Analysis

This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what it says was a test launch of a hypersonic missile in North Korea Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.

North Korea claims second successful test of hypersonic missile

2:10am January 06, 2022

by The Associated Press

North Korea claimed Thursday to have conducted the second successful test flight of a hypersonic missile. Wednesday's launch was the North's first known weapons test in about two months.

In this aerial photo released by the Chin Human Rights Organization, fires destroy numerous buildings in the town of Thantlang in Chin State in northwest Myanmar, on Dec. 4, 2021.

World News

The Myanmar military is employing a familiar strategy of massacres and burnings

12:40am December 30, 2021

by The Associated Press

The massacres and scorched-earth tactics represent the latest escalation in the military's violence against both civilians and the growing opposition to the military's February coup.

Illustration showing a person gazing into a glowing green Matrix. Their reflection smiles lovingly back.

Arts

'I, too, was living a double life': Why trans fans connect to 'The Matrix'

8:50pm December 22, 2021

by Connie Hanzhang Jin

Long before writers Lilly and Lana Wachowski confirmed that the original film was written as a trans allegory, fans connected to its themes of self-actualization.

A truck carrying Bad Bunny, Ricky Martin and Residente joins with thousands of other people as they call on Puerto Rican Gov. Rosselló to step down.

The many contradictions of 'Latin Music'

1:08pm December 20, 2021

by Anamaria Sayre

For some, the term 'Latin music' is too broad to be meaningful. For others, it invokes a sense of pride and resistance. To help break it down, we spoke to an expert on race and music and pop culture.

Wind turbines silhouetted against the sky at dawn near Spearville, Kan. in January. Senator Joe Manchin's rejection of a sweeping spending bill effectively kills President Biden's ambitious climate plan to transform the nation's heavily fossil-fuel powere

Manchin says Build Back Better's climate measures are risky. That's not true

4:37pm December 19, 2021

by Jennifer Ludden

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin had spent months watering down Biden's ambitious climate plans. His final objections to the bill's climate measures are misleading.

The Code Switch team picks our favorite episodes from 2021

11:21am December 16, 2021

As we look back at the year, we wanted to share some of our favorite episodes of the pod. This list showcases the episodes that stayed with members of the Code Switch team, even amidst all the churn.

President Joe Biden speaks as he meets virtually via a secure video conference with Putin from the Situation Room at the White House on Dec. 7. Putin urged the West to make a legal pledge not to deploy forces and weapons to Ukraine.

Tensions over Ukraine come as relations between Russia and NATO are at an all-time low

7:30am December 14, 2021

by The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin once floated the prospect of his country joining NATO.

Snoop Dogg presents the nominees for Best Performance By An Actor during the 79th Annual Golden Globe Award nominations at The Beverly Hilton.

Arts

Golden Globes nominees avoid obvious pitfalls, but won't restore awards' luster

5:59pm December 13, 2021

by Eric Deggans

Beyond the HFPA's year of scandal, the current nominations for the 79th annual Golden Globe Awards needed to make an urgent argument: Why should we still care about this awards show?

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) with Premier Li Keqiang (left) and members of the Politburo Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the eve of China's National Day on Sept. 30.

World News

Not invited to Biden's democracy summit, China launches a propaganda blitz

4:20pm December 09, 2021

President Biden's Summit for Democracy has kicked off. China is not invited — but it's still trying to project its own narratives about democracy.

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Members of three German parties at the signing of a coalition agreement are (from left) Social Democrats Norbert Walter-Borjan, Saskia Esken and new Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Free Democrat Christian Lindner, and the Green party's Robert Habeck and Annalena

World News

What you need to know about Germany's new chancellor and coalition government

2:56pm December 08, 2021

by Rob Schmitz

Social Democratic politician Olaf Scholz takes over from center-right Angela Merkel as chancellor to lead a coalition of three different parties in government.

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