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Year in review: Trump's foreign policy : The NPR Politics Podcast
Editor's note: This episode originally aired on December 16, 2025.As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is taking a look back at the year that was in different political areas. Today, we explore what President Trump's administration has done in terms of foreign policy, and what might be expected in the coming year.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
What researchers have discovered about maternal, infant health under Texas’ abortion laws
A growing body of research indicates that Texas' abortion bans — which are among the country’s most restrictive — have negatively affected the health and...
2025 Year in Review: The best of It's Just Politics
Co-hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta have covered Lansing all year. From fake electors to the state budget saga, they've talked about it all. Let's look at some of the highlights.
Barstool Sports founder raises nearly $500K for family of Del. trooper killed in DMV shooting
Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook is credited with protecting civilians during the deadly attack; he leaves behind his wife and 1-year-old daughter
Texas Matters: Pass The Politics, Pappy
W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel was a flour salesman turned broadcaster who mastered early mass media to build a political machine. As host of a hugely popular radio show featuring his Hillbilly Boys band, he blended homespun entertainment with relentless self-promotion. He converted his audience into votes, winning the Texas governorship in 1938 and later a U.S. Senate seat. O’Daniel’s radio fame let him bypass party elites and critics, turning airtime into personal power and profit.
How to watch the ‘Avatar’ movies on Prime Video
Before you see ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ check out the first two ‘Avatar’ movies on Prime Video.
Chemtrails Aren’t Real. So Why Are Politicians Passing Laws About Them?
The history and politics of so-called weather weapons.
Friday letters: politics, media, public discourse and more
Reflections on Trump’s address I hope everyone had a chance to watch Trump’s address to the country on Dec. 17. If not, you should easily be able to find it on the internet. If you...
'Like hitting a lotto ticket.' Why sports memorabilia collectors pursue chase cards
The trading card business is so big, the ecosystem has created specialized markets within it. Collectors can chase a specific team, or stick to vintage cards, among other options.
These were the most explosive moments so far in California’s war with Trump
Targeting California — through lawsuits, policies to undermine state laws and insults hurled at its leaders — has become a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
Contributor: The 5 key plotlines in the politics of 2025
This was not a year of triumph, but of transition. A year when Trump’s dominance began to fade and successors started circling.
Should the U.S. model its vaccine policy on Denmark's? Experts say we're nothing alike
The Trump administration wants to revamp U.S. childhood vaccination recommendations to align with some other peer nations, including one tiny country in northern Europe.
Inside Instagram’s all-out battle to win the nation’s teens
Instagram has pursued a yearslong strategy to win teens back to the app after its critics said the platform wasn’t safe for them, documents obtained by The Post show.
The new science of ‘many autisms’ and what it reveals about condition’s origins
Scientists are redefining autism as a complex condition with multiple forms, challenging traditional notions.
The new science of ‘many autisms’ and what it reveals about condition’s origins
Scientists are redefining autism as a complex condition with multiple forms, challenging traditional notions.
As insurance prices rise, women puzzle through coverage options for their families
Figuring out the insurance options for families often falls to women. Some say they're delaying marriage, taking side jobs, and putting their kids on Medicaid as premium prices shoot up in 2026.
Why scientists are catching whale breaths....with drones : Short Wave
Scientists in the Arctic are catching the exhaled breaths of whales to better understand their health. How? Drones. Whales breathe through their blowholes, which are the equivalent of nostrils on their heads. By studying the microbes in exhaled whale breaths, scientists are piecing together how deadly diseases spread in whale populations. Host Emily Kwong and producer Berly McCoy talk to All Things Considered host Juana Summers about what scientists can do with this information, from reducing stress on whales and monitoring ocean health to warning people who could be in close proximity to whales carrying zoonotic diseases. Interested in more science on charismatic megafauna? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.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.
