Griner, gas prices, and gambling: 5 news podcast episodes from this week’s headlines

While it may be St. Patrick’s Day and the start of the NCAA March Madness tournament (both men’s and women’s) this week, the news doesn’t stop. This week, there’s more news out of Ukraine as the United States sends more aid. Also, a podcast episode on WNBA star Brittney Griner who has been detained in Russia for over a month and could face 10 to 20 years in prison.

All that along with news about volatile oil prices, the glory and perils of gambling this March Madness season, and the United States’ central bank takes its first steps to fight inflation. Check out these 5 podcast episodes about this week’s news headlines below.

The Takeaway

It’s been a month since WNBA star Brittney Griner was detained in Russia and two weeks since Russian authorities announced her arrest. Allegedly, she was detained in Moscow after hash oil was found in one of her bags in the airport. Details about her detainment have been scarce, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the United States’ sanctions have relations fraught between the two countries and people are fearing for Griner’s safety. Griner plays in Russia to supplement her WNBA income which pales in comparison to that of her NBA counterparts. This episode of “The Takeaway” briefs us on the whole ordeal and the other complications she is likely to face.

Today, Explained

With sports betting becoming legalized in more and more states across the U.S., Americans are on track to break last year’s record of over $50 billion bet on sports. As March Madness comes upon us, “Today, Explained” sits down with a professional gambler/sports bettor and a novice to talk about the wild winnings people can earn on sports books and the dangers of betting on the game.

The Fox News Rundown

President Biden has announced another $800 million in military aid to be sent to Ukraine along with more anti-aircraft and anti-armor weapons. On this episode of “The Fox News Rundown,” FOX’s Trey Yingst joins the show from Kyiv, Ukraine to discuss what this new military aid means, what Zelensky wanted, and the increase in Russian attacks on civilians of Ukraine.

WSJ What’s News

On this episode of “WSJ What’s News,” we get a brief rundown on some of the biggest news stories of the week, from Zelensky’s pleas for a no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect citizens to new sanctions on Russia from the UK and EU. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the oil market has been extremely volatile with oil prices topping $130 a barrel earlier this month. But now, prices have fallen back below $100. WSJ finance reporter Amrith Ramkumar joins this episode to talk about what’s causing the wild swings and if Americans can find any relief at the gas pump.

FT News Briefing

The Federal Reserve raised rates on Wednesday for the first time since 2018, lifting its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point. It’s a milestone in the United States’ economic recovery from the pandemic and the battle against inflation. Plus, Europe’s largest energy traders are calling for help, and “FT News Briefing” talks about the rising cost of Beijing’s loyalty to Moscow with FT’s Tom Mitchell.