid organization Doctors Without Borders, joins us to talk about the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel has agreed to have daily, 4-hour humanitarian pauses in fighting in areas of northern Gaza in order to allow civilians to move to safer areas in the south. William Booth, London bureau chief at The Washington Post, joins us. And, Ohio saw wins for abortion rights on election day. Progressive community organizers are reflecting on the role of Black voters, who they've been working to engage and register to vote. Prentiss Haney, co-executive director of the nonprofit Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and his colleague Pastor Lesley Jones join us. Then, November is the time to see some exciting space phenomena. Streaks of light from the Taurid and Leonid meteor showers will be visible this season and the Euclid space telescope is sending its first images from a million miles away. Kelly Beatty, senior editor at Sky and Telescope, joins us.

On Tuesday, Democrat Andy Beshear won re-election in a deep-red Kentucky's governor race. Ryland Barton, the managing editor of Kentucky Public Radio, joins us to break down the result. And, the United Auto Workers union scored major victories in tentative contracts with Detroit's Big Three automakers. Union president Shawn Fain joins us to talk about the six weeks of strikes that scored the successes. Then, it's been five years since The Camp Fire in Paradise, California, decimated close to 19,000 structures. Though recovery efforts have been steady, there's still a long way to go as residents continue to bounce back. Here & Now's Ashley Locke reports.

Host Scott Tong speaks to Merav Raviv and Itay Raviv, who came to Washington D.C. from Israel to plead for international action to negotiate the safe return of family captured by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attacks. And, prolonged drought and overuse have brought the Great Salt Lake in Utah to the brink of collapse, threatening the lives of the animals and the people who live there. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd reports. Then, Robert "Mack" McCormick's massive and closely held collection of blues music and research from the 1950s and 60s is seeing the light of day. Susannah Nix, McCormick's daughter, and John Troutman, curator of music and musical instruments at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, join us.

One month into the Israel-Hamas war, Isreali air strikes have killed more than 10,000 people in Gaza. NPR's Lauren Frayer joins us to discuss. And, after steadily climbing for decades, life expectancy in the U.S. has fallen, largely due to chronic illness. Reporter Akilah Johnson contributed to the Washington Post's series "Dying Early: America's Life Expectancy Crisis" and joins us. Then, singer-songwriter Lera Lynn has lent her talents to an unlikely source: a video game. Even though the game "Endless Dungeon" is set on a fantastical space station, players can hear Lynn's new music serenade them at a Western-style saloon. She joins us to talk about it.