Why scientists are catching whale breaths....with drones : Short Wave
Scientists in the Arctic are catching the exhaled breaths of whales to better understand their health. How? Drones. Whales breathe through their blowholes, which are the equivalent of nostrils on their heads. By studying the microbes in exhaled whale breaths, scientists are piecing together how deadly diseases spread in whale populations. Host Emily Kwong and producer Berly McCoy talk to All Things Considered host Juana Summers about what scientists can do with this information, from reducing stress on whales and monitoring ocean health to warning people who could be in close proximity to whales carrying zoonotic diseases. Interested in more science on charismatic megafauna? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.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.
Political Fix: Quizmas special
George Parker puts the FT panel to the test
‘Wicked: For Good’ is coming to Prime Video on December 30—here’s how to watch it
Watch the sequel to ‘Wicked,’ starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, on Prime Video.
‘We won, the president lost,’ Jimmy Kimmel says in Christmas message
Jimmy Kimmel gave a Christmas address on British broadcaster Channel 4 poking fun at the state of America under President Trump.
She goes to police calls in a Prius. It’s part of a new approach to mental health emergencies
Briana Fair, a mental health clinician with the San Mateo Police Department, received a dozen voicemails from the same distressed caller over a single weekend this month.
Energy And Entertainment Mergers Now Take Center Stage
On December 7, 2025, Constellation Energy settled a lawsuit previously filed against it by the United States Department of Justice and the State of Texas. The settlement has had the effect of...
7-year-old donates her business proceeds to Angels for Animals
CANFIELD — Ellie Kaley, a 7-year-old student at West Branch Elementary School, marked her first six months in business by celebrating with a few dozen kittens at Angels For Animals. The Mahoning County-based animal adoption nonprofit is in the midst of a campaign to upgrade its facility. While Ellie didn’t walk away this week with […]
Proposal would end in-play sports bets in New York
Yet another piece of legislation has been introduced seeking further limits on sports betting in New York state. Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-New York City, recently introduced legislation (A.9343) that would no longer allow casinos and mobile sports betting platforms to accept in-play wagers. In-play sports betting, also known as live betting or in-game betting, is…
Proposal Would End In-Play Sports Bets In N.Y.
Yet another piece of legislation has been introduced seeking further limits on sports betting in New York state. Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-New York City, recently introduced legislation (A.9343) that would no longer allow casinos and mobile sports betting platforms to accept in-play wagers. In-play sports betting, also known as live betting or in-game betting, is […]
Ohio Hills Health Center Receives Grant To Expand Dental Services in Belmont County
Ohio Hills Health Centers recently received a grant through the Delta Dental Foundation to purchase dental equipment to expand the scope of services which will include extractions and endodontic procedures such as root canals. “OHHC is extremely grateful to the Delta Dental Foundation for this funding which allows us to purchase additional dental equipment to […]
Arts and Entertainment Agenda, Dec. 26-Jan. 1
Martini & Frites Après, Dec. 26 The MOLLIE Aspen will host Martini & Frites Après from 3-8 p.m. Dec. 26 on their Roof Terrace, located at 111 S. Garmisch St. The hotel will offer complimentary...
For Anchorage home baker, city’s loosened cottage food laws ease burden on business
In November, the Anchorage Assembly voted to exempt small businesses that sell some homemade foods from a licensing requirement. Many say it will open up new opportunities.
19 states sue to block Kennedy's plan to curb trans care
The lawsuit says Kennedy exceeded his legal authority.
Sports roundup: Tuckers boys hoops secure league win
Boys basketball Dec. 19 — Mattituck 52, Port Jefferson 34 In the Tuckers’ first encounter against a Class B team, sophomores Connor Searl scored 16 points and Antonio Sparacio added 16 in a Suffolk County League VI against the visiting Royals (1-5, 0-2). Senior Trey Hansen contributed eight points. Mattituck (3-5, 2-1) outscored Port Jefferson,...
