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It's Not Just The Lettuce: A Parasite Expert On What Others Have Missed In The Cyclospora Outbreak Jul 29, 2026

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The Cyclospora outbreak has hit *at least* 45 states and thousands of people, and while we have more questions, we have fewer answers about the cause. University of Delaware professor and food safety researcher Dr. Kali Kniel joins SmartHER News to explain what makes this outbreak different — and why the parasite is so difficult to detect and trace. She breaks down how Cyclospora spreads, why seemingly minor "stealth ingredients" such as cilantro, parsley and basil can complicate investigations and how water, sanitation and growing conditions may play a larger role than any one food. We also discuss what researchers are learning about the parasite, the vulnerabilities within the food supply and the practical steps families can take when buying, washing and preparing fresh produce.

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How Safe Is Our Food? A Top Food Safety Expert Shares Context and Tips to Use During the Cyclospora Outbreak Jul 22, 2026

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The number of states reporting people sick from the parasite cyclospora has risen to 41. Many questions remain about:

The source of the outbreak.
Why cyclospora presents such a challenge to track as a foodborne illness.
What proper precautions every family should apply to keep its food as parasite-free as possible!

Food safety expert Gretchen Wall, senior director of food safety at the leading consulting group Food Safety Strategy, provides clarity and context about what makes this outbreak particularly unusual and explains what it tells us about the current state of food safety in America overall.

00:14 Meet Food Safety Expert Gretchen Wall

01:18 Why Cyclospora Is Unique

02:16 Life Cycle And Transmission

03:52 Why This Year Is Bigger

04:45 Tracing The Source

06:15 How Contamination Spreads

08:08 Taco Bell Confusion

08:56 Testing Limits Explained

10:19 Cooking Versus Fresh Risk

12:08 Washing Produce Advice

14:13 Do Home Washes Work

14:40 Should You Still Eat Produce

16:30 Food Safety In America

18:19 Media Focus And Prevention

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Breaking Down the President's Election Integrity Address: What He Said, What's Missing, and What The Media Missed Jul 20, 2026

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A SmartHER Review of the President's Thursday primetime address on election integrity. What To Know; Why It Matters; What's Missing From The Coverage; What Questions We Have.

00:00 What He Said

01:16 Style Versus Substance

02:50 Setting The Stage

07:00 China Data Breach

09:40 Voting Machines Risks

11:29 Michigan Fraud Claim

14:08 Noncitizen Voting Questions

16:47 Messaging And Priorities

19:16 Intel Withheld Allegation

22:36 Foreign Money In Media

26:29 Networks Skip The Speech

34:08 Smoke Fire Wrap Up

37:13 Final Thoughts Sign Off

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I Had This Parasite ~ Is Taco Bell To Blame? What About RFK Jr.? Jul 15, 2026

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Get an AD-FREE Podcast and become an Insider! CDC Reports Historic Spike in Cyclospora Cases; No Single Source Identified. Your latest news from the CDC Media Briefing yesterday, plus answers to your biggest questions. 00:00 CDC Outbreak Alert

01:05 Personal Cyclospora Story

03:12 CDC Briefing Key Facts

05:06 Symptoms Testing Timeline

07:49 Taco Bell Rumor Check

09:08 Surveillance Politics FoodNet

12:29 How To Reduce Risk

15:05 Awareness Treatment Takeaways

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Sen. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death and Two Unresolved Cases: Charlie Kirk and Nolan Wells Jul 13, 2026

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Sen. Graham's sudden passing - the details and ramifications. The Case Of The Alleged Murderer of Charlie Kirk: An overview of what happened in Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing last week and why we have to wait until September 1 for more. Questions About The Death Of A Young Man In Mississippi: What happened to Nolan Wells? What we know and what we don't know. This is an interesting read from Rolling Stone from Nolan Wells' friend and new video

00:00 Three Unsettling Stories

00:42 Compassion With Headlines

02:07 Graham Death Timeline

04:04 Trump Remembers Graham

05:32 Booker Tribute Bipartisanship

09:04 Rumors And Russia Questions

10:16 Graham Life Story

14:39 Replacing Graham In Senate

18:34 US Iran Escalation - Link to CentCom Video

22:52 Charlie Kirk Case Update

27:15 Nolan Wells Mystery

33:17 Video Claims And Autopsy

39:55 Wrap Up And Next Steps

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George Washington's "Secret Weapon"? The Untold Story of Martha Washington Jul 08, 2026

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Presidential historian and Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky joins Jenna Lee to uncover Martha Washington's essential role in the American Revolution — and the larger story of the women who helped sustain America's fight for independence.

