Stay ConnectedStarting August 2, 2026 all new episodes can be found over in the CNN 5 Things feed. Search “CNN 5 Things” wherever you get your podcasts.
You’ve been overwhelmed with headlines all week – what’s worth a closer look? One Thing takes you beyond the headlines and helps make sense of what everyone is talking about. Host David Rind talks to experts, reporters on the front lines and the real people impacted by the news about what they’ve learned – and why it matters.
Copyright: © 2023 CNN
Over the past few weeks, a small player protest over Pride uniforms has kicked off a controversy in Major League Baseball. Some LGBTQ fans and politicians are angry (for very different reasons), and the episode is raising questions about LGBTQ progress and whether professional sports should play a role. We look at whether this drama on the diamond can tell us anything about Americans’ shifting attitudes on social issues under the second Trump administration.
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Guests: Terri Hupfer & Hannah Keyser, CNN Sports Writer
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo by: Scott Marshall/AP
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A new report from global energy think tank Ember found that solar generated more US energy than coal in May 2026 for the first time on record. It comes at a time when the Trump administration has been actively hostile towards the development of wind and solar projects, despite a growing need for more electricity as more AI data centers come online. So, is this a minor blip, or a sea change? And is the current political climate making talk of climate change taboo on the campaign trail?
For more: ‘Afraid to get my next bill’: Americans brace for higher costs to cool their homes this summer
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Guest: Jane Flegal, Searchlight Institute Senior Fellow
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo By: RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images
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Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California has long been a target of President Donald Trump dating back to Trump’s first impeachment trial. Now he is reportedly under investigation by Trump’s Justice Department for mortgage fraud (allegations Schiff denies). In a conversation recorded live at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, Schiff explains how he is preparing for possible legal action, how Democrats should respond if they take back the House of Representatives in the midterms, and if they have the right leadership in place to effectively push back against what he sees as a corrupt administration.
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Guest: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
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President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is set to fully reopen on Friday after Iran and the US sign a memo of understanding to end hostilities that will end the war and kickstart further negotiations. But will it bring down gas prices for American drivers – and when? We look at the complicated business of unwinding a war’s unintended consequences.
For more: The tanks in Cushing, Oklahoma, are hitting bottom. The oil market is about to hit a tipping point
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Guest: David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Chris Isidore
Photo By: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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The recent Pentagon releases of declassified files detailing sightings of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) has piqued the interest of UFO enthusiasts and curious Americans alike. But despite increased transparency, a lack of hard evidence remains. Why do many of us want to believe there is intelligent life out there somewhere? And if scientists found that evidence, would we even accept it?
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Guest: Adam Frank, University of Rochester astrophysicist
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo By: Mario Tama/Getty Images
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A scheduled UFC fight at the White House on Sunday is being billed as a kickoff for America’s 250th birthday celebrations. But some critics are calling it a disrespectful money grab, and those who follow combat sports closely believe it is just an extension of a relationship that has served both sides financially and politically for years. So beyond the optics of the octagon, what purpose does this event serve? And can it help Trump and the GOP win back young male voters?
For more: Young men are leaving Trump. Can a UFC fight at the White House get them back in the ring?
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Guests: Francisco Muñiz & Luke Thomas
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Kit Maher
Photo by: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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A dramatic shakeup of 60 Minutes under CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss culminated this week in the firing of longtime correspondent Scott Pelley. He, and some other employees who have recently left, have accused management of editorial interference in an effort to curry favor with the Trump administration (claims CBS denies). So is this a long overdue shakeup of an aging medium, or a sign of corporate media meddling? And what does it mean for the rest of the content we consume on TV?
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Guest: Brian Stelter, CNN Chief Media Analyst
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo By: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/File
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Early on in his second term, President Donald Trump called for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eliminated. Now, the White House appears to be cleaning up the mess left behind at the agency by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who sources say fostered a culture of fear, distrust, and operational chaos (an official who claims he teleported to a Waffle House also made an appearance). But with Atlantic hurricane season upon us, will FEMA be ready to answer the call after the next big disaster?
For more: Exclusive: Power struggles and paralysis: Inside FEMA’s lost year as storm season approaches
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Guest: Gabe Cohen, CNN Correspondent
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo By: Al Drago/Getty Images
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Erin Brockovich rose to fame after the release of a 2000 Hollywood movie, starring Julia Roberts, which told the story of her real-life fight to bring justice to a small town affected by a utility company’s pollution. Now, she is lending her voice to the growing opposition to AI data centers, which tech companies say are needed to fuel economic growth and national security. But who is the true villain in this story?
For more: Why Utah residents are protesting a massive AI data center project backed by Kevin O’Leary
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Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Photo By: Alan Freed/Reuters
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FIFA expects more than 6 million soccer fans will descend on North America in less than 3 weeks for the 2026 World Cup. But amid cuts to public health programs under the Trump administration, will Ebola, hantavirus or measles join the crowds? We hear from an infectious disease specialist leading a new initiative that will track public health threats during the tournament.
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Guest: Rebecca Katz, Director of Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science & Security
Host: David Rind
Producer: Paola Ortiz
Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Deidre McPhillips
Photo By: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images
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