Year in review: Trump’s environmental policy : The NPR Politics Podcast
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is taking a look back at the year that was in different political areas. Today, we look at how America’s stance on environmental policy has shifted under the second Trump administration and what the potential impacts could be.This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, climate correspondent Michael Copley, and automotive and energy correspondent Camila Domonoske.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
5 times politics impacted banking in 2025
Banks typically prefer to steer clear of politics. But in 2025, politics would not steer clear of banks
Family recycling business celebrates 40 years
A longtime Tucson recycling business, Recyco, is celebrating four decades of hard work and family tradition.
Opinion | Socialized medicine can’t survive the winter
The British government is begging sick people to stay away from hospitals during the holidays.
The best everyday health advice we learned from science in 2025
We certainly saw some major health-related breakthroughs in 2025, including a universal cancer vaccine and human trials for the world's first treatment to reverse spinal cord injuries. But the year was also filled with smaller findings that can still have a big impact on your day-to-day health.
Two vulnerable senators stand to benefit from intense focus on constituents
Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) are two of the chamber’s staunchest believers in the value of constituency services.
5 tips from ‘super agers’ on how to live a healthy life
This year, we learned a lot from people in their 80s, 90s and 100s (and the scientists who study them).
How Hallmark built a holiday media empire, complete with cruises
Hallmark has built a holiday movie juggernaut and is now expanding that business into live experiences, such as a Christmas cruise.
'Smart watches for cows' come to Grafton County Farm, helping with health research
The trackers, which stay in a cow’s stomach and collect data, can help farmers understand when their cows are feeling ill, or when they’re in heat.
From retirements to champions, KETV reflects on biggest sports stories of 2025
KETV Sports is taking a look at the greatest moments from 2025 that we will be talking about for years to come.
AWS servers down: ARC Raiders, Fortnite, Rocket League, Epic Games - Full list of games affected
An Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage is disrupting multiple online gaming services, including ARC Raiders, Fortnite, Rocket League
From a game-saving interception to a 95-yard touchdown: KETV Sports reflects on top 7 Husker football plays
It wasn't the season that Husker fans were hoping for, but there were still some good moments from 2025, including that memorable opening night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Historic Ann Arbor store closes after more than a century in business
After nearly 120 years serving the Ann Arbor community, Downtown Home and Garden welcomed customers for the final time on Christmas Eve before closing its doors permanently.
Trump warns against infiltration by a 'bad Santa,' defends coal in jovial Christmas calls with kids
President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve by chatting with children about their holiday wishes
Pediatrics group sues U.S. agency for cutting funds for children's health programs
Earlier this month, the federal government 'abruptly terminated' grants to the group, the lawsuit says.
Bears merch flying off the shelves at sports collectible shops ahead of playoffs
Since the team’s victory against the Green Bay Packers, player jerseys and other Bears merchandise have been the top sellers for Chicago retailers.
LDS Church President Jeffrey Holland hospitalized with 'health complications'
President Jeffrey Holland of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been hospitalized for health complications
Buddy LaRosa's High School Sports Hall of Fame announces its 2025 class
The Buddy LaRosa’s High School Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2025 class. The induction ceremony is in summer 2026.
Richmond Buzz: An 'absolutely brutal' blackout weekend
“Richmond Buzz” will be a recurring column on the neighborhood. This edition: Businesses are devastated after the weekend blackout.
Obama Foundation partner expands vendor network for small businesses
Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative said more than 75 Chicago area organizations have joined its network to collectively negotiate service contracts, which will help lower costs.
Two arrested in Spanish Fork over alleged drug sales from local business
A married pair of business owners who live in Payson are facing several charges after police say they discovered them selling illegal products out of their home.
School Mental Health Projects Canceled by Trump Might Still Survive
The end of funding could still be days away, but a new court order offers some hope for grantees.
Health officials confirm first Yellowstone County influenza death of the season
RiverStone Health and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services confirmed Wednesday the first death in Yellowstone County of the 2025-2026 influenza season.
