1A

It's the country's least favorite federal agency. Especially around this time of year. The Internal Revenue Service is responsible for collecting America's taxes and administering tax laws. Which means it draws a lot of ire from our nation's citizens. But the work it does is vital to funding federal agencies, services, programs, and much more. In the same vein, the Department of the Treasury is responsible for managing federal finances. The public probably best knows it for its influence on interest rates. We discuss how the agencies work together and how their employees work for the country. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

You've probably heard President-elect Donald Trump say he plans to close the Department of Education. It's the smallest of the cabinet-level federal agencies, with just over 4,000 employees. Its 2024 budget was $275 billion. That's 4 percent of all federal funding. Trump's plans to completely shutter the department are unlikely to happen. He may, however, make big changes to it, shifting many of its responsibility to other agencies. But what are those responsibilities exactly? And who carries them out? As part of our series on federal workers, dot Gov, we're diving into the Department of Education today to talk about its functions and what the future president's plans for it mean for the American people. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Firefighters battle to control several of major fires in the Los Angeles area that have killed at least five people, razed communities and forced thousands from their homes. A New York court declines incoming President Trump's request to halt criminal sentencing in his felony sex scandal cover up case. Meanwhile, the Danish king changed the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature the territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. That comes after President-elect Donald Trump seems to suggest he could try to acquire them by force. Following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's announcement of his resignation on Monday, many are wondering who will now lead the country's Liberal Party. The State Department announces that Sudan's rebels have committed genocide and violence that have produced a "large humanitarian catastrophe." Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump and the Department of Justice have a tumultuous relationship to say the least. It's become a focal point of the president-elect's campaign against the federal government. He's threatened to fire many of its employees and frequently brought up issues with the DOJ during his 2024 campaign speeches. This week, the Justice Department announced its intention to release part of its report on Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But officials plan to keep the part of the report detailing his mishandling of files at his Mar-a-Lago resort confidential. Trump has threatened to fire Jack Smith, the special attorney handling both cases. As part of our dot Gov series, we take a look at the role the Justice Department plays in our government. We discuss Trump's vision for the agency and what it means for the people who work there. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jimmy Carter, the longest-living president of the United States, died in late December at the age of 100. Carter served as the 39th president from 1977 to 1981. In October, 1A marked Carter's centenary birthday, looking back at his political career and post-presidential work. We heard from many of you wishing him a happy birthday and sharing stories about meeting Jimmy Carter in person. Carter was also guest on 1A in 2018 to talk about his book, "Faith: A Journey for All." A devout evangelical Christian, he spoke at length about his religious values. He also spoke about the importance of faith to all people, including those who don't identify as religious. His funeral took place in Washington D.C. President Joe Biden declared this Thursday a national day of mourning. As part of the celebration of President Carter's life, we remember his legacy. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for protecting the health of all Americans. It administers insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid, approves food and drug products through the FDA, and oversees vaccines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases through the CDC. As the largest civilian agency in the government, HHS employs more than 80,000 federal workers. But it's also an agency that could face significant changes under the incoming Trump administration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaccine activist, will head HHS if confirmed in the Senate. And President-elect Trump has promised to "dismantle government bureaucracy" by slashing the federal workforce. For this installment of our (dot) Gov series, we discuss what the move means for the work HHS employees. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Few Americans familiar with the federal government are unaware of the Department of Defense. The DOD is one of our largest agencies with a budget of $2 trillion dollars. That's roughly 16 percent of the entire federal budget. And few veterans are unaware of the Department of Veterans Affairs, also called the VA. It facilitates programs that benefit those who've served in the armed forces and their families. But who's watching over that trillion-dollar defense budget? And who's making sure those programs that help veterans are working? For this installment of (dot) Gov, we dive into the federal workers who help make sure the DOD and the VA stay up and running. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Four years ago on Jan. 6, journalist Kate Woodsome was at the U.S. Capitol. She was calm as a small group surrounded her, shouting. What happened next reverberated around the country for years to come. The storming of the Capitol was a historic moment for the United States. But it was also a crucial turning point in the life of that Washington Post reporter at the center of the vitriol. In the four years since, she's made major changes in her professional and personal life. She's also shifted her thinking about our divided nation. Woodsome joins us to to reflect on what happened that day and what it meant for her relationships, her work, and her country. To read more of Kate Woodsome's work, check out the Invisible Threads newsletter. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President-elect Donald Trump says federal workers' jobs are on the chopping block under his incoming administration, citing waste and promising to "dismantle government bureaucracy." The more than 2 million government workers across the country – at least 80 percent of whom are located outside DC – do critical work that keeps all facets of U.S. life running. While the president-elect's rhetoric is concerning for them, problems with the upkeep and setup of our federal agencies do persist. We launch our new series, dot Gov, with a look at the past, present and future of the federal workforce, and what's at stake for all Americans as these workers face changes under a new administration. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Jimmy Carter died this week at 100, the first president to reach his centenary birthday. A truck plowed into crowds in the early hours of New Years Day in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring dozens more. The driver was killed following an exchange of fire with police. Overseas, a South Korean court approved an arrest warrant for impeached and President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law on the country in late 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that he believes the war his country is fighting to repel a Russian invasion will be over after President-elect Donald Trump takes office. World Health Organization officials are urging Israeli authorities to cease attacking medical facilities in Gaza. We cover all this and more during the News Roundup. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

