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Chef José Andrés on cooking in war zones Mar 21, 2024

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In the last week, celebrity chef José Andrés has been at the forefront of efforts to feed people in Gaza on the brink of famine. Today on “Post Reports,” he talks to Martine Powers about how food can meet immediate needs – and be a bridge for healing.

A ship organized by José Andrés’s nonprofit World Central Kitchen delivered hundreds of tons of food and water to the blockaded Gaza Strip, becoming the first to test a new maritime corridor for ramping up aid to a region on the brink of famine.

Andrés is no stranger to conflict – or controversy. There was the high-profile legal battle with former president Donald Trump after Andrés pulled out of his planned restaurant in the Trump International Hotel, and more recently World Central Kitchen has come under criticism for what some workers say are dangerous practices. But Andrés is adamant about the power of food to heal regions in conflict.

Today on “Post Reports,” Andrés talks about the power of food and his new cookbook, “Zaytinya,” based on his Mediterranean restaurant in D.C.

Nex Benedict and the rising threat to LGBTQ kids Mar 20, 2024

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Nex Benedict was a nonbinary teenager living near Tulsa. Their family said they were bullied at school before their apparent suicide in February. Advocates warn that a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is putting more young people at risk.

Legislatures across the United States have passed a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In Oklahoma, legislators have proposed more than 50 bills in 2024 alone, more than any other state according to the ACLU, restricting things like restroom access and sex education.

Last year, the state's Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, signed an executive order defining a person's sex as their biological sex at birth.

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan, with help from Elana Gordon. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell.

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Boeing's crisis continues. So, is it safe to fly? Mar 19, 2024

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Today on “Post Reports” we dig into the string of bad news for Boeing and whether people should really be concerned about flying on one of Boeing’s planes.

In January, a piece of an Alaska Airlines jet fell off during a flight, opening a hole in the plane and causing a dramatic emergency landing. And ever since that blowout, public confidence in Boeing — the plane’s manufacturer — has been in a tailspin.

The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the incident. On Feb. 28, the Federal Aviation Administration gave the company 90 days to come up with a plan to fix the numerous quality control issues it discovered during an audit. There have been other incidents involving Boeing planes — both since the blowout and since well before it.

Today on “Post Reports,” transportation reporter Ian Duncan takes us through the streak of bad headlines that have followed Boeing for years. And he breaks down whether we should really be concerned about flying in their planes.

Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Ted Muldoon. Thank you to Rennie Svirnovskiy and Sandhya Somashekhar.

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Two Italian men became parents. Soon they could be outlaws. Mar 18, 2024

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The Italian Parliament is expected to pass a law that makes overseas surrogacy a crime, which would eliminate the last pathway to parenthood for many same-sex couples. It’s part of a wave of efforts around the world trying to reshape what families look like.

The Italian government claims that the potential ban on surrogacy is an effort to protect women from exploitation, and Pope Francis recently called for a ban on surrogacy using similar arguments. But advocates decry this legislation as part of an attack on same-sex parenthood being waged by Italy’s right-wing government.

Luca Capuano and Salvatore Scarpa are one Italian couple who are figuring out how this law could affect their family. They had a baby daughter last year with the help of an American surrogate, and they have an embryo ready for a second child. Now they are unsure if they can even remain in Italy. Rome bureau chief Anthony Faiola visited Luca and Salvatore in their home this year to talk about the future of their family.

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sean Carter. Thank you to Stefano Pitrelli and Marisa Bellack.

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Deep Reads: The Hero Mar 16, 2024

Show notes

When Army officer Rich Fierro deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, he thought he was fighting to keep war and terror away from his family on the home front. Afterward, like many combat veterans, he struggled to readjust to civilian life. Gradually, with the help of his wife and daughter, and his therapist, he managed to claw his way to a healthier place. The Fierro family started a business in Colorado Springs — a brewery that honored their Mexican heritage and strove to be welcoming to all kinds of people, including members of the LGBTQ community. It seemed as if Rich and his family had come through America’s war on terror intact and won their peace at home. Until, one night, a new kind of enemy walked into their lives and started shooting.