Wisconsin sues Trump over rules restricting gender-affirming care
The lawsuit comes less than a week after RFK Jr. proposed new rules barring health care providers from gender-affirming care treatment.
Entertainment this week: Drinking with Clowns, Mark Mackay and New Year’s Eve celebrations!
Friday, December 26 Drinking with Clowns – 9 p.m., Bar of America, 10040 Donner Pass Rd.. Additional dates: 12/26, 12/27. For more information, visit https://www.barofamerica.com/calendar.html or call (530) 587-2626. Friday Night Music at Cottonwood Restaurant...
Year in review: Trump, gerrymandering & redistricting : The NPR Politics Podcast
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is taking a look back at the year that was in different political areas. Today, we explore how President Trump pushed Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps with the hope of getting more Republican members of the House of Representatives, and how that led to an escalation of partisan gerrymandering throughout the country.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and voting correspondents Miles Parks & Ashley Lopez.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Democratic-led states sue HHS over proposal targeting hospitals that offer transgender care to minors
Eighteen Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new Trump administration policy seeking to bar transgender care for minors at federally-funded hospitals.
What’s new on Prime Video in January, including ‘Beast Games,’ ‘The Night Manager,’ and more
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby ramps up for 2026, its target year for commercial service launch; looking at businesses that closed in 2025
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on where Joby Aviation stands ahead of what's poised to be a big year for the Santa Cruz-based company, reviews closures around the county and highlights names and dates to know.
2025 Unfiltered: Moments that marked Colorado’s decidedly off-kilter political year
From the flurry of executive orders that ushered in President Donald Trump’s second term to a blizzard of lawsuits filed by the state’s Democratic officials, the state’s political year was marked by near-constant conflict between the GOP-controlled federal government and the Democrats who run Colorado. The year saw the Trump administration step up immigration enforcement […]
The best moments of the sports year (in GIFs), plus a landmark NIL lawsuit
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! We are in full holiday mode today. Inside: 🎁 GIF gifts, Part 1 ⚖️ Huge NIL lawsuit 🫘 Beans ⛳ Hickory clubs are delightful We’ve done a form of Gifmas the last two years in Pulse territory, so I decided to ask all of our newsletter writers to join the fun this year. The prompt was simple: What is the best gif gift your sport has given you in 2025? We’re starting today because some people open the majority of gifts on...
Health insurance sign-ups in Colorado are running even with last year, despite loss of big federal subsidies
Sign-ups through the Connect for Health Colorado insurance exchange are just slightly ahead of last year's pace, despite expiring subsidies.
How Trump’s attacks on ‘climate alarmism’ have already transformed U.S. science
Experts say the cuts to the federal workforce and climate science funding could cause decades of loss in human knowledge and discovery.
Milwaukee food business owner starting over after fire ruins kitchen
Lupe Moreno, a small business owner, hopes for community support after a fire destroyed her kitchen, halting her operations and causing significant financial damage.
Santa Clarita resident and ‘Call of Duty’ creator Vince Zampella dies in crash
Vince Zampella, “Call of Duty” co-creator and Valencia resident, has died at the age of 55 in a fiery car crash on the Angeles Crest Highway. Respawn Entertainment, a video game […]
Explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home kills at least 2, governor says
The explosion collapsed a part of the building and happened just as a utility crew had been on site looking for a gas leak at Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Bristol Township, just outside Philadelphia.
‘Silver tsunami’ of retiring business owners leaves Main Streets at a crossroads
(This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.) ALPENA — Mary Rajasekhar had owned Olivet Book and Gift for 35 years when she decided last Christmas it was time to retire. But, with her children spread out across the country and into their own […]
Nevada Upgrades Business Licensing via ‘Orion’
Work on the new portal began in 2023, with the next phase scheduled for 2026. Nevada joins other states in setting up such portals for a variety of tasks, including accessing services such as unemployment benefits.
Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit against New York's 'Green Light Law'
The law allows the DMV to issue standard driver’s licenses to individuals without Social Security numbers and "regardless of their citizenship or lawful status in the United States."
Science funding was hit in 2025. What does that mean for the future? : Consider This from NPR
2025 was a hard year for science. The Trump administration upended federal funding for all kinds of scientific pursuits, slashing budgets across agencies like NASA, NIH and NOAA. NPR's Rob Stein and Katia Riddle spoke to scientists and officials who worry that those cuts could cause the United States to lose its competitive edge as a global hub for research and innovation, and steer future generations away from careers in science. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, with audio engineering by Zo vanGinhoven. It was edited by Sarah Handel, Scott Hensley and Amina Khan. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
Supreme Court rules against Trump, bars deploying National Guard in Chicago
The decision is the major defeat for Trump and his broad claim that he had the power to deploy military forces in U.S. cities.
Supreme Court hands Trump a major defeat on National Guard deployment
The Supreme Court holds that the president’s authority to deploy the National Guard for law enforcement purposes likely only applies in “exceptional” circumstances.
In Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, children's entertainment comes with strings
For more than 30 years, Puppetworks has delighted Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood with performances of The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio, Aladdin and, during the holidays, retellings of stories like The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
In Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, children's entertainment comes with strings
For more than 30 years, Puppetworks has delighted Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood with performances of The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio, Aladdin and, during the holidays, retellings of stories like The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
The battle for control of Warner Bros.: A timeline of key developments
Netflix wants to buy Warner Bros. and HBO, but Paramount refuses to go away, launching a hostile bid. Here's a timeline of key developments.
Boston reports 114% surge in flu cases; Children most affected
Flu-related emergency department visits also increased 44% in that same period of time.
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health recognizes 7 distinguished alums as the 2025 'Hall of Fame' honorees
Recipients include Dr. Anne Rimoin, professor in the UCLA Fielding School’s Department of Epidemiology and Gordon-Levin Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases and Public Health.
Year in review: Trump's economy : The NPR Politics Podcast
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is taking a look back at the year that was in different political areas. Today, we look at President Trump's handling of the economy, including his tariff policy.This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Year in review 2025: A year of accomplishments, milestones for Vanderbilt Health
The following is a roundup of the news that made headlines at Vanderbilt Health in 2025.
Health officials warn of potential measles exposure at DIA
Colorado health officials put out an alert Tuesday about a potential measles exposure at Denver International Airport earlier this month. That
Year in Review 2025: Several national rankings recognize Vanderbilt Health
During the past year, Vanderbilt Health placed highly in several national rankings and was honored with numerous awards.
Vince Zampella, video game pioneer behind megahit Call of Duty, dies at 55
One of Vince Zampella's crowning achievements was the creation of the Call of Duty franchise, which has sold more than half a billion games worldwide.
Iowa City sports superfan 'Smiley' dies at 79
One of the most famous sports fans in Iowa has passed away.
Republican former senator Ben Sasse says he has terminal cancer
The 53-year-old — who was one of a handful of Republicans to speak out against Trump during his first term — said in a lengthy social media post he has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and suggested he doesn’t have long to live.
Federal cuts and a race to replace McConnell. Here’s a look at top state politics stories in 2025
Kentucky Public Radio has covered a tumultuous year of federal cuts and shifts, the lawsuits challenging them, state governance and another hefty legislative session. Rediscover our top politics stories of 2025.
Economic growth surges in late summer, the highest in two years
“This was the strongest six months of growth since late in 2023, but it certainly didn’t feel that way for most people,” one analyst said.
A year of vetoes, lawsuits and loss in Arizona politics
From Charlie Kirk's killing to shutdown fights, 2025 set the stage for a wild Arizona midterm.
Family nurse practitioner offers membership health care services
Hayden resident Brandon Lehman said the Love Wellness Ltd. subscription medical model of direct primary care that includes unlimited visits for a monthly membership fee is a good fit for his needs and is “efficient...