They are best friends who are with us through all of life's ups and downs. They love us unconditionally, even when we aren't our best selves. Many people consider their pets to be part of their family. That's why when our pet companions pass away, it can be devastating. Some research suggests that losing a pet can be even more difficult to cope with than the death of a family member. Today, more people are seeking out pet loss support. There's also a movement to push for more policies at work like pet bereavement. We discuss how our understanding of grieving over the loss of a pet is evolving, and how we support those experiencing the loss. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Writing a book can be hard. Add in the twists and turns of a mystery... Where to even start?! Three authors join us today to help us cozy up to confusing capers. In the latest edition of our "Ask A" series, we're asking mystery novelists about how they mystify and confound amateur sleuths and gumshoes the world over. From the red herrings to the smoking guns, how do they craft their whodunits? Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

2024 was a hard year for people who make games — the industry saw mass layoffs and increasing consolidation. But for the people who play them, releases didn't slow down. Indie developers released games like the monster-hunting game "Palworld" and "Animal Well," an expansive puzzle game. Big developers moved some releases back — like new additions to the "Assassin's Creed" and "Grand Theft Auto" series. Remakes of legendary titles from the "Silent Hill" and "Final Fantasy" series delighted longtime fans. And "Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom" saw Princess Zelda take a leading role. In this installment of Game Mode, we get into the video games of 2024 and what this year can tell us about the state of the video game industry. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Art, for many of us, is an escape. Whether it's turning on your favorite album during a traffic-heavy commute or getting lost in your favorite book before bed – art helps us cope with the stresses of everyday life. But how does the role of art shift when your way of life is turned upside down in an instant? That's what happened to Slava Leontyev, his wife, Anya, and their friend Andrey when Russia invaded Ukraine. Instead of leaving, the three Ukrainian artists chose to fight erasure and Russian aggression through their work. A new documentary called "Porcelain War" follows their journey surviving and defending their country while holding onto their humanity. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

If you live in a U.S. city, you've likely seen a rat or two running around. According to the pest control company, Orkin, an estimated 21 million U.S. homes face rodent invasions, each fall. But rats play a much larger role in human history. These creatures have been sacrificed for the advancement of scientific research. Rats are complicated — and it inspire equally complicated feelings in us. This year, New York City held its first ever annual national urban rat summit to address the city's chronic rat problems. Rats pose real health and safety risks to human, we discuss what we lose by only seeing them as pests. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

2024's year in film saw a sequel 36 years in the making. There was also a musical that had theater-goers singing along. And a drama-comedy set around a Polish Holocaust tour. We break down the best and most disappointing films of the year. We also talk documentaries, TV shows you need to binge, and what to plan to watch in the new year. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Kris Bowers is no stranger to using music to build a world. The Oscar-winning composer has worked on films like "Green Book," 'Origin," and "The Color Purple," and on the hit Netflix series "Bridgerton." He's also known for his on-the-spot compositions, illustrated in this conversation with 1A Entertainment Correspondent John Horn. His latest project is "The Wild Robot". In the animated feature directed by Chris Sanders, Roz is a robot is marooned on a deserted island, unable to communicate with the animals and the natural world she finds herself in. As her programming evolves, and as she learns to speak to her animal neighbors, the score evolves with her. Kris Bowers joins us to talk about putting music to this wild world. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Think back to the first time someone told you about the game Tetris. Was it a friend? An older sibling or a parent? Maybe you saw someone playing it at an arcade. How long did it take you to get what Tetris is — what you had to accomplish in the game and how to play it? 2024 boasts the 40th anniversary of the classic game of falling blocks, known as tetrominoes. More than 520 million copies of Tetris have been sold since its worldwide release in the 1980s. For our series "Game Mode", we're setting up to stack — looking at the game's history and why it became and has stayed popular. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Most of us know that trees can help reduce the impacts of climate change by taking in carbon dioxide. Most of us also know that scientists and environmental authorities have been sounding alarms for the better part of the last decade about the devastating effects of climate change. Could trees store enough carbon, with a lot of help from us, to offset humanity's carbon emissions? What's the role of trees in our fight against climate change? And what's better left to other climate solutions? We talk to an author whose new book explores whether or not serious reforestation efforts can really be an effective solution to reducing the carbon in our atmosphere. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

It's no surprise we love talking about food here at 1A. From the latest cookbooks to answering your questions about your favorite foods. As a holiday treat, we're bringing you highlights from the latest episode of Christopher Kimball's Milk Street Radio Podcast. For the complete episode, and to learn more about Milk Street be sure to visit milkstreetradio.com. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy