The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a long history of failing to help those who need assistance the most after disasters. Biden-era changes meant to fix some of those problems now face an uncertain future.

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Whether it was her history making win in 2017.

Or the history she made as only the second woman elected to lead a country to give birth while IN office.

Or her decision to step away from power after leading New Zealand through crisis after crisis.

Jacinda Ardern could never be described as a TYPICAL politician. But perhaps the most norm-busting feature of her time as Prime Minister was her rejection of the old ways of leadership.

Now as she reflects on her time as Prime Minister of New Zealand Ardern is emphasizing the need to lead with kindness and empathy.

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

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The 2025 hurricane season officially began on Sunday. Forecasters are predicting an active season.

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The EPA's environmental justice office potential closure hits over-polluted communities, yet they fight on.

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Julie Leon died of hyperthermia in Seattle on June 28, 2021 — the hottest day in the city's history. A lawsuit claims she was a victim of oil companies' "misrepresentations" about climate change.

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The decision makes it easier to win approval for highways, bridges, pipelines, wind farms, and other infrastructure projects.

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A Peruvian farmer has lost a decade-long legal climate case against Germany energy giant RWE. Saúl Luciano Lliuya claimed the company's emissions had contributed to glacial melt threatening his Andean hometown.

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Hells Canyon is the deepest river canyon in the United States. Now scientists have solved the mystery of when it formed.

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Gen Z and younger millennials are the most climate literate generations the world has ever seen. They learned about climate change in school; now, it's part of how they plan for the future, including for jobs, housing ... and kids.

So, what do experts say about how to navigate the kid question? In this installment of Nature Quest, Short Wave speaks to climate journalist Alessandra Ram about the future she sees for her newborn daughter. Plus, how do we raise the next generation in a way that's good for the planet?

Resources discussed in this episode include:
Jade Sasser's book, Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question
Kimberly Nicholas's High Impact Climate Action Guide
Elizabeth Bechard's book, Parenting in a Changing Climate
The Climate Mental Health Network's Climate Emotions Wheel

Got a question about changes in your local environment? Send a voice memo to shortwave@npr.org with your name, where you live and your question. You might make it into our next Nature Quest episode!

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Lewis Pugh wants to change public perceptions and encourage protections for sharks — which he said the film maligned as "villains, as cold-blooded killers."

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The Trump administration plans to shutter an EPA office that focuses on environmental justice issues. The repercussions are already being felt in communities in what's known as Cancer Alley.

While tornadoes can obliterate communities, hailstorms cause damage across much larger areas.

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Grilling usually involves burning fossil fuel. But some manufacturers are offering electric grills and citing climate change and convenience as reasons to switch.

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The House and Senate both voted to loosen regulations on air pollutants like dioxin and mercury, which are associated with higher cancer risk.

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Forecasters expect 13 to 19 storms to form in the Atlantic between June 1 and the end of November. At least 6 of those are forecast to be full-blown hurricanes.

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For community groups to allege violations of environmental rules, a state law says groups have to use federally-approved testing equipment, and it sets restrictions for analyzing and sharing the data.

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Scientists have found a way to sample DNA out of the air on a large scale — making it possible to one day track the health and well being of all kinds of species around the world.

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The Trump administration is rewriting policies and reducing funding for multiple agencies that handle climate change, including NOAA, EPA and FEMA. We asked NPR reporters Lauren Sommer and Alejandra Borunda what that the implications of that are — and who the changes will affect.

Want to hear more ways research is being impacted by the new administration? Email us at shortwave@nprg.org to let us know — and we may cover your idea in a future episode!

Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.

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Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.

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Flamingos look silly when they eat, but new research suggests they're actually being smart.

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