The disunity of science is a feature, not a bug
Mathematical models wield miraculous power, but mistaking them for reality has trapped science in a destructive quest for a “Theory of Everything.” Physicist and philosopher Ragner Fjelland argues that this leads to bloated, Frankenstein theories kept alive by clumsy, ad-hoc amendments, which reduce rather than boost science’s power. Fjelland calls for a radical shift in our attitude: we must reorientate towards creating entirely new theories, celebrating rather than lamenting disunity and diversity in science. Science, from the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day, has more or less developed in a “reductionist” way. The fundamental assumption is that all sciences may be ordered in a hierarchy that can be represented as an upside-down pyramid. At the top we find the human sciences, and at the bottom physics. Strong (or “ontological”) reductionism maintains that all theories at one level can be completely reduced to the lower level, all the way down to theories of atoms and elementary particles, or whatever is “at the bottom.” In the end, all diversity in the world can be unified in one fundamental theory. Hence it is called a final theory, or a Theory of Everything.One of the central figures in developing the idea of a Theory of Everything is the Dutch theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft, who received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1999 for his work. He emphasizes the non-empirical status of the theory:There exists no closely resembling alternative theory. This means that any slight change brought about in the rules would make the theory unlikely or inelegant. The theory will be a "package deal": take it, or leave it. This should hold both for the local laws and for the boundary conditions.This endeavor is not new. On the contrary, it goes all the way back to the birth of Western philosophy 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians made regular astronomical observations during a period of 600 years, from 747 BCE until 150 ACE. They developed mathematical techniques to predict astronomical phenomena, but they made no attempts at explaining them. However, the Greeks developed models, both material and theoretical, to explain the observed phenomena.The best example is Plato’s late dialogue Timaeus. Here he introduces a divine craftsman, the Demiurge, who has constructed the universe according to an original plan. Plato seems to have thought that the original plan is what is actually real, while the material world is merely an imperfect realization of it. He therefore does not, in the Timaeus, reconstruct the material universe, but the original plan, which can then be used to explain the material universe.Plato’s aim in producing a theoretical model is to reconstruct the original plan. That is what he carries out in Timaeus—and some modern physicists have embarked on the same project. For example, Einstein’s basic attitude is reflected in the title of Abraham Pais’ biography: “Subtle is the Lord...,” echoing Einstein’s comment, “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not.” In an interview Einstein compared our situation to a child who enters a huge library. The child knows that someone has written the books, but he does not know the languages in which they are written. He suspects that there is a mysterious order, but he does not know what it is.___“We have all been working in what Husserl called the Galilean style; that is, we have all been making abstract mathematical models of the universe to which at least the physicists give a higher degree of reality than they accord the ordinary world of sensation.”Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics (1979)___This Platonist view is contrary to a widespread impression of science, symbolized by the picture of the “father” of modern science, Galileo Galilei, with his telescope. According to this impression, Galileo liberated himself from the dominating metaphysics of his day—basically Aristotelian philosophy—and constructed a telescope that he directed towards the sky, showing that Jupiter has four moons. He also performed experiments with bronze balls rolling down inclined planes and found the law of freely falling bodies.However, in other cases Galileo emphasized the unreliability of our senses. It is easy to see why. He defended Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we are not at rest at the center of the universe, but moving at a tremendous speed through space. Why don’t we observe this motion? Galileo praises Copernicus because “with reason as his guide he resolutely continued to affirm what sensible experience seemed to contradict.” In other places he directly refers to Plato. SUGGESTED VIEWING The quest for a final theory With Michio Kaku Galileo’s Platonism goes back to his early writings. In The Assayer, published as early as 1623, Galileo compared the universe to a grand book that is written in the language of mathematics, and “its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” Therefore, things that cannot be described by mathematics—for example, colors, smells and odors—are not real. They are merely subjective.This division into subjective and objective, advocated by Galileo and his younger contemporary René Descartes, is normally associated with a mechanistic world view, which is regarded as the opposite of Platonism. When we reduce something to, for example, molecules and atoms, we move “downwards.” In contrast, the Platonist moves “upwards,” to abstract entities. However, it only shows that when we address fundamental questions, we should be careful in applying everyday spatial metaphors like “up” and “down.”___Nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world.___The endeavor of finding a Theory of Everything has been heavily criticized. In 2006, the theoretical physicist Lee Smolin published “The Crisis in Fundamental Physics.” He argued that one of the most fundamental principles of science is that we should only regard theories as scientific if we have the possibility to show that they are false by experiments. Although he did not refer to Karl Popper, other critics have referred to Popper and argued that a theory is not scientific if it cannot be falsified (see for example Ellis & Silk 2014).These were not the first physicists to be anti-reductionists. In 1972, the journal Science published an article by the physicist Philip Anderson with the title “More Is Different.” This is the kind of article a scientist would normally write only after he has won a Nobel Prize. However, Anderson won the Nobel Prize for physics five years later, in 1977. The article is amazing, not primarily because it argues in favor of anti-reductionism in general, but because it argues for anti-reductionism within physics itself. Anderson’s conclusion was:At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requiring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry.We may say that Plato started the “unity of science movement,” based on Euclidean geometry as the model of all knowledge. A distinguishing mark of geometry is that all possible constructions can be reduced to a few fundamental principles. We have to acknowledge that this approach has limitations. In general, we can easily model technological systems. In addition, we may construct simplified and idealized models that capture important aspects of systems, from various perspectives and for various purposes. But nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world. In a complex system, each level has its distinct, emergent, properties that are characteristic of this level. Therefore, a complex system should be investigated at different levels and from different perspectives. Instead of exclusively pursuing a scientific ideal based on the unity of science, we should acknowledge the diversity—or even the disunity—of science.
Idaho Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit over Medicaid mental health contract
The Idaho Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit from a bidder for an Idaho Medicaid contract to run mental health services.
Key Wisconsin motor sports events for the 2026 racing season
With IndyCar, IMSA, Outlaws and High Limit, ASA, dirt late models and specials, Wisconsin racing has plenty to offer in 2026. Still no NASCAR though.
Female youth sports injuries on the rise in Michigan, doctors say
Doctors are seeing an uptick in ACL knee injuries in young athletes across Michigan. WCMU's Tina Sawyer recently sat down with WCMU multimedia producer Stefanie Mills to learn more.
The best entertainment photos of 2025
Photographers share behind-the-scenes anecdotes about some of their favorite entertainment shoots of 2025 and reveal how they got 'the' shot.
The best reality TV of 2025
Scandals, competitions and breakups are par for the course on reality shows, but this year also brought some tender moments that made for must-see TV.
It's the 'gold standard' in autism care. Why are states reining it in?
Budget shortfalls and nearly $1 trillion in looming federal Medicaid cuts have prompted states to rein in spending on a widely embraced autism therapy, pinching families who depend on the services.
Managing the politics of a holiday get-together
We live in a polarized nation, and sometimes, those varying political beliefs and opinions make their way to the holiday dinner table. It can be awkward and uncomfortable. So, how can we bring it all back together and appreciate one another’s company? WEMU’s John Stockwell went looking for answers and, as you’ll hear, found a number of them.
U.S. signs new health deals with 9 African countries that mirror Trump's priorities
Annual U.S. health funding to the nine countries has dropped 49% compared with 2024, while the nations must increase domestic spending and meet political conditions.
Trump denies Colorado disaster aid for wildfires, prompting accusations of ‘political games’
Colorado politicians on both sides of the aisle are pushing back after President Donald Trump’s administration denied two disaster declaration requests that would have unlocked federal funds for recovery efforts. Gov. Jared Polis said in...