0:15 - 0:35 A note to you: Thank you for this opportunity!

0:35 - 1:51 A big story on Capitol Hill: The nation's top military leaders will be testifying in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee today. What's happening and why it matters. 

1:51 - 4:02 What's happening in Afghanistan? 

4:02 - 6:01 Another story on Capitol Hill: Lawmakers negotiating the spending bill with September 30th deadline looming (when current govt. funding expires).

6:01 - 7:06 Facebook's pause on their Instagram platform for kids. Stay tuned for a deeper report on this. 

7:06 - 8:31 Nestle's DiGiorno crispy pan pepperoni pizza recall & what to know. 

Coffee Talk

Five Big Stories: Why They Matter & Important Questions 

Foreign Policy & Pizza

0:26 - 2:56 What's happening on Capitol Hill? 

2:56 - 6:02 A COVID-19 treatment you should know about: Monoclonal Antibodies. What to know, why it matters, and important questions. 

6:02 - 6:45 Baltimore Ravens Kicker Justin Tucker sets an NFL record. How the game started, how it ended and a little perspective to keep in mind. 

Politics, The Pandemic & a "Kicker"

0:25 - 2:23 Big Headline: FDA authorizes Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine for the booster shot for *some*. What will the CDC say on how to distribute the booster shot?

2:23 - 3:10 Interesting side story: the vaccine is hitting the fashion runways! 

3:10 - 4:00 Speaking of fashion, the U.S. Space Force has unveiled a new prototype for their uniform & important reminder about the big picture.

4:00 - 5:43 A tragic story many of you have been following & some context to the broader story. 

5:43 - 7:12 Three southern resident killer whales (orcas) are pregnant & why it matters.  

Your Sampler!

1:11 - 2:28 What's happening at the U.S. southern border & big picture.

2:28 - 7:29 Who are "refugees"? What qualifies someone as a "refugee"? 

7:29 - 8:45 Perspective & what's happening with immigration reform?

Adding Perspective To One Big News Story This Week

Perspective! Not Perfection

1. When was the United Nations founded? (0:35) 

3. How is the United Nations funded? (2:52)

3 Quick Facts You Should Know About The United Nations! 

Homecoming For World Leaders

0:20 - 3:51 Diplomatic Crisis between the U.S. and France: What's it all about, why it matters, and important questions.

3:51 - 7:07 A story a little closer to home: Border crisis and specific situation with Haitian immigrants. Important dynamics in play and what to know. 

7:07 - 9:22 News from Pfizer on their COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in children ages 5 - 11 and important note from the FDA advisory panel meeting on booster shots...

Big Headlines & The Big Picture

Alison Spann shares incredible insight about Mike Spann: His work for the CIA, the mysterious American he encountered in Afghanistan before he died, and why his sacrifice is one we should never forget.

Spotlight

The daughter of the first American killed in combat in the War on Terror returns to SmartHER News to tell the true story of her father.

An Update: A Daughter's Mission

Sleep expert, Dr. Chris Winter, author of "The Rested Child," takes your questions on sleep from cradle to college, and beyond! 

SmartHER SLEEP

Everyone with a mobile device should know about this story!

It’s a “freak-you-out” (but I-should-know-about-it) news item plus a fun news item to make you laugh. 

Recent Cybersecurity Threat & A Story To Make You Laugh 

News You Can Use!

Your Rundown:
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0:30 - 1:53 Two quick things you should know about today: Tropical Storm Nicholas & voting day in California - recall election of Governor Newsom.
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1:53 - 4:15 Two stories out of Russia: Pres. Putin is in isolation due to COVID-19 exposure; he has reportedly tested negative. At the same time, Russia posturing it’s military strength…
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4:16 - 6:50 Important exchange during hearing on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan & question about the U.S. no longer having military presence in a key location in Central Asia.
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6:50 - 8:35 A reflection on Afghanistan. 



What To Know: From Stateside News To Central Asia

Connecting The Dots

Your rundown:
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0:12 - 1:35 What’s happening on Capitol Hill today & news from Afghanistan…
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1:35 - 2:21 North Korea reportedly test fired a cruise missile - why it matters.
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2:21 - 2:45 OTD Navy Hospitalman Max Soviak, one of the servicemembers who was killed during the evacuation from Afghanistan, will be buried.
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2:45 - 5:04 News from the state of California, what we’re watching, & the big picture. Can we “read the tea leaves”?
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5:04 - 5:48 A group of four individuals will be launched into orbit on Wednesday by SpaceX. What will this tell us about the future of space tourism? 
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5:48 - 6:40 Advisory panel for the FDA will be meeting on Friday to discuss COVID-19 booster shots.
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6:40 - 8:15 Happy Birthday, Milton Hershey! Amazing story about perseverance & altruism.


Monday

"That's what I do everyday. I record history."

Photojournalist Richard Drew has spent more than five decades with the Associated Press. On the morning of September 11th, 2001, while on assignment for Fashion Week in New York City, a call from his editor sent Richard racing to downtown Manhattan with only a brief description - "A plane has hit the World Trade Center." Finding himself at the base of the Twin Towers, Richard captured the impact of the deadliest terror attack in American history (and the single deadliest terror attack ever). Amongst the many historical photos he took that day, Richard captured a moment now known around the world as "The Falling Man." In this interview, Richard weaves us through the streets of New York City, sharing the moments before and after an unexpected assignment, and why he believes we shouldn't look away from this photo.

: Richard and I knew each other for years before I learned of his contributions to the historical record of September 11th, 2001. During our first meeting, we discovered that he had worked with my grandfather at the Associated Press bureau in San Francisco in the 1970s! What are the chances? From that point on, I always felt a special bond with Richard, as if he knew a part of my own story that no else does - especially since my grandfather passed away long before I could pepper him with questions about his journalism career. As you'll see in this interview, I press Richard on why he thinks he has found himself steps from so many significant historical moments. And like any good photojournalist, Richard leaves this up to you to come to your own conclusions.

A Conversation With Photojournalist Richard Drew On His Historic 9/11 Photo

Capturing The Falling Man

Your Rundown:
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0:37 - 3:58 High profile cabinet members travel to the Middle East… “Who” really is al Qaeda?
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3:58 - 5:43 Debate on the $3.5 trillion price tag of the Democrats’ new spending bill & why it matters.
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5:43 - 9:20 President Biden scheduled to address the nation today to answer an important question about where we are at this point in the pandemic.
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9:20 - 10:15 You never know when the simple things become the bigger things... 245 years ago today, the United States was officially named.

The Middle East, New Spending Bill & COVID-19. 

The Simple Things

Your rundown:
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0:45 - 3:15 Pretrial hearing at Guantánamo Bay begins, including five high profile detainees who are reportedly plotters of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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3:15 - 6:40 Where some al Qaeda operatives were found, Afghanistan’s new leadership announced, and what you should know.
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6:30 - 8:16 Behind celebrity headlines: Britney Spears’ father appeals to withdraw from his daughter’s conservatorship and why it matters.

Who's In Charge? 

Ending The Long War

 to read our Quick Quote from President Biden's address, and to find links to watch or read the full address. 

All Video Posts