From joining George Washington at military headquarters each winter to providing the wealth that helped launch his political career, Martha's influence extended far beyond the traditional image of America's first First Lady. The conversation also explores Abigail Adams' call to "remember the ladies," the risks women faced during the Revolution and why the full founding story still matters 250 years later.

00:00 Was Martha Washington George Washington's Secret Weapon? 00:52 Women in the American Revolution 02:34 Life at Washington's Winter Headquarters 05:20 The Risks Martha Faced—and the Letters We Lost 06:41 Running Mount Vernon During the War 08:19 Martha Washington and Early First Lady Politics 10:50 Abigail Adams and "Remember the Ladies" 14:19 How Martha's Wealth Shaped Washington's Rise 16:34 Spies, Assassination Plots and the Stakes of Revolution 20:34 Why Women's Stories Matter Today 24:14 Final Thoughts

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Why This Week Matters For Charlie Kirk's Alleged Killer: Plus ~ "Explosive Headlines" And An Insider Look at D.C.'s July 4th Festivities Jul 06, 2026

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Jenna highlights a health warning about the cyclospora parasite reported across at least 17 states, explaining symptoms, and why outbreaks are hard to trace. We also break down what to expect from a five-day preliminary hearing in Utah for Tyler Robinson, the man authorities say killed Charlie Kirk. We close with a few "reporter notebook" observations from a July 4th family trip to Washington, D.C., including extreme heat, storm-delayed fireworks, reflections on the president's speech, and fun facts from Mount Vernon, the Library of Congress, and the Lincoln Memorial.

00:00 Welcome and Preview

00:36 Week Ahead in Politics

02:38 Cyclospora Outbreak Explained

05:39 Personal Parasite Story

11:56 Charlie Kirk Case Update

13:39 Mini Trial Explained

20:11 Social Media and Fair Trial

24:15 July Fourth in DC

29:01 Speech and Media Spin

33:35 DC History Quick Facts

39:47 Final Reflection and Wrap

President Trump's America250 speech

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Why Gettysburg Belongs in Our America250 Coverage Jul 01, 2026

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The single most costly battle of the American Civil War happened in the early days of July 1863, falling on the same days the Founding Fathers finalized the Declaration of Independence less than 90 years earlier. Ret. Marine Col Rob Abbott, one of the few Licensed Battlefield Guides of Gettysburg National Military Park, takes us through the days before, during, and after the Battle of Gettysburg. 00:00 Why Gettysburg Matters

01:41 Meet Rob Abbott

03:02 Road to Gettysburg

04:53 Becoming a Battlefield Guide

07:36 Who the Soldiers Were

09:46 What Was at Stake

14:22 How the Battle Unfolded

17:33 The Human Cost

20:29 Turning Point for America

22:52 Leadership Lessons Today

25:08 Gettysburg Address Legacy

27:11 Final July Fourth Reflection

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America at 250: The Rise of Socialism? Jun 29, 2026

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As America turns 250, who has the new ideas?

A key question to ask as we head into a busy week with Congress back to work, under the pressure of a shrinking schedule and looming midterms, and the President navigating how to advocate for his key priorities before the elections take precedent.

00:00 Week Ahead Preview 00:38 Surprise Health Update 03:26 Holiday Heads Up 03:42 Dangerous Heat Wave 07:05 Congress Time Crunch 09:34 Bills and SAVE Act 10:58 NYC Primaries Socialism 19:05 New Ideas Debate 22:55 Iran Tensions Update 24:56 Supreme Court Rush 28:57 Immigration Rulings 36:29 Checks and Balances 37:24 Wrap Up and Q&A

"A Place Where Ghosts Walk In Broad Daylight": SmartHER On The Battle Of Little Big Horn Jun 24, 2026

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150 years ago, a pivotal battle took place between the U.S. Army and the American Indians - a "coalition of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors" (NPS). Often memorialized as Custer's Last Stand, named for the Lt Col George Armstrong Custer, the Battle of Little Bighorn remains a pivotal moment of great intrigue. To honor the story, we share our impromptu interview with National Park Ranger, Michael Donahue, who brings us back to 1876, to explains the significance of this battle and and why the site itself remains "a place where ghosts walk in broad day light."

00:00 Spontaneous Interview Setup

00:26 Road Trip to Little Bighorn

01:55 Meeting Ranger Michael Donahue

03:23 Why This Battlefield Matters

04:22 Key Figures and Rising Tensions

05:38 Economic Backdrop and Orders

07:46 Last Stand Hill and Markers

09:03 Grief and Human Cost

10:39 Prejudice and Two Perspectives

11:41 What People Miss About the Battle

13:04 Jenna's Takeaways on History

15:48 Closing Thoughts and Thanks SUPPORT OUR MISSION:

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