Pete Buttigieg says he prefers to live in interesting times: “There are different seasons in the history of this country… It’s precisely when the house is on fire that you wind up having the most interesting and exciting changes.” open.substack.com/pub/steveins...
Should we embrace interesting times?
On Pete Buttigieg and Adam Goodheart's "1861."
open.substack.com
Bill Maher, at 70, received a Mark Twain award and says he’s staying healthy thanks to “the best tequila” and “the best pot”: www.npr.org/2026/07/15/n...
Bill Maher on comedy, atheism and dining with Trump : NPR's Newsmakers
Bill Maher says he’s “exactly the same person” he plays on TV. He’s been hosting comedy shows on TV for 33 years and just won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. NPR’s Steve Inskeep sat down wit...
npr.org
On NPR’s Newsmakers: The influential pastor who believes most women should be denied the vote. open.substack.com/pub/steveins...
He says most women should be denied the vote
On the value of Leila Fadel's conversation with an an influential pastor.
open.substack.com
In an NPR interview, Israeli Ambassador Michael Leiter says Israeli forces are not leaving Lebanon as part of a peace deal: “We’re not going to withdraw from southern Lebanon.” Iran claimed Israel must withdraw. Will post full interview below.
The announcement of a tentative peace agreement in the U.S. war against Iran sent me looking for the text of another inconclusive peace deal: The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812 with no measurable gain. The parallels are helpful to consider. 1/3
There’s a memorial service today in NY for Penguin Press publisher Ann Godoff. Speakers include just a few of her authors: Michael Pollan, Zadie Smith, Ron Chernow, Elif Batuman, Jerome Groopman, Ocean Vuong. open.substack.com/pub/steveins...
Remembering Ann Godoff
The publisher who, in my experience, was always right.
open.substack.com
"Slowly is the fastest way to get where you want to be." Broadway star Andre De Shields famously said this when winning a Tony award at 73, but says people misunderstand his meaning. 1/2
At 7:20 ET, Broadway actor Andre De Shields walks into the NPR studios in a zebra-striped jacket, talks about winning his first Tony award at 73, and contemplates his nomination for another now that he is 80.
I had the pleasure of speaking with @steveinskeep.bsky.social on today’s Morning Edition on @npr.org Listen here: Funds for Trump's Board of Peace aren't in World Bank account. So where are they? one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5837...
🔊 Listen Now: Funds for Trump's Board of Peace aren't in World Bank account. So where are they?
Morning Edition on NPR One | 4:11
one.npr.org
Is the U.S. willing to release frozen Iranian assets - essentially paying Iran - for a peace deal? State Dept spox Tommy Piggott tells NPR there will be no “short term” payment but the longer term depends on Iran’s behavior. www.npr.org/2026/06/01/n...
State Department official on the potential for a deal to end the Iran war
NPR's Steve Inskeep asks State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott about the White House's confidence in closing a peace deal with Iran
npr.org
This NYT story is another sign of an uncomfortable truth about Trump’s immigration policy. Some who support Trump clearly don’t like to be informed of this: open.substack.com/pub/steveins...
If you have your doubts about the plan for UFC fights on the White House lawn, so does the UFC’s Dana White. He talked about it in an NPR interview that also touched on the immigrants and refugees who are among UFC fighters; the risks they take; and how UFC fans vote. 1/2
Surveys show young men - who overperformed for Trump in 2024, compared with other Republicans - are disappointed with him now. In the NPR interview; UFC chief Dana White waved off the polls. He said young men went for Trump because they felt disrespected. 1/2
I was sent this image from 16th Street in DC. Even from blocks away, on the opposite side of the building, you can see the UFC set looming over the White House. NPR talked with UFC chief Dana White about the setup and his sport—link in next post. 1/2
It's hard to stop looking at images like this from AP. Dana White, the UFC chief preparing the fights on the White House lawn, told NPR he has his reservations about the outdoor space. 1/2
As the UFC outdoor arena goes up on the White House lawn, we’ve published some annotations on the NPR video interview with UFC chief Dana White. 1/2
As the UFC arena goes up on the lawn of the White House, here is the man who is organizing the show.
Steve Inskeep@steveinskeep.bsky.social · 2mo agoDana White, the head of the UFC talked about the setup for NPR’s Newsmakers. Also why so many fighters come from the bottom of society; how he thinks about head injuries; and why he decided against a card that would pit the USA against foreigners. 1/2 youtu.be/3ZnpJoANb8I?...
On NPR, Rep. Tom Supzzi outlines how he would like to force Republican leaders in Congress to allow a vote on a bill that will block Trump’s fund of $1.776 billion taxpayer dollars to pay his supporters.
Over the weekend, the UFC announced this rendering of what MMA cage matches on the White House lawn should look like on June 14. 1/2
Why is the Pope talking about AI as a form of colonialism?
This has been a common response from the political left, and if you like to lose elections it makes sense. Democrats lost ground in 2024 among young people especially young men. If that bothers you, it might be in your interest to ask why and what you can do about it. youtu.be/3ZnpJoANb8I?...
Dana White on Trump, masculinity and bringing UFC to the White House | Newsmakers
YouTube video by NPR
youtu.be
Michael@schmutzie.bsky.social · 2mo ago"Dana White on Trump, masculinity, and bringing the UFC to the White House." I'd rather drink bleach.
One of the events of this coming summer is a series of UFC fights on the White House lawn June 14. What does the sport reveal about America in 2026? And what does the White House event reveal about Trump? We talked it over with UFC head Dana White. 1/2
An uncomfortable truth about Trump’s immigration policy: The administration has taken aim at people with legal status, too. open.substack.com/pub/steveins...
The uncomfortable truth about Trump's immigration policy
The administration targets people with legal status, too.
open.substack.com
Dana White’s UFC will stage MMA fights on the White House lawn June 14. What does his sport reveal about the rise of Donald Trump - and about who’s included in America? youtu.be/3ZnpJoANb8I?...
Dana White on Trump, masculinity and bringing UFC to the White House | Newsmakers
YouTube video by NPR
youtu.be
Who is supposed to get the $1.776 billion in taxpayer funds that Trump commanded the government to pay his supporters? Administration officials have tried to blur the issue but Jan. 6 rioters are happily lining up for their share.
One of my favorite stories from our recent reporting in China was far from the Trump summit: Why some Chinese women confront men over smoking: www.npr.org/2026/05/21/g...
Smokers in China are being chided by anti-smoking women
Many many many men smoke in China. A small but outspoken group of women are becoming anti-smoking advocates, confronting those who light up in public.
npr.org
Dana White is making news in MMA circles with his discussion of head injuries on NPR’s Newsmakers:
Dana White on brain injury in the UFC: It’s “inevitable.” 1/2 www.lowkickmma.com/dana-white-b...
Dana White Says Brain Damage Is "Inevitable" In MMA. He's Not Wrong - And That's The Problem.
UFC CEO Dana White sat down with NPR's Steve Inskeep this week ahead of the promotion's upcoming White House fight card, set for the South Lawn on June 14.
lowkickmma.com
Thanks for your interest. I’m just back from China and wasn’t on the radio today.
Micah Loewinger@micahloewinger.bsky.social · 3mo agoJust heard Steve Inkseep refer to Trump's 2025 tariff roll out as "Liberation Day." There is no reason for NPR to repeat this kind of propaganda without qualification. How are y'all still stepping on rakes this many years into this mess?