The story is part of our Deep Reads series, which showcases narrative journalism at The Washington Post. It was written by Dan Zak and read by a narrator from our partners at Noa, newsoveraudio.com, an app offering curated audio articles.

The Campaign Moment: Key X factors in the Biden vs. Trump rematch Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

Friday on “Post Reports” now means The Campaign Moment — a weekly roundtable conversation to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and Washington Post polling director Scott Clement join Martine Powers to unpack key X factors that will help decide the election now that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump collected enough delegates this week to secure their party’s nomination.

Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.

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Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Renita Jablonski.

A dangerous power vacuum in Haiti Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

Haiti is in a pivotal moment. The prime minister announced his resignation this week to make way for a transitional presidential council that will attempt to bring stability to the Caribbean nation.

This week, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign amid a period of increased violence and chaos for the Caribbean nation. As the United States and a coalition of Caribbean countries try to organize a transitional presidential council, violent armed gangs control more than 80 percent of the capital.

Widlore Mérancourt, a Haitian journalist, explains what is happening on the ground in the capital city, Port-au-Prince, what a transitional government could look like and how Haitians are living through an unprecedented time.

Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick, with help from Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins. Thank you to Matt Brown.

This episode has been updated for clarity.

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He used to campaign for Biden. Then Gaza happened. Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

This week President Biden and former president Donald Trump clinched the nominations for their respective parties. Where do dissatisfied voters go from here? Today, we travel to Michigan to follow a former Biden organizer who wants Biden to lose.

In 2020, Adam Abusalah wanted to knock Donald Trump out of the White House. These days, he’d take pretty much anyone over Biden. Jesús Rodríguez reports from Michigan.

Also in the news today: The House overwhelmingly voted to force TikTok to split from its parent company or face a national ban, a lightning offensive that materialized abruptly after years of unsuccessful negotiations over the platform’s fate.

And, if you want to read about the ongoing Kate Middleton drama and how a doctored photo of the Princess of Wales triggered a media crisis, we’ve got you covered.

Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Maggie Penman. Thank you to Steve Kolowich.

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College athletes are unionizing. Could this change sports? Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

In a historic move, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team has voted to unionize, just ahead of the NCAA’s March Madness tournament. It’s part of a larger movement of student-athletes seeking better pay and conditions, possibly transforming college sports.

The college sports landscape has changed dramatically in the past decade, particularly when it comes to the rights and privileges of student-athletes. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court decided unanimously in NCAA v. Alston that students were allowed to earn money from their name, image and likeness. And shortly after President Biden was inaugurated, he appointed a national labor board president who has been supportive of student-athletes unionizing.

Dartmouth has pushed back against the unionization effort, calling it “inappropriate” and filing an appeal. For its part, the NCAA appears prepared for a long court fight to preserve amateurism in college athletics.

Jesse Dougherty reports on the business of college sports. He joins “Post Reports” to break down why Dartmouth’s unionization effort succeeded, and what it could mean for college teams nationwide.

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell. Thanks also to Greg Schimmel.

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The improbable U.S. plan to revitalize a Palestinian security force Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

Today, the history of the Palestinian Authority, and whether its security forces are up to the challenge of helping to stabilize a post-war Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority security forces, which report to President Mahmoud Abbas, are at a pivotal moment. The group, estimated to be 35,500 members strong, is regarded by the Biden administration as central to its goal to stabilize a post-war Gaza.

However, despite two decades of reforms, the Palestinian Authority remains chronically underfunded and widely unpopular; many think its security force is ill-equipped to take on the massive responsibility that its Western backers are envisioning.

Today, Post reporter Miriam Berger takes us inside the Palestinian Authority training center, and gives us a rare glimpse of the specific challenges this security force faces as the United States rests its hopes on the group.

Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Monica Campbell.

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