Stay informed with these 12 news podcasts

Casual news consumers and fact junkies, rejoice! There are so many news recap podcasts available to listen to as soon as you wake up in the morning. Since we’re bombarded with news every day, podcasts can perhaps help keep you up to speed without feeling overwhelmed. 

Consequently, these 9 podcasts will help you stay on the pulse of news. In this list, we’ve included longer podcasts as well as bite-sized ones to suit even the tightest of schedules.

The Daily

“This Daily,” a podcast from The New York Times, delivers major stories and top-tier journalism on a daily basis. Hosted by Michael Barbaro, episodes are available on weekdays starting at 6AM.

Up First

NPR’s “Up First” posts daily news updates on three stories under 15 minutes long. The series is hosted by Rachel Martin, Noel King and Steve Inskeep on weekdays. On weekends, you’ll hear from Lulu Garcia-Navarro and Scott Simon. Episodes are posted at 6AM on weekdays and 8AM on weekends.

Pod Save America

Crooked Media’s “Pod Save America” is hosted by 4 of Obama’s former aids: Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor. With new episodes released on Mondays and Thursdays, the podcast provides a rundown of the news and helps people make their own decisions of what’s important. Guests on the show are often activists, journalists, celebrities, world leaders, and politicians.

Southlake

NBC News’ 6-part series, “Southlake,” investigates racial inequality, belonging, backlash, identity, and education in a Texas suburb. In 2018, Southlake High School students were in trouble. After a homecoming game, an online video showed students chanting the N-word. The video went viral and residents began speaking up, rallying for change, and reporting on racism, harassment, and bullying they faced. This series details The Cultural Competence Action Plan developed and introduced to Texan schools in 2020. This plan faced backlash and has impacted the whole nation since.

Global News Podcast

From BBC’s World Service comes “Global News Podcast” for listeners who just need a brief rundown of the most important events. Episodes are released twice a day on weekdays and once daily on weekends. Some episodes are just under 30 minutes.

What A Day

Crooked Media presents “What A Day” with hosts Gideon Resnick, Josie Duffy Rice, Tre’vell Anderson, and Priyanka Aribindi. In this daily weekday series, you’ll catch up on the news in 15 minutes or less.

The Daily Punch

Produced by Punchbowl News and Audacy’s Cadence13, “The Daily Punch” is a news cheat sheet that reviews happenings in Washington, the White House, and the Capitol. Episodes explore political issues and other stories of the day.

5 Things

CNN’s “5 Things” podcast features under 5-minute episodes that share 5 of the day’s top stories.

The Rachel Maddow Show

MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” reports every weeknight on her podcast. She delivers news, explains complicated issues, and discusses political affairs. Rachel emphasizes how important it is for leaders to be honest and accountable for their actions.

Today Explained

Vox’s “Today Explained” is hosted by Sean Rameswaram and other voices of Vox Media’s team. New episodes are posted every Monday through Friday. Most episodes are under 30 minutes.

NPR News Now

Short, matter-of-fact news briefings in under 5-minutes by NPR on “NPR News Now.” New episodes are released hourly.

What Next

Slate’s “What Next” is hosted by Mary Harris of Slate who previously reported for WNYC, Marketplace, NPR, and other public radio outlets. This podcast presents facts and helps listeners understand what’s going on to prepare for what